May 2018 Issue 10 : simplebooklet.com

May 2018 telling the Muskoka story 25 Features 18 Calling Out Your Inner Wild By Dawn Huddlestone Find Your Wild a Muskoka based outdoor company is putting unique new twists on some of the latest adventure crazes From escaping rooms in full firefighter gear to axe throwing competitions a variety of challenging activities are offered 25 Moose in Muskoka Wetland Giants By Doug Smith The largest living deer found in the northern parts of North America moose can consume more than 20 kilograms of water lilies and other aquatic vegetation in a day Spring is one of the best times to see moose in Muskoka 32 Rolling Right Along Lawn Bowling Returns to Muskoka By Matt Driscoll Lawn bowling was once ubiquitous in Muskoka with facilities in many of the towns and resorts After considerable hard work tireless fundraising and community advocacy the long tradition of lawn bowling has returned to the district 38 The Art of Fusing Copper and Glass By Meghan Smith Blending stained glass into coppersmithing work is an effect that is resulting in positive feedback for coppersmith Richard Ellard and stained glass artist Gail Wilson Glass and copper fuse at the same temperature making them ideal to pair 44 Muskoka s Non British Pioneer Communities 32 2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 By J Patrick Boyer Icelanders and Germans besides creating important new settlements enriched Muskoka s society with their skills and culture Their descendants through generations of intermarriage and engagement in district life are melded into that unique blend of Canadians known as Muskokans

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Departments 48 52 11 Muskoka Calendar Muskoka s May calendar is filled with a wide array of events from artistic to sporting From rock concerts and Broadway music to an art battle and gallery shows these are just some of the activities of interest for Muskoka s artistic community An archery tournament Cottage Country Cuisine fishing tourney and a paddling film festival is certain to catch the attention of In just 10 years a Port Sydney couple has grown their the sports minded aquaponics business into a major supplier of Muskoka s restaurants and food retailers Utilizing the What s Happened 11 most sustainable system of food The unveiling of a new exhibit on the production in the world they re Muskoka River watershed will explain producing their crops on a and explore this integral worldrenowned resource The long history of year round basis the Anishinaabeg First Nations in Muskoka is celebrated in Dorset Living in Muskoka Muskoka s Dara Howell returns to the podium as a gold medalist These are just Living in Muskoka a few of the newsworthy occurrences in While a big win changed the life of Tim and Cindy Thompson it Muskoka didn t change their focus The home they built in Huntsville allowed the Thompsons to better welcome their family and friends for entertaining and special events 52 48 58 Opinion 9 Muskoka Insights By Don Smith 64 Muskoka Moments By Scott Turnbull Our Cover Photograph by Eleanor Kee Wellman Sighting an adult moose standing knee deep in a pond is an iconic Canadian experience 58 May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5

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THE ALL NEW 2018 C O A R AMER IC TH A N N E X P E R I E N C E R OF THE YE A R P E R F E C T B A L A N C E 2018 NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR TM FINALIST telling the Muskoka story Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc Donald Smith Publisher and Editor Donna Ansley Sales Stinger GT Limited shown Lisa Brazier Design STANDARD FEATURES Susan Smith Administration All Wheel Drive system 3 3 litre twin turbocharged V6 365 horsepower engine Apple CarPlay Android AutoTM Remote Start Stop Find my car and more 21 Robert Dollar Dr Bracebridge ON P1L 1P9 705 645 6575 We now offer AIR MILES Reward Miles Beautiful Floors Naturally HARDWOOD LAMINATE VINYL CARPET CERAMIC NATURAL STONE CORK WINDOW COVERINGS MORE Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B V Used under license by LoyaltyOne Co Carpet One Floor Home MODERN HOME CARPET ONE TAYLOR CARPET ONE 350 Ecclestone Drive Bracebridge 30 Cairns Crescent Huntsville 705 645 2443 705 789 9259 carpetonebracebridge ca 6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 taylorcarpetonehuntsville com Vaughn Barry Mathieu B langer J Patrick Boyer Heather Douglas Matt Driscoll Tanya Grainger Dawn Huddlestone Eleanor Kee Wellman Rebecca Krawczyk Doug Smith Meghan Smith Tomasz Szumski Scott Turnbull 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 Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number 43268016 Copyright 2018 Unique Publishing Inc No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher Mailing Address Box 616 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9 Street Address 28 Manitoba St Bracebridge ON P1L 1S1 www uniquemuskoka com info uniquemuskoka com 705 637 0204

