Barrie couple overcomes challenges of tornado and long-distance to pursue dreams
The tornado that swept through a south-end Barrie neighbourhood in July 2021 uprooted trees and the lives of those living in the community, including Megan Kirk Chang and her husband Brandon, who are now looking ahead to their future after a turbulent 18 months.
Megan just landed her dream job, becoming a senior researcher at the University of Oxford in England.
It took her about a decade to get to this point, and her path has been anything but predictable.
Ironically, just weeks before the EF-2 twister, Megan had completed her Ph.D. dissertation on post-traumatic stress disorder.
"I think that the experience we have had together has helped me be a better researcher because I am able to connect with people going through really tough experiences," she said.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
After the tornado, the Changs, who were born and raised in Barrie, were forced to live separately for a year and a half.
Megan had taken a job at Yale University just two weeks after the disaster, while Brandon, who teaches at Georgian College, moved in with his parents.
"It was kind of all hands on deck for a good 15 to 18 months where just so much was happening. We're living in different countries. We're travelling back and forth, lots of work being done in the house," Brandon said.
Now they are finally back home together, although there are still signs of damage on the street.
But amidst the chaos, the Changs consider themselves lucky.
"One of the fortunate things that came from this is we've become really good friends with our neighbours across the street. It's a shared experience, and we go out for dinners now. It's been really wonderful," Megan said.
She will leave for Oxford at the end of the month to fill a three-year contract and said she and Brandon would take some time to decide their next steps.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Pro-Palestinian protests roiling U.S. colleges escalate with arrests, new encampments and closures
The student protests of Israel's war with Hamas that have been creating friction at U.S. universities escalated Tuesday as new encampments sprouted and some colleges encouraged students to stay home and learn online, after dozens of arrests across the country.
Tabloid publisher says he pledged to be Trump campaign's 'eyes and ears' during 2016 race
A veteran tabloid publisher testified Tuesday that he pledged to be Donald Trump 's 'eyes and ears' during his 2016 presidential campaign, recounting how he promised the then-candidate that he would help suppress stories that had the potential to harm the Republican's election bid.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.