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JULY 2025

STEAMSHIP CENTENARY

Segwun celebrates 100 years on Muskoka’s Lakes

THE STORY BEHIND OUR CANINE CONNECTIONS Bright Palettes Create Emotions

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...telling the Muskoka story

Features

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Marking a Milestone — Brad Robinson

Person of Note — Levi Fraser

Article by J. Patrick Boyer Steamboat captain and municipal leader Levi Rightmere Fraser experienced the bustle of Muskoka as it changed from a quiet wilderness to a hive of activity. Fraser was engaged in the settlement of the region, operating supply boats on the lakes, as well as becoming an instrumental force in bringing the small towns and townships together to become the District of Muskoka.

Wendy Truscott — Captivated by Muskoka Article by Meghan Taylor Photography by Tomasz Szumski Writing comes naturally to author Wendy Truscott, drawing on the settings around her in her Lake of Bays area home to inspire her varied works. Her own history with the area intertwines with how she brings Muskoka into her stories.

2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Lady of the Lake — The Incomparable RMS Segwun Article and Photography by Tim Du Vernet

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This summer represents the 100th anniversary of the RMS Segwun – the oldest operating commercial steamship in North America. She was refurbished from the side paddle wheeler Nipissing II and relaunched as our present day Segwun on July 9, 1925.

Article by Meghan Taylor Photography by Tomasz Szumski At the age of 20, Brad Robinson took on the operation of the family business – Robinson’s General Store. Now, for this 90th birthday, Robinson chose to mark the occasion with an event for family, friends and community members at the space that has played such a significant role in his life.

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July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 3

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[48] [40]

It's a Dog's Life — Muskoka Style Article by J. Patrick Boyer Dogs play a major role in the lives of those who love them, train them and work with them. Historically in Muskoka, the roles of dogs may have been more about working and while some still do, the dogs of today get to enjoy a much more comfortable life.

Bright Colours, Bold Landscapes and Community Pride

Departments

Article by Bronwyn Boyer Photography by Josianne Masseau Artist Steph Schofield is inspired by colour as well as the mood of places and scenes. She uses monochrome palettes to expose the unseen stories in everyday spaces, creating a version of a space that you can feel, not just see.

JULY 2025

STEAMSHIP CENTENARY

Segwun celebrates 100 years on Muskoka’s Lakes

THE STORY BEHIND OUR CANINE CONNECTIONS Bright Palettes Create Emotions

Our Cover Photograph by Tim Du Vernet RMS Segwun celebrates 100 years on the water this July. While her history is impressive, Segwun lives in the hearts of those who encounter her.

Article by Matt Driscoll

Article by K.M. Wehrstein Photography by Tomasz Szumski

What’s Happened

Cottage Country Cuisine

Gravenhurst sees a significant development proposal for the Muskoka Centre Property and the Health Hub gains community support. Muskoka Chautauqua events for 2025 have been announced, Lakeland expands their EV charging program and Dorset resident holds Guinness World record. The District of Muskoka creates a new airport governing body and earmarks $5 million to repair the Silver Bridge in Bracebridge. Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare selects the site for the new Bracebridge hospital and Huntsville council approves a new short-term rental accommodations limit.

Summer means berries and this month, strawberries are on the menu! From a fresh and simple spinach salad with two dressing options to a savoury goat cheese croquette [58] with strawberry compote to a sublime strawberry cheesecake, the sweetness and versatility of fresh, summer strawberries are here for you to enjoy.

Opinion 9

Muskoka Insights

By Meghan Taylor

From an Artist's Perspective

Muskoka Moments By Kim Dickinson

By Lori Knowles

July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5

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Susan Smith Administration Bronwyn Boyer J. Patrick Boyer Kim Dickinson Matt Driscoll Tim Du Vernet Lori Knowles Josianne Masseau Tomasz Szumski K.M. Wehrstein Contributors Annual Subscription Rates: (including HST where applicable) In Ontario $30.00 All Other Provinces $36.00 HST: 773172721

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Muskoka Insights has been in the water longer than that, celebrating the oldest commercial steamship in North America means gathering stories. Contributor Tim Du Vernet has compiled stories and quotes that showcase the significant and the special place Segwun has in the hearts of so many. In this issue of Unique Muskoka, regular contributor Bronwyn Boyer showcases the bold, vibrant paintings of artist Steph Schofield that capture one’s attention immediately. Schofield works most often in single colour palettes, using shades and layers to develop a feeling about the subject matter – usually landscapes or “townscapes,” as she calls them. Those feelings evoked by a piece of art can transport someone, creating an experience or drawing someone into a memory of another place, much like a tradition can draw us back to a first time experiencing something. This June, Dorset resident and patriarch of Robinson’s General Store, Brad Robinson, celebrated his 90th birthday, surrounded by family, friends and community members. In this issue, we celebrate Brad as well as celebrating the long history of Robinson’s General Store and its interconnectedness with the Dorset community. Looking back, as well as forward, the relationships developed and maintained are a special piece of the success and longevity of the store. This issue marks my third summer as publisher of Unique Muskoka, and with each issue I continue to be surprised and humbled by the volume of stories we have to share. To everyone who picks up a copy and reads them, thank you. And to everyone who shares their stories, thank you for imparting your personal tales for us. Whichever summer tradition you’re looking forward to, I hope you enjoy it like it’s the first time again. Happy reading!

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Photograph: MacKenzie Taylor

Summer is filled with traditions – some from generations back in a family, others more recent and some that are quintessential experiences for everyone. Traditions come from history, from repeating experiences time and time again, over years and even generations. We don’t always remember every time we do something, but usually we remember the first time. The first trip to the beach, the first boat ride, the first patio lunch or dinner, or the first time visiting the cottage for the season – all hold their own sort of ceremony or demarcation for the season. As a young child, I have wonderful memories of summer visits to my greatgrandmother’s (Nan, as I knew her) home in Port Carling – swimming at Hanna Park, hanging towels and bathing suits on clothesline to dry, reading on the covered porch and barbecue dinners at the picnic table with family. We lived not far away in Bracebridge at the time, but the visits to the Nan's were special and meant it was truly summertime. These memories and traditions can seem simple. More often than not, it is the simple things that stick with us over time. But maintaining traditions gives us a chance to look back, remembering where we came from, experiences that changed us and activities that moulded us into who we are today. While we enjoy keeping traditions alive, we can also remember that traditions can be revisited. We can honour past experiences while also bringing new or current information into the picture. We can change, grow and revise our outlook with information, doing better than we have in the past. Our history needs to be remembered and preserved but not necessarily repeated. Our environment, the beauty and wildness of Muskoka, needs to be protected for future generations the same way we need to preserve the historic information of the region. For 100 years, Segwun has graced the waters of the Muskoka lakes. While her hull

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From an Artist’s Perspective A Place That Resonates

Sue Kelly, author of Still Sexy at Sixty and Infinity, was inspired by Muskoka to create the fictional setting of Infinity. Places near her home on Lake Muskoka served as the backdrop for an entirely different world.

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helped his characters wake up, too. The strategy paid off. Hanson was named a Whistler Independent Book Awards Finalist in 2024 – his tale resonating with judges. “I guess you can take the story out of Muskoka,” he says. “But in a way, you can’t take Muskoka’s influence out of the story.”

Photograph: Andy

Close your eyes and imagine your favourite book. Where is it set? Sydney? Spain? Stratford? Africa? Mine is set on a lake. It isn’t Muskoka and it isn’t real – author Ann Patchett imagined the place for her 2023 novel, Tom Lake. Yet I can see it now: the blue of the water, the dance of the light, the sway of the grass along the shore as Patchett’s characters walk beside it, combing their pasts for meaning and light. For you as a reader, that favourite setting may be different. Possibilities are endless – seaside, village, city, island. But there’s one tell-tale that’s bound to be the same: the setting has resonance – that ‘feeling of place’ you just can’t shake long after the book is finished. As a writer I’m in awe of how authors make settings resonate. Louise Penny’s moody Three Pines. Delia Owens’ murky North Carolina marshlands. Agatha Christie’s prim St. Mary Mead. Their words paint images, and not just for readers to see, but also to hear, smell and feel. Such talent, such creativity – how is it done? What’s their secret? And so, I did a little tally. I checked-in with members of the Muskoka Authors Association (MAA), all of whom have a novel, poem, story, or memoir in progress, and who use Muskoka either for setting or inspiration, or both. I asked my question: ‘‘How do you make settings resonate?’’ Unexpectedly I got a uniform response. Muskoka writers use Muskoka itself as inspiration. Their story’s setting, wherever that might be, is inspired by the setting in which they write. Here’s an example: Author Bruce Hanson’s latest thriller, Double Cross, is set in Manitoba, not Muskoka. But he wrote it while sitting in one of those classic screened-in porches in a cottage on a lake near Gravenhurst, and he wrote it in early mornings, just as the sun was waking up. “I watched the lake and shorelines slowly appear out of the dark,” he says, a tactic that

Photograph: Sue Kelly

Article by Lori Knowles And while she doesn’t name Muskoka in her fiction or non-fiction, author Cindy Watson (Women on Purpose) uses cottage country as a constant source. “Every small town I write about reflects the rich tapestry that is Muskoka,” she says. Writing from a converted garage with windows overlooking Three Mile Lake, Watson calls it “a full-on sensory smorgasbord” with 24/7 access to sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch. “The natural raw beauty of Muskoka,” she says, “never ceases to inspire me to write.” Author Sue Kelly (Still Sexy After Sixty) says Muskoka inspired the fictional setting of Infinity, her middle-grade novel. Writing from her home on Lake Muskoka, she was especially inspired by the beauty of Muskoka Bay, the little bridge that leads to Tondern Island, and the Beaumaris golf course, where the summer breezes “bathe my story in outdoorsy delight.” Local poet (Views from the Edge of the Earth) and mystery writer Wendie Donabie can hear “the roaring rush of water over Bracebridge Falls” from her writing perch, a place on high she calls Heron’s Nest. Donabie speculates that it’s the water and the air and the energy from the land drawing writers to Muskoka, giving them endless fodder. “I can’t name that force, but it can be felt,” she insists. “It compels us to put words on paper.” Ah, I’m thinking now. So that’s how they do it. How masters like Delia Owens help us see sparkles on a bayou, and how Louise Penny makes Three Pines feel real, not fictional. Writers put themselves there – right there. And while they’re there, they see and touch and feel and listen. Dawn breaks. Waves lap. Loons call. Woodsmoke curls. And then… words flow, words that paint a setting that resonates long after the book is finished. Lori Knowles is a journalist and author of Summers with Miss Elizabeth, a Muskoka novel. In this column Lori explores what it’s like to live and work as an artist in Muskoka. www.loriknowles.com @loriknowles_author

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PERSON OF NOTE

Article by J. Patrick Boyer own children would have, as he himself advanced from labourer to landowner. Working on their quiet farm, Levi heard steam whistles carrying from the lakes and was hooked. With schooling done, he landed a job on a Lake Muskoka steamer. Steamboats and steam-engine trains were opening up the northern lakeland to thousands of people and creating hundreds of opportunities. Levi piloted vessels up and down rivers and across lakes, in and out of bays and harbours, eyes and ears registering Muskoka’s unfolding saga. Muskoka vessels and their crews busily transported passengers, distributed vacationers to lakeside resorts, carried mail,

Photograph: Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre Archives

Photograph: Richard Tatley Collection

y the 1940s, Muskoka steamboat captain and municipal leader Levi Rightmere Fraser was uniquely poised to record the district’s settler history. In 1872 his parents Donald and Georgina left Scotland’s hardships for Kincardine, Ontario, where Don worked in Levi Rightmere’s salt plant and gave their first Canadian-born son the wealthy employer’s name. Seven years later, the Frasers reached Muskoka. Enticed by free land, Donald claimed a lot in Draper Township’s Doe Lake settlement but refused to relocate his family until the township built a school. Levi got the education his illiterate father vowed his

