Front Porch Life Spring / Summer 2026

FRONT PORCH LIFE

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Make friends while doing good

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Hilltop Park: A priceless village view

Live Better in Westport, Ontario

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The Watercolour Life: Discovering food and flowers at local farms

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New craftsmanstyle bungalows

WHEELING IN WESTPORT

The

village is the hub for cycling adventures SPRING

For the Bumas, cycling trips start the moment they roll down the driveway of their Watercolour home. That’s not how it was when they lived in the city.

“When we lived in Southwestern Ontario, we were forced to take our car everywhere, loading up the bikes, driving down the QEW, which almost always feels like a parking lot,” says John. “You arrive hyped up from the drive only to bike on a busy trail, sometimes along a busy road.”

Now the biggest stress Joan and John feel before a bike ride is whether to pack a picnic (Joan’s favourite) or bike to the Grains &

Goods bakery in Sydenham for one of their delectable German pastries (almost always John’s first choice).

In Southwestern Ontario, the biking routes the Bumas drove to were often pretty flat. When they moved to Westport, the Buma’s purchased e-assist bikes. The land around Westport is on the edge of the Canadian Shield in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere. Its unique geology and biodiversity is where five forest regions meet, creating rich habitats for wildlife… and people. There are also more hills – like Westport’s Foley Mountain.

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= UPPER RIDEAU LAKE

NARROW’S LOCK

31km

+260m/19mi 853ft

NEWBORO

NARROW’S LOCK

31km +260m/19mi 853ft

Difficulty

NARROW’S LOCK

31km

+260m/19mi 853ft

CHAFFEY’S LOCK HARLEM

80km

+808m/50mi 2650ft

Difficulty 56km +2286m/35mi 938ft

CHAFFEY’S LOCK

SHARBOT LAKE Difficulty

+808m/50mi 2650ft

CHAFFEY’S LOCK HARLEM SNOW ROAD CHAFFEY’S LOCK

CHAFFEY’S LOCK

Westport is the hub for cycling of all kinds

CHAFFEY’S LOCK

Difficulty

SNOW ROAD

+1251m/66mi 4104ft

+2286m/35mi 938ft Difficulty

+1251m/66mi 4104ft

Difficulty

= WESTPORT

= UPPER RIDEAU LAKE

The hilly topography leads to some beautiful cliff-top views over sparkling lakes. The e-assist bikes provide some assistance as the Bumas climb the bigger hills. They can easily climb Foley Mountain and go 100 km on a single charge. They switch between four levels of assist. Often John doesn’t require any extra help while climbing local hills.

Another one of their favourite bike trips is to the Narrows Locks. It’s a four-hour round trip from their front door. Joan likes to pack a picnic lunch. It’s scenic and quiet but John thinks the biggest downside of that route is the lack of German pastries.

A really fun place to visit is the River House Vineyard & Winery in Maberly. It’s a pleasant ride through rolling hills dotted with farms and thick forests. And the payoff is a delicious meal and glass of one of their wines on the patio.

All in all, Westport is a biker's haven.

There’s lots to love about cycling around Westport, Ontario: Quiet, well-maintained paths with hidden treats to discover along the way. Plan your trip right and you can make the final destination a patio at a winery, a favourite ice cream store, or a quaint lock on a historic canal.

Westport's local bike service provider at www.bichelangelo.carrd.co

SUMMERTIME SIPS

Porches are made for sitting back and savouring the longer summertime evenings.

From your home in Watercolour you can take the short stroll over to Rosie Yumski’s, a local gourmet shop, and find just the right ingredients for a summertime sipping beverage to be enjoyed on the porch.

And let’s not forget the many wonderful moments that are made extra special by our porch loving pets.

Stop by Wags, Whiskers and Wings for a wonderful selection of pet supplies and bird feeding necessities.

WORK FROM HOME IN COTTAGE COUNTRY

Find peace and productivity surrounded by good neighbours and beautiful nature

One morning, Jamie was tracking the shipment of a wind turbine project. She works in marine transportation for the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

Around noon, she looked outside. The sun was shining. She stuck her head in the home office of their Watercolour home and said to her husband, “Let's take 20 minutes, grab the dog and head up to the trail."

