Not every hangout is online or in a pub where “everyone knows your name”. Take young Aaron Milligan and his friends Justine O’Dell, Lisa Robert, Scott Loucks and Pat Milk, five of the original ten pals who decided at the tender age of ten – give or take a year or two – to build their very own “fort”. It took two abortive attempts before finally getting it right and then, it just sort of grew!
What started as a typical kid’s hang out morphed into a rustic hideaway, complete with all the modern amenities and a graceful walkway curving through the woods, illuminated by twinkling electric mini-lights hanging from trees. “We spent our allowances to buy lumber – it turned out bigger than we expected,” Aaron said, grinning at the obvious understatement.
This “fort” boasts a kitchen, living space, bedrooms and a convenient outdoor spot for a barbeque. Not everything went smoothly for the young builders, however. “Pat got his head stuck in a tree,” Justine giggled, pointing to a spot where the original “fort” began. Nevertheless, despite minor mishaps along the way, the friendships forged have stood the test of time. Members of the club seem to gravitate back to the “fort” to reconnect and keep the fl ame of friendship burning. “We all try to take the same week off every year to get together and have some fun” said Aaron, “And we treat our parents to a special dinner at least once year … they’ve been a great support.”
More profoundly, the “fort” has been a catalyst for growing up. “Pretty much everything about life we’ve learned during the building process,” Aaron mused out loud, as we wandered back through the woods with the lights twinkling overhead.
At the other end of the spectrum, young Tory Madden’s extra-special tree house was custombuilt by her father, a professional contractor. Poised in the curve of a tree, it too boasts twentieth century amenities like electricity and heat. Tory and her friends love climbing up into the branches. “We play hide-and-seek and king-of-the-hill,” she said, waving a queenly hand over her miniature kingdom, “And we have sleepovers too.” Although the odd spider and thunderstorm have sent them scurrying back home, Tory’s special “hang-out” continues to delight family and friends.
“We like to play there,” she said. More visible and public, the Royal Canadian Legion Pioneer Branch 117 offers a unique, and truly grown-up “hangout” for veterans and their guests. Complete with dining room, bar and games room, the downtown facility continues to be a popular destination for vets. “We offer a dinner every Friday night and regular monthly jam sessions,” Branch 117 President Geraldine Tucker said, as she toured the building.
Although age is reducing membership, the Parry Sound Royal Canadian Legion continues to serve approximately 300 members. It’s clear that pride and the power of shared experience and friendship are still alive. The walls are covered in pictures of veterans, and a fabulous display of model boats chronicling the famous warships of World War I and World War II fill another. “Some of us come in regularly for a coffee and a chat,” said Jack Patterson. Joined by Peter Wellington and Tommy Tucker they were clearly enjoying a congenial moment. A table close by, identified as the “bull…table” obviously serves as a spot where lots of “hot air” is shared with friends.
“We get visitors from all over,” Tommy said, pointing to the multi-coloured ribbons decorating the bar, “We’ve had visitors from everywhere in Canada and Europe.” More importantly, veterans from across the community are able to just “hang out”. Like the “fort”, the Legion is a place where friendships and shared experience are nurtured. News, politics and life in general are all hashed out under the plush bull and the flame of friendship is regularly refreshed and renewed.
The inimitable words of young Tory Madden capture the fascination with hangouts: “We just like to play there! It’s our favourite place in the whole wide world.”