AUGUST 2017
SISTER ART a shared passion Iconic Loon
faces new threat
water research makes a difference
Learning Whitewater Wisdom THE ART of PADDLING
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LAKE MUSKOKA — Beaumaris Privacy — furnished 3 bdrm. Redesigned and renovated cottage with newer addition — dock and boathouse has 3 slips and 650 sq.ft. of accomm. above — S. exp., long views with spacious decks — this spectacular private property can be enjoyed all year Sandy Cornell* $2,795,000
DRAPER AND ANSELMI LAKES – Tranquility and beauty abound at this privately owned sanctuary. 3 – 100 acre parcels which included 2 undisturbed pristine lakes — magnificent shoreline, abundant wild life — year round home — heart of vacationland — nestled between lakes Rosseau and Joseph — close to all amenities. Richard Wallace** and Adam Wallace** $1,350,000 LAKE ROSSEAU — 908’ frontage with long views, sand bottom and 4 bedroom cottage. 2 slip boathouse with great access. Adam Wallace** $1,995,000 PRIME FOR RE-DEVELOPMENT
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Richard Wallace Real Estate Limited, Brokerage ***Broker of Record **Broker *Sales Representative
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August 2017
...telling the Muskoka story [42] [48]
34
Sister Art – A Shared Passion [19]
By Dale Peacock Sisters Jane and Karen Gray share a passion for the outdoors. As artists, they have chosen very different mediums to express the inspiration they receive from the natural world.
42
Learning Whitewater Wisdom
Features 19
The Art of Paddling
By Kristi Koruna Artist Tom Thomson found peace and solitude while canoeing on the lakes of northern Ontario. Now, a paddle is the focus of a contest to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Tom Thomson’s death.
By Carmen Kuntz Being confident in whitewater can open the potential for greater exploration, freedom and fun from the seat of a kayak.
46
Iconic Loon Faces a New Threat
By Doug Smith The haunting call of the loon, echoing across Muskoka’s lakes, is being replaced by the honking chatter of the Canada goose.
25
Research that Makes a Difference
By Meghan Smith The holistic approach employed by the Dorset Environmental Science Centre monitors the entire ecosystem, researching the stressors on watersheds. [46]
2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
THIS IS MUSKOKA.
FRESH AIR . COLDWELL BANKER MUSKOKA, BROKERAGE 101 MAPLE STREET • PORT CARLING 705.765.1212 • CBMUSKOKA.COM
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4 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
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AUGUST 2017
Departments 11
Muskoka Calendar
The schedule of events has not slowed in August and includes everything from garden tours and antique boat shows to beer festivals, fireworks, art shows, road races and more.
60
What's Happened
Renewing connections between Muskoka and Norway, improving shoreline and lake health, a retrospective Lake of Bays photo gallery and lighting Bracebridge Falls are updated.
63
Cottage Country Cuisine
The dining rooms aboard the RMS Segwun and Wenonah II recall a bygone era with wood and brass polished to a piano finish, and offer a dinner with an exceptional view.
72
Living in Muskoka
Elizabeth Mason, who has a palpable affection for Muskoka, is a remarkable woman who has made an equally remarkable commitment to the Muskoka Conservancy.
SISTER ART a shared passion
[52] Iconic Loon
faces new threat
Features 52
Riding a new Muskoka wave
By Sandy Lockhart A motorized surfboard, developed by a Gravenhurst-based inventor, is attracting attention in Muskoka and beyond as a new way to experience the waves.
56
When walking was not a “workout routine”
By J. Patrick Boyer When Muskoka was first settled, it was routine for children to trudge miles to school and for men or women to hike to Orillia for mail, hardware items and basic foodstuffs.
water research makes a difference
Learning Whitewater Wisdom THE ART of PADDLING
Our Cover
Photograph by Kelly Holinshead Sisters Karen and Jane Gray share a passion for the outdoors as a muse for their art.
Opinion 9
Muskoka Insights By Don Smith
80
Muskoka Moments By Gord Durnan
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5
KNOWLES PLUMBING Muskoka’s Bath & Plumbing Centre
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Muskoka Insights who have studied our lakes from this remote facility, local politicians such as the late Stan Darling would not have been able to champion the need for international agreements that limited the causes of acid rain. Individuals, taking their own action or working collectively with others who share a common concern, are doing their best to ensure future generations will be able to enjoy the Muskoka they know and love. One such individual who is making a difference is lifelong cottager Elizabeth Mason. The longtime supporter of the Muskoka Conservancy has made an important and substantial statement by gifting her beloved Lake Joseph retreat to this organization. While not all can produce policychanging science or provide gifts that will ensure the conservation of land for future generations, each of us can make a difference in our own way with the choices we make. To learn more about the Dorset Environmental Science Centre and Elizabeth Mason, turn to articles in this issue of Unique Muskoka. There’s much more in this issue of Unique Muskoka that you need to read. The iconic call of the loon is being heard less often and stressors, both natural and human, are having an impact. If you’re creative or appreciate fine art, you’ll be interested in an upcoming paddle art contest and the work of two talented Huntsville sisters. There are also many things to do from learning how to kayak to enjoying a dinner on the “big boats” that ply Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph. And, don’t overlook the extensive Muskoka Calendar for a quick read of the many events offered throughout Muskoka. Photograph: Susan Smith
When it comes to thinking of the future of Muskoka, most would point to the preservation of the environment as topping their list of concerns. What would Muskoka be without its life-giving watershed? Would we attract nearly as many visitors if our rocky terrain was barren of the lush forests that are home to wildlife? Without the solitude of open spaces, would we have the same opportunities to put our minds on pause and refresh our bodies? History has taught us the environment is both fragile and resilient – perspectives one might think are in total contradiction. There was a day, when the district was first settled, that the Muskoka environment did not receive the respect it deserved. Early photos show a landscape that was clear cut. Our waterways were often the easiest way to dispose of unwanted toxins. Water was polluted, fish died, terrain was damaged. In later years, airborne contaminants from neighboring jurisdictions threatened the life of our lakes through acid rain. However, we can learn from our past. Despite its ignoble start and the more recently documented threats, Muskoka has demonstrated an ability to regenerate. That doesn’t mean we should accept the rebound of our environment’s good health as part of a recurring cycle. Too often, the interim pain and long-term consequences are not worth any short-term gain that comes from ignoring the fragility of our environment. In Muskoka, we are fortunate to have a wide range of organizations dedicated to ensuring the district’s good health and avoiding the mistakes of the past. Government agencies at all levels are constantly reviewing and updating policies and regulations that are aimed at preserving Muskoka. We can be justifiably proud of the role of the Dorset Environmental Science Centre. Without the research and data compiled by the gifted team of scientists and technicians
Happy reading.
O pen
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Muskoka Calendar
Photograph: Courtesy of Jon Partridge
Every town and hamlet in Muskoka pulled out all the stops for Canada Day fireworks shows honouring the country’s 150th birthday, but Gravenhurst still has enough money left in its “things that go ‘boom’ in the night” budget for a Civic Holiday show that will be worth seeing. It happens at the Muskoka Wharf and will be accessible by car, boat, bike or foot, on Saturday, Aug. 5. The spectacular fun begins at dark. gravenhurst.ca
If you enjoy a garden stroll and appreciate the opportunity to leisurely browse artwork, the Artful Garden lets you do both.
theartfulgarden.ca
Civic Holiday weekend in Muskoka kicks off with Bracebridge Midnight Madness, a longtime tradition that happens on the
downtownbracebridge.com
People who love both classic cars and classic boats will be in their element at this dual-purpose show, happening 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5 at Rosseau Waterfront Park. The cars, which will be polished to perfection, have style you just don’t see any more, and the timeless boats serve as a reminder of Muskoka’s boating history, as many were designed and crafted right here. As a special bonus this year, Sunset
“People-powered water activities” is what the Make a Splash Waterfest is all about. The sixth annual edition of this event happens at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst on Civic Holiday Saturday, Aug. 5, and features non-motorized aquatic fun: swim races, sandcastle building, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, rowing and much, much more. It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rosseau Waterfront Park will be the place to be on Saturday, Admission is free. gravenhurstchamber.com
August 5 to see antique cars and boats.
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11
Photograph: Courtesy of John McAllister
Created on the Bracebridge property of potter Jon Partridge and his gardener extraordinaire wife Suzann, the Artful Garden is an outdoor gallery that weaves works by more than 40 artists in with spectacular horticulture to create a fantasy-land of beauty and inspiration. You’ll walk among hundreds of handmade pieces, including sculpture, wall hangings, bird feeders, jewelry, iron work, stone carvings and much more, displayed amongst the flowers in the peak of their glory. This year’s annual exhibition, now in its 20th season, began on July 22 and ends on Aug. 12. Drop by between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.
evening of Friday, Aug. 4, on Manitoba Street, running from 6 to exactly 11:59 p.m. As well as mega-bargains from friendly downtown retailers, there’ll be live music and fun for the little ones at Memorial Park Kids Zone.
dorsetcanada.com
A long-cherished tradition in the town of Gravenhurst continues with the two-day Celebrate Gravenhurst Street Festival and Sidewalk Sale on Friday, Aug. 11 and Saturday, Aug. 12. Enjoy Over 30 Ontario craft brewers will be featured at the Ninth Annual Session Muskoka Craft Beer Festival. entertainment, great deals from local There’ll be live music, food and lots of fun. merchants and fun activities for the kids. Cruises will bring the Idyllwood and Peerless Peninsula Recreation Centre in Minett, the It promises to be a good time for the entire II. Be sure to bring sunglasses to shade your event offers three options: the GMP Magical family. You’ll find it along Muskoka Road Muskoka Kids 1K Run, the Colliers 5K Fun South in historic downtown Gravenhurst. eyes from the gleam off these painstakinglyRun/Walk and the classic 10K, a course the shined beauties. gravenhurstbia.com organizers describe as “perfect for runners facebook.com/rosseauclassiccruise who like hills!” muskokarocks.ca
If you appreciate a good brew, mark your calendar for the Ninth Annual Session Muskoka Craft Beer Festival, which takes place on Saturday, Aug. 5 at Annie Williams Memorial Park in Bracebridge. It will feature beers from more than 30 Ontario craft breweries, as well as all-Ontario wine, cider and spirits, and food from local eateries. Live musical performers include The Human Rights and the Tragically Hip tribute band, Practically Hip. Watch or, if you dare, compete in the Beer Olympics. Last year, more than 4,000 people had a great time at this festival.
Happening on Civil Holiday Sunday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Dorset Arts, Crafts & Antiques Show features a wide variety of handmade items, as well as antiques and collectibles from artists, craftspeople and antique dealers in the area. The Dorset Lions Club won’t let you go hungry, offering barbecued goodies and a
Love Fest, hosted by Chetolah Pottery Studio and The Open Space, takes place on Saturday, Aug. 12 on West Harvey Ave. in Dorset. Billed as “a one-day street festival of artists, vendors, food, drink, live music, families and fun – all in the name of love,” it originally started with a wedding reception that was so much fun that it became an annual event open to the public. Performers include Theatre Arcturus, Robyn Leigh of Muskoka Belly Dance, Sean
sessionmuskoka.ca
Camp Oochigeas in Muskoka is a very special place that gives youngsters battling cancer a summer camp experience. A well-equipped clinic onsite enables them to continue their treatments while experiencing all that summer in Muskoka has to offer. The Muskoka Rocks Road Race happening on Sunday, Aug. 6, supports this worthy cause. Starting and finishing at the
12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Photograph: Courtesy of Lynn Keane
Photograph: Scott Turnbull, courtesy of Session Muskoka
bake sale. It all happens at the Dorset Parkette on the shore of Little Trading Bay on Lake of Bays, on Hwy 35 between Main Street and the bridge.
Muskoka Rocks Road Race is a noteworthy event that raises funds to support Camp Oochigeas.
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the Lodge Look–our take on a traditional classic. Or come by and see our summer pop-up shop, Veranda Outdoors, at 10 Manitoba Street. And don’t forget about our Outlet Store with a large selection of furniture, gifts and accessories at 40-75% off regular price. Because at Veranda you can live beautifully at affordable prices.
