Education is like the foundation of a building. If it’s strong and laid correctly it can withstand any storm. With the right tools, challenges can turn into opportunities, a chance to explore a different direction perhaps. And for this reason, sometimes where we begin is just as important as where we end up.
(WATCH: Norm Hardie as he crafts the ultimate Ontario wine.)
A decade ago Norman Hardie had a dream to bring great wine to Prince Edward County. Looking at that dream now, it seems like a no brainer. Prince Edward County has added to the tradition of great Ontarian wines over the years. But ten years ago, there were a lot of critics. “People looked at Prince Edward County and said, ‘You just can’t do it there,’” says Hardie. It was a challenge Hardie welcomed.
Against the odds, Norm Hardie found a way to 'farm great grapes' in Prince Edward County.
Tired of wearing suits to work every day, Hardie left his job as manager of the Four Season’s restaurant in Toronto and embarked on an adventure to become cultured in the art of making wine. His travels took him to California, New Zealand, France and his birthplace, South Africa. He attributes his ability to see the opportunity behind every challenge to the education he received at Upper Canada College. “The critical creative analysis I got from my education, gave me a great foundation from which I could choose to do anything.”
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What challenges have you turned into opportunities? Share your thoughts and stories in the Comments section below.
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