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Skating:

FALL / WINTER 2016

Trails through a winter wonderland

The 122nd:

The battalion that brought Muskoka together

Healing with Horses: Equine Assisted Learning

CLEAN EATING:

Serving up real food ANDY’S HOUSE: Hospice to honour fallen officer

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[22]

Fall/Winter 2016

...telling the Muskoka story

Features 10

Bala's Trek to Bethlehem

By Karen Wehrstein Bala’s Trek to Bethlehem is a community celebration, family outing, historical re-enactment and spiritual pilgrimage; all rolled into one. For the past 23 years, on the first Saturday of December, families have made their own trek through Bala to see the re-enactment of the story of Christ’s birth.

Hospice to honour fallen officer

By Diane Park Thach The memory of fallen police officer Andy Potts will live on in a new residential hospice coming to Port Carling. Andy’s House will provide a comfortable and serene setting where people can spend their final days with dignity in the presence of loved ones.

Running onto the scene

By Melissa Kosowan They’re a small group, but they’re full of energy. The Muskoka Algonquin Runners are making a name for themselves – and the region – at some of North America’s premier running events.

Fashioned from the forest

By Sandy Lockhart After years of capturing the stunning beauty of nature through her lens, Bala photographer Eleanor Kee Wellman is using her images in a new way. Exploring the art of jewelry making, her photographs serve as both inspiration and a template for her one-of-a-kind nature designs. [34]

Muskoka's 122nd Battalion

By J. Patrick Boyer When hundreds of young men were recruited a century ago to fight overseas in the Great War as Muskoka’s 122nd Battalion, it helped forge a district-wide identity that Muskokans had never before felt.

Healing with horses

By Dale Peacock At Back of Beyond Equine Centre, spirits are lifted and broken hearts mended through the quiet comfort of horses. No words are spoken, but unbreakable bonds are forged. 2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

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Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 3

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Features continued 38

Skating in a winter wonderland

By Meghan Smith Muskoka has plenty of reasons to lace up skates this winter – from romantic moonlit skates to hot mulled wine and local cheese with friends after a day of skating.

43 [46]

FALL / WINTER 2016

Skating:

Trails through a winter wonderland

The 122nd:

The battalion that brought Muskoka together

Healing with Horses: Equine Assisted Learning

Muskoka inspires writing community

By Cindy Watson From fledgling newbies dipping their toes in for the first time to accomplished award-winning authors, Muskoka is home to a pool of talented authors. United by writing groups like Muskoka Authors Association, their success is limited only by their imaginations.

CLEAN EATING:

Serving up real food ANDY’S HOUSE: Hospice to honour fallen officer

Our Cover

Photograph by Scott Turnbull for Explorer's Edge Skaters at Arrowhead Provincial Park.

Departments 46

Cottage Country Cuisine

By Karen Wehrstein The “clean eating” movement has gone from marginal to mainstream and Muskoka is serving up plenty of real foods for those mindful of their food’s pathway to their plate. [56]

Muskoka Calendar

Discover what’s happening in Muskoka this month. [52]

Living in Muskoka

By Dale Peacock The Godard family transformed a ramshackle cottage on Lake of Bays into a comfortable and inviting home at the water’s edge. Even after 33 years on the lake, they never get tired of the picturesque views.

Opinion 9

Muskoka Insights By Don Smith

Muskoka Moments

By Monika Schnarre Before buying her first cottage, former model and actor Monika Schnarre had never even heard of Muskoka. Now, she can’t imagine anywhere else she’d rather be. Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5

…telling the Muskoka story Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc. Donald Smith Publisher Melissa Kosowan Editor Heather Glumac Designer Susan Smith Administration Paul Bennett J. Patrick Boyer Larry Carroll Heather Douglas Kelly Holinshead Sandy Lockhart Wendy MacCrimmon Emily MacDuff Dianne Park Thach Dale Peacock GJ Thomson Scott Turnbull Monika Schnarre Meghan Smith Cindy Watson Karen Wehrstein Contributors Annual Subscription Rates: (including HST where applicable) In Ontario $30.00 All Other Provinces $36.00 U.S. $45.00 All Other Countries $59.00 HST: 773172721 Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number: 43268016 Copyright © 2016 Unique Publishing Inc. No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Box 616, Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9 info@uniquemuskoka.com 705-637-0204

6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

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Autumn is in the Air

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{Muskoka Insights{ and to develop an appreciation for the natural attributes, warmth of community and unique choices that are part of the Muskoka lifestyle. They have had to work at developing their gifts. Muskoka’s smaller communities are populated with imaginative individuals who, working both solo and together, have much to share with their neighbours and visitors. Being a small community, for instance, has not stopped the visionary people of Bala from thinking big when planning activities for both autumn and winter. An annual attraction for 30 years, the Bala Cranberry Festival has now been enjoyed by an accumulated total of over half a million attendees. That enormous community endeavour is followed, just a couple of months later, by Bala’s Trek to Bethlehem. This vibrant community is also host to one of the district’s newest winter experiences, a skating trail, and it is home to our featured artist, jewelry-maker and photographer Eleanor Kee Wellman. For reaching out to the lives of fellow Muskokans, the articles Healing with horses, Hospice to honour fallen officer, Running onto the scene and An appetite for clean eating, all are unique looks at how neighbours and friends are making a difference in the lives of others. Muskoka is rich with history. Muskoka’s 122nd battalion celebrates those who brought our far-reaching district together, a century ago, and created enduring ties that bond us together today. This fall and winter, be engaged with all Muskoka offers. Happy reading. Photograph: Susan Smith

As I write this column, it’s a gorgeous September day. Glancing out the window, the beauty of Muskoka beckons me to leave my work and embrace the great outdoors. The sun is glorious, but the heat is not overwhelming. It’s invigorating. While most of the leaves are still green, there is a hint of autumn in the air. It’s an assurance the season’s cavalcade of colour will soon be upon us and winter will not be far behind. Despite all autumn offers, there are those who disparage it because they know the cool rains of October and November will follow. They are loathsome of the fierce blasts of winter winds and blowing snow that will be next. Rather than being maligned, the transition of the seasons and the resultant changes in weather should be seen for what they are – an opportunity to experience different activities and seek out new opportunities. Ever since I moved to Muskoka as an inquisitive teenager, almost 50 years ago, the word “bored” has not been a part of my vocabulary. Muskoka in autumn and winter has so much to offer – both indoors and outdoors – that I see boredom as a choice, not an imposition. In this issue of Unique Muskoka, we have attempted to bridge the seasons. Taking our readers from late summer activities into the autumn and onward to winter, our writers and photographers have explored activities that will appeal to varied interests. Telling the stories of Muskokans, we have shared some of the many ways in which they celebrate what the district has to offer. We’ve focused on innovative programs that are improving our lives, wrote about trends that demonstrate we are very much on the edge of the curve and celebrated the talents of our creative community. Some, it is clear, have not come by their decisions to call Muskoka home easily. They’ve needed to adjust their paradigms

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Article by Karen Wehrstein / Photography by Larry Carroll

ala’s Trek to Bethlehem is a community celebration, family outing, historical re-enactment and spiritual pilgrimage; all rolled into one. And the dedicated volunteers who brave the cold and snow for several hours on a dark winter night to make it happen for no earthly reward couldn’t be happier. “We have many families who come year after year,” says organizer Patricia Gidley, who has been involved since the event began 23 years ago. “It’s part of their Christmas tradition.” Bala’s Trek to Bethlehem takes place every December on the first Saturday of the

10 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

month, which falls on Dec. 3 this year. To partake, you join a “family” of 15 people who all walk together, led by a guide, through a re-enactment of the story of Christ’s birth. Along the 40-minute route through the village, you meet wise men, angels, shepherds, Roman soldiers, lepers, the tax collector, people at the market, an innkeeper who has no room, a prophet, and finally Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. “There are over 100 volunteers who participate that night. Choirs, actors, guides, others who bring sandwiches and hot chocolate to the actors, people who make

cookies for the inn,” says Gidley, listing the different ways people get involved. “In a town of 600, it’s a pretty high percentage.” It all started in 1993, when Bala celebrated its 125th anniversary. According to Gidley, a Bala resident had heard about the event taking place in Bruce Mines, a town on the north shore of Lake Huron. “She got in touch with them, they agreed to share their script and the group decided we could pull this off with a few months of preparation,” says Gidley, who has been involved since the event began 23 years ago. “It was such a hit that everybody decided

Darkness is broken by the light of the marketplace during Bala's Trek to Bethlehem, which has been an annual tradition for the past 23 years. that since we had all these costumes, we might as well do it again next year. It’s been the same every year since.” Over the years, the cast has expanded, the sets and costumes have been embellished, and the route has changed, now starting at the Bala Community Centre and ending at the Bala Arena, but interest has never wavered. Last year, the trek was attended by a

record-breaking 1,000 people. “It’s Bala’s gift to the community and the region,” say Bill Niess, a Vietnam veteran originally from Ohio who retired to Bala with his wife 10 years ago. He got involved with the Trek to Bethlehem about eight years ago and serves both as treasurer and actor, playing the part of the prophet. For verisimilitude, Niess says, “We hire an

electrician to turn off the street lights, and the residents turn off their lights. We include live farm animals, sheep and a steer.” For set up and tear down, the local volunteer crew is joined by a party of model inmates from Beaver Creek Institution, a medium and minimum-security prison. “They have to apply to get on this work detail,” Niess says. “We welcome them; we

Actors playing the role of angels sing on the night of Christ's birth during Bala's Trek to Bethlehem. Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11

don’t discriminate. We understand that everyone makes mistakes.” Various members of the Comtois family of Huntsville have performed in the trek for about 15 years. “It’s the highlight of my year,” says Elaine Comtois, who most enjoys being a shepherd, while her husband, Andre Comtois, has played both Joseph and a soldier. Three of their children, all now in their 20s, have taken various roles, with daughter Joanna often playing Mary. Ruth, the youngest of the Comtois family, has also played Mary and was only seven years old when she first began acting in the Trek to Bethlehem. With actors required at their stations for five to six hours, and the nearest washroom a quarter mile away, Andre says, “There’s sacrifice involved.” And then there was the year when the family’s arrival was delayed by a winter storm as they hauled a trailer full of borrowed sheep. But the show could hardly go on without them: “We had Mary and Joseph and their costumes in the SUV,” Elaine recalls. But it’s all worth it, the volunteers and

12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

Joined by a servant, the three wise men come bearing gifts. organizers agree. For Gidley, the Trek to Bethlehem is all about the participants. “We want it to enrich their Christmas, to remind them of why we celebrate, and make their Christmas a little more meaningful,” she says. The trek officially starts at 6 p.m., but its

popularity can make for hour-long wait times. Gidley advises families with young children to arrive early. Because it’s an outdoor walk, wheelchair access depends on weather conditions, and she advises dressing for the weather. Admission is by donation.