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14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Katherine Craine, Executive Director 4-100 Frank Miller Drive Huntsville, ON P1H 1H7 705-789-2311, ext. 2492
Cotton, Christina Hutt, Barry “Bazza” Hayward and “One Drum” Gillian Thomas leading a drum circle, and the Stan Russell & Stewart Elliot Jazz Ensemble. Vendors include top-of-the-line artisans, and beverages are provided by Muskoka Brewery and other fine establishments. Love Fest runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and admission is by donation. lovefestdorset.ca
Led by Richard and Marlene Robinson, the Baysville Arts and Crafts Festival started out in 1987 with eight vendors gathering in a small park to sell their handmade items. This year, the event will celebrate its 31st season with more than 70 artisans participating. They will be offering fashion accessories, fibre art, bath and beauty items, clothing, stone, glass, pottery, wood products, gourmet foods, jewelry, metal art, accessories, home decor, painting, drawing and mixed-media works over on Saturday, Aug. 12 and Sunday, Aug. 13. The event takes place in Gristmill Park and Robertson Parkette in Baysville, running 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. baysvilleriverfront.ca
The Muskoka Lakes Museum will again be holding “Artifact or Fiction,” its annual gala fundraiser, on Tuesday, Aug. 15 at the Port Carling Community Centre. Running from 5 to 8 p.m., the event features a buffet dinner with scrumptious salads and delectable desserts. mlmuseum.com
The 25th annual Dockside Festival of the Arts is coming up in August, bringing artists, craftspeople and family fun to the Special Events Field at the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst. It runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18 and Saturday, Aug. 19, and
Since 1949
Photograph: Courtesy of ONtour
106 Manitoba Street Bracebridge, ON
With you over the generations
Huntsville will be one of 23 locations across Ontario hosting the ONtour concert series as part of Canada 150 celebrations including feature artists such as Tyler Shaw. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug 20. This juried show features more than 100 artists and craftspeople from all over Canada, offering accessories, clothing, fine art, furniture, garden items, gourmet food, jewelry, photography, pottery, woodworking, sculpture, skin and bath items, textiles and toys and other children’s items. The full list of exhibitors can be found on the Dockside Festival of the Arts website. The festival will celebrate its quartercentury with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. on the Sunday and the first 50 people through the gates will receive great prizes. There will also be hot air balloon rides, live music by Sean Cotton and more at the Sawdust City Brewing Co., plus educational, yet fun, activities for kids in the Kid Zone. docksidefestival.com
8 Main Street West Huntsville, ON
Since 19 48
There is no admission to attend. A list of performers has yet to be released. Check the ONtour website for updates. Ontario.ca/ONtour
On Saturday, Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Huntsville closes Main Street to pedestrians for the annual Summer Sidewalk Adventure. It’s a shopping extravaganza, with bargains galore from more than 100 downtown shops and services. There will also be live music, dance performances by JJ’s Dance Studio and the Muskoka Dance Academy, bouncy castles and other fun for kids and grownups alike. The closure will extend from Centre Street to Brunel Road.
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As a part of Ontario’s celebration of being part of Confederation for 150 years, 23 municipalities across the province were selected to enjoy free live concerts courtesy of the ONtour concert series. Featuring some 50 Ontario musical acts, the series kicked off June 25 at Alderville First Nation and ends Sept. 17 in Petawawa. One of the lucky towns on the tour is Huntsville, which will host the concert series on Wednesday, Aug. 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Rivermill Park.
Maybe it’s something in the water or about the land, but a large number of artists and craftspeople live and work on or near Limberlost Road, just east of Huntsville, off Highway 60. Years ago, they decided to start their own local studio tour, and the rest is history. This year’s Artists of the Limberlost studio
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August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15
tour takes place on Saturday, Aug. 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20 and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. The tour includes seven studios, all of which host at least one guest artist, featuring the work of 20 artists and artisans.
The Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge will highlight the work of Bracebridge wildlife photographer Colin The work of Muskoka-based wildlife photographer Colin Erricson will be featured at the Chapel Gallery. Erricson, kicking off with a public reception on Saturday, Aug. 19 and moments in time, enabling viewers to see crunch of snow as a moose lumbers through running until Friday, Sept. 8. the intricate patterns within an ancient an icy forest. “I feel privileged to share their “I strive to tell visual stories using the granite boulder where a heron ruffles his home and a sincere obligation to respect the colours and textures within the landscape,” feathers to dry, feel the texture of pine environment in which they live,” he says. Erricson explains. This sensibility captures needles under the feet of a fox, or hear the muskokaartsandcrafts.com
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16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Photograph: Courtesy of Colin Erricson
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Polished paint and gleaming mahogany will be the focal point in Baysville on Sunday, Aug. 20 during the Lake of Bays Antique and Classic Boat & Car Show. From noon to 4 p.m., classic car and antique boat enthusiasts will enjoy a feast for the eyes as these beauties line up on display along the riverfront docks and streets of Baysville. There will also be live music and barbecued goodies available. Once again, the event will welcome the SS Bigwin, which transported the cottagers of Lake of Bays in the early 20th century before it was later left to decay. Carefully restored through a community effort, tours of the ship now showcase her beautifully-shined exterior and interior. explorersedge.ca
The first annual Muskoka Craft Beerfest comes to the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst on Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26. It will feature Muskoka’s craft breweries, as well as others from across Canada offering samples of hundreds of beers. There will also be wines and cider, too, as well as local food and live music. Admission gets you a collectible sampling cup and sampling tokens. This celebration of suds runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Friday and noon to 8 p.m. on the Saturday. muskokacraftbeerfest.com
Gravenhurst Opera House Peter’s Players (Gravenhurst) Algonquin Theatre (Huntsville) Rene Caisse Theatre (Bracebridge) The Kee to Bala Huntsville Festival of the Arts Gull Lake Rotary Park – Music on the Barge Muskoka Chautauqua
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 17
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THE ART OF PADDLING
Article by Kristi Koruna / Photography by Heather Douglas s you head out of the cities and into Muskoka, the forests seem to sprawl endlessly, skies open wide to embrace us and the lakes and rivers run wild with possibility. One cannot ignore the notion to get out and explore the region, to become a part of it and be inspired by its secrets and its beauty. But to do so, you may require some outdoor equipment. One of the integral necessities is a paddle. Now, a paddle is the focus
Above: Some of early entries in Tom Thomson Paddle Art Contest. Below: Algonquin Park campers grab their paddle blanks to enter the contest. Left: Paddle grip with maple leaf carved by Don MacKenzie.
in Algonquin Outfitters latest contest to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tom Thomson’s death and Canada’s 150th birthday. Tom Thomson was born in Claremont, Ontario and grew up in Leith, near Owen Sound. He started his working life based in Toronto as a commercial artist working mainly in black and white sketches for print advertising. He was an expert canoeist and an avid outdoorsman and picked up work during the summer
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19
months as a guide in Algonquin Provincial Park. This allowed him the time and freedom to focus on his subjects and whatever captivated him. He would often disappear for days to paint, in all weather conditions. Thomson found peace and solitude on the lakes and in the forests of northern Ontario. Many of his greatest works were created at or near Canoe Lake on the west side of the park. He was an inspiration for many other artists, including the early members of the Group of Seven. These Canadian art pioneers were, at the time, finding new methods to portray the vast beauty of the Canadian wilderness while battling a skeptical public. On July 8, 1917, Thomson set off canoeing and disappeared on Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park. His body was recovered eight days later, however his paddle is still missing. Randy Mitson, marketing director for Algonquin Outfitters, explains the paddle art contest was launched over a year ago at the Reel Paddling Film Festival, an international film tour presenting the world’s best paddling Janine Marson of Huntsville extensively researched lifestyle films of the year. Tom Thomson before designing her entry. “At the time, we were hoping to get at
least 100 paddles back to include in the auction to raise money for two unique charities,” says Mitson. Currently, there are over 700 paddles out now being transformed into works of art. “There are two types of paddles, an unfinished paddle blank, or a rough paddle blank that is thicker and better for carving,” he says. “Anyone can join in and create your own personal paddle. Let me tell you that there are indeed some bold and creative artworks. Paddles are still in the process of being painted, carved, wood burnt and produced in various other mediums.” All paddles must be entered by Aug. 31. The contest culminates with an online auction and live event at the Algonquin Theatre on Sept. 29. It’s free to attend to view some of the exceptional and outstanding conceptions. There will also be some fabulous prizes from a variety of sponsors. There are two artists not looking for a win. Janine Marson and Don MacKenzie, both of Huntsville, simply entered the contest to honour Tom Thomson and to showcase their passion for the landscape and love of art.
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Drawing is Marson’s first passion but over the years, she has dabbed her brush in acrylics and a crossover technique with pastels. Most recently she has returned to oils. “Tom Thomson had a whole way of dealing with places and people,” says Marson. “He wasn’t a complicated guy. Other artists respected him for that; they respected his truths and honesty, especially when he was doing his work. They may have had the training but they didn’t have the eye he did.” Marson’s paddle is beautifully unique and every detail is quite symbolic. She explains that she wanted to create something special. “More of a totem than a paddle,” she says. “I decided that I should paint a story that honoured Tom Thomson, his life and his art.” After extensive research, Marson felt like she began to understand the legend behind the artwork. “I felt like I was beginning to understand what had made him tick,” she says. “He was after the truth of what he saw and painted, and it was this pursuit of honesty and childlike wonder that made me want to embark on my own journey of discovery.”
Huntsville manager of Arts, Culture & Heritage Teri Souter is among those contributing to the Tom Thomson Paddle Art Contest. Don MacKenzie started exploring the world of art as a young child doing portraiture but was eventually captivated by carving, first in soapstone and then in basswood and tupelo. Born and raised in New Liskeard,
Ontario, he grew to be a keen outdoorsman along the shores of North Temiskaming. Birds, colourful fall leaves and iridescent feathers became of particular interest and a focus in his artwork. His choice for the
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acKenzie am M ourtesy of P
on ine Mars
C Photograph:
n esy of Ja ph: Court
Left: The raised eagle feather represents the strength and importance of the feather, says designer Don MacKenzie. Right: Janine Marson wanted to honour Tom Thomson, his life and his art with her entry.
Photogra
22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
paddle art project was to carve down the paddle around the centrepiece. MacKenzie explains that the process of creating his paddle submission was a very comprehensive and lengthy one. He began by drawing a full-size eagle wing feather on the blade of the paddle and a sugar maple leaf on the hand grip of the paddle. “I chose to create the eagle feather because I felt this not only fit the blade of the paddle, but represents the strength and importance of the feather,” MacKenzie says. “A paddle was the strength that moved the canoe and both the paddle and the feather are symbolic of time and place.” The next step, being the longest to complete, was to remove the wood from around the edge of the drawn feather to leave only the raised feather remaining. The entire paddle was then sanded and barbs of the feather burned into the wood. It was then sealed and painted. “Once the leaf was dry, I burned ‘bug bites’ and the rest of the ‘decay,’” he explains. These elements are burned into the sugar maple leaf to make it look more authentic and as it would appear in nature. The paddle then received a final sanding and was sealed with two coats of varnish. He adds, “What better way to honour the memory of Tom Thomson’s lost paddle than to recreate a paddle representing freedom and spirituality, and raise money for two very important charities?” Proceeds from the art contest will be donated to the Town of Huntsville Fund for Future Acquisition of Public Art and Oxtongue Lake for Arts and Culture, a group devoted to celebrating and highlighting the ongoing connection of art, community and the beautiful environment surrounding Oxtongue Lake. The Algonquin Outfitters Paddle Art contest is the perfect opportunity to reflect on our country, our landscape, what inspires us in our community and its natural surroundings. It reminds us of our heritage, our people and our history. Tom Thomson would no doubt be proud.
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Hidden science centre produces
RESEARCH that makes a difference Article by Meghan Smith / Photography by Tomasz Szumski
Samples collected in Muskoka lakes provide much-needed research data that is used across Ontario when studying lake health.