Levi Rightmere Fraser was captain of the passenger steamer Ahmic when photographed in Port Carling (top photo) near the end of his boating career. Although mostly sailing the central lakes, he was fully aware of water and land route shipping in north Muskoka. Operating on most Muskoka lakes, in 1917 Captain Fraser connects his steam tug Ada Alice to a Bala scow load of tanbark bound for Bracebridge’s Muskoka Leather Company tannery. July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 13

oka Books

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Photograph: Musk

building materials around the lakes for J.D. Shier Lumber Company of Bracebridge. He became a boatbuilder, too, and over time owned other steamers, including the Allena May and Ada Alice. Ashore, Levi emerged as a municipal leader with a driving spirit for Muskoka’s development and by the early twentieth century won election as reeve of Monck, one of central Muskoka’s go-ahead townships with good farms. He quickly saw that better co-ordination of the many township and village governments would help their common cause. On September 10, 1919, Reeve Fraser joined nine other township reeves in Bracebridge at a meeting called by George Jestin of Medora and Wood to discuss Ontario’s Municipal Assessment Act and other provincial laws impacting local government. They reassembled on

Photograph: Richard Tatley Collection

Muskoka Archives Photograph: Boyer

pulled log booms to Gravenhurst’s and Huntsville’s many sawmills and other smaller ones, tugged barge-loads of tanbark to riverside tanneries in Huntsville and Bracebridge, delivered groceries and clean laundry. In the 1870s and 1880s, steam locomotives pulled passenger trains loaded with southern vacationers to the district’s large fleet of steamships while double-engine freight trains hauled lumber, cuts of Muskoka lamb, and leather out of the district to wider markets, flipping Muskoka from quiet wilderness to hive of activity in shorter time than any other part of Ontario. Levi Fraser experienced this unfolding drama first-hand, beginning with the Land Grants program for homesteaders and construction of public schools for children. In 1906 he bought a small steamboat, the Linden, and went into business delivering

Levi Fraser’s engaging and informative 152-page History of Muskoka was printed by the Bracebridge Gazette in an economical edition during the Second World War. Soon out-of-print, decades passed before an expanded and updated edition edited by Richard Tatley appeared in print in 2014.

At Bigwin Inn, Bracebridge Captain Bill Tinkiss and Monck Township Captain Levi Fraser stand beside Wanda III when she was owned and operated by the Lake of Bays resort. Fully restored and converted from steam to electric power, she again sails the Muskoka Lakes from Gravenhurst’s Muskoka Steamship & Discovery Centre.

Photograph: Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre Archives

September 14, 1920 with four more reeves present, voting into existence “a permanent organization to be known as the District Municipal Association of Muskoka” and electing Levi president of this inaugural form of district government. Two decades later, the body renamed itself Muskoka District Council, with representatives from all municipalities. District Council remained an informal system of mayors, reeves, and clerks meeting annually. Lacking statutory authority only Queen’s Park could give, but would not, District Council remained a clearing house rather than a body exercising municipal powers of government. Only in 1970, a half-century after visionary Levi Fraser had been one of its pioneers, would district government become a constitutional reality for Muskoka. In 1928, Reeve Fraser led his township council to build a controversial highway through its fine farmland between Bracebridge and Port Carling. As a leading Muskoka steamboat captain, the reeve championed this cause because he saw first-hand that Muskoka’s progress could no

Levi Fraser with Queen of the Isles, which he owned and operated for several years. No one knew better than the district’s savvy steamboat captains how Muskoka’s essence and the district’s lakes were uniquely linked. The Government of Ontario proclaims our vast province with its diverse communities as “Yours to discover.” Muskoka, as a renowned district within the province, is a place National Geographic designates one of the world’s top destinations. Yet had it not been for the stages of evolution described and recorded by Levi Fraser, including the district’s unrivaled steamboat era, Muskoka could not have evolved into the prized place it is today. longer rely on trains and boats alone. In a referendum, Monck electors narrowly approved $45,000 to pay a hundred men

with 20 teams of horses and six trucks to work all summer. In 1930, a further vote approved enough to finish the road over to

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In 1938, Captain Fraser, also chair of Bracebridge’s all-powerful board of trade, noted 1939 would be an anniversary year and put in motion, with widespread community support, plans for a Home-Coming Jubilee. With different parades every day of the five day event, this one celebrated evolution of Muskoka transportation, from yoked oxen pulling a cart to a spanking new 1939 De Sotto. Watt Township and Port Carling. “This,” Levi Fraser would say in the 1940s, “was the largest road-building job ever carried out by a single municipality in Muskoka up to that date, and marked the beginning of an era of highway improvements that was to continue for a period of years, with the result that Muskoka today will compare favourably with any district in Ontario.” In time, the province would take over this route, assigning it highway number 118, only to later turn it back to municipal control. From 1934 to 1938, Captain Fraser owned and operated the Constance, a supply

Photograph: Boyer Muskoka Archives

boat he used as a tug, the second-last of a succession of small steamers he put to hard use over several decades in his Muskoka Lakes towing business. In 1938, as chair of Bracebridge’s Board of Trade, Levi pointed out that 1939 would mark 50 years since the village became a town and soon a public meeting elected him chair of the Home-Coming Jubilee which in August 1939 was a runaway success. Though a strong Liberal, Fraser’s frequent writings on the Muskoka scene in the Bracebridge Gazette were as even keeled as his boats on the lakes. In the 1940s, the Gazette published his collected articles as a

book entitled History of Muskoka. The initial print run was depleted by the decade’s end, and Levi’s book, an ideal chronicle of Muskoka’s opening century, languished in the twilight zone of out-of-print books for 70 years. However, in 2014 Richard S. Tatley of Gravenhurst, one of Muskoka’s fine historians and authority on steamboats, edited the book for republication as A Steamboat Captain’s History of Muskoka so that Levi Rightmere Fraser’s unique guide to district history can help new generations of permanent and part-time Muskokans understand how we became the people we are today.

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Article by Meghan Taylor Photography by Tomasz Szumski

B Author Wendy Truscott draws inspiration for her novels from Muskoka, adding elements to her stories that connect with the local landscape, with early settlement habits and her own experiences.

aysville resident Wendy Truscott is a longtime member of the Muskoka Authors' Association and the Baysville and Bracebridge Libraries Writers' Circle, with many good friends among the local authors community. Her story doesn’t start in Muskoka, but Muskoka certainly made its impression on her when she first visited. Truscott recalls her first encounter with Muskoka at just eight years old, visiting an aunt’s cottage on Lake Rosseau. “What impressed me on that visit was the Segwun going past and tooting its horn,” shares Truscott. “That

July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19

visit made a huge impression on my dad especially, as soon after that visit my parents began a search for either a cottage or property to build on. My younger sister and I were dragged along on those excursions and were constantly carsick. The roads left much to be desired in those days!” While searching for their own property and after an unsuccessful visit to a potential spot on Ril Lake, they stopped at a farmhouse on Echo Lake as they made their way out of the community. “They asked if the people there knew of anything for sale in the area,” says Truscott. “The farmer said, ‘Well, yes! I have some I could sell you!’. In 1953, mom and dad bought a point of land with about 25 acres; no road, no hydro, no anything. I remember when dad chopped the first tree down.” Her own family’s experience building their cottage was its own sort of pioneer adventure, taking place on weekends and holidays when they ventured to Echo Lake. The land, in a relatively isolated location, had to be cleared,

felling trees before they could build. Her father had to raft building materials across the lake in a small motorboat when they first got started. When they arrived on Fridays, they had to hike along the trail they had blazed with axes through the bush, by flashlight, until a few years later when they cleared a road into the cottage themselves. “My father had sought peace and isolation, and he found it,” she says. “However, later on, because of friends' interest in renting our place, my dad built a second small cottage to rent. This eventually led to six cottages and a nice summer rental business he and my mom enjoyed, because so many families returned every year.” With their small cottage business that lasted for over 30 years, the road became known locally as Lawson’s Cottages Road. When roads around Echo Lake were later being officially named by the township, the road became Lawson Road. A former teacher, Truscott and her husband became permanent residents in 2007, living

on the same property her parents bought in 1953 on Echo Lake near Lake of Bays. “Later, my husband and I extended the road, and that new part was named for us, Truscott Place,” she shares. “I think my parents would be flabbergasted at all this but pleased nonetheless.” During her childhood times in Muskoka, Truscott loved to hear stories from local “old timers,” finding the history fascinating. She still remembers many of those stories from her youth and has blended them into her own works of fiction. “The woman who owned the land my parents bought told me of her grandmother walking alone from Baysville to Bracebridge to get married,” she explains. “So, I tried to emphasize how much people went everywhere on foot, sometimes even at night. I once heard the moon referred to as ‘the poor man’s lantern’ and I loved that term, so I used it.” For Truscott, writing was not originally part of her plans. After teaching in Toronto, she was quite happy in the role of “domestic

Wendy Truscott lives on the same property her family purchased in the 1950s, having their own pioneer experience with clearing the land to build their original cottage. She recalls breaking a trail through the bush with flashlights and her father ferrying lumber across the lake to build their own place on Echo Lake. 20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

goddess” or stay-at-home mom, looking after the household. “This writing business all happened accidentally,” shares Truscott. “My husband was interested in a memoir writing course at the Baysville Library and wanted me to come along, so I did. We did both write several pieces of memoir. After about a year, our leader, the late Melody Richardson, a former reporter, encouraged us to try a bit of fiction. We were both intimidated, and that's when my husband decided he'd rather golf! However, I decided to give it a try, and I enjoyed it very much.” Richardson was a constant source of support and encouragement for Truscott, providing feedback on her stories and inspiration to pursue transitioning her stories into a young adult novel. “I wrote a story about a pioneer woman meeting a bear,” says Truscott. “She was alone with three children, a teenage boy, and two younger sisters. Melody loved it and about a year later I read it at an Authors’ Night. Both times she said, ‘That's the beginning of a young adult novel. I want you to think about expanding it.’”

Wendy Truscott recalls the first tree her father cut down on their property as they embarked on the adventure of building their own cottage. Despite building to have their own private space, they eventually built several smaller cottages that became a small cottage business, with customers returning each year.

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One day, Truscott came back to the story, made a few changes, like switching the main character to one of the younger characters, and wrote another chapter. Despite the updates, Truscott still didn’t see the longer arc for a full novel. “A while later, I sat at the computer to try again and the strangest thing happened,” explains Truscott. “I felt as if someone was dictating a storyline to me and I just kept typing. This went on for a couple of days, each time I sat down to write. At times, it felt so bizarre that I laughed as I was typing! I wrote at least four chapters that way. It never happened again.” She continued writing, although the remaining 60 or more chapters did not come as easily. The final result was Haunted Journey, which released in 2016. According to the industry and book sellers, Haunted Journey and MacGregor’s Curse, are both classified as young adult. The books are connected, with similar characters and settings, but the main characters are different. “I feel the young adult classification limits my audience in some ways,” says Truscott. “Indeed, I’ve heard from children who’ve loved them, but the majority of my readers have been adults, and some of those who’ve enjoyed them most are those who were here 50 or more years ago and remember a different Muskoka – people who worked in lumber camps or in Algonquin Park.” Her first two novels appeal to a wide audience, regardless of age, and are historical fiction. Truscott’s third novel is a departure from that genre and her previous work. Dead Serious, published in 2023, is a psychological thriller/romance set in Toronto, where she grew up. However, drawing inspiration from her surroundings Truscott included scenes that were set in

22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Muskoka amongst those set in the beach district of Toronto. “I just had to add scenes set in Muskoka, which describe its allure and what it means to cottagers,” Truscott shares. Truscott’s connections to both Muskoka and Toronto remain intermingled throughout her life. She met her husband at a mutual friend’s cottage in Baysville and then discovered they had attended the same high school in Toronto. “Muskoka has certainly played a major role in my life,” says Truscott. “When given a challenge at the beginning, I thought of that old adage, ‘Write what you know.’ So, I thought, ‘Well, I know Muskoka and I’ve always been fascinated by those early settlers, who fought their way through the bush and the bogs and the blackflies.’” Weaving history, stories heard from locals and the Muskoka landscape together, Truscott’s writing pulls the reader into the events and places on the page. Currently, Truscott has a fourth novel based on a family mystery is in the works. For years, Truscott believed her maternal grandfather had died during the First World War. At 30, she learned the truth – he had returned home, likely with PTSD, and had then disappeared. Truscott went on her own search to find out what happened to him and never found an answer. “I feel this is not just an interesting mystery; it’s a love story, but it’s also a story of generational trauma brought on by war,” she says. “The effects of his disappearance and the big secret were felt in our family for decades. If I hadn’t stumbled on something that made me ask questions, it would still be a secret.” Truscott will be participating in the annual Tall Pine Tales events this summer, with readers from all over Muskoka, as she continues work on her next novel.