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Muskoka Insights kilometres from Muskoka this is a tragedy that strikes at the very core of communities throughout Canada Muskokans could not look in the mirror without realizing they shared in a communal interest with those in Humboldt It is this strong sense of community that has held Muskoka in good stead for generations While it may provide support for those who make their year round homes here it is also one of the features that attracts seasonal residents and visitors to the district For many who do not live in Muskoka they welcome the opportunity to be a part of the community when they are here Muskoka is where they connect away from busy and often impersonal lives In this issue of Unique Muskoka contributor J Patrick Boyer tells the story of two community groups who were among the first to settle in the district While they initially retained many of the cultural differences from their homelands they also became a part of the larger Muskoka community Generations later their families remain a part of many Muskoka communities contributing as both participants and leaders Elsewhere in this issue of Unique Muskoka you ll find interesting reading on Muskoka s largest mammal the moose the revival of Muskoka s lawn bowling tradition challenges for the adventuresome and artisans who are fusing stained glass and copper And there s the culinary feature on a husband and wife team who have grown an interest in healthy eating into a business that supplies many of Muskoka s chefs As we prepare for the busy summer season we hope this issue of Unique Muskoka provides you with some insight into your community Happy reading LES IS MORE Photograph Susan Smith Muskoka is a community of communities From the earliest days of settlement pioneer Muskokans embraced each other in their efforts to survive the district s harsh environment and build futures for their families While most had made individual decisions to realize a dream escape hardship or create a new life they quickly found it was by working together they were most likely to succeed Individualism may set one apart but the reality of hefting timbers to build a new home or barn quickly reinforced the importance of co operation the necessity of a community to work together A read of the many books on the subject of the early development of Muskoka tells the stories of groups coming together building a community Soon schools were constructed the faithful had churches to attend and the first steps towards the creation of municipal infrastructure were taken Interestingly the spirited individuals who had often left repressive circumstances were establishing a new future in ways that reflected their shared past Today Muskoka is blessed with many communities of common interest Setting aside the obvious municipal infrastructure those who share common interests in the arts or sporting pursuits are numerous and contribute much to the lives of all Muskokans Faith groups while undergoing a transition feed the souls of many Those dedicated to preserving our environment reaching out to those in need ensuring the welfare of our animal friends and many causes far too numerous to mention in the space allocated for this column all work together to make Muskoka a better place It was that sense of community of being one that brought so many Muskokans together in support of the families and friends who have suffered from the wrenching losses of the Humboldt Broncos While Humboldt may be a western Canadian town many thousands of More Options More Service MORE TO COME STAY TUNED tel 705 646 9995 toll free 1 877 877 3929 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 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9

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Muskoka Calendar followed by the show at 8 and you can opt for just the show if you like gravenhurst ca en opera shows asp Photograph Andy Zeltkalns Calling all Robin Hoods give it your best shot at this tournament Muskoka Rock Choir returns to the stage at the Rene Caisse Theatre on Friday May 4 to present its second Reelin in the Years On exhibit at the Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge until May 19 is photographer Jane Croteau s show Pond A series of images created over time of one wetland in Muskoka Croteau s subject is off the beaten path and seen by few the photographer s fascination with its changes and moods has repeatedly brought her back to capture them using different cameras in all seasons over 12 years Through her lens the pond becomes a character hiding in the open unnavigable dressed in changing light sometimes a jewel other times a dowd muskokaartsandcrafts com Calendar_of_Events calendar_of_events htm Muskoka Rock Choir Bracebridge rocks the Rene Caisse The Bracebridge branch of the Muskoka Rock Choir sold out its premier concert in December On Friday May 4 it presents its second Reelin in the Years at the Rene Caisse Theatre Directed by Ian Crowley and performing with singer guitarist Sean Cotton bassist Mike Phillips drummer Shon Roper and keyboardist Frank Berg this talented and passionate collective of local singers will apply its unique vocal harmonies to songs by Ed Sheeran Coldplay Nirvana John Mayer Pink Floyd Depeche Mode Three Doors Down Steely Dan and many more thecaisse com muskoka rock choir html One woman show explores the rollercoaster ride of motherhood The Winnipeg Free Press described this one woman play written and performed by Anne Marie Scheffler as a comedy about the struggles of attempting to be a super mom and having it all and hilariously funny and charming Back in Muskoka by popular demand it s playing as a dinner theatre show at the Gravenhurst Young marksmen are given support and Opera House on May 5 Dinner provided encouragement at the Dwight Outdoor 3D Target by Muskoka Catering is at 6 p m Archery Tournament May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11 Photograph Tanya Grainger Show catches the many moods of one pond Bow and arrow enthusiasts of all ages are invited to the tenth annual Dwight Outdoor 3D Target Archery Tournament on Sunday May 6 The tourney runs 9 to 5 rain or shine at 2845 Highway 60 across from the Logging Chain Lodge in Dwight It s a 40 lane course meaning you take 40 shots using realistic looking foam animals as targets Prizes include donations from businesses such as restaurant gift cards golf passes and archery equipment Register at the start or pre register by visiting Erika s Bakery or the Dwight Garden Centre Barbecue lunch and T shirts are provided for everyone prizes for the best markspersons For more information call Tanya Grainger at 705 380 1835

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Broadsway is Broadway and more as you ve never seen it stoneway marble granite inc Presented by The Muskoka Concert Association the female trio of pianist vocalist Diane Leah vocalist Heather Bambrick and vocalist Julie Michaels will present their unique show Broadsway at the Gravenhurst Opera House on May 6 at 7 p m Performing tunes by Cole Porter Irving Berlin George Gershwin Stephen Sondheim Rossini with just meow for lyrics and many more in arrangements created specifically for the trio Leah Bambrick and Michaels put on a show full of feeling and humour Photograph Huntsville Festival of the Arts gravenhurst ca en opera shows asp Les and Renata Partyka 1295 Muskoka Rd 118 West Bracebridge 705 645 3380 stoneway inc gmail com May March an evening of sampling fine foods and wines kicks off the summer for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts 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 12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 Eat drink and be merry at Hunstville Festival s May March As ever the Huntsville Festival will kick off its summer with its biggest and tastiest fundraiser the May March This event will return to the Grandview Mark O Meara Clubhouse near Huntsville providing a decadent evening of sampling gourmet food from the best restaurants in town tasting wine beer and spirits from the best breweries and wineries and happy socializing with old friends and new It happens on Saturday May 12 7 10 p m huntsvillefestival ca shop product may marche ticket