J
ust off Highway 117 in Lake of Bays Township is a collection of trailers containing thousands of samples, outfitted with state-of-the-art scientific instruments tabulating data that’s monitored by a collective of scientists, students and analysts. “You wouldn’t know all of this was here driving by on Highway 117,” muses
Andrew Paterson, Inland Lakes Research Scientist for the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change at the Dorset Environmental Science Centre (DESC). In the mid-1970s, the government recognized the boom of cottage development and decided to fund a centre to quantify and model the impacts of
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A member of the sampling team, student Sarah Yoshida collects specimens that will be studied at the Dorset Environmental Sciences Centre.
cottage development on ecology and lake water quality. The original research focused on a core set of lakes being monitored in the region. The research facility was established first in Vankoughnet and then moved to Paint Lake, near Dorset. The location of the centre allowed for the sampling and data to be collected from “typical” lakes in cottage country. “Being located on the Canadian Shield is also important, as the majority
of Ontario’s inland lakes lie on the Shield,” says Paterson. “The information and findings generated at DESC are transferable to thousands of lakes on the southern Canadian Shield.” While the initial reason for studying lakes in the MuskokaHaliburton region was to discover the effect of cottage development, that focus shifted in the late 1970s with the
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27
emergence of acid rain as a Through the late-1970s and major environmental issue. The 1980s, monitoring and research holistic approach employed by on the impacts of acid rain on the Dorset Environmental aquatic ecosystems continued Science Centre monitors the at the Dorset Environmental entire ecosystem, including Science Centre. Data collected the streams draining to waterand generated during this sheds, the atmosphere and the period in the centre’s history lakes. contributed to the development “The long-term monitoring of environmental regulations to program includes physical reduce sulphur dioxide emissions information about lakes, across North America. things like temperature, how “The questions we’re asking clear the lakes are. It includes have changed over time as new chemical information, what’s issues have been identified. The Dorset Environmental Sciences Centre employs university students such as being studied here in the chem Many of the questions are Janna Ormond to assist with its research work. lab. We measure all aspects of about understanding the the nutrients,” explains Paterson. “The addressing the issue of acid rain as it emerged. multiple stressors together,” says Paterson. DESC became very well known for its study Research at the Dorset Environmental “You can’t really study acid rain on its own of acid rain; the pH and alkalinity. And then Science Centre provided the clear evidence of without also studying climate change because we look at some of the biology, as well. We long-range atmospheric transport of strong climate change affects how water moves look at everything up to the fish.” The fish, acids from industrial centres. The discovery through the system. The focus since the ‘90s he says, are the focus of the Ministry of that acid rain was being transported to has very much been on understanding Natural Resources and Forestry. remote sites in central Ontario was significant multiple stressors and how they impact lakes.” Taking the entire ecosystem into account and the centre was crucial in monitoring this In the 1990s, research at the Dorset proved to be a well-suited strategy for discovery. Environmental Science Centre evolved to
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focus on the multiple and interBenthos Biomonitoring Network,” acting environmental stressors explains Chris Jones, benthic that affect lakes, including monitoring research scientist for shoreline development, pollutants, the Ontario Ministry of introductions of non-indigenous Environment and Climate Change. species and climate change. “We monitor bottom-dwelling “These things that we’re looking aquatic invertebrates, which are at in the lab, they’re not pollutants small animals that live in the per se, like PCBs or dioxins. These bottom sediments and don’t have are naturally occurring environbackbones, and they’re used as mental variables. Elements like indicators of the condition or health calcium, magnesium, sodium and of streams, lakes and wetlands,” says potassium,” says Peter Sutey, Jones. senior analytical technologist for The Dorset Environmental the Ontario Ministry of Science Centre is a laboratory with Environment and Climate Change a mission to investigate the effects at the Dorset Environmental Testing done last year at the Dorset Environmental Sciences Centre of multiple stressors, including Science Centre. “This lab deals generated 120,000 numbers that will assist in determining the health of climate change, on water quality with all low-level (elements and aquatic ecosystems. and quantity in Ontario’s inland nutrients) because we’re on the aquatic ecosystems and sustain the Canadian Shield. That’s what we’re known Shield lakes as decades of acid rain, coupled functions and services that these systems for.” with logging in some watersheds, have provide. The work at the Dorset Research and monitoring at the Dorset depleted watershed stores of calcium, with Environmental Science Centre has shown Environmental Science Centre were implications for aquatic life. that the water quality and ecology of inland instrumental in the discovery that calcium “I lead an Ontario-wide biological lakes reflect watershed geology and concentrations are declining in Precambrian monitoring program called the Ontario vegetation, but are also modified by the
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many interacting stressors. “This is an inorganic, analytical laboratory; so we don’t do microbiology or bacteria, we don’t do drinking water, we don’t do legal samples. We’re a freshwater research laboratory,” says Sutey. While the Dorset Environmental Science Centre may be somewhat hidden to the regular passerby, the long-standing history of collaborative research and partnerships at the centre, and the incredible volume of data, are well known across the country and beyond in the scientific and political world. “When I left university, I wanted to work on something that had a chance of making a difference,” says Paterson. “I think that the work that we do is very applied, so there’s a chance that the science that you generate will actually help to inform policy and make a difference in the province.” Projects, and the subsequent research, are developed by the scientists at the research facility, with input and direction from policy experts and decision makers. With the establishment of the Dorset Environmental Science Centre, monitoring assisted in defining the issues with shoreline development and nutrient enrichment caused by development. The algal blooms in Lake Erie and other lakes causing concern were addressed by research at the centre. However, monitoring to address shoreline development led to the discovery of acid rain in central Ontario. Acid rain findings identified the need for new research on the long-term effects on ecosystems. Today, the long-term monitoring program studies the impact of calcium decline – a legacy effect of acid rain – in Ontario lakes. “We can monitor a certain number of lakes but we can’t possibly monitor the hundreds of thousands of lakes in this province,” says Paterson, regarding the development of the Lake Partner Program, a volunteer-based, water-quality monitoring program that provides nutrient and water clarity information for Ontario’s inland lakes. “People are very interested in understanding the status of the lakes and how their lakes have changed over time. If people are willing to sign up and willing to take the time and effort to go out and take samples, and send us the samples, then we provide the analysis and
the shipping,” says Paterson. “And then we post the results.” Partnerships built through the years have helped the Dorset Environmental Science Centre expand the scope of the research and data they can analyze. Partnerships allow the centre’s core staff, made up of scientists, technicians, database managers, IT specialists and administrative staff, to interact and collaborate with other experts. Working with conservation authorities, NGOs, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, the District of Muskoka, universities and the public allows the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to expand the expertise as well as the breadth of work it’s capable of collecting and processing. “Last year we generated 120,000 numbers, to be simplistic about it,” says Sutey. “One sample might come in from a lake and it will Lake samples, collected by inland lakes technician generate one hundred numbers; it depends Ron Ingram, will be researched at the Dorset how it was sampled. We’re quite efficient Environmental Sciences Centre. Over the last four decades, hundreds of with the way the lab works and the choice of equipment. The science that we do is very studies and more than 500 peer-reviewed crucial to delivering high quality data and papers and technical reports have been large quantities at the same time.” published using data collected at the Dorset
Environmental Science Centre, with the help of hundreds of students and scientists. The work and research conducted at the centre has made important contributions to understanding how lakes function and respond to environmental stressors, including shoreline development, acid rain, metal contamination, climate change and introductions of non-indigenous species. “Job one is to answer questions about which water bodies are in good condition and which ones are in bad condition,” says Jones. “The next job is to understand exactly what mechanisms are causing these changes in community structure. Once we know the mechanisms, we can form a response.” The Dorset Environmental Science Centre provides the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and its partners with key data and monitoring to continually assess ecosystems and factors impacting their growth and development. “In Ontario, we have published standards for water quality, but we have no published standards for biological community structure,” explains Jones. “We have studies underway now to derive these standards.”
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 31
This will provide data on invertebrates. The Dorset Environmental Science Centre provides early warning of emerging stressors impacting water quality and provides the data necessary to develop evidence-based environ-mental policies. Maintaining the long-term monitoring program allows the centre to track the effectiveness of environmental legislation and policy in Ontario. It also assists with developing and calibrating new technologies and models that can be used to measure current conditions and forecast future conditions of inland lakes. “What starts as one question, which is often the case with longterm monitoring, develops into new, Chris Jones leads a program monitoring bottom-dwelling emerging questions,” says Paterson. aquatic invertebrates that are used as indicators of the Tackling complex environmental health of waterways. problems requires the diverse expertise and partnerships that have centre is a well-designed source of status and developed at the Dorset Environmental trend information for monitoring and Science Centre to address the current and research on inland lakes, right in the heart of emerging issues in aquatic ecosystems. The cottage country.
According to Peter Sutey, testing done in the laboratory near Dorset delivers high quality data on naturally occurring environmental variables. 32 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
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Sister Art a Shared Passion
Article by Dale Peacock / Photography by Kelly Holinshead
34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Above: While painter Jane Gray and potter Karen Gray share a passion for art and the outdoors, the mediums they have chosen are as different as their personalities. ane Gray and Karen Gray are sisters, artists and friends. In art and personality, they are different in some ways and alike in others. Jane is a painter and Karen is a potter. Jane identified art as her calling early in life, while Karen took some time to get there. But both share a passion for the outdoors, whether in a canoe or skating for miles at the rare times when the lake surfaces in Algonquin Provincial Park are as smooth as glass. The striking oil on Masonite paintings are based on Jane’s lifetime of experiences in Algonquin Provincial Park. They showcase the moonlit night skies, the rocky shorelines and the seasonal reflections on the lakes. Her work is represented in the Potter’s Studio & Gallery in Huntsville, which is owned by Karen. It’s the first time Jane has had anyone represent her. Karen’s carved pottery is both functional and decorative. Using a scratching technique called sgraffito, her work interprets the flora and fauna of the Canadian Shield. Sgraffito is a dramatic way to add colour or definition to a design. Windswept pines, canoe bows, ravens, sunflowers and poppies are favourite themes.
One cherished memory the sisters share is of two back-to-back early spring canoe trips through Algonquin, complete with snow, sleet, cold winds, wet tents and paddling with mitten-covered hands. “We were certain that the bad weather of the first trip meant that the second trip would have better weather,” Jane says with a laugh. Pausing for effect she exclaims, “Not!” Since their inspiration comes from the natural world, it’s not surprising that Karen’s pottery and Jane’s paintings often complement one another. “I remember an artist friend once saying, ‘There are no original ideas. We just take cues from everything we see,’” Karen says. “Well, what I see is a lot of Jane!” she quips. “Really, I just copy everything she does.” Jane looks askance at Karen’s remark and in her reaction and their affectionate banter one can see how much they support and respect each other. Jane’s oil paintings are comprised of strong images, strong colours and contrast. She explains, “If the images seem exaggerated, it is because I felt that way about the experience.”
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35
For painter Jane Gray and potter Karen Gray, the outdoors has had a major influence on their lives and their art.
In an autobiographical to Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge, she wrote, “I hope that viewers take away a bit of the love, humour, and sense of ‘wow’ that I feel when I paint an image. It is a positive thing to share an art experience, which is based on a real-life event. Some moons and sunrises just need to be painted and shared.” Many of Karen’s pieces are in a striking black and white motif. To some she adds a whimsical touch of colour – red is a favourite – on the throat of a hummingbird or the eye of a loon. Platters are her signature pieces and are often commissioned. One stunning example has a serpentine ribbon of black, with white dots undulating around the outer rim. The centre of the platter serves up an intriguing collection of flora and fauna: a wolf howls at the moon, a raven perches on a branch, a heron wades in a marsh and a hummingbird hovers. Leaves and branches are placed to add balance and context. On another colourful platter, stylized dragonflies dance so energetically on the plate that you can almost hear the hum of their tiny, translucent wings. She creates hundreds of mugs every year, which often have a touch of whimsy. Both women have a clever sense of humour. Karen’s laughter bubbles up easily, while Jane has a subtle, wry wit. They are intelligent, strong, confident and humble; but if either one is too self-deprecating, the other immediately chimes in with a mild – often humourous – rebuttal. The sisters were born in Cochrane, Ontario, five years apart; their brother Stephen arrived between the two girls. Their father, Charles, was a canoe guide and forester and their mother, Dorothy, was a Maritime transplant and
36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
When it rained, their mom would spread out a big sheet of brown paper inside and give the kids art supplies. “I’m pretty sure that our parents saved more of Jane’s art than they did mine,” Karen teases. “I was always being asked if I was the artist. I’d answer, ‘No, the artist in the family is my sister Jane.’” Jane recounts a youthful choice that shaped her future. “In 1973 I decided that I wanted to be a painter and to live in Algonquin park. A few years later, I did a four-year fine arts program at Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in
Karen Gray’s carved pottery is both functional and decorative. a nurse. Charles enjoyed relief carving and Jane sees a lot of their father’s style in Karen’s technique with pottery. Charles also painted for a while. When he gave it up, Jane scooped up his abandoned paint box. Their father recently passed away but at 87 their mother continues to inspire them with her mental and physical agility. “This past winter, we were cross-county skiing on a railway bed,” says Jane. “Mom stood on the back of Karen’s skis, arms around her waist, and ‘skied’ along with her.” Karen smiles at the memory of calling “left, right, left, right” to keep their legs in unison. She adds, “We all giggled the whole time.” The family moved from Cochrane to Timmins, Pembroke and Lindsay, but they spent every summer at their Canoe Lake cabin in Algonquin Provincial Park. Karen reminisces, “There were sleepovers with friends on the lake and there was always a tree house to explore.” Jane adds with a smile, “I remember Mom putting old kapok life preservers on us every morning. They were intended to save us from drowning but, as a bonus, if we fell down we’d bounce back.”