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What was originally called Lawson Cottage’s Road by locals officially became Lawson Road when the township was naming area roads. The addition of Truscott Place came later when Wendy and her husband extended the original road to their own home on the same property.

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Three generations of the Robinson family gathered together on June 7 to celebrate Brad Robinson’s 90th birthday, many of whom have spent time working in Robinson’s General Store over the years.

Article by Meghan Taylor / Photography by Tomasz Szumski

n Muskoka, communities and neighbourhoods have come together time and time again to support each other through celebrations and crises. Resilience is a necessary trait for Muskokans and Brad Robinson certainly has it. On June 6, Robinson reached his 90th birthday and on June 7, he celebrated exactly how he wanted to – surrounded by family, friends and community members outside of Robinson’s General Store. “My granddaughters organized getting cookies with my face and the store on them and they got 200 cookies, and we

ran out,” Robinson says. “There must have been about 250 there all together. People are still saying they’re sorry they couldn’t make

July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 25

On the afternoon of June 7, family, friends and community members came together to celebrate Brad’s milestone birthday. Brad is quick to point out the importance of customers and how having so many locals and cottagers return to the store year after year is a point of pride. it. But it was perfect, the weather and everything.” The patriarch of the store, although the family no longer owns the operation,

Robinson took over the business from his parents at just 20 years old. The history of the general store is intertwined with the history of the Robinson family and the

history of Dorset itself. “The store was a gathering place for people, in the off-season in particular,” he recalls. “Back then, a lot of people didn’t

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Every 10 years, Brad Robinson likes to celebrate his birthday at Robinson’s General Store. While the family no longer operates the store, the current owners were happy to help host the celebration for Brad.

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The Robinsons still live across the road from the store in Dorset and Brad goes in for several hours a day to assist the new owners and speak with customers. While he is retired, he enjoys staying involved.

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have cars to go places, so they came to the store.” Over the last 100 years, four generations of Robinsons have worked at the store, starting with Harry and Marguerite Robinson, Brad’s parents, when they opened the store in 1921. The site had also hosted a hotel and store previously, but those had been destroyed by fire, as many wood buildings of the time were. The original store was 25 feet wide by 50 feet long. After the Second World War, the business began to change as cars improved, lakefront land was made available for purchase and cottagers began staying for the whole summer. “The Ontario government owned the lands on the east part of Dorset and opened the sales of lots for $250,” remembers Robinson. In 1955, as he was finishing high school and preparing to go to university, Robinson was offered a job with The Hudson’s Bay

Company. Robinson’s father believed Dorset was on the verge of a boom with the property sales and suggested he stay and manage the family store instead. So, he did. What began as a 1,250 square foot general store serving the local logging industry has grown and evolved throughout the years. Today, with 14 additions to accommodate the growth of the business, the store is now 15,000 square feet selling everything from clothing to home and cottage décor to hardware supplies and groceries. Original elements of the store, like some tin roofing, can still be seen by those taking their time to enjoy the shopping experience and peruse the whole space. “I’d say 25 per cent of our business comes from the lake on a good day,” he shares. “The Dorset Tower brings so many people to the community too. It’s known as the best place to view the leaves in the fall.”

With parking for 150 cars and slips for over 50 boats at the marina, Robinson’s General Store is well-equipped for the summer residents and tourists. For many, a stop at the store is a non-negotiable during their time in the region. For those who haven’t visited before, the now-sprawling store is a must-see to add to the list. Anything you may want, or need can be found at Robinson’s. The summer traffic to the store at one time warranted having a staff of over 100 people. With additions of technology, that was reduced to 80 people and then about 60, but Robinson knows the store would not have seen the same level of success, or have even been able to operate, without the staff. “The best compliment I ever had was from an ex-employee,” he says. “He introduced me to some friends and said, ‘this is the gentleman that put me through

university.’ He said there were three kids in his family and if he hadn’t had the extra money, he wouldn’t have been able to go. I told him that I helped him but without him, without the students, we wouldn’t have been in business.” In 1991, Brad’s daughter Joanne and her husband, Willie Hatton took over the business and operated it until 2021 when they retired and sold the store to the Hinbests. After encountering some financial challenges, the store came back to the Robinsons. In 2023, new owners Venkata Kommina and Satya Jyesta reopened the store. “People appreciate the store being there,” says Robinson. “It was closed for a few months in between owners and that’s when people really realized they missed it. Whatever you need, you can come get it at the store.” Today, Brad continues to support the

Over 200 people attended the drop-in celebration for Brad Robinson’s 90th birthday and more continue to send their apologies for being unable to attend. The family ordered 200 cookies for the event and ran out well before the celebration ended. July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 29

new owners and their operating partners, Alekhya Kommina and Ravi Maddipati, visiting the store daily and answering questions as needed. “I’m retired but I go over pretty well every day to help any place I can,” says Robinson. “The new owners appreciate it, and I like doing it. It’s getting busier and busier. I think the whole region is going to

be super busy this year.” Brad’s community connection is crystal clear, evidenced by the crowd that attended his birthday celebration, serenading him with “Happy Birthday.” He always has enjoyed building relationships with customers, and still does. “My favourite thing is the customers,” shares Robinson. “I know so many people, I

don’t even know how many people I know. It’s wonderful. They come back year after year, sometimes generation after generation. I had a woman the other day tell me she remembered my father selling her fishing tackle.” So, what’s next for Brad Robinson? “I hope I stay healthy so I can keep doing what I’m doing,” he shares. “It’s been a great life for me.”

What began as a 1,250 square foot general store serving the local logging industry has grown to a 15,000 square foot store with everything someone could need. Robinson’s General Store remains a pillar of the community, just like it’s former owner Brad Robinson. 30 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

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Seeing smoke puffing from the stack of Segwun as she crosses the lake or hearing the toot of her horn are iconic summer experiences in Muskoka.

32 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Article and Photography by Tim Du Vernet

as there a divine power at work, a form of destiny in play? Richard Tatley, Segwun and steamship historian, author and commentator, believes it might have been the case. In the spring of 1952, at the age of 10, Tatley first saw the ships, and it was “love at first sight.” He was enthralled with steam and the character of the ships. His summer routine at the cottage his parents had purchased on Lake Muskoka was to see and hear one or another of the steamships coming up the lake and then to jump in the family boat, attempting to follow the ships on their route. At the peak of its operation, the Muskoka Lakes Navigation and Hotel Company ran 10 steamships between 1907 to 1912, many which were operated with Indigenous names, explains Tatley. From his summer routine following the ships on their journeys, Tatley would turn his passion into a life-long career that included several books, documentaries and a college thesis. In 1958, when the steamships stopped running, “we missed them very much,” explains Tatley. Sadly, it looked as though there was to be no future for the steamships when the Sagamo burned and then the Segwun was put up for sale as scrap in 1961. Some residents were horrified

at the idea of losing another steamship. In 1969, Segwun was preserved as a floating museum. But the real question for Tatley and the steamship enthusiasts was “could we possibly give people a second chance to enjoy a cruise that can’t be found anywhere else in the world?” “The restorationists were laughing at us,” shares Tatley. “We were told emphatically ‘You cannot operate a 19th century passenger ship in the 20th century successfully!’ Initially our fledging company was losing money, but each year she crept closer to making a profit and by 1985 she sailed into the black and we never looked back.” Tatley’s pride in the achievements of Segwun is clear, and with good reason. This summer represents the 100th anniversary of the Segwun. She was refurbished from the side paddle wheeler Nipissing II and relaunched as our present day Segwun on July 9, 1925. Muskoka Steamships have significant plans in the works to celebrate Segwun’s centenary. Her hull dates to 1887 and she is the oldest commercially operating steamship in North America. Her cruising season is expected to start in July. In the meantime, she is being “fit out,” according to Captain Dave Sutherland. This is the process where she is made shipshape for the

season, including painting, assembling the interior and inspections. Chief engineer, Chris Wiley, reports Segwun's engines are raring to go this season and the crew can't wait to pull anchor! With an engine that is more than a century old, it generally is not possible to order ready made parts. Steam engines need a ready supply of water to replenish their boilers. Steamships can draw water directly from the lake, but this requires pumps, which required replacement in the Segwun before this season begins. Remarkably, explains Captain Sutherland, pumps used in oil rigs are very similar to what the Segwun requires and it was possible to order a pump similar to the original as a replacements. For many years, Segwun was a static display, the Segwun Steamboat Museum, docked in Gravenhurst.

The carving of the phoenix on Segwun’s wheelhouse is a replica of the one carried on Segwun in 1925. The current version was hand carved by Bill Hunnisett.

Segwun’s presence at events across Muskoka, including this celebration at Bracebridge Bay, adds flair and a connection to generations past, when travel by steamship was a necessity to reach destinations in the region. She sat beside the Sagamo, which operated as a restaurant. In 1973, with support from steamship enthusiasts and from the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society and the Ontario Road Builders, the RMS Segwun was officially relaunched in 1974 by Pierre Elliott Trudeau and, after further restoration, Segwun began her new career on the Muskoka lakes in 1981. “The temporary dais was festooned with bunting, Ontario ensign flying and people jostling for a view of the PM,” remembers Sheridan Rondeau, a Muskoka author. “I recall the festive atmosphere and delight expressed by everyone sharing the historic moment. Alongside the dignitaries stood a former crewmember. Maybe a stoker?” Ulrich Stegelmeier road his bike from Utterson to Gravenhurst to see the event in 1981. “Trudeau broke the Champagne bottle on the bow and was gifted a brand-new cedar strip canoe, which he promptly single-handed hoisted above his head,” says Stegelmeier. Countless weddings, family celebrations, meals and special events have taken place on Segwun’s decks. The steamship makes an

34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

appearance in the films my grandfather took during the 1940s and ‘50s and likely appears in countless family movies, videos and stills. She made it on to the big screen as well, in the movie the Boy in Blue starting Nicholas Cage as Ned Hanlan. Segwun is described as a “national icon and a world class attraction.” Muskoka Steamships president John

Miller notes that “everyone here understands the importance of Segwun and knows that we are the current stewards in charge of her preservation to remain the fifth oldest operating steamship in the world. With the ongoing support of Muskoka and beyond we welcome the challenge.’’ So, what is it about the Segwun that makes her so special to Muskoka

Steamship historian, author and commentator Richard Tatley fondly remembers his first sighting of the steamships at age 10. His “love at first sight” for the graceful watercraft has become the cornerstone of his life-long career.

Segwun has played a role in many special events during her life, including weddings and anniversary celebrations. and beyond? The oldest operating commercial steamship in North America represents a bridge to perhaps six or more generations of Muskoka history and tradition. Unlike static history displays, the Segwun is very much alive, suffering weather and mechanical wear and tear. She is an intricate and complicated vessel to operate. Her steam is heated by coal and the engine’s operation requires staff experienced in the intricacies of steam, which is a very rare skill in the 21st century.

On August 18, 2012, in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Segwun in her original hull formation, she and Wenonah II went on a 100-mile cruise to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. Boaters, especially wooden boats, were invited to join the two ships and upwards of 200 boats were swarming around the pair.