Minutes later, Jamie and her husband Shawn were surrounded by nature, listening to the birds beneath the canopy of trees on Foley Mountain. They even had time to stop at the grocery store and make a sandwich before their lunch hour was over.

That’s the life of a remote worker in Westport. Digital nomads find a home in Westport with fiber-optic internet to the door, facilitating seamless, high-speed remote work.

In Westport, even errands are a welcome, peaceful experience in the village.

“The other day we walked to the bank and stopped at the local coffee shop for a bagel,” says Jamie. “On our way home, we picked up bread from Forno, the local bakery. We got home, looked at the clock, and had so much extra time that we decided to head up to Foley Mountain with the dog and walk the trail before lunch.”

Compare that day of errands with a recent experience when Jamie was back in Montreal. She had a list of four errands to run but gave up midway through her list. “I was fed up with the traffic, the construction delays and the inefficiencies of being in the city.”

Both Jamie and Shawn, who also works in international supply chain logistics, travel extensively for work.

“Westport is surrounded by nature but we're still so close to everything that's important to us as professionals,” she says. “We've got several major cities, three international airports, and the train all within less than a 3 hour drive. Working remotely has been really easy and seamless from Westport and we're not inconvenienced at all.”

Jamie got to know the area when she would escape Montreal to go camping at Charleston Lake and Frontenac Provincial Park with her children. She has always loved the outdoors.

“One of the things we loved about Watercolour is the front porches,” she says. “The lot sizes are generous so you don’t have houses sitting on top of each other like in the city. Now we've got a big front porch where we can sit outside and talk to the neighbours. We’ve made so many friends here.”

Friends, nature at your doorstep, and high-speed internet when it’s time to work. Westport truly is the ideal place to live.

“Who

BETTER HEALTH IS A SHORT WALK AWAY

The Watercolour life: Services, friendships, nature, and loads of fun activities all at your fingertips

wants to go for a hike?”

That’s how the book club ended, with Joan Buma’s husband John popping his head around the corner of their living room, looking for a few friends to join him. Three hands shot up. What better way to work up an appetite for dinner than a walk along the nature trails that crisscross Watercolour?

Your social network is one of the most powerful predictors of how long you will live. In fact, many scientists now argue that social connection is as vital to your health as diet or exercise.

Connection between Watercolour neighbours doesn’t just come at book clubs. Joan longs for Thursday afternoon mahjong. Elsewhere in the village crafters are busy, service clubs are meeting, there’s live music almost every night… Westport is alive with healthy people living well.

When you can easily walk to a green space from your front door, you are significantly more likely to meet the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.

Research has shown that those living in "greener" areas don't just exercise more, they show better biological markers. People have lower blood pressure and a 25% lower risk of cardiovascular disease in areas with high greenery. A study by Yale University showed that "forest bathing" (mindful walking in nature) increases natural killer (NK) cells, which help the body fight off infections and tumors.

Joan takes full advantage of the natural surroundings around their Watercolour home. She is part of a walking group that walks 7 km most mornings. “Stepping out my door and hiking up to Foley and doing the trails around the mountain are my joy of living,” she says.

COUNTRY ROADS

COMMUNITY

HEALTH CENTRE

Doctor

Hearing Clinic

Physiatry (Physical medicine and rehab) A FIREHALL & PARAMEDIC PHARMACY

CHIROPRACTOR & MASSAGE

DENTIST

walks down to the beach, sometimes with a friend. Her first swim is around mid May. Her last swim in the fall of 2025 was October 18.

“I go for longer swims across the lake with a friend from Watercolour,” she says. “Sometimes I'll go down on an evening in September or October when nobody's at the beach and just swim my little heart out.”

Watercolour residents who like skating or playing hockey can walk two blocks to the local arena. It’s a community hub, along with indoor pickleball courts.

