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Welcome Back: Brooke Taylor

Powell River offers couple freedom and family connection
Brooke Taylor and Andrew Dow Powell River
SOFT LANDING: Brooke Taylor and Andrew Dow relocated to Taylor’s hometown from the Lower Mainland. The couple opened a yoga and movement studio in Townsite. They have two daughters: Anika, 10 months, and Talia, three. Contributed photo

Brooke Taylor described growing up in Powell River and Lund as a very grounded, rural childhood. However, like so many young people, she felt the desire to see the world and moved away shortly after graduating. Taylor travelled extensively and lived mainly in the Lower Mainland, where she pursued a diploma in business administration and worked everywhere from large corporations to serving in a pub. She and her partner Andrew Dow relocated to Powell River and run a movement and yoga studio in Townsite. The couple has two daughters and Taylor said she hopes they will enjoy the same kind of carefree childhood she did. Life in Powell River, she added, is a lot easier and balanced than it was in the city.

Whereabouts did you grow up here and where did you go to school?
I grew up south of town, Kelly Creek, until my teens, then we moved to the opposite end, Lund. I graduated from Max Cameron [Secondary School].

When and why did you leave?
I stayed in Powell River for a year after high school then was encouraged to travel by my mom. I travelled around Europe but I returned back after a few months. I then realized there was a lot more out there and I couldn’t stay in Powell River. I then quickly moved to Victoria.

What did you do there?
Victoria lost its luster fairly quickly and I packed up and moved to Vancouver within the year, a move I actually wasn’t very confident about but it became home quickly and I was there for 15 years.

When did you return?
I returned to Powell River a few years ago with my family. It took a full year from the time we decided we wanted to move to actually doing it.

What brought you back?
My partner Andrew suggested we live here after a weekend visit. He was born and raised in the city and quickly fell in love with Powell River. I had never considered it before that, but it did make sense. My parents also still live in the community and the thought of having them close was also a huge bonus. Vancouver definitely lacks the support that young families need and I knew we could find that in Powell River.

What are you doing now?
We have two young girls who keep us very busy and we have a yoga and movement studio, Elements Movement, in Townsite. We have a great setup and live on the same property as my parents in Lund. If we were still in the city I’m sure we wouldn’t have had another baby or could have owned a business.