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Gathering at the future site of Andy’s House are Rosamond Abbott, chair of Hospice Muskoka; philanthropist Brock Napier, who donated the land; Bob Potts, the father of Andy Potts; Matt Hanes, who was Andy Potts’ police partner; and Sandra Winspear, the executive director of Hospice Muskoka.

Hospice to honour fallen officer Article by Dianne Park Thach / Photography by Paul Bennett

ermanent and seasonal residents of South Muskoka will soon have a residential hospice where they can be with their loved ones in a comfortable and serene setting, ensuring their final stage of life is fulfilling and dignified. A warm, home-like alternative to institutional care, Andy’s House is intended for those who want to spend their final days surrounded by friends and family outside of a hospital. The hospice facility is one stage of Constable Andy Potts a three-part initiative of the Brock and Willa Wellness Centre in Port Carling, which

includes the current nursing station and the future Port Carling Lions Club Hub of the Lakes Retirement Residence. But the fundraising committee for the project has run into a snag – Andy’s House hasn’t been built yet because of a shortfall in the $1.7 million fundraising goal. In 2013, the Andy Potts Memorial Foundation partnered with Hospice Muskoka to fund the project and foundation member Matt Hanes says they have currently raised about $800,000 towards their goal. Fundraising for local causes is the focus of

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15

This artist's rendering reveals what Andy's House will look like once complete. the Andy Potts Memorial Foundation, which was created in memory of Constable Andrew Potts who served as an officer for the Ontario Provincial Police, and was born and raised in Muskoka. In 2005, he and his partner, Constable Matt Hanes, were responding to a call when they were involved in a car accident.

Potts did not survive and Hanes was seriously injured. To date, the Andy Potts Memorial Foundation has raised more than $500,000 in the past 10 years through its annual golf tournament and charity bike ride around Lake Muskoka. Funds have been donated to

Matt Hanes, Bob Potts, Brock Napier, Rosamond Abbott and Sandra Winspear review the plans for Andy’s House, a residential hospice that will be built in Port Carling. 16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

local organizations such as the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, Ontario Provincial Police Association Injured Officers Fund, the Township of Muskoka Lakes Fire Department, Glen Orchard Public School and the Port Carling Figure Skating Club. When the doors to Andy’s House open, it will welcome both full-time and seasonal residents of Muskoka. Philanthropists Brock and Willa Napier donated 13 acres of land along the Indian River in Port Carling for the Wellness Centre and $250,000 in seed money for the nursing station, hospice and retirement residence. The Napiers have had a cottage in Muskoka since 1972 and now live in Minett full time. Brock has noticed the influx of summer residents who are no longer splitting their time between the city, Florida, and the cottage, opting instead to live in Muskoka year-round. “They eventually become locals,” he says. “So with the health hub, hospice and retirement residence, they can have the facilities here to look after them.” After doing some estate planning, Brock

says it made sense for him and his wife to give to charitable causes in Muskoka. “There is a need up here, especially when you find out more and more about the issues and needs for organizations like the hospital and Rotary Club,” he says. Sandra Winspear, executive director of Hospice Muskoka, also says the district is facing an aging demographic and more people are moving to Muskoka. “Thirty-eight per cent of Muskoka’s seasonal population is over the age of 55, and 22 per cent of Muskoka’s population is over the age of 65,” she says. Hospice Huntsville has Algonquin Grace Hospice, a five-bed facility that serves north Muskoka. But with nothing to serve the south Muskoka area, people can stay there when there is bed availability. The plans for Andy’s House call for 10 private rooms for palliative care, post-surgical recovery and respite care. It will also offer a variety of services, including professional support; training for caregivers; a wellness component so those with life-threatening illnesses can come together for education and discussion; and grief, bereavement and spiritual care for families and children who have a loved one who is dying. “The goal is to give people the kind of choices they need for end-of-life care,” says Winspear. “Hospice palliative care is about learning how to live the highest quality of life until you die. Let’s make this into something that’s cutting-edge, Muskoka-made, and help others understand why something like this should be in their community.” Andy’s parents, Bob and Shirley Potts, describe Andy’s House as a place that will provide a peaceful and compassionate environment for those who have a terminal illness and need short-term, round-the-clock care. Bob says the home-like setting with views of the river will help provide comfort and dignity. “Our local residents and our summer visitors enjoy Muskoka and have grown to love all that Muskoka is,” he says. “To have the opportunity to spend their last days in this peaceful setting would be appreciated.” Andy loved to serve those who called Muskoka their home, adds Bob. “Andy’s House is a meaningful way for Andy to be remembered and, in his way, continue to care for the people of Muskoka.”

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Muskoka is not only a scenic place to run, but also provides challenging terrain.

Article by Melissa Kosowan / Photography by Heather Douglas s the sun rises over Muskoka, a group of dedicated runners are logging miles on Huntsville’s hilly streets and sideroads. Known as the Muskoka Algonquin Runners, or MARs for short, this small but mighty group of runners is leaving its mark on the running scene while inspiring Muskokans of all ages to lace up. From local fun runs to the famous Boston Marathon, the MARsians have landed. “I think what makes MARs different from other teams I have run with is that the members take running seriously, but they don’t take themselves too seriously,” says Huntsville runner Chris Watson, who started running

18 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

with the group in 2014. Watson ran during university, but hadn’t run for more than a decade when he joined the group. Now, he’s preparing to run the Boston Marathon next spring wearing the blue, silver and black MARs singlet. “It’s the most fun group of people I have ever run with and I don’t know why,” he adds. “I think it’s just the mix of people. There is a lot of healthy teasing that goes on. I think people, by and large, are more excited for others than themselves.” Now numbering close to 70 members, the running club got its start in 2012. Founder Pierre Mikhail had been contemplating

starting a formal group in the face of a looming teachers strike that would spell the end of the cross-country running season for the high school students he coached. Around that same time, he started meeting up with fellow runners at a friend’s house for Saturday morning workouts. Before long, he decided to turn these informal gatherings into a formal running group. The rest, as they say, is history. Since that time, the club has not only been growing, but also gaining a reputation as a force to be reckoned with. Last year, eight runners ran the prestigious Boston Marathon, which attracted over 30,000 athletes. Qualifying to compete in the event

Left: Members of the Muskoka Algonquin Runners ham it up before a 6 a.m. run. Right: Troy Cox and Chris Watson run laps at the Conroy Track in Huntsville. is an accomplishment in its own right, but four club members finished in the top 100 in their respective age categories. Katherine Ahokas of Huntsville, Jessica Sheppard of Rosseau and Martina Morton of Huntsville battled headwinds to put Muskoka on the map with a fifth place finish in the Women’s Open team category out of 51 teams. “MARs has most certainly helped my career. Without MARs, I would not have the support or the push to improve as a runner,” says Ahokas, who is a clinician at the SportLab, a sports therapy and nutrition clinic in Huntsville. “And all levels of runners are critical in the club’s success.” Muskoka Algonquin Runners also left their mark last fall at the Ontario Cross Country

Championships where the women’s 30-39 team and the men’s 40-49 team took home gold medals. Up against Olympic athletes, they repeated their winning streak at the National Cross Country Championships, winning the women’s 40-49 and 50-59 age categories and placing second in the men’s 40-49. “On top of having members who are awesome people, there are some really awesome runners achieving great individual and team results – making a statement in the running scene,” says Watson, who was on the silver medal winning men’s team. “And it’s a team from the little town of Huntsville! That’s something really amazing.” Wins like that are near and dear to Mikhail’s heart. Cross country is in his blood and one

of his goals through the club is to raise the profile of cross country running. To introduce newcomers to the sport, Muskoka Algonquin Runners offered a cross country running camp through the Town of Huntsville for the first time this summer. Participants were not only put through their paces in training, but were also taught about the sport during a classroom session at the end of each run. “I hope that’s something that really raises the profile of cross country because a lot of people don’t know what it is,” says Mikhail. “My experience, personally, is what makes it really different and more fun is that it’s a team sport. Even though you’re running on your own, you matter to your team.” That’s just one of the ways the club is

Left: The Muskoka Algonquin Runners logo is becoming a familiar sight at races and around Huntsville. Right: Sharon Bennett volunteers to time runners during a Thursday night race. Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19

20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 20

making running more accessible to the public. For the past two years, the Muskoka Algonquin Runners have also held a weekly fun run series in Huntsville through the summer months. The casual atmosphere and nominal entry fee for non-members make the series an affordable and approachable way to experience a race setting. “I would say two thirds of the people who come out to the fun runs are not the people who come out to our workouts, so that’s kind of neat,” Mikhail says. “We’re getting other people out there and a lot of younger kids are coming.” To introduce runners to the track, this year the series also offered races ranging from 800 metres to five kilometres at Conroy Park in Huntsville. This addition, Mikhail hopes, will inspire high school cross country runners to keep running once cross-country season ends in the fall and also inspire runners of all ages to compete at indoor track events during the winter months. “We want to try to introduce the community to something that they might not know about or may be intimidated by,” Mikhail says of track. “To do it in a fun run

The runners are a blur during their track workout. is pretty non-threatening.” Whatever the magic formula is, it seems to be working for the club as more and more runners join and Muskoka continues to show up in race results. “There’s definitely some talented runners, but it’s more than that,” says Mikhail. “I think we have some really great training programs and I think people come out and they want to get better. I think the third thing we have is incredibly challenging

terrain. I think it really changes you as a runner if you’re always running up hills. Every single run you do, there’s hills to go up and that makes you stronger.” “Running is one tough gig, but worth it when it's with these people,” says Mikhail. “Never once have I regretted a winter run in -30C at 6:15 a.m. because I know I’m running with a fun and talented group of people who aren’t afraid to push themselves to be the best they can be.”

