Chrissy
“You need not even wait... the world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked. It has no choice; it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”
Chrissy’s mission when looking for a new house in the area was simple: find a great coffee shop within a few minutes from her eventual home.
Enter Victor Rose Espresso Bar. Like it has been for many people, it was a perfect fit from the day she discovered it.
Moving from a different city or town, people need to feel a sense of belonging and community in their new area, and the sooner the better. Chrissy left behind a strong community vibe in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and was eager to capture that feeling in Pointe Claire.
These days, you can often see her poring over her latest writing or working for her students. And judging by her welcoming smile and the connections she’s made over the years, it’s safe to say: mission accomplished.
Tell us about yourself
I am 45, and an English teacher at Vanier College. I’m originally from Boston, and I’m now settled here in Montreal for the long haul. I did a lot of moving around and traveling before I got here, so being here for fourteen years is actually the longest I’ve ever lived anywhere.
Over the next few years, I want to be there for my children and support them in every way possible as they navigate their teenage years. I also want to be there for myself, investing more in my physical health with things like yoga and horseback riding, and in my writing career. It’s separate from my teaching career but just as important. Generally, the next few years I aspire to be calm, focused and productive. We’ll see!
How did you first discover Victor Rose? What drew you in initially?
I’d always done my best writing and lesson planning and research at friendly neighborhood coffee shops. When I stopped in at Victor Rose, I was instantly charmed by Terry and Marie, and the delicious coffee. I loved the history involved in naming the business and the placard they hung in the front to commemorate him.
Plus, their IOU system was so sweet - they were cash only at that time and I didn’t have any cash to pay for my coffee. They knew I was just visiting from the city and I didn’t even live in the neighborhood, but they just said, no problem, come back and pay us the next time! I thought that was so fantastic.
How would you describe the vibe at Victor Rose?
It feels very much like a gathering place, a space where anyone (and their dog) is welcome, and there is a warmth that comes from every smiling face behind the counter. The vibe changes throughout the day, as with any coffee shop.
There is the morning rush that fills the place with loud chatter and the hiss of the espresso machine, the clatter of dishes. A bit later in the morning, the feeling is more familiar and comforting in the moments as the crowd thins out, and you can have a nice exchange with whoever is working next to you that day. In those moments it feels more like a big family living room you’re sitting in, and it’s so lovely.
Have you made any personal connections with anyone while you were at Victor Rose?
Victor Rose has been and continues to be a very important place for me, because it’s offered me a community outside of my house, which was a bit hard to find after I moved out from the city to the suburbs.
All my good friends were suddenly much further away and I felt pretty isolated at times, which was compounded by the fact that I did not grow up here and so I don’t have a wide base of childhood friends to rely on, nor do I have any family at all to help me out. And this only got harder when I became a single parent after my divorce a year ago. So this place has felt essential to me, kind of a lifeline at times!
I know that may sound silly, because I’m just talking about a coffee shop. But it feels like more than that to me, and I think that’s a result of Terry and Marie consciously cultivating this space in the way that they have for the community. I’ve also met a wonderful group of people among the regular customers, most of whom are women, so I’m grateful for this collection of strong, interesting women that I get to be in community with.
Just as important, if not more, is the connection I have formed with Terry and Marie. Terry is so open and friendly, and has felt at times like a second Mom. When my sister-in-law died suddenly at a young age, I saw Terry behind the counter the next morning and she immediately ran out to give me a big hug and let me cry.
She has seen me go through quite a bit of trauma: the death of my father, a bad accident where I broke my back, difficulties with my children, and then my recent divorce. She is always there, open and friendly, and she knows when to just listen, give advice, or when to just give me a big hug (she gives GREAT hugs by the way!). She and Marie are just fantastic people, and it’s sweet knowing Terry’s parents, too, who come into the coffee shop often and are (unsurprisingly) the loveliest people too!
Have you had any particularly interesting or inspiring moments while there?
I have had so many little moments where I strike up a conversation with an interesting person, or just people-watch over a few hours. One of my favorite encounters was with an elderly Italian woman. She drew me into a conversation about light topics at first, but then we really had a deep chat about life, marriage, children. She was incredibly wise, and funny, and an hour passed so quickly in conversation with her. And then she was gone! I won’t forget her.
How does Victor Rose fit into your daily or weekly routine?
When I’m working, I’m there a few times a week, but if I can I try to get there every morning! If I have a day off, I enjoy spending hours doing lesson planning, or writing or catching up on emails and making plans. Most Saturdays I’ll also try to get over there, often with one or both of my kids. I’m there a lot!