38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Toronto. I worked seasonal jobs in Algonquin and did a weekly commute to OCAD, doing the course via independent study when I was living and painting in the park.” She also worked on a kibbutz in Israel and toured Europe. Between graduation in 1981 and getting married in 1996, Jane had numerous solo shows and various group shows, including one at the McMichael Gallery. She is an adventurer, whether it is sleeping under the stars in the backyard or paddling one of the great Arctic rivers. She loves long lake swims and wears a wetsuit to extend the season. And her passion for offtrail cross-country skiing keeps her at it until the snow is down to the mud and twigs. In 1997, she and her husband designed and built a home and studio just outside of Huntsville. After living in their cabin in Algonquin, it was the first time she’d had running water, TV, electricity, indoor plumbing and road access in 18 years. They continue to use their beloved park cabin
from May to November and for as many winter trips as they can. In contrast, Karen is an artistic late bloomer. After graduating with a ceramic certificate from the Haliburton School of Art and Design in 2001, she made pottery as a hobby. She sold it at local craft shows while working at Swift Canoe & Kayak, where she had been happily employed for 20 years. Her interest in pottery had been first piqued when she and some friends signed up for a few Sunday afternoon pottery classes in Kearney. The rest, as they say, is history. “Art has always been in my circle, but it was mostly me looking at it as others did it,” Karen says. As evidenced by her prodigious output, it’s easy to see that she has been on a mission to make up for lost time. Karen has been a full-time potter since 2009, when she opened a gallery in her renovated 1890s home in the hamlet of Maynooth, near Bancroft. Karen speaks warmly about the gracious welcome and support she received from that community. It was difficult to leave, but in 2016 Karen moved to Huntsville and bought a light-filled, downtown house and renovated it to serve as her home, studio and gallery. The Gray sisters feel blessed to be doing something they love, but they aren’t resting on their laurels. Jane explains, “In the past 40 years my work has gone from being Group of Seven influenced, to photo realism, to dream-like landscapes and now back to landscapes, which I feel are here to stay for awhile.” Karen’s work has changed, too. She began by making pottery that was decorated using the dip glazing process with one or two colours overlapping. In 2012, she had a leg cast on for three months, which kept her sitting for long periods. She used that time to explore sgraffito, which she now uses almost exclusively. They both claim modest future goals, which include staying healthy and happy, and continuing “to muddle through with grace,” as Jane puts it. In having a purpose and by following it with passion, curiosity and good humour, the Gray sisters are doing far better than just muddling.
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L E A R N I N G
hitewater wisdom on Muskoka’s rivers Article by Carmen Kuntz / Photography by Andy Zeltkalns
M
uskoka is known for water. Peppered with lakes and rivers, this freshwater playground is a dream for paddlers. But when Muskoka’s bigger lakes get busy with motorboats, those with a mind to put paddle to water turn to its quiet rivers; the highways used by First Nations people and explorers. While the canoe was the traditional vessel for the area, the manoeuvrability and speed acquired with two blades has turned the kayak into a cottage country essential. Depending on the season and topography,
you may encounter fast-moving water along the winding path of many Muskoka rivers. Having the skill to navigate whitewater is an invaluable asset, one that the first explorers of this region learned to master. Today, being confident in whitewater can open the potential for greater exploration, freedom and fun from the seat of a kayak. Whitewater kayaking is often associated with adrenaline, speed and big rapids, a preconception that intimidates some. Like any sport, learning to paddle whitewater is a progression – one that, when introduced
properly, can lead to a lifetime of whitewater love and enjoyment. It’s a facet of paddling the whole family can enjoy, not just the action-hungry adventurer. And with many swifts, rapids and currents along Muskoka’s river, you never know what whitewater playground awaits around the next river bend. There is a small bridge just a couple hundred metres from the small, downtown strip of Port Sydney on South Mary Lake Road. Underneath that bridge, unbeknownst to most who cross it, there is a small rapid
The waters off Port Sydney’s Indian Landing Park provide a little portage, slalom gates, deep grass, nets for kayak polo and a lovely stretch of flatwater for beginning kayakers. 42 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Photograph: Josiane Masseau, courtesy of Muskoka Kayak School
While there may still be snow on the ground and the water cold, spring is the ultimate season for Muskoka’s whitewater diehards with locations across the region becoming whitewater hot spots. that serves as a classroom for Muskoka’s first kayak-specific school. Most summer days and evenings, a handful of bright kayaks of all sizes can be seen floating under the bridge with Andy Parry in one of them. As the owner and lead instructor of Muskoka Kayak School, his mantra is simple: “Just go paddling. It’s fun and there is nothing else to it.” Parry, who opened the school just over a year ago, travels Muskoka with his cartoonadorned trailer filled to the brim with whitewater kayaks, paddles and PFDs. His mobile school makes kayaking accessible to Muskokans and introduces people to whitewater kayaking from rivers, docks and pools, but mostly from the warm, flowing water of Port Sydney’s Indian Landing Park. “It’s the perfect spot for teaching,” Parry says of the park located downstream of Mary
Lake. “It’s got so much variety; moving water, and an island to paddle around. It’s got places to explore, deep grass, a little portage, slalom gates, nets for kayak polo and a lovely stretch of flatwater.” From private one-on-one lessons, to parties, mini races and events, creativity is abundant and fun is the mission. Parry was born in Great Britain where he learned to kayak as child. He brought his love of paddling whitewater to Canada when he moved here to start a family with his wife and Muskokan, Stephanie. Trained as a physical education teacher with a degree in sports coaching, Parry’s knack for instruction comes from his professional background, but also from his role as a dad of two young paddlers. When it comes to paddling whitewater, laughter and goofing around are all part of the lesson. When Parry is in his kayak, he’s a
big kid. His ear-to-ear smile and enthusiasm for paddling are contagious. Parry’s energy creates an atmosphere where skills acquisition and learning comes about organically. From elementary school kids to seniors, when you are on the water with Parry, you don’t realize you are in a lesson. Learning new skills is disguised as exploration and games. Although his approach for teaching adults and children is technically different, the goals are the same. “I think it’s all about fun and trying to instill a love for kayaking,” Parry says. A good first experience is key, but not something Parry worries about. “With children, it’s all about getting them enthused, getting them on the water and just getting them hooked so that they love being out in a kayak. With adults, it’s all about learning and developing skills.”
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43
whitewater,” he says. And then there is the roll – another aspect of whitewater kayaking that can intimidate. Parry doesn’t focus on the roll right away. He teaches students to roll when they ask. That’s his marker – knowing when they are comfortable in a boat and ready. It’s also a strategy. “If you teach them to roll, that’s all they will end up doing. If you teach them to stay upright, that’s what they’ll do. And that’s what we want!” Learning braces and support strokes creates more confident paddlers. Parry’s love of whitewater is contagious. His relaxed attitude and focus on fun creates a sport where charging hard and running big whitewater isn’t emphasized. He’s making whitewater kayaking in Muskoka a welcoming, inclusive and fun activity for all levels. “We have to start realizing that it’s not all about big water and big rapids,” he says. ‘There is nothing on YouTube about a seven-year-old just having fun paddling about on a tiny bit of whitewater. For children, especially, they will have mega amounts of fun on the tiniest amount of whitewater.” Winters in Muskoka make paddling outdoors near-impossible, but getting in a whitewater kayak is easy. Parry is working on making kayaking an allseason sport in Muskoka, hosting weekly lessons and clinics at the Bracebridge Sportsplex and weekly kayak polo sessions at the Huntsville pool. Kayak polo is like water polo, except participants play from their kayaks. Polo By hosting weekly lessons and clinics at the Bracebridge Sportsplex , Andy Parry of Muskoka Kayak School is working is a way to learn to roll in a on making kayaking an all-season sport in Muskoka.
Photographs: Courtesy of Muskoka Kayak School
Parry focuses on getting people comfortable. Even the smallest amount of current can throw a paddler off balance or off line. But at Indian Landing, the shallow banks and warm, slow-moving water create an inviting atmosphere. Parry feels there is no need to drop people into big rapids. “It’s about taking the intimidation out of being in moving water – about making whitewater kayaking accessible to everyone and anyone who wants to get out on the water,” he says. For some, the idea of being inside the cockpit of a kayak with a spray skirt – a neoprene cover designed to keep water out of your boat – is enough to prevent even adept flatwater paddlers from getting near a whitewater kayak. That’s why Parry often leaves spray skirts on shore. “Spray skirts? Don’t bother. They don’t need it,” he says. He gives students the option but
44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
feels that skirts can contribute to fear. His lessons are designed to get kids and adults comfortable being around boats and moving water. “We play in boats; in them, around them. It all builds confidence and that builds confidence in
The lessons offered by Andy Parry of Muskoka Kayak School are designed to get children and adults comfortable being around boats and moving water. warm and safe environment. If students know they can nail their roll after flipping suddenly in a polo game, that translates into more confidence rolling in whitewater. With polo for both open involvement and a women-only program, Parry is introducing this sport to Muskoka. Spring is the ultimate season for Muskoka’s whitewater diehards, with locations across the region that become mini whitewater hot
spots. At high-water levels, Bass Rock, located just outside downtown Bracebridge, creates a small play wave. Parry’s truck can often be seen parked along the side of the road, his smile visible from shore as he surfs his kayak on the cold water. But spring paddling is not for beginners, and proper gear, safety knowledge and paddling skills are paramount. For Parry and his Muskoka Kayak School,
it’s not about the size of the whitewater, or the difficulty. It’s about being in a kayak on the water. It’s about creating confidence and a new skill set that opens the floodgates for exploration in Muskoka and the chance to further develop paddling skills in the dynamic and exciting element of whitewater. It’s about unlocking Muskoka’s rivers through whitewater paddling and welcoming more people into this two-bladed sport.
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45
Muskoka’s iconic loon
faces a new threat
Article by Doug Smith / Photography by Eleanor Kee Wellman
Right: The iconic look loon is being threatened by many stressors including the Canada goose (Above). 46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
I
f you’ve noticed you don’t see as many loons in Muskoka as you once did, you’re not mistaken. The loon population in Muskoka, and elsewhere across the country, is declining. The haunting call of the loon, echoing across Muskoka’s lakes, is being replaced by the honking chatter of the Canada goose. A 2012 report from the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, which was launched in Ontario in 1981 by Bird Studies Canada to monitor loon populations, indicated poor reproductive success with loons, particularly in eastern Canada. Leftover acid deposition from acid rain is still affecting lakes, especially smaller bodies of water. By comparison, the Canada goose population in Muskoka is flourishing. Their numbers and range have increased dramatically over the past 10 years. The proliferation of suitable habitat in the form of lawns and golf courses, with easy access to water, has all contributed to the explosion of Canada geese. While both species are found on the region’s many lakes and rivers, their dissimilar diets – loons feed mainly on small fish species, while geese graze on grass – see them use these habitats differently, except when it comes to nesting sites. Loons and geese both favour nesting sites along the shoreline, adjacent to the water. Their preference for similar nesting sites is something of a problem. Anecdotal information suggests loons may be affected by geese, which are competing for favoured nesting sites. The Loon Project in Wisconsin, a scientific study of the iconic bird, reports on their blog, “Geese and loons both prefer nesting sites safe from mammalian egg predators like raccoons and foxes. Such sites are often on islands and are limited in number. If a small island offers the only available safe nesting on a lake, goose and loon pairs are both likely to gravitate to it. The problem is not merely that loons must now compete with geese for nesting sites; geese actually get ‘first dibs.’ While both loons and geese incubate their clutches for about four weeks, geese initiate their clutches two weeks or so in advance of loons.” The discrepancy in when each species starts to nest is notable. Loons arrive in Muskoka immediately after
47 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47
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and increased as acidity the ice is off the lakes. They decreased. These patterns were can't be here before there is likely linked to acid or open water because they can temperature-related exposure to only land and take off on water. mercury and/or acid-induced Not being restricted in that reductions in food supply.” way, Canada geese arrive before Geese suffer no such the ice is out. Depending on problems. They don’t eat fish, the weather, they can but are grazers of grass, so sometimes be seen on their find the increasing urbannests when there is still snow ization of the region with its covering the ground. Their manicured lawns enticing. eggs are already hatched when They also produce more the loons are just beginning to young per year, averaging brood their egg clutches. from two to eight, while The loon’s physiology also Loons feed mainly on small fish species. With some species of fish on the decline, loons struggle to fledge two affects its movements on land. this poses another threat to loons. young. They are built for diving, with Another possible problem for loons may their feet placed well back on their body to nesting locations adds one more pressure on facilitate their aquatic prowess. As a result, top of other pressures loons are facing, such be direct competition for food with cormorants. they move awkwardly on land, being able to as the lack of fish abundance. Large black aquatic birds that also dive for The same Canadian Lakes Loon Survey only move a few feet out of the water and along the shoreline. It's similar to a penguin, report from 2012, which summarizes 32 small fish, cormorants traditionally nest and but even clumsier. Geese have no such years of citizen science data gathered from live along the shorelines of the Great Lakes, hundreds of locations across the country, including nearby Georgian Bay. But their limitations. These factors put loons at a distinct including many from Muskoka, explains numbers are increasing inland and they are disadvantage when competing for nesting these challenges. The summary reveals now a common sight on many of the larger sites, while giving geese the edge for the “patterns in the health of Canadian lakes lakes in Muskoka. Local naturalist George Bryant, who prime sites. That said, loons are extremely with respect to mercury and acid precipitation, justified by the well-established travelled widely with a nature tour company aggressive and territorial. Wildlife photographer Eleanor Kee link between the pollutants and common for many years and still spends a good deal of Wellman has been observing loons on her lake loon reproductive success. Measured as the his retirement birding, believes cormorants near Bala for many years, contributing data annual number of young produced per pair, compete for food. “I think the biggest indication of the each year to the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey. reproductive success was higher in the west “A few years, there were no loons nesting than in the east, decreased over time, was Muskoka loon decline was last year's 100on my little lake and Canada geese began higher on larger lakes than on smaller lakes, mile cruise, in which l saw only one loon but hundreds of cormorants coming in and nesting,” she from the Segwun deck,” he says, noting that she says of the 12-hour cruise. contacted Bird Studies “In previous years, we Canada and was told the would always see a few reason the geese were there loons on just a one-hour was because there were no cruise.” loons. “If the loons were The latest provincial Atlas nesting, they wouldn’t of Breeding Birds 2001allow the geese to nest. I 2005 showed an wondered what would astronomical increase in the happen after the male loon double-crested cormorant – didn’t return three summers the species found in Ontario ago. The first summer, the – in the southern and central female actively defended part of the province, the lake but was no match including Muskoka. Since for the geese on her own.” then, the species has Despite the loon’s ability to defend its territory, the Loons require nesting sites near the water’s edge. Often, Canada geese will claim these continued to increase in numbers and range. competition for prime sites as their nesting season is slightly ahead of that of loons.
