Allegra Calder: Three Questions, Three Answers

1. Where did you grow up?

I became an American citizen a decade ago but remain a proud Canadian. I grew up in Woodstock, Ontario, which is one of a handful of cities in the country that claim to be its Dairy Capital. I’m grateful to have grown up in a small town even though I left for Montreal in 1990 - I was committed to live in cities with populations of half a million or more. Aside from school, I spent my formative years as a figure skater who also played basketball, attending summer camp, learning to appreciate heavy metal, and in high school, working part-time at the most Canadian of institutions, Tim Hortons.  

2. Who is your favorite band?

I have some longtime favorites (Pearl Jam, Radiohead, TV on the Radio), but I could never pick just one. Seattle is home to KEXP, which I deem to be the greatest radio station in the world. I’ve never been able to stick with one musical genre and KEXP doesn’t either. Every week I discover new music, hear stuff I already love, and get transported back to other places with songs I haven’t heard in decades. No algorithm could produce these playlists.

3. What is your favorite thing about the PNW?

Hands down it’s the natural beauty. The mountains and the ocean continually amaze and inspire me. For me, there is no better start to the day than biking alongside Puget Sound with views towards the Olympic Mountains and the ferries heading to and from Bainbridge Island. I feel incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful place.