May 2017, Issue 4 : simplebooklet.com

May 2017 telling the Muskoka story Features 19 The ballad of Toby the Seabird 34 By Tim Du Vernet SeaBirds built by Port Carling Boats were a common and popular utility design of boat that served many families throughout Muskoka Built in 1929 Toby is a fine example of the simple effectiveness typical of Port Carling Boats 24 Living with bears By Doug Smith Going by the reports of bear human encounters in the region last fall as well as a number of bear car collisions 2016 was clearly not a good year for bears in Muskoka While living with bears is not necessarily easy it can be done 28 New beginnings at the Gnarled Stump By Heather Glumac When Travis and Rheanon Medland were married in 2012 they dreamed one day of starting a hobby farm together A life altering accident and a sense of determination saw the young couple realize their objective much sooner 34 Muskoka s churches have faith in the future By Dawn Huddlestone Despite their proud facades many of Muskoka s churches are at risk of closing While some congregations are having difficulty others are turning to community outreach and new forms of worship to grow their numbers 24 40 Pollution part of Muskoka s early culture By J Patrick Boyer Muskoka wasn t always pristine and pure Early settlers often brought attitudes and practices with them that despoiled much of the landscape Their culture of contamination out of sight out of mind accompanied them 28

Page 5

Page 6

Page 7

Departments 11 Muskoka Calendar Canadian music legends performing for a fundraiser a conference on algae major sporting events and a quilt festival are among many activities on the Muskoka Calendar 44 Cottage Country Cuisine 44 11 44 Muskoka s leading maple syrup producers and chefs point out the taste that is Canada s pride and joy can be enjoyed in many different ways 52 What s Happened From reports in Unique Muskoka s newest feature learn about some of the major news in Muskoka 56 Living in Muskoka By Dale Peacock Restaurateurs Randy and Karen Spencer enjoy entertaining at their home which includes a kitchen designed for sharing their passion for food 11 Opinion 9 64 By Don Smith By John Cooper Beginning his Muskoka experience at only a week old accomplished businessman John Cooper has many marvellous Muskoka memories generated from a life of cottaging and living in the district Muskoka Insights 11 MAY 2017 Muskoka s early culture of pollution Closures Pending Muskoka s churches are keeping the faith Muskoka Moments A sweet birthday for Canada Cooking with Maple Syrup New beginnings at the Gnarled Stump Our Cover Photograph by Andy Zeltkalns Sunday service at historic St James the Apostle Anglican Church Port Carling 56 May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5

Page 8

KNOWLES PLUMBING Muskoka s Bath Plumbing Centre telling the Muskoka story Sales Installation Service Design Consultation Visit our Showroom Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc Donald Smith Publisher and Editor Donna Ansley Sales Heather Glumac Designer Featuring the most complete selection of quality bathroom kitchen fixtures Susan Smith Administration David Barker J Patrick Boyer Jim Brendish John Cooper Heather Douglas Tim Du Vernet Heather Glumac Dawn Huddlestone Eleanor Kee Wellman Jan McDonnell Dale Peacock Helena Renwick Doug Smith Ryan Sorichetti Tomasz Szumski Karen Wehrstein Andy Zeltkalns Contributors Annual Subscription Rates including HST where applicable In Ontario 30 00 All Other Provinces 36 00 U S 45 00 All Other Countries 59 00 HST 773172721 Celebrating our 60 th year serving Muskoka 279 Manitoba Street Bracebridge Tel 705 645 2671 visit us at knowlesplumbing com 6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number 43268016 Copyright 2017 Unique Publishing Inc No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher Box 616 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9 info uniquemuskoka com 705 637 0204

Page 9

Page 10

Page 11

at a private getaway Truly one of the greatest transitions is the faith of our fathers and mothers While not a Muskoka phenomenon neither is the district immune to the decline of traditional churches in Canada Churches representing a cross section of denominations were a focal point of Muskoka s smallest communities In the Anglican Church where some closures have already occurred no fewer than 16 Muskoka churches are being considered for deconsecration Lower attendance has meant smaller offerings and fewer people to fulfill the parochial responsibilities of each congregation On the flip side more evangelical churches in Muskoka are following larger national trends and enjoying substantial growth While conservative in their doctrine they offer more contemporary worship and are active in their community outreach The feature Muskoka Churches Have Faith in Their Future and the sidebar Going Against the Tide explore these changing trends When it comes to faith and the adaptive qualities of Muskokans few can match the story of Travis and Rheanon Medland A life altering accident forced them to re assess their future like few others Their devotion and dedication to a dream one rooted in Muskoka s farming heritage is an inspiration and the subject of a feature in your May Unique Muskoka You ll find much more to read in this issue including everything from recipes that feature Muskoka s spring tonic maple syrup to a lifestyle feature on well known restaurateurs Randy and Karen Spencer and the home that was built to accommodate their culinary desires and not to be missed our expanded Muskoka Calendar that highlights a host of popular events Happy reading O pen For live chat push door Real local people Real local service With State Farm every policy comes with your own personal agent I pride myself on being part of the local community so I can truly understand and best serve the needs of my customers Get to a better State Get State Farm CALL ME TODAY Photograph Susan Smith As certain as the seasons change there are profound metamorphoses underway in Muskoka Muskokans are adaptable From the days of the district s earliest pioneers when presented with a challenge Muskokans have responded and found a new way forward Many of those tempted to settle in Muskoka with the promise of free land through the Free Grants and Homestead Act soon determined the poor quality of the land made it almost impossible to realize the dream of becoming farmers While some departed for greener pastures many remained undeterred by this obstacle to a better life They turned to logging and tourism as more secure sources of income In this issue of Unique Muskoka historian Patrick Boyer tells the story of some of those transitions and their impact on the environment The immense tannery operations that were built in Bracebridge and Huntsville were among those that would most certainly draw unwanted attention today The location of a ready source of tanbark in Muskoka saw leather from around the world shipped here for processing However this newfound source of employment in the early days of the last century also damaged the environment in many ways that would be currently unacceptable With the changes in tanning processes this industry evaporated as quickly as it had started Tourism was another alternative income source embraced by early Muskokans but once again this sector of the economy is now undergoing major transformation As noted in What s Happened Unique Muskoka s newest regular feature many of the district s familyrun resorts are closing or are being re purposed While some of Muskoka s largest resorts are expanding the most notable growth sector in tourism is the renting of family cottages Rental agencies online services realtors and others are promoting the memories that can be enjoyed Les Bell Ins Agcy Inc Les Bell Agent Bracebridge ON P1L2C1 Bus 705 646 9995 Toll Free 877 877 3929 www lesbell ca State Farm branded policies are underwritten by Certas Home and Auto Insurance Company or Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company State Farm and related trademarks and logos are registered trademarks owned by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company used under licence by Certas Home and Auto Insurance Company and certain of its affiliates 1410005CN 1 Your Home and Cottage Mattress Centre THE LARGEST SELECTION OF IN STOCK MATTRESSES IN MUSKOKA Premier Supreme by Marshall Mattress 6 MonicaMARSHALL Lane MATTRESS CO Bracebridge M 1 800 682 6861 705 646 2557 Or i gi na l P ock et S pr i ng TO LEARN MORE www mattressesofmuskoka com May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9

Page 12

Page 13

Photograph David Barker The Canadian Men s Chorus will celebrate the works of Canadian composers in its May 6 concert at the Gravenhurst Opera House Photograph Ryan Sorichetti Muskoka Concert Association presents the Canadian Men s Chorus singing in celebration of Canada s 150th anniversary on May 6 at the Gravenhurst Opera House The all male chamber choir performs choral music in classical and other genres and supports Canadian composers it has commissioned and premiered more than 30 original pieces Canada s 150th anniversary is a special year for the Canadian Men s Chorus The singers will bring their signature harmonies and ability to take an audience on an emotional journey to a concert entitled With Glowing Hearts Canadian composers like Leonard Cohen Eleanor Daley Mark Sirett Diane Loomer and others have given us a wealth of brilliant music extolling the praises of our land its people and their accomplishments says Chorus co founder Arlene Jillard Doors open at 6 30 p m and the concert starts at 7 30 www gravenhurst ca en opera opera asp One may think algae is useless at best and at worst a lake poisoning nuisance But the truth is a little more complicated than that Algae is actually a crucial part of a lake ecosystem Without it the lake would be Participants will learn the good and the bad of algae at the 50 Shades of essentially dead unable to sustain fish and other Green conference on May 12 aquatic creatures At the same time there can be too much of a good thing Whether one is interested in the science or just wants to know what can be done to protect a favourite Muskoka lake from both an absence of algae and algal blooms this year s Muskoka Watershed Stewardship Conference 50 Shades of Green All About Algae will be informative Presented by the Muskoka Watershed Council and the District of Muskoka the all day conference takes place on May 12 at the Port Carling Community Centre The keynote speaker is Dr Charles Trick Beryl Ivey Chair in Ecosystem Health at the University of Western Ontario www muskokawatershed org events msc Legendary Canadian musicians Murray McLauchlan Ian Thomas Cindy Church and Marc Jordan the star power behind supergroup Lunch at Allen s are rallying together to help Bracebridge resident Jake Thomas Jake who is a filmmaker father of four and the son of musician Ian Thomas was severely injured in a snowmobiling accident May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11

Page 14

www thecaisse com Born in Yorkshire England artist Pat Canadian musical icons Murray McLauchlan Fairhead came to Canada at the age of 10 Cindy Church Ian Thomas and Marc Jordan will and fell in love with this nation s landscape perform at the May 12 fundraiser for Jake Thomas Now 90 years old and still going strong on Jan 7 rendering him paraplegic The performers refer to Jake as a son to us all They have arranged two benefit concerts to assist with the fundraising required to retrofit Jake s house and vehicles purchase mobility equipment and support his family Fairhead has put together a one woman show that tells in visual form the story of her journey of nine decades tens of thousands of kilometres and a continuallyunfolding artistic odyssey Known as an adventurer an innovator Elevate Yourself 705 645 4567 InclinedElevation com InclinedElevation 12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 Photograph Submitted Photograph Courtesy of Lunch at Allen s as they overcome this challenge On May 12 McLauchlan Thomas Church and Jordan will hit the stage of the Rene M Caisse Memorial Theatre in Bracebridge in support of Jake These four amazing musician songwriters have sold some 25 million CDs of music they either wrote or performed penning hits for Chicago Josh Groban Bonnie Raitt America Santana Cher and Rod Stewart Artist Pat Fairhead s work will be featured at the Chapel Gallery May 13 to June 3 and a colourist who is always pushing the edge of her capability Fairhead has visited the high Arctic nine times paddled British Columbia s coast camped in the rainforest of the Amazon hiked the Australian outback and travelled to Namibia Botswana South Africa Egypt Europe New Zealand Scotland England and many more places The show features not only her art but also photographs newspaper clippings and magazine articles contextualizing it all Pat Fairhead at 90 runs at the Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge from May 13 to June 3

