They lived in a fourplex on 12937 - 125th Street when James Robert (me!) came along on June 24th at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital.
When I turned 2, they made the big move to the suburbs - 52 Finch Crescent in St. Albert, Alberta. Located just northwest of Edmonton, St. Albert was a quiet city that offered a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Edmonton:
Eight years later, when I was 10, Dad decided to pursue an opportunity with the provincial government as an auditor, ensuring proper taxes were being paid by the big oil companies. This job was located 3 hours south in the City of Calgary.
The move to 19 Brookpark Bay was in the southwestern quadrant of Calgary and offered some excellent hockey opportunities as well as a stunning view of the Rockies from my bedroom window:
The college years began in 1990 in Lethbridge, Alberta. Staying in the dorm for my first year gave me the lay of the land. The following years were spent off campus in 3 different apartment complexes. Nothing remarkable other than the daily Mac and Cheese and chinese noodles.
My final year of University was spent back and forth from Calgary and Lethbridge as I interned at IBM Canada in downtown Calgary. Three other places I lived in Lethbridge include Columbia Blvd. and MicMac Blvd:
Landing a permanent job at IBM after college meant another move to downtown Calgary, in my first paid apartment on the 27th floor overlooking the bow river and the famous 3rd Ave. (not famous for good reasons)
Later in 1995, at the age of 22, I decided it was a perfect time to stop renting and make the move to the suburbs. I decided to build a house in Airdrie, Alberta, located about 30 minutes north of downtown. Finding the perfect plot of land on a golf course, I broke ground on a place where I could customize to my hearts content:
Move in day was scheduled for December 15, 1995. That was until a fateful call from my manager at IBM, Michael Kerr. I accepted my first transfer on the same day I was supposed to move in to my first house.
Later in 1995, at the age of 22, I decided it was a perfect time to stop renting and make the move to the suburbs. I decided to build a house in Airdrie, Alberta, located about 30 minutes north of downtown. Finding the perfect plot of land on a golf course, I broke ground on a place where I could customize to my hearts content:
Move in day was scheduled for December 15, 1995. That was until a fateful call from my manager at IBM, Michael Kerr. I accepted my first transfer on the same day I was supposed to move in to my first house.
The move to Winnipeg was a lot of fun. IBM sent a big 18 wheeler moving truck to my apartment and the guys laughed when they saw my worldly possessions - a bed, couch, table, tv and computer.
They came back with a small cube van and made the move to 147 Norcross Crescent on the southeast side of Winnipeg. A nice new suburb, I was still able to choose the color and some options in the new home.
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Over the next 4 years, I was able to fill up the house of furniture and add 2 kids, some cars and a boat. The movers weren't laughing late in 1999 when they sent the cube van to move me to Toronto.
Another fateful call by my then manager, Joe Mardini, transferred me to the 'big smoke', center of the world, Toronto.
The house prices were outrageous which again put me 30 minutes north in a nice town of Newmarket, Ontario. 273 Herridge Circle was a nice home in Leslie Valley Estates with a walkout basement.
I will always remember getting up Sunday mornings to go play football with the guys in the neighborhood.
In 2003, I made a speculative move to Bradford, Ontario. This was 20 minutes north of Newmarket, and a full hour commute into Toronto. I built the home from scratch at 74 Gardiner Drive and decided to put the master on the main floor.
6 months later, I realized I speculated wrong and the commute was killing me. I made the move to Markham, Ontario where IBM's Canadian headquarters was located. The house was small, packed together with others and only had a single garage. It was the most expensive home I had ever bought!
The multicultural environment was wonderful, and the girls and I will remember being one of only two white families on our entire street. The neighbors were fantastic and we spent weekends out front with hockey and basketball nets - and loud music that could be heard blocks away.
We lived at 113 Brock Ave in Markham from 2003 to 2009 until another call from the manager, Michael Bruemmer, came. I will stop calling them fateful calls now - they are quite routine.
The opportunity to move to Raleigh, North Carolina was on the table - the home of Lenovo's headquarters. The girls were excited as we found a neat community in Durham called Grove Park. Having a lake in the back yard and a golf course in the front was a wonderful experience.
Being outdoors for 11 months of the year was a real change - and not having to winterize my boat which sat on the Atlantic Ocean year-round was amazing. I still own this house and rent it out today - 514 N. Waters Edge Drive:
After only a couple of years, a call came from Bob Godgart in Albany, New York. Leaving IBM/Lenovo after 17 years was a difficult choice, but the chance to be an entrepreneur and start ChannelEyes was too good to pass up.