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to Sean Cotton and Muskoka Connection with many more great acts in between It all happens at River Mill Park in Huntsville on May 19 downtownhuntsvilleadventures ca Photograph Barra MacNeils craft beer festival How big a pike can you catch in Lake Muskoka The multi talented Barra MacNeil family will be returning to the Algonquin Theatre in May with their dynamic performance Visit all of Muskoka s craft breweries on one tour The first Muskoka Brew Tour of 2018 happens on May 12 Participants will meet at Sawdust City Brewery in Gravenhurst at 11 a m then jump on the bus for an all day guided tour with samplings and facility tours at Sawdust Lake of Bays Brewery and Muskoka Brewery with lunch and samples at the Griffin Gastropub brewtours ca and click on Muskoka Edition Start the 2 4 weekend at the 2 4 Craft Beer Festival A Muskoka summer starts on the Victoria Day weekend and what better way to celebrate than by sampling highquality beers from 16 count them sixteen craft breweries including all the Muskoka ones There will also be quality snack foods and great live music ranging from the Cameron of Lochiel Pipes and Drums to Juan Barbosa to the Swingin Blackjacks Weather Master Windows 3 Season Sunrooms Aluminium Picket and Glass Topless Deck Railing 1 705 6 45 9 19 6 DAV L I N S CA The 2018 Lake Muskoka Pike Open happens on Saturday May 19 running from 7 30 a m to 4 p m though boats must report for inspection from 5 7 a m at the Boston Pizza dock at Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst Each boatload of anglers is allowed to enter five fish for measuring Fish must survive the experience to qualify From blast off you have the run of Lake Muskoka so if you already know some excellent pike territory you re at an advantage muskokapike webs com mba May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 13

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Cape Breton comes to Muskoka with the Barra MacNeils VERANDA The musical Barra MacNeil family plays the Algonquin Theatre on May 23 to perform tunes from their new release On the Bright Side Called a treasure of the East Coast rich with tradition and unmatched in ensemble performance the multi talented MacNeils not only sing and play a wide range of musical instruments but step dance and might get you doing the same in the aisles They can go from raucous to soulful in a beat delivering Gaelic songs that ll bring tears to your eyes rousing traditional Cape Breton fiddle tunes and selections that are decidedly classical algonquintheatre ca Summit focuses on Restoring our Relationship with the Natural World We re much more than another summer shopping store Open year round seven days a week we are here for all your d cor needs Our four showrooms are filled with timeless items that you will love for both your home and cottage Let us help you find that classic table that comfy chair or the perfect piece of art Because at Veranda you live beautifully On May 24 and 25 at the Rene Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge the Muskoka Summit on the Environment s 2018 Natural World Summit will address the fact that the human species has become so populous that it is now causing rapid and possibly catastrophic changes to the planet Speakers are Stephen Scharper Meg Lowman John Smol F Stuart Chapin Terry James Gordon and Dan Longboat For participants interested in exploring the role of religion in environmentalism a companion workshop is being hosted at the Bracebridge United Church muskokasummit org 2018 summit Gravenhurst Opera House s Gala ushers in the summer mood 2018 s Summer Season Gala at the Gravenhurst Opera House plays on the evening of May 25 beginning with a reception at 6 p m with delicious offerings by award winning chefs from the Gravenhurst area and live music The show begins at 8 Hosted by Canada s own The Yes Men Neil Crone Kevin Frank and Patrick McKenna it will be a star studded evening of music and comedy with Debbie Collins Jane Miller Mary Pitt Robin Clipsham Muskoka s own Peaches and many more gravenhurst ca en opera shows asp Visit our other boutiques Woodlands Collection The Outlet 24 MANITOBA ST BRACEBRIDGE OPEN YEAR ROUND 705 645 6451 VERANDACOLLECTION CA 14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 Submitted Photograph FURNISHINGS ART ACCESSORIES CUSTOM DRAPERIES RUGS DECORATING SERVICES LIGHTING FINE LINENS Muskoka Art Battle will involve spectators in judging the works produced by artists in 20 minute sessions

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I Got You Babe showcases the art of the rock duet For 50 years the greatest rock and pop singers have doubled up to create relationships in song whether as lovers friends disagreeing or what have you Mad Raven Dinner Theatre presents a delicious three course meal followed by Muskoka s finest talent including Sean Cotton Juan Barbosa and Leaynne Connolly singing iconic duets by Sonny and Cher Aretha Franklin and George Michael Johnny Cash and June Carter James Taylor and Carly Simon Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush Elton John and Kiki Dee Phil Collins and Philip Bailey and more It runs two nights May 25 and 26 at the ClubLink Grandview O Meara Ballroom Luxury on Lake Joseph 550 feet of frontage over 11 acres of ultimate privacy Stunning 5 bedroom cottage with expansive vistas madravendinnertheatre ca Spin the Lakes offers a fun scenic non competitive ride The 13th annual Spin the Lakes Cycle Tour will take place May 26 starting at Hidden Valley Resort near Huntsville There s something for every rider with four different lengths of course from the easy 20 km for rookies to the hardcore 172 km for athletic types The routes are designed to offer the most spectacular views of local lakes especially Peninsula Lake and Lake of Bays and challenge you with rolling hills bikemuskoka ca events spin the lakes The brush is mightier than the sword at Muskoka Art Battle In an art battle 12 artists six each in the first two rounds have 20 minutes to create a painting while ticket holding spectators walk around the easels viewing the process The spectators vote their three favourites in each round and those six artists enter the final round Spectators then vote for the champion making them eligible for the regional Art Battle competition possibly Incredible offering at 4 995 000 C A L L F O R D E TA I L S PORT CARLING Direct 705 646 4693 jack muskoka com muskokacottagelistings com May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15

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leading to national and international victories Organized by Andrea Balmer of Let the Cat Go Art Studio this epic live art event happens on May 26 at Bracebridge Memorial Arena and some of Muskoka s well known artists plan to enter Live music will be provided by Kurt Dunlop on guitar with food and Muskoka Brewery beer available also bracebridge ca en explore Festivals and Events aspx Reel Paddling Film Festival has the best paddling movies Photograph Paddling Film Festival If you d like cinematic inspiration for your canoeing kayaking or paddleboarding adventures don t miss the 13th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival Its World Tour screens in 120 cities around the world and Muskoka gets its turn on June 1 at the Algonquin Theatre in Huntsville Thrill to films featuring paddling of all kinds in rivers lakes and oceans worldwide and wild places from the spectacular to the serene This is the 13th annual Reel Paddling Film Festival to be screened in Muskoka 16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 tickets algonquintheatre ca TheatreManager 1 tmEvent tmEvent1281 html