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 21

Fashioned f rom

the forest Article by Sandy Lockhart / Photography by Kelly Holinshead ongtime wildlife photographer Eleanor Kee Wellman is using the images she has captured through her lens in a different way. Years of observing nature have inspired her to explore a new artistic medium – metalwork jewelry. Using fine silver metal clay, she moulds and carves pieces inspired by nature and often her own photographs. A silver ring shows fine detail moulded from an actual acorn. Delicate earrings feature tiny blossoms from a striped maple. “They are barely visible when hanging on the tree,” she says, explaining how she has learned to appreciate nature’s subtle details through her photography. Kee Wellman’s foray into jewelry-making began when

22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

she asked an artist to use African free trade beads to make her a necklace. Tired of waiting, she did a bit of research and decided she would do it herself. First she took a metal clay course online. “I was firing fine silver over a stove with a butane torch,” she says of the first project. “To do bigger and trickier pieces, you need a kiln.” Now that she has a kiln, she’s only limited by her imagination. Kee Wellman finds items in nature to make moulds for the silver clay – fine silver particles mixed with a binder and water. The clay is then fired to create the final product. “I’ve always had a thing for claws and talons,” she says, explaining how a bear claw was used for one of her first

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 22

moulds. She created it in silver and then added 24-karat gold to accent it. A variety of talons, claws and even leaves have also served as moulds. Her own photographs serve as both inspiration and a physical template for some of her moulds. To make her African necklace, she created a stamp, which started as a photograph. “I photographed African fabric and then made it into a line drawing and traced it onto a polymer plate using UV light,” she says. “Then I pressed the clay into it.” Another piece – a leopard’s face on a square pendant – was created from one of

Kee Wellman’s photographs and moulded into silver clay. Small, sparkling jewels for the eyes bring the piece to life. To learn to carve the clay, Kee Wellman took a private Skype course with a Pennsylvania artist to study the repousse effect. A mould is created to make the approximate size and shape of the piece, in this case a bird on a square pendant. The metal clay fills the mould, thicker in some spots than others to create the approximate finished shape. The clay dries and Kee Wellman carefully carves the wings, beak and other fine lines to make the picture come alive.

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 23

“It shrinks as it is fired so the detail increases,” she says. “This carving is something I’m going to do a lot more.” She often wears the necklace she created using this method. A photograph taken in her yard of a bird at a thistle was the inspiration for this piece. Maple keys, petrified wood, acorns, tiny maple leaves, feathers, goldenrod, seeds and other natural elements become wearable works of art. “These are some of the things I’ve been playing with,” she says, showing the assortment of earrings and pendants she has created. Touches of copper and bronze clay, as well as beads, are used as accents. Kee Wellman says her parents were art collectors, but not artists. They appreciated the beauty around them, which influenced her from an early age. She’s also had a lifelong appreciation of nature that grew when she started videographing, and later photographing, wildlife. “My mother was ill; so couldn’t go out,” she explains of her start with video in 1993. “I started videotaping whatever I saw – so everything – for her to see.” In 2003, she bought her first digital camera and now her photographs are wellknown throughout Muskoka and beyond. Art has always been part of Kee Wellman’s life. In fact, she spent a year studying at the Ontario College of Art and Design to become a portrait painter. “I was lousy at it,” she says, laughing. “It didn’t occur to me to try a different type of art.”

Surrounded by nature at her home in Bala, Eleanor Kee Wellman has found a new medium to share her appreciation for the outdoors. Since then she’s tried her hand at dressmaking, stained glass, silk screening, T-shirt making and metalwork. With a childhood family retreat on Lake Simcoe, later a family home on the Credit River and then Lake Joseph, she has always been able to enjoy the natural environment. Today, she lives on 39 acres with 650 feet of frontage on a private 26-acre lake that she shares with just three other owners and only two other cottages. “I’m the only one here year-round,” she

says of her Bala area home. The lake has no motorized boats and is a perfect place for Kee Wellman to watch wildlife. “I’ve taken almost all my loon photos here,” she says, explaining how the solitude of the lake is a perfect setting for her photography. It is also a perfect setting for her metalwork, which has given her another way to share her appreciation for nature’s beauty with others. “I’m having fun with this,” she says. “I have so many ideas.”

Left: The silver shrinks once fired. Here a fired and patina pair of silver earrings sit beside unfired bronze leaves, all made from the purple mould created from a live leaf. Right: Eleanor Kee Wellman’s work includes rings, earrings and pendants. 24 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

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By J. Patrick Boyer hen hundreds of young men were recruited a century ago to fight overseas in the Great War as Muskoka’s 122nd Battalion, it helped forge a district-wide identity that Muskokans had never before felt. Yet the battalion’s sweetest days were the ones it spent in Muskoka. By late 1915, most able-bodied Muskokans who wanted to fight had already gone to Europe’s killing-fields, to which Britain kept summoning more colonials to feed commander-in-chief General Douglas Haig’s deadly war of attrition. It had been 30 years before when Don Grant, a clergyman’s son, came from southern Ontario to teach schoolchildren at South River. Finding this role limiting, by 1891 he was practising law in Huntsville instead. Still wanting more, in 1894 Grant joined the militia as ensign with the 35th Regiment in Barrie. Instead of canoeing Lake Vernon, every summer the enthusiastic soldier drilled at an army camp on Niagaraon-the-Lake, learning more and moving up

the ranks. In July 1914, just before outbreak of war, Grant was presented with the militia’s 20-year medal for devoted service. The following summer, when the 35th Regiment’s commanding officer was crushed under the wheels of a train departing the Barrie station, Huntsville’s most prominent soldier, Lieutenant-Colonel D.M. Grant, was promoted as his replacement. The top priority was to recruit more soldiers for Haig’s battles, but finding fighters was rightly getting hard. Recruitment officers, facing limited prospects, poached men all over the place. Grant got the idea that if men were recruited where they lived, for example forming a “Muskoka Battalion,” it would be easier as a localized enlistment drive. It would offer something men and their families could authentically identify with, it would form a special bond of geographic identity to inspire signing up and it would bring men together as a cohesive unit going into battle. Grant went to Ottawa to present his inspired idea to Militia Minister Sam

Hughes, who quickly grasped the concept. Canada’s warlord cut Grant off before he’d even finished his pitch, called in the reporters who hungered around his office for news, and announced Canada’s new policy. Effective immediately, recruitment would be based on country or district boundaries and, instead of mere numbers, battalions would also be given geographic names. That meant a new battalion, if it could be raised in Muskoka, would not just be number 122, but be called “the Muskoka Battalion.” Moreover, Grant was then ordered to form it, as reward, or punishment, for his bright idea. When war broke out in 1914, underpopulated Muskoka had fewer than 3,000 males fit for military service, and the most enthusiastic of those had long since landed in Europe. Grant’s fellow officers shook their heads, commiserating that he had “one of the hardest tasks imposed on a commanding officer in Ontario.” Muskoka Battalion would be mobilized through four companies – A Company for Huntsville, B for Bracebridge, C for

Above: Soldiers of Gravenhurst’s Company “C” board a train at the town’s station on May 29, 1916. Below: The Muskoka Battalion marched through Port Carling in the summer of 1916, part of their fabled “Hundred Mile March.” Photos Courtesy of Boyer Family Muskoka Archives

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27

This panoramic photograph captured all units of the Muskoka Battalion: the four companies from Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Port Carling, the Utterson Detachment, the Brass and Bugle Band and officers. Formation of the 122nd helped Muskokans in the district’s widely scattered localities share a tangible common identity for the first time. Gravenhurst, and D for Port Carling, with a smaller detachment at Utterson. Each would draw soldiers from its municipality and surrounding hinterland. The Canadian Army sent a hundred officers and noncommissioned officers who, commanded by Grant, put legs under the battalion by recruiting and training all Muskokans they could entice into uniform. Grant’s goal was a thousand men, and they began to appear. Local marching drills through the streets of towns and villages, battle demonstrations in farmers’ fields, and on frozen Hunter’s Bay and Gull Lake in winter, drew rapt audiences and enticed boys to step forward. Those under 18 either lied about their age or got parental consent; others were judged at recruiting desks to be “of apparent age 18.” It was worth signing up. A young man who’d only known field or forest or factory work got a uniform, rifle, ammunition, three meals a day, pay, a free trip to Europe and glorious adventure. New recruits, handsome in uniform and with a couple weeks of companionable

The Muskoka Battalion recruited its own bugle and brass band, led by Gravenhurst bandmaster John Cowie. Their military tunes kept the soldiers in step and drew excited Muskokans to drills and parades of the 122nd Battalion. 28 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

training, returned to their scattered Muskoka homes to entice farmer neighbours or buddies from Baysville to Bala. The First Nations agent helped sign up young Mohawks from Gibson Reserve. Mothers proudly wore ribbons – “My Son Enlisted in the 122nd” – and shamed other mothers into pushing their boys to “do their duty for King and Country.” Across the district, municipal councillors caught the spirit and contributed funds to the recruitment drive, while Port Carling voted $1,000 to purchase a machine gun for D Company and Bracebridge paid for bell tents to house the troops of B Company. The Muskoka Battalion’s swelling ranks put on marching displays and machine gun demonstrations at events like fall fairs, thereby drawing more recruits. The Muskoka Herald published a Special Recruitment Number in which every denomination of clergyman in town wrote exhortations to enlist, secular sermons for God’s higher sacrifice demanded of young men in civilization’s darkest hour of need. Everyone emphasized the Muskoka

Battalion would fight together as a wellhoned unit. Training included a “hundredmile march” throughout Muskoka, turning boys into men and attracting still more recruits as the 122nd soldiered down country roads and through towns. Leading the parade, the Battalion’s own brass and bugle band filled their air with stirring military marches and drew all within earshot. Muskokans of all ages gathered along the route, cheering and waving. Farmwives offered hot baked goods; farmers brought forth fresh cow’s milk. It was a glorious time to be a man in the Muskoka Battalion. And then, before completing their 100mile itinerary, the march was abruptly aborted. The army’s cover story was that it ended so the men could get “further training” that summer at Camp Borden. However, the 122nd was already in the midst of “training.” The wellplanned manoeuvre was testing the men on everything from quartermaster duties to field communication, transport logistics to target shooting, endurance marching and quickly

taking positions. Ended prematurely, Muskoka’s Battalion even had to refund the Army some $6,000 of unspent money from its training budget. The hundred-mile march ended because rioting had seized Camp Borden. The Muskoka Battalion was the nearest command of freshly disciplined soldiers, just 100 kilometres from Borden, who could go in and restore the peace. They patrolled the camp for four days and nights with loaded rifles cradled in their arms. The surface calm made Muskoka’s reliable soldiers popular with higher-up military brass, but it also made them deeply resented by the angry soldiers who continued to endure the poor accommodation, bad food and unsanitary conditions they’d been protesting. Now stationed full time at Borden to ensure that order was kept, the disliked soldiers of the 122nd watched lacrosse matches resume and grew keen to join in. Among their ranks were most members of the Canadian champion team Top left: Lieutenant-Colonel D.M. Grant, a Huntsville lawyer with a military passion, raised the 122nd Muskoka from 1912, along with their Battalion during the First World War. Top right and above: Canadian Army officers and non-commissioned officers coach, who was Battalion gathered for a winter parade in early 1916 in downtown Bracebridge.