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Segwun is an intricate and complicated vessel to operate. Her steam is heated by coal and the engine’s operation requires staff, like chief engineer Chris Wiley, experienced in the intricacies of steam, which is a very rare skill in the 21st century. “RMS Segwun is a wonderful throwback to a simpler time,” explains Miller. “At 138 years old she shows her age occasionally, but we have an amazing, dedicated crew of volunteers and professionals that work hard to ensure she is in her best shape.” A restoration of Segwun is planned for the fall of 2025 that will address some issues with wood on the ship’s sides and top deck, as well as some machinery items, such as steam and water piping, that need to be replaced. The restoration is the most significant one to be undertaken since prior to her launch in 1981 and funds are currently being raised for the project. “The RMS Segwun, a not-for-profit operation,

can only sail with continued public and private support,” adds Gary Getson, chair of the board of Muskoka Steamships and Muskoka Discovery Centre. “Today we enjoy the efforts and legacy of those who have preserved her. With the extensive repairs she will require, your support is needed more than ever.” “The Segwun means so much to so many,” says Miller. “Every year we meet folks from far corners of the globe who have a memory to share about her, whether it be a ship story about their parents or grandparents who may have got married onboard, or simply in Gravenhurst for their annual cruise. Segwun is a romance that lives within many hearts near and far.”

Among those who cherish the Segwun are her captains, past and present. Glen Murley has been her senior captain for 20 years. There are few people, besides Richard Tatley, who are more passionate about the Segwun than her captain, Dave Sutherland. “To actually be her captain is a real milestone,” says Sutherland. “She is the last steamship to be operating that opened up the near north to hunters, adventurers and the growing communities of Muskoka.” Sutherland has deep roots in Muskoka that go back several generations in the Lake of Bays area. He connected with Segwun at a young age and has devoted much of his life to steam in some way. In Sutherland’s opinion, another under-appreciated aspect of the Segwun is her RMS (Royal Mail Ship) designation. She is one of three remaining in the world and the other two are big liners. “As a captain, to be at the helm, I get to see the landscape from the same vantage point as all her previous captains from over the past nearly 140 years,” says Sutherland. “That is very significant to me, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure she is operating as long as she can, as a coal-fired steamship.” From varnishing her rails and stoking the boiler as a deck hand, then captain’s mate in 2019 and now captain, Captain Sutherland knows his charge especially well. “I have bled lots for her,” he says. He explains he has responsibility for the operation of all three ships in the fleet, but steam is his main passion.

For many years, Segwun was a static display as a museum docked in Gravenhurst. She sat beside the Sagamo, which operated as a restaurant. After nearly 10 years of hard work and restoration by the Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society and the Ontario Road Builders, RMS Segwun began her new career on the Muskoka lakes in 1981. 36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Sutherland’s mother was responsible for the interior design of the Segwun during her restoration and he remembers carrying aboard dining room tables from Pioneer Handcraft Furniture into Segwun’s cabin. His mother was also involved in the interior decoration of Windermere House. It was especially meaningful for Sutherland to take the Wenonah II for the Windermere House overnight cruise at that time. Sutherland finds it rewarding and inspiring to see the response to the Segwun, whenever she sails. Shoreline residents come out shouting “ahoy,” waving flags and ringing bells. She draws passengers from the farthest reaches of the globe, who have heard about her significance. The support and “buy in” for her significance is unlike anything Sutherland has experienced. On August 18, 2012, in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Segwun in her original hull formation, the Segwun and Wenonah II went THE RIOBEL MOMENTI™ COLLECTION on a 100-mile cruise to raise funds for the AVAILABLE AT KNOWLES PLUMBING! Canadian Cancer Society. Boaters, especially wooden boats, were invited to join the two ships. The festival flavour and emotion of the Unlike static history displays, the Segwun is very much alive, suffering weather and mechanical wear day kept building to the climactic moment and tear. She requires regular maintenance as well as preservation to remain the fifth oldest BAT H & KI TC H E N SH OW R O O M when the two cruise boats arrived at their turn operating steamship in the world. DESI GN. INSTALLATION. REPAIR S E RVI NG A LL OF MUSKOKA 279 MA N ITOBA ST, B R AC EBR ID G E

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From varnishing her rails and stoking the boiler as a deckhand, then captain’s mate in 2019 and now captain, Captain Dave Sutherland knows his charge especially well. He connected with Segwun at a young age and has devoted much of his life to steam in some way.

Segwun transports her passengers back to a simpler time, with some even getting into period costume for specific events.

around point, the top end of Little Lake Joe, an area known as Natural Park today and was once a hiking destination with a spectacular view of the lake. Upwards of 200 boats were swarming around the pair. “I have been told that she is Muskoka’s greatest man-made attraction,” remarks Tatley. “While in Toronto many years ago, I overheard some people talking about Muskoka, referring to the region as the place where the steamboats run.” As commentator for the cruises, Tatley explains how he tried to emulate some of the spirited character of 1940s dance band leader, Charles Musgrave. He also recalls in 1981 “just after we had the old tub up and running again, during one of her first cruises after 21 years, a passenger came up to me, while I was cruise commentator, and explained how much he enjoyed the cruise after learning about her special character. Initially assuming this was just another ferry boat.” Through the years the ship has had musical accompaniment during her cruises, adding to the ambiance. Jack Hutton, along with his allstar band, was a well-known performer for years. More recently, Jamie Sherman and Neil Hutchinson have performed during cruises. Sherman remembers the huge ship would go

hand carved by Bill Hunnisett. In all the excitement and passion for her operation, Sutherland believes the future of Segwun will depend not only on continued funding, but the availability of staff and the special coal she needs. Canadian coal is used in the manufacture of steel or isn’t of the character required for the Segwun. The “Seggie,” as staff affectionately call her, requires coal that is unavailable in Muskoka. In addition to having the necessary fuel, Segwun also currently needs a “stoker” and deck hand to operate. Visions of the stoker being a hot and challenging job aren’t accurate, explains Sutherland. The strong wind draft and cooling effects of being below water level mean the job isn’t especially hot. However, it is hard work. Sutherland says the most effective way to shovel is a little bit at a time, just enough to keep the fire steady. Sutherland is also known as “Captain Windy” because windy weather and his hand at the helm frequently coincide. Sutherland feels it would be especially significant to take the Segwun for a 100-mile cruise on her anniversary, but the fitness of the old gal will determine what’s possible. Perhaps more twists and turns of the same divine destiny that has kept the Segwun alive today, will make a special centenary cruise for the lady of the lake possible.

38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

by the family cottage and he would jump into the little outboard and play in her wake. Sherman feels he has deep connections with the ship due to his life-long experiences with her. “In 1998 Stan Tait organized a group of us to create and perform an album called Songs of the Segwun on a cruise,” remembers Neil Hutchinson, Muskoka musician. “The special song I composed, Last Surviving Sister, was part of the album. The song tells the story of her rebirth, like the phoenix, and her character in the water.” Hutchinson likes the melodic noises associated with the Segwun – the thump of the pistons, the hiss of escaping steam, the gentle curl of her wake and that ghostly whistle. Segwun has been a regular participant and backdrop in boat shows, historic, cultural and community events. In front of her wheelhouse rests the phoenix. The phoenix is a mythical bird that rises from its own ashes and symbolizes empowerment through transformation and renewal. The carving of the phoenix on Segwun’s pilothouse is a replica of the one carried on Segwun in 1925. The first phoenix statue was carved for a second version of the SS Nipissing, which was launched in 1887 to replace the original Nipissing, which had been destroyed by fire the year before. The current version was

Our 2025 Michael Foster Photography Award Winner Tom Forbes with "Looking at You" Michael Foster (1943–2013) was a professional photographer and artist who took great pleasure in the visual arts, music, and canoeing. His other great passion was nature, and he was actively involved in Muskoka Conservancy in order to preserve the area’s natural beauty for future generations. He and his spouse, Lola Bratty, donated an ecologically sensitive property to the Muskoka Conservancy in 2012.

Photo by Tom Forbes

Muskoka Conservancy is making a difference locally and is part of a movement to protect nature globally. Find out how you can support the cause through your donations. Visit: www.muskokaconservancy.org/donate July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 39

Article by Bronwyn Boyer / Photography by Josianne Masseau

teph Schofield’s paintings catch the eye and then hold it hostage in the best kind of way. She finds a way to give meaning and depth to ordinary scenes. Her canvases contain public parks, roadside vistas and lonely neighborhoods in a way that makes the viewer wonder at their significance. Growing up in small towns across Ontario, Schofield was always a quiet observer. “I was shy and introspective,” she recalls. “I didn’t talk much, but I always had a paintbrush or Play-Doh in hand. Creating was my way of understanding the world.” Art has always been her sanctuary, a space where she could

40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

express, explore and find her confidence. Schofield’s early passion led her to Sheridan College for visual and creative arts, a program that laid a solid foundation in traditional techniques in painting and sculpture. But it was the journey of self-discovery and community that truly shaped her artistic voice. In 2012, love brought Schofield to Muskoka, which deepened her connection to local landscapes and communities. “My wife is from here and she introduced me to this incredible place,” she says. “And I saw the familiar with new eyes.”

The process of curating the upcoming Monochrome Muskoka: Pride Palette has deepened Steph Schofield’s connection to both the local arts scene and the broader conversations around identity and inclusion.

July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41

Living in Gravenhurst, Schofield’s artistic practice ebbed and flowed between stone sculptures and other experimental pieces. It was the closest she’d ever come to a creative “dry spell,” since she wasn’t painting or creating with a particular intentional process. “I don’t think there will ever be a time when I won’t be creating in some way or another,” she shares. “I need it, the same way many people need to work out regularly to feel normal and function properly.” There was something about the seismic shift of the global pandemic, however, that rekindled her love of painting. “I was looking through old photos I’d taken and thought, ‘why not try painting again?’” she remembers. “It was like reconnecting with my childhood self, just making art for the joy of it.” The results of Schofield’s rejuvenated passion culminated in a show at the Auburn Gallery of Fine Art in Gravenhurst in 2022, a milestone that affirmed Schofield’s unique perspective. Schofield’s paintings did well, because they

captured the soft glow of sunset illuminating favourite picnic spots and beaches. Her bold use of colour paired with precision and impressionist flavour make her work exceptionally striking. Schofield is most inspired by the colour and mood of scenes she’s captured during her travels of Canadian “townscapes,” serene forests, and East Coast-inspired scenes with pastel-coloured houses. “I love playing with colour,” she shares. “I’ll use monochrome palettes like reds, blues, and violets, to evoke different feelings. It’s powerful.” Schofield seeks to expose the unseen stories in everyday spaces. “When you walk down your street, you might see a row of houses or a park, but behind every window there’s a story,” she says. “That’s what I try to capture; those quiet, untold stories that you can’t see, but feel.” For Schofield, art should be accessible and community driven. She often paints scenes from local places anyone can visit. “Not everyone

For Steph Schofield, each step of her artistic process is a mindful act of creation and involves meticulous preparation. She works primarily from her own photos, mapping the image out on the canvas. She then builds layers or “underpaintings,” followed by mixing palettes.

has the privilege of travelling to exotic locations,” she says. “But we all have access to our local environment. That’s where I find my inspiration and I want my art to show others that beauty exists right here, in our everyday lives.” Schofield’s current work can be found at the Annex in Bracebridge. Her involvement with that gallery as well as Auburn Gallery of Fine Art, Muskoka Arts and Crafts, and Arts at the Albion has helped encourage her to use her creative voice. “The arts community here is so supportive,” she notes. “Artists share ideas, collaborate and lift each other up. The collective desire to create and connect feeds our creativity.” This spirit of connection and solidarity is the theme of Schofield’s first show as curator, Monochrome Muskoka: Pride Palette. The exhibit at MAC on Main will showcase works by local queer artists and allies using a monochromatic colour scheme representing a different part of the Pride spectrum. “The idea is to present a diversity of styles

Something re-ignited for Steph Schofield during the pandemic, resulting in a return to painting. The efforts of Schofield’s rejuvenated passion resulted in a show at the Auburn Gallery of Fine Art in Gravenhurst in 2022, a milestone that solidified Schofield’s unique perspective.