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Article by Dawn Huddlestone D espite days spent in offices sitting at computers we all have a little bit of wild in us that yearns to break free Finding it just requires an appropriate challenge You may be surprised at what you can do To help you find out a Muskoka based outdoor company is putting unique new twists on some of the latest adventure crazes Even if you regularly challenge yourself it s unlikely you ve experienced anything like this If you ve tried escape activities you probably haven t done them in full firefighter gear experiencing some of what firefighters encounter at the scene of a fire If you re a fan of outdoor adventure you may not have spent a few hours throwing axes at targets in the bush or throwing cast iron frying pans for distance If you like to be on the water you likely haven t taken a 18 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 stand up paddleboard the closest you can get to walking on water through a quiet river wilderness to the site of a beautiful waterfall You ll find all of these challenges and more at Find Your Wild Created by former outdoor education teacher Jamie Honderich known to most as simply Hondo Find Your Wild is based at an 80 acre property just east of Huntsville It s on the lands of a heritage farm where Hondo and fibre artist Pam Carnochan run a bed and breakfast They also keep a small number of animals like sheep the wool from which Pam uses for her Watercolour with Wool artworks a donkey a horse and chickens It s an idyllic scene with its old farmhouse and barn a small lake a creek a beaver pond and mature hardwood forest as far as the eye can see But tucked away in the bush are unique activities you d be May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 18

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at a fire scene Both the escape room and obstacle course are visible to the rest of your group so they can cheer you on and help out with a bit of coaching if needed Then there s Hide and Seek You get called to a building and have to get a variety of victims out mannequins in this case but they aren t always easy to find In a real fire frightened children may try to hide Your job is to get them to safety Finally there s the B E and Bail You ve been called to an industrial site where you have to break in a door and haul a hose to where the fire is But you get trapped and have to find another way to get out One of the solutions is a head first bail out of a second story window At a real scene that could be a long way up but for the purposes of Find Your Wild it s just seven feet off the ground with a well padded landing Even that can be a challenge in full gear In all of the escape rooms there are riddles along the way that will help you solve the problems you encounter There s no reward however other than bragging rights for completing the course quickly Firefighters never run says Hondo They move with a sense of purpose You have to keep your head on It could be chaos otherwise he says You solve problems as a Photographs Find Your Wild hard pressed to find elsewhere There are the firefighter adventures led by National Fire Protection Association NFPA certified firefighters including three escape rooms designed to give you a taste of what it s like to respond to different fire call scenarios First you gather at the vintage pumper truck to don your firefighter bunker gear Then you head to the Tangles in Tight Spaces escape room where you have to navigate a low profile space wriggling under and between beams like a firefighter might squeeze under a garage door or break through a wall and then find your way through a box full of wires Some adventurers choose to do the challenges with an oxygen tank strapped on their backs others opt to do it without Always the activities are challenge by choice you can choose more or less of a challenge and can skip an activity completely or back out of it when you re part way through if it makes you uncomfortable Once you ve escaped those tight spaces you ll complete an obstacle course using gear that might be used Certified firefighters provide program participants a taste of what it s like to respond to different fire call scenarios Jamie Honderich right familiarizes a group with their gear May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19

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Photographs Find Your Wild Not all of the Find Your want to bring wee ones Wild adventures are at its too The Find Your Wild base though Hondo dog Stanley a Norwegian regularly leads groups into Elkhound is optional or nearby Algonquin Provincial you can bring your own Park or Arrowhead furry friend Provincial Park Two of Find With Find Your Wild Your Wild s most popular Hondo is following his summer adventures are the dream of spending his full day Big Easy Stand Up post retirement life Paddleboard Adventure and outdoors He was a the half day Big Easy Fun geography teacher at Family Float Huntsville High School The full day adventure where he also ran school begins at the beach in eco programs He s been a Among Find Your Wild s most popular summer adventures is the full day Big Easy Arrowhead Provincial Park wolf and cougar researcher follows the Little East River Stand Up Paddleboard Adventure And now he s sharing his down to scenic Stubb s Falls and then carries a shorter version of the same trip ending love for the outdoors by giving people the on into the sparsely populated Big East River with s mores over the fire You can stand ability to explore the wilderness and challenge where after some stops for snacks and kneel or sit on your board and either paddle themselves to try something new something swimming you ll arrive at a private beach for or let the current carry you along There s maybe a bit outside their comfort zone by a campfire cookout The Family Fun Float is even a Zodiac boat available for parents who finding their own inner wild 22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018

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I f Canada had a big five list of must see animals the moose would certainly be on that list Its huge size massive antlers and dominating presence are impressive Muskoka is home to a viable population of these big creatures the largest living deer found in the northern parts of North America Europe and Asia The latest moose survey done in 2015 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests MNRF showed an estimate of 408 moose in the region give or take 90 The large allowance for variation has to do with the methodology of tracking moose from the air Done every three to five years by the MNRF using a small aircraft the moose survey involves counting individuals in sample plots during the late winter When there are no leaves on the trees the moose are more visible The numbers from the sample plots are then extrapolated for the region explains Ron Black wildlife biologist with the MNRF out of the Parry Sound office Good moose habitat includes lots of wetlands such as beaver ponds When that is available moose are quite content The population density may vary throughout the region Black says explaining they are found all over Muskoka and even as far south as Orillia This survey showed the population is down less than 10 per cent since the 2010 survey says Black adding that variation is nothing alarming These concentrated efforts are done to manage the moose population for hunting purposes providing the MNRF with the information needed to determine the number of tags to issue for adult bulls and cows We target a proportion of the population and issue tags for adult moose based on the known success rate of hunters Black explains adding Anyone with a moose license can hunt a calf as they are subject to higher mortality anyways The open hunting season on moose in Muskoka is in early fall Traditionally it was for six days from the third Monday in October Black states but now it starts on the Saturday closest to October 22nd and lasts for seven days unless Sunday hunting is not allowed locally In part due to hunting fall is not the easiest time to find a moose It is a good time to see 25 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 25

