Ruth Noordegraaf was born and raised in a small rural village in the Netherlands, the kind of place where life feels familiar, structured, and safe—but also, for Ruth, a little too small. Her mother was a teacher, and her father, a naval architect who designed large ships and freight carriers with pride and creativity. Although Ruth describes herself as a quiet, introverted child, she carried a deep curiosity about the world beyond her hometown and felt the pull to step outside her comfort zone to find a place where she truly belonged.
That curiosity eventually became a path. Ruth studied urban and regional planning, drawn to how cities function—how people move through space, how communities are shaped, and how decisions can improve daily life. During her studies, she spent six months living in Hungary, an experience that expanded her sense of possibility and showed her she could build a life somewhere new.
In her twenties, she began working in planning and consulting and started a family. When her daughter was still young, she and her partner applied for permanent residency in Canada. After years of waiting, they sold everything and arrived in Ottawa on December 31st, 2009—Ruth pregnant, excited, and terrified. They chose Kingston for its balance: a city with community, culture, and nearby nature, yet close enough to larger centres and not too far from Europe.
The first year was harder than she expected. Ruth hadn’t left the Netherlands because life was difficult—she left because she felt unsettled, searching for something she couldn’t yet name. Slowly, through volunteering, meeting other parents, and building friendships, she began to create a new home. Her career evolved from planning into sustainability and renewable energy, and later into immigration work, before taking on major roles in housing and social services with the City of Kingston. Through the pandemic, she witnessed how deeply social systems affect people’s lives, and her work shifted toward community well-being, belonging, inclusion, and connection.
A turning point came when her son was diagnosed with leukemia. In the most frightening moments, Kingston became more than a destination—it became a place held together by care, friendship, and support. Today, Ruth describes herself as a connector: someone who brings people together, links ideas, and strengthens the “nervous system” of a community. Her story is not only about moving countries, but about learning that home isn’t always a place—it can also be something you build inside yourself.