Soon after I was joined in Albany by my magnificent wife to be - Michelle Ragusa! I still can't believe she gave up the weather in North Carolina to move back up to her birth state of New York.
Michelle left behind 2 houses in Durham and Cary, NC which she rents:
The move to Albany in January of 2011 reminded me of my cold northern roots. After renting a colleagues house for a few months, I moved into 5 Sliters Lane in Wynantskill, NY, on April 1st. Michelle joined me on June 1st, a few months later.
The house sits on 2 acres that needs to be cut, and a long driveway that needs to be plowed. The great thing is a 4 car garage so none of the toys sit outside.
Michelle left behind 2 houses in Durham and Cary, NC which she rents:
The move to Albany in January of 2011 reminded me of my cold northern roots. After renting a colleagues house for a few months, I moved into 5 Sliters Lane in Wynantskill, NY, on April 1st. Michelle joined me on June 1st, a few months later.
The house sits on 2 acres that needs to be cut, and a long driveway that needs to be plowed. The great thing is a 4 car garage so none of the toys sit outside.
On April fools day 2014, Brooklyn Marie McBain was born, and then 20 months later in late 2015 Cali Rose McBain was born. With the 9 of us (Michelle, Danica, Mila, Brooklyn, Luka (Black Sheppard), Mirage (Red Greyhound), Austin (Grey Cat) & me were having a blast!
Unfortunately we lost all three pets in the course of 12 months. We were devastated. In the summer of 2017, we adopted August Rush McBain (Auggie Doggy), a crazy, rambucious, Siberian Husky.
Around mid-year in 2017 we learned of a great opportunity for Michelle at Office Depot in Southern Florida. In December, we packed up our things, sold the Wynantskill house, and set our sights down south!
Around mid-year in 2017 we learned of a great opportunity for Michelle at Office Depot in Southern Florida. In December, we packed up our things, sold the Wynantskill house, and set our sights down south!
After living in temporary housing for 5 months, we bought a beautiful home in the Boynton Beach community of Canyon Isles. With our first pool and some great neighborhood amenities as well as the beach close by, we were living the Florida lifestyle!
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Read some other stories from A Few Thoughts - Jay McBain:
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My Life Story - Have you ever thought about the impact of big decisions that you made in your life? How about the small ones or the ones made for you? How would have your life turned out if things went the other way?
My Love Story - Michelle and met on October 15, 2010 in a serendipitous way. We were both part of a charity in Raleigh, NC and one night at a dinner struck up a conversation about many things - including our love of travel.
My Car Story - I have the dubious honor of getting speeding tickets on all 6 driveable continents - lucky that there are no cars in Antarctica! Did I ever tell you the time I passed the Polizia in Italy with my mom?
My Travel Story - The story started with a "Rollerblades and Red Bull" journey to 100 countries. It is now expanding in every direction after hitting 7 continents and the 7 wonders of the world (most with kids in tow).
My Nautical Story - I am pretty sure the love of water started in 1972 when I was six weeks old and my grandparents Bob and Dona McBain retired to Shuswap, British Columbia, Canada, and built a log cabin.
My Crazy MBA Story - In the summer of 2017, while climbing Machu Picchu, Peru as part of my wife Michelle’s International MBA from Manhattan College, I thought – why not me?
My Hockey Story - As long as I can remember, I have been playing hockey. Over four and a half decades and thousands of games later, I still lace them up a couple times a week, year-round.
My Cycling Story - When the Covid-19 pandemic first took hold in March 2020 we responded quickly as a family - including strict stay at home orders and no outside contact until we could get a handle on the risks. My attention now turned to exercise - and biking across North America (virtually).
My Retirement Story - I have no interest in disconnecting fully from the work that makes me so fulfilled. I could never see myself in bingo-playing retired life. I want to stay curious, engaged, and adding value past the (very specific) date in 2034 that I am aiming for.
My Christmas Story - Whether traveling to see family, or going to Disney or Hawaii, or simply staying home - the season is packed with memories of family and friends.
My Music Story - My favorite music can be best defined as sad / emotional / multi-level slow music. Oddly, it is opposite of my worldview - which is normally overly-positive and optimistic.
My Movie Story - Oddly enough, I think Pretty Woman made me very interested in business. I named my cat Austin Powers - oh, and yes, "Danger" is his middle name. Our current dog is named August Rush (Auggie Doggy). Movies such as Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Forrest Gump, & National Lampoon's Vacation have become soundtracks to my life.