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Currently, Steph Schofield’s work can be found at the Annex in Bracebridge. Her involvement with that gallery as well as Auburn Gallery of Fine Art, Muskoka Arts and Crafts, and Arts at the Albion has helped encourage her to use her creative voice and mediums with a colour palette that ties everything together,” she explains. “It represents unity and celebrating differences within a shared space.” Beyond the visual, the show is also a platform for dialogue. On July 19, 2025, a drag performance and queer art history trivia night will animate the gallery, fostering community and visibility. “In a time when politics and societal issues affect marginalized communities, I believe art can be a place to be seen, heard, and understood,” says Schofield. Political activism has never been a significant aspect of Schofield’s life or artistic career, but the current climate of human disconnection and division sparked her desire to foster inclusion. “Art is inherently political,” she asserts. “Because it’s about expressing your deepest thoughts and feelings and creating space for others to do the same.” For Schofield, the act of painting is deeply therapeutic. “It’s where I find peace amidst chaos,” she shares. “When I’m working on a painting, everything else fades away. All the worries, noise and pressures of the day just disappear. It’s a ritual that grounds me.” Schofield’s process involves meticulous preparation. She works primarily from her

44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

photos, then starts mapping it out on the canvas. She builds layers or “underpaintings,” then mixes palettes. Each step is a mindful act of creation. “When I get lost in the process, that’s when I know I’m really creating,” she shares. Schofield’s paintings remind us how the extra-ordinary often lies just beneath the surface of the ordinary, waiting to be revealed through fresh eyes and a splash of colour. “My goal is to show that beauty exists everywhere – in the mundane and in ourselves,” she shares. “And that all our stories, no matter how small, matter.”

As a child, Schofield always knew she wanted to be an artist, but struggled with the fear of scrutiny that comes with the sensitivity and shyness many creative types possess. Being immersed in the natural beauty of Muskoka has helped her overcome the “imposter syndrome” artists commonly struggle with, as she’s supported and encouraged to share her talents. She also truly values the fact she can rank her local friends and compatriots among the list of famous artists she reveres. It’s no wonder curating Monochrome Muskoka: Pride Palette has been a deeply meaningful experience for Schofield. “It’s a huge honour to bring together these incredible artists and create a space where their work can be seen and celebrated,” she states. “As someone who’s still finding their voice as a curator, I feel a mix of excitement and responsibility to showcase diverse perspectives within our community and to foster a sense of belonging through art.” Schofield emphasizes how the process has deepened her connection to both the local arts scene and the broader conversations around identity and inclusion. “Being able to select work that reflects not just individual creativity, but also shared values of acceptance and pride, makes this project

feel personal and powerful,” she shares. “Curating isn’t just about hanging pictures; it’s about amplifying voices that speak the universal language of art.” To that end, the concept of the show is more than just visual. It’s a chance to make a visceral statement. “I think art is a great way to express what’s difficult to put into words,” Schofield explains. “My thought process was if we all stay within a particular colour scheme, the content doesn’t have to match, because the colour will unify it. I didn’t want to put anyone in a box. I wanted freedom with a hint of structure. I told the artists to make as many pieces as they want. Go big, go small.

Ordinary scenes are given depth and meaning through Steph Schofield’s use of colour. Her canvases contain public parks, roadside vistas and lonely neighborhoods in a way that makes the viewer wonder at their significance.

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Steph Schofield’s bold use of colour paired with precision and impressionist flavour make her work exceptionally striking. She is most inspired by the colour and mood of scenes she’s captured by photograph during her travels of Canadian towns, serene forests, and East Coast-inspired scenes with pastel-coloured houses. Just have fun.” And fun it will be. Monochrome Muskoka: Pride Palette promises a vibrant mix of media and styles, from traditional landscape paintings and abstract compositions to fabric art and digital work. The unifying thread is not subject matter, but spectrum, as a symbolic nod to Pride and the diverse perspectives it represents.

46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

“I think the queer community deserves a platform to feel safe and seen,” she says. “This is our way of creating that for ourselves and voicing up.” As curator and artist, Schofield is creating a space where expression is not only allowed but celebrated. In her paintings and through this exhibition, she captures the quiet power

of everyday places and the unapologetic celebration of queer visibility. Monochrome Muskoka: Pride Palette takes place at MAC on Main in downtown Bracebridge from July 10 to 27. The show will feature Marianne Bouchard, Shanandoah Kidd, Katie Morton, Alix Veitch, Andrea Balmer, Christopher Nelson, and Wesley Schofield.

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2025: Forecast delivery of six energy-efficient, universally accessible affordable rental units for small families and indivduals in the Town of Gravenhurst.

find out more at habitatgatewaynorth.com/ communities/ July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47

Photograph: Jeanne de Keyserling / Courtesy Muskoka Arts & Crafts

Article by J. Patrick Boyer

ince the 1600s, saying a person living with boredom, misery and bad treatment was leading “a dog’s life” reflected the wretched state of canines in various parts of the world. However, as is often the case with things in Muskoka, “a dog’s life” generally means something altogether different here. In 2023, when Gravenhurst artist Mara Smelters-Wier organized a Muskoka Arts &

48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Crafts exhibit at Bracebridge’s Chapel Gallery, many district painters displayed compelling works showing what dogs contribute to peoples’ lives. Jeanne de Keyserling’s portrait of a large sleeping dog stretched out on a sofa entitled “A Dog’s Life in Muskoka” neatly encapsulated the show’s theme. Because many district families have both two- and four-legged members, Muskoka furniture retailers are closely questioned about

fabric for beds and couches being suitable for dogs as well as humans. Integral to many households today, Muskoka dogs live mostly indoors with people, no longer outside in a kennel or on the loose. With this link between dogs and people fused by loyalty, companionship and even shared emotional understanding, canines and humans not only bond in unique ways but, as human society evolves, Muskoka’s 30,000 dogs change in

Photograph: Boyer Muskoka Collection.

Even by 1938 when the motor vehicle revolution was replacing horse-drawn and dog-pulled transport, this scene in Muskoka was still commonplace for many roles and purposes. The two men are about to cut blocks from the frozen lake for iceboxes the team will pull onto shore.

A telling image can say it all, and that was the case with artist Jeanne de Keyserling’s painting that summed up the Muskoka Arts & Crafts exhibit “For the Love of Dogs” in Bracebridge in 2023. A “dog’s life” means a miserable existence, unless of course it is lived “Muskoka style.”

tandem with it, too. Statistics Canada just counts humans in its official surveys and the Canadian Animal Health Institute provides only estimates on how many dogs live in Canadian homes, so where does that number come from? Muskoka has a year-round population of about 66,674 people and pet ownership rates in Canada indicate 35 to 40 per cent of households have at least one dog. Because Muskoka currently has some 28,571 year-round households, that would mean roughly 10,000 to 11,500 likely have dogs. However, since many households have more than one dog, the total could be closer to 15,000 to 20,000. But the ranks of year-round Muskokans swell with thousands of seasonal Muskoka households, a significant number bringing their pets along creating a

still larger population of canis familiaris and homo sapiens pushing the high-summer number of dogs well over the 30,000 range. That scientific name for dogs is a modified version of canis lupus familiaris. The name for wolves is canis lupus. “Every dog and every dog breed is just another version of a wolf,” explains Dr. Brian Hare of Duke University’s Canine Cognition Centre, “that through selection and evolution has expressed itself. Every dog breed shares 99.9 per cent of the same DNA as wolves.” That all dogs derive from wolves seems incredible when you see dozens of vastly dissimilar canines in Muskoka, ranging from chihuahua to great dane who are North America’s smallest and largest dogs, one standing six to nine inches tall and weighing

in at six pounds, the other 28 to 30 inches tall and tipping the scales at 175 pounds. Dogs also display highly contrasting rates of speed, from fastest-runner-on-Earth greyhounds who can hit 45 mph (twice the speed of the world’s fastest humans and out-racing the world’s speediest hooved animals) to basset hounds lumbering along at their benchmark rate of five mph. Yet the wolf derivation is scientifically proven and part of the current dog science renaissance. Dogs and humans evolved unique patterns of relationships over the millennia as wolves and our primitive ancestors began taking an interest in each other. Because dogs emerged in Asia, Europe and the Americas over thousands of years, evolving to become human companions, we can pick up the story close to home in recent centuries. At Obajewanung, an Ojibwe settlement between Silver Lake and the Indian River flowing down from Lake Rosseau to Lake Muskoka where Port Carling sits today, families had a permanent village of some 20 log cabins, grew crops of corn, squash, and beans, possessed numerous birchbark canoes, hunted, fished, picked berries and medicinal plants, and benefitted from the companionable presence of many dogs in hunting and helping with transport. In the mid-1800s, white surveyors working through Muskoka encountered various

Photograph: Geological Survey of Canada, Boyer Muskoka Collection

Especially fascinating, photographs taken at the earliest stages of contact preserve a strong sense of life without Europeans but one highly reliant on dogs. The infants and the four-legged companions share space and fulfill communal roles in evident harmony. Indigenous people with dogs, in one case a boy carrying a puppy who passed their camp walking home miles through the dark forest at night. To reflect archeological and anthropological discoveries in the district’s northeast, a scale display at the Dorset Heritage Museum portrays a First Nation village in winter with a number of dogs present. By the late 1800s, dogs that settlers brought with them had boosted Muskoka’s canine population. A window into how that was working out can be glimpsed by some of the dog cases heard by District Magistrate James Boyer. In November 1894, Robert Irwin, a farmer in Ryde Township, brought charges against Allis Edwards for unlawfully killing his dog, to which Edwards pleaded not guilty. Irwin said his collie was valuable for farm work and running deer. Valuators testified his worth at $15. The issue was whether or not Edwards had killed the dog for biting the leg of one of his sheep while it was out on a public road. Testimony was that the dog was good for work with sheep and ideal for running deer in

hunting season, one man testifying that he would have paid $20 for him. On the evidence, magistrate Boyer convicted the defendant, fined him $1 and $5 for the dog, and $4.85 in costs or, in default of paying, 21 days in the Bracebridge jail. Edwards was committed to jail. In March 1896, James Barber of Watt Township prosecuted John Hall for stealing his white and tan purebred spaniel, and a great deal of testimony was given by members of the Veitch and Longhurst families, among others, as to whether there had been a trade with payment made or some other confusing back-and-forth dealings with the prized animal. The case was dismissed with $14.60 levied in fees and costs, which Barber paid rather than spend a month in jail. Two months later, Margaret Browning appeared in court prosecuting William Gleason for stealing her dog but since he had given it back, she withdrew the charge upon the defendant paying the costs. By December 1898, problems between dogs and sheep resurfaced in court when informant James E. Taverner pressed charges against John Fox, the village of Lewisham’s postmaster, alleging his dog killed one of his sheep, a purebred Southdown Ewe worth $6. The defendant’s dog was a yellowish-brown

collie. A dozen witnesses testified, from the Draper Township reeve who sold Taverner sheep, to 9-year-old Frederick Fox who was too young to be sworn, various daughters and wives, and neighbours. Counsel for the defendant objected that no order could be issued to have the dog destroyed. In a rare move, proceedings were adjourned for 10 days. After another day’s testimony and rebuttals, the case was dismissed. To round out the century, James E. Miller charged William Stiles in 1899 for shooting and wounding his dog. A Monck Township farmer, Miller’s dog was a black collie with legs of a lighter colour, “a good cattle dog” he’d been offered $12 to sell. It slept in the stable at Miller’s farm at night. On Sunday morning a neighbour told him his dog had been shot in the shoulder on a public roadway. Miller kept him all day, and on Monday, finding him still unable to get up, shot the dog “to put him out of his misery.” Defendant Stiles, on a neighbouring farm, testified he’d “shot the dog because it annoyed him.” After testifying he had “driven it away repeatedly and my wife also” because “the dog had been howling around the house and scratching the door,” he added “I took the gun and shot at the dog to scare him. I happened to strike him. I didn’t put the gun to my

Photograph: Boyer Muskoka Collection

shoulder.” Magistrate Boyer found the defendant guilty and levied a $2 fine, plus $3 in damages and $3.70 in costs, “to be paid forthwith or imprisoned in the common jail at Bracebridge for 30 days with hard labour.” Stiles paid. Jumping to the Roaring Twenties a century ago, transformative cultural and social shocks created by the murderous First World War were changing postwar life with dogs adapting to new roles. With urbanization accelerating and more Canadians moving into cities, dogs were increasingly seen as companions rather than simply working animals. Muskoka’s rural communities still relied on dogs for hunting, herding and sledding for winter transport. Town dwellers followed city dwellers in embracing dogs as household pets. As usual, because of urban folks relocating to Muskoka for summer, the district picked up this trend shift sooner than many outlying places, with breeds like the Labrador retriever becoming increasingly popular. The 1920s also saw a rise in organized dog breeding and kennel clubs. The Canadian Kennel Club, which had been established in the late 19th century, gained prominence as