Page 15

commencing with a birthday reception from 1 4 p m on the opening day Theatre website or at Treasures and Trophies in Huntsville www muskokaartsandcrafts com www downtownhuntsvilleadventures ca www thekee com Another great summer kick off event happens on May 26 at the Gravenhurst Opera House The 2017 Summer Season Photograph Helena Renwick The Victoria Day weekend is all about celebration so what better way to spend it than to enjoy great beer and live music during the second annual Muskoka 2 4 Craft Beer Festival on Saturday May 20 Taking place rain or shine from noon to 6 p m at River Mill Park in downtown Huntsville the festival will feature artisan breweries collectively offering samples of some 40 different brews Enjoy the views of the Muskoka River while sampling exceptional craft beer and listening to amazing local bands There will also be plenty of local fare with food vendors offering everything from gourmet eats to organic juice brews to locally made ice cream Tickets are available on the Algonquin Muskokans can always count on the Kee to Bala for a great party and all the better if it s on the May long weekend Bring your friends to the 5th Annual Sunday Funday Bash on Sunday May 21 and get ready to kick off summer with great music from fun DJ s Presented by TeamLTD this 19 and older event starts at 10 p m and ends at 2 a m Organizers expect it to sell out so tickets should be purchased before they re gone Huntsville will host the Muskoka 2 4 Craft Beer Festival on Saturday May 20 at River Mill Park excelrailings ca 705 646 2508 May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 13

Page 16

Gala starts at 6 p m with a red carpet welcome Guests will enjoy a Taste of Gravenhurst featuring delicious offerings from award winning local chefs accompanied by live dinner music At 8 p m guests will retire to the theatre for an evening of music and comedy hosted by Canadian greats Deb McGrath and Sheila McCarthy Artists include Sean McCann of Great Big Sea Harrow Fair with Gravenhurst s own Miranda Mulholland up and coming country star Grant Tingey Bet Smith the Currie Brothers the Muskoka Youth Choir the Ukulele Society and many more for serious athletes with two more lengths in between Ride organizers have arranged support vehicles and water and food stations It concludes with a fabulous post ride brunch at Hidden Valley Resort near Huntsville and access to the showers and the pool All proceeds go to the Canadian Mental Health Association www bikemuskoka ca Online registration closes May 24 www gravenhurst ca en opera opera asp The same excellent organizers who run the classic insanely long Muskoka River X every fall have a spring event for keen paddlers the fifth annual Big East River X happening May 27 in Huntsville This event features two races a ninekilometre family recreational run for the more casual paddlers and a 40 kilometre marathon for the serious paddler Both wind through the town of Huntsville along the Muskoka River and into Lake Vernon the marathon continues up the Big East River into Arrowhead Provincial Park and then back again It s all flat deep water paddling with no portages and participants can travel by canoe kayak or stand up paddleboard SUP Photograph Jim Brendish www muskokariverx com Now in its 12th year the annual Spin the Lakes bicycle tour will be held May 2 14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 Cyclists will hit the roads of Muskoka on May 27 for the 12th Annual Spin the Lakes bicycle tour a non competitive event that takes participants past some of Muskoka s most spectacular lake and rockscape vistas There s a route for everyone with distances that range from 20 kilometres for casual or beginner riders to 170 kilometres The Pine Tree Quilters Guild of Muskoka presents Muskoka Quilts from the Heart a two day celebration of all things quilt Happening June 2 3 at a new location the Bracebridge Memorial Arena the show will feature quilts antique quilt turning quilting demonstrations door prizes a caf and vendors offering quiltrelated products and services There will be traditional and modern quilts with artistic and whimsical designs as well as d cor wall hangings clothing toys electronic accessories and sewing quilting supplies and accessories www pinetreequiltersguildofmuskoka com quilt show 2017 Much of the pleasure of travel by paddle is the beauty of the scenery one gets to appreciate up close That translates well into the cinematic medium and is what the Reel Paddling Film Festival is all about An international film tour travelling to 120 cities in the English speaking world it will arrive at the Algonquin Theatre on June 2 There are 21 short films shortlisted for the tour and the eight playing in Huntsville include four award winners Included are Bear Witness a loving look at a system of waterways under environmental threat Women Outward Bound the story of how women broke into

Page 17

Page 18

Photograph Jan McDonnell Muskoka Quilts from the Heart will be a two day celebration of quilting June 2 3 at the Bracebridge Memorial Arena the Outward Bound program The Canoe a celebration of the craft as a Canadian national symbol and Noatak Return to the Arctic about two elderly canoeists reflecting on their past journeys For event information or to watch the trailers visit algonquinoutfitters com event reel paddling film festival 3 www algonquintheatre ca 16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 Mark your calendars for the Crafted Muskoka Spring Arts Market taking place on Saturday June 3 at the Sawdust City Brewery in Gravenhurst The event s Facebook page bills the market as a bi annual event that celebrates the extraordinary talent of Canadian artisans while focusing attention on Muskoka as a tourist destination Presented by Crafted Muskoka the event runs from 10 a m to 5 p m and will feature more than 50 vendors offering a variety of different handmade items Visit facebook com craftedmuskoka

Page 19

Page 20

Page 21

Page 22

mahogany decking for the Charles Truax through the many expected Muskoka touch of decades he has known the boat elegance which dates back to when he was Although Toby originated in a child Although her original Hub of the Lakes she spent owner is unknown Truax many of her early years on Lake explains that George Bentley of Bays and then returned from bought Toby in 1932 for his Lake Rosseau to Lake of Bays cottage on Lake of Bays Today she is currently proudly My family cottage on Lake owned by Charles and Myrtle of Bays abutted the Bentley Truax who have her securely property at the back of the two stored in their Lake of Bays properties explains Truax who boathouse says he and his three sisters At 19 feet Toby never stole looked up to George and his The 19 foot Toby will be the poster boat for this year s Baysville Boat Show the spotlight in the way a launch Sunday August 20 wife Mary as another set of with a 36 foot long deck would grandparents but she managed to enjoy a glow of Buchanan that could generate upwards of 30 With their family cottages so close by he admiration from her immediate family and hp for a top speed of at best 20 mph recalls seeing Toby passing by And as strangers when she came out into public Her special moment of fame came in children they had the opportunity for the view Some may even recognize the rare 1985 during a Muskoka boat show when she occasional thrilling cruise too arrangement of her forward engine position was awarded the best SeaBird of the show My sisters and I would jump for joy and twin cockpit design Toby is not about speed or a dominating when we heard the horn blowing as Toby Her capacity for speed is equally unlikely profile She provides reliable pleasant rounded the point of land which separated to draw attention away from the sports cruising in a compact and modest package our cottage from the Bentley cottage he runabouts since few boats had less power More than that Toby has been the source of says than her trusty four cylinder Star Bulldog a wonderful tapestry of memories for Toby will enjoy the spotlight once again Toby has been the source of wonderful memories for Myrtle and Charles Truax of Lake of Bays 20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017

Page 23

as the poster boat for the Baysville Boat Show that will be held Sunday August 20 With several decades of service under her belt Toby s character has become even more apparent and her true shine is coming through Each year a committee for the Baysville Boat Show picks a boat to showcase the event and to adorn the poster The committee chooses a boat that they feel has a unique character and will serve to promote the preservation of wooden boats of historic significance in the community In the normal course of events show boats are those that have just come out of the restoration shop with fresh varnish and gleaming chrome This year the Baysville Boat Show committee decided that character and heritage would win over a shiny finish The Truaxes were a bit surprised when their boat was chosen to represent the show this year but it seemed this kind of attention is what Toby takes in stride On the day her photograph was taken for the poster it was as though Toby had conspired with Mother Nature A dense fog held on for several hours keeping her hidden from shoreline eyes while the photograph was being taken There was a time when Toby gleamed with a fresh coat of varnish and perfect chrome Over the years the boat has been enjoyed by several owners It wasn t until 1973 that the Truaxes welcomed Toby into their family They bought the Bentley cottage which included Toby among other items such as a canoe and a lapstrake rowboat dating to the 1930s The Bentley family had owned Toby and the cottage since 1932 Truax sold Toby in 1974 to Bruce Cotrill who soon sold her to Bruce Wilson who owned Greavette Boats at the time After a complete restoration by Greavette Boats Toby was sold to Robert Cross in September 1980 In the course of the restoration Truax notes that the name SeaBird was removed from both sides of the bow the glass ball atop the sternpost had been replaced with a plastic one and the long engine hatch handles were replaced with knobs Charles wonders if the entire hatches had been replaced with those from a different boat In addition a 1911 car horn had been substituted for her original horn May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 21

Page 24

From the time the boat was first sold by the Truax family to when they were able to buy it back these changes were made to the boat by the various owners and in the process of restoration Having owned the boat before and after the restoration Charles was more aware of the differences Not only was her hull completely restored but also Toby s engine upholstery and chrome have been returned to showroom luster She has been a well used and trusted boat and continues to be enjoyed by the Truaxes since they bought her back more than 25 years ago Now both retired Charles and Myrtle Truax have time to enjoy Toby and to share her with family and neighbours Whether she s cutting through the morning stillness around Bigwin Island or cruising late at night as her passengers gaze up at the constellations and watch for comets Toby is enjoyed From the time Charles first enjoyed summers on Lake of Bays Toby as she is now known played a key role in many special moments We kids looked upon Lake of Bays as an absolute heaven on earth says Charles And Mr Bentley s 1929 SeaBird was part of that heaven When we heard the horn and the rumbling of the engine as the boat came For me it was a good year sleek and trim with mahogany decks and shiny lapstrake cedar planking my nineteen feet of length was all agog with hope for my SeaBird world stretched out forever or so it seemed 22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 around the point sometimes to take us on a little cruise we were ecstatic The Truaxes feel they are the current stewards of Toby and they hope successive owners will share the same devotion and care for their beloved boat Their passion comes through in the ballad of Toby s Tale a poem the Truaxes found crumpled up in the boat s horn The Truax s are a bit whimsical about the boat The finding of a poem is part of their legend which enhances a mystical ambiance of Toby Among the many eloquent stanzas a few particularly reveal her special qualities When he died at ninety eight how I missed his loving care and then alas my owners new sold me for a paltry sum Oh Such a paltry sum I thought But then a miracle So here I lie on timbers high above the icy lake waiting for summer sun to warm my planks and let my engine run I feel their love and love them in return

