The Citizen, 2016-12-22, Page 44PAGE 44. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016.
Gowing's story featured in `Globe and Mail'
K SIDE OF THE BOOM
Cotler girl
Alyssa Gowing was featured in a Globe and Mail video that
has reached hundreds of thousands and she says her story
was told in the newspaper's business section. She owns a
home in Belgrave and does what's necessary to make her
lifestyle sustainable and wanted to share her story, an
alternative to million -dollar condominium dwelling in
Toronto, or big money homes in Alberta. (Denny Scott photo)
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
A Belgrave woman has stirred up
discussion amongst hundreds of
thousands of people thanks to being
featured by The Globe and Mail.
Alyssa Gowing, daughter of Paul
and Jacquie Gowing of Morris-
Turnberry, was featured by the
newspaper on its website as a model
for millennial homeownership.
Gowing is a follower of the
newspaper's Generation Y blog and
has found interest in many of the
stories detailing the lives of people
of her generation, in their mid-20s or
younger. She submitted a profile to
the organization, simply attempting
to provide a glimpse into her
lifestyle and before she knew it she
was being contacted by reporters
wanting to interview her.
Gowing is in her mid-20s and, as a
single woman, owns her own home
in Belgrave. However, in order to do
so, she needs to adhere to a strict
budget including making the most
out of her food and travel expenses.
The video created by Globe and
Mail reporters lasts only a few
minutes, but Gowing's story has
attracted hundreds of thousands of
views on the newspaper's website
and she found herself on the cover of
one of the Globe's sections the
following weekend.
As with any issue on social media
in this day and age, Gowing has
found that her life story has its fair
share of fans and detractors. There
are some who say she is making the
best of her situation, while there are
others who have referred to her
existence as "sad" because she has
opted to put her money towards
owning a home, rather than directing
income towards recreational things.
In an interview with The Citizen,
Gowing said she feels she doesn't
have a choice in how she lives. She
knew she wanted to remain in Huron
County, she knew she wanted to own
a house and she's working within
her situation in order to achieve
those goals. In addition, she spends
plenty of time with friends and
family and doesn't consider her life
sad. With a two -minute video, it's
hard to tell the whole story, she said.
Gowing first knew she wanted to
tell her story after following the blog
and seeing profiles of people living
in cash -rich areas like Toronto and
Fort McMurray. A story like hers, of
a young homeowner in a rural area,
wasn't being told, so she
volunteered her own.
It began with a submission where
she described her situation in 20
words or less and the Globe's
journalists took immediate interest
in her situation.
Breaking down Gowing's earnings
and expenses, she has very little left
after paying her mortgage and
property taxes and the few bills she
has. However, instead of living with
her parents or renting (which
Gowing says is not a very viable
option in Huron County, where rent
would cost her nearly as much as a
mortgage payment, only without the
benefit of working towards
ownership), she has identified
owning a home as a priority.
In the Globe and Mail video, it
shows Gowing working towards
sustainability by making dishes that
will last several meals and renting
out garage space in order to make
some extra money.
The response, both positive and
negative, she said has been
overwhelming. Gowing, however,
admits that she wasn't quite
anticipating negative response. In
her mind, her story is hopeful and
positive. It shows that there are
alternatives to million -dollar
condominium living in Toronto, but
not everyone saw it that way.
Another story the video doesn't
exactly tell is the emotional side of
homeownership for Gowing. For
various reasons, she didn't know if
she would ever own her own home.
The fact that she can is a definite
source of pride for her, which is
something that can't be measured in
a line in a budget.
For many who have watched and
commented on the video, Gowing is
being viewed as a bit of a poster
child for "the dark side of the
housing boom" but she insists that
all she wanted to do was tell her
story and present an alternative to
the norm. She didn't want to be used
as an example of millennial
homeownership or even for Huron
County, although she believes it's a
great place to live.
"I did it for the right reasons. I
wasn't looking for any kind of
popularity," she said. "I know how
depressing it might seem, but it's not
sad at all."
She also says that the reason she
was able to go out on a limb as she
has is because of the support
network she has in place. She has
friends and family who, if something
were to go wrong, she knows would
be there for her.
To view Gowing's video or read
the article, visit the Globe and Mail
website at theglobeandmail.com.
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