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In preparation for the leaner winter months moose fatten up during the summer and into the fall on vast quantities of water lilies and other aquatic vegetation eating up to 20 kilograms or more in a day one however as they are in their best condition Fall is their mating season or rut The males are especially impressive at this time with their fresh rack of antlers The booklet Mammals of Algonquin Provincial Park which borrows information from research done in the park points out that males in their prime roughly between four and eight years of age grow great racks often measuring more than a metre from tip to tip and weighing as much as 25 kilograms The same publication explains more about a moose s antlers They start to grow in April and during their development are covered and nourished by the velvet a layer of skin densely covered with short hair and richly supplied with blood vessels Growth is completed by early September and the velvet is then rubbed off on trees and shrubs to expose the solid bony antlers The booklet also points out that a moose s antlers are Not used for defense but are for the sole function of improving the chances of success in late September and early October mating season or rut Battles between rival bull moose are rare The bulls make a show by thrashing their antlers in shrubbery producing a surprisingly far carrying noise the booklet points out adding when bulls meet they usually quite quickly assess each other s strength and the intimidated animal does not contest the other s dominance A rutting moose is not an animal to contend with when out hiking in the woods in the fall as they are entirely focused Black states there is always a risk during the fall rut of bulls becoming aggressive Be wary as aggressive behaviour is a possibility Once the rut is over both the bulls and the cows along with their first year calves settle down to the difficult task of surviving a Muskoka winter Having fattened up during the summer and into the fall on vast quantities of water lilies and other aquatic vegetation up to 20 kilograms a day according to the booklet they are better May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27

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Moose calves spend their first winter close to their mother Having survived winter ticks and a limited food supply they are sent off on their own in the spring as the mother shoos them away just in time to give birth to her next calf or calves prepared for the leaner diet of winter which sees them losing weight until spring arrives They also grow a thicker coat of fur Like many animals in Muskoka the young are most vulnerable in wintertime One of their only enemies wolves will attack adult moose especially during winter Black bears are another natural enemy but not in winter and usually predate young calves in the spring By mid winter the bulls have dropped their antlers most likely in a place where they ll never be found except by mice and squirrels and other rodents which gnaw on them for the minerals Winter is a good time to search for moose by tracking them in the snow but avoid following too close to keep from stressing the animals at that time of the year The moose s long legs also help it in winter allowing it to get through the deep snow The park booklet states that moose even straddle small trees and walk up them to reach edible portions Their long neck allows them to browse up high Moose are better equipped to survive a Muskoka winter than their cousin the whitetailed deer whose population has been noticeably reduced by the harsh winters 28 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 Muskoka experienced in 2013 and 2014 A smaller deer population is an advantage to moose as deer share a parasite brainworm that is a problem for moose At one time called moose disease the afflicted animals are often blind lack coordination and eventually lose the capacity to stand according to the booklet which also explains that park research discovered the villain It is a nematode worm that lives in the brain and spinal column of deer without apparently doing that animal harm But after it has passed through the deer it takes up the next stage of its life cycle in a slug or snail In the course of acquiring huge quantities of browse each day some moose are bound to eat some of the infected snails which are clinging to the low vegetation Once in the moose the nasty nematode does the same thing as in the deer that is burrow into the brain and spinal column but in moose with disastrous and fatal results Black points out that while the disease is sometimes evident it isn t controlling the moose population By the end of the winter moose are ready for a change Spring is one of the best times to see moose in Muskoka At that time they emerge from their wintering range to drink the salty water along the roadsides They are depleted of potassium and sodium from grazing on twigs all winter explains Black Their winter coats may also be looking slightly ragged if winter ticks have affected them It is sometimes a problem says Black The moose pick up the ticks in the autumn when they attach themselves to the moose then stay on all winter According to the booklet the ticks remain dormant until January or February when they increase their activity of sucking blood from the animal As the tick activity increases the moose becomes itchy so tries to rub them off but loses its fur as well This is critical the booklet points out because the moose need the insulation provided by a normal coat of hair Young moose with a full coat of hair do not start shivering a sign of cold internal temperature until 30 to 35 C The booklet further explains a moose with a coat disrupted from scratching because of ticks may shiver over half the time during rainy weather at 5 C in March or April In a bad tick winter the moose have hair loss and depleted energy says Black who adds that they can even become anemic especially the calves

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In the spring of the year a cow often has one or two calves with her as they spend their first winter close to their mother Having survived winter ticks and a limited food supply they are now sent off on their own as the mother shoos them away just in time to give birth to her next calf or calves The cow often seeks out a secluded area even an island to be safe from bears and wolves It s a bewildering time for the young moose and sometimes they end up wandering where they shouldn t such as into a suburban or urban area though they don t stay there long By late spring most moose are back in the wetlands filling up on the nutrient rich aquatic vegetation which is the mainstay of their diet being herbivores Their long legs and necks help facilitate this type of feeding as well Sighting an adult moose standing knee deep in a beaver pond is an iconic Canadian experience We are fortunate to have them here in Muskoka Your Muskoka source for Boat Awnings 440 Ecclestone Drive Unit 11 Bracebridge ON P1L 1Z6 705 645 7511 info davlins ca www davlins ca 30 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 f mba