Page 25

Page 26

Page 27

Living with bears Article by Doug Smith Photography by Eleanor Kee Wellman I f Yogi Bear and his little pal Boo Boo were caught filching picnic baskets in Muskoka what would happen to them Would they be trapped and relocated Would aversive measures be used such as an air horn or possibly a bear dog to discourage them from repeat offences Would the picnic baskets be stored out of reach and any other possible attractants cleaned up Or would they just be shot for being nuisance bears Living with bears is not necessarily easy but it can be done Many bear challenged communities in Canada and the United States have found solutions to their bear problems that not only keep the bear human conflicts to a minimum but also reduce bear mortality Elliot Lake in northern Ontario is one such example and is celebrated as a success story by the Get Bear Smart Society a notfor profit organization that aims to minimize the number of bears killed as a result of human caused problems The Elliot Lake community changed its garbage bylaws to prohibit home and business owners from putting garbage out the night before collection When garbage is not curbside on collection day it must be stored in sheds garages or closed dumpsters By implementing that bylaw Elliot Lake became the first community in Ontario with such legislation A province wide program called Bear Wise has also proven to be effective in the community Administered by the Friends of Algoma East the initiative is based on prevention education and awareness The year before the public education campaign and implementation of bear resistant containers the community experienced 500 human bear conflicts and three shootings Following Bear Wise conflicts dropped to 87 and no bears were killed due to conflicts with residents The Bear Wise program implemented in Elliot Lake is the same program expounded by the province to help address black bear problems Muskoka resident Jan McDonnell a retired Ministry of Natural Resources biologist praises the Bear Wise program Until you have an encounter with a bear you don t really think about it says McDonnell Education is half the battle getting the information out to the public so they know what the risks really are May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 25

Page 28

AO Unique Muskoka Traversing Wild May 19th pdf 1 4 11 2017 3 25 00 PM LOST IN THE WILDERNESS HAVING THE RACE OF THEIR LIVES C M Y CM MY CY ONE NIGHT ONLY PREMIERE EVENT FRIDAY MAY 19TH AT 7 30PM CMY K B r o u g h t t o y o u b y Alg o n q u in O ut f i t t er s w w w a l g o n q u in th e a tre c a 1 877 989 4975 1029 Taylor Ct Bracebridge ON P1L 0A1 705 645 8000 www rockyislandtire com 26 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 The Bear Wise program addresses the basic concerns about bear problems covering such things as what kind of an encounter with a bear constitutes an emergency which would warrant a call to the police A bear in a tree is not considered an emergency but can be reported to the Bear Wise reporting line at 1 866 514 2327 between April 1 and Nov 30 The program emphasizes how to avoid an encounter with a black bear and what to do if such an event should take place Basic black bear facts are also covered by Bear Wise including their food needs Their entire life revolves around food it states When not hibernating bears spend most of their time looking for food Food for a black bear is almost anything edible including birdseed A bird feeder can offer several thousand calories Pet food and garbage are also on the menu Bear Wise rightfully points out that removing the attractant will discourage return visits The program encourages such things as the use of bear proof containers keeping garbage locked up until garbage day and cleaning up any possible food that will attract a bear such as a barbecue It discourages leaving pet food outside and advises not to feed birds in the seasons when bears are at large It s sage advice especially now in the early spring when the bears are emerging from hibernation and are hungry Most of the reports of bear problems have to do with unsecured garbage though sometimes it is a composter or un harvested apples from apple trees says McDonnell The most effective solutions to bear problems have been developed through community collaboration In the tourist village of Whistler B C various stakeholders including town officials business and community leaders waste management services police residents provincial bear biologists and conservation officers worked together to address their bear problem Whistler is now an official Get Bear Smart community that has seen a reduction in bear encounters and has learned to live with the local bear population which numbers around 50 animals The Get Bear Smart program developed by the Get Bear Smart Society addresses the root causes of human bear conflicts The goal is to reduce the number of

Page 29

When not hibernating black bears are most likely in search of food conflicts and ultimately to reduce the bear out of the area Once the bear is in its number of bears that are killed due to own territory the aversive actions stop Such conflicts programs are not applicable in every New Jersey also has a surprisingly large community and the delivery of these bear population Perhaps not surprisingly it programs is best left to professionals also had a large number of reported conflicts Muskoka also has a substantial bear between bears and humans Complaints population owing to some unique elements about bears made to the New Jersey Division of the area of Fish and Wildlife increased dramatically Bear population densities are higher in from 1995 to 1999 However the number of the Muskoka Parry Sound district than in complaints and conflicts reported decreased the boreal forest further north because there from 1999 to 2005 as a result of an aversive is more natural food available here conditioning program a public education McDonnell says The females start campaign and the use of bear proof garbage receptacles An aversive conditioning program is meant to give the problem bear a negative experience when it engages in undesirable behaviour such as raiding a bird feeder This negative conditioning is meant to discourage repeat behaviour teaching it to stay away from humans backyards and stay in its own backyard Aversive action takes many forms It can be as simple as yelling and making loud noises to scare the bear away from the area but could involve such things as the use of a Unless securely fastened garbage enclosures are trained Karelian bear dog to shepherd the easily moved by black bears in search of food reproducing at five years old here compared to eight years old in the boreal forest More bears can mean more problems depending on the year According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry office in Parry Sound There were 633 calls received at the Bear Reporting line in 2016 for Muskoka They added That number is up from 2015 The reasons they continued had to do with the Poor natural food crops as a result of drought in 2016 were the cause of bears venturing into developed areas looking for food Apple crops were reported to be at bumper crops communities abundant with apple trees provided a food source for hungry bears Bears are happy with what nature provides but when the natural food fails they look elsewhere In a bad year we would get over 1 000 reports recalls McDonnell from her years at the MNR She qualifies that number by pointing out that many of the reports could be about the same bear Going by the reports of bear human encounters in the region last fall as well as a number of bear car collisions it was clearly not a good year for bears in Muskoka in 2016 The drought and the resulting lack of berries and acorns have been blamed along with the lack of beech nuts due to the detrimental effects of beech bark disease This lack of natural food throughout the region made it much harder for the bears to find enough food to gain the needed weight for hibernation as well as causing them to roam further afield to search of food Natural food abundance varies year over year of course but the lack of a consistent methodology in handling these complaints raises the question about exploring a more coordinated set of procedures Should Muskoka be looking at a more collaborative community based approach for effectively dealing with its bear problems The answer may not be entirely clear right now but there are resources out there to help The Bear Wise and the Get Bear Smart programs provide effective alternate methods of dealing with human bear conflicts Just like Yogi and Boo Boo our bears are not going away so learning to live with them would benefit everyone in our communities May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27

Page 30

N E W A T T H E B E G I N N I N G S G N A R L E D S T U M P Article by Heather Glumac Photography by Tomasz Szumski W Rheanon Medland involves son Hector in chores at the Gnarled Stump Farm 28 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 hen Travis and Rheanon Medland were married in 2012 they dreamed one day they d start a hobby farm together Perhaps they considered that one day would be when they were retired or after they had saved up some money and could farm full time But for the time being part time farming was what they could handle Rheanon was a painter and Travis was an arborist Add cows goats and chickens and they were very busy people Everything changed in November 2013 when an accident changed their lives forever A colleague was working in a bucket truck and dropped a tree top on Travis as he fixed a wood chipper below Travis was air lifted to St Michael s Hospital in Toronto where his injury was categorized as a complete spinal cord injury it meant paralysis from the chest down Travis would spend almost a month at St Michael s Hospital and three months at the Toronto Rehab Lyndhurst Centre yet the drama wasn t over After two months in Toronto Rheanon and Travis discovered they had conceived their first child about two

Page 31

weeks before the accident Finally in the spring of 2014 they were able to return to Muskoka The fall of 2014 and the next winter were extremely trying Since Travis and Rheanon still spent a lot of time in Toronto Travis brother and father had to do a lot of the farm work The young couple was living in the farm s original log cabin a 900 square foot home with Rheanon s mother one month old baby Hector and two cats Everything was so emotional Rheanon says It doesn t really take that much to push you over the edge The Medlands soon had to sell the cows they couldn t make it through the winter with them They were given two options from the Workplace Safety Insurance Board WSIB They could sell the property and buy a place more suitable to renovate to make it accessible or receive an allowance for the accessible features in their current house But WSIB deemed their house unmodifiable So Travis and Rheanon chose to build a new home on their property They surmised that buying a new place would have made things easier in the short term because the transition was so difficult but leaving the family farm wasn t an option either one was willing to explore Why wait That was the question the couple asked themselves says Rheanon knowing retirement was some time off We don t know how much time we have The Medlands had made their decision They were going to stay in Muskoka and be full time farmers The house was started in the fall of 2014 and finished in the spring of 2015 and was built to be fully accessible and not without a keen eye for detail The concrete floors for example make for easy manoeuverability in a wheelchair but the added touch of sub floor heating is nice on the toes All of the appliances also had to work in their plan They have goals of one day going completely solar so they wanted their appliances to be propane Travis who enjoys cooking wouldn t allow his culinary talents to go to waste either They were able to source a propane fueled side hinged oven from Texas which could be wall mounted at the correct height for his chair The hardest decision was which of the 400 plus colours to choose But of all the in home features A life altering injury has not stopped Travis Medland from being an active participant in the day to day affairs of Gnarled Stump Farm where he navigates with the assistance of his Ripchair May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 29

