“My main goal here is to listen”

I am proud to be a lifelong resident of Barrhaven.

This is my home, it’s where I was raised, it’s where I went to school, it’s where I shop, it’s where I have met the most important people in my life and formed some of my best memories.

I have a passion for the place, the people, and the stories. Everywhere I look around in this community, it was built by the hard work of the people that turned this farming community into a mini-city of 100,000+ people.

This community is only about 60 years young. So many of the people that built this place are still here to tell the stories, and I want to listen.

So that is why today on Lisa MacLeod’s podcast, I announced that I am starting a podcast and writing a book based on my historical research about Barrhaven.

This is a project I’ve been working on behind the scenes for many months now, and this winter I will start my podcast and the book is to come next fall.

My main goal here is to listen. As a history student learning about historical research and hoping to put what I’ve learned in action, I want to listen to the stories of the people of this community and create a comprehensive account of how this community came to be, and where we are today.

So to all of you reading this, I want to hear from you. I want to hear your stories about living in Barrhaven, working here, teaching here, running a business here. It is all of us who make up this history of this place, and I want to reflect that in my work.

For inquiries contact: vincenzo@vincenzocalla.ca