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You plan for uninterrupted Muskoka sunsets here What about uninterrupted healthcare here In Muskoka there are some things you can simply count on Fresh air pristine nature the gentle sway of a dock But when the unexpected happens you can also count on exceptional hospital care from Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare To ensure it stays that way there is a growing need for state of the art equipment updated information technology and better infrastructure that provincial healthcare taxes don t cover With your generous support today those needs can be met and you can plan on the best possible care to be provided for you your family and every patient who needs it often when it s least expected Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is here for you with caring and compassionate healthcare professionals standing by at two sites Give to the foundation of your choice to support hospital care in Muskoka and everyone benefits today and for years to come healthmuskoka ca 705 645 4404 ext 3246 huntsvillehospitalfoundation ca 705 789 2311 ext 2492

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The Tradition of Lawn Bowling Returns to Muskoka Article by Matt Driscoll Photography by Tomasz Szumski I t doesn t take much imagination to conjure the old world charm of lawn bowling Men in their sailor caps and ties and women in long white dresses catching up on the talk of the town as they tumbled the bowls along long manicured greens A century ago bowling greens could be found throughout Muskoka in towns and at many of the lakeside resorts However up until this past year the sport had all but disappeared from the region That was until the spark of an idea grew into what has now become the Muskoka Lawn Bowling Club After considerable hard work tireless fundraising and community advocacy Muskoka once again has a lawn bowling facility to call its own In 2017 the Muskoka Lawn Bowling Club celebrated its first successful season on land leased from the Muskoka Highlands Golf Course This is something for any age any gender 33 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 we have truck drivers and doctors says Sally Mills one of the driving forces behind the creation of the facility It s about everyone coming out to get some exercise and have some fun One of the main attractions of lawn bowling is the accessibility of the game it s easy to learn and there s minimal equipment required to play Players are given four weighted balls or bowls and the objective is to roll the bowls down the green typically about 34 to 40 metres in length towards the jack a smaller ball Closest to the jack gets the points The game dates back to 12th Century England and the first clubs in Ontario opened in the 1830s Lawn bowling was once ubiquitous in Muskoka with facilities in many of the towns and resorts Historical records indicate that bowling greens were constructed at the Wawa Hotel on Lake of Bays at Elgin House on Lake Joseph and at Windermere House on Lake Rosseau by the early twentieth century Paignton House built its lawn bowling greens as part of a larger expansion in the 1920s that included tennis courts and additional guest cabins Monteith House on Lake Rosseau boasted some of the best sporting amenities available including lawn bowling tennis and in later years Muskoka s first roller skating rink Rostrevor Resort on Lake Rosseau even brought in lawn bowling champions to help provide their guests with lessons on the game The Bowling Club at the Highlands isn t the first in Bracebridge either as the Bracebridge Lawn Bowling Club thrived for years beside the current site of Bracebridge Public School The original club hosted many competitions over the years drawing in clubs from Orillia and Gravenhurst and was quite successful The club room was a horse stable that had been converted into usable space but it burned to the ground in 1945 The club itself was active from roughly May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 33

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1928 to the 1960s Part of the modern appeal of lawn bowling is that many clubs have relaxed their formerly stringent rules about dress code and made the clubs more accessible for anyone interested Nowadays the Muskoka club prides itself on catering to seasonal and permanent residents from the ages of 9 to 99 Lawn bowling is something for people of any age says club president Sally Mills CALL TODAY 705 787 1401 chad roll onpainting com w w w rol l o npainting co m 34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 It was an amazing and crazy summer says Mills referring to the opening season We ve had so many people jump on board We drew 85 members in our first year most of whom are new bowlers We were expecting to get maybe 40 Muskoka s resurgent interest in lawn bowling began largely with Lawrie and David Scott The couple had been members of the Markham Lawn Bowling Club and decided to bring their passion for the game to Muskoka when they moved here in 2005 The major obstacle to construction was that little funding was available for new builds That changed in 2015 when new criteria for Ontario Trillium Grant funding became available Sally Mills who had by now largely taken over the project applied and in March 2016

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The newly created Muskoka Lawn Bowling Club has hosted avid bowlers and newbies community groups family get togethers as well as the club s first lawn bowling tournament learned the club had received the maximum amount 150 000 to build a new lawn bowling facility We had pretty much given up on it by that time it was our last shot says Mills The following year was a series of ups and downs but Mills says thanks to the support of the Town of Bracebridge the staff at Muskoka Highlands those who donated financially and a small army of volunteers everything came together for their grand opening on July 8 2017 Since then the club has hosted avid bowlers and newbies community groups family get togethers as well as the club s first lawn bowling tournament They also won awards for most new members and best communications program during the 2017 Ontario Lawn Bowling Association s annual fall meeting It s an incredible feeling says Mills I knew this summer was going to be a huge amount of work What surprised me is how rewarding it s been Often referred to as curling on grass the two games are similar in terminology and rules except without the sweeping of curling and the added challenge of a house that can be moved during the game It s easy to learn but difficult to master says Mills Like many lawn bowlers Mills comes from a curling background A longtime member at the Leaside Curling Club Mills and her team were wrapping up their season in the spring of 2010 when one of her teammates mentioned the six week learn to lawn bowl program We were sorry to see the curling season come to an end so I thought what the heck says Mills After that I was hooked Mills has been a cottager on McKay Lake May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35