It’s not just about an active lifestyle. A strong support system of medical professionals are part of the journey to greater wellness. They provide urgent care too.

John, Joan’s husband, broke his hip while playing pickleball last spring. A paramedic was by his side within two minutes of calling 911. An ambulance came soon after and transported John 20 minutes away to the local ER at Perth Hospital.

He broke his hip on June 30. He had a new hip by July 1. Three days later he was mowing the lawn.

Kingston is a pleasant 45 minute drive from Westport. The city serves as the healthcare "hub" for all of Southeastern Ontario, meaning it provides specialized services to over 600,000 people that you typically only find in major metropolises like Toronto or Ottawa.

Kingston’s Queen’s University has one of the top medical schools in the country and attracts world-class doctors and specialists who want to teach and conduct research.

Within a short walk of Watercolour are almost all the daily health services you could need – a pharmacy, audiologist, health clinic, dental care, a chiropractor and physiotherapist. For furry friends, there’s even a vet clinic a block away.

There are few places as good to find a holistic, healthy lifestyle.

Living in a "greener" area promotes healthy living. And there’s always a reason to get outdoors and explore the hiking trails through Westport.

Last summer, Land Ark Homes ran a bird house workshop and mounted bird houses along Harvest Creek Trail that runs through Watercolour.

Farmers' Markets

Our very own Westport Market is situated across from Lockwood Park and the WTC Arena. The open-air market operates on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or 4 p.m. depending on the season), from the Victoria Day long weekend in May through Labour Day.

Westport Museum

Enjoy a self guided tour. Opens May Long weekend for the season.

Golf

All summer long. Rideau Lakes and Evergreen Golf.

westport Car Show

Cruise into Westport, Ontario, for the most family-friendly car and truck show in Eastern Ontario.

July 18, 2026

Fantasy in the Forest Art Show

July 18 and 19, then again on September 5 and 6. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 100 artists.

Music Westport

3rd weekend in August

Westporch

September 19, 2026

One of the heartbeats of Westport is the Lions Club. And at 80 years old, it’s still beating strong.

The Westport Lions Club received its official Charter in 1946. A welcoming and engaging small group of members and volunteers have been keeping the group alive and thriving ever since.

80 AND GOING STRONG SUMMER CELEBRATIONS

Part of the Watercolour life is a feeling of belonging. Residents feel drawn into village life through community organizations like the Lions. People build lasting friendships with neighbours as they do good things in Westport.

Each year, through a wide variety of fundraising efforts, the Club raises thousands of dollars for a host of charities in the region like the Westport Food Bank, area diabetes camps, school breakfast programs, and for not-for-profit groups such as the Friends of Westport Arena and Foley Mountain Conservation Area.

Since the early 1960’s, the Club has operated and maintained the renowned Westport Lions Beach at Sand Lake providing a recreational oasis well within walking distance of Watercolour. The Westport Lions Beach was rated the #1 beach in Eastern Ontario by the publication The Wedge, specifically cited for its cleanliness and family-friendly atmosphere.

The Westport Lions Club also operates the Medical Mobility Service to provide vital transportation, at no charge, for people in need of transportation for medical appointments.

In 2020, the Westport Lions opened the Reuse and Recycle Centre. The Centre accepts used furniture and furnishings, tools, and sports equipment. The Centre provides low cost items for people in the area while reducing unnecessary landfill as a consequence. The Reuse and Recycle Centre also recycles metal and electronic components.

In keeping with the Lions Club’s commitment to the mission and inspiration of Helen Keller, vision is an important pillar of Lionism. Each year they operate a vision screening test for area children to identify potential eye disorders.

In addition, the Club organizes a wide variety of activities and events from the annual Santa Claus parade to the Canada Day children’s drawing contest. With their annual Fish Fry dinners and senior summer luncheons, the Westport Lions try to live by their slogan “We Serve.”

If you like a challenge and like to achieve something meaningful, consider joining or volunteering with the Westport Lions.