Page 32

Page 33

that made a productive life possible it was the addition of a Ripchair an off road tracked chair that really helped Travis get his groove back Brought to his attention by family and friends the specialized device lets the user back in lock in and move out The fact Travis doesn t have to transfer out of his wheelchair but rather roll it directly into the Ripchair makes all the difference It also means that he is able to traverse their entire property With it Travis is now able to get around the brush snow mud gravel and grass without having to transfer out of his chair and often does it with a child in his lap and the family dog in tow It s the only piece of equipment we could have purchased that allows us to stay at the farm says Travis From that point forward with spirits on the mend the Medlands were able to get serious about the farming In the fall of 2015 they built their first barn Business began in 2016 with an apiary and chickens and pigs for meat Thanks to World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms WWOOF they were able to host volunteers interested in farming from around the globe in exchange for room and board In return they got the majority of their fencing finished To date they ve hosted volunteers from France Germany Ireland and Belgium By the end of that summer the Medlands were able to get cows again The interior of the barn was finished by the end of November only a day before a calf was born The birth was easy partially because the Medlands choose to raise low maintenance breeds They put a lot of emphasis into the genetics of each of the animals And if the animal displays any unwanted traits they aren t bred in the next season Rheanon notes that their breeding standards align with their business plan Our cows are smaller easy calvers good milkers and produce well on poor quality forage says Rheanon Before things on the farm were more casual and methods were more rudimentary It didn t used to be such a big deal for Travis to carry square bales of hay or five gallon pails of water out to the cows twice a day for example But asking someone who s just given birth to Rheanon Medland faced a difficult learning curve when she and husband Travis first decided to realize their dream of becoming farmers

Page 34

do that is a different matter They As for Hector she adds having required a routine and a business plan him was the best thing that ever to succeed with their farm could have happened They re Up until Travis accident Rheanon grateful he s able to be surrounded had very little to do with the animals by the true beauty of Muskoka This is slightly easier because I have every day This is how we want him the knowledge and Rheanon has the to grow up says Rheanon ability Now she can t just say Oh This is the Medlands new just do it yourself Travis says with a beginning The house is built the lisp in faux Rheanon mimicry Well animals are in the barn and the farm she could but then nothing would is named They are grateful to have get done They both burst into wonderful neighbours a healthy laughter family and a very bright future The learning curve was really As for the farm s name difficult Rheanon adds But Travis The Gnarled Stump has no such Rheanon is happy her son Hector is growing up on the Gnarled has been my animal encyclopedia stump Rheanon explains The Stump Farm Travis didn t grow up on a farm but name represents the way we feel his family had nearby dairy farms and a like they were forced into what has come to about ourselves and the journey that got us neighbour who was a cattle farmer He had be known as the Gnarled Stump farm on this path A devastating accident that left grown up helping his uncles with the cows When something like this happens if us maimed but still here roots strong as Travis says he doesn t like talking about you don t turn it into an opportunity to ever Full of character serving a purpose with the past couple of years but stresses the grow then the injury or the situation wins a story to tell We picked it because it s a little importance of quality of life Looking back says Rheanon It s conditioned us We re bit ugly but full of strength Totally cheesy on the incident neither he nor Rheanon feel much stronger than we used to be but true Travis Medland enjoys cooking and with specially adapted appliances is able to continue with this passion 32 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017

Page 35

Page 36

Pioneer Memorial United Church in Hillside recently celebrated its 125th anniversary Members of the congregation see a positive future for the church through its community outreach Muskoka s churches have Article by Dawn Huddlestone Photography by Andy Zeltkalns Y ou ll find them dotted across the Muskoka landscape rooting communities to their past Small and large made of stone or wood decades or sometimes more than a century old Muskoka s churches were the focal point of life for the region s early settlers and for some they still are Despite their proud facades many of Muskoka s churches are at risk of closing Some have already been demolished leaving a hole in the landscape Others sit empty too far beyond repair to be of use A lucky few have found other uses Aging and declining 34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 congregations make keeping some of those that remain open a challenge for the smaller number of people left to support them In 2015 the Angus Reid Institute reported that 26 per cent of Canadians reject religion up from just one in 25 in Canada s 1971 census Another 44 per cent fall somewhere in between neither rejecting nor embracing religion and of those 73 per cent attend religious services at least once in awhile For the 30 per cent of Canadians who embrace religion just over half of them 56 per cent attend services at least once per month But if you ask churchgoers how their congregations are doing they ll tell you things are going pretty well Thirty five per cent report their congregations have been growing 42 per cent say they ve been about the same Only the remaining 23 per cent report declining congregations in 2000 that number was 32 per cent However there are variations from denomination to denomination and between locations Congregations in some places are diminishing in some places they are stable says Dawn Henderson archdeacon of Muskoka and rector at All Saints Anglican in Huntsville She oversees more than 30 church buildings

Page 37

Top St Mary s Anglican Church Beatrice was built in 1914 and consecrated in 1917 Right Early congregations such as those at St David s Presbyterian Church Vankoughnet celebrated with music This is one of the earlier instruments built by the Bell Organ and Piano Co of Guelph Far Right Stained glass windows such as this one at St John s Anglican Church Beaumaris were often donated as memorials to early parishioners faith in their future in the Anglican Deanery of Muskoka Overall the Christian faith in Canada is diminishing certainly in mainline churches not so much in the newer churches she says Henderson says the challenges for Muskoka s churches are varied in some instances related to demographics in others to location It s not the first time Muskoka s Anglican churches have experienced challenges Many of those in small communities were originally founded by missionary societies in England says Rev Peter Simmons of the Church of the Redeemer in Rosseau But in the early decades of the 1900s many struggled Even then there were changing circumstances and a lot of these communities weren t able to keep their churches going independently he says The Society of St John the Evangelist SSJE or the Cowley Fathers as they were more commonly known named for the location where the society was founded arrived in Emsdale and moved to Bracebridge in 1928 providing aid to many of the local churches A monastic group they moved throughout the region often on horse or on foot to minister to the widespread congregations As we moved through into the Depression they did spectacular work both in the Christian way and the secular way says Simmons In certain places they fed people and clothed people and went out to all of these churches and did services In their travels they stayed in the homes of parishioners and helped out with the chores The Society of St John the Evangelist withdrew from the region in 1983 due to declining membership leaving the congregations to find their own way Some have been successful some have failed and some have staged comebacks after May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35

Page 38

Historic St Stephen s Vankoughnet is operated in the summer and for special occasions as a chapel of St Thomas Anglican Church Bracebridge it looked as though the end was nigh It s challenging says Simmons It s a sad time given that we have such lengthy histories in this area there are many over 100 years old We have these really wonderful histories where people have been loved and supported and cared for One of the oldest churches in Muskoka and the first stone church to be erected is St Mary s Anglican in Aspdin Its foundation was laid in 1885 after a mysterious benefactor in England donated 600 pounds sterling to construct a stone church in the area From 1928 to the 1970s the Cowley Fathers ministered to the church In 1977 it became part of the North Muskoka Pioneer Parish But it fell into disrepair in the following decades and was closed until in 1996 amidst rumours that it would be sold or torn down members of the community took action and began to restore it But once again St Mary s future is uncertain Irene Turner is a member of the St Mary s congregation She feels there are a variety of reasons why its numbers have declined 36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 among them working parents who spend weekend time with their children and running errands new residents in the area who don t have a connection to St Mary s its summer only services and changes in the ways we connect with one another Churches used to be the centre of the community a place to gather and catch up a place to renew their strength she says Nowadays texting is the way to communicate and cars can take you anywhere They haven t given up though Turner says the congregation plans to try some new things to up attendance For example an alternative type of service that has a variety of music and more youth involvement community events like barbecues or participation in an art tour and an open door to let residents know what s in their community Should the church have to close it s on a list of 16 that the Diocese of Algoma has recommended for closure she personally would like to see it serve another purpose rather than being destroyed There is a lot of history in that old church that members of the community might someday appreciate she says The subject of some of the Deanery s churches closing is a difficult one for parishioners at those that remain open too Amy Hayhoe is a Muskoka cottager who has been attending summer services at The Church of the Redeemer in Rosseau for almost 20 years It s a very small gathering of very friendly outgoing people that make everybody feel welcome said Hayhoe It s become something we enjoy and go every Sunday We look forward to it We look forward to meeting the people there we look

Page 39

Above The Church of the Redeemer Rosseau dates back to the early 1870s In addition to serving Rosseau area residents it has had a long association with area cottagers Right Construction started on the Madill Church in 1872 and was completed in 1873 Requiring substantial restoration the future of the church is uncertain forward to the sermon We really feel it s part of our summer She said the experience of these small churches is a special one I think it s very unique For me it s a very uplifting encouraging place to go on a Sunday morning It sets your week off right Although the Rosseau church is not on the Diocese s list for possible closure that others are is upsetting said Hayhoe They seem to be able to support themselves even though they re tiny They ve been in the community for years and years and I doubt if they would come to Rosseau for services Over at the Lake of Bays Pastoral Charge part of the United Church of Canada the churches are holding their own and trying to find creative ways to attract new members too When Rev Donna Bowman Woodall arrived in 2012 she found confident competent congregations at its four small churches two in Dwight one in Hillside and one in Dorset but still they were uncertain what the future would hold She knew she needed to work with them on a strong mission helping the community rather than just focusing on keeping their doors open On one hand I was very aware of the changing face of the church everywhere says Bowman Woodall It doesn t matter if you re big or small This is not the church of your parents or grandparents I am very aware that things have to be different and it s important I m not stuck in the way things were The churches in Lake of Bays Pioneer Memorial in Hillside Stewart Memorial and Seabreeze in Dwight and Knox United in Dorset have a long history They also have a strong understanding of their communities and use that to their advantage says BowmanWoodall Hospitality is a huge piece of what they are and what they do she says noting they host many community events and their affordable day camp for kids fills up every summer Pioneer Memorial United Church in Hillside is 125 years old About 85 people attended an anniversary celebration filling the sanctuary almost to capacity Marg May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 37