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49
Can anything be done? In the states. The Canadian Lakes Loon case of cormorants, culls have Survey puts the onus on people to taken place throughout the Great help with these problems. Lakes to try to reduce their “Ultimately, local human disnumbers, although populations turbance can be minimized when are still increasing. people are sensitive to needs of With Canada geese, it has been loons. As more people move into found they can be discouraged by loon country, promoting looncreating more naturalized shorefriendly activities is increasingly lines, with a “buffer strip” of important.” vegetation meant to prevent them Well-known local naturalist Al from coming ashore to graze. Other Sinclair points out that Canada deterrents include such things as geese and cormorants are relatively wire barriers along the shoreline Nest platforms, such as the one above, can be built to assist loons in recent arrivals to Muskoka finding suitable sites to lay their eggs. and coyote cutouts placed near the compared to loons. He cites other shore. include disturbance of nesting sites due to changes, such as the introduction of the wild The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey raises boats, canoes and kayaks, personal watercraft turkey introduction and the comeback of awareness of the common loon's vulnerability, and water level changes; entanglement in merlins and the Coopers hawk. especially at nesting times. It works to discarded debris such as fishing lines and “Things are always changing in nature, educate the public about the threats facing garbage; nest predation due to attracting and often helped by the most destructive species loons, builds nest platforms, addresses local support of predators like raccoons, skunks, in history,” he says, referring to people. concerns and tracks loon chick survival and gulls; and displacement due to habitat loss. As we alter the Muskoka environment and during their first, critical summer. “Reproductive success data from the unwittingly encourage one species over another, “Human disturbance and development Canadian Lakes Loon Survey clearly show we may lose a part of the wildness we once are ongoing threats to loons,” it states. that the number of chicks that each pair associated with the region. We need to value Activities that are detrimental to loons produces each year is declining over time," it our loons while we still have them.
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Above: Aliyson De Ruyck and Surftek inventor/owner Alvin Naicker demonstrate motorized surfboards on Gull Lake, Gravenhurst. Left: De Ruyck shows the manoeuvrability of the motorized surfboards.
hile Muskoka has countless lakes, it is a challenge to find waves worthy of surfing. A Gravenhurst inventor has solved this by creating his own wave with a motorized surfboard. Not surprisingly, riders are addicted. Engineer Alvin Naicker’s Surftek surfboard is 7.5 feet long, has a 9.9 h.p. engine that offers the thrill of riding the surf – on just about any lake. “Riders don’t want to get off this,” he says. “After an hour, they still want to get back on. “It’s addictive, they love it and it gives you a great workout.”
52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Article by Sandy Lockhart / Photography by Larry Carroll
About two years of research, a year of testing and more than two years of product development, Surftek powered surfboards are taking off. Already Naicker has had much success, selling his motorized boards in the United States, Mexico, British Virgin Islands and even Dubai. He’s already had some pretty high profile customers whose names most people would easily recognize. Naicker moved to Muskoka, two years ago, to escape the city and live a bit closer to
the lakes. Earlier this summer, he and his wife Liezel Alba had their first child, son Liam, and are happy to call this area home. His Gravenhurst showroom is just minutes from Gull Lake and he’s working to move production of the boards into Gravenhurst. “Our products are mostly exported. We don’t need a big city,” he says. This summer he opened a rental site on Gull Lake in Gravenhurst. It is also a spot for potential customers to test drive the boards.
“We are attracting a lot of people to Gravenhurst,” says Naicker. This powered surfboard is based on something that was around in the 1960s. A mechanical and electrical engineer educated in South Africa, Naicker made it more efficient with a lighter and smaller engine – a four-stroke so it is more environmentally friendly. It also has a patented fuel injection system. He’s also constantly making improvements. In August, new lighter boards of
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53
Above: Aliyson De Ruyck arrives for some early morning fun on Gull Lake. Left: A fuel injected 150cc engine is housed in a watertight compartment with bilge pump and electric start. balance, they take advantage of the strong and tough hydraulic hose connecting the handle, gripping tightly as they pick up speed, turning the handle slightly to carve and race through some rougher carbon fibre made the whole surfboard package about 130 to 140 pounds instead of the original 180 pounds. And by next year, he plans to integrate blue tooth for an app that does just about everything from measuring speed to gas usage, and makes it easy to post Surftek stories on social media. “This is a family board,” he explains. “You don’t need surfing experience, but it has enough power to keep you happy.” In fact, getting up is easy to learn, but enough of a challenge that the rider feels they’ve accomplished something when they are up and riding. “They are buoyant enough that you can stand on them,” he says. It’s just tough to get the balance at first. “If you are a first timer and have never surfed or skateboarded, it might take 20 minutes,” he says. “But you improve quickly.” As riders get more experienced, they become one with the board. Instead of just holding the throttle handle and trying to
54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
water. Once riders experience the buzz of success, they want to feel it again and again. “It really is addictive,” says Naicker. Running it is affordable too. With a sixlitre gas tank, it costs under $10 to fill and that lasts for about four to five hours of lake running. “We’ve run up to six hours,” says Allyson De Ruyck, technical consultant at Surftek. “It will give you an entire day of fun,” adds Naicker. He recommends changing the oil and spark plug every 50 hours. The Surftek board can reach speeds of 55 kmh. “It depends on the conditions and the weight of the rider,” he adds. The lakes of Muskoka are a great place for his boards, but he’s getting interest from resorts in the U.S. and the Caribbean, too. The surfboard is not his first venture into niche motorized sports. He also has a motorized skateboard that has a lithium battery and can travel more than 40 kilometres without a recharge. It’s based on
something he saw in South Korea more than a dozen years ago. “Mine is lighter, more efficient; a more advanced model,” he says. The board has 11-inch pneumatic allterrain tires, electric ABS braking and a wireless blue tooth remote to power it. “Sometimes I take it to Bracebridge,” he says. “I take my backpack, do some shopping and come back.” He sold thousands of motorized skateboards all over the world, but says the surfboards are a bigger product. “There are only three companies in the world producing motorized surfboards,” he explains, adding he’s made his to be user friendly, energy efficient and a lot of fun. Naicker credits the “wow” factor as part of the surfboard’s success. “People see them and the first thing they say is ‘Wow.’ Then they ask, ‘What is it? Does it have an engine? Where is the engine?’” He can’t get enough time on his powered surfboard. One minute, he’s standing by the lake and the next minute he’s out there riding. “He hadn’t been out yet today and it was calling him,” explains Allyson. When he returns to shore, Naicker says, “I’m a water baby. I love the water. I just had to get out there for a couple minutes.” Like so many Surftek riders, he’s addicted.
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55
Photograph: Courtesy of K.C. Veitch, Bracebridge Historical Resources
In 1875, 14-year-old Thomas Osborne and his brother Arthur, 12, reached Utterson by hitching a ride on a local man’s buckboard wagon.
When walking was not a “workout routine”for Muskokans
M
uskoka’s many “workout” facilities today include municipal running tracks and private gyms with treadmills. Individuals keep fit using such facilities, or walking their dogs, or taking stairs instead of an elevator, or pacing off indoor routes during winter around Huntsville’s Olympic-size arena or at Bracebridge’s Sportsplex and the like. There is, it would appear, a lot of walking, one of the best tickets for healthy longevity. Let’s just skip the irony that many people drive to these walking venues. If a new project is proposed in Muskoka today, one of the first questions that is often asked by a municipal councillor is “What about parking?” By contrast, during Muskoka’s earlier horsepower era, parking was readily available at the local livery stable, or a hitching rail, or heavy stone with embedded iron ring, or tree branch for tying
56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
a team’s harness lines or a horse’s reins. Back then, however, an even simpler method of travel was by “shank’s mare” – an expression imported by British settlers to mean “walking on one’s own legs” to get from one place to another. It was routine for children to trudge miles to school, men or women to hike to Orillia for mail, hardware items and basic foodstuffs, or on to Barrie for a bag of flour, if it wasn’t available in Orillia. Enos Broadley, the first settler to take up free grant land at Walker’s Point in 1869, became a long-serving councillor for the United Townships of Medora and Wood. He spent two-thirds of his council time walking. It took Enos three days, he said, to attend a council meeting: “One day to walk to Bala, one day at the meeting, and one day to walk home.” Nearly impassable roads were part of the problem. The colonization road running
from Gravenhurst through Walker’s Point and the historic community of Barlochan to Bala was just “a rough trail,” local historian Joyce Schell recorded. It could only be used in summer on foot or horseback. In winter, it was passable by sleigh, only when the snow was packed. Getting around by shank’s mare was, quite simply, a necessity. In 1875, 14-year-old Thomas Osborne and his brother Arthur, 12, had travelled into Muskoka to join their father, who’d bought a squatter’s patch of unsurveyed land at Portage between Peninsula Lake and Lake of Bays. By combinations of train to Barrie, boat to Washago, coach to Gravenhurst and boat to Bracebridge, they reached Utterson by hitching a ride on a local man’s buckboard wagon. With no other means of conveyance available, they set out to walk the remaining 11 miles to Huntsville.
Photograph: Courtesy of K.C. Veitch, Bracebridge Historical Resources
Above: Johnny Moon, a “home child” orphan from England, hiked from Muskoka to Toronto and back, a journey that took several days each way. Right: Mourners walk in tribute to community leader, Dr. Samuel Bridgland. Below: It was a tradition for students to parade to the Bracebridge fairgrounds during the annual fall fair as seen in this photo from 1909.
