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Muskoka’s Steamship Revolution

Muskoka Bees: Abuzz with activity

AUGUST 2016

PETER FROMME-DOUGLAS: Evolution of an artist HITTING THE HIGHWAY with Muskoka’s road show

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...telling the Muskoka story

Features 13

On high alert for ash borers

By Dawn Huddlestone Ash borers are lean, green, eating [24] machines and they’re making their way to Muskoka. When they do, it could have devastating effects on our local forests.

Abuzz with activity

By John Challis Beekeeping is booming across Ontario, but domestic and wild bees alike are under fire from environmental threats. Pollinators, like bees, play a crucial role in our ecosystem, which is why everyone has a role to play to help them persevere.

Evolution of an artist

By Dianne Park Thach Port Carling artist Peter Fromme-Douglas has spent his entire career pushing the creative envelope. After a lifetime devoted to art, he still manages to find new outlets to let his creativity run free.

[30]

2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

[24]

The man behind Muskoka’s steamship revolution

By Jack Hutton When a sidewheeler named Wenonah was launched on Gravenhurst Bay 150 years ago, it inspired a steamboating era that would forever change Muskoka. But few know the story of A.P. Cockburn, the man behind the revolution.

[17]

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Departments

Features

Cottage Country Cuisine

By Chris Occhiuzzi Muskoka’s craft breweries are developing a loyal following as beer enthusiasts discover everything they love about cottage country – in a bottle. [56]

Hitting the highway with Muskoka’s Road Show

By Dianne Park Thach Muskoka classic car collectors are opening their stunning showrooms to the public in support of the South Muskoka Hospital Auxiliary. Step inside and step back in time.

[38]

[44]

Trekking through the trees

By Sandy Lockhart High above the forest floor in Bracebridge and Huntsville, adventure seekers race through the trees on zip lines, balance on rope courses and make a leap of faith off jump towers. Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or challenging workout, Muskoka’s aerial parks await.

Muskoka Calendar

Discover what’s happening in Muskoka this month.

Living in Muskoka

By Dale Peacock When you’re a busy physician and philanthropist, spending time at the cottage with family is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Opinion

Our Cover

Muskoka Insights By Don Smith

Muskoka’s Steamship Revolution

By Les Stroud As a boy, Survivorman star Les Stroud went searching for adventure and found his calling in the Muskoka wilderness.

Muskoka Bees: Abuzz with activity

Muskoka Moments

[72]

AUGUST 2016

Photograph by Tim Du Vernet The Segwun, North America’s oldest operating steamship, passes through the locks in Port Carling.

PETER FROMME-DOUGLAS: Evolution of an artist HITTING THE HIGHWAY with Muskoka’s road show

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5

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{Muskoka Insights{ However, without Cockburn’s initiative, the Muskoka story might be much different. Also in this issue of Unique Muskoka, our readers can be a part of another more recent era with a visit to the collections of automobiles and memorabilia that have been preserved by some longtime Muskokans. They have a passion for antique and classic vehicles and are opening their doors to the public as part of a fundraiser to support the South Muskoka Hospital Auxiliary on Aug. 13. For those interested in the outdoors, balancing on a cable – high in the treetops – might provide you with the thrill you are seeking. Or, you might be interested in what steps are being taken to stem the invasion of the emerald ash borer. And, there is the dedicated group of beekeepers who are doing their part to ensure these important pollinators will continue to provide diversity within our flora. Muskoka is known for its artisans and one who has a reputation for his creativity is Peter Fromme-Douglas. Always pushing the boundaries and finding new ways to demonstrate his talent, Fromme-Douglas brings vibrancy to his work… a perfect reflection of his personality. And for a truly unique taste of Muskoka, you won’t want to miss our regular feature, Cottage Country Cuisine. In this issue, we tell the story of Muskoka’s brew masters and share some recipes that pair well with their ales. For our close, adventurer Les Stroud shares how a childhood in Muskoka prepared him for his role as Survivorman. Muskoka… so much to celebrate… so unique! Happy reading. Photograph: Susan Smith

Taking a cruise on the RMS Segwun is like taking a step back in time. Shutting your eyes during the calm of a late-night cruise, it doesn’t take one long to envision they were there, some 150 years ago, when the first steamer crossed Lake Muskoka. The rippling of the water against the hull, the powerful whooshing of the mighty piston drive, the blending of the cool night breeze with the intense heat from the coal-fired boiler… all interrupted by the piercing sound of the ship’s steam whistle. With a little imagination, our senses allow us to do some travelling to a time before automobiles and highways. It’s the closest we can get to understanding the thoughts of the entrepreneurial Alexander Peter Cockburn who invested in the launching of a steamship company on the waterways of Muskoka. For Muskoka, it was a time when its potential would be opened to the rest of the world. It took a person with vision and daring, and A.P. Cockburn demonstrated he had both and more as he set about building the small fleet that would push development up the lakes. It seems only natural that an area as blessed as Muskoka – with so many navigable lakes and rivers – would welcome its first settlers and visitors by ship. And, when natural obstacles stood in the way, as they did in Port Carling, it took a person with Cockburn’s determination and connection to overcome them. In this issue of Unique Muskoka, we are marking the 150th anniversary of the launching of the Wenonah, the first of A.P. Cockburn’s fleet but just as importantly, we are also celebrating Cockburn, the man who made it all possible. While Cockburn accomplished much, contributor Jack Hutton tells us this pioneer of transportation died before the truly golden years of steamship travel in Muskoka.

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On high alert for ash borers

Photograph: Daniel Herns, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org

t’s a lean, green, eating machine and it’s making its way to Muskoka. When it does, it could have devastating effects on our local ash population. The emerald ash borer is a small – about one centimetre long – metallic green, bulletshaped beetle that attacks all true species of ash (Fraxinus spp.). It was discovered in the County of Simcoe in 2013 and has been found on Manitoulin Island and in Sault Ste. Marie. Traps have been set in Bracebridge’s Kerr Park, in a partnership between the Muskoka Conservancy and the Town of Bracebridge, to determine if the beetle has arrived in Muskoka. “The beetle is lethal to ash trees,” says

Allison Winmill, a forest health specialist with BioForest Technologies, who helped to set the traps. “If left untreated, an infested tree will die.” It’s the beetle’s larvae that does the most damage, says Winmill. “The adult female will lay her eggs on the bark of the tree. When they hatch, the larvae then tunnel into the cambial layer of the tree (its growing layer) and begin to feed. They chew in a characteristic “S” or serpentine pattern, which causes the vascular tissue to become compromised by preventing the flow of essential water and nutrients between the leaves in the crown and the roots. The larvae overwinter under the protective bark, and in the spring the

Photograph: Allison Winmill

Photograph: Penn. Dept. of Conserv. and Nat. Resources

Article by Dawn Huddlestone

adult beetle emerges and the cycle begins again.” By the time it’s apparent the tree is in distress, it has already experienced severe internal damage. Early detection of the beetle is crucial, which is why green prism traps have been hung in Bracebridge. They use a “green leaf volatile in combination with a pheromone to attract the beetles, which then stick to the trap,” says Winmill. Emerald ash borers migrate slowly on their own – only a few kilometres per year, according to Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program – but they can travel in infested wood products like firewood, lumber and wood chips. “For Muskoka, this is a big concern,” says Winmill. “People should not be transporting firewood around the province to try and

Left: The beetle’s larvae do the most damage. When they hatch, the larvae tunnel into the cambial layer of the tree and begin to feed, which prevents the flow of essential water and nutrients in the tree. Top left: About one centimetre in length, the emerald ash borer is a metallic green, bullet-shaped beetle that attacks all true species of ash. Top right: Traps have been set in Bracebridge in a partnership between the Muskoka Conservancy and the Town of Bracebridge, to determine if the beetle has arrived in Muskoka. August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 13

Photograph: Jan McDonnell

would like to protect and start a treatment plan right away. All infested non-treated ash trees will die and must be removed as soon as possible.” For now, Muskoka is watching and waiting. The beetle’s arrival is almost certain, if it’s not here already. “We want to raise awareness about the potential threat to our forests,” says Jenn LeMesurier, land stewardship co-ordinator for the Above: After feeding on the growing layer of a tree, which Muskoka Conservancy. “If they are prevents the flow of water and nutrients, the ash borer here, they would be emerging from larvae overwinter under the protective bark. Left: A green prism trap is prepared to test to see if the ash borer has the trees now.” She hopes the traps, which will arrived in Muskoka. be checked at the end of August, won’t crown, and have dead branches or yellowing contain any of the beetles. Without knowing, of leaves. Look for the beetle’s D-shaped exit the local ash population can’t be protected. holes in the bark. Treatment can be successful if the beetles are If you do find evidence of the emerald ash found early. borer on your property, contact the Ontario “We encourage people to be aware of what Ministry of Natural Resources at 1-800-667could be on their property,” says LeMesurier. 1940 or report sightings to the Invading “Closely monitor your ash trees and be on Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711. the watch for signs that the beetle is here.” Contact a certified arborist regarding Infested ash trees may be thinning at the treatment plans.