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 29

In a typical Muskoka dock setting, commanding officers of the 122nd Battalion flank Lt. Col. D.M. Grant (centre). paymaster. As the camp’s many battalions played each other, Muskoka’s team beat them all, with their final game a 5-0 win over a previously undefeated team. Earlier rankand-file resentment at Camp Borden now escalated further, as the imported “military police” from Muskoka showed superiority in a different way. Before snowfall, Muskoka’s Battalion was relocated for the winter to the southern Ontario city of Galt for the safety of the men, although the move was officially described as being for “further training.” At Galt, they beat other teams in hockey. In spring, the battalion shipped out to

cross the Atlantic for war, transferring off the train from Galt to another at Toronto that was bound for Halifax. A delegation of proud Muskokans was on hand to bid farewell. Women in Bracebridge had sewn a distinctive flag for “Muskoka’s Overseas Battalion” and sought to present their farewell gift as rallying “colours” for their boys in battle. In the confusion at the tiny north Toronto station, however, the moving ceremony was completely bungled. Grant and his officers, intent on getting all their men and equipment from one train to the other amidst a thronging melee, had no time for anything else. The miffed civilians, including district

judge Mahaffey, returned resentfully to Muskoka with wounded feelings. The story, reaching Muskokans through the local papers and word of mouth, cast an ominous pall over the fate of the 122nd. At Halifax, departure was delayed for a number of days due to bad weather and sickness among the men in cramped shipboard quarters. Grant implored his superiors to either give his men shore leave or set sail, to no avail. It was a miserable time for the men of the Muskoka Battalion. When the 122nd reached Britain, English commanders ordered that the Muskokans be dispersed to fill the depleted ranks of other British units under command of English officers. The 122nd was disbanded. The dismayed men, who’d been recruited and trained to fight as one, were scattered. Grant himself was put in charge of an artillery unit at the front. The “colours” of Muskoka’s Battalion never flew in battle, but today hang in the chambers of Muskoka District Council, in the town where mothers of enlisted men anxiously sewed them a century ago.

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nyone who has ever spent any time around horses knows there’s something special about being in their presence. Tricia and Sheldon Hunter, who have three children with autism, have witnessed firsthand the transformative powers of horses. “Our son, Stewart, has friends and gets invited to play dates now,” Trisha says of the

34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

change she has seen in her son since he began taking part in a local Equine Assisted Personal Development (EAPD) program. “It really changed his life from one of isolation to inclusion.” When a friend recommended an EAPD program at Back of Beyond Equine Centre for her then eight-year-old son, Tricia was

willing to give it a try. “Before weekly coaching, Stewie would say things that hurt or angered people, and he’d keep on saying them, not understanding the effect he had on others. All of that has changed,” she says. “Stewie’s horse, Annie, and his coach, Kelly, helped him to develop empathy by learning to read non-verbal cues.”

Back of Beyond co-owner Cathy Foyston is not surprised: “We have seen broken hearts and spirits restored many times through interactions with the horses. We have seen the horses ease the pain of losing a loved one, give individuals confidence to overcome mental/ physical challenges and restore hope to despairing and shattered hearts,” she says.

She adds, “Horses can’t lie, which makes them especially powerful messengers and teachers.” Located halfway between Huntsville and Port Sydney, Back of Beyond is owned by Foyston and her husband, Bill Statten. The 95-acre farm is the realization of a lifetime dream, and is the home of a wide variety of

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programs for children and adults. Foyston is certified to teach EAL and has a background in working with special needs and at-risk youth. Statten is an experienced driver and allaround handyman who loves to take the big Percherons out on the trails. Sometimes even the helpers come to Back

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35

Elianna guides Velvet around obstacles during an EAL session, which teaches participants how to guide their horse through body movement. of Beyond carrying a burden. “I’d lost my last horse in a very traumatic event,” recounts Liz Prosser, a certified Equine Assisted Learning specialist from Bracebridge who works mostly with children. “I carried a great deal of guilt and pain around with me and didn’t feel worthy or sure I should ever have another horse.” But with support and guidance from Foyston and Statten, she was able to forge a very different and beautiful relationship with a mare named Cleo. She reflects, “I take lessons back to my life from the barn and know, without a doubt, that I am a better person for it.” Prosser adds, “For my students, I observe that at every session the horse’s intuitive nature and their stoic and steadfast presence require the children to be calm, consistent, fair-minded and patient.” The EAL exercises look like play, but they are tools that help the horse and human connect on a level that goes beyond words. EAL involves setting up ground activities

36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

involving the horses – no riding will take place – that require the participant or group to learn, develop and apply certain skills. “Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking, problem solving and leadership are among the many skills where EAL places the focus,” says Kelly Jacobsen, an Equine Guided Education Specialist and EAPD instructor from Baysville. “It is one of my big-picture goals that people will come to appreciate that horses aren’t just for riding.

McKinley plants a kiss on Annie’s face.

We hike, play games and just be with them.” EAL is backed by scientific research where horses are the teachers and humans are facilitators. Equine therapy is experiential in nature, meaning that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses. Later, feelings, behaviours and patterns are processed during a debriefing session. Huntsville resident Linnea Vanamo had just arrived from Finland when she took the Women & Horses program at Back of Beyond. “We Finns don’t use a lot of words. The horses have helped me to fit in and feel comfortable and grounded in this new country,” says Vanamo, who has been volunteering ever since. “They have given me such a dose of self-confidence that I’ve made friends here and in the larger community.” Elaine Abbott of Huntsville can also vouch for how horses can change lives. “I was in the process of climbing back from being in a pretty low place when I first came to Back of Beyond,” she recalls. “My

confidence – even my spirit – felt broken because in the course of a short time my mom passed away, my marriage ended and my kids grew up and moved on. All the ‘hats’ we wear as women – mother, wife, daughter – were stripped away and it was only then when I realized how much those roles had defined me. I had to think about who I was and what I wanted for a change.” She adds, “The greatest gift for me was in learning about boundaries from the horses. When faced with setting a boundary with a dominant 1,200-pound horse, you have to truly stand in your strength and assert your needs.” She laughs, “I learned that it was okay for me to insist on boundaries. It was really empowering.” Foyston smiles as she looks around the grounds at paddocks holding 25 horses, many of them rescues. “We are a bit like the Island of Misfit Toys here,” she says affectionately, referencing the movie of the same name about a place where misfits gather and spend time. “Some of our horses came from horrendous situations. They were cast offs but what’s amazing about them is that after all they have suffered, they don’t hold grudges and they still have so much to give.” One pony rules the roost, though, because he is a natural leader. “Apollo is small, but mighty, and kids especially love to see that,” Foyston says, laughing. “Horses value

security above all else. They are not going to follow a leader that doesn’t have their back when the lion comes prowling!” EAL and other equine therapies may be a new concept for some, but it has a long history. The Greeks documented the horse’s therapeutic value in 600 BC, while riding as a form of therapy for children and adults with disabilities gained acceptance in the 1960s. Winston Churchill famously said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” More recently, horses are being used to help first responders and war vets overcome post-traumatic stress disorder. They have also been successfully used to help people overcome alcohol and drug addictions, and to help people of all ages overcome mental, social and physical challenges.

“Horses are sensitive, nonjudgmental teachers,” Jacobsen says. “They are innately intuitive and because they are prey animals, as well as herd animals, they can pick up on subtle shifts in the emotional environment and mirror it back to the human.” She adds, “The purpose of EAL is to provide participant adults and children the opportunity to connect with, and come to understand, their subconscious and inner self.” Everyone at Back of Beyond jokes about the farm’s “vortex.” Time doesn’t exist. Abbott laughs, “I always intend to come to spend an hour or two with the horses and these wonderful people but when I finally get back to my car I see that the whole day has just gone! I thank Cathy for this place every time I’m there.” She pauses. “It just fills me up.”

Top: At the end of the lesson, after they have groomed their equine partners, Adi, Hannah, McKinley, Grace and Elianna wait patiently on the freezer for their frozen freezie treat. Above: Kelly Jacobsen and Ithaca lead a group on a hike in the woods. Right: Elaine Abbott shares a laugh with Beau. She has learned to laugh again after coming to Back of Beyond Equine Centre. Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 37

skatıng in a

winter wonderland Photograph: Courtesy of Johnston's Cranberry Marsh

By Meghan Smith

38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 39

Photograph: Wendy MacCrimmon Photograph: Courtesy of Explorers Edge

continues Hogarth. “One of the catalysts was that a friend of ours was selling a Zamboni, which we renamed the ‘Cranboni.’ Working with our dikes allowed us to create a trail of consistent ice around the farm. If weather and conditions permit, we can later use the cranberry beds for skating, too.” The idea for Memorial Park Winter Village in Bracebridge started in Bucharest, Romania for Mike Jefford, a Muskoka resident. “Cismigiu Park, near my apartment, had a massive skating rink fully decorated for the winter season and was especially beautiful at night,” says Jefford. “I went skating three to four days a week and loved it.” While running for council in October 2014, Jefford proposed a skating rink and vendor area in Memorial Park. Couples skating hand in hand is a common sight on Arrowhead’s The Winter Village is an ice trail. enchanting addition to winter in Bracebridge and showcases Christmas lights on all the trees and the band shell and ice sculptures displayed throughout the park on lit platforms. A fire pit and hot chocolate are at the ready after a few laps on the volunteer-maintained ice, adding to the charming ambiance. “The thing I loved most was working with so many Above: A child learns to great people in all aspects of skate amongst the tall the winter village project – trees surrounding seeing all the great people in Arrowhead’s ice trail. Opposite: Friends finish our community step up to a day of skating at volunteer, make a donation, Johnston’s Cranberry or just be involved in whatever Marsh with a glass of wine way,” says Jefford. “There are at the Muskoka Lakes over 100 people who Winery. Left: Lights contributed to this project. I reflect on the skating can’t even list them all there’s trail around Memorial so many.” Park in Bracebridge. Photograph: Courtesy of the Town of Bracebridge

hile holiday songs and stories mention walking in a winter wonderland, Muskoka offers a different take on a classic – skating in a winter wonderland. “The first thing I noticed was how quiet it was. The crunch of snow under heavy boots and the sporadic laughter of people were the only sounds that greeted us,” says Xerex Bridglall, who drove up from Toronto with her boyfriend to experience the trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park. “The trail is a hidden but not so secret gem.” Skating on outdoor ice is synonymous with winter in Muskoka. Nothing quite compares with the feeling of gliding over a frozen pond, stream or lake. “We skated mid-afternoon when there was a warm sun, but Tiki lanterns were poised along the trail for night skates,” says Bridglall. Torches are lit for special Fire & Ice Nights, an opportunity to explore the winding 1.3-kilometre trail through the forest at night. Gliding along the torch-lit path with snow-covered trees on both sides is a breathtaking adventure. In Bala, Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh provides a unique Muskoka adventure well beyond the time of the cranberry harvest. “We flood the marsh in the winter to protect the vines. Over the years, we’ve experimented with various methods for creating skateable ice,” explains Wendy Hogarth, proprietor and sommelier at Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes Winery. “Lots of people came out and discovered that there are lots of other things to do while they’re here,” says Hogarth of visitors to the cranberry marsh skating trail. “I was amazed at how many people went skating and then also tried snowshoeing. They would sit by the fire on the patio and enjoy hot mulled wine and local cheese plates. It was really gratifying to create something that helped us all enjoy winter a bit more.” After several years of inconsistent ice surface, caused by weather challenges and the higher priority of cranberry management, Hogarth and her husband, Murray Johnston, realized more consistent results could be achieved by flooding the dikes that surround the cranberry beds. “Last winter, we decided to test the theory,”