It is not common to see someone with sled dogs wearing a white shirt and tie, but this assistant manager of the Hudson’s Bay Company was at a trading post in Muskoka’s vicinity during summer and the photo-op was not missed. The HBC had several small posts in Muskoka, at Lake of Bays and along the Muskoka River, satellites of its main trading post at Orillia. more people became interested in purebred dogs. The rebellious Roaring Twenties included the Flapper Movement to liberate women by challenging traditional gender roles in stylish new ways distinctively different from the Suffragettes by not playing according to men’s rules. Flappers in Canada, mirroring trends in Europe and the United States,

embraced small lap dogs as fashionable accessories; just one of their many initiatives emphasizing the uniqueness of females. In tandem, dogs were becoming more integrated into family life generally, reflecting the broader societal changes of the era. Canadians have long had things to say about dogs. Back in 1873, William Butler in

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Year by year more Muskoka places and events become increasingly “dog-friendly,” with everything from pet spas and grooming services to dog-friendly beaches and hiking trails to training, obedience and agility classes. Muskoka today has an ample roster of dog-friendly accommodations, plenty of dog activities and events, and a number of dog-friendly breweries, thrift stores, cafés and boat tours. Wild North Land, wrote “A good dog is so much a nobler beast than an indifferent man that one sometimes gladly exchanges the society of one for that of the other.” In Calgary Bob Edwards, editor of the Eye Opener newspaper, advised readers in 1910 “Never trust a man whose dog has gone back on him.” Five years later, R.D. Cumming in his Skootum Chuck Fables purported to know how a dog’s mind works, quipping, “Every dog wonders why the other dog was born.” By 1920 Canadian commentators on dogs had progressed to attributing higher intelligence to canine action. “You may depend on it,” Marshall Saunders assured readers of Beautiful Joe that year, “a fourlegged creature, unlike a two-legged one, has a reason for everything he does.” Today we have entered an entirely different universe and the past two decades have advanced canine science and understanding about how a dog’s mind works to a level far exceeding those bromides and clever sayings about dogs. Scientific learning now focuses on how dogs receive information, process it and respond. The

much closer connection of people and dogs in daily life has created new insights about canine emotional intelligence. Studies suggest dogs can read human emotions, respond to facial expressions, and even comfort people in distress. As dogs and humans worked alongside each other with incredible results, new relationships emerged in the form of guide dog companions and search-and-rescue teams. The Ontario Provincial Police Canine Training Centre in Gravenhurst, where OPP K-9 teams underwent 16 weeks of training for the force’s important program, required careful selection of both dog and handler to meet this specialized police work’s demanding standards. Typically, German shepherds are trained for these duties, selected when around 18 to 24 months old. Their handlers require three years or more policing experience, self-discipline and patience, need a favourable attitude toward animals, with both handlers and dogs in top physical condition. Once trained, OPP K-9 teams are on call 24/7 for assignments across Ontario to search for lost, wanted or missing persons, detect drugs and weapons, perform community service work and contain public demonstrations. The dynamic nature of their environments means both dog and handler must constantly adapt. Training scenarios at

Gravenhurst simulated these conditions, with obstacles and variable weather conditions designed to replicate real-life challenges, resulting in K-9 teams successfully locating missing individuals and tracking persons of interest, following trails other search methods might have missed. The 2,300 square-foot facility on the Ontario Fire College property was closed post-COVID and the K-9 operation moved by the Ontario Solicitor General to Orillia, leaving Gravenhurst and Muskoka with neither fire college nor dog-training facility. Muskoka today is dog-friendly and canines themselves add a worthy component to the local economy. A sampler of Muskoka’s dog-related services and organizations include the Ontario SPCA’s Muskoka Animal Centre in Bracebridge with sheltering, adoption, emergency sheltering, and spay/neuter services, and Carter’s Forever Rescue & Sanctuary, also in Bracebridge, which rescues and retrains dogs to find their “forever” homes. At Gravenhurst, Muskoka District Kennel Club offers dog training and obedience classes. Muskoka Spa for Pets at Bracebridge offers dog boarding, grooming, and daycare. Happy Tails Pet Resort & Camp at Huntsville – “home of the cottage dog lifestyle” – offers cage-free playcations, daycare and grooming.

On the medical side of things, veterinary services operate in every town in the district with some locations providing extensive medical treatment options and emergency services. Just how integrated into Muskoka society dogs now are is seen, for example, with the district’s many scenic dog-friendly parks and trails. Some great dog-friendly spots are Wilson’s Falls Trail (Bracebridge), a short, easy trail leading to a beautiful waterfall with dogs on a leash are welcome; Hardy Lake Provincial Park (Muskoka Lakes) with stunning lake views and well-maintained trails where leashed dogs are allowed; Arrowhead Provincial Park (Huntsville) – a large park with hiking trails and lakes where dogs are welcome on leash; Hunters Bay Trail (Huntsville) – a scenic dog-walking, strolling and cycling trail along the water; and Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve, Muskoka’s unique hiking area with open landscapes and great stargazing opportunities where leashed dogs are welcome. Dog-friendly beaches and off-leash parks include Six Mile Lake Provincial Park (Port Severn) with hiking trails and three sandy beaches and calm waters for swimming, including a designated pet beach. Muskoka today has an ample roster of dog-friendly accommodations, plenty of dog activities and events, and a number of dog-friendly breweries, thrift stores, cafés and boat tours. A prior phase “dog’s life” in Muskoka included the era when numerous dogs were everywhere on their own all the time, running where they pleased, bothersome to people who protested the generous donations of excrement in all sorts of places that annoyingly adhered to shoes, the wheels of baby carriages and tricycles and bicycles, digging up peoples’ gardens, prowling their yards and breaking into garbage containers. Municipalities responded to the outcry, enacting bylaws to make running at large an offence and requiring owners to buy a brass dog-tag and ensure their collared dog wore it so the registered serial number could be traced for due accountability. Today, stooping and scooping has become a new norm and comporting dogs through town streets on a leash a daily routine for thousands of Muskokans. As with humans, dogs are happily at home in Muskoka. It’s quite a life.

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Whats Happened

Photograph: Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) has selected a site for a new hospital in Bracebridge, marking an important development in the region’s healthcare landscape. The organization recently announced its intention to purchase land located at 300 Pine Street, directly west of Highway 11. This site is strategically positioned adjacent to Walmart commercial lands, a residential area, and JD Lang Park. Access to the new hospital will primarily be from Pine Street, with potential additional entrances from Depot Drive and Gray Road to the south. Although MAHC has not yet received formal approvals for the project, discussions with Ontario Health, the Ministry of Health, and Infrastructure Ontario have been promising. The organization anticipates that construction could commence as early as 2029, contingent upon obtaining all necessary government approvals.

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare recently announced their intention to purchase land at 300 Pine Street in Bracebridge as the site for the new South Muskoka Hospital location. The new location is part of the two-site “Made in Muskoka” healthcare model that has sparked controversy among local residents. 54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Photograph: Matt Driscoll

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare selects site of new Bracebridge hospital

Bracebridge’s Silver Bridge has been closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic since January 2025 due to structural issues. The District of Muskoka council recently approved the use of up to $5 million for urgent repair work to return the bridge to usable condition. Earlier this year, MAHC announced the temporary relocation of obstetric services from South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge to Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, citing labour shortages at the Bracebridge facility. The decision was initially framed as a one-year move. MAHC’s broader plan to redevelop existing hospitals in both Huntsville and Bracebridge, aiming to implement a ‘‘Made in Muskoka’’ healthcare model that distributes services between the two sites, has sparked considerable controversy. The proposal has faced significant opposition from residents and physicians in South Muskoka, who are concerned about potential reductions in services and the impact on access to care for the community.

District earmarks $5 million for Silver Bridge repairs

Muskoka District Council has given the green light for up to $5 million for urgent restoration work on the Bracebridge Silver Bridge. The bridge has been closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic since January 6, 2025, following a critical failure identified during snow clearance by Town of Bracebridge operations staff. According to a report presented to the council, the District’s engineering team discovered a concerning shift in the bridge that was absent during its last inspection in November 2024, prompting immediate closure measures. Staff

sought approval to install structural components for further investigation while also initiating restoration efforts. Additionally, they requested to revise the capital budget, increasing the allocation to $4,100,275 from the original $899,725 for rehabilitation work. District commissioner of engineering and public works, James Steele, indicated these funds would facilitate further assessment and efforts to restore the bridge’s functionality. Bracebridge mayor and district councillor Rick Maloney emphasized the bridge’s significance to the community, advocating for rehabilitation over replacement. Meanwhile, councillor Guy Burry raised concerns about prioritizing functionality versus heritage, questioning if a cost analysis had been conducted about replacing versus restoring the structure. No timeline for the bridge’s reopening has been provided to date.

Gravenhurst Health Hub project gains momentum

The Gravenhurst Health Hub initiative is making significant strides, as highlighted in a recent town council meeting that showcased positive developments. Bruce Hemphill, chair of the Gravenhurst Health Hub, shared key updates, including the launch of a new fundraising initiative designed to bolster support for the project.

Photograph: Gravenhurst Health Hub

Fund to assist in the establishment of the health hub. A recent report highlighted that over 6,000 residents in South Muskoka currently lack access to local primary care and there are no standardized after-hours services available. Mayor Lorenz reiterated the town’s commitment to the health hub project, acknowledging its potential to greatly improve health services for the community.

At a recent town council meeting, the Gravenhurst Health Hub provided key updates including the launch of a new fundraising initiative to support the project. The proposal aims to convert the second floor of the building to allow for programs and specialists. The project is slated to roll out in three phases, with an anticipated completion date set for 2027. The first phase will prioritize the finalization of design plans, tenant acquisition and infrastructure development for the second floor, with an estimated budget of $780,000. In a display of support, the Town council unanimously passed a resolution to allocate up to $200,000 from the Terence Haight Reserve

Photograph: Cliff Bay Muskoka Corp.

The proposal aims to revamp approximately 12,000 square feet on the second floor of the medical centre located beside the Gravenhurst municipal office. Hemphill emphasized that once operational, the hub will provide adaptable office spaces for incoming primary care providers, enhance access to specialists, and introduce various programs focused on geriatrics, diabetes education and women’s health.

The site of the former Muskoka Cottage Sanatorium is now being proposed for redevelopment by Cliff Bay Muskoka Corporation. The ambitious plan includes multiple hotels, restaurants, residences, an event space and a spa.

Significant development proposal unveiled for former Muskoka Centre Property

A notable development proposal has emerged for the former Muskoka Centre property in Gravenhurst after prolonged inactivity. The ambitious initiative aims to completely redevelop the site, featuring multiple hotels – including one proposed to reach six stories and another five stories tall. In addition, the plan includes various restaurants, an event space, branded residences and a spa. The project is being led by Cliff Bay Muskoka Corporation, a part of the KS Group of Companies. Back in 2020, Cliff Bay had initially expressed plans to transform the 70-acre Muskoka Regional Centre property into a Scandinavian spa development. At that time, the developers projected the project would unfold in three stages over a period of two to three years, with a proposed budget of up to $250 million. However, a public meeting scheduled for May 27 to announce the redevelopment plans encountered considerable obstacles. Hosted via Zoom by Cliff Bay Muskoka Corp., the meeting was abruptly cancelled due to technical difficulties that caused frustration among residents. The meeting is expected to be rescheduled soon to provide further insight into the development plans. Currently, the property is owned by Infrastructure Ontario and has remained vacant for the past three decades. In May 2024, Infrastructure Ontario confirmed that a preferred proponent for the Muskoka Regional Centre had been selected but withheld details regarding the identity of that proponent. Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz addressed the proposal during the latest council meeting. She indicated the project will likely require a unique zoning process through the Ontario government. “We envision this topic appearing before the council in the near future,” she

July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55

Photograph: Muskoka Chautauqua

Muskoka Chautauqua’s 10-day festival in Windermere kicks off on August 1. The activities throughout the festival include historic walking tours, musical events, workshops and an art gallery. added. The property was originally opened as the Muskoka Cottage Sanatorium in 1897. In 1960 the Province of Ontario transitioned the site to a housing and care facility for developmentally challenged individuals before it ultimately closed in 1994. It has stood vacant ever since.

