Paul Kite is the owner of the art gallery Quinn's of Tweed. In this episode of I Left the City, we talk about how this former software entrepreneur found himself moving to Tweed and taking over a gallery without any previous experience in the art world, how he managed to quickly settle into a small town after a lifetime of city living, and why he recommends Hastings County to any professional that can work remotely.
Listen below, watch on YouTube, or read on for a few highlights.
A Leap into the Unknown
During one of Paul’s many visits to Tweed, where he often stopped while travelling between Toronto and Ottawa, he joked about buying a local pub. That joke led to a serious conversation about buying the local art gallery instead. With a background in software, the art world might seem like an unlikely next chapter for Paul, but his entrepreneurial skillset, lifelong appreciation of art, and retaining the former owner as his framer smoothed the transition. Paul says he didn’t need to understand art as much as he needed to understand his clientele and what kind of art they wanted to buy.
Settling in Small Town Life
We asked Paul, who’d lived in big cities all his life, if he was worried about adapting to small town life. Surprisingly, he wasn’t worried because he was already so familiar with Tweed. He was also quickly welcomed into the community as people popped in to introduce themselves. An invitation to join the local Kiwanis Club, followed by other opportunities to get involved in the local art scene and recreational sports helped him meet even more people.
Paul doesn’t miss the city at all. He says Tweed has everything he needs, most within walking distance. And when he goes to the corner store, they already have his order on the counter waiting for him—one of the perks of small town living.
Does Paul Recommend Leaving the City?
When asked if he’d recommend moving to Hastings County, Paul said he would. “There's theater, there's music, there's all sorts of community events almost every weekend in the Tweed area.” He also pointed to the outdoors, lower housing costs, and easy access to Toronto and Ottawa for when you do need a fix of the city. It’s a great place for young professionals with remote jobs.
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