He adds, “I have watched kids take their first skate on the skating trail, as well as seniors who hadn’t skated in 30 years go for skates on the trail. It is for all ages.” Enjoying the skating trails throughout Muskoka is not just about the activity; it’s about the entire experience. Whether you’re looking to take advantage of a sunny winter’s day or a beautiful star-filled night, skating trails throughout Muskoka are a magical scene. “It’s always a happy family experience,” says Kerri Beasley, a Bracebridge resident who regularly takes her granddaughters to the Memorial Park Winter Village. “We love being able to skate together as a family in the middle of our town.” Whether you are an expert skater or just starting out, skating trails offer an opportunity for everyone, regardless of age or ability, to discover the wonders a Canadian winter has to offer. “Take your time and enjoy the views,” advises Bridglall. “From a big-city rink, Arrowhead is a welcome break. There are a few uphill spots, so pace yourself. Get out and enjoy it.”

Left: Feeling the sun and wind on your face is part of the allure of skating outdoors on Muskoka’s ice trails. Below: Skaters bundle up and brave the cold to skate the ice trail in Arrowhead Provincial Park. Bottom: The aptly named “Cranboni” keeps the ice surface smooth at Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh.

If you’re looking for a winter experience unlike any other, sharpen your skates and head for the outdoor skating trails. Muskoka’s winter provides a little magic for all.

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Muskoka is an inspiration for its writing community Article by Cindy Watson / Photography by Larry Carroll

nspiring places have always inspired great writers. Muskoka is no exception. It’s home to a growing pool of talented authors; from fledgling newbies dipping their toes in for the first time, to accomplished award-winning authors. And so, Muskoka Authors Association (MAA) was born in 2014. It brings together a number of previously unconnected writing groups from across the region into a single cohesive community of authors helping authors. “The precept of the MAA is the prospect of bringing together our strong Muskoka writing community under one umbrella to flourish, support, develop and enhance our respective writing careers,” says membership director David Patterson. “By uniting these energetic members of the writing community, we hope to enjoy the benefits that come from shared resources and focus.” The Muskoka Authors Association brings in acclaimed authors each month to speak about their writing journeys, inspirations and paths to publication. The organization offers mentoring,

editing and even an upcoming 2017 writing retreat at L’Academie de la Roche D’Hys, in the heart of Burgundy, France for writers of all levels. It also offers regular workshops on everything from the craft of writing to the business of writing. Open mic nights are a big hit; anyone can come out and read their work to an appreciative audience. Vice-president Wendie Donabie also co-ordinates Tall Pines reading events across the region. Authors from Bracebridge, Huntsville, Baysville and Haliburton perform public readings of their work while raising money for the local libraries at the same time. The Muskoka Authors Association also hosts the North Words Muskoka Literary Festival, which has fast become one of the most recognized literary festivals in Canada. Drawing top literary talent from across the country, it celebrates great literature while showcasing Muskoka. Literary agents and publishers now solicit the Muskoka Authors Association to have their authors

included in the event. North Words is one of the few literary festivals to also have a full day dedicated to writers, with celebrated authors facilitating workshops and the rare opportunity for oneon-one face time in pitch sessions with top Canadian literary agents. Some of our local talent has been “discovered” through this process. North Words has hosted such Canadian icons as Margaret Atwood, Joseph Boyden, Terry Fallis, Anthony De Sa, Alison Pick, Michelle Berry and M.G. Vassanji, to name a few. Amidst a showing of Muskoka’s spectacular fall colours, North Words wows lovers of literature, receiving rave reviews. “I have been deeply affected by the presentations, each offering a nugget of inspiration, a kernel of unexpected nourishment, a softening of the heart, and some big belly laughs that are such rich medicine,” says Anne McTaggart of Windermere. And let’s not forget the Muskoka Novel Marathon – a major fundraising event in support of literacy. Now in its 14th year, the event has grown, with all 40 spots filling up in only a few minutes for 2016. Forty

Author Denise Chong speaks at a workshop hosted by the Muskoka Authors Association.

writers from all over descend on the Summit Centre in Huntsville to write a novel in a weekend. Nope, that’s not a typo. They write from Friday night to Sunday in a marathon of writing! As Bracebridge-based writer Cheryl Cooper says, “Having participated in eight novel marathons to date, I can tell you that nothing beats the frisson of excitement in the writing room in the company of others who truly understand the joys of creating magnificent sentences.” Muskoka Authors Association members are seeing great successes already, with book launches, book tours and literary awards. Shark Assault, by Windermere writer Peter Jennings, tells the gripping story of Nicole

Moore’s survival of a vicious shark attack. His book has been garnering attention as Jennings tours Canada and the United States, appearing on shows such as This Week in America, CTV News Channel and The Agenda. Likewise, Port Sydney writer Yvonne Heath has been touring with her inspiring new book, Love Your Life to Death, which renowned TV anchor Lloyd Robertson described as “a compelling narrative on navigating life through to its final passage.” A 25-year veteran as a registered nurse, Heath describes her book as “a mission to bring death out of the darkness and into our conversations.” Cooper is working on finishing the highly anticipated third book in her Seasons of War

series. Come Looking For Me, a historical fiction set on the high seas during the war of 1812, and its sequel, Second Summer of War, both met with great critical acclaim. “I’m excited to be a part of Muskoka Authors Association,” says Jennifer Stolpmann, communications director for the organization. “I loved to write when I was young, but got lost in life and hadn’t written creatively in ages. Muskoka reignited my passion for the written word.” Cindy Watson is the founder of the Muskoka Authors Association and chair of North Words Literary Festival. Author of Out of Darkness: The Jeff Healey Story, the Utterson resident is just wrapping up the prequel to her debut fiction novel, Bruised.

By Meghan Smith

Photograph: Josianne Masseau

What started out as record keeping when her daughters were years later, McMullen reached out to explore the opportunity young has turned into much more for a local freelance writer. of a business profile to celebrate the brewery’s 20th “It felt good to write. I never thought anniversary in 2016. about it, I just knew I liked to journal,” “It’s a history of the brewery with says Bracebridge writer Cathy Kuntz. photographs showcasing the core “Free flow writing got me on a path.” values of the brand over 20 years. The After submitting an essay titled beers are the chapters, telling the story “Through the Eyes of a Seven Year Old” for that year,” explains Kuntz. “Gary to a local contest and winning, Kuntz gave me this opportunity; it’s the first knew she had to follow her passion. business history I’ve done. I started “The essay was written around the out thinking of this business as just time my youngest daughter was six or cottage memories and celebrating seven. It was a chance to ponder the traditions, but it’s still developing.” different reactions my three daughters The process of developing a story had to things – their different for a book takes time in order to imaginations,” comments Kuntz. establish key pieces and the scope of Once she had won the personal the project. For the project with essay contest, Kuntz began writing for Muskoka Brewery, Kuntz interviewed local newspapers and magazines. over 18 people, but a personal memoir Kuntz holds a Bachelor of Environmay mean interviewing a single mental Studies and maintained person. The manuscript is developed freelance writing as a part-time hobby. Cathy Kuntz wrote a book celebrating Muskoka from interview transcripts. However, with the support of family, Brewery’s 20-year history. “It’s more than just collecting Kuntz launched her hobby into a full-time career with Cottage photographs into a photo book. This process brings you into Wordsmith just over a year ago. the story,” explains Kuntz. “Getting started, it’s difficult to make a living,” admits Kuntz. As cliché as she admits it sounds, Kuntz urges those unsure “Don’t quit your day job. Have other back-up plans while you’re of following their dreams to take a chance. figuring out the dream.” “Sometimes it feels like work and it’s stressful, but usually Having worked in the same building as Muskoka Brewery, the time flies away because I’m so interested in the stories,” Cathy Kuntz knew Gary McMullen as an acquaintance. Several says Kuntz.

44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

Clockwise from top left: Utterson author Cindy Watson is the founder of the Muskoka Authors Association and author of Out of Darkness: The Jeff Healey Story. Bracebridge author Cheryl Cooper’s published works include Second Summer of War and Come Looking for Me. Port Sydney author and registered nurse Yvonne Heath wrote Love Your Life to Death, which aims to bring death out of the darkness and into our conversations. Windermere author Peter Jennings has been touring Canada and the United States to promote his recent work, Shark Assault. Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45

{Cottage Country Cuisine{

An appetite for clean eating

Photograph: Em

ily MacDuff

Muskoka’s early pioneers would likely give their nod of approval. The “clean eating” movement has gone from marginal to mainstream and Muskoka is serving up plenty of real foods – minimally processed, refined or handled – for those mindful of their food’s pathway to their plate. “There is so much more awareness of what goes into our food and healthy eating,” says Catherine Cole, who co-owns The Great Vine in Huntsville with her husband, Kenneth. “We had organic produce for 10 or 15 years and it wasn’t sustainable, but now it is; more people want it. Every grocery store you walk into now has a department or area for that.” For clean-eating enthusiasts, Muskoka is particularly blessed, Cole says. “We have an incredible dynamic thing happening with young people growing up, leaving home, coming back full of education and inspiration, and wanting to make a difference. They grew up with recycling and know about climate change, and are asking ‘What do we do to make our lives sustainable?’” These “incredible young businesses,” as she calls them, along with the longestablished health food stores, are the backbone of Muskoka’s cleaneating movement. One such place is Totem Juice in Huntsville. Owners Brent and Rebecca Ellison opened the doors in July 2015 and call themselves a juice pub. Their main offering is cold-pressed fruit/vegetable juice, sourced mostly locally and organically. “Cold-pressing is hugely popular,” Brent Ellison says.