Page 40

Winchester and her husband Scott who joined the church s congregation in 2009 after moving to the area were among them Our last church closed and it was a big church says Winchester It doesn t matter if it s a big building or a small building The church is the people and we have lots of spirit at Pioneer Memorial We get the occasional new adherent with energy and that s what we need In a small church someone has to maintain it and so you need energy She attributes the church s solid standing partly to its community outreach and partly to its separate meeting space next to the sanctuary which helps to support the church through events and rentals I m not worried I might have been five years ago but not now she says Bowman Woodall agrees I don t think I m a rose coloured glasses person but I can t see that things are going to change for 10 or 15 years I believe the secret is that the church has to figure out what its job is in the community and I think the congregations understand that I think they have a future She adds that within the United Church Brothers from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist travelled on foot from Bracebridge to conduct services at the square timber St Peter s Rocksborough one of the early Muskoka churches it s primarily a congregational choice whether or not to close a church A lot of those decisions aren t made at a Amidst an increasingly secular world the nature of churches is in flux Some are adapting to the change finding successful ways to draw new members At Faith Baptist Church in Huntsville Senior Pastor Darrell Baker says the church has been able to maintain its membership thanks to three things a conservative stance on major doctrines a focus on children and youth ministries and more contemporary worship services Some churches no longer hold to traditional doctrines says Baker but at Faith Baptist they are a priority We take literally that the Bible is the word of God that Jesus was born of a virgin that there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ he says That conservative teaching is one of the things that causes us to grow A recent study published in the Review of Religious Research Theology Matters Comparing the Traits of Growing and Declining Mainline Protestant Church Attendees and Clergy by David Haskell Kevin Flatt and Stephanie Burgoyne aligns with what Baker has experienced at Faith Baptist Conservative 38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 higher level than the church No one tells us that we have to close our doors says Bowman Woodall theology particularly when presented in a contemporary way appears to drive growth or at least stem overall loss Faith Baptist also commits considerable resources to its children and youth ministries with two full time pastors dedicated to developing programs and working with children and youth Many of those programs appeal to the community at large like basketball and floor hockey And members go out into the community helping where needed like raking leaves for seniors or bringing coffee to a construction crew Hopefully we re laying the groundwork for people to walk through the door of our church says Baker Community is what s most important at Harvest Bible Chapel in Bracebridge says Senior Pastor Kaj Ballantyne We really asked ourselves what would happen if we just lived out what The Bible says We don t want to just be a Sunday thing Ballantyne says We want to be a community where people are invited in to do life together I think people are looking for something to give their life to not just a club to show up for

Page 41

They will continue to find new ways to engage their congregation sessions in a yurt are coming this spring and also to attract younger members It s important for me to keep my foot in all generations and I love what I learn from younger people says Bowman Woodall Church is foreign to them for so many reasons I would love to say to them Just give us a try if you have any sense of spiritual calling or need church isn t what it used to be Being a Christian is living our faith in the world and that hugely impacts a community said Henderson adding that the church exists for the benefit of those who are not yet its members Most Christians live quietly in the world they love God and love their neighbour and extend grace and compassion and generosity The church is a people not a place A lot of the angst over buildings being closed is association and I understand that because there is a lot of history but we are not defined by our four walls Henderson believes that people are hardwired for worship some choosing to worship things like money fame celebrity intelligence or family instead I believe that we were hardwired for relationship with something bigger than we are she says I don t know how people live without it quite frankly Is it necessary Some would say no but I believe it s a great gift to the world According to the Angus Reid poll the country is pretty evenly split on how positive they feel the impact of religion is 51 per cent say it s positive heavily weighted by those who embrace religion or fall in between 49 per cent disagree For many evangelical churches the future looks particularly bright For others it s more murky Time will tell if church walls will continue to stand at least for their original purpose Ballantyne grew up going to church but admits he didn t like it Services at Harvest Bible Chapel are intentionally different than a traditional church They take place in a high school Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and are come as you are affairs featuring music I grew up in the kind of church where you showed up and it s how you looked on the outside that was pretty important did you dress the right way are you saying the right things Ballantyne says Here you don t need to wear a mask you don t need to smile all the time We say it this way It s okay to not be okay at Harvest But it s not okay to stay that way We want to grow into something different because of Jesus According to Ballantyne the church s growth has happened organically It draws people in who are searching for something and then translates that to their relationships and the greater community It s an uncommon community says Ballantyne In crisis we are there for each other In good times we celebrate with each other We are in the mess of life together Community outreach has helped Pinegrove Fellowship Church in Bracebridge too Like all churches we have had good times and bad times says Pastor Dusty Papke We did go through a rough time and went through what I would characterize as a major split That re The rich wood interior of St James the Apostle Port Carling reflects the tradition of the many boat builders and woodworkers The congregation is considering a proposal to open seasonally assessment took place almost ten years ago It forced us to look at ourselves and focus on what our true mission is says Papke That focus has allowed Pinegrove to go against the tide of declining membership I think in churches we get comfortable in who we are and what we do says Papke We tend to look inward it becomes for our members and it shouldn t be It s about those who are not members yet we had to shift our focus outward It becomes one of demonstrating unconditional service and love to those who are outside our walls It demonstrates to people that we re not a social club we are doing what we were directed to do Christ said we are to go and make disciples we are to serve others and do that unconditionally Pinegrove s outreach ministries serve about 100 meals once a week and conduct services at nursing homes and the nearby prison We look for those opportunities to go out and serve I think that s made a significant difference for us says Papke We really believe that if there is a church that is committed to demonstrating unconditional love to our neighbours we can transform a community He also believes that our increasingly secular world is a colder place I think there s never before been a greater need for the Christian church says Papke We just have to work really hard to meet the needs that God puts in our path May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 39

Page 42

By J Patrick Boyer Photograph Boyer Family Archives part of Muskoka s early culture ollution F or the first 10 000 or so years that Aboriginal peoples inhabited Muskoka prior to contact and colonization no record exists about natural conditions The relatively small population s light footprint on the land suggests pollution was never a problem Burial grounds in low lying areas such as existed at the mouth of the Muskoka River may have created some waterborne illnesses but nobody knows In the 1850s arrival of loggers along Muskoka s southern perimeter not only 40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 turned the Severn River and its tributaries into a log choked transportation corridor but clear cutting trees caused the thin loamy forest floor to erode leaving a stark display of Morrison Township s bald rock As lumbering advanced north through the district soil erosion muddied the waters and silted up more streams Lumber companies and the provincial government saw the endless forests as a crop to be harvested and a source of profit unconcerned about ugly devastation In the 1860s homesteaders began entering the district Ontario s government not only enticed would be farmers with free land but also opened access routes to make colonization possible one road coming into Muskoka from the east a second from the south These raw bush lots were not serviced A homesteading family drew its drinking water from the nearest lake or creek or dug a well Another hole was dug for an outhouse often without heeding the drainage risk of this drywell leaching human waste contaminants

Page 43

Photograph National Archives Boyer Family Collection Photograph Kenneth Carmen Veitch Bracebridge Historical Resources Left Steam engines pulling trains burned wood or coal fuel with the same result This southbound train crosses a trestle over the Muskoka River by the Bird Woollen Mill Right This 1890s scene with passengers moving between train and steamboats shows the Gentlemen and Ladies toilets at left which discharged into the lake water Bottom The Anglo Canadian tannery in Huntsville had rows of vats filled with a tannic acid used in the tanning process When finished the toxic brew entered the neighbouring watershed into the nearby water well or stream Village houses had pit toilets not indoor facilities or running water Any treatment involved sprinkling lye or other chemical disinfectants especially in the summer to reduce the stench Raw sewage from steamboats and trains likewise epitomized that era From spring thaw to freeze up boats emptied their sewage and other contaminants directly into the water As for trains flushing a toilet was nominally discouraged when in the station but speeding down the tracks human excrement was dumped straight down between the rails The inability to connect contamination with waterborne diseases extended far beyond sewage Cadavers were buried in cemeteries scenically located at the edge of water bodies Embalming was slowly becoming a norm but was not universally practised and leaching of graveyard groundwater added its deadly mix to Muskoka s watercourse cocktail Such sources of contamination in Muskoka endured well into the late 20th century Huntsville s Riverside Baptist Cemetery and Bracebridge s Methodist Cemetery opened in 1882 becoming a United Church cemetery in 1925 were typical each located on long sloping banks of the Muskoka River system Within towns and villages people disposed of garbage and raw sewage in ravines and wooded areas To provide an alternative councils established dumps just outside municipal boundaries But the prevailing May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41

Page 44

the spread of disease Enforcing quarantines was problematic in the scattered townships For instance Cardwell Township s board of health had to confront non reporting of communicable diseases and saw its orders to post quarantine signs at particular homesteads disobeyed Cardwell Township Council sought to send a message by sanctioning individuals who mixed with others after being ordered into isolation The township pressed charges in a case involving a family near Rosseau But when testimony came out that the family s boy and little girl had both died from diphtheria the charge against the father for failure to notify the health board of illness in his house was dismissed Loss of two children already seemed punishment enough Photograph Frank Hutcheson Boyer Family Collection youngsters in the Galliard home in Bracebridge Each time a potential contagion of deadly disease loomed waves of community alarm spread By the 1890s local boards of health tried to safeguard public health One tool to prevent an epidemic was to quarantine suspect or diagnosed individuals isolating them from the general population to prevent Photograph National Archives Boyer Family Collection mindset was that disposing of waste simply required removing it from sight making considerations for locating a dump proximity to town low cost of the land and prevailing winds Pollution was not a factor Bracebridge council established a municipal garbage site just east of town beside and above Sharpe s Creek which drains into the Muskoka River In that presorting era garbage included everything As a result major health hazards flowed from poisoned water leaching through the mangled refuse into the river In this setting waterborne diseases including cholera dysentery diphtheria typhoid and typhus flourished Childhood deaths were common In 1888 to pick a random year diphtheria killed many Muskoka children including all three Top The heavy harvesting of Muskoka s forests from white pine to hardwoods also fed the immense sawmill operations at Huntsville Above Sagamo s smokestack belches dense soot in 1908 Steamboats burned wood and coal causing air pollution and black smudge wherever the smoke settled 42 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017

