This month Springwater Neighbours is proud to share the story of the Jacksons of Parr Boulevard with you. Patty and Scott have two grown children, Carly, 26 and Tully 23. They also have two dogs Tucker and Addison who are the love of all their lives!

Scott and Patty met through friends when they were teenagers, in the early 80s. They reconnected in their mid-twenties in 1989 and got married in 1991, celebrating their 27th-anniversary last year.

Scott and Patty both attended Georgian College in Barrie. Scott graduated from Hospitality and Tourism and Patty graduated a year or two later from Marketing and Tourism. For the last 25 years, Patty’s main employment has been in the health and wellness industry as a personal trainer and fitness instructor. Many women in the neighbourhood attend the weekly boot camps Patty runs out of their home. She also assists in the family business, Sport Court Ontario, which Scott runs. Scott began Sport Court Ontario in 2002 and it has since grown into a year-round business. Sport Court specializes in building outdoor game courts, in both residential and commercial areas.

The family has always been involved in the local hockey community. Scott has coached both college and junior hockey teams within Barrie and surrounding area, but their favourite times were the minor hockey days. They were hockey parents within Barrie Minor Hockey while Scott coached Tully’s various hockey teams to many championships throughout the years. He also earned himself 2009 coach of the year.

Patty is also an avid runner and is involved with a community give-back group called Ripple of Kindness. As a family, they spend most of their free time boating out on Lake Simcoe, or socializing with family and friends.

Their eldest, Carly, spent most of the last few years in London Ontario. She completed her Bachelor of Science undergrad at Western University, as well as a Master’s of Science in Physiology and Pharmacology degree there. During this time, she worked both in the restaurant industry and as a CPR & First Aid instructor. Carly loves to travel around North America, but also afar. This first began when Carly and Patty did a mother-daughter backpack trip to Europe to celebrate her completing her undergraduate degree. In her year off between degrees, Carly left to backpack Australia and was surprised a month into her travels by her brother Tully. The two of them backpacked the rest of Australia and New Zealand together. Most recently, at the end of her Master's degree, Carly backpacked through Thailand with two friends she met in high school in Barrie.

 

By Susan Laycock • Photos by Anita Vard

family feature

 

Tully grew up playing every sport, but his love for hockey dominated. This led him to study at the University of Saskatchewan, where he played junior hockey. Tully continued playing junior hockey while he completed his diploma at Georgian College. He has been actively involved in the family business for many years. This past year Tully and his long- time girlfriend moved to New Zealand for a 6-month cona tract work position. This provided an opportunity for Scott and Patty to visit them, and the four of them backpacked the country together for a few weeks. Tully is spending his summer travelling South East Asia before returning home to work for the family business.

And of course, Tucker and Addison round out the family. They are both German Shepherds, each with their own personality. Tucker (7yrs) is handsome, gentle, but protective looking. Addy (5.5yrs old) is silly, loves to cuddle, and full of energy.

If the Jackson family had a motto, it would be “Work hard, be kind, and treat people with respect.”

The Jacksons have lived on Parr Boulevard in Springwater for the last nine years. They choose to move there because it was a country location, but not far from the amenities of Barrie. They loved the large yard for the kids and dogs to play. The community has a relaxed, yet safe feeling, and it just felt like the place where everyone helps each other. All the neighbours are good people, with their own growing families, all willing to go the extra mile to help each other. They love being close to trails for running and dog walking. Recently, the local park even got the Little Library donated to it. (Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world). In their neighbourhood, the kids are always welcomed to play on the Jackson’s backyard court.

The Jackson family go on an annual Jackson boating trip with Scott’s side of the family every summer, which is something they thoroughly enjoy. They spend a lot of time with

access both sides of the family and are very fortunate they all live so close – Patty’s parents in Midhurst and Scotts in Stayner. Whether it be dinners on the deck with the grandparents, or fun times in the backyard with the little grand nieces and nephews, it is never a dull day on Parr Boulevard!

As you will see later on in this issue, the Jackson family feel very passionate about SaveStations, which are defibrillators that are housed locally to ensure people have quick should they ever be in a position to require immediate attention.

They were inspired by friends to get their neighbours together to protect each other. Together they can make Parr Blvd a safer community!

Finally, the Jackson’s wish to thank the advertisers who sponsor this magazine. It allows neighbours like them to stay connected and support one another.