46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

Photograph: Larry Carroll

By Karen Wehrstein

Above: Radishes are pulled from the garden at the Spring Farm, which doesn't use pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. Below: Totem offers a wheatgrass juice shot with a cinnamondusted citrus chaser. “Rather than a blender, which slashes the cells apart, gets air into them and cooks off some of the enzymes, we use a hydraulic press that slowly presses the fruit and vegetable combo. It doesn’t break the cells, it squeezes them, and keeps the enzymes alive. That’s the advantage of eating raw: juice floods your body with live enzymes.” Totem also offers nut milk with no dairy, gluten or added sugar, and cold-brew alkaline coffee. “It’s a healthy version of coffee,” Ellison explains. “We take organic beans, grind them,

soak those grinds for 24 hours in filtered alkaline water, which gives the beans 65 percent less acidity.” Many people believe that the more alkaline the body is, the more resistant it is to cancer and other chronic diseases. “We serve it cold with almond milk, a bit of syrup and cinnamon,” he adds. “It’s on tap.” Totem is located right behind the Great Vine, and next door to the Spring Farm. “We can pull our vegetables from the ground in the morning, serve it and compost the remnants in the same day,” Ellison says. The Spring Farm got its start when co-owner and founder Jenny Spring kicked it off three summers ago by knocking on the doors of Huntsville residents and asking if she could farm organic vegetables, herbs

Photograph: Emily MacDuff

and edible flowers in their backyards. The response was enthusiastic, and business boomed enough that Spring and her partner, Oliver Wolse, partnered this year with Brian and Andrea Currie, who own a farm on Bethune Road, for more growing space. “We don’t use any pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or chemicals,” Spring explains. “We use certified organic compost only.” The farm’s customers include local restaurants, browsers at the Thursday Huntsville Farmers’ Market, and clients of Eat Local Muskoka, which offers a weekly food box of locally-grown organic produce and herbs. “If you’re connected to your farmer and you know where your food is coming from and what’s going into your food, you’re confident about what you and your family are eating,” Spring says. “The nutritional value is probably much higher because it hasn’t travelled, and the carbon footprint on that food is really, really low. You’re not impacting the environment as much, as well.” Another “young business” in Muskoka started out as the hobby of a man who wanted to provide good food for his family.

Photograph: Emily MacDuff

Four Seasons Greens owners Steve and Sharon Bacon carefully look at the growing progress of some recently germinated sprouts.

Above: Brent Ellerson of Totem Juice Co. produces a fresh batch of cold-pressed juice in his production space not far from the juice pub in Huntsville. Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47

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“My dad did a little sprouting when we were growing up,” says Steve Bacon, who co-owns Four Seasons Greens in Port Sydney with his wife, Sharon. “We took it to the next level, experimenting with different kinds of seeds and so forth.” Now in its sixth year, Four Seasons delivers a variety of species of sprouts year-round to its client members. Its products are also popular among Muskoka chefs. Sprouts, Bacon says, are a superfood. They are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and enzymes. “People are realizing that growth hormones, antibiotics, GMOs, radiated food and all these preservatives aren’t normal,” Bacon says. “To use the example of an automobile: if you put apple juice in it, it won’t run. If you put fake food and all these chemicals into your body, it might take five or 10 or 20 years, but at the end of the day, it’s not going to run like it should.” A food choice that has become tremendously popular in the past decade is avoiding gluten, a type of protein found in wheat and some other grains. Gluten has long been absolutely verboten for people with celiac disease, and more recently, a diet without has been found to ease the effects of autism. But many other people are now living gluten-free because they believe it makes them feel better. At Beat the Wheat Pasta Shop, Bakery and Fine Foods in Bracebridge, people with gluten sensitivities can find pasta, sauces, breads, pastries and heat-and-serve meals. Co-owners Stephanie Dunn and Adam Palubiski met in culinary school, began their culinary careers in Whistler, B.C., then moved to Bracebridge in 2008 where Palubiski began offering workshops on making gluten-free pasta. The couple founded Beat the Wheat in response to workshop attendees asking where could buy gluten-free pasta. “We make everything from scratch, and try to use as many local ingredients as possible,” Dunn says. “We don’t use any additives or preservatives. I make all my own flour mixes for everything we bake and our pasta, so we know what’s going into our food. We experiment with different flours to get all the different textures that you would traditionally find with wheat.” The couple’s goal from day one has been

Right: The colourful salads that burst with flavour are a favourite of diners at the Deli Llama. Middle: Beat the Wheat pasta is made fresh daily and perfect for those who want to enjoy a comfort-food favourite in a gluten-free form.

Photographs: GJ Thomson

to create gluten-free ingredients and dishes that are undetectable as gluten-free, Dunn says. “Our pasta is good for everyone to enjoy,” she says. “Our customers like that they can all come for the same meal, even if just some of them need to be gluten-free. Sixty per cent of our customers don’t have to be gluten-free. They just like our food, and that we make everything from scratch and use local ingredients.” Jolanta Judzinski works at Bracebridge’s long-established health food store, Muskoka Natural Food Market. She enthuses that there are even conventionally-trained doctors who are part of the clean-eating movement, such as Bracebridge cardiologist Dr. W. Shane Williams, who provides monthly workshops on eating vegan. “Clean eating is about the basic ingredients coming from the earth, unadulterated, nothing that has been tampered with,” Judzinski explains. “It’s got the shortest ingredient list: no additives, preservatives and sugars.” Processing, she notes, voids food of nutrients, so they have to be added back in. “My parents’ generation grew up on fast

Far left: Sweet potato black bean burgers are on the menu at the Deli Llama, a vegetarian and vegan deli-style restaurant at the Muskoka Natural Food Market. Left: John Armstrong prepares a batch of Chicken parmesan with locally purchased free-run chicken and gluten-free chickpea flower at The Pasta Shoppe by Beat the Wheat.

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49

Recipes Gluten-Free Butternut Squash Ravioli Submitted by Beat the Wheat

Ingredients: • 1 small butternut squash • 250 ml ricotta cheese • 1 tsp cumin • 1 tsp nutmeg • 1 egg • 100 ml grated parmesan cheese • ½ cup butter • Handful of fresh sage

Directions: 1. Cut butternut squash into chunks with skin removed. 2. Coat with salt, pepper and olive oil. Roast squash at 350F until the squares are soft all the way through. 3. Add cooked squash into a mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher. Add 1 cup ricotta cheese in with the squash. Season with salt and pepper, cumin and nutmeg. Add parmesan cheese and mix together. 4. Separate 1 egg and add the yolk to the mixing bowl. 5. Dollop filling into Beat the Wheat gluten- free pasta sheets and make form ravioli to the desired size. Brush egg around filling on the pasta sheet. Place another sheet on top and pinch together. 6. Bring a pot of water to a boil, lace ravioli in the water and let cook 2-3 minutes. 7. In a sauce pan, add butter on medium-high heat, add sage and cook until butter starts to brown. 8. Place ravioli in a bowl and spoon sauce on top. Season with salt and pepper. 9. Enjoy!

50 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

Good Morning Family Smoothie Submitted by Four Season Greens

Ingredients: • ½ lemon, juice only (remove seeds as they are very bitter) • ½ avocado (adds healthy fat and creamy texture) • 1-2 cups fruit: berries, mango, apple (organic sweet varieties like golden delicious), etc. • 1-2 handfuls of sprouts or microgreens (alfalfa, clover, sunflower greens, chopped pea shoots, etc.) • Other veggies as desired (asparagus, celery, carrots, cucumber, etc.) • Water (fill to the 4 cup mark)

Directions: 1. Place ingredients in blender. 2. Blend and serve (makes 5 cups). Refrigerate leftovers; use within a day.

Pumpkin Cashew Butter Smoothie

Submitted by Muskoka Natural Food Market

Ingredients: • 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree • 1 tablespoon cashew butter • ½ cup frozen blueberries • ½ frozen banana • 1 tablespoon flax seed meal • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice • 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened

Instructions: 1. Place all ingredients in a magic bullet or blender and mix until smooth. 2. Enjoy!

food and TV dinners, and now we’re seeing, as they get older, they’re dying of a lot of cardiovascular disease and that type of thing.” Judzinski emphasizes the informational aspect of the store’s relationship with its customers. “There are other ‘health food’ products out there that claim to be clean but there are sugars and other stuff,” she says. “You have to be the informed consumer nowadays.” Reading labels is imperative, she says, but it’s better to buy foods that require no labels at all. That’s clean eating – Muskoka-style.

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Photographs: Larry Carroll

love you forever

Huntsville has the perfect place. Now booking for 2017.

Jenny Spring, founder of the Spring Farm, harvests tomatoes in a nearly 3,000 square foot greenhouse in Huntsville.

greg.pilling@huntsville.ca 705-789-6421 x 3027

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 51

Oct. 14-16 will be a celebration of cranberries during the Bala Cranberry Festival.