A PRICELESS VILLAGE VIEW

Hilltop Park is one of the newest jewels in Westport

Hilltop Park preserves one of the most beautiful unobstructed views of Westport for generations to come – a testament to inspired planning and a love for nature and neighbour.

From Hilltop Park, where you will find some classic red Adirondack chairs, you can savour both sunrise and sunset. The view is a trophy image of the village down below with its leafy, tree-lined streets. Seeing the village from above changes your perspective and harkens back to a time when people walked everywhere and neighbours knew each other. Watercolour is designed to rekindle a connection to nature and neighbour by a walkable network of sidewalks and trails.

There are a few striking natural features on the Watercolour property. Harvest Creek winds its way through the community at the New Haven Gate entrance. Hilltop Park anchors the southern edge of Watercolour overlooking the village.

The topography of Hilltop Park is quintessential Canadian Shield, ancient Precambrian rock jutting out of the landscape over Westport.

“We wanted to take the best stream corridors and natural features and make them public,” says Stephen Rolston, owner of Land Ark Homes. “All people should have the benefit of walking along the creek and everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the views.”

And the views are spectacular.

In the spring and summer, the payoff of a hike up the Hilltop Park path is a view of shimmering Sand Lake in one direction and the bustling village in the other. It’s like something you’d see in a quaint New England village complete with church steeples and colourful architecture. In the fall, the colours explode across the forests of Foley Mountain. The lights of the village peak through a blanket of snow in winter.

People connect at Hilltop Park where a pergola frames the view for weddings and family photos. In another part of the path, four Adirondack chairs provide a place for long chats or some quiet thinking time looking out over the beautiful vista.

Hilltop Park is the newest “perfect place” in Westport.

Pick Your Own Adventure

Every day in Westport is an invitation to craft your perfect day. Experience the Watercolour life by picking and choosing experiences that speak to your soul. Whether you're foraging for unique finds, exploring scenic trails, or simply soaking in the lakeside charm, get ready to fill your basket with unforgettable moments. For even more ideas and up-to-date event listings, visit whatsonwesport.ca.

Wine & Dine

Wine and dine your way through Westport at The Cove Inn, where the views of the water are as smooth as the live music and the local draughts on tap. Drop in to Kudrinko’s and you’ll find pre-made picnic essentials, artisanal cheeses, locally roasted coffee and everyday necessities. Or fuel your village trek with a delicious lunch at The Tangled Garden or the Woodfired Café. End the day sipping a glass of wine and eating wood-fired pizza on the patio at Scheuermann Vineyard and Winery.

Waterfront

Kick off your morning at the Westport Harbour and watch the boats as they navigate the Upper Rideau. Grab a selfie while crossing the iconic footbridge. Spend a lazy afternoon lounging on Hilltop Park with a good book. Head over to Sand Lake Beach for a dip in the shallow, family-friendly waters. For a true village vibe, grab a cold one at the Westport Brewing Company, where the back porch offers a bird’s-eye view of the harbour.

Ice Cream & Coffee

Get your caffeine kick at Forno Sourdough Pizza + Bread Bakery, a top-tier choice for coffee lovers. It feels like a little slice of Europe and you can pair your latte with a sourdough cinnamon bun. When the afternoon sun starts calling for a cooldown, make a beeline for Vanilla Bean’s Cafe & Creamery or Spy Rock Scoops for a scoop of ice cream that practically begs to be eaten lakeside.

Hiking

Lace up your boots and head to Foley Mountain Conservation Area. Discover the well-maintained trails. Post a picture from the famous Spy Rock lookout. For a gentler pace, wander through the village or walk the Harvest Trail through Watercolour, finishing with a hike to the peak of Hilltop Park.

Arts

Immerse yourself in the local creative scene at the Art Shack, a seasonal artist display and workshop area in the village. Channel your inner curator at Pinecone, a boutique that feels like a gallery, filled with artisan-made goods and carefully selected decor that perfectly captures the village’s rustic-chic spirit. In the heart of the village, Trevor Connell’s studio incorporates colours, textures and materials you would see in the surrounding natural environment. Stone Manor Studios is a boutique creative destination in nearby Newboro. They offer immersive art workshops, creative retreats, and meaningful cultural experiences designed to inspire connection, creativity, and rest.