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and Three Mile Lake for the past time this past summer 25 years but wanting to maximize I really enjoy the exercise as her time on the lake presented a well as the social aspect of lawn problem bowling says Campbell What It made for a very short lawn stands out the most for me was bowling season says Mills how friendly the members of the A lack of bowling time is no bowling club were longer a problem for Mills who Campbell has known Sally now sits on the board at multiple Mills for the past eight years and clubs and has become a certified also knew about her desire to coach build a club but she was floored Our learn to bowl program when she saw the finished has been extremely successful she product Longtime cottager and lawn bowler Graydon Bell is among those happy to says A high percentage of the It looks as if Muskoka Lawn welcome the opening of a Muskoka club people who have gone through the Bowling Club has been in program have become members of the club Bond says she s been most impressed with existence for many years she says It s due Fellow Three Mile Lake cottager Beverly the accessibility of the club where anyone to their hard work and organizational skills Bond is one of those who took the course and can join and learn the game She says the I m sure that visiting lawn bowlers are joined the club schedule is flexible making it easy to impressed Although I was a new player I have curled accommodate those on vacation newcomers Campbell says she s looking forward to for many years and I enjoyed the similarities or those who want to maximize their time at renewing friendships at the club this summer says Bond I had a chance to meet new the club and playing for many years to come people at the club and I really enjoyed the Anne Campbell is a retired teacher from Mills says it s those personal stories that strategy play of lawn bowling I plan on Toronto who s been cottaging on Silver Lake make the experience so rewarding playing again next summer when we return in Port Carling for the past 25 years She also There was a grandfather out at the driving to the lake for the summer tried her hand at lawn bowling for the first range next door with his three grandchildren WE DIG MUSKOKA Complete Site Services Boulder Retaining Walls Patios Flagstone Pathways Stairs Professional Barging Service Excavation Road Maintenance Demolition Septic Systems 36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 Contact us for a quote info riegercontracting com 705 765 DIGG 3444

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said Mills They were sitting on the bench and we hauled them in to play a game He said this is great it s something I can do with my grandkids Clients from Community Living South Muskoka are regular guests at the club We have one young man who comes out every Friday morning and he absolutely loves it says Mills A corporate group from Staples also came out during the summer and enjoyed themselves immensely says Mills I think a lot of young people are surprised by how challenging the game can be she says While they do draw from different demographics Mills says a big push for the club in the coming seasons will be to attract a younger crowd She said they hope to approach schools in the area this season to get them involved and St Dominic Catholic Secondary School has already created several benches located alongside the playing area Mills is hoping to have two learn to bowl sessions next year and is seeking funding to increase accessibility at the facility She s also hoping to find a way to create more shade for the summer days and lights to extend play into the evening She s encouraging all residents of the area permanent and seasonal to come out and get involved in a new and exciting element of the Muskoka community More than a century after the first bowls were cast along the manicured grounds of Muskoka s grand resorts lawn bowling is once again a highlight of the summer for many May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 37

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Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Tomasz Szumski T he art of blending mixed media has been used by artisans and craftsman alike for centuries Artists push the boundaries of expectation by pulling various mediums and styles together The blending creates unique pieces of art that are difficult to replicate and quick to catch the eye Throughout the ages copper s durability versatility and resistance to rust and corrosion made it ideal for crafting useful pieces Anthropologists believe copper to be the first metal used to create wares due to its malleability Richard Ellard of Bracebridge takes the art and trade of coppersmithing to a new level Blending custom copper works with other mediums has been Ellard s intention since starting his business Artifex Coppersmithing Inc in 1998 Artifex is Latin for master in the craft and that s what we strive for explains Ellard The mission statement for our work is functional architecture Arts and Crafts style the architecture style Ellard creates his pieces in is focussed on traditional craftsmanship 38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 with the use of folk or medieval styles of decoration This style came about in the 1900s in North America says Ellard It really shifted the tradesman to an artisan The intention of the style is that artisans create items from scratch such as houses decorations and functional art including furniture lighting and sinks Architectural works are commissioned by clients typically with a specific style or goal for the final piece says Ellard Interior work or functional art gives us a bit more license to create based on the feel of the cottage or home Building on their experience and developing new techniques the Artifex team began incorporating leaves within their patina work in recent years Patina refers to the thin layer or tarnish produced by oxidation or other chemical processes that forms on the surface of copper bronze or other similar metals The chemical process by which a patina forms or is deliberately induced is called patination

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Glass and copper fuse at the same temperature making them ideal to pair together in architecture and other items Patina is the aging of copper and brass explains Ellard We formulate our own patinas with trees leaves roots and things We soak oak and maple leaves into our patina and lay it onto the copper It creates a very organic variegated type of aging It has a three dimensional look to it Patinas can provide a protective covering to materials that would otherwise be damaged by corrosion or weathering Metalworkers and artists deliberately incorporate patinas as part of their designs and decorations to simulate antique qualities in newly made product Ellard and his team s patina work creates unique abstract finishes to pieces Even wildlife motifs have been incorporated into custom pieces Artifex s projects range from back splashes in kitchens incorporating copper and glass to range hoods with semi hidden leaves in the patina The patination works we re using on projects now are methods I ve been developing for 20 years says Ellard Blending glass into his coppersmithing May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 39

