How life off the grid in Cape Breton lured families from British Columbia
WHYCOCOMAGH, N.S. — This is how Brett Walkins recalls the three years he spent living in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley: Nights of teeth-grinding and swearing in his sleep.
He would leave for work at 4:30 a.m. and would spend up to three hours commuting to his job managing construction of water treatment plants. He owned a big house, but spent little time there.
He and his wife didn’t really know their neighbours, and when he lost his job they had no reason to stay.
“But I’ve put that behind me now,” the lanky 34-year-old says, “and a weight is off my shoulders.”