Page 45

Photograph Boyer Family Archives The Muskoka River at Bracebridge had two immense tanning operations along its banks Municipalities often responded to pollution by punishing individuals while letting large scale problems continue unabated Bracebridge s sanitary inspector Thomas Dodd brought charges against individuals in the 1890s for dead horses only partially buried toxic cleaner s fluid poured out a laundry shop window to drain away beneath adjacent buildings garbage thrown into streets and ravines and raw sewage dumped onto open land within town boundaries In Stephenson Township one individual was convicted in 1893 of unlawfully permitting sawdust to drift into Mary s Lake contrary to the Fisheries Act In 1896 two local men were convicted on charges of unlawfully throwing stump roots and other waste wood in the waters of the Muskoka River In 1897 another was fined for depositing sawdust in the waters of Three Mile Lake to the injury and destruction of the fish However these were minor irritants compared to the industrial pollution of Muskoka s air and water The first town to boom with activity Gravenhurst deserved its moniker Sawdust City More than a dozen sawmills encircled Gravenhurst Bay Burning wood generated steam power to drive the saws as it did at Bracebridge s smaller shingle mill and a lumber mill operation and on a grand scale at Huntsville s extensive wood processing operations Town and village dumps smouldered continuously People cleared land by burning fields filled with logs and slash Open fires were routine to incinerate waste materials burn off stubble and turn vegetable byproducts to ash Adding to this glorious scent of progress Clear cutting such as this Port Sydney photo left scenery despoiled and soil eroded Photograph Victor Clarke Boyer Family Collection wood burning and coal burning steam locomotives and steamboats filled Muskoka s skies with black acidic smoke and fly ash for decades following the 1870s Only by the 1960s were steamboats effectively phased out replaced by trucks and automobiles whose exhaust emitting internal combustion engines became a new source of air pollution In that same decade coal burning steam locomotives gave way to diesel engines As for contamination of water in addition to raw sewage and toxic substances from a variety of sources the immense tannery operations in Bracebridge and Huntsville were in a class of their own They depended on the continuous flow of fresh water to carry away waste Along the once pristine riverbanks below Bracebridge Bay where the Chippewa had come in summer the Muskoka Leather Company and the AngloCanadian Leather Company operated their sprawling facilities Huntsville s extensive Shaw Tannery was just as busy The combined output of these operations made Muskoka the largest leather producer in the British Empire tanning hides from across the continent and as far away as cattlerich Argentina But it came at a cost Fish floated downstream belly up Shoreline critters perished Such pollution issues were not unique to Muskoka People coming to the district brought attitudes and practices with them whether English orphan children sent in large numbers to Muskoka from the slums of Birmingham and East London or adult immigrants escaping the over crowded and fetid cities of Europe and the northern United States They left acrid skies and filthy streets open sewers and spewing smokestacks landing in a cleaner environment But their culture of contamination out of sight out of mind accompanied them Continuing their normal unhygienic ways and accepted industrial practices they despoiled Muskoka and contributed to disease and death Medical science and the drive for public health understandably became part of this picture Municipalities responded by creating reservoirs of safe water installing underground pipes and providing homes and workplaces with running indoor water They also attempted to upgrade the system of septic tanks at individual buildings by laying sewer pipes to carry away waste for treatment This was hit and miss in rocky towns and villages with bedrock formations In some areas sewer pipes were buried but left unrecorded on municipal waterworks charts Even in recent decades pipes carrying raw sewage still emptied into rivers and ravines not treatment facilities In 1962 Rachel Carson s book Silent Spring dropped like a pebble into the pond of human consciousness Her initial concern about birds being killed off by pesticides rippled outward into a new awareness of the alarming mess that was created Fresh analysis of air soil and water pollution became part of the 60s cultural revolution that has since transformed society New understanding of ecology placed humans within of an integrated and mutually dependant system of all living things displacing the irresponsible outlook that river and lake systems would dilute pollutants winds could carry away noxious fumes and nature might somehow cope the way it always had Muskoka s past 150 years remind us that the way we interact with nature depends on the cultural values we embrace May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43

Page 46

The sweetest way th to celebrate Canada s 150 Photograph Heather Douglas By Karen Wehrstein Breakfast poutine topped with fruit and maple syrup makes a delightful breakfast dish 44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 It s Canada s 150th anniversary and this spring has brought a good sap run meaning Muskokavores can enjoy our most sweetly patriotic treat from local forests And you don t have to limit it to breakfast indulgence As Muskoka s leading maple syrup producers and chefs will point out the taste that is Canada s pride and joy can be enjoyed in many different ways The days of maple syrup being used just for pancakes or waffles are over says Tom Stehr owner of Sugarbush Hill Maple Farm near Huntsville Many chefs around the world are incorporating maple into their recipes Stehr s love affair with the maple tree s golden nectar dates back to when he and his late wife Pauline used to visit Quebec where her mother had a 300 tap syrup operation I fell in love with the whole ambience around maple syrup he says The romance the history the family gathering part of it and of course tasting it That led to the couple s purchase of a maple forested 100 acre Muskoka property in 2009 Production began in 2014 and Stehr runs tours and tastings five days a week from May to October I love doing it and I m very happy sharing it he says Sugarbush Tom also likes to create one new maple dessert recipe per year for syrup fans I make different things and try them and if I get one that s really tasty I ll use it he says Past offerings include maple cheesecake and cream maple walnut tarts This year it s maple apple pudding Maple syrup and apples go together like a great marriage he explains Notable local chefs like Shaun Crymble executive chef at JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort Spa are infusing maple into their offerings including entr es

Page 47

Photograph Heather Douglas With over 30 years of experience Brian O Donoghue operates the evaporator at Sweet Muskoka Maple Syrup in Huntsville Photograph Heather Douglas We have a few maple trees at the hotel dishes with more ingredients from the farm overwhelming taste of a regular strip of Crymble says In the spring we tap them vendors Crymble notes I was trying to bacon It s a more refined dish a treat you re for show and do a little education with our think of what we d done in the past and going to splurge for when you are looking recreation team We take people for tours didn t want to duplicate dishes on the maple for a great experience and set up maple syrup activities such as menus I wanted something rustic but not a He adds what all red blooded Canadians tastings and making maple toffee out in the game dish so I thought of rack of lamb I already know Maple s good year long snow looked for a lighter bacon not the While desserts and entr es with maple Maple inspired items such as might be impressive show maple brined lamb chops stoppers breakfast can be equally pancetta wrapped with sweet impressive and delicious if you potato gratin and heirloom use your imagination which carrots grace the menu at the bring us to Deerhurst Resort and resort its executive chef David Bakker The secret with that mouthMaple syrup is a big thing at watering maple recipe is the Deerhurst The resort has its own brine It s a balance too much sugar bush equipped with a salt and the meat tastes too salty reverse osmosis machine to brine too long and the meat extract water from the sap to cut becomes mushy The mapledown boiling time When the sap brined lamb is a new recipe this runs well the operation can fully spring supply the resort s needs You re transitioning from including sales of DeerhurstChef David Bakker of Deerhurst Resort has created Canada 150 Breakfast Poutine to celebrate the country s sesquicentennial winter dishes to light summery branded syrup May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45

Page 48

Recipes Recipe by executive chef David Bakker Deerhurst Resort Ingredients Deep Fried French Toast 2 whole eggs tsp ground cinnamon 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1 tsp lemon extract cup 2 milk 6 pieces of white thick cut bread Oil for frying Cinnamon Sugar cup white sugar 2 tsp kosher salt 1 tbsp ground cinnamon Maple Cream 2 cups 35 cream 1 cup maple syrup Whipped Cream 2 cups 35 cream 2 tbsp powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract Deep Fried French Toast Maple Cream 1 Mix the eggs vanilla lemon and milk together with a whisk until they are homogeneously mixed 1 Place all ingredients in a pot and reduce slowly by half or until the back of a spoon is coated There are two ways to check 1 draw a line on the back of a spoon with your finger and see if the line fills in if it does not then it is ready or 2 coat a spoon with the cream and blow gently on the back of the spoon if the shape of a rose forms and holds it is ready 2 Remove the cream from the stove and cool Reserve for assembly 2 Cut the bread into two finger wide pieces to mimic the fries for the poutine Dip the bread into the batter and turn over multiple times until they have absorbed the batter 3 Shallow fry the French toast in oil that has been heated to 375 F on the stove top making sure each side of the strips are golden brown before removing When done toss in a bowl with cinnamon sugar to coat and place in your bowl for your poutine Cinnamon Sugar ix all ingredients together in M a bowl and reserve Whipped Cream Mix all ingredients together and swirl until the sugar has dissolved Begin whipping and slowly increase mixer speed to medium Keep in fridge until you are ready to assemble Assembly Place the French toast sticks in a bowl as you would French fries for a poutine Top with berries maple syrup maple cream fruit and whipped cream Enjoy Photograph Heather Douglas Canada 150 Breakfast Poutine Pancetta Wrapped Maple Brined Lamb Chops with Sweet Potato Gratin and Heirloom Carrots Recipe by executive chef Shaun Crymble JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort Spa Ingredients Rack of lamb rack Muskoka maple syrup Maple brine 4 quarts water cup kosher salt 1 cups maple syrup 1 cinnamon stick 1 stalk rosemary Sweet potato gratin 1 Yukon gold potato 1 sweet potato Salt and pepper 46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 cup heavy cream Heirloom carrots Heirloom carrots Butter Salt and pepper Maple Brine 1 In a pot bring water salt and maple syrup to a boil Stir to dissolve salt lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes Remove cool to 36 F and add rosemary 2 Place rack of lamb in brine for approximately three hours Remove rack and pat dry Cut rack into two bone portions season them lightly with salt and pepper on both sides Take thinly sliced pancetta open up slice to a longer strip and wrap around each lamb rack portion 3 C ook racks in oven at approx 350 F for 10 12 minutes until inner temperature reaches 130 F Remove let rest Sweet Potato Gratin 1 Peel one Yukon gold potato and one sweet potato Cut into thin slices Arrange alternating slices in a pan seasoning every second layer with salt and pepper Add cup heavy cream cover with foil and bake in 350 F oven for 25 35 minutes 2 Arrange potatoes on plate Heirloom carrots 1 Peel heirloom carrots slice on the bias cook slices in a bit of salted water for 3 5 minutes drain toss in a saut pan with butter salt and pepper for 2 minutes add to plate 2 Add lamb rack Drizzle with maple syrup as desired