Thousands of people will descend on Bala from Oct. 14-16 for the Bala Cranberry Festival, which has been celebrating the local harvest of the tart, red berry for over 30 years. Festival goers can tour the Iroquois Cranberry Growers marsh and Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh, feast on a wide array of cranberry goodies, and enjoy live music, entertainment and a busker zone. There will also be snowmobile watercross racing on

Photograph: Charles Schofield

Canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards will line up in Bracebridge Bay on Saturday, Oct. 8 for Muskoka’s 6th annual paddling race, the Great Muskoka Paddling Experience, in support of the Muskoka Watershed Council. Billed as a fun racing experience for all levels of participants, there will be five, 10 and 20-kilometre races for racing and recreational canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, with numerous different boat categories at each distance. In addition to participation prizes, top finishers also receive a unique Muskoka Pewter medal. In the past, the race has attracted everyone from beginners to the top competitive paddlers in Ontario. Sanctioned by the Ontario Marathon Canoe Kayak Racing Association, the races take place on the Muskoka River, starting at Bracebridge Bay and finishingz at Annie Williams Park. Last year’s event raised $4,500 for the Muskoka Watershed Council, which works to protect Muskoka’s rivers and lakes. Visit www.muskokapaddlingexperience.com

Photograph: Courtesy of Bala Cranberry Festival

{Muskoka Calendar{

The Great Muskoka Paddling Experience takes place on Oct. 8, welcoming paddling enthusiasts from across the province who will be vying for top spot in a variety of different race categories. 52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

Bala Bay, Rotary Club rubber duck races and a Cran-Anne look-a-like contest at Bala’s Museum. On the Saturday evening of the festival, Hotel California, the original Eagles tribute band, will perform at the Kee to Bala. Over the decades, the Bala Cranberry Festival has welcomed just over half a million people to the town of 700 people. It has also supported community groups and non-profit associations and disbursed over $100,000 in scholarships. Visit www.balacranberryfestival.on.ca

The 28th annual Great Pumpkin Trail returns to the Pioneer Village at Muskoka Heritage Place in Huntsville on Monday, Oct. 31 to give families an alternative to trick-or-treating door-to-door. This traffic-free Halloween event is as much fun for parents as it is for kids. It’s the perfect place to socialize with friends and neighbours while young ghosts and goblins frolic. Follow lit pathways from building to building through the village, which will be decorated to thrill, with people in costumes handing out candy at each location. Unfortunately, pets aren’t permitted. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to allow tiny trick-or-treaters to get an early start on the festivities before nightfall, yet still allowing older kids the excitement of Halloween night. Visit www.muskokaheritageplace.org

Looking for a unique gift for that special person on your shopping list this holiday season? Don’t miss the Muskoka Arts & Crafts’ 36th Annual Christmas Show & Sale, which takes place Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 at the Bracebridge Sportsplex. The Christmas Show and Sale features 27

Submitted photo

The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of great concerts. The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has a full line up of performances through to the end of the year. On Saturday, Oct. 1, Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellas bring their “Last Laff” tour to the Algonquin Theatre. You’ll laugh until you cry as East Coast comedians Ray, Wayne and, of Next Generation Leahy will bring high-energy, Celtic-based fiddle and dance to the Algonquin Theatre on Dec. 14. course “Buddy” Kevin, share their the stage. The surprisingly funny, and moving, international audiences around the globe exceptional musicianship with off-the-wall multi-award winning drama tells the story with a one-of-a-kind post-Beatles songs and stories. of a Second World War’s veteran’s reluctant experience, including several of the band’s Beatle fans will want to mark Thursday, return to Normandy, France to find the solo album hits never performed live as the Oct. 13 on their calendar for the grave of the brother who never came home. Beatles. BeatleManiacs at the Algonquin Theatre. The Gypsy Sound Revolution comes to On Wednesday, Nov. 9, Jake’s Gift takes The BeatleManiacs have rocked Huntsville for a performance at the Algonquin Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 24. Four decades have passed since the Gipsy Kings burst onto the scene with their wild and ecstatic Spanish rumba. Gipsy Kings alumni Cedric Leonardi, Mario Reyes and Georges Reyes have reunited to reignite the passion of the music. Back by popular demand, Next Generation Leahy brings high-energy, Celtic-based fiddle and dance to the stage of the Algonquin Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Visit www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca

The Bracebridge Santa Claus Parade takes place Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. After the parade, enjoy a hot chocolate with Santa in Memorial Park.

Every year, right before Christmas, Muskoka welcomes a very special guest and his reindeer. Santa has announced his travel plans for Muskoka and hopes to see every good girl and boy line the streets of Muskoka’s towns and villages. Here’s where you can expect to see Old Saint Nick as he makes his rounds, bringing good cheer to Muskoka: Bracebridge Santa Claus Parade – Get

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53

Photographs: Courtesy of Huntsville Festival of the Arts

festive exhibitors selling handmade work. Visit www.muskokaartsandcrafts.com

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into the spirit of the holidays at the Bracebridge Santa Claus Parade, which takes place Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. The theme of this year’s parade is “an International Christmas.” Join Santa in Memorial Park after the parade for hot chocolate. Huntsville Santa Claus Parade – Presented by the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Rotary Club, the Huntsville Santa Claus Parade takes place on Friday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. The parade begins at Centre Street and runs along Main Street and King William Street where it ends. Bala Santa Claus Parade – The 40th annual Bala Santa Claus Parade takes place on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. The parade will start at Muskoka Lakes Sports Park, head through the downtown, along River Street to Maple Avenue and will end at the Bala Community Centre. Port Carling Santa Claus Parade – Port Carling’s Santa Claus Parade takes place Saturday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. The parade will start at Ferndale Road and will run along Joseph Street, ending at the Port Carling Memorial Community Centre where revellers can visit with Santa, enjoy a hot dog, hot chocolate, carol sing and children’s activities. Gravenhurst Santa Claus Parade – Santa is coming to Gravenhurst on Saturday, Nov. 26. The theme of this year’s parade, which begins at 11 a.m. is “Dreaming of a White

Christmas. The parade begins at the Legion on Pinedale Road/Veteran’s Way and continues along Muskoka Road, ending at Church/Brown Street. After the parade, get your photo taken with Santa in the Terry Fox Room at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre. Baysville Santa Claus Parade – The community of Baysville will welcome Santa on Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. to the only parade that goes around twice.

Dressed in Santa suits, runners and walkers will lace up on Dec. 4 for Muskoka’s third annual Rotary Santa Claus Run, which begins at 12 noon before the start of the Bracebridge Santa Claus Parade. Starting at Bracebridge Source for Sports, runners and walkers of all ages and abilities will make their way along a five-kilometre route through town before crossing the finish line back at Source for Sports. The first 100 registrants receive a free Santa suit with their entry. Proceeds from the event will go towards refurbishing rooms at Interval House, Bracebridge’s women’s shelter. Registration forms will be available at Source for Sports, Liv Outside and the Bracebridge Sportsplex. Contact Bruce Reville at 705-646-3330.

Experience an artful Muskoka autumn Celebrate International Opera Week with Opera Muskoka

Sasha Djihanian, soprano Sunday, October 30, 2016, 2 pm Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre 100 Clearbrook Trail, Bracebridge Tickets: $25.00 Call 705 645-8400 Starting September 24, Brandy Creek Music and Publication’s presents Company of Good Cheer Coffee Houses. Last Saturday of every month to April

Muskoka Place Gallery, 1182 Foreman Road, Port Carling Culture Days October 1 Muskoka Place Gallery, Port Carling October 2 Bethune House, Gravenhurst with special guests folksinger Beverlie Robertson and 45th Parallel Painters present: Local Colours, Painted Lands

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Christmas Runners and walkers dressed in Santa Claus suits will toe the line for the Rotary Santa Claus Run on Dec. 4. Taking place before the Santa Claus Parade, the fun run benefits Interval House.

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{Living in Muskoka{

Family memories made on Lake of Bays Article by Dale Peacock / Photography by Kelly Holinshead Jacquie Godard has taken 100 photographs of the sun rising over Little Whiskey Bay and Langmaid Island from the dock at her Lake of Bays home. “The response on social media is so strong that I once posted that I’m beginning to think that people now feel they can sleep in because they know that I’m going to capture the beginning of the day for them!” she jokes. The photos are all the same but also entirely different. “I never tire of it and I am always humbled by how beautiful it is,” she says. This past June marked 33 years that Godard and her husband, Richard, have been on Lake of Bays. “We were graced with my first ever black bear sighting when one strolled across our yard on our first night,” Godard remembers. “We arrived from the rolling hills of the Erin area with one child who was 18 months old and without any work lined up. A little risky, but word soon got out to the local building suppliers we’d dealt with that Richard had related skills. He became quite busy with renovations and new builds in Lake of Bays.” Their current waterfront home is a significant downsize for the family. “We built up through a series of moves to a very large

56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

The kitchen has plenty of room for family day, which is every Sunday at the Godard home. Opposite page: With its exposed wooden beams, the family room has a cozy feel. The fireplace and the comfortable retro chairs add a pop of colour. home and when the time was right and the boys were grown and established, we bought this place, which was one step of many toward our eventual retirement plan,” she explains. The building was transformed from a ramshackle cottage to a lovely and

comfortable home with input and sweat equity from the entire family. Godard stresses that they took a 1960s cottage and made something from next to nothing. They knew they wanted to live on Lake of Bays and a few sacrifices made that possible.

“This ‘new to us’ location is like the boat we often talked of buying and living on for a few years,” Godard muses. “It’s 26 feet from the water’s edge, which is no longer possible to do.” They have always found that living in the

Left: Although small, the bedrooms are bright and airy with charming quilts. Above: The home’s close proximity to the water makes for stunning views from most rooms. Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57

Richard Scully Sales Representative

MuskokaCottagesForSale.com

705 644 9393

rscully@muskoka.com

LAKE ROSSEAU- $9,395,000. Subtly sophisticated custom 8+ bdrm. estate occultly uniting exemplary professionalism with grande stately architecture on one of the finest summer sunset shores. Irrefutably private. Custom, 9,800 sq. ft., principal residence, designed with luxury in mind and built with immense attention to detail, comprising only the finest of finishes, state of the art mechanicals, oak floors, magnificent Muskoka room, classic stone fireplaces, nothing spared nor missed. Stunning 3 slip boathouse with living quarters above. Stone paths, extensively landscaped, 2 car garage, paved drive, over 500` of shoreline, 6+ acres & sweeping views. Unquestionably one of the most exquisite offerings on Rosseau. Call Richard Scully

LAKE JOSEPH - $7,900,000. Unassailable privacy, 1,535 ft. of south & west facing unspoiled shore fronting 8.44 acres of maturely wooded lands. Older 5 bedroom cottage holds the primary position with commanding across the lake water vistas, stone fireplace, woodsy interior, screened Muskoka porch, separate 2 bdrm., 1 bath, sleeping cabin, and boathouse. Stunning 'rock & pine' shore with crystal clear waters, stunning vantage points, and severance potential. Very rarely offered north Lake Joe address of distinction, in an area of superior lakefront estates. Priced with land value in mind. Call Richard Scully

LITTLE LAKE JOSEPH - $6,495,000. Unparalleled privacy, minutes from Minett & Port Sandfield. Floor-toceiling Muskoka stone fireplaces, large Great Room, chef’s dream kitchen with elegant bar, private family room, Muskoka room with flagstone floors, grande office/den, lower level gym & walkout to landscaped grounds, self-contained 3 bedroom guest house, 2 slip boathouse with living quarters, deep and shallow water with gorgeous shore. 2 car garage. 505’ frontage & 45+ acres. Call Richard Scully

LAKE JOSEPH - $4,999,000. Excellent location! 5 bedroom cottage with classic stone fireplace, exposed frame construction, screened Muskoka room, all bedrooms with lake views & superior custom finishes throughout. Attached oversized garage with games room/living space above. Double slip boathouse with guest suite above. Call Richard Scully