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14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Photograph: Penn. Dept. of Conserv. and Nat. Resources

reduce the spread. With ash being a component of the natural and urban forest in Ontario, this invasive insect pest has caused severe and significant mortality. (Once the beetle arrives) a municipality can then decide which high value trees they

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Article by John Challis Photography by Eleanor Kee Wellman

ut in the garden right now, a bit of magic is going on. Single-minded bees barely two centimetres long are dipping into flowers, guzzling their own body weight in nectar. Back at the hive, workers are collecting digested nectar from the gatherers as they arrive, passing them along in a bee bucket brigade to the honeycomb. Digestive enzymes in each bee are breaking down the nectar into a sweet goo. The bees beat their wings around the nectar now resting in combs to evaporate water content. As it evaporates it becomes the sticky ambrosia we call honey. The honey gets a cap of wax for storage. It takes more than 10,000 bees sipping at about eight million flowers

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to create a pound of honey. And a beekeeper can expect to harvest up to 50 pounds (23 kg) of honey or more from a hive. Small wonder beekeepers risk a few stings to keep their hives. Beekeeping is booming across Ontario. For a host of reasons, newcomers are coming to the practice in – well, in swarms. Some have come driven by news headlines, with the urge to help threatened honeybees. Others are keen to tap into that strange, special relationship between a beekeeper and 25,000-plus industrious, stinging insects. At a recent meeting of the Muskoka Parry Sound Beekeepers’ Association, half the people in attendance were beginners. In Muskoka, beekeeping is primarily a pastime, the association’s president, Cathy Crowder, says. “They’re all hobbyists; they have 15 or 20 hives at the most,” she says. Many beginners are quite content to deal with one or two hives. Crowder herself operates four yards in Milford Bay and elsewhere, with a handful of hives at each. Her father-in-law, Jim Smith, who’s been at it since the early 1980s, is one exception: he’s managing eight yards with about 60 colonies. He keeps about 40 of them at Deerhurst Resort, where Poppa Jim’s Honey is used in their kitchens. The veterans know it’s best to keep hives scattered in different locations. Smith says he started because he had a little extra money one year and went shopping for bees from an older beekeeper in Hillsdale. He was warned he had a lot to learn. So he started reading. “I’m still learning today,” he says. When he began he had a lot of welts from angry bees. Today, he says, he can work in a hive and barely needs to use the smoker that calms bees. “I’m always asked, ‘How many times have you been stung?’” he says. “Well, I ask right back, ‘How many times have you made love?’” Who cares? Who counts? Smith’s personality is classic beekeeper: part curmudgeon, part poet. People mired in the rut and squabble of the business world will label beekeepers as eccentrics. But a beekeeper is a person deeply in sync with the rhythms of the hive – the rhythm of nature. “I love it,” Smith says. “You’re out there with the bees, working with them and you’re

not concentrating on the cost of the dollar or anything else.” For newcomers, there are a few lessons before getting to that state of oneness with the bees. First off: it’s expensive. And time consuming. Starting a hive requires an outlay of about $170 for the hive alone – plus parts. Queens run from $25 to more than $45 and the starter colony to go with it – known as the nucleus, or “nuc” colony – is about $180.

Smith is ordering six queens from California. Others are shipped from Australia, New Zealand or Chile: it’s an international trade. New frames have to be added as the existing ones fill with eggs or honey. An electric fence is a necessity in Muskoka. Bears love hives: they’re after the larvae as much as the honey, and their technique is smash and grab. You also run the risk of losing the whole hive with winter die-back.

A harsh winter or a changeable spring is hard on a hive; experience teaches when the hive needs sugar water for extra food. And there’s medication. Honeybees are vulnerable to a host of diseases, pests and parasites. Formic acid, for example, is an organic pesticide that protects against varroa mites, which can wipe out an entire hive. “Honeybees are not natural; they are domesticated,” explains Susan Chan, one of Ontario’s top bee researchers and a faculty

Top: Tri-colored bumblebees are common wild bees in Muskoka. Above: Beekeeper Jim Smith checks a frame to find the queen. Right: A hive holds several frames that can be removed individually. August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19

member at Fleming College’s School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences. They do not survive well in the wild. They’re sensitive to changes in weather and atmospheric pressure, she adds; the wrong change can make them grumpy. Certain scents will set them off, too, like wool clothing, or the wrong shampoo. And although he boasts he can work with them without being stung, Smith admits they can be temperamental. “You can be out there one day and they’ll be gentle, nice as anything,” he says. “And the next day you go out…,” Smith says, using some colourful language to describe their change in demeanour. We value honeybees for the honey, but their wider value, as they collect pollen and nectar for the hive, is in pollination. Honeybees are generalists, feeding on anything that blooms, including trees and agriculture, where pollination is worth billions to farmers. But they pass over some crops. Some have no interest in tomatoes or eggplant and don’t do a good job with others.

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Enter the native bees. Chan’s studies have taken her beyond the beehive to the rest of the enormous superfamily that comprises bees. There are 400 species of bee in Ontario, with names like mason bees, leafcutters and squash bees. Roughly two per cent specialize in farm crops. Many focus strictly on one type of plant. The aptly named squash bee pollinates squash, pumpkin and zucchini. Bumblebees excel at pollinating tomatoes, and are often kept in greenhouses for that purpose. “I consider the bumblebee as the workhorse of the bee world, in the wild and in agriculture,” she says. And native bees are hardier. Where honeybees stop work in cold and wet weather, the wild bees continue blithely on. “Native bees are the true Canadians,” Chan says with a laugh. Domesticated or wild, all bees are facing threats to their breeding success on many fronts. Smith laments how difficult it has become to keep bees. “In the early ‘80s, it was awesome,” he recalls. “We didn’t have the diseases, the viruses and the mites that

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have come in now.” Pesticides are the most controversial threat. Neonicotinoid-soaked seeds protect plants from pests but kill beneficial insects in the process. Agricultural practices are changing in ways that are crowding out habitat for native bees. Chan is project manager with Farms at Work, helping farmers modify their practices in ways that keep their operations profitable but restore bee habitat. Fortunately for Muskoka’s bees, farms are small-scale with lots of bush and meadow between tilled fields. And, neonicotinoids aren’t used. But Chan says the larger threat of climate

change does exist. As annual mean temperatures rise, the southern extent of the bees’ territory shrinks. Bees move farther north in search of new territory. Bee larvae and pupae are emerging as adults earlier in the spring. In Muskoka, the honeybees were out a week and a half earlier than normal this spring, only to be faced with freeze-up and snow that followed a week later. If the flowers aren’t blooming earlier too, they’ll face food shortages. We all have a role to help bees. Pollinators can be attracted to gardens by providing them with nesting sites. Many hardware stores now offer “bee houses” filled with

tubes that mason bees and leafcutter bees will use to lay their eggs. At your garden centre, ask if the plants were treated with neonicotinoids. Your manicured lawn could be much more attractive if it was converted to meadow. All it takes is benevolent neglect and wildflower seeding. Meadows will produce wild clovers, sumach, basswood and alder, goldenrod and asters, adding colour and aroma to the yard. More blossoms help the bees, which in turn help build healthier gardens and meadows. And the thrum of dozens of species of bee will be the audible reward.

Top: A smoker is used to calm the bees so that the beekeeper can work on the hive. Above: A honeybee gets nectar from a dandelion 22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

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evolution of an artist

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Article by Dianne Park Thach / Photography by Scott Turnbull

io be an artist, you need a few key attributes and the understanding that you’re in for a solo trip, says Port Carling artist Peter Fromme-Douglas. “You have to have the gift, you have to have the passion, and it’s a lonely walk,” he says, explaining that creating art is an individual journey. “Getting into it is a big black hole that only you and your Maker and your abilities can live in. You have to go through all that first to come out the other side. Artists are not alone in their insecurities.” Fromme-Douglas has been an artist since he was five years old. He grew up in northern Ontario and Toronto, took off for California at the age of 15, and spent some time in Vancouver before heading back to Toronto to work in his father’s photography shop on Yonge Street. He retreated to Muskoka in the 1990s, away from the big cities and the travelling that were constant parts of his art career. “I had riches and fame and I walked away from it,” he says. “I didn’t like what it did to me or what it did to my work.”

The 66-year-old began his career painting women. People told him his work wouldn’t sell and that it was too personal. But he wanted to make it work and did it anyway, painting women who lived in the 1930s and ‘40s. He later went to New York City to show his art. The rest, as they say, is history. “It was just around the time when women’s lib(eration) was getting powerful and these women were stunningly beautiful. When you looked into their eyes, there was an unbelievable strength and you knew that no matter how beautiful and delicate and fragile they looked, you weren’t going to mess with them; they were solid,” he says. At one of his shows in Boston, a woman approached him and asked, “You realize what you’re doing here, right? There’s strength in every single one of these women and I can see that.” Fromme-Douglas smiles as he describes how happy and excited he was to hear that, remembering the feeling. His career took off with that series and it all began with something others told him he couldn’t do. Being an artist is the path FrommeDouglas believes he was meant to follow. “When we are born, we are given certain abilities, certain gifts that we follow as we go

Above: Peter Fromme-Douglas with one of the many vintage cameras from a collection passed down by his father. His wife, Leda, reads in the background of his gallery in Port Carling. Opposite page: FrommeDouglas is working on a series of new encaustic paintings, also known as hot wax painting. Colour is added to heated beeswax and then applied to a type of canvas surface. Heat and different tools are used to mould it and push it around.