Muskoka Chautauqua unveils 2025 lineup

Brass bands, literary lectures, morning meditations and much more. Muskoka Chautauqua has unveiled its summer lineup, which includes dozens of events packed into a 10-day festival, overlooking the shores of Lake Rosseau in the historic village of Windermere. Springing from a tradition that started 100 years ago, when the village of Windermere attracted North America’s leading thinkers to its shores, Muskoka Chautauqua is one of the longest-running and most iconic cultural institutions in the region. This year’s lineup includes a variety of acts and workshops running the gamut of genres and experiences. The festivities kick off with a festival welcome and opening on August 1 at Muskoka Chautauqua Theatre in the Woods at 1039 Golf Avenue in Windermere Village. An art gallery will be open from August 2 to 9 from 10 to 4 p.m., filled with art from workshop leaders. This year’s theme is Rocks & Roots. Visit the Gallery in the Woods throughout the event to view beautiful works from artists like Miranda Britton, Toller Cranston, Gayle Dempsey and more. Historic walking tours of the area will also take place throughout the event, offering guests a chance to uncover the unique charm of Windermere village. August 2 features an evening with Caroline

56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Marie Brooks of Canadian band the Good Lovelies, while Po Cholly, Beverly Robertson and friends will perform August 4. You can learn to play your own music with the ukulele workshop and jam session on August 7. For a full list of events, please visit muskokachautauqua.com.

Huntsville council approves new short-term rental accommodations limit

In a recent meeting held on May 28, the General Committee of Huntsville councillors voted to implement a new cap on short-term rental accommodations (STRAs) within the town, setting the limit at 250 licenses per year. This decision reflects a slight increase of just 10 licenses compared to previous years, as noted by Chris Nagy, the Town’s chief building official. Starting November 1, individuals interested in applying for STRA licenses will be able to submit their requests. To ensure a smooth application process, applicants must complete all necessary forms, including payment, and, if required, arrange for a site inspection. Notably, floating accommodations – such as boats, tents, yurts, mobile homes, and specific lodging types – are now classified as non-dwelling units under the updated STRA guidelines. The newly adopted bylaw also brings several important clarifications. It specifically outlines what constitutes a “complete” application, prohibits the advertisement of occupant numbers, and establishes a requirement that properties must be owned for at least 12 months before operating as an STRA. Furthermore, any infractions will be monitored over a twoyear period, with licenses at risk of revocation after three violations. Mayor Nancy Alcock and councillor Dione

Schumacher voiced their support for these amendments, highlighting the importance of effective communication with the community about these changes. To keep STRA providers informed, the Town will reach out via email and update its website, while also recommending that real estate brokerages be made aware of the new regulations.

Lakeland expands EV chargers across central Ontario

Lakeland EV Charging is planning to expand its public charging network by adding 17 new sites in central Ontario, bringing the total number of stations to 33 by fall 2026. This expansion will include 50 new chargers, with 26 dual-port direct current fast chargers (DCFC) that have a capacity of 180kW. Drivers can expect to gain around 100 kilometres of range with 10 minutes of charging. The funding for this initiative comes from Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) ZeroEmission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) and Ontario’s EV ChargeON program. Lakeland EV Charging has also partnered with ChargeHub Passport Hub, which is Canada’s largest EV charging network. This partnership allows users to access Lakeland EV chargers through the ChargeHub app, connecting them to thousands of charging stations across the country. “Increasing access to EV chargers outside major urban centres addresses gaps in local charging infrastructure and alleviates range anxiety,” remarked Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation. “Through the EV ChargeON Community Sites Stream Program, our government has approved 270 projects to date, including Lakeland EV Charging’s initiative, highlighting our commitment to transforming Ontario into a global leader in clean energy.”

District of Muskoka appoints airport governing body The District of Muskoka Council has approved the establishment of Muskoka Airport Inc. (MAI), a new municipal service corporation, along with its advisory board. This transition involves the transfer of all buildings and most equipment to MAI, while the District retains ownership of the airport lands, leasing them to MAI long-term. Most airport employees will remain with the District, with MAI funding their salaries and

Photograph: District Municipality of Muskoka

Muskoka Airport Inc. (MAI), a new municipal service corporation, along with the airport advisory board will take on the operation of the Muskoka Airport, effective July 1, 2025. The District of Muskoka will continue to own the airport lands and lease them to MAI. benefits. The airport’s CEO will be directly appointed by MAI. The official transfer of the airport is targeted for July 1, 2025. Until then, the District Municipality of Muskoka will oversee airport operations, transitioning responsibilities to MAI on the target date. District commissioner of finance and corporate services, Suzanne Olimer, stated the District will still need to allocate around $1.3 million to support airport operations. Unfinished capital projects will be closed under the District and reacquired as new initiatives under MAI, with reserves also being transferred. Consultant Mike Murray addressed the council, noting the benefits of creating a municipal service corporation for the airport. He emphasized the competitive nature of municipal airports and the challenges they face within municipal regulations from his nearly 30 years of experience in municipal government.

course, researched the Guinness record and found it was held by, of course, an Italian at three minutes, 54.2 seconds. Last year, Thompson, filmed by a crew to verify his feat, folded the requisite 50 boxes in three minutes, 47.82 seconds. The lengthy procedure for Thompson to submit his claim, have it verified and receive his world record certificate took until earlier this year. Thompson, who has been a longtime cottager on Kawagama Lake, is returning this summer to Pizza on Earth where a photograph of his record-attesting certificate is on display.

What started out as a fun in-store competition for members of the staff at Pizza on Earth in Dorset has seen 20-year-old pizzamaker Broen Thompson recognized as a Guinness World Record holder. Now in his second year studying genetics and biotechnology at the University of Toronto, Thompson says the challenge of being the fastest person to fold 50 pizza boxes in the local business led to a friendly competition with Graham Johnson, son of the owners of Pizza on Earth. Starting at eight minutes, the timing kept dropping. As his time improved, Thompson, in due

Photograph: Don Smith

Dorset resident recognized as Guinness World Record holder

Graham Johnson of Pizza on Earth helps Guinness World Record holder Broen Thompson hold of photo of him with his certificate.

Feature by Matt Driscoll July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57

Strawberry fields forever: The quintessential summer berry Article by K.M. Wehrstein / Photography by Tomasz Szumski

t’s almost Canada Day, and that means strawberry socials and pick-your-own gorging until you’re caught red-lipped. So, let’s tuck into some strawberry yumminess, both sweet and – yes! – savoury, and find out why strawberry season isn’t just June anymore, but all summer long. Taylor Farms of Muskoka, near Windermere, grows 20 acres worth of strawberries (along with another 20 acres of various other crops) and offers them as a pick-your-own excursion in June and July as well as wholesale to some customers including the Ontario Food Terminal in Etobicoke, at farmers’ markets throughout Muskoka and in their on-site store. The business is owned by Graham Shaw and co-managed by him and his children, Sarah Shaw and Aaron Shaw. Graham’s stepfather, Murray Taylor, acquired the property in the ‘80s, and Graham and his wife Carla began growing strawberries on it in 1993. “Because we’re in such a valley here, the soil was better than most of Muskoka,” Sarah says. “At first, we did just pick-yourown, farmers’ markets and an end-of-theroad farmstand. We were only open for three weeks a year.” Then at a berry growers’ conference in 2011, the family learned about a specially bred type of strawberry called “dayneutral.” “Normal strawberries can tell how long the day is,” Sarah explains. “Day-neutrals

Freshly picked strawberries are a summer staple. Taylor Farms offers “pick-your-own” berry excursions in June and July for those who want to find their own sweet, summer haul. 58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

can’t tell, so they’ll produce when the plant is big enough and keep producing until frost. In California they can grow them all year and that’s how we have strawberries all year.” Ignoring cues from the sun, the Taylor Farms’ day-neutral berries get planted in two phases starting on the May long weekend and provide fruit until the farm closes on Thanksgiving weekend. The growing season expansion allowed for a major business expansion. The store

was built in 2015. The staff, which phases in and out over the year, maxes at eight in the fields and 12 in the store. Taylor Farms has become a leader in the field (so to speak) with innovations such as the “low tunnel,” a plastic-wrap covering placed over the plants like a miniature greenhouse, which Taylor is the first and only strawberry farm in Ontario to implement. “We can’t call ourselves organic, but we try to be chemical-free,” says Aaron. “We use

organic pesticides.” Farming is always a risky business, though. The worst dangers to the luscious red crop, says Sarah, are deer (“they eat the plants”), seagulls (“they take one bite out of each berry”) and bad weather. A late frost can kill all 20 acres of flowers, and even though the family has improved its weather defenses over the years, in one recent season enough plants were lost that they had to make a crop insurance claim. The business prevailed, however, and continues to be successful. The recipe for Spinach Strawberry Salad came from Sarah and Aaron’s maternal grandmother Carol Taylor, and its interesting combination probably relates to the fact that Carol’s family grew spinach. Do spinach and strawberries go together? Absolutely, in the way two highly distinctive savoury and sweet flavours can complement each other juicily; there’s a liquidity about this pairing.

Strawberry Spinach Salad - Taylor Family

Ingredients 2 cups halved strawberries 10 oz fresh spinach 1 red onion (optional) Dressing 1 (sweet and sour) 2 Tbsp sesame seeds 1 Tbsp poppy seeds ¼ cup cider vinegar ¼ cup white sugar ½ olive oil 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce ½ tsp paprika 4 tsp minced onion (optional)

The Taylor family’s spinach salad recipe may seem simple, but the dressing choice can make a big flavour difference.

You’ve got two dressing options here, one sweet and sour, the other purely sweet, and they both work very well. For those who enjoy them, count the onions as mandatory (but you do you!) and even so the whole effect is rather delicate. Arguably the seeds make the salad here. Possibly the biggest fan of Taylor Farms’ strawberries is Warren Dix of the Big River Baking Company in Bracebridge. “They’re the best strawberries you’ve ever had in your life,” he avows. “We carry Taylor Farms strawberries because so many people come in who’ve lived with Taylor Farms berries all their lives – but also because they’re Taylor Farms berries. They’re the only fruit we carry.” Dix and his business partner Sean Sullivan opened Big River Baking Co. in 2021, specializing in sourdough-based artisan breads. When people come in seeking cake, pastries and the like he turns to Janette MacNaughtan, owner of Bumble

Dressing 2 (creamy, sweet) 2 Tbsp poppy seeds ½ mayonnaise 2 Tbsp cider vinegar ⅓ cup sugar ¼ cup milk

Pastry Company, who you might recall from her collaboration with Baristah Coffee, which is next door to Big River, from a previous issue. “Janette is a master scratch baker,” says Dix. “I would do anything in the world to use her services.” Originally an arts major who made cakes for friends, MacNaughtan began baking buttertarts for Baristah over the holiday break of 2023/2024 and then began baking non-bread items for Big River. “It’s a symbiotic relationship,” she says. “Warren provides the audience and that lets me do some things that otherwise I wouldn’t be able to.” This opportunity for creativity has generated a plethora of cheesecake flavours including – are you sitting down? Here we go: Pistachio, coconut lime, Biscoff speculoos cookie, blueberry, apple crumble, white chocolate raspberry, gingerbread, cinnamon roll, tiramisu, cherry, Boston cream pie, lemon meringue, orange

Method 1. Chop onion into rings. 2. Combine all ingredients. 3. Whisk together all dressing ingredients until sugar is dissolved (whichever dressing you choose). 4. Toss ingredients with dressing and serve.

Strawberry Cheesecake - Big River Baking Co. / Bumble Pastry Co.

