I remember many shopping excursions to the United States with my mom—outlet stores filled with clothing and jewelry were thrilling, and buying unique back to school supplies made me feel like I was in a candy store. As I have aged, shopping is still a delight and yet my store preferences have evolved. As a new homeowner I would get excited about tools, and then after my kids were born I visited garden centres and kids’ gear shops more and more frequently. As a super busy Mom and business-owner, I now demand a ton from my shopping experiences. The stores must provide great value, include many items that I need, and allow me to research my purchases digitally. I have honed my passion for shopping and no longer trek south of the border to get my heart palpitating.

How a Kids Kayak for the Community Changed our Life

As a little girl, the main reason I went to sports stores to get a new bicycle, but today, these stores are akin to an adventure park for me. Kitchen appliances, lighting, inflatable rafts, flowers, fishing equipment, camping gear, yard toys, hunting attire, kitchen gadgets and life jackets—all can be found.

My family lives on a little island with only 30 houses and no cars. We carry our groceries and parcels in wheelbarrows via short barge ride, and then walk up a dirt pathway to the house. Our communal docks provide community fun all spring and summer and all of the island kids swim and do water sports until dark. Parents gather on the dock to watch the little ones play, as we deepen our sense of connection to and love for our island. A kids’ kayak for the community to use would be the perfect addition to summer fun on the island!

As you can see, the boys (and the dog!) are over the moon with our new finds. I am counting the days until school is out so that kids, dogs, and parents can all begin our summer tradition of embracing the community and enjoying all that island life has to offer.