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 25

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through life,” he says. “So mine was the creative problem-solving mind and a sense of rightness. I know when something is off.” While his focus is mainly impressionist fine art, his work has ranged from painting, photography, building design, graphic design, boat design, commissioned portraiture, and custom work commissioned by corporate clients. He has had exhibitions throughout North America and has earned a number of awards, including a Golden Squeegee Award/ World’s Best Serigraph from the Screen Printers Association. He created the silkscreen work in collaboration with Michael Caza of Atelier D’Art in Paris, France, who is world-renowned for his work with Picasso, Miro, Chagall and Dali. Fromme-Douglas has worked in all mediums and enjoys the creative stimulation

that comes with mastering a new technique. For example, he will take a photograph and transform it using a different medium and his 30 years of photo editing and manipulating skills. “There’s a constant desire for me to come up with something that no one else has done. That’s what drives me to the next thing,” he says. Fromme-Douglas is currently working with 500 of more than 1,500 black and

white photos from the Cameron Peck boat collection. These photos, which have not been seen by the public, feature boats that Peck had either built or acquired. These boats were seen around Lake of Bays and the Muskoka area in the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s. Since he was a boy, Peck and his family used to travel from Chicago, IL to the Baysville area for their summer vacations. He later became a boat enthusiast and amassed a collection of 40 to 50 boats and steamers. Some of the vessels were stored at the Baysville Marina, which he once owned. Fromme-Douglas stumbled upon the images when a friend had a CD that contained a small sampling of the photos. In addition, Fromme-Douglas is also working on a series of new art titled Movement. He started it last summer and

Top: Peter Fromme-Douglas created this massive John Lennon painting, A Crack In The Wall, which is on display in his Port Carling gallery. Above: Fromme-Douglas stands next to his wall of “romanticized” historic photographs of Muskoka. He is currently working with 500 of more than 1,500 black and white photos from the Cameron Peck boat collection. These photos have not been seen by the public and feature boats that Peck had either built or acquired, seen around Lake of Bays and the Muskoka area in the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s. August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27

Above: Peter Fromme-Douglas stands with a piece from his new series entitled Movement. Below: Fromme-Douglas uses a propane torch to heat an encaustic piece from a the same series. some pieces of work have or will become encaustic paintings, also known as hot wax painting. Colour is added to heated beeswax and then applied to some type of canvas surface. Fromme-Douglas has been building his own wood canvas frames from scratch and pouring his own wax into blocks in a workshop next door to his gallery. “It’s a weird medium to work with but I love the quality of it. It has a softness, translucent, kind of eerie quality that I really like,” he says. He loves the feeling of movement and has been experimenting with different ways of putting movement into his photography or paintings.

28 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

When Fromme-Douglas expresses why he does what he does, he refers to a saying his friend George, a retired pastor, once told him. “I wrote it down on the back of this card because I didn’t want to forget it,” he says,

reaching for a white index card propped up on a table next to him. He reads, “‘You can’t have a true biography without love.’ When he said this to me I took out the word biography and put anything in there,” he says. “You can’t do what you do without love and if you do, it’s biased. When I paint, when I create, it’s all about love. It is a commitment to looking for the best of the best in whatever I am doing, whether it’s a subject, a boat, a woman, an old man, a flower,” he explains. And he can’t imagine spending his time on anything except art. “If I make it to 90 years old I will still be doing this every single day, 20 hours a day if I can.”

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Photograph: Courtesy of the Muskoka Lakes Museum

150th Anniversary Feature

Muskoka's Steamship Revolution Article by Jack Hutton

he history of Muskoka may have been far different if a stubby little sidewheeler called Wenonah had not been launched on June 1, 1866 on Gravenhurst Bay, becoming the first steamboat to sail on Lake Muskoka. The 80-foot ship had been under construction all winter, not far from where Boston Pizza is located today. Folks on shore watched in suspense as it was slowly eased through the marshy shoreline into the lake.

30 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

There was both applause and a huge sigh of relief when the Wenonah was finally afloat. More than a few wondered, however, whether Alexander Peter Cockburn, the 29-year-old businessman who commissioned the steamboat, had taken leave of his senses. Everyone knew that lake levels varied nine feet between spring and late fall. There were no lighthouses, no wharves around the lake to dock a steamboat, no skilled mechanics to repair the ship’s engine. Who was crazy

enough to launch a steamboat at this time? Now, 150 years later, we know that the scoffers were wrong. The launching of the Wenonah inspired a steamboating era that would change Muskoka forever. It has taken us all these years to realize the full impact that Cockburn had on Muskoka, not only in steamboating but also immigration and tourism. Born in 1837, Cockburn came with his parents at the age of 20 to Kirkfield, east of

Photographs: Courtesy of the Muskoka Lakes Museum

150th Anniversary Feature

Above: At 123 feet long, the Cherokee was slightly smaller than its sister ship, the Sagamo. The Cherokee was launched in 1908. Right: This postcard depicts summer resort guests, dressed in their finery, watching the Sagamo arrive on Lake Rosseau. Opposite page: This photo of A.P. Cockburn as a dashing young man with full black beard was taken in 1867, three years after he married Helen and one year after launching the Wenonah. Lake Simcoe, where he first worked in his family store and then opened a store of his own. A natural politician, he was elected as township reeve in his late 20s. The family moved to Orillia in 1864 where he met and married Helen Proctor, daughter of the richest man in Beaverton. In 1865 Cockburn visited the Baisong Rapids at the future location of Port Carling and saw the tourism benefits of a lock linking Lakes Muskoka and Rosseau. He put his thoughts on paper for D'Arcy McGee, the minister of agriculture, who urged him to publish a pamphlet. Cockburn wasted no time in following his new vision. Armed with a $10,000 loan from his father-in-law, Cockburn decided to place a steamboat on Lake Muskoka. The keel was laid on a shore of Gravenhurst Bay in the fall

of 1865, supervised by two residents of Sparrow Lake with overseas experience in shipbuilding. The flat-bottomed ship, which had a running speed of just over 10 miles per hour, was completed in time for launching on June 1, the following spring. The Wenonah kept running aground or hitting unexpected rocks until 1874 when a new dam at Bala Falls made it possible to control lake levels. Right from the beginning, Cockburn was lobbying vigourously for a lock system linking Lake Muskoka and Lake Rosseau. The project won provincial approval in 1869, but ran into construction difficulties. It wasn’t until late 1871 that the Wenonah was the first ship to pass through the lock. Meanwhile, Cockburn had been elected MPP for the riding of Victoria, which included Muskoka. He persuaded the

coalition government to pass legislation in 1868 providing free land grants. He urged the formation of a settlers’ association and became its first president. In 1872, he moved into federal politics as MP for his Muskoka riding. Cockburn was only a sneeze away from going broke during his first two years of running the Wenonah, but was in the black after that. He incorporated the Muskoka and Nipissing Navigation Company in 1881 with a fleet of six ships that included the Wenonah, the Wabamik, which became the first steam ship on Lake Rosseau, the Nipissing and three tug boats. They were soon followed by the Kenozha (1883) which carried 350 passengers, the Oriole (1886) a secondary steamer, the Nipissing II (1887) and the Medora (1893).

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 31

The Wenonah was retired in 1885 to an island northwest of Walker’s Point, serving as a house boat for the Cockburn family, which owned property there. The ship was sunk off the island after a season or two, but not before Cockburn’s daughter had

Photographs: Courtesy of the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society

Photograph: Courtesy of the Muskoka Lakes Museum

150th Anniversary Feature sketched the boat at their shore. Cockburn continued as general manager until his death at 68 in June, 1905. By then he had built “one of the most prestigious boat lines on the inland waterways of Canada,” according to Muskoka historian Richard Tatley. Unfortunately, Cockburn did not fare as well as his company. He was no longer the chief shareholder in his later years and a younger man was being groomed for his job as general manager. A discouraged Cockburn died just before the arrival of what Tatley calls “the Golden Age of the Muskoka steamers.” Huge crowds turned out in 1906 to welcome a new flagship that could carry as many passengers as any two of the previous steamships. The Sagamo, which had its maiden voyage on June 15, 1907, was 152 feet long and could hold 800 passengers and 26 crew members. It was followed a year later by the Cherokee, which was similar to the Sagamo but smaller at 123 feet long. The navigation company soon needed another steamboat to meet

Clockwise from top: The navigation company’s fleet included the Islander, Cherokee and Medora. They would transport tourists to and from Muskoka resorts in luxury. A.P. Cockburn described himself in his later years as “one of the hardest worked and worst paid transportation managers upon the continent.” That frustration is evident in a photograph taken not long before he died in June 1905. An undated photograph shows several Muskoka and Nipissing Navigation Company steamers in winter drydock. A.P. Cockburn provided land transportation to bring his customers to Gravenhurst and the Wenonah, this poster reveals. APRIL 7, 1837

1865

Alexander Peter Cockburn, the father of Muskoka’s steamboat era, is born.

A.P. Cockburn visited the Baisong Rapids at the future location of Port Carling and sees the tourism benefits of a lock linking Lake Muskoka and Lake Rosseau.

JUNE 1, 1866

1868

1871

Wenonah launches on Gravenhurst Bay, becoming the first steamboat to sail on Lake Muskoka.

After being elected MPP in Victoria, which included Muskoka, A.P. Cockburn persuades the coalition government to pass legislation to provide free land grants.

Wenonah becomes the first ship to pass through the new lock system linking lakes Muskoka and Rosseau.

Above: The Sagamo, which had its maiden voyage on June 15, 1907, was 152 feet long and could hold 800 passengers and 26 crew members. It was destroyed by fire in 1969. Below: The early fleet of the Muskoka and Nipissing Navigation Company in summer drydock.

Photograph: Courtesy of the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society

the demand. They turned to the Nipissing II, which had been dry docked since 1914. The old ship was in bad shape but its 124-foot iron hull and lower decks were still sound. Months later, the old side-wheeler was converted into a propeller steamer and set sail on July 29, 1925. It was renamed as the Segwun, which is Ojibway for springtime. Boom years lasted until the 1920s, but the world was changing. Cottagers were using their own motorboats to get around the lakes. The automobile also gave people a new form of mobility. Then came the stock market crash of Oct. 29, 1929, which triggered the Great Depression. Tourism crashed in Muskoka as people could not afford to come north. In 1958, the Sagamo and the Segwun, the last two steamboats on the Muskoka lakes, stopped cruising. The Sagamo was turned into a floating restaurant but was destroyed

Photograph: Courtesy of the Muskoka Lakes Museum

150th Anniversary Feature

1874

A new dam is built at Bala Falls, which makes it possible to control lake levels and allows the Wenonah to navigate without running aground or hitting unexpected rocks.

