“Minto is a good place to start a family”
In 2017, Christopher and Jean Ruela thought they were making a temporary move to Palmerston from Burlington for better jobs. Five years later they’re still here, now with two kids in tow.
Tell us about your family.
“We are a family of four. We came from the Philippines and migrated to Canada 9 years ago. Our children were born here. Our oldest son is in JK at Palmerston Public School, while our youngest is still a baby.
As a family, we love to travel and discover new places, visit parks and museums, spend time outdoors with family and friends, and engage our son in sports and other social activities in the community.”
Where did you move from and why did you decide to Move to Minto?
“We lived in Burlington before we decided to come to Palmerston because of good job opportunities. As we settled, we realized that living in a small town presented us a better quality of life. It is not as stressful as compared to the city. We feel secure living in a quiet and safe neighbourhood. The people are warm and welcome cultural diversity.”
What are some of your favourite ways to spend time in Minto?
“We usually go to the local trails to bike and walk. We go to parks and arenas within Minto. In Palmerston, the Lions Club hosts various activities for the community, and we love to go to their events. We also support local vendors by visiting the Minto Farmers’ Market on Saturdays through the summer.”
“This is a good place to start a family. The cost of living is affordable and many jobs are available within the locality. We also have a strong Filipino community that supports each other, especially newcomers.”
Do you have a favourite local business or place to shop?
“We buy bread and pastries in our local bakeries here. We love buying donuts from the Harriston Bakery. Our go to for shopping locally is Gray’s Auction. We also buy fresh meat from Harriston Packing Co.
What has surprised you about living here?
“What is surprising is that we have been here for more than five years already! What we thought as a temporary plan turned out to be a permanent dwelling place for us.”
What would you tell someone who was interested in moving to Minto?
“We would invite them to come and settle in Minto. This is a good place to start a family. The cost of living is affordable and many jobs are available within the locality. We also have a strong Filipino community that supports each other, especially newcomers.”