WESTPORT’S FIVE-MILE DIET

Part of the Watercolour Life is discovering food and beauty at local farms

Foodtastes better when it’s made from healthy, fresh, local ingredients. Westport’s abundance of fresh food is deeply rooted in its history as a central agricultural hub. Today, this heritage is kept alive by a dense network of family-run operations which provide everything from seasonal berries to heirloom vegetables.

This thriving food scene is further sustained by a strong "buy local" culture. People who live in the village love exploring the web of rural roads around Westport, finding vegetable stands, new art studios, or a cooler full of cartons of colourful eggs collected that morning. For the less adventurous, independent grocers like Kudrinko’s and the seasonal Westport Farmers’ Market ensure that farm-gate freshness is always just a few minutes' walk away. The farmers’ market is steps from Watercolour and runs all summer long.

Favourite local haunts include Palmer Berry Farm. In the summer and fall, the stands burst with flavourful berries and other produce. It’s a short bike ride from Watercolour.

Stealing the Bloom Farm is a small regenerative homestead going back to the 1870s. Matthew and Heidi purchased the farm in 2021. They use no-till farming and rotational grazing to maximize the productivity of their small, vibrant acreage. They sell beef, lamb, and mutton and seasonal vegetables and flowers from the garden as well as farm fresh chicken and duck eggs.

Many Watercolour residents get their farm-fresh eggs from Stoodley’s, a farm that is right next door to Watercolour. It’s a short walk from the end of Hilltop Trail.

And to add a splash of vibrant colour to a table laden with local food, Watercolour residents turn to Garcia Gardens. Noah works on the Land Ark Homes team. His wife, Pam, produces the most beautiful flower arrangements out of the garden of their home on the Watercolour property.

Eating healthy food made from ingredients grown next door with neighbours who know you… that’s the Watercolour life.

THE FUTURE OF HOMES IN CANADA : NOW IN WESTPORT Energy resilience

Ninety-nine percent of new homes built today are already obsolete. They lack the energy efficiency and technology required for sustainable living that is fossil fuel free and all electric. At Land Ark Homes, we know homes can be better. We’re building homes to a standard much higher than today’s building code. In fact, we’re building to the 2030 Net Zero Energy Ready Building Code. Here is a glimpse of the proven technology you’ll find in the mechanical room of a Watercolour Net Zero home.

Cold climate air source heat pump

One of the main engines of a Net Zero Ready home is the cold climate air source heat pump. It operates effectively in a Canadian winter with no gas lines or worries about carbon monoxide. And it’s incredibly efficient: For every dollar of energy that is used to run the heat pump, you get $3-4 worth of energy back into your home saving you $1,200 in energy costs annually.

Fresh air

Each Watercolour home features a MERV 13 air filter designed to significantly reduce airborne particulates. The filters have the potential to remove up to 80% of fine particulates like pollen, wildfire smoke particles, and dust. The 4-inch format means the filter lasts about six months before needing to be changed.

Hot and cold air distribution

The whisper-quiet “home run” flexible duct system sends fresh air from a central plenum individually down each run. This avoids the normal branching of traditional ducts where the last room in the line gets the weakest airflow. No more cold or hot spots!

Energy recovery ventilator

The energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is the lungs of your house. The ERV takes the stale, moist inside air and replaces it with fresh filtered air. And it’s energy efficient too. The device recovers about 80% of the energy difference between the outside fresh air being drawn inside and the stale air being pushed outside.

Air source Heat Pump hot water heaterr

An air source electric water heater extracts the waste heat from the air in the home and uses it to heat water. Much like the air-source heat pump, for every unit of energy that you purchase or generate, you get three units of energy into your hot water. These remarkable hot water heaters are included with your new home saving you costly rental hot water heaters. This saves you $500 in energy and $500 in rental fees per year.