1881

A.P. Cockburn incorporates the Muskoka and Nipissing Navigation Co., which has a fleet of six ships that includes Wenonah, Wabamik, Nipissing and three tug boats.

1885

1887

June 1905

The Wenonah is retired to an island near Walker’s Point and serves as a house boat for the Cockburn family.

The Nipissing II launches.

A.P. Cockburn dies at the age of 68.

150th Anniversary Feature

CAPTIVES IN PARADISE By J. Patrick Boyer

The 800-passenger Sagamo has its maiden voyage and ushers in the “Golden Age of the Muskoka steamers.”

After being dry docked since 1914, the Nipissing II is relaunched as the Segwun to meet the passenger demand.

whose land values were not appreciating as they’d hoped because the government was giving away free farm land, Photograph: Courtesy of Boyer Muskoka Archive wrote their MPPs. Opposition members, to discredit the settlement project, At the corner of Dominion and quoted all with glee in the legislature. That was also Quebec streets in Bracebridge, making news. the prominent Northern Something had to be done. Just in time, the Advocate building is where the steamboat had begun Muskoka’s fundamental first newspaper in northern reorientation. Ontario was published in the In addition to mud, rock, stumps and swamps 1870s, promoting Muskoka glimpsed along bug-infested inland trails where settlement. horse-drawn wagons and coaches struggled to advance, the place could now be easily travelled by water and viewed from majestic lakes. McMurray’s crusade and A.P. Cockburn’s quest to develop Muskoka by steamer inspired them to invite Canadian newspapermen from the cities, tour them around on the steamboat Wenonah, feed them with information and ensure hard-drinking reporters achieved true insight. Editors could see for themselves what a grand place Muskoka was and how narrow, sour and wrong its critics. Their guests would be captives in paradise. In the summer of 1871, the Canadian Press Association’s editors and newspapermen duly toured Muskoka, its memorable highlight a day aboard Cockburn’s Wenonah. Muskoka’s champions, McMurray and Cockburn vied to outshine each other with educational addresses to An elected municipal official and the enchanted scribes. Boyer circulated the decks, enterprising Muskoka businessanswering questions while refilling every glass. man with diverse interests, Returning to their city newsrooms after their Thomas McMurray published well-lubricated and closely-guided tour, the men The Northern Advocate and glowingly informed thousands of readers that invited newspapermen to see Muskoka was one of Canada’s most promising places, easily three-quarters of it ideal for farming. “the real Muskoka” from the Yes, steamboats changed everything. decks of Wenonah. Engraving: Courtesy of Boyer Muskoka Archive

Steamboats changed everything. Muskoka had been opened for settlement and folks in the United States and Britain learned about free-land farming – the once-in-a-lifetime chance to win big – through Ontario government brochures, national railway and trans-Atlantic steamship company advertisements. Muskoka newspaper publisher Thomas McMurray also provided unrivalled accounts in The Northern Advocate and his book, The Free Grant Lands of Canada. In the early 1870s, McMurray’s weekly was crammed with practical information, news, advertisements for local services, poetry, serialized novels, reports on the fledgling District’s activities and Muskoka’s attraction for immigrants wanting to farm. The first newspaper in northern Ontario, the Advocate contained plenty of what McMurray called “information from practical experience” for would-be settlers. His mission was “to bring the Free Grants Lands now at the disposal of the Government prominently before the notice of those who want to find homes. Every opportunity will be seized upon to open up and develop this Great Territory.” Working with editor James Boyer and printer David Courtney, his Bracebridge weekly published travel schedules, ship and train fares, tips to guide those coming for land, and advice from farmers already prospering here. A local sheet with a grand mission, half the copies were mailed to the United States and Britain. But there was a serious problem. In an era when newspapers were the main way people learned about things, Free Grant Lands were getting a bad rap. Sour reports about “farming” the Canadian Shield were spreading as discouraged settlers penned letters-to-the-editors of city newspapers. Disgruntled farmers in southern Ontario,

The stock market crashes, triggering the Great Depression, which causes a tourism crash in Muskoka.

1958

1982

The Sagamo and the Segwun, the last two steamboats on the Muskoka lakes, stop cruising.

After a full restoration, the Segwun sets sail again. It holds the distinction of being the oldest operating steamship in North America.

by fire in January 1969. Thanks to local steamboat enthusiasts who campaigned to save it, the Segwun became a dockside museum in the early 1960s. The Ontario Road Builders’ Association came to the rescue and the Segwun was slowly restored with the help of hundreds of volunteers. It has been cruising since 1982 and was later joined by the Wanda III in 1996 and Wenonah II in 2002. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of steamboating in Muskoka, on Aug. 20 both the RMS Segwun and Wenonah II will recreate the nostalgic 100-mile cruise featuring all three of the Muskoka lakes and will be escorted by over 100 antique and classic boats. The Muskoka Discovery Centre (formerly the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre) also has a new exhibit with a spectacular side view of what the Wenonah looked like in 1866. As for the man responsible for Muskoka’s steamboating legacy, the Town of Gravenhurst agreed to change the name of Central Square at the Gravenhurst Wharf, which overlooks where passengers board the RMS Segwun and Wenonah II, to A.P. Cockburn Square. The request was made by the A.P Cockburn Initiative Committee, which is made up of history-minded citizens. The dedication ceremony took place on June 1 and there is already discussion of a municipal holiday in his name, similar to John Graves Simcoe Day in Toronto. Years from now, we may see a statue of Cockburn staring out at Gravenhurst Bay where he launched the Wenonah on a beautiful June day. Cockburn died believing he was a failure. We’re finally setting the record straight that he got that wrong.

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The Segwun and Wenonah II will recreate the nostalgic 100-mile cruise featuring all three of the Muskoka lakes.

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35

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Hitting the highway with Muskoka's

Above: John Rennie’s collection includes antique gas pumps from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, as well as a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air, a 1954 Meteor Special Niagara and a red 1953 Ford pickup. Right: International trucks, like this 1940 tow truck with Holmes wrecker body, hold a special place in Paul Hammond’s heart. Opposite page: Visitors to Paul Hammond’s garage will see this powder blue 1957 International Travelall 4x4.

Article by Dianne Park Thach / Photography by Paul Bennett

veryone has fond memories of the first car they’ve ever owned. Bracebridge resident Mel Smith’s first car was a black 1959 Chevrolet Impala. “I bought it brand new for $2,900. I was only 18 years old and had saved my money up for it,” he says with a smile. “My mom hated it,” he laughs. Those memories of his youth were what inspired Smith to buy a ’59 Impala for the second time in his life. While the Impala Smith owns now is red with a white roof, not black like the original, this car also represents another first for him – the first classic car

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 39

This 1959 Chevrolet Impala is among the many classics that hold a special place in Mel Smith’s custom garage.

“If something catches my eye and I can see it finished, then the challenge begins.” he’s ever purchased and will be one of the six vehicles on display at the Muskoka Road Show, a fundraising event being hosted by the South Muskoka Hospital Auxiliary on August 13. The tour will feature four locations in the Bracebridge area where private collectors will be opening their personal treasury of antique and classic cars, trucks, boats, machinery and memorabilia. Tickets for the event are $20 and a guide containing a map of the tour will

40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

be provided to participants. All funds will go directly to the hospital auxiliary and will be allocated to help pay for a digital mammography machine. Smith has never shown his collection in a tour before but the General Motors fan is happy to have his hobby on display for a good cause. Joining the ’59 Impala in the custombuilt garage are 1965 and 1967 Chevrolet Corvairs, a 1986 Pontiac Parisienne, a 1988 Corvette, and a fully restored 1977 two-

tonne truck. Having owned a trucking business before retiring, Smith couldn’t resist getting the truck for a project to work on with his son, Danny. Unfortunately, Danny passed away suddenly, but Smith completed the restoration as a tribute to his son. The project took two years and Smith rebuilt every component of the stake body truck, painting it Honduras Maroon Metallic, the colour of his company trucks.

There is a bit of an emotional bond with Smith and each of his vehicles. “Each car has a story,” he says with a grin. Much like Smith, collector John Rennie, who is located just outside Bracebridge, selected the cars in his garage based on his teenage years. The first thing you’ll notice when you step into Rennie’s garage is his collection of antique gas pumps from the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s. Each pump has been lovingly restored by Rennie and his son John Rennie Jr., complete with pristine paint jobs, new glass and working lights. “When we first get them, they don’t look anything close to this,” explains John Jr. “They’ve rotted out; they’re all beat up.” Behind the pumps are a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air, a 1954 Meteor Special Niagara, and a red 1953 Lloyd Quinton will be showcasing his 1928 Worthington tractor, the oldest tractor he has ever restored. Ford pickup. Rennie started his collection with the Meteor and restored it, as project can happen at any time. “Sometimes without spending a lot of money,” he says. Quinton is not partial to any brand, in he also did with the other two vehicles. He they’re on the side of the road, sometimes particular, and he often sells his projects once people call me through word of mouth,” he grew up around the time of these classics and says. “If something catches my eye and I can the restoration is complete. the ’54 Chevy was his first car. “You can only drive them to the general “There’s something about the old nostalgia see it finished, then the challenge begins.” Quinton says each tractor is unique and store for ice cream so many times,” he laughs. of the ‘50s stuff that is of interest to me,” says On the tour he’ll be displaying his 1961 can be a challenge to work on in its own way. Rennie. “It’s always kind of interesting to think Oliver tractor as well as his 1928 Worthington Antique gas company signs hang on the walls and from the ceiling. Rennie’s collection about how a farmer, who previously had the tractor, the oldest tractor he’s restored so far. also includes antique gas pumps, old gum tractor, tried to maintain it and get by on it He first spotted it at an auction and it was originally used at a hunt camp machines, framed calendars before the days of ATVs. “It was from garages, and restored total scrap but I could see Coke and Pepsi coolers. something in it,” he says. John Jr. says the search for In addition to Quinton’s the next treasure is all part of tractors, about 30 to 40 antique collecting. cars and trucks, muscle cars, “The hunt is half the fun,” and antique boats from the he says. “When you get community will be on display. something you really like, Paul Hammond of you’re holding on to it tight.” Bracebridge has been collecting Lloyd Quinton of Port antique vehicles and memSydney also enjoys the search orabilia for 30 years. His and has been collecting and friendships with other local area restoring antique tractors for collectors, and his role as the 25 years. He was born and chair of the South Muskoka raised on a farm, and has Hospital Foundation, inspired restored about a dozen tractors, him to suggest the tour as a so far. Mel Smith poses with his collection of classic vehicles, which will be on display fundraiser. Coming across his next for the Muskoka Road Show.