The two city lads began to “hike up hill and down, through dense woods, over a dirt road. For miles and miles, we tramped along, meeting only one man on his way to Utterson. It was all woods on each side of us,” Thomas Osborne recounted in his vivid memoir Canada Pioneers, now in print as Reluctant Pioneer: How I Survived Five Years in the Canadian Bush. Osborne’s saga reads as if Tom Sawyer fetched up on the Canadian Shield for his coming-of-age adventures. Roy MacGregor calls this true account “an undiscovered Canadian classic.” There were no road signs. With frequent springs along the wayside, the two youths
didn’t suffer from thirst on that day late in May. After sunset, though, “it began to get gloomy.” They saw nothing but sky overhead and dark woods all around them. Arthur was “all in and crying.” Tom made out the shape of a homesteader’s cabin. Inquiring of its inhabitants how far it was to Huntsville, they were directed to “yon ridge,” told they’d see the place from the top. Encouraged, they pressed on, eventually finding 10 buildings, including barns and cowsheds, among them Cann’s Hotel where they rendezvoused with their father. After a big meal, the three Osbornes slept the night in one bed. Tom awoke at daylight
to the sound of tinkling cowbells, as the cows roamed the village to forage freely. After washing up with cold water at the outdoor pump, and then eating breakfast at a long table with other men seated along both sides, the trio set off in early morning for another 11-mile walk to Portage. “A government road had been cut around through the woods almost to Pop’s location,” Tom recounted. “Pop spurned the road; he knew the general direction through the woods.” He registered many impressions during this walk-through encounter with nature, among them a forest fire. They walked “several miles over burnt ground and charred logs. The stench of smoke, the ashes and the smudge we kicked up almost choked us.” Tom soon enough grew accustomed to the trip from Portage into Huntsville and back, to sell fish, buy provisions or fetch mail. Sometimes this included travel by the Osbornes flat-bottomed boat for part of the journey, but at Portage he often crossed in darkness of night where there was “only a narrow footpath leading up through the brush and woods.” One of Tom’s walks through the bush brought him abruptly to the grim reality he himself faced trying to survive in a pioneer’s early Muskoka. Once he came across a cabin in winter occupied by a tall man known as “Long Joe,” whose family had only boiled
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57
Photograph: Courtesy of K.C. Veitch, Bracebridge Historical Resources
He watched the lumbermen dressing train wouldn’t leave until 5 p.m. wheat to eat. Tom gave him the six partridges Tom decided not to wait, given the he’d shot and continued on the miles to his against the weather, one man his age pulling own cabin without food. Later a hunter found five heavy woollen socks on each foot and likelihood it would not get through the snow. the same cabin. “Joe was dead from starvation, buckskin moccasins over top of them, lacing Instead, he headed south on foot to Severn on the uppers outside heavy woollen pants. Bridge, which he reached by noon. After his and the woman and baby barely alive.” Struggling to survive was common. Tom Tom had only one pair of socks inside far two-day trek of more than 50 miles from Portage, he waited for the train that would recounted another sad tale of a deserted log colder leather boots. carry him from Muskoka. cabin a half-mile from Despite how the advent of Oxtongue Lake where railway service at Washago in another man, his wife, 1873, Gravenhurst by 1875 and child had settled. and Bracebridge and His friend Zack Cole, Huntsville in 1886 eased hunting on snowtravel for people who could shoes for deer, found afford it, and despite the the silent cabin. “There train’s enjoyable convenience, were no signs of life.” speed and comfort, some Forcing the door open folks still kept on walking. revealed the corpse of a Johnny Moon, a “home man, “and a woman child” orphan from England and child unconscious who grew to adulthood in and near death. They Bracebridge, hiked to and built a fire, got some from Toronto, a journey that hot water, and took several days each way. succeeded in bringing Moon, like Tom Osborne the woman and child Walkers stroll along sidewalks in an undated photo of downtown Bracebridge. and hundreds more, back to life” then “You’re not dressed well enough for this including one settler who carried an iron pulled them on their toboggan many miles to stove on his back from Bracebridge to his their own cabin. When she recovered, the weather,” he was told. “It’s only six miles to Bracebridge,” he Windermere homestead, slept in the woods woman said her husband “was taken sick and when it was too dark or they were too tired to then the deep snow came. She did not know replied. “I can make it.” “Maybe so,” the man replied, “but I have continue. where to go for help so, when they had eaten In our present day, when a daily walk is up everything, they decided to die together.” known men to freeze to death on a morning often part of one’s “fitness regime,” strolling a His Muskoka adventures killing bears and like this in going less than six miles.” Anxious to keep moving, Tom bundled as dozen blocks is a major outing for many, cooking with bear grease, discovering an isolated cabin with corpses, living off the best he could, to no avail. “It seemed the cold although Muskoka’s roadsides are still land, and becoming an exceptionally strong air, as I met it, came in front and out the travelled by certain resolute souls, their man, spread over the next five years. He then back of me. By the time I reached Bracebridge, strength, health and determination attested to by the heavy bags of groceries they carry decided to return to Philadelphia from where I was so stiff I could hardly walk.” He warmed up in a hotel, which had a for miles. The shank’s mare sojourns of earlier he had originally set out. There was about a foot of snow on the road red-hot stove, then started off again, walking Muskokans, of which this article gives but a when he started on his trek, breaking his way to Gravenhurst, “more than 10 miles over a small sampling, no doubt strike people through it to Port Sydney. It had been mild hard, icy, well-beaten road.” Stages and dependant on motor vehicles as daunting when he left Portage, but that wouldn’t last. sleighs had beaten it down. In his leather impossibilities – walking down to Toronto? In that bygone era, when folk didn’t need a “By the time I reached Falkenburg, a walk of boots, Tom slipped with almost every step. Lake Muskoka was along his right side as the treadmill to stay fit, their normal doings and 25 miles, it was down to zero.” even their survival depended on walking. He was tired and it was dark, but road passed through virgin pine forest. At Gravenhurst, now a railhead, he Fitness was an incidental by-product. They Falkenburg’s lone hotel was occupied by a gang of lumbermen. Instead of continuing to decided to catch the train south. When told walked because no alternative means of travel Bracebridge, Tom managed to get a spot in the next one would depart at 7:00, the existed. Or, if some form of conveyance was the attic, with lots of blankets. It was a cold following morning, he spent the night in a available, they walked anyway because they morning when he awoke. “My breath had hotel. He got to the station by 6:45 a.m. In could not afford the fare. Or, then as still frozen to the blankets, and fine snow had darkness and with heavy snow falling, the today, some individuals walked just because sifted through openings in the shingles, station was silent. The train had already left they preferred the freedom of the open road, at – to avoid getting stuck in the snow. The next their own pace, on their own timetable. covering the bed white.”
58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
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Whats Happened
Photograph: Tomasz Szumski
Montgomery, has been a labour of love for owners Jack and Linda Hutton. In 1922, Montgomery – the author of Anne of Green Gables – vacationed at Bala’s For decades, there has been a special On Canada Day, the Town of Roselawn Lodge for two weeks and ate her connection between Bracebridge and Bracebridge unveiled a surprise: new lights meals in a tourist home nearby. The visit Norway. During the Second World War, at Bracebridge Falls that turn the falling inspired Montgomery to set a novel, The when Norway was occupied by Germany, water different colours. The installation was Blue Castle, in Muskoka. When Linda – an created in partnership between the Town, the Royal Norwegian Air Force used the Anne of Green Gables fan – and Jack learned the Rotary Club of Bracebridge and Muskoka Airport for training purposes. It the tourist home faced was known at that time as demolition, they bought it in Little Norway. A memorial 1990 and Linda began the long was established in 2002 to process of restoring the old commemorate those airmen building while Jack continued and recognize the longworking in Toronto. standing relationship The museum opened on July between Norway and 24, 1992 and in 2013, it Canada. received Heritage Designation In 2010, that recognition from the Township of Muskoka went a step further when Lakes. Now, 25 years after Bracebridge executed a opening the museum’s doors, “Friendship Agreement” the Huttons have been with Gol kommune, a town celebrating with special events. in central Norway. Leading Visit balasmuseum.com for up to Canada 150 more information. celebrations this year, a A new installation at Bracebridge Falls will light up the cascading water nightly, rotating through a variety of colours that can be customized for special delegation from Gol visited celebrations. Bracebridge for a week to Bracebridge Generation. Together, they renew those ties. shared in the cost of the $18,000 project. Gol Mayor Heidi Granli and four other The Rotary Club has been providing a representatives from the Norwegian town community fireworks show on Canada Day participated in many activities during their for 10 years and the new lights will visit, including a formal event at the Little Norway Memorial at the Muskoka Airport complement that effort. th to honour the 75 anniversary of the The installation will continue to light up Dig out your old photo albums – the Norwegian Air Force coming to Muskoka. the falls nightly, rotating through a variety Lake of Bays Association needs your help. Their visit included a tour of Camp of colours, but they can be customized for To celebrate its 90th anniversary, the Olympia where Norwegian airmen spent special celebrations. association is creating an online their rest and relaxation time during “This project will be a great addition to retrospective gallery of photographs and is training expeditions; discussions with an already iconic landmark in the heart of Trillium Lakelands District School Board our community,” says mayor Graydon Smith. seeking images of life at Lake of Bays over the last 90 years. Officials about educational curricula; and th They’re looking for photographs of retro Bracebridge’s celebration of Canada’s 150 cottage attire (knee-length bathing anniversary. costumes, flowered bathing caps and plaid Mayor Heidi Granli presented Mayor lumber jackets come to mind), favourite old Smith with a sheepskin hide that boats, activities from ‘back in the day’ or There’s a little Muskoka museum that commemorates Canada’s 150th Anniversary anything that depicts life at Lake of Bays in attracts visitors from around the world and along with a piece of contemporary art the era in which the photo was taken. this year, it will be celebrating its 25th completed by a student in Gol, and said Photos of both familiar landmarks and that the town hopes to host a delegation anniversary. Bala’s Museum, which honours places that no longer exist are welcome, too. from Bracebridge in the future. the work of author Lucy Maud
60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
The gallery will offer a perspective on how things have changed – and how some have remained very much the same – on Lake of Bays. Details on how to submit photos are available on the Lake of Bays Association website, loba.ca. Questions can be directed to Lili Davis-Burchat at executivecoord@loba.ca. The Lake of Bays Association formed in 1927 to address water level concerns, fire protection, navigation, and the preservation of clean water and scenic beauty. In the early 1950s, the association had 100 families in its membership. By the 1990s, that had swelled to more than 1,500 and it continues to promote a clean, healthy and natural environment for cottagers and residents around Lake of Bays.
can watch shoreline video taken on lakes large and small across the region from the comfort of your couch. Cottage owners can find their properties, prospective owners can scope out a potential purchase and vacationers can get a feel for the area before visiting. The maps, which were created by ecottagefilms.com, are available at map. muskoka.on.ca. While you’re there, the Muskoka Atlas 1879 Story Map is worth a visit. It shares early settlement history of Muskoka through a compilation of maps, sketches, town plans and written descriptions. All have been taken from the Guide Book and Atlas of Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts written by W. E. Hamilton Esq, with drawings by S. Penson and maps by John Rogers, circa 1879.
The District of Muskoka has added a fun new feature to its web maps. Now, in addition to viewing topographic, water quality and aerial photo maps online, you
The Muskoka Watershed Council wants Muskoka residents to love their lakes. The group recently kicked off the 2017 Love Your Lake program in Muskoka at Ada Lake, one of four lakes that are part of the program
this year. The others are Brandy Lake, Stewart Lake and Wood Lake. A total of 650 shoreline properties will be assessed during the seven-week program. If your lake isn’t among them, you can do a self-assessment to help improve the health of your shoreline and lake. The Love Your Lake program is coordinated by Watersheds Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Federation who work with regional partners – in Muskoka that’s the Muskoka Watershed Council and the District of Muskoka – and lake organizations to deliver it locally. This is the fifth year it has run in Muskoka. “The Love Your Lake program answers the question of how exactly one can improve the health and longevity of their shoreline,” says Barbara King, executive director of Watersheds Canada. “It provides both individuals and lake organizations with the tools and information they need to improve their shorelines and ultimately make their lakes healthier.” If you want to do a self-assessment of your waterfront property or learn more about the program, visit loveyourlake.ca.
