Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
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At last I'm a bona fide Uxbridgian
I've finally made it! After 20 years, I can now consider myself to be a real, honest-to-goodness Uxbridgian.
Twenty years ago, I was this close to being homeless, a street dweller.
I was living (surviving) in North Vancouver, friendless, jobless and hopeless, falling behind in my rent because the welfare payments I was receiving didn't cover that amount plus food and other basics for survival.
I was in the depths of despair, with thoughts of suicide being more than just occasional visitors to my numbing brain. And then my sister and her husband rescued me. They brought me to Uxbridge in 1989 - and I was reborn.
It wasn't always easy, to be sure. I was still receiving welfare payments for a while, at least until I landed a part-time job driving a school bus. And I was still pretty much withdrawn into myself, even though I was back with (most of) my family.
But Uxbridge started working its magic on me. I became involved: volunteering at the public schools, becoming a Scout leader with First Uxbridge Scouts and eventually joining the Uxbridge Players, forerunners of today's OnStage Uxbridge. And, for the first time in my adult life, I began making my own friends, rather than adopting friends of my ex-wives.
After a while, I joined the Uxbridge Times-Journal and eventually became senior editor, reporter, photographer and layout person. The two and a half years I spent there (before Metroland took it over) were among the happiest of my life. It is where the Am I Wrong? column and the Cup of Coffee feature were born.
It was through Scouting, the theatre and my newspaper work that I met an amazing number of wonderful people, people who literally cared about me and welcomed me into their homes and hearts.
Of course, I made a fool of myself a number of times, sometimes quite publicly. But the good residents of Uxbridge merely chuckled, shook their heads and forgave me.
And all the time, I was opening myself up to all that this place had to offer, more than I had ever done anywhere else I ever lived.
I would never have dreamed I would find myself on stage; I was far too shy. But audiences made me feel welcome and were gracious in their applause. I would never have dreamed I would ever go to a World Scout Jamboree, but I went to Holland with a group of local lads, thanks to the generosity of the local populace. I would never have dreamed I would be writing a regular column - (any newsman's dream) - but you accepted it and have allowed me to spout my opinions.
I have reveled in the beauty of Uxbridge Township and lost myself in its wealth of artistic and cultural events.
Now, as a contributor to the Uxbridge Cosmos, I am again involved in a community I have come to love and it is that involvement that keeps a spring in my step.
And, against all odds, I have found love again, even at my advanced age.
In short, I have never been happier in my life. It seems to me that I owe a huge debt of gratitude for that happiness to the residents of Uxbridge and, most especially, to my sister and her husband.
Tell me, am I wrong?