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41

Hammond looks for vehicles that are just a little bit different. “Everyone has a Ford Model A,” he says. “But not too many people would have a ’28 International.” Having also owned his own trucking business, Hammond was fortunate to be able to bring home new finds from hundreds of kilometres away. “I could find something in Idaho or Montana, and we might have a truck out there. Most people would have to pay to have it brought home,” he says. Hammond’s collection of 32 cars and trucks includes a red 1935 International truck, a 1972 International pickup, a 1978 International Scout SUV with original parts, and a 1940 International tow truck. International trucks hold a special place in Hammond’s heart because they were the brand of truck he used in his business. His collection also includes an entire wall of antique framed calendars and local Muskoka memorabilia. Hammond can’t choose just one vehicle as his favourite. When he feels up to tinkering with his next project, he dons his work coat and puts on his old time country music. “When I’m out here, I do what I want to do,” he says. “There are no meetings and no phone out here.”

42 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Above: Paul Hammond holds a road atlas published in the 1940s by truck manufacturer International. It’s one of the many collectors’ items he has in his collection of memorabilia. Below: Among the many vehicles in Paul Hammond’s collection is this powder blue 1957 International Travelall 4x4.

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August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43

Article by Sandy Lockhart personal challenge, a workout and an adrenaline rush are all part of the experience at Muskoka’s aerial parks. Treetop Trekking in Huntsville and Muskoka Zip Lines and Aerial Park at Santa’s Village in Bracebridge offer hours of adventure. And while there are specific age and height restrictions for children, it’s an activity you never grow too old to enjoy. In fact, Treetop Trekking has had at least one guest in his 80s enjoy the course. “Visitors are anyone over the age of nine up to bucket-listers,” says Phil Konoby, manager of Huntsville’s

44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Photographs: Andy Zeltkalns

The zip line canopy tour is one of the most popular attractions at Muskoka Zip Lines and Aerial Park at Santa’s Village.

Treetop Trekking. He adds that one can experience the course with no prior knowledge of high ropes. In Huntsville, guests purchase a threehour pass for a zip line and aerial course tour and spend their time in their favourite areas. There is a challenging and fun ropes course with some zips built in, a string of seven zip lines, where the longest is 350 feet and about 60 feet in the air, and an adrenaline-pumping Tarzan swing. It’s a good thing to save the Tarzan swing until you’ve been climbing in the trees for awhile. If you started with the 45-foot drop into the vertical cargo net, you might not go any further. “It’s a freefall jump out of the trees,” says Konoby. But don’t worry; the guides ensure you slow down just enough to enjoy the ride. The swing drop is a favourite of all ages at

45 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Treetop Trekking. While you are busy summoning the courage to commit, the rope tightens up, you get a quick warning and you’re swinging through the air. The first few rope courses in Huntsville are the easiest and are designed for children and adults. The course gets tougher as you progress, culminating with Mighty Moose, where trekkers face a challenging walk 55 feet in the air. At the end of the whole tour, which takes about three hours, the average person is tired, having used many muscles that they don't use in normal day-to-day life. “People feel they accomplished something,” says Konoby. The guides at Treetop Trekking are fun, offering an extra bounce for those looking for a thrill and steadying the line and offering encouragement for those who need a bit of

support and courage. “Some guides that started here when we opened are still here five years later,” says Konoby, adding that some with full-time careers still return for shifts. For the season pass holders, they make it more interesting, adding challenges to the course. “We have a lot of fun; it’s a great place to be,” says Huntsville guide Annie Logan. “It’s a workout, too. I had someone tear up their gym membership and buy a season’s pass.” Located in the midst of a bustling theme park with a bird’s-eye view of the Muskoka River, Muskoka Zip Lines and Aerial Park at Santa’s Village offers a one-of-a-kind view. Guests can choose a zip lining tour, the aerial park adventure, which includes a few zips, the jump tower, or a combination of two or three.

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45

Photographs: Sandy Lockhart

Above: Guide Evan Payne and a climber take a break on a platform at the aerial park in Huntsville. A series of zip lines and challenges make up the course that runs through the treetops. Left: All safety equiptment, like these carabiners, are checked daily for wear. “The most popular is the zip line canopy tour,” says Santa’s Village general manager Jamie Hopkins of the zip line attraction, now in its second year at the park. “It’s an aerial adventure. The thrill of zipping.” The seven zip lines cover almost 1,000 feet and start 45 feet up in the air. The aerial adventure course was completely redesigned and rebuilt last season. “Nothing is the same as it was in 2014,” says Hopkins. “It is more challenging but easier as you start. As you progress, it is more difficult.” The aerial park and adventure course at Santa’s Village was designed by

46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Challenges Unlimited, a Bracebridge company that builds and supplies adventure courses all over North America. “It has great flow, excellent variety and it is unbelievably safe,” says Hopkins. “There is a lot more variety in the actual course as you progress through it,” he adds. “The challenges grow more difficult and you are very high. There is the thrill of accomplishing something out of your comfort zone.” At Santa’s Village, the Quick Jump offers a thrill to those courageous enough to take the leap off a few planks of wood that are 42 feet from the ground. The device lets you drop 15 feet before slowly lowering you to the ground. There is also the option with a shorter drop, but from the same height. The Quick Jump is a tough step to take

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47

48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Photographs: Andy Zeltkalns

and waiting in line watching others might be the hardest part. Once you take that step, there is no turning back. The adrenaline rush is real and it’s hard not to scream. Then suddenly it’s over and you are gently lowered to the ground. “It is not a bungee,” says Hopkins. “It is controlled and brings you down slowly and lets you have a soft landing. “The Quick Jump is a bragging rights thing,” says Hopkins. “People like to challenge their friends.” Muskoka’s aerial adventure parks are for thrillseekers and adventurers, but they also offer tamer options for anyone looking for a fun day in the great outdoors. Both locations also include mandatory introductory training sessions. To take advantage of all the aerial parks offer, plan a visit of at least three hours and book ahead to Above: Visitors are briefed on equipment and safety before tackling the challenges of the aerial park. Below: A visitor navigates his way across a tricky element at Muskoka Zip Lines and Aerial Park, Bracebridge. secure your spot.

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August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49

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August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 50

{Cottage Country Cuisine{

Article by Chris Occhiuzzi / Photography by Scott Turnbull Muskoka is becoming a hotbed of craft brewing as local breweries bring new suds to the marketplace and find innovative ways for beer aficionados to savour the craft beer experience. Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge launched Kirby’s Kolsch this year, Baysville’s Lake of Bays Brewing Company is unveiling Summer Sunset as part of its Wild North seasonal offerings, while Sawdust City Brewing Company in Gravenhurst has a few new things to keep craft beer drinkers coming back. “We try to keep it fresh. We always have something new on tap,” says Sawdust City brewmaster and co-founder Sam Corbeil. “We’re usually running 10 or 11 of our own brands plus a couple of guest taps.” Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Muskoka Brewery is not only taking part in several events showcasing local craft brewers, but it’s also creating four specialty brews with craft brewers outside of provincial and national borders.

51 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

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Lake of Bays Brewery owner Darren Smith pours a pint at the taps in the retail store. “We picked some great breweries who are like-minded,” says Gary McMullen, who founded Muskoka Brewery in 1996 with his friend, the late Kirk Evans. Muskoka Brewery is working with Vancouver’s Howe Sound Brewing, BarrelHouse Brewing Company in California, Ellicottville Brewing Co. from New York and Quebec brewery Le Trou Du Diable. “Muskoka and Ellicottville, as communities, have a very similar feel,” says McMullen, adding they’ve also developed a relationship with BarrelHouse in California over the years. “We also have a lot of respect for what the folks at Le Trou Du Diable brewery are doing with their beers, so we reached out to do a brew with them.” Lake of Bays Brewing Company owner Darren Smith says there is a unique sense of camaraderie within the craft beer industry based on a recognition that more craft brewers are better off if more people are drinking craft beer. “Craft beer is a component of a larger

trend of consumers generally wanting to see local and independent ownership and wanting to know where the things they are consuming are coming from, how are they made, and wanting to see the benefits of those goods felt locally,” says Smith. “Craft beer is a movement unto itself but is part of a larger trend.” Creating flavourful beer is an art form Muskoka Brewery has been perfecting for 20 years since opening the operation with its flagship Muskoka Cream Ale. “Twenty years, believe it or not,” says McMullen. “I was yucking it up the other day when I was cleaning some files out of my desk. I have a copy of the original business plan that Kirk and I had developed for the brewery. It’s always funny when you look at stuff like that. We have far outstripped our expectations in terms of what our original plan was. It was kind of cool to see that.” McMullen recalls the elation of launching Muskoka Brewery in June 1996 followed by

Cans of beer make their way along the canning line at Muskoka Brewery.

the devastation of losing Evans, who died in a car accident the following year. It was a difficult decision that took a lot of internal fortitude, but he says the team chose to keep moving forward. This year’s new beer, Kirby’s Kolsch, is a nod to Evans’ legacy at the brewery. “I’m not going to say it’s in honour or memory of Kirk,” says McMullen. “But it’s really more to celebrate Kirk and his life and his involvement with the brewery. We’re having lots of fun with that, so that’s pretty exciting.” Muskoka Brewery has over 100 employees and has been growing

quickly over the years. But McMullen emphasizes that it hasn’t lost the family feel that comes with a small business. “It has been cool to watch people grow up at the brewery,” McMullen says. “Some of our staff that have been here a long time – watching them grow up and watching their kids grow up.” Although Lake of Bays Brewing Company has only been operating for six years, it

has grown quickly and Smith has made a name for himself amongst fellow craft brewers. “It’s really in the past five or six years that the rate of brewery openings has really jumped up in Ontario,” says Smith, who serves as vice-chair of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association board of directors.