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There are so many ways you can contribute to the future of Hospice Muskoka: • Help us to sustain and grow our current programs • Help us to build Andy’s House - a comprehensive Hospice Palliative Care Community Hub • Become a member of our family…it really could be one of the most rewarding decisions you ever make! Become a Benefactor, an Event Partner, or Member! Volunteer! Make your personal or company investment work for you! A member of our team will be happy to review our Partnership Opportunities Guide with you and tailor a package that truly reflect Your values, Your goals, and Your desired outcomes! Our annual Partnership Opportunities Campaign begins in September 2017. Let’s talk! Hospice Muskoka P.O. Box 156, 15 Depot Dr. Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T6 705-646-1697 | www.hospicemuskoka.com | info@hospicemuskoka.com
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61
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Cottage Country Cuisine
Dining aboard the “big boats” Article by Karen Wehrstein / Photography by Larry Carroll
Above: The stately dining room of the Wenonah II awaits the influx of diners. Top: Turtle Cheese Cake is the finishing touch for many patrons. The RMS Segwun is a Muskoka icon, a grand, magnificent, lovingly-restored floating artifact from the age of steam. Along with its sister ship, the Wenonah II, it plies Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph, as it did a century ago, when it brought cottagers to their properties – except that now the passengers are there for sightseeing
and, sometimes, dining. The dining rooms on each ship are decorated in the spirit of a bygone age, with wood and brass polished to a piano finish and spotless-uniformed servers attentively tending to the needs of their guests. Diners enjoy gazing out the windows between bites; there is something very special about eating
on a moving ship in the midst of a constantly changing backdrop of water, rocks, trees and sky. This summer’s menu choices are a Chicken Supreme with a smoky honey Dijon sauce, a Teriyaki-glazed Poached Salmon that melts in your mouth, or the vegan, gluten-free offering of Chickpea and
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63
Quinoa-stuffed Cabbage Rolls with a house-made tomato and olive tapenade. The appetizer is always a garden salad and the mains are served with creamed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Dessert is the chef ’s choice, such as a scrumptious turtle cheesecake. After dinner, you might wander up to the open deck to feel the wind, take in the sunset and sing along with entertainers picking the strings or tinkling the ivories. Often it’s the legendary and multi-talented Jack Hutton, veteran journalist of innumerable years, who claims to know thousands of tunes. On a recent cruise, he performed Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer on piano, and also had a guest celebrating her 96th birthday snuggle in beside him on his bench to sing Vera Lynn’s wartime classic, We’ll Meet Again. On the Segwun, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year, you can wave hello to the man who shovels the coal into the furnace. He might not wave back though. If he stops shoveling, the ship – the oldest hand-fired steamship in North America – loses power. You can peer into the engine room and watch the pistons pump and wheels spin, for as long as you can stand the heat. You might even talk the
The salad course is prepared just prior to being delivered to dining passengers. captain into letting you pull the cable that makes the Segwun’s whistle blast out its famed one-long, two-short signal. The whole effect is magical. But when it comes to what happens
Local musician Jack Hutton is joined in a medley of Vera Lynn songs by passenger Gilberte Bell. Accompanied by members of her family, Bell celebrated her 96th birthday. 64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
behind the scenes to create your nautical meal, it’s not at all like a restaurant where cooks only have to produce a few meals at a time, and servers only have to walk a short distance to a table. “We did 8,300 lunches and 3,200 dinners last year,” says Robbie Irvine, who, with her husband Alain, co-owns North Catering in Gravenhurst, which provides the waterborne fare. “We pass the food to the ship’s kitchen crew, then they plate it and serve it,” she says. So, for instance, each garden salad is carefully assembled onboard from prepared ingredients. “The menus were created specifically for the ships,” says catering chef Kirsten Joch. “They’re given choices and they decide which they want to go with.” For instance, one of the lunch choices is roast turkey with stuffing, meaning each day the staff procures, cooks and slices 50 kilograms of fresh turkey breast. Then there’s the challenge of getting the correct number of portions to the dock by the correct time. “Everything goes last minute,” Joch says. “We’re not cooking it two hours ahead of time. We know when the ship leaves, and we time according to that. We know exactly
2 0 17 AT A G L AN C E Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy • July 26/27 - 8:00PM $52 • $49 • $30
Two of Canada's finest fiddlers and musicians return to thrill their Huntsville audiences
Nuit Blanche North • July 29 - 8:00PM - FREE
Nuit Blanche North returns to Huntsville's downtown core, fun for the whole family!
ANNUAL JAZZ FESTIVAL • AUGUST 3-5
Lighthouse • August 3 - 8:00PM - $42 • $39 • $30
An evening of Lighthouse, one of Canada’s premier rock and roll bands
Toronto All-Star Big Band • August 4 - 8:00PM $35 • $32 • $20
An ensemble of young, very skilled jazz musicians who revive the big band sound
Robi Botos & Jackie Richardson • August 5 - 8:00PM $35 • $32 • $20
Innovative jazz pianist is joined by legendary Jackie Richardson
Corb Lund • August 9 - 8:00PM - $38 • $35 • $20
Corb and the Hurtin’ Albertans have made a living straddling the link between folk, country and rockabilly
Tales From Muskoka • August 10-12 - 7:00PM Muskoka Heritage Place - Adults/Seniors $20 • Youth $20
Two plays that tell the story of Muskoka life in the early 1800’s
Esmerelda Enrique Spanish Dance Co. • August 11 - 8:00PM $42 • $39 • $30
Flamenco, an art form like no other, speaks to the heart and touches the soul
The Last Waltz • August 17 - 8:00PM - $42 • $39 • $30
Some of the country’s finest musicians come together to offer a musical celebration of The Bands’s seminal work
Steve Patterson • August 18 - 8:00PM - $33 • $30 • $20
With numerous 'Best Stand-Up Comedian' awards to his credit, 'The Debaters' Steve Patterson does funny as well as anyone DID YOU KNOW... WHEN YOU BUY TICKETS TO 3 SHOWS
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Colin James • August 21 - 8:00PM - $58 • $55 • $30
A musician's musician, James has worked with the 'Who's Who' in the music scene
Last Night at the Proms • August 26 - 8:00PM $55 • $52 • $30 Maestro Stratton closes out the 25th Season with the penultimate celebration
Recipes
Turkey Stuffing Courtesy of Alain Irvine
Ingredients: 1 ⅓ loaf of white bread, cubed 1 egg 3 sticks of celery, thinly chopped 1 ⅓ cup of butter, melted Dried cranberries to taste Sage, salt and pepper to taste
Preparation: Mix together all of the above ingredients until thoroughly combined. Lay out an 18-inch long piece of aluminum foil. Lay an 18-inch piece of plastic wrap over the foil. Mould stuffing into pieces 15 inches long and 2 inches in diameter over the foil/plastic wrap. Roll the foil/plastic wrap over and around the stuffing, and twist the ends shut so that you have encased the stuffing.
Roast for one hour at 350 degrees. Cool and cut into oneinch slices. Or, stuff a turkey with it and roast as per the weight of bird. Chef ’s tip: the plastic wrap actually won’t melt. “So long as it’s covered by the foil, it’ll be okay,” says Chef Joch.
Honey Dijon Cream Sauce
Teriyaki Glaze (for Salmon)
Courtesy of Kirsten Joch
Courtesy of Alain Irvine
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp butter 3 garlic cloves, minced, or 1 tsp garlic paste 1 cup white wine 1 tbsp smooth Dijon mustard 1 Tbsp grainy Dijon mustard 3 tbsp honey ½ cup heavy cream ½ cup chicken broth Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
cup low sodium ½ soy sauce ¼ cup Demerara sugar 1½ tsp fresh ginger, minced 1½ tsp honey 1 tsp sesame oil ¼ cup Mirin 1 tbsp cornstarch
Preparation:
Sauté the garlic at medium heat until tender. Add the white wine and continue to cook until reduced by half (about five minutes). Add the mustards and stir to combine. Then add the heavy cream, chicken broth and honey. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan except the cornstarch. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to simmer. Add cornstarch mixed with enough water to make a runny paste, whisk in until it has the consistency of honey. Remove from heat and cool. Store in a container with a tight lid; it will keep for 2 weeks if refrigerated.
Makes enough sauce for approximately four servings.
Makes enough to glaze 8-10 6-oz. salmon portions.
66 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Town of Gravenhurst
GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE Birthplace of Canadian Summer Theatre. Great live theatre and concerts all Summer long. Unique Getaway Packages available! August 4th - 6th • Sawdust City Music Festival August 26th • Soulsville: Music of STAX Records September 2 • Happy Birthday Canada - Jack Hutton September 9 • A World Class Tribute to Led Zepplin September 12 -29 • Sexy Laundry—by Michele Riml Septmeber 30 • Great Canadian Songbook WWW.GRAVENHURSTOPERAHOUSE.COM
MUSIC ON THE BARGE Sunday Nights at 7:30 PM • Gull Lake Rotary Park Freddy Vette & The Flames • July 30th Sawdust City Music Festival • August 6th The Good Brothers • August 13th WWW.MUSICONTHEBARGE.COM
CINEMA UNDER THE STARS Bring a blanket, lawn chair, friends & family to enjoy full length features Thursday nights at Gull Lake Rotary Park. July 27th • 7:30 PM • A Dog’s Purpose August 3rd • 8:00 PM • UP August 10th • 8:00 PM • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 August 17th • 8:00 PM • Beauty and the Beast (2017) August 24th • 8:00 PM • JAWS (1975) WWW.GRAVENHURST.CA/CINEMA
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 67
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how many portions of everything they need, and we triple count. We have to get it right because the ship can’t turn around. We have a checklist and everything is checked off as it is loaded.” But Joch has no complaints about the lifestyle her profession requires. “I love it,” she says. “It keeps me going. It’s fast-paced, can be stressful – any cooking is stressful in a restaurant. I don’t have time to stop in the summer. I don’t like standing around and waiting for an order to come in – I want to go, go, go. I just love to cook.” The lunch cruise happens daily throughout the summer season; the dinner cruise on Saturdays and Wednesdays. The two ships alternate runs, depending on scheduling. You can buy tickets online or on the dock, if a cruise isn’t already booked. This year, by passenger request, the ordering and payment system has changed: you now pay for the cruise when you book and reserve the meal, paying the server after you’ve eaten, as in a restaurant. To make firm dining plans, calling the office in advance is recommended, as regular cruises are sometimes displaced by private functions. “We do birthdays, anniversaries, weddings – 20 to 40 per year – corporate staff parties or corporate retreats, fundraisers, cocktail parties, themed events. Any celebrations,” says Muskoka Steamships president John Miller. “One Saturday, we had six weddings. The guests always remember where that wedding took place.” Bookings range from private charters of
Portioned salmon is glazed with a teriyaki sauce by Chef Kirsten Joch.
an entire ship to a private room for a smaller group, Miller says. “The menu can be chosen from our vast catering menu. We have all sorts of different options other than lunch or dinner. We have a lot of experience in the entertainment industry, over 20 years. We’re happy to work with anyone with ideas.” You can arrange a surprise floating party on either ship. Before the guest of honour arrives on the dock, having been convinced that he or she is merely going on a regularly scheduled cruise, members of the crew usher family and friends aboard. “They’ll have 60 or 70 guests on the bow of the ship,” says Miller. “Then the guest will walk down the dock and, as they get closer, they recognize one face, then another, then see everybody. You can see the surprise on their face as they come down. It’s great.” In fact, it is possible to instigate the pièce de résistance of surprises, an event your honouree is guaranteed to remember for life, by having one of the historic ships come right to your own personal dock to whisk them off onto a surprise voyage. Large docks are preferred,
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70 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
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naturally, but if it’s too small, a barge can be attached to it and the ship tied to the barge. Such a celebration is requested at least once per year, Miller says, and he is happy to oblige even if that does mean he has to hide in bushes or impersonate a roofing contractor. “There always has to be one of us at the dock, to help the ship tie up,” he explains. “I have gone to private cottages and posed as a chef, or as a roofing contractor. I had a clipboard on the roof, looking like I knew what I was doing. When the ship was really obviously going to land, I’d run down to the dock. It was easier being a chef – I am one – but it gets awkward. You can only fake it for so long before you have to start cooking something.” And so we come full circle, back to cooking. And eating. Everything tastes better when eaten onboard a Muskoka icon. Bon voyage and bon appétit.
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Waiter James Hills delivers the main course from the galley to the dining room. August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 71
Living in Muskoka
Lake Joseph retreat preserved through Muskoka Conservancy Article by Dale Peacock / Photography by Kelly Holinshead
The property where Elizabeth Mason’s old-style wood-clad cottage is situated has been owned by her family since 1874.
H
aving a cottage in Muskoka often conjures up an image of a huge structure surrounded by granite hardscaping with wraparound decks, multiple boat slips, a second-floor sunning platform and a stunning panoramic view
72 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
over the lake. And that is often just the boathouse. Elizabeth Mason’s cottage on Chief ’s Island is nothing like that. It is a solid, old-style wood-clad building, painted white and mounted with solar panels on the back
roof. A simple screened sunporch offers a place to sit and contemplate nature and the lovely view of Lake Joseph. The front yard is wild with colourful, planted poppies and naturally occurring daisies mingling with the native grasses.