Page 49

Page 50

Photograph Courtesy of JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Photograph Courtesy of Tom Stehr 48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 like that would be normal and we didn t want it necessarily to be normal The question was how do you turn it into breakfast I was hesitant to try it Then Bakker remembered a breakfast he had on a Caribbean vacation The poor cook was almost deep frying his French toast Then he tossed it in cinnamon sugar It was probably one of the best French toasts I ve ever had like a cross between Tom Stehr has had a long time love affair with maple syrup French toast and churro he that resulted in him becoming a producer in 2014 He now says It s not technically poutine offers bush tours and tastings it s more a play on the word Voila Canada 150 breakfast poutine Or In spring there s a maple themed Easter weekend festival featuring sugar shack tours should we say poutine The fries are the crispy fried cinnamon sugared French toast maple taffy making and maple cooking The cheese is fresh berries with whipped demos by the Deerhurst chefs During sap cream The gravy is reduced maple cream season the resort s premier restaurant Chef s secrets are things like the touch of Eclipse features an all maple menu with salt in the cinnamon sugar for extra depth selections such as maple whipped goat s of flavour and lemon in the toast batter for cheese and pickled beet tart grilled maple a soupcon of zing crusted Berkshire pork tenderloin and the We tested it and it was a hit with so sweet it should be illegal maple sugar everyone who has tried it Bakker says It s shack sampling platter with mini maple a big bowl of goodness I guess you could sugar tarts mini maple cheesecake maple espresso cr me br l e and maple shortbread say If you re there you re there to splurge so why not something special cookies Deerhurst even has an Happy maple syrupy 150th birthday establishment called the Maple Pub Patio which has a wide assortment of dishes Canada including spicy maple grilled pork rib If this maple madness isn t enough to satisfy your sweet tooth executive chef Bakker is planning to create something special for Canada s 150th anniversary It s a little bit different Bakker understates We looked at one of these uniquely Canadian dishes and how we could do a different spoof on it and work in our maple I took a suggestive influence He explains I missed a meeting and they started throwing around ideas for a breakfast dish for Canada 150 But how do you characterize and celebrate at breakfast Someone threw out the idea of poutine We ve done a million ideas for poutine If we went Chef Shaun Crymble of the JW Marriott The Rosseau 100 per cent savoury we could do Muskoka pairs maple syrup with a number menu offerings potatoes and cheese and eggs seems including entr es such as maple brined lamb chops

Page 51

Page 52

Sugarbush Tom s Maple Apple Pudding Recipe by Tom Stehr Sugarbush Hill Maple Farm Ingredients 1 cup all purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder tsp salt 2 tbsp unsalted butter at room temp cup maple sugar 1 egg beaten 1 3 cup milk 2 cups apple slices peeled 2 large golden delicious apples 1 tbsp maple sugar 1 tsp cinnamon tsp nutmeg 1 cup sweet apple cider 1 cup Sugarbush Hill medium or dark maple syrup Preparation Preheat oven to 350 F In a small bowl combine flour baking powder and salt and set aside In a medium bowl cream together butter and the cup of sugar Beat in egg Stir in flour mixture a third at a time alternating with milk beginning and ending with flour mixture In a medium bowl combine apples 1 tbsp sugar cinnamon and nutmeg and place in an ungreased 2 quart casserole dish Pour batter over apple mixture and make sure all apples are covered In a medium saucepan over high heat combine cider and maple syrup Boil for 2 3 minutes stirring often to create maple apple sauce Pour over batter the liquid will sink under the batter and apples Bake for 40 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean Serve warm or cold Best with real vanilla ice cream or whipped cream Maple apple sauce is delicious poured over ice cream and pudding Serves 6 8 WE DIG MUSKOKA Complete Site Services Boulder Retaining Walls Patios Flagstone Pathways Stairs Professional Barging Service Excavation Road Maintenance Demolition Septic Systems 50 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 Contact us for a quote info riegercontracting com 705 765 DIGG 3444

Page 53

Page 54

Weather Master Windows 3 Season Sunrooms Aluminium Picket and Glass Topless Railing Aluminum Decking Residential and Commercial Awnings 1 705 645 7511 DAVLINS CA 52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 Photograph Dawn Huddlestone There are historic resorts large and small across Muskoka Some have been in existence for more than a century Three of them in north Muskoka recently closed their doors one exiting in dramatic fashion as they evolve into other entities Grandview Resort east of Huntsville was established in 1911 by Minnie Cookson and changed ownership multiple times over the years as it expanded The resort lands were recently sold and a new development has been proposed The Waterfront at Grandview on the shores of Fairy Lake ClubLink continues to run the Mark O Meara golf course and for the time being under agreement the nine hole course at the inn Foxwood Resort founded in 1876 by Tom Salmon is one of the oldest resort properties on Lake of Bays When its most recent owners Rob and Julia Wallace decided to retire they sold the property to Canadian Bank Note Company Limited While we are still formalizing our plans we expect Foxwood to be used as a corporate retreat meeting place Historic PowWow Point Lodge was leveled in a controlled exercise and generally a place organized by the Huntsville Lake of Bays Fire Department where we can reward our employees with relaxation and fun says Bradley Baker senior actuary at Canadian Bank Note Company PowWow Point Lodge established in 1920 has also closed and has been Muskoka s lakes and waterways often fill to subdivided into five lots The historic lodge capacity or overflow during the spring freshet was burned down in a controlled exercise the annual snow and ice melt Whether organized by the Huntsville Lake of Bays flooding occurs is dependent on many Fire Department on Monday April 3 to factors among them the winter snowfall make way for future development amount rain and daily temperatures

Page 55

Although there were higher than average amounts of snowfall this winter Muskoka received average amounts of precipitation during February and March according to Mara Kerry acting resource management supervisor for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry This has been coupled with warmer temperatures particularly in early April that has steadily melted the majority of the snow in the district Kerry says Average precipitation in February which is measured at the Beatrice weather station north of Bracebridge is 82 5 mm compared to 104 6 mm in 2016 and 83 2 mm in 2017 In March the historical average is 75 2 mm compared to 182 3 mm in 2016 and 87 5 mm in 2017 Rainfall in April was higher than normal Historically it averages 76 8 mm In 2016 it was 64 4 mm By April 12 of this year it was already at 84 7 mm with an average of 43 mm of snow water equivalent in the remaining snow across the district particularly at the top end of the watershed in Algonquin Provincial Park Still the steady melt and less precipitation early in the year may have helped to prevent the widespread flooding seen in recent years Calcium is not only important for your bones it s important for Muskoka s lakes and soil too That s why the Friends of the Muskoka Watershed is embarking on an intriguing project Hauling Ash to Solve Ecological Osteoporosis The wood ash recycling and research project which has received a 74 400 seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation aims to help reverse a 30 per cent decline in calcium levels in the Muskoka River watershed That decline caused primarily by decades of acid rain has a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems and has begun to affect maple sap production particularly in the northeast section of the watershed The Friends of the Muskoka Watershed believes that wood ash which is high in calcium is a simple solution to the problem According to the Friends of the Muskoka Watershed website the Hauling Ash to Solve Ecological Osteoporosis project will explore Call Mike Morrow 705 765 3195 www morrow electric com Serving Muskoka Lakes since 1952 rewiring alterations heating NEVER be left in the DARK or COLD get a quality home standby generator by GENERAC Rotary Centre for Youth 131 Wellington St Bracebridge 705 644 2712 www clubrunner ca bracebridge BRACEBRIDGE GENERATION LTD Water Power Generating a Cleaner Environment Interested in more information or a free tour www bracebridgegeneration com May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53

Page 56

Guaranteed for life Not to Wear Out Insured Against Loss Floats Repels Rain Crushable Packable Excellent UV Protection create test and refine an optimal way to collect store and distribute wood ash as an environmentally safe and sound means to replenish critically diminishing calcium levels within the Muskoka River watershed As the project unfolds year round and seasonal residents may be asked to save ash at home or at the cottage to contribute to the project www friendsofthemuskokawatershed org Municipalities in the District of Muskoka have unanimously paved the way for internet voting for the 2018 municipal elections Clerks in all six of the district s towns and townships presented a collective report to their respective councils recommending that internet and telephone voting be authorized for the 2018 elections All six municipalities have since passed bylaws to that effect In 2014 all of the municipalities used vote by mail exclusively The Town of Huntsville is the only Muskoka municipality to have previously used internet voting which was in effect in the 2010 election The clerks cite convenience and accessibility as the primary benefit to internet and telephone voting seasonal residents or those away at school can easily vote from afar and it removes accessibility barriers Voters requiring assistance will be able to get help from municipal staff Some residents have voiced concerns about the decision with security potential for voter fraud and lack of an audit trail among them With the authorization the clerks will workat together to select a vendor to provide Get yours today the service subject to budget approvals Momma Bear s Ice Cream Sweets Momma Bear s Downtown Bracebridge across from the post office 705 646 9079 54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 What should health care in Muskoka look like in the future That s a question the Muskoka and Area Health System Transformation MAHST project hopes to answer A MAHST council appointed by the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network LHIN a crown agency designed to plan integrate and fund local health services and chaired by Don Mitchell of Huntsville a former member of the

Page 57

LHIN board is tasked with recommending changes in the way health care is delivered locally It plans to address five areas programs and services funding and governance information management and technology wayfinding and stakeholder relations The status quo for health care in Muskoka is not an option says Dr David Mathies family physician and member of the MAHST executive committee Hospital deficit limited access to primary care and growing pressures from our aging population make the current model unsustainable Underlying these challenges is a strong belief we can achieve significant cost savings and transform into a more integrated seamless and efficient system supported by a new funding model where money saved in Muskoka is reinvested locally to improve protect and expand front line care MAHST s first report to North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN will come in the spring of 2017 www muskoka on ca MAHST 21 Robert Dollar Dr Bracebridge ON P1L 1P9 705 645 6575 Ontario s Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care provided Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare with 2 3 million in one time funding to balance its 2016 2017 fiscal year Without the funding announced in March 2017 Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare would have logged its first deficit year following five consecutive balanced budgets The funding doesn t however solve Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare s long term financial challenges It will continue to experience the same operating shortfall in its budget plus other cost increases associated with labour utilities and drug and supply costs Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare s deficit would have been higher if not for the Ministry s December 2016 announcement of a 1 075 million increase in annual funding The Board of Directors continues to work with the ministry to look at options to address the budget gap and we are optimistic for a solution recognizing that the work of MAHST Muskoka Area Health System Transformation is just beginning Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare board chair Evelyn Brown said at the time of the announcement John W Hiley B Sc O L S Douglas W Jemmett O L S Limited ONTARIO LAND SURVEYORS Phone 705 645 4611 800 494 1443 705 645 1845 Fax 127 Keith Road Bracebridge Ontario P1L 0A1 Est 1885 by William Galbraith O L S D L S P ENG Email surveys muskokasurveyors com Website www muskokasurveyors com Latitude 45 00 58 467 N Longitude 79 18 33 152 W Association of Ontario Land Surveyors Downtown Bracebridge LSR www landsurveyrecords com Momma Bear s MUSKOKA BUILDERS A S S O C I AT I O N Across from the post office Ice Cream Sweets May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55