Ingredients Crust 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs ¼ cup white sugar ⅓ cup melted butter Cheesecake Batter Four 8 oz. packages premium cream cheese, at room temperature 1 cup brown sugar ¼ cup granulated sugar ½ cup sour cream 4 large eggs, at room temperature 1 Tbsp real vanilla extract ½ tsp salt Strawberry Sauce 2 cups of Taylor Farms strawberries; washed, cut and hulled ⅓ cup granulated sugar ½ tsp real vanilla extract Pinch of salt 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 Tbsp cornstarch 2 Tbsp water

Method Crust 1. Prepare a nine-inch spring-form pan with parchment paper and spray well with cooking oil. 2. Preheat the oven to 300° F. 3. In a large bowl, mix crumbs and sugar, then add melted butter, mixing well until all crumbs are saturated. 4. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan. 5. Bake for 10 minutes, remove and cool. Cheesecake Batter 1. Fill a baking pan with water and place on the bottom rack of 300° F oven.

60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Strawberry cheesecake, made using Taylor Farms’ berries, is just one flavour of many that Janette MacNaughtan of Bumble Pastry Co. has created for Big River Baking Co. 2. Set up mixer with paddle attachment and set to low. 3. In a large mixing bowl, mix softened cream cheese until smooth, work up to high speed. 4. Once smoothed, scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl. 5. Add both white and brown sugar, mix until smooth, scraping down the bowl and making sure to reach the bottom. 6. Add sour cream and mix again until smooth, scraping bowl again (this helps prevent and remove lumps). 7. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well in between. 8. Scrape down the bowl, then add vanilla salt and mix again on low speed. 9. Top graham crust in its pan with cheesecake mixture. 10. Place cheesecake in the oven on the middle rack above the water-filled baking pan. 11. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the middle of the cake is set but still slightly jiggly. 12. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door cracked for another 45 minutes, roughly.

13. Remove from oven and cool. 14. Once cooled, refrigerate cheesecake for a minimum of two hours or overnight. Strawberry Sauce 1. Place strawberries in pot over medium heat and add sugar, vanilla, salt and lemon juice, stirring frequently. 2. In the meantime, mix cornstarch and water together to create a slurry and set aside. 3. Once strawberry mixture is boiling, add cornstarch slurry and stir constantly until thickened. 4. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cooled, transfer to a sealable container and refrigerate. Once cheesecake and strawberry sauce have both cooled, top cheesecake with strawberry sauce, garnish with some whipped cream if desired, and enjoy!

Baker's Tip To make it extra special, try adding sparkling wine to the strawberries when making the sauce!

creamsicle, maple whisky, orange chocolate with pomegranate, hot chocolate, pumpkin (akin to pumpkin pie) and strawberry champagne (to which MacNaughtan added edible glitter for a recent gala). Future plans include maple bacon, strawberry rhubarb and peach bourbon. It almost goes without saying that Big River customers wonder each week what the cheesecake flavour will be. How to make great cheesecake? “Good quality ingredients, ultimately,”

Goat Cheese Croquette with Strawberry Compote - Matt Mayo

Ingredients Compote 1 pint fresh strawberries 2 Tbsp white sugar 1 Tbsp kosher salt 1 tsp neutral-flavoured oil such as vegetable or canola ¼ cup balsamic vinegar ½ tsp smoked paprika 1 small shallot, brunoise (chopped very finely; not so small that there isn’t any crunch) 2 or 3 dashes Tabasco sauce (to taste)

MacNaughtan recommends. “Premium cream cheese and sour cream with real ingredients; we use one that’s just milk and culture. And lots of love.” “Janette puts lots of love into everything,” Dix enthuses. The result is the unapologetic and addictive flavour-wrestle of sweet versus sour on a backdrop of creamy richness and nutty crunchiness that really good cheesecake has. Throw on this lemonzinged sauce with some day-neutrals and

you have a winner. Bartlett Lodge sous-chef Matt Mayo was born in Mississauga, and like many GTA denizens, visited Muskoka as a youngster. After a high-school co-op placement at age 17 with The Crooked Cue in Port Credit, he decided he loved cooking – “the atmosphere, the people” – and studied it at George Brown College, then went on to work at various restaurants in Toronto and Montreal. How did such a city boy end up in a kitchen in the vast silence of

Goat Cheese Croquette 250 grams goat cheese, crumbled 1 egg, beaten, for croquette mix 1 egg, beaten, for breading All purpose flour for breading Fine breadcrumbs for breading

sweat the shallots on low-medium heat until translucent (about two minutes). 3. Add all other ingredients and simmer for about 20 minutes (until a little syrupy). 4. Adjust salt and sugar to taste. Let the compote sit overnight.

Method Compote 1. Cut strawberries into bite-sized pieces, cover them in salt and sugar and allow to macerate for two hours. 2. In a pan, add small amount of oil and

Goat Cheese Croquette 1. Preheat at least 2 inches of neutral oil to 375° F (use a thermometer). 2. Carefully fold egg into cheese. Form the cheese mixture into a half-inch diameter log or roulade and cut into one-inch pieces. 3. Coat them in all-purpose flour, then wash them in beaten egg, then coat them in fine breadcrumbs. 4. Deep-fry for 2-3 minutes until they are floating and golden brown.

Presentation Tear up one sprig of basil or other fresh herb. Place croquettes on warm compote and garnish with sprinkled herb leaves.

Sous-Chef ’s Tips • Letting the compote sit overnight lets all the flavours marry. • The recipe would work with basil goat cheese. • In the deep-fry process, the croquettes “will go down then come back up again.”

Wine Pairing Matt Mayo’s savoury strawberry recipe crafted just for Unique Muskoka blends the sweetness of strawberries with savoury goat cheese and herbs.

Per executive chef Huff: "A Riesling. White wine."

July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61

DIRECTORY YOUR GUIDE TO SERVICES AND RESOURCES

JOHNSON LOG HOME RESTORATIONS “Day-neutral” strawberries allow Taylor Farms of Muskoka to grow berries well into the year. These berries cannot distinguish the time of day, so they produce fruit once the plant is large enough and continue to produce until the frost comes in the fall. Algonquin Park? COVID-19, of course. “I was trying to work,” Mayo recounts. “On my third try at getting a job, my first shift was when Doug Ford announced the new restrictions, in 2021. I threw in the towel and figured I had to get out of there.” A friend who worked at another eatery in Algonquin told him that because Algonquin was in a “bubble,” the restrictions were lighter and he’d have some job security. A dinner in Bartlett’s rarified, rustic, awayfrom-the-world atmosphere impressed him and he has now worked there for three summers, wintering in the city. “Cooking is an intersection between artisanship and craftsman, because food is art and you can do a lot of beautiful things, to express yourself, but you also have to be able to make things every day,” says Mayo. “It’s not like fine art, because everyone has an opinion – Was it good? Was it tasty? Did you enjoy it?” Challenged to create a savoury strawberry dish, he turned first to a book that no chef has mentioned before but which every reader of this column should be aware of:

62 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

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The Flavour Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg. It’s basically a directory of what flavours are and aren’t compatible. “The book says that with strawberries there’s just one incompatible ingredient,” says Mayo. “Salt.” So how to do a savoury dish? It took him a week to figure it out. His thought process was as follows. “All cheese is good with strawberries,” he explains. “Goat cheese was obvious as it’s more of a savoury cheese than others. I looked through and found some flavours I thought would be nice with it, landed on balsamic. For a little heat… just a bit of Tabasco.” Which, Mayo says, isn’t in the book as a flavour compatible with strawberries. Smoked paprika probably isn’t either. “Strawberries are very soft, so you want something crunchy for balance in textures. I thought of fried cheese, goat cheese croquette and that gave me an idea of where I was going to go. Thinking of colours: a little basil. It plays nicely with strawberries and plays nicely with cheese.” And then he did put salt in it, contrary to The Flavour Bible. This dish is harder to describe than most. The croquette is creamy and delicate and slightly tangy inside its crunchy coating, that has a soupçon of breadiness. A forkful combined with a basil leaf is out of this world. The compote is a complex flavour cocktail, and just as your tastebuds have decided savoury, they’ll hit a strawberry and wham – sweetness! The heat is variable and relatively mild; you could increase the Tabasco if you want more heat. The overall effect is awesome. Mayo suggests different herbs and each one would give this dish an entirely different character. Mint would accentuate its sweetness, dill would highlight its tanginess, parsley would emphasize tanginess, too, but also the forbidden saltiness. What would it be like with rosemary? Oregano? Sage? Tarragon? Only one way to find out! Created especially for Unique Muskoka, this dish will debut this summer on the Bartlett Lodge menu, executive chef Rob Huff shares, as an appetizer. The Lodge menu is changed daily. If you’re lucky, it’ll be there when you are.

July 2025 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63

Muskoka Moments The Landscape That Shaped Me Muskoka is stitched into the fabric of my being. My story begins here, long before I ever arrived. My parents moved to Bracebridge in 1969 to begin their teaching careers at BMLSS. Muskoka was their chosen home, and it quickly became the backdrop of everything that mattered to our family. My father would go on to head the science department and my mother specialized in science, physical education and student services. In 1973, my dad built our family home on a quiet street where neighbours knew your name and kids roamed unsupervised, having true “wild-hoods” – learning to ride bikes before our feet fully touched the pedals and disappearing into the forest until the streetlights flickered on. Our imaginations flourished in the natural world. The woods at our fingertips became magical kingdoms. We skated on backyard ponds, cross-country skied out our back doors under falling snow and laid in fields watching the stars blink on one by one. This was more than a childhood – it was an awakening to beauty, stillness and wonder. After high school, I left, as many of us did – for school, for work, for adventure in the wide, wonderful world. I stood on mountaintops, swam in foreign seas, wandered cities that never slept. But no matter how far I roamed, Muskoka always felt like home. It holds a kind of belonging you can feel in your bones. Today, I live just a few doors down from my family home, raising my daughter on the same soil that held my childhood dreams. There’s something sacred about growing up here – the way winter wraps the world in silence and summer wakes it with loon calls and lake breezes. The forest is never far and neither is a friend. My father was a scientist, a builder and an environmentalist. I remember tagging

64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2025

Photograph: Scott Turnbull

Article by Kim Dickinson

monarch butterflies together in our backyard, tracking their journey to Mexico. I spent my summers exploring provincial parks on family backcountry camping trips. My parents taught me that to love a place is to protect it. That ethos lives on in me. Muskoka’s landscape is iconic – rolling granite, towering pines and over 1,600 lakes. Within minutes, we can hike, paddle, ski, or simply sit by the water and breathe. This is a lifestyle people dream about – and we are lucky enough to live it. Muskoka is also a place of resilience and creativity. Many of my lifelong friends now live here too – raising families, running businesses, figuring out how to carve meaningful lives in a place that speaks to the soul. We’re self-employed, resourceful and rooted. As an adult, I’ve come to appreciate Muskoka even more. It inspires a kind of entrepreneurial spirit – a quiet determination born from nature and necessity. Living here isn’t always easy. Jobs can be seasonal, winters

long. But the rewards are real: safety, beauty, community and space to grow. We’re close enough to the city to stay connected, yet far enough to truly exhale. Living here also allows me to give back – to contribute to the place that gave me so much. Whether it’s volunteering, supporting grassroots programs or simply raising my family in the same landscape that shaped me, staying in Muskoka feels like both a privilege and a promise. Muskoka has grown – new infrastructure, new families planting roots – but its heart remains unchanged. The forests still breathe, the lakes still mirror the sky and community still means something. You feel it in a wave from a passing truck, in a neighbour who stops to help, in the quiet way people show up for each other. Muskoka teaches you how to be still and how to play. It gives you space to become who you are. Here, nature isn’t a backdrop – it’s a central character in your story. There’s a quiet strength in choosing to stay rooted while the world rushes by. For me, Muskoka isn’t just where I live – it’s who I am. It shaped me, steadied me and welcomed me home with open arms. It’s where my past and present live side by side, where my daughter runs barefoot on the same earth that once knew me as a child. This is my place. And I love it with every season of my life.

Kim Dickinson is a licensed realtor and accredited appraiser serving Muskoka. A member of OREA, CREA, and AIC, she offers expert guidance in property valuation and sales. Her international experience broadens her perspective, while her deep connection to Muskoka ensures a dedicated, locally informed approach.