When I was a kid, Sunday was always the most special day of the week. Sunday was synonymous with Niagara Falls, where the end of the weekend meant my family would pile into our Oldsmobile and drive from Toronto to the Falls. I grew up in the restaurant business so my dad didn’t have many days off, but Sunday afternoons were special. My dad had such a fascination with Niagara Falls and its worldwide reputation. My parents grew up in a village in Sparta, Greece, and whenever friends or relatives from Greece would come to visit, one of the first places my dad would take them was Niagara Falls. It was a special place for him and, consequently, became a special place for me too.

When I became a husband and a dad, I extended this family tradition to my own family. I try to get down to Niagara Falls with my kids about three times a year. We bike along the river and head over to Fort George or go find some fresh-made chocolate to purchase. I feel so much comfort thinking back on all the happy memories I have there and all the happy memories still to come. Sunday means family time. In many ways, visits to Niagara Falls bring back the kid in me. It’s like history repeating itself. Having the privilege of playing hockey in this country gave me opportunities to see Canada from coast to coast, but I really do think Niagara is one of the loveliest places in the country.

                                                                                                                          – As told to Samantha Pope 

Niagara Falls is on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum agreement.