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Below Muskoka stained glass artist Gail Wilson has joined with Richard Ellard of Artifex to produce uniquely fused pieces of copper and stained glass 40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 partnership with local glass artist Gail Wilson Approaching projects with Wilson s artistry provides a new dynamic to Ellard s architectural works I look for creating a product out of what we re doing and Gail is bringing an artist s background to a number of the new glass pieces comments Ellard Ellard and Wilson s works actively combine the traditional and the modern to create handcrafted custom work unlike any other in the Muskoka region The essence of much of our work is about merging the needs and wants of customers with the need for true craftsmanship and artistry shares Ellard My mission is to bring glasswork to new and exciting artistry using both cold and hot glass says Wilson I am still in awe of the way the pieces when seen in a window are constantly changing Wilson grew up visiting Muskoka in the summers and relocated permanently in 1984 In 1999 Wilson began taking lessons for stained glass work Once she began creating stained glass pieces Wilson was enthralled with the process and the artistry While she is familiar in working her artistry with cold stained glass fusing is a different art that she continues to perfect My first attempt at using the kiln was a total disaster so there have been several Submitted Photo work is an effect Ellard has been augmenting for close to 10 years When Cranberry Marsh Cove in Bala was being built the then owner approached Ellard about using glass and copper together in as many places as possible At the time Ellard had not experimented with the two mediums concurrently but accepted the request and ran with it We worked the project with both products next to each other roof awnings cupolas range hoods everywhere we could explains Ellard We received such positive feedback from that work that we started to play with materials on our own Glass and copper fuse at the same temperature making them ideal to pair together in architecture and other items Adding glass to projects such as cupolas on boathouses brings a distinctive quality to the work Ellard and his team produce We ve worked on pieces such as landscaping lighting with glass lenses using fused glass instead of stained glass which adds a different touch explains Ellard In recent years Ellard has developed a

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lessons along the way says Wilson I ve taken a trial and error approach as I m still learning It s part of the creation Glass has three phases hot warm and cold Hot glass is glass blowing warm glass is stroke fused and cold glass is stained glass soldered together Whether working with cold or warm glass the process of glass selection cutting and fine fitting is the same The crucial portion of the process in either scenario is design planning The glass used for fusing has to be compatible with each other for the whole piece says Wilson The pieces of glass have to melt at the same temperature or the finished piece may shatter It s called the coefficient of expansion which is whether the fused glass pieces are comparable or not With cold glass segments are interchangeable and may be used together however the artist desires to create the piece Fused glass provides a much quicker result but can be unpredictable during the process You have to wait until you can open the kiln to see what has worked explains Wilson It takes 24 hours or more You have much more control over your cold glass projects when it comes to the finishing but the product is different Fusing the copper and glass is a big part of the business says Ellard Working copper and glass together requires using quality materials and crafting pieces as well as possible Human error is the biggest issue Ellard began his career working on the rooftops of London While roofing he saw other companies preparing the fine detailing on the same roofs His interest in the craftsmanship of the fine detailing led him to pay his own way to learn the necessary skills Ellard worked with the same companies overseas in Europe on castles palaces and other grand homes When Ellard moved to Muskoka he had not anticipated the response he received to practicing his craft The client base has developed into a group of patrons that year after year support the business with their needs and the understanding of what we can deliver says Ellard The customers were pivotal to me staying in Canada A few years into his venture a customer reminded Ellard to maintain what was in his rearview mirror By offering a warranty for the Top Richard Ellard fashions architectural works for clients typically with a specific style or goal for the final piece that will be featured in their homes and cottages May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41

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In addition to crafting useful pieces from copper the team at Artifex is now focusing on creative works lifetime of the materials they use the Artifex team can mend warranty work with regular maintenance before there is a crisis We have lifetime contracts to follow up each year on pieces comments Ellard We service eavestroughs and roofs regularly to keep them in order Whether working with a contractor designer or owner of the home or cottage meeting with the clients allows for a blend of the client s vision with an artistic execution The art in architecture begins as a drawing of a potential project or concept The exchange of ideas among the team is very important in creating the concept and presenting a potential product to a client Our pieces are handmade by people the clients have met in the studio they ve visited and then they get to own a piece explains Ellard Clients trust Ellard to know the desired style and overall aesthetic of their home or cottage Installation of custom pieces is an impressive conclusion to the creative process My clients created the business says Ellard They demand and deserve great quality work I just work here while my clients ask for projects to be created In January we installed an eight sided copper tower with a finial on top The crane lifted it 60 feet in the air to complete the installation but the customer just couldn t believe it There s a definite wow factor Artifex is a family business with the shop and studio just steps away from Ellard s home Sye Ellard one of Ellard s two sons has begun learning the coppersmithing craft and is interested in continuing the family business It s great to have him involved and learning the business says Ellard He ll go to school and be able to take things to another level I can t wait to see this continue as a father son venture With my son being involved I m really seeing this as a new stage of growth says Ellard We re trying new things and reengaging in events like we haven t for quite some time Ellard Wilson and the Artifex team will participate in the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour this year the first time in over 12 years Having his family attached to a business and product is an achievement that can make a founder feel good In sharing his mastery of his trade with his son Ellard continues a tradition of artistry and authentic craftsmanship in custom metalwork A Muskoka Tradition for 39 Years Representing 100 Canadian fine artists artisans Season 2018 opens May long weekend 1073 Fox Point Road Dwight 705 635 1602 oxtonguecraftcabin com telling the Muskoka story SEE US AT OUR NEW LOCATION 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE MAY 2018 May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43

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ALL GERMANIA PHOTOGRAPHS Richard Tatley Gravenhurst Archives The Weis family farm in Draper Township with its neat fences well built barn and classic farmhouse is a tribute to the exacting standards that German settlers achieved in farming and building their community Germania Article by J Patrick Boyer I n 1873 after scouting North American locales for New Iceland 21 year old visionary Sigtryggur J nasson led 160 of his country folk into Muskoka s remote Cardwell Township to establish their Canadian toe hold colony of Hekkla Meanwhile German immigrant brothers Georj and Wilhelm Gilbert and their families were clearing an unbroken section of Muskoka s Draper Township constructing homes beginning farms and launching their Germania settlement to draw others from their native Germany Like all fresh start settlers they sought a better life But being non British the dominant stock of Muskoka s homesteaders any such Icelanders and Germans besides creating important new settlements would enrich the district s society with their skills and culture The news about immigrants of course is 44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 not their arrival but what caused them to abandon cherished homelands in the first place Iceland 145 years ago had about 71 000 