Left: Muskoka Brewery brewing manager Andrew Crowder holds out a handful of hops and barley. Middle: Head brewer Dan Unkersov in the Lake of Bays brewery. Far right: Brewmaster Sam Corbeil at Sawdust City. August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53

“When we opened there were less than 50 breweries in the province. The market share is continuing to expand, but there are a lot of people getting into the game as well,” says Smith. By late 2015, he says there were just under 180 operating breweries and 50 contract breweries in the province of Ontario. He says the challenge for individual brewers is to figure out the “magic formula” to remain fresh and relevant for consumers. “There’s so much choice and so much competition out there,” says Smith. “The industry is still growing at a pretty nice clip. Obviously there’s now more places that sell craft beer than ever. These are historic times we live in.” Lake of Bays has several core brands which are available year round, including the Top Shelf Classic Lager, which is the official beer of the NHL Alumni Association. The brewery also offers limited specialty edition flavours throughout the year. Smith says they try to attend craft beer events across the province and generally go to about half a dozen annually. Still, celebrations taking place closer to home, such as the Muskoka 2-4 Craft Beer Festival on the Victoria Day weekend and Griffin Session Muskoka on July 30 in Bracebridge, are a priority. “Muskoka is home base for us and we have to stay involved here,”

Recipes Muskoka Mice Recipe provided by Sawdust City Brewing Co. The perfect snack to have at any barbecue. Enjoy some spicy Muskoka Mice with Sawdust City’s full-flavoured Lone Pine IPA. Serves: 4-5 | Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 10-20 mins

Ingredients 12 fresh jalapeño peppers 8 ounces of cream cheese 12 pieces of sliced bacon, cut in half

Directions Cut jalapeños in half and remove seeds and veins. (Use gloves to work with peppers). Fill jalapeños with cream cheese and wrap a half slice of bacon around each (If necessary, secure with a toothpick). Bake in oven or barbecue at 425 degrees until bacon is done. Enjoy with a Lone Pine IPA!

Mulligan Bacon Cheddar Beer Bread Recipe provided by Muskoka Brewery

Ingredients 3 cups of flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons sugar 1 ¼ shredded marble or cheddar cheese 500 ml of beer (Muskoka Brewery Cream Ale or Winterweiss recommended) 4 slices cooked and chopped bacon (optional)

Muskoka Mice are jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon. They pair well with Sawdust City's Lone Pine IPA.

Directions

Photograph: Jake Baranik

Preheat oven to 350°F Grease pan, or use non-stick one Combine dry ingredients, stir Add bacon, ¾ of cheese, and full beer. Stir mixture until combined Pour into pan, leaving it slightly unmixed. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake for 60 minutes Eat that bread!

54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Milford Bay Smoked Trout Chowder Recipe provided by David R. Binsted, Executive Chef, Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club Serves 4-6

Ingredients 1 side Milford Bay Smoked Trout 1/4 medium sized sweet onion – fine diced 1 stalk celery fine diced 1 small/medium carrot fine diced 1/2 medium sized red pepper diced 1 medium Yukon gold potato – medium diced 1/8 bulb fennel thin sliced and diced small 2 cloves garlic pressed or fine chopped 1/4 medium sized jalapeño pepper fine dice, with seeds 1 cup of corn kernels (frozen or sliced off the cob) A generous splash of Lake of Bays Spark House Red Ale or your favourite ale for deglazing 6 cups low salt chicken stock 175 ml clam juice 1/4 cup 10% cream 1/4 cup milk 4 tbsp corn starch Worcestershire sauce and Sriracha (or your preferred hot sauce) to taste

Directions In a medium sized stock pot preheat olive oil and butter until hot, add all vegetable except corn, and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until very aromatic. Deglaze with Lake of Bays Brewing Company’s Spark House Red Ale (or your favourite ale), add chicken stock and clam juice. Then deskin the tail and belly of the Milford Bay Smoked Trout and crumble into chowder. Bring to a boil, reduce and let simmer for 40 minutes, and then add corn. Make slurry with 1/4 cup 10% cream and 1/4 cup milk, and corn starch, and gently whisk into broth. Let cook out another 5-10 minutes, gently stir in the rest of the Milford Bay Smoked Trout in small bite-sized pieces. Season to taste with Worcestershire sauce and/or your favourite Sriracha or hot sauce. Serve and enjoy.

Muskoka Brewery founder Gary McMullen, owner Bob Macdonald and Todd Lewin, vice-president of sales and marketing, raise a glass outside their Bracebridge facility. says Smith. “Those types of events can be a great way to gauge people’s reaction to new beer styles that are coming out.” Sawdust City Brewing Company in Gravenhurst is becoming well-known for combining good brews and live music on a weekly basis. The brewery hosts live music events every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in addition to bingo nights, trivia nights and more. “We’ve had a great reception from the locals, the visitors to Gravenhurst and the cottagers, as well,” says Corbeil, who started the brewery five years ago before moving it home to his Muskoka roots in 2014. “It has

been fantastic.” Corbeil mentions Sawdust City’s Funkfest event, which was held on the Canada Day weekend, as an example of how the craft brewers came together to support each other. It brought together brewers from Ottawa, the Kitchener-Waterloo area, Toronto, Sudbury and more to share their concoctions alongside live funk bands, food trucks and a juice bar. “It’s not about us selling lots of beer. It’s about showing off the great beer Ontario is producing,” he says. McMullen says part of the support comes from the fact the beer industry is, at its

essence, a social industry. “There was a propensity to band together for protection against the big brewers,” says McMullen. “To this day, craft breweries in Ontario represent only seven or eight per- cent of the market . . . It makes a lot of sense for us to co-operate together to grow craft beer as a space and a mindset among consumers as opposed to fighting with each other.” Craft brewers are continually creating new flavours and collaborating locally and beyond to spread good cheer to beer aficionados everywhere – and giving people another reason to love Muskoka.

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55

{Muskoka Calendar{

Photograph: Kelly Hlinshead

Michaelson, painter Mark Kulas, potter Dan Hill, egg tempera painter Catherine O’Mara, fibre basket maker Sandra Pim, cast bronze sculptor Brenda Wainmen Goulet and jeweller Danielle Goulet. New artists on the tour include: driftwood sailboat sculptor Daniel Gallant, potter Susan Colavecchia, wind sculptor Peter Kourtz, painter Karen Leslie Hall, potter and Gina Denne. For more information visit www. artistsofthelimberlost.ca

Photograph: Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce

Enjoy art, entertainment, craft beer, gourmet food and family activities at the Muskoka Wharf Special Events Field in Gravenhurst The Artists of the Limberlost will welcome the public into their studios on Aug. 13-14 for the annual from Friday, Aug. 19 to Sunday, Aug. 21 Open Studio Weekend. Participants will meet and see the work of 19 artists along a 20-kilometre route. during the Dockside Festival of the Arts. and see the work of 19 diverse and talented The festival features the work of over 100 artists along a compact, 20-kilometre route. juried artisans and craftspeople from across Artists participating in this year’s tour Canada. From accessories, clothing and include: driftwood sculptor Jerry Friedman, jewellery, to fine art, photography and glass The Artists of the Limberlost will once potter Jessica Brabant, wildlife watercolour work, to furniture, sculptures and woodagain welcome the public into their studios painter Brad Wookey, fused glass artist carving, there’s something for everyone. on Saturday, Aug. 13 and Sunday, Aug. 14 Susan Higgins, fibre artist Marni Martin, Plus, there will be gourmet food vendors for the annual Open Studio Weekend. woodturner Brian Markham, photographer that are sure to leave mouths watering. Comprised of seven artists and Don Spring, jeweller Carol-Ann Festival goers can take a break inside the craftspeople with studios along Sawdust City Brewing the Limberlost Road, north of Company’s food and music Highway 60 near Huntsville, lounge, where singers and song the Artists of the Limberlost writers will perform live and work in a broad range of media unplugged. The lineup of and styles. While their studios performers includes Muskoka’s can be visited by appointment own Sean Cotton, as well as throughout the year, every August Toronto up-and-comer Nico the Artists of the Limberlost Henderson, country musicians open their doors for visitors to Bett Smith & The Currie explore their art, techniques and Brothers and Aussie singerworking environments. The art songwriter Gina Horswood. work is for sale, so everyone And with family activities can take home a “piece of the and a splash pad, even the Limberlost” for themselves. kids will want to spend the With guest artists at each Over 100 juried artisans and craftspeople from across Canada will gather at the day at the festival. location, participants on this For more information, visit Muskoka Wharf Special Events Field in Gravenhurst from Aug. 19-21 during the free self-guided tour will meet Dockside Festival of the Arts. www.docksidefestival.com

56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Photograph: Tim Du Vernet

106 Manitoba Street Bracebridge, ON

Gleaming boats and polished cars make their way to Baysville on Sunday, Aug. 21 for the Lake of Bays Antique and Classic Boat and Car Show.