LAKE ROSSEAU - $4,995,000. Custom 5,300 sq. ft. cottage on over 4 acres with some of the finest views. 4 bedrooms, 7 baths, wood floors, chef's kitchen, Muskoka room, Muskoka stone fireplace, lower level walkout, stone paths lead to a 3 slip boathouse with bar area & summer sunset views. Nanny's suite above 3 car garage. Minutes to Port Carling. Call Richard Scully

58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

than 4 ½ acres. Call Richard Scully

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 58

Richard Scully Sales Representative

MuskokaCottagesForSale.com

705 644 9393

rscully@muskoka.com

LAKE MUSKOKA - $4,189,000. Prestigious north Lake Muskoka address of distinction offering a stunning 4,356 sq. ft. architectural statement with a beautiful blend of Olde & new with grande windows, screened Muskoka room, solid distressed antiqued oak wood floors, gracious bead board, tumbled marble baths, handsome stone fireplaces, chef`s kitchen, butler`s pantry, heated floors, and exquisite detailing. Stone paths, fire pit, woodsy private shore with idyllic toddler-friendly sandy beach swimming area, deeper waters, 2 storey boathouse, and long lakeside views. Incredibly private, well addressed new custom cottage in a stunning location. Call Richard Scully

LAKE JOSEPH - $4,395,000. 2 COTTAGE/2 BOATHOUSE RETREAT! Incredible family compound with 4 bedroom main cottage, 2 bedroom secondary cottage sitting at the water’s edge, cute bunkie, double wide slip boathouse, second boathouse with on the water entertainment area, tennis/sports court - a change to own a private family resort. Call Richard Scully LAKE MUSKOKA $3,495,000. The classic 5 bedroom Muskoka cottage. Open concept, stunning stone fireplace, screened Muskoka room, large master & lakeside decks. South exposure, private, stone pathways leading to the sand beach and large 2 slip boathouse. Room for development - perhaps tennis courts, garage? Minutes to Port Carling. Call Richard Scully

59 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

LAKE MUSKOKA - $3,995,000. Unquestionably private and minutes from Port Carling. Stately exterior of cedar & stone surround a custom designed interior with wide plank wood floors, wood burning stone fireplace, chef`s kitchen, custom cabinetry, wraparound open & closed covered Muskoka porch, lower level exercise room and at-home office. All brought to life by one of the area’s finest builders. Stone paths, deeper shore, 3 slip docks with 2 storey boathouse permit in place, stunning view. Call Richard Scully LAKE MUSKOKA - $2,650,000. Gorgeous main cottage offers 3,400 sq. ft. of exquisitely renovated living space, 5 bedrooms, 4 baths & 3 season Muskoka room. Additional 2 bedrooms & full bath in coach house atop the brand new garage. Cottage & coach house are stylishly finished. Abundant outdoor entertaining spaces, capitalize on breathtaking lake views. 3slip boathouse with sun pad above & a shaded lakeside lounge area below. Exclusive Port Carling address. Call Richard Scully

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 59

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Latitude: 45°00'58.467" N • Longitude: 79°18'33.152" W

Email: surveys@muskokasurveyors.com w Website: www.muskokasurveyors.com

LOOKOUT ISLAND Lake Joseph Enjoy your very own private island on beautiful Lake Joseph! This well cared for property has a private landing and boat launch just a few moments away. Savour amazing sunsets on completely level land with a sandy beach and deep water that is perfect for swimming. Enjoy a two-storey boathouse and a great family cottage at the waters edge. Contact me to book a viewing of this wonderful island property today!

Offered At: $1,950,000 CDN

STOREY BADGER Broker

sbadger@sothebysrealty.ca 705.706.4400

60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

middle of a project gives a better perspective, even though it is really challenging. “Paddle boarding, yoga and wine helped me get through it!” Godard says, laughing. Visitors are greeted at the main entrance by a thick carpet of Dutch white clover. It was consciously chosen to avoid dealing with noisy lawn mowers and watering, and to provide nourishment for butterflies and bees. It is a lovely contrast to the flagstone walk edged with river rocks and pretty perennials. Inside, vaulted ceilings offer a spacious feeling to the 1,200-square-foot open concept home. Since the house had to conform to its original footprint due to its proximity to the lake, the living room’s cozy fireplace had to be engineered and cantilevered on the exterior to maintain the allowed lot coverage restrictions. The serene bedrooms have charming touches, like cozy quilts, whitewashed walls and small nooks to store seasonal clothing and linens in plain view where they add a pretty pop of colour. But it is the waterfront on this property that is the superstar and the views from most rooms – especially the master bedroom and living room – make the most of it. “I feel blessed to wake up to this every day,” marvels Godard. Originally from the U.K., Godard grew up in southwestern Ontario, as did her husband Richard, who visited Lake of Bays as a child. But it was Algonquin Provincial Park that first drew them to the area. They loved the time they spent at Arowhon Pines in the park and decided to make the move “up north.” The Godards came to Huntsville to research real estate in 1983 and never looked back. “We bought a home half way between Huntsville and Dwight and from there we built a house on Walker Lake before designing and building a 4,400-square-foot home on Lake of Bays,” says Godard. “In between, there were a few cottages that we renovated and enjoyed, too.” The family spent 12 years in the large Lake of Bays home. “The boys worked their summers at Bigwin Island Golf Club where they learned about customer service and to have a smile on your face at 6 a.m.,” she says. “Taking the

Above: The open concept home is comfortable and inviting. Right: Jacquie and Richard Godard enjoy a glass of wine as they look out over the water from their family room. Sea-Doo to and from work was always a welcome mode of transportation.” Summer Sunday family get-togethers include water-skiing and watching beautiful sunsets in Whitehouse Bay from the boat. She muses, “Family is everything to us; so we were thrilled when all of our sons came back following post-secondary studies. Every

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Sumbitted Photo

Sunday is family day at the Godard home and dinner together is a family tradition.” The Godards love winter almost as much as summer. It’s all about fun with family and friends. They skate on a homemade rink and cross-country ski and snowshoe on Langmaid’s Bay. They even host cocktail parties on ice in the middle of Little Whiskey Bay. Giving back and respecting the community and the environment is a cornerstone of life for the Godards. “I’m on the Lake of Bays Heritage Committee and also the Andrew Daniels Fish Stewardship Foundation as a director,” says Godard. “I was instrumental in the research for our heritage committee’s

Before

Baysville and Dwight Historical Walking Guides.” She adds, “Richard shares my view that this is all on loan to us and we must act as caring and nurturing stewards for the future generations. “Although I wasn’t born here, I feel very ‘born again’ here at Lake of Bays,”

Godard jokes. Asked if there are any vacation plans in the works, she pauses, “We are thinking about visiting the East Coast. But then again, Richard is such a homebody. If we talk about travel he turns towards the lake, gestures, grins and asks, ‘When we have all of this right here?’”

Dutch white clover covers the front yard, requiring little maintenance and offering nourishment for bees and other insects.

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62 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

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Downtown Bracebridge across from the post office

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Mail your payment to: Unique Muskoka, Box 616, BRACEBRIDGE, ON P1L 1T9

Fall/Winter 2016 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63

{Muskoka Moments{

At home in Muskoka By Monika Schnarre

Photograph: Kelly Holinshead

The most defining Muskoka moment for me would have to be meeting my husband on a dock some eight years ago. But before we get to that, let me take you back a bit further. It’s the sound of the trains that brings me back to my childhood, to days gone by when there were no rules or responsibilities other than “Be home by dark.” I spent my days on Georgian Bay exploring, swimming, fishing and buying candy from Mr. and Mrs. Sly at the local general store. Those were the childhood memories that I was trying to re-capture when I went looking for a cottage on Georgian Bay in 1994. As fate would have it, the agent I met only dealt in Muskoka. At that point, I had spent the greater part of my life in the United States, so please forgive me when I say that Muskoka was new to me. “What the heck is Muskoka?” I wondered. I had my heart set on Georgian Bay, but decided to at least visit Muskoka. My sister and I made the journey up here to check it out. As I remember it, the mosquitoes were horrendous that June day and the cottage was uninhabitable. After about five minutes, my sister retreated back to the car and I ventured down to the water. As I stood on the solid rock face so reminiscent of Georgian Bay – yet somehow different – and pondered this place, I looked down and found a lone blueberry bush clinging to the rock. Along with the sound of trains, blueberry picking adventures were among some of my fondest memories of Georgian Bay. I took that lone blueberry bush as a sign and bought the place on the spot. Known as “The Hideaway,” the tiny A-frame cedar cabin on Lake Rosseau became my refuge from the craziness that was my life. But

64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2016

I spent very little time there over the years that followed, as I was still living in Los Angeles. I missed it so much that I would often call the answering machine to make sure my piece of paradise was still there. Looking back at my time at The Hideaway, there is one Christmas in particular that is very memorable to me, as it was the last one where all of my family members were together. It was before my brother moved away to the United States and had his own family, and before my sister got married and started hers. I’ll treasure that Christmas forever; tobogganing down the hill next to the cabin with my brother and sister while Mom was inside cooking. For a brief moment, we were kids again. Who knew it would be the last time we’d all be together over Christmas? I’ll always fondly remember that day. A year after I bought the first property, the one next door came up for sale and I bought it, too. As the story goes, unbeknownst to me, the original owner had willed the two properties to her children and asked

that they never separate them. They did. And I brought them back together. This warms my heart as I’ve always felt like The Hideaway is not mine – only mine to take care of. Eight years ago when I moved home to Toronto from Los Angeles, I was able to spend a lot more time in Muskoka – every weekend, all summer. One weekend, distraught over a failed relationship, I was drowning my sorrows in a bottle of Chardonnay on a neighbour’s dock when the most beautiful man I had ever seen pulled up in his boat. My tears were quickly wiped away and we were married two years later. My husband, Storey Badger, shares the same love for this place that I do. We found a way to live here full time two years ago when he became a real estate agent, selling waterfront properties in Muskoka. My husband’s own island cottage on Lake Joseph has been in his family since 1961. The first night that I spent there, I heard what I had been missing all along at The Hideaway. At about 11 p.m., I could hear a train in the distance, that familiar sound flooding me with memories of the past. I realized everything that I was looking for – everything that I had ever hoped to find – was right here in Muskoka. I was finally home. Monika Schnarre burst onto the fashion scene at the age of 14, winning the prestigious Ford Modeling Agency’s, Supermodel of the World competition. By 15, she was the youngest to have ever appeared on the cover of American Vogue and in the pages of the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. At 18, Monika moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career and has since appeared in over 50 films and television shows. Today, Monika has her own line of natural anti-aging products, iampure, and is also a full-time mom.

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