A simple screened sun porch offers a place to sit and contemplate nature and the lovely view of Lake Joseph. Mason herself is a remarkable woman. Close to 90 years of age, she would be admirable for her strength, courage and resolve, if she were 60. Trim and fit, on the day of the interview for this article, she sports a golf-style shirt and a belted, above-the-knee denim skirt and flip-flop sandals. Mason moves with careful assurance over the very rough terrain of the island. She has a keen mind, a quick wit and a refreshing sense of humour, laughing often. But there is a ribbon of steel in her, too, and it can be seen when she talks about any threat to the environment, particularly Chief’s Island. Situated at the southern tip of the Canadian Shield, Lake Joseph is cradled by rocky cliffs and distinctive wind-swept pines. Millions of years ago, the Canadian Shield was covered by icy glaciers, which left behind the numerous lakes that now define Muskoka cottage country. Lake Joseph is one of those lakes: Mason’s backyard is made up of a slab of natural granite sloping upwards into the woods. Flowers grow everywhere in the deposits of earth that fill the many pockets dotting the granite shelf. At the sunny side of the cottage, neat rows
of pots contain Mason’s plantings of peppers, eggplant and other assorted vegetables. Indoors, a wood-burning fireplace in the living room warms one part of the house, while an old cast iron wood-burning stove is used for cooking and heating. Dishes are washed by hand. She has no hydro and, although it is available on the island, she doesn’t want it. When the hydro goes out, she does just fine with her propane fridge, solar lights and water pump. Books, abandoned bird and hornet nests, old maps of Muskoka, butterfly identification charts, Muskoka Conservancy materials and fund-raising items sit atop every surface and hang on the walls of the cottage. The longtime Lake Joseph cottager has been spending her summer on the 250-acre island since childhood, with time out for travel and volunteer work. Her affection for the place is palpable and over the last few years, she has made her devotion to its natural state concrete by gifting the Muskoka Conservancy with extensive lands
and thousands of feet of shoreline. When asked why she decided to donate her land to the conservancy, she answers simply, “I did it in the interest of preservation.” She asks rhetorically, “Say I’d sold it all? Where would the bears go? Where would the raccoons live?” It’s obvious Mason thinks of herself less as an owner than a steward of the land. She says, “It gives me such peace of mind to know that this island is much as it was when my great-grandfather James Campbell bought it in 1874 and that now it will stay that way.” Long after she is gone, the non-profit, registered land trust will continue the stewardship. In 2013, the Muskoka Conservancy was born out of the amalgamation of the
August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 73
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Muskoka Heritage Foundation and Muskoka Heritage Trust. While the name has changed, the mission is the same: “To nurture, conserve, and protect Muskoka’s natural and built heritage for future generations!” Mason, who never married, laughingly declares that while she lives alone, she is never lonely. “There are always books to read and birds to watch.” Neighbours drop in and she invites others over for a glass of wine at sunset and she enjoys sharing her island home with friends from the city and beyond. A nearly finished, very complicated puzzle of irises sits in the light of a kitchen window on a small table. It has taken her almost two years to complete. She wryly adds, “Lately I often find myself sitting and staring into space.” She responds smilingly to the suggestion that contemplation has value, with: “I’d like to believe that, but mostly I’m just thinking about what I should be doing!” She is not alone on the island. After her father Col. Douglas H.C. Mason died in 1968, she and her brother sold a few lots entirely by word of mouth. She knows her neighbours and feels confident they value the land as much as she does. She is a practical woman and adds, “I can’t control whether they sell it again, of course, but so far anyone who has bought here on Chief ’s Island has been delightful.” Not everything about being on Lake Joseph delights Mason. As if on cue, two loud, powerful motorboats pulling waterskiers and water tubes cruise past the island at high speed. They aren’t close to shore and wave in a friendly fashion, but it is too close for Mason. Her lips tighten and she sighs, “I just wish there was more respect for the loons, the wildlife and other people.” She is full of admiration for the Safe Quiet Lakes initiative that her friend Frances Carmichael launched a few years ago. “Frances has been tireless in this venture,” Mason says. “She believes – and I hope – that education and encouragement will have good results.” If noisy, disrespectful behaviour is the result of thoughtlessness rather than malice, change can occur. But Mason fears that for some, it’s a matter of entitlement. “While many people with money behave well and respectfully on the lakes, some seem to think that their wealth gives them the right
to do as they like,” she says. Pulling out her small digital camera, Mason displays photos she took just recently. One series shows a spotted fawn enjoying the lily plants in her unstructured gardens and another is of a large male black bear. While thrilled at the sighting, she admits she is always careful to make noise before setting out on any of the many trails that thread out from the cottage. “Bears are excellent swimmers and a few years ago, I saw a mother bear in the water heading for the island with her two cubs,” she says. She made a
note to stay vigilant for a few days until they moved on. She adds, “I don’t encourage bears – amending that to say that she might offer a friendly ‘Hello’ – but I’m happy to share my space with them.” Mason is modest and selfdeprecating and far too well bred to be a “name dropper.” However, her conversation occasionally includes names of business and society leaders that date back to Canada’s founding. To the suggestion that she comes from a family of considerable means, she replies that much of that went in the Great Depression. Nonetheless, her grandfather was one of
Top: Elizabeth Mason works on a complicated puzzle of irises in the light of a kitchen window. Above: Mason’s cottage features an old cast iron wood-burning stove, which is used for cooking and heating. Above, right: Dishes neatly line the shelves of the kitchen. Right: Books and memorabilia surround Mason in her cottage. August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 75
the founders of Havergal College. In honour of her family affiliation with the school and in being a former graduate known as a Havergal “Old Girl,” Mason has the honour of presenting the J. Herbert Mason Medal for Character to a student on an annual basis. She considers it “very kind of them” and is honoured to do so. Her brothers John and Tony and their father Douglas were all Ridley College students. Havergal regularly ranks as one of the best private schools in the province and, indeed, in the country. Some very bright young girls and women have emerged from behind the college’s ivy-covered, stone walls and Mason was one of them. Mason was only six years old when she became only one of three boarding students at Havergal. The rest were day students. She remembers her seventh birthday when the older students presented her with a large stuffed duck for her birthday. During the war, she and her mother Dorothy and brothers
would go to Chief’s Island and she remembers roaming around freely on her own. It may well have contributed to her decidedly independent nature. Mason remembers 1951 as “a truly terrible year.” Her mother became ill and died, her younger brother John was killed in an accident and the Chief ’s Island cottage that had been her father’s second home for 60 years was destroyed by fire. In 1951, the “Main House” burned down and was never rebuilt. The “Old House,” which was the original cottage on the property, was
spared. Following the fire, father and daughter moved into a cottage on the east side of the island that was built in 1906 for the caretaker. Douglas Mason missed his view of the lake and its spectacular sunsets, so he renovated the “Old House,” which he continued to use until his death in 1968. Elizabeth remained in the caretaker’s cottage.
Above: Elizabeth Mason is concerned about educating the broader public to respect others and wildlife, and admires the work of the organization known as Safe Quiet Lakes. Flowers and vegetables flourish on Mason’s property. 76 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
Lake Muskoka $3,795,000
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Pine Island $799,000
Towering pines, cool breezes, complete privacy and awesome south-west views are the hallmarks of this choice island offering. Private 345 feet of pristine shoreline, eligible for a two storey boathouse. Minutes by boat to a shared deeded landing. Cottage has two bedrooms, newer kitchen, hardwood floors, updated 3 pc bathroom and fireplace.
Lake Muskoka $1,849,000
This special offering has all the attributes that make “Cottage Life” a winning combination for the entire family! 310 feet of delightful privacy, deep and shallow waterfront areas and panoramic views. Large principal rooms with 4 bedrooms in main cottage. Double slip boathouse with accommodation above.
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Spectacular views of Lake Joseph provide “peace of mind” for Elizabeth Mason. At Elizabeth’s urging, her father wrote a book called Muskoka: The First Islanders, which was published in 1957 and updated in 1968 before his death. It is a fascinating and important historical account of Elizabeth Mason’s great uncle, John Campbell, who was one of the earliest visitors to Lake Joseph. He and another young man named James Bain were just 20 and 18 years old, respectively, when they set out on a wilderness adventure. “Before 1860, the Muskoka Lakes (Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph) were practically unknown to the people of settled Ontario,” wrote Elizabeth’s father, Col. Douglas H. C. Mason in his book Muskoka: The First Islanders. The domain of the First Nations, it was an area “…which a few fur traders and white trappers penetrated and which had been crossed by several exploring parties whose
78 UNIQUE MUSKOKA August 2017
reports were buried in government and other files and of which the general public knew nothing.” Mason shrugs off any focus on her and directs it to the Muskoka Conservancy, which protects 36 properties throughout Muskoka. That accounts for more than 2,400 acres and over 37,000 feet of sensitive shoreline. It seems appropriate to use the conservancy’s own words in conclusion. “We all have our reasons for loving Muskoka. Whether it is the wild call of the loon in the evening, the silent mist on the lake, or a casual hike in the woods, Muskoka inspires us to consider the natural world around us and to connect with the generations that came before. In order to help protect the environment and traditions of Muskoka, we need the support of all those who love to be here, whether for the day, a month, the summer, or the rest of your life.”
Reason #47 of 150
Less stress, more time on the field Habitat for Humanity homeowners have improved health, including fewer colds, flu, allergies, asthma and stress. With less stress and better health, they can focus on what matters; winning games! That’s just one of the reasons we’re helping to build 150 homes with our local projects in Orillia, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Espanola and Emsdale in celebration of Canada’s 150th.
Donate to Habitat for Humanity’s 34th Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project — because everyone deserves a place to call home.
donate at: www.habitatgatewaynorth.com (705) 646-0106 ext 205 bgerwin@habitatgatewaynorth.com #150reasonstobuild August 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 79
Muskoka Moments
Working for tomorrow’s Muskoka By Gord Durnan
Photograph: Courtesy of Gord Durnan
working with donor families to create It’s challenging to share some of my the Muskoka Community Foundation, most interesting Muskoka experiences which is part of a network of almost 200 so that you, the readers, may understand Community Foundations across Canada. the magic of this intriguing district. In 10 years, donors in Muskoka have A few words about my heritage invested almost $1 million in family and relationship may be appropriate, community endowments that have beginning with the arrival of my allowed the Muskoka Community great-grandparents, Charles and Emma Foundation to give more than Mickle, in the 1870s. They established $250,000 to help many diverse their first lumber mill, the MickleMuskoka charities. Dyment Mill, on Gravenhurst Bay. I have enjoyed helping the Ontario My mother, Helen, was born on July SPCA Muskoka Animal Centre, 1, 1915 – Dominion Day – at the Fairvern Nursing home, Muskoka family home on Bay Street in Conservancy, Habitat for Humanity, Gravenhurst, which has been restored as beautiful apartments. It has retained Gord Durnan welcomes mayor Paisley Donaldson to historic Hospice Muskoka and Ryde Rosehurst during the unveiling of an historic plaque by Community Co-operative, while also its original name, Rosehurst. Gravenhurst Heritage Committee. serving as vice-chair of the board of One of my great-grandfather’s governors of Nipissing University. I have also legacies was his development of an island on newly formed South Muskoka Hospital Foundation in Bracebridge. What a privilege had the honour of supporting other volunteers Gull Lake, which began its life as a picnic to grow service in their community. to spend almost 20 years working with pavilion and then grew over the next 90 My hometown of Gravenhurst celebrates dedicated volunteer board members and years to be my family cottage. We enjoyed community achievement with their talented hospital staff at all levels of the magical sunrises and sunsets while semi-annual Spirit Awards program, which I organization. I also became friends with swimming, water-skiing and canoeing every have had the pleasure of chairing for more thousands of donors who were passionate day of the summer. than 20 years. In addition, the Gravenhurst about ensuring we all had access to the best Island life is special and we were close to Rotary has an Education Endowment Fund health care by choosing to invest their Gull Lake Park, which was only 15 minutes of more than $1 million to assist students philanthropic dollars in equipping all away by rowboat. There, my brother Mike who wish to succeed in post-secondary hospital departments. and I learned to swim and play hardball education. My belief in the power and value of with the local boys. Gravenhurst and Muskoka will continue to Summer friendships, both on the lakes and volunteers found me joining Rotary, as well evolve in the coming decades because local as serving on other charitable boards in with new friends from town, have endured citizens and cottagers in every town, township Muskoka. I wanted to do my part to create for more than 70 years and I am blessed to and rural area care for their neighbours and the quality of life and preserve the be able to continue my friendships with so share their talents, resources and time to environment that brings Muskoka so much many special Gravenhurst families. work together for the common good. prominence worldwide as a “must-see” part I have lived full time in Gravenhurst for I look forward to watching all the talented 30 years with my artist wife, Dale. We raised of Canada and an ideal place to do business new, young residents coming to Muskoka to two talented daughters, Sarah and Shannon, and raise a family. create a sustainable, environmentally friendly My retirement was going to be golf every who learned so much from their wonderful and positive business climate, so we can lead other day and reading good books on the teachers. Of course, they also learned so the way for Canada to celebrate its 200th others. That was the plan until my phone much about life by experiencing Muskoka, birthday in 2067. started ringing with folks asking me to help which played a role in the successful and I hope my great-great-grandchildren them in their charitable endeavours. rewarding lives they have gone on to lead. Apparently, I have difficulty saying “No,” so enjoy that Muskoka as much as my family In 1987, I had the good fortune to be and I enjoy today’s Muskoka. thus began my new volunteer career, appointed the first executive director of the
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