Photograph: Sonic Entertainment Group

Gleaming mahogany and polished chrome will add a sparkle to Baysville on Sunday, Aug. 21 for the Lake of Bays Antique and Classic Boat and Car Show. Walk along the riverfront docks and see floating history at its finest. Bridge Street and Bay Street will be blocked off to allow one of the best antique car shows in the area. Entertainment will be provided by the Northern Lights Steel Orchestra Band and musician Darryl Hollingsworth. In addition to the antique Muskoka boats and classic cars that make an appearance, the SS Bigwin will sail into Baysville where people can climb aboard and take a tour of the historic ship. At 4 p.m., when the show is over, bagpiper Sharon Mace will play as the procession of boats leave. Admission to the show is by donation with all the proceeds going to the Baysville Winter Food Program.

There’s no shortage of quality entertainment to be found in Huntsville during the month of August, as Huntsville’s Festival of the Arts brings top performers to the stage each week. On Thursday, Aug. 4, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts presents Donnell Leahy at the Algonquin Theatre. Described as one of the finest fiddlers on the planet, Leahy is well-known as the frontman of the Leahy Family and a regular Huntsville performer with his wife Natalie MacMaster. Join Valdy, one of Canada’s most noteworthy troubadours, for a free concert on Friday, Aug. 5 at the Rotary Bandshell in River Mill Park. Having taken his music around the globe, this “ambassador of folk” always manages to get the crowd singing along to his many hits. Kevin Lavigne hits the stage of the Algonquin Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 6.

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Blending a classical tenor sound and modern stylings, Lavigne takes his audience on a riveting and enchanting journey, retelling his personal campaign to sing at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops. Told with spectacular songs and entertaining and hilarious stories, Lavigne embodies the spirit of the underdog. On Wednesday, Aug. 10, the Algonquin Theatre welcomes Alex Cuba. A proud Canadian with Cuban roots, the Juno and Latin Grammy winner and Grammy nominee brings sugarcane-sweet melodies, pop-soul hooks and powerful guitar riffs. Taking the stage on Friday, Aug. 12 is Juno Award-nominated artist Tyler Shaw. One of the nation’s brightest emerging pop artists, there is a distinctive quality to his raw vocals and musicianship. On Saturday, Aug. 13, pianist Kyung-A Lee will perform a two-piano concert at Huntsville’s Algonquin Theatre with Younggun Kim. Their performance will include works from Rachmaninoff, Poulenc, Infante and Mayevsky. Join Bruce Cockburn, Canada’s preeminent folk musician, on Thursday, Aug. 18 at the Algonquin Theatre for a musical journey that promises to rekindle memories. With numerous awards to his credit, including an Order of Canada, Cockburn has been able to combine musicianship and songwriting with a social conscience that has allowed him to be an outspoken advocate for a number of causes. On Friday, Aug. 19, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts welcomes to the Algonquin Theatre Hey Rosetta!, a sevenpiece indie rock band that hails from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Expect songwriter Tim Baker’s haunting and distinctive voice, lyrical sensibility, indie-rock precision with a pop sensibility and fierce cello, violin and French horn. Rounding out the lineup for August are the Nylons, who perform on Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Algonquin Theatre. Since the mid ‘70s The Nylons have been weaving their a cappella magic around the globe, but all good things must come to an end and they are now saying goodbye to fans during a year-long series of farewell shows. For more information, visit www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca

58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

If you appreciate stunning gardens and equally stunning artwork, mark Saturday, July 23 to Sunday, Aug. 14 on your calendar for the 19th annual Artful Garden, an outdoor gallery in Bracebridge that features the work of over 40 artists. Now in its 19th year, the Artful Garden as a show has grown as much as the gardens have. From sculptures to wall hangings, jewellery to bird feeders and ironwork to stone carving, hundreds of handcrafted works of art work is displayed in the gorgeous gardens of Jon and Suzann Partridge. This year, the Artful Garden will also include metal sculptures by Hilary Clark Cole. The Artful Garden is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with a kids’ art camp also running during the show. The camp uses the setting of the Artful Garden as inspiration for a variety of mix-media art projects. The emphasis of the camp is on the process of creating but children will enjoy their finished works of art. For more information, visit www.theartfulgarden.ca

Muskoka Chautauqua presents the 7th Annual OperaMuskoka Festival from Tuesday, Aug. 23 to Thursday, Aug. 25 at the Rene Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge. The festival kicks off with Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin on Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Bracebridge’s own Daevyd Pepper is the producer and will be performing the role of Lensky in the opera. It will be sung in Russian with English subtitles. Wednesday, Aug. 24 features a vocal masterclass with Jennifer Tung from 1-4 p.m. Witness five performers auditioning and learning from a renowned Royal Conservatory soprano, teacher and Glenn Gould Studio vocal coach. Participants will be auditioning at no charge to appear in Tung’s evening concert. At 7:30 p.m. Tung will invite outstanding local singers who have achieved a level of excellence in her vocal masterclass to join her evening concert.

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Experience an artful Muskoka summer Muskoka Chautauqua presents the

Toronto All Star Big Band Saturday, August 20, 8pm Port Carling Community Centre Tickets: $35 per person

Five participants will have the opportunity to take part in a violin masterclass on Thursday, Aug. 25 from 1-4 p.m. with Moshe Hammer. That evening, at 7:30 p.m., the festival wraps up with the 7th Annual Stars of Tomorrow concert. Janelle Laarakker and several other young singers and musicians and their accompanists will entertain. For more information, visit www.thecaisse.com

Buy online at MuskokaChautauqua.com or call 705 765-1048

Other August Highlights Wednesday, August 17 – Friday, August 19: Harp School, Muskoka Place Gallery. Limited space: Call to learn more Tuesday, August 23 – Thursday, August 25: OperaMuskoka, Rene Caisse Theatre, featuring a performance of Eugene Onegin For Tickets and to Learn More (various prices for each OperaMuskoka event), visit www.TheCaisse.com

Learn more about these and other August events www.MuskokaChautauqua.com or call 705 765-1048

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Over 70 antique boats will cruise into Port Carling on Saturday, Aug. 13 for the Muskoka Lakes Association Boat Show, which has been running biennially since 1971. The theme of this year’s show is Curvaceous to celebrate the unique lines of Muskokabuilt boats, which feature ample flair under their bow and transoms that curve in as the decks narrow at the back of the boat. The poster boat is a very curvaceous 1937 Greavette Streamliner called Curlew, which is double-ended, meaning it comes to a point at both ends. There is also a display of antique outboard motors presented by the Maple Leaf outboard motor club, and some outboard “sea fleas” built in the 1950 traditions of small racing style boats. A casual show, attendees often get to chat with boat owners and learn about the boats and the families that own them. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the locks.

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60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2016

Former YWCA Muskoka executive director Beth Ward is walking across Muskoka on Monday, Aug. 8 to raise awareness and funds in support of YWCA Muskoka’s programs for girls and she’s asking for the public’s support. The YWalk4Women&Girls will begin Monday, Aug. 8 in Dwight, following a route that will connect Lake of Bays, Huntsville, Muskoka Lakes, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Wahta and Georgian Bay

Township. Walking on consecutive days, the goal is to complete the walk in Port Severn nine days later on Tuesday, Aug. 16. Those who want to show their support can make a donation, join her on the walk, use social media to share Ward’s progress or recruit a sponsor. For those who want to join in, the time and location of each day’s start will be posted, along with photos and facts of the day, that participants can share with friends and family. Last year over 50 participants covered 197 kilometres in nine days and raised $18,000 in support of YWCA Muskoka’s programs. YWalk connects Muskoka’s communities in a common purpose and raises funds so that YWCA Muskoka can continue to serve 44 different locations throughout Muskoka to help over 1,600 people whose lives are affected by domestic abuse, unemployment, lack of housing, transportation and poverty. For more information, or to donate, visit www. ywcamuskoka.com/ywalk or follow @ywalk on Twitter.

227 Wellington St., Bracebridge · 705-645-7681 · 1-888-815-4714

Summer is far from over, but it’s never too early to make plans to attend the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour, which takes place Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday 25 and Saturday, Oct. 1 and Sunday, Oct. 2 at 18 select studios located throughout Muskoka. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, visitors can venture into participating studios to witness the creative process first-hand while also enjoying the height of the fall colours as they travel between locations. This year’s tour includes painter Catherine O’Mara; woodturner Brian Markham; wool artist Pam Carnochan; Jennifer Pimentel, who captures people, wildlife and architecture in drawings; weaver Marni Martin; painter Mark Reeder; painter Elizabeth Johnson; jeweller Miranda Britton; photographer Scott Turnbull; woodworker Jim Carter; painter Wendy Moses; potter Jon Partridge; Suzann Partridge, a multimedia artist specializing in sculptures for the home and garden; woodturner Sue Pritchard; jeweller Stan W. Tait; painter Pat Fairhead;

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61

Photograph: Mark Reeder

Oliver Jones

Saturday, July 30 • 8PM Woodturner Brian Markham’s studio is one of 18 throughout Muskoka featured on the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour, which takes place Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 1-2.

