A Carefree Life in Virginiatown

My father, Kazimizer Lopata came to Canada by himself in 1953 and worked in the gold mine in Timmins, Ontario. My mother, Krystyna Lopata came over with three children – Walter, Richard and Barbara, to join him in 1954.

We lived in Timmins, Ontario for a short time and then moved to Kearns, where we lived for two years. Both my brothers attended the Kearns Public school there.

After that we moved to Virginiatown where we lived for ten wonderful years at 7 Webster Street, which was rented from Kerr-Addison Gold Mines.

I cherish those memories of growing up in that small town. In the summer we’d go fishing, played baseball and swam in Bear Lake. In the winter we skated and played hockey at the McGarry Community Arena in North V-Town. Even the girls had a hockey team.

I remember when my brother Richard and I went to the Fall Fair at the McGarry Community Arena and we went up on stage to dance the twist in front of everyone. That was a very popular dance back then. We were enrolled in the Catholic school in Virginiatown and attended the Catholic Church in North V-Town where my brother Walter was an alter boy. We all did our First Communion and Confirmation at that church.

We later transferred over to Virginatown Public School before moving to Toronto to build new memories.

I still think fondly about Virginiatown and remember those carefree days. Also all the friendships that we made back then and unfortunately were lost due to the move. I’ll always remember you fondly.