Page 58

At home in the chef s kitchen Article by Dale Peacock Photography by Heather Douglas Randy Spencer likes to welcome family and friends to his Huntsville home 56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017 After almost 10 years in their two storey Tudor inspired home the spacious house and large in town Huntsville property still feels like a sanctuary to successful restaurateurs Randy and Karen Spencer When we built the house we were really thinking towards the next chapter in our lives and kicking around ideas of work life balance Randy says The custom built home reflects the lifestyle the couple has worked so hard to achieve It is wonderful to have our home as a retreat from the busy world Randy enthuses Coping with the long hours has always been a challenge for both of us but more so for Karen I ve lived this lifestyle forever and it s all I know Before building their dream home the couple lived in an apartment above Tall Trees Restaurant for a decade While it was convenient to be so close to the business it just never felt like we got away from it Randy reflects It s like being on call 24 hours a day seven days a week When they built the house the Spencers were also thinking about having a space to get together with their grown children Shane and Nicole and any future grandchildren Now that I m winding down a bit Shane who is also a chef looks after our family interests at the restaurant he says Our daughter lives in Ottawa with her husband In a happy turn of events following Nicole s overcoming a devastating cancer diagnosis the Spencers have a grandchild due this September Randy calls it a real blessing Inside the sanctuary they call home an impressive Dacor gas stove holds centre stage in the kitchen along with a stainless steel commercial refrigerator A generous length of granite counter provides ample

Page 59

space for food preparation and baking Randy s most cherished tools are his stove his chef knives and the barbecue the couple enjoys year round The well designed kitchen suits Randy s needs perfectly but he acknowledges We ve done catering jobs on the big lakes where the kitchens put mine to shame Sometimes the homeowners are great cooks but just as often they hardly use them at all He shakes his head as though finding it hard to understand how anyone wouldn t be interested in a space that means so much to him Polished copper pans hang in a sunny window that looks out over a huge deck and a private forested view Randy does most of the cooking at home but he gives credit where it s due Karen is amazing at making some great sweets like rhubarb crisp Bacardi rum cake butter tarts and her amazing focaccia he says Kimmie Groomes was a talented local pastry chef we employed some years back and she taught Karen the secret of a perfect butter tart The Spencers enjoy entertaining at home Randy muses I don t think there is any other occupation than cooking where you are so connected to people There is such passion in preparing food for others and then eating together I love making food for people who love food He chuckles adding I ve had people come right out and ask me why I haven t invited them for dinner I tell them straight out that I m not interested in cooking for people who only eat to live The Spencers both love fresh fish and seafood They embrace the slow cooking movement which uses the less tender but most flavourful cuts of meat And they love to pop out into their at home garden to harvest fresh veggies and herbs and pick a few flowers for the table Gardening is a special passion for Karen Randy is in charge of growing tomatoes and that is it says Karen According to Randy Karen really loves doing the gardens as it gives her a mental break from the crazy goings on she normally deals with She chases the staff all summer to harvest the herbs she has growing all over the property At home she grows berries cucumbers Polished copper pots conveniently hang in the Spencer kitchen which is designed for functionality May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57

Page 60

Page 61

Karen confesses With our crazy hours we tend to eat very simple comfort food after work If we are really hungry we ll just make Kraft Dinner I ll throw in some stewed tomatoes and Randy adds a good dash of hot sauce on his Randy interjects And I wonder why I have weird dreams Or they might just eat toast with peanut butter Karen offers We also love fresh tomato and mayo sandwiches and we cannot wait to harvest our own tomatoes in a few months When it comes to sit down meals though breakfast is their special comfort food treat We enjoy Mennonite bacon farm eggs grilled tomato baked beans and sometimes cheddar French toast Randy says We tend to eat seasonally with tomatoes and lots of salads in summer We love going to the farmers markets in summer and we enjoy anything on the barbecue The Spencers are great supporters of local artists and artisans Wood carvings at the entrance were sourced in Muskoka and Huntsville s own Charles Knapp created the prized stained glass pieces adorning their windows Bracebridge artist Jonathan Bullock designed an antique window inset with bronze water lilies and numerous works by Huntsville photographer Kelly Holinshead grace the walls of the Spencer home Tied with the kitchen as the Spencers favourite room is the cozy four season Muskoka room A sign near the fireplace reads For the best seat in the house move the dog The family pet is an aging and much loved dachshund named Jacob He is a friendly little guy with a grizzled muzzle that speaks to his age but he has the spark and vitality of a much younger pet In the lower level of the home an impressive collection of wines occupies a wine cellar Randy is passionate about wine but admits his expertise is mainly self taught It s all about what I enjoy without the swirling and spitting or pronouncements about the wine having hints of this that and the other thing he says wryly I like pairing wine with food which is the aspect that I most enjoy Randy s favourites tend to be Italian Californian and unique Canadian wines Upstairs the Spencer s master bedroom COME VISIT OUR FRIENDLY KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF ABOUT KUBOTA EQUIPMENT T H E M U S KO KE RY GIFTWARE HOUSEWARES CONFECTIONS GAMES CLOTHING COTTAGE GOODS Located At The Muskoka Emporium Building 99 Maple St Port Carling 705 765 7731 THEMUSKOKERY COM May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 59

Page 62

Page 63

offers a comfortable retreat complete with a wall mounted television a sitting area and an ensuite bathroom The top floor also houses a pretty guest bedroom featuring a Caribbean painting that is an homage to their time spent living on Grand Bahama Island the northernmost island of the Bahamas archipelago Randy s office as well as Karen s quilting studio also occupy the upstairs Samples of Karen s beautiful work features traditional patterns as well as one stunning quilt inspired by the granite outcroppings shimmering lakes and towering trees of Muskoka A Mennonite style quilt is displayed on the top stairway railing As much as the Spencers love their home they are not fixated on the idea of staying put either They love to travel anywhere warm every winter and they can easily imagine Sales Representatives The Spencers are supporters of local artisans and display a number of pieces including stained glass works HELP WA N T E D Driver requires own vehicle 1 2 days month May October Freelance contributors Experienced writers and photographers required for assignments Apply to info uniquemuskoka com May 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61

Page 64

Page 65

Page 66

A lifetime of experiencing Muskoka have so much fun I was only a week old when I first For decades we held many of our visited Muskoka My parents had Cooper Canada and Buxton Canada booked a vacation at Torpitt Lodge sales meetings at Muskoka Sands on Sparrow Lake and I had arrived Clevelands House and Deerhurst so two weeks early Why Sparrow we could share our love of Muskoka Lake My father attended the with our sales groups from across Sparrow Lake United Church camp Canada and the United States At when he was in Grade 6 He was so Muskoka Sands we had the pleasure of taken with his first Muskoka working with Wanda Miller whom experience that he worked in the I had met earlier when Lakeview kitchen of that camp during his Lodge was bought by Camp Rockwood high school summers washing When I retired about 15 years dishes and peeling potatoes ago it was time to make Muskoka My brother and I went to the our full time residence The delights same camp in 1949 while in public of the Muskoka lifestyle are different school when a week at camp in at 77 years of age than they were at Muskoka cost 17 My parents sent 20 30 40 and 50 but every bit as us because they wanted us to John Cooper s summers included a stint as a water ski instructor fulfilling and rewarding experience the magic of Muskoka Float flying has been a hobby I have Charlie Miller Wanda later served as mayor Growing up family summers were spent enjoyed for 48 years It s provided the of Gravenhurst and the general manager of on Georgian Bay My next return to Muskoka was to teach water skiing at Winnebago a co ed Muskoka Sands that is now the site of Taboo opportunity to fly countless hundreds of folks around Muskoka and Georgian Bay My travels to camp in Muskoka always children s camp on Skeleton Lake Two highly and to generate significant funds for local competent brothers Bert and Barney Danson included a stop for gas at the Texaco station worthwhile and needy charities at Sparrow Lake Route A owned by Ralph owned this camp Barney was firstly the Rotary various economic development Hawkins a real Muskoka character I minister of urban affairs then the defence initiatives and many opportunities to lend a expressed some interest in purchasing a minister in the first Trudeau government hand and some encouragement to local The camp was next door to the Ministry of Muskoka property at a modest price Ralph initiatives and businesses of all kinds keep Natural Resources and Forestry Fish Hatchery drove me to see his Uncle Al a local real my wife Denise and me fully occupied estate agent That led to a trip to McLean where I learned with fascination how their They re all a part of our Muskoka experience Bay north of Sparrow Lake on the Trent staff started with eggs gently released from System to view an old cottage It was built female bass and grew these fingerlings to in 1896 and was inhabited by raccoons bats the size that they could be released into Before retiring to Muskoka John Cooper enjoyed two successful and squirrels But the price was right so I lakes throughout Muskoka That location is careers One was with Cooper bought it with help from a loan from my still called Fish Hatchery Road 55 years Canada that before it was sold in grandmother That was 1962 Brother Donald after I enjoyed two glorious summers there 1987 was Canada s largest and I worked long and hard to bring this tired Next I was recruited as a water ski manufacturer of sporting goods old building up to date instructor at Camp Rockwood a new co ed business and personal leather goods Countless great experiences and marvellous children s camp on Sparrow Lake comemories made the cottage and time spent under the Buxton name and was the world s largest incidentally right across the lake from the producer of hockey equipment After the sale John there so special United Church camp My brother Donald For years we worked with a great collection and two partners launched a foam fabricating was the riding instructor after being of our local cottage kids to prepare them to be company that designed engineered and produced all recruited from Camp Ogama on Fox Lake outstanding performers at the CNE Aquarama of the thermal and acoustical insulation for all the where he had the same job Camp waterski show What a thrill it was for me to aircraft built by Bombardier de Havilland and Lear Rockwood was located on the property that watch these youngsters entertain large crowds After Poly Fab was sold a most welcome retirement was Lakeview Lodge a well known early in Muskoka was the ultimate reward Muskoka resort once owned by Wanda and at the CNE and for them to get paid to 64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2017

May 2017, Issue 4

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4