Donnell Leahy Thursday, Aug. 4 • 8PM

Ken Lavigne

Saturday, Aug. 6 • 8PM

Alex Cuba

Wed., Aug. 10 • 8PM

The Nylons

painter Laura Carter; jeweller Penny Varney; photographer Tony Varney; and potter Johnathan Bullock. Dubbed “Canada’s original studio tour,” the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour is now in its 38th season and has presented some of Muskoka’s finest professional artists and craftspeople over the years. For more information visit www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

The Red Canoe Gallery will be presenting a showing of Paul Garbett’s latest works on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. when you can meet the artist. Garbett’s large wildlife works are created in his Muskoka studio using the encaustic painting technique, an ancient painting method that has made a huge comeback. This difficult technique involves mixing the artist’s oil paints and pigments with wax

Friday, Aug. 26 • 8PM

Rotary Centre for Youth 131 Wellington St., Bracebridge

huntsvillefestival.on.ca

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Box Office 705.789.4975

705-644-2712

using brushstrokes created in the few seconds when the mixture is still melted. Over a dozen layers in different tones and colours are then added to create amazing depth and texture. For more information www.redcanoegallery.com

Paul Garbett's work will be presented at the Red Canoe Gallery Saturday, Aug. 6

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Philanthropists find calm at Lake Rosseau retreat Article by Dale Peacock / Photography by Kelly Holinshead Early in his career, Dr. Bernie Gosevitz made a commitment to give back to his community as soon as he had the ability to do so. Along with his wife, Susan, he has honoured that pledge by working his entire life to foster a love of conservation, art and the environment. He and Susan, an accomplished artist in her own right, agree that “it is just the right thing to do” when you have the means and a voice that can be used to raise awareness and funding for causes that matter to them both. In addition to having a family practice in Toronto, Gosevitz is vice president and chief medical officer of Rogers

Above: A spacious, well-appointed kitchen was important to Susan, who enjoys cooking. Right: The family room features a fireplace and beautiful view of Lake Rosseau. 64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Communications. He is also corporate medical director of Barrick Gold and Post Media. Gosevitz sits on the board of the foundation of the Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospital, as well as the Muskoka Chautauqua Foundation. He chairs the Canadian Wildlife Foundation, which is the funding arm of the federation. Susan has contributed to the arts community and uses her artistic talents to help many charities. She was also a

founding member of the Herbie Fund in support of the Hospital for Sick Children. Gosevitz quotes his good friend and former patient Ted Rogers who famously said, “I’m giving, I’m not giving back.” Toronto is home to the busy couple, but after 40 years of visiting friends and renting cottages on various local lakes they decided to buy a cottage on Lake Rosseau in 2011. “We chose Lake Rosseau in part to be near my good friend Loretta Rogers,” Susan

explains. She credits Rogers with being the driving force behind the formation of the Tobin Island School of Fine Art. The art group has had three children’s books published: Chucky the Lonely Inukshuk in 2009; Larry the Loon in 2011; and Under Your Nose in 2014. A fourth book is underway. Regular sessions at the island art studio have become a staple of Susan’s summer life. “Our work revolves around nature and especially the beauty of Muskoka,” Susan explains. “We are lucky to be able to work in such a beautiful place.” The Tobin Island artists were the 2012 recipients of the Robert Bateman Award for outstanding contribution to conservation awareness through artistic expression. Interestingly, Bateman was Susan’s art teacher at the Lord Elgin High School in Burlington, ON, where she was raised. They reconnected after 50 years when Bernie made a call and asked Bateman if he would do the forward for Larry the Loon. Family friend and veteran cartoonist Andy Donato

Above: The family gathers together as often as possible at the cottage, soaking up the sun and enjoying the water. Left: Tired of renting cottages over the years, the Gosevitz family was thrilled to finally have a piece of paradise to call their own.

contributed as a guest artist. “As I got more involved up here with the Muskoka Chautauqua Foundation and as Susan seemed to be driving here more frequently, it made more and more sense to

buy a place,” says Dr. G, as Gosevitz is affectionately known. Susan adds, “Muskoka was just drawing us in.” She muses, “When you come from the fast-paced city environment, Muskoka

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 65

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harvey Kalles  - --   

-                                                             

-                                       

-                                                    

-              --                

66 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 66

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-                                

                                                

-                                               

-                                     

-                              

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has a way of calming and relaxing you that feels very spiritual.” Fishing is one of Bernie’s passions in life. He has dozens of rods lining the walls of a room in the boathouse, along with a sign proclaiming “Bernie’s Bait Shop.” He cherishes the sign, which was a gift at an event that paid homage to his 40 years in medicine and philanthropy. The fundraiser proceeds went to the Campaign to Cure Arthritis at Toronto Western Hospital and the guest list read like a who’s who of Canada. Eddie Greenspan and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, along with many others, honoured Bernie for his work and for his good works. One of the points speakers stressed was how he treats everyone the same. One of his oldest fishing buddies – and a man he greatly respects – is Laurie Mackinnon, a longtime property manager for the Rogers family and a lifelong resident of south Muskoka.

Bernie has only one rule when out on the water – no talking about medicine. He ruminates, “Last year Laurie and I were out in the fall and for a long while we just drifted and looked at the autumn colours and

thought about how lucky we were.” Even the fishing took a back seat for awhile. Bernie and Susan describe family as “everything” to them. They have four accomplished daughters, two of whom are married with children. Despite the good life he’s enjoyed, the accolades he’s received and the friends he’s made, Bernie never forgets his modest beginnings. His parents were Polish immigrants who worked hard to raise their children. His earliest days were spent in a one-room Ottawa tenement where love and respect were in abundance, even as material things were not. “I think that if you forget where you came from, you risk losing your very identity, your sense of self,” he muses pensively. The cottage, which was nonwinterized, is 2,550 square feet and was built in 1974. A master wing was added in 1991 and provides a serene bedroom retreat for the couple. A large boathouse/bunkie

Bernie and Susan Gosevitz relax in one of their favourite spots. The dock on the side of the boathouse provides close proximity to the water with shade from the hot sun. Above: Rebecca, her husband David and their daughter Hannah share a moment in the boathouse. It provides a retreat for the couple and their four children. Rebecca enjoys spending time at her parents’ cottage.

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completed the additions in 2007. The house sits high above Lake Rosseau and is accessible to the waterfront via terraced stairs and a newly installed lift. The cottage is multi-levelled and suits the Gosevitz family perfectly. According to Susan, “We have areas to gather together as a family, but everyone has some space where they can have some privacy, too. We aren’t

all on top of each other.” The interior cottage theme is upscale casual and the simplicity is enhanced by a distribution of Susan Gosevitz’s own works of stunning art that adorn the walls. She is an award-winning artist and an elected member of The Society of Canadian Artists. “I see art as a collaboration with nature,” Susan says. “Together we create the real and

sublime in one, providing a return from hectic and stress, from consumption and chaos, to meditative simplicity.” Life has been good to the couple and time in Muskoka has been an important part of that life. Asked if there is anything more he would like from life Dr. G. quips, “Well, I definitely wish I could spend more time fishing!”

Above: Although the Gosevitz cottage is nestled in trees, guests can catch a glimpse of the water waiting on the other side. Top left: Susan Gosevitz keeps minimal supplies in her studio at the cottage, but always finds time to paint. Top Right: Bernie Gosevitz is an avid fisherman, and has an impressive collection of rods, all of which get used. 70 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

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August 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 71

{Muskoka Moments{

Boyhood adventures inspire Survivorman TV show It is ridiculously difficult to pick only one defining moment in Muskoka, when in reality, Muskoka is made up entirely of moments. Wonderful, whimsical, inspiring, memory-laden moments. Those of us lucky enough to enjoy it here know this with all our hearts. I travel the world for a living and yet when I am asked to name the places I believe to be “world class,” Muskoka is always on that list. It is Muskoka that I tell others about when they ask me, “What beautiful places on this planet should we see?” In fact, I carve my travelling schedule around my favourite months to be in Muskoka; spring thaw, dead of winter and, of course, the autumn. I will not be in jungles or deserts or on mountains or across the oceans during those times, I will be in my home – Muskoka. And no doubt, I will be having a moment. My family was connected to the Muskoka River. I grew up having summers at what was once my grandmother’s house, which subsequently became our cottage when she passed away. A small, yet classic Muskoka cottage, with a “screen room” and windows overlooking the river. My bedroom had no insulation and was open to the 2x4 studs, which had the added advantage of offering up a place to put my glass of water for the night. A dysfunctional family life took its toll back in the city, but here in Muskoka I found my refuge, my escape. It was an escape to the natural world. Back in Mimico, Etobicoke, I would watch Jacques Cousteau films and Tarzan movies on TV. Ahhh, but here in Muskoka, I would chase and catch frogs and snakes. I would explore endlessly in the swamps. I would spend all day fishing for that “big lunker” bass that I just knew was out there, somewhere. I would smell the fresh forest

72 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2016

Photograph: Laura Bombier

By Les Stroud

breezes and climb the rock outcroppings in behind the cottage. I would learn to swim at Muskoka Beach, just off Highway 118. In my mind I would actually live and experience what I witnessed during the winters down south, my face stuck in the “boob tube.” My fascination with the natural world ran deep within my soul, so getting dirty while clambering through the Muskoka forest was a daily occurrence. Ants fascinated me and I remember when, every spring, the flying ants would take wing and fill our horseshoe and Frisbee field. I learned to respect yellow jackets! I felt like I was in the most exotic place on the planet when a luna moth would land on our window. It was just so big! I developed a solo game I would play up on the rocks, far from the call of my mother (so I could pretend I couldn't hear her). I would use moss as a pillow and make these little shelters out of branches and pine bows. In my young mind I was surviving in

all the far-flung places that Tarzan and Jacques Cousteau went. I even remember thinking, wouldn’t it be cool if I could be a professional at this surviving and adventure thing? Well, that dream came true. Truer than I could have imagined. It was my Muskoka moment on that rock to which I owe my current professional life. If there ever was a defining moment in my life, it surely was when I first moved around a little club moss and propped up a few sticks on a rock in Muskoka and called it “survival.” Les Stroud is best known as the Canadian Screen Award winning producer, creator and star of the hit TV series Survivorman. He has been nominated for 21 Canadian Screen Awards (formerly the Geminis) and has won for Best Writer (twice) and Best Photography. A celebrated keynote speaker, musician and author, his books, Survive!: Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere – Alive! and Will to Live made the New York Times bestseller list. Visit lesstroud.ca

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