Power gateway

Solar panels on the roof generate enough electricity to offset all of the energy use for this house over the course of the year. That's the definition of Net Zero. The gateway takes the electricity generated on the roof in DC current and inverts it to AC so that it can be input into the home electrical panel.

and future-proof living

Savant Electrical Panel

All the critical circuits such as the electric vehicle plug, refrigerator, heat pump systems, and water heating system are controlled and monitored by the Savant electrical panel. No more “dumb” breaker panel – this load management tool shows you where your energy is going so you can start to manage the electrical load to reduce peaks and take best advantage of solar energy production. When a power interruption occurs, you can direct energy where it is most needed.

Whole home battery backup

Visit our Crosby+Loft model home to experience a real life example of a future-proof home. This model house is supported by 13 kilowatt hours of battery backup. In the event of a blackout, you can continue to run lights, fridges, internet, and even a little bit of heating for days at a time. And that doesn’t account for any additional power you can pull from solar panels. No need for a fossil fuel burning generator here!

Land Ark Homes is such a future-thinking builder that Natural Resources Canada made a documentary about Watercolour and its Net Zero Ready homes. Scan here to watch the documentary on YouTube.

THE WALKABLE WATERCOLOUR LIFE

Where daily necessities (and

a lot of lovely

treats!) are a short walk away

The library, restaurants, live music, a vineyard, a brewery, the beach, the pharmacy, the grocery store… it’s hard to think of something that isn’t within walking distance in Westport.

The Watercolour life is a walkable one and we have designed Watercolour to mesh perfectly with the village. That’s why we chose a modified grid when designing the streets. While respecting natural corridors and topography, modified grids help create liveable neighborhoods that make walking easy. Streets that come together at right angles slow the pace of traffic. They’re intuitive to navigate.

Craftsman style homes with front porches that are made for outdoor living make the walkable neighborhood feel friendlier and safer. Eyes on the street are a welcome thing in Westport. We care about each other here and we invite

conversation. Walkable places are healthier for you and the environment.

In Westport, children walk to school. A Catholic elementary and public elementary school are a short walk away. You can carry your hockey bag and stick to the rink. A baseball diamond, beach, fishing hole, dock for canoeing and kayaking, the harbour, a hiking and biking trail, church, community groups, the store for ice cream or coffee, sourdough pizza… everything is within a short walk.

But don’t be in a hurry. A quick errand can take far longer when you stop to chat with neighbours along the way!

See the map below for some of the village highlights and visit whatsonwestport.ca for a more detailed village map and listing of upcoming events.

NEW CRAFTSMAN-STYLE BUNGALOW FLOORPLANS

The Cranberry, Farren and Kingsford are perfectly sized bungalows

The newest bungalow offerings at Watercolour are single-family homes right-sized for a smaller footprint.

These beautiful homes are thoughtfully designed for 38 and 42-foot lots in Phase 3. Each model has four-sided architecture and craftsman, cottage-style, exterior designs. They feel spacious with roomy side yards and they have a generous, airy, Watercolour feeling inside and out. We are so excited about these new floorplans that we even built a few in Phase 2, for spring and summer closings. Don’t delay, we know they will be sold soon!

Choosing a Watercolour move-in ready home lets you step into the Watercolour life sooner. Plus, it allows you to secure some big savings. Here are the three easy steps to purchase a move-in ready home.

WELCOME HOME Congratulations! Welcome to the Land Ark Homes family. Consult your Homeowner’s Guide for the next steps to care for your home and register your warranty. Enjoy Net Zero Ready, energy-saving comfort and start building priceless memories. SELECT YOUR HOME Choose a home with professionally selected finishes and save, with many upgrades and any applicable lot premiums included. Take the stress out of home buying with most of the selections made for you.

PREPARE TO MOVE Make a deposit with a signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale, and have peace of mind knowing that you are moving into a luxurious, Net Zero Ready home built by Land Ark Homes. Complete your pre-delivery inspection when the time is right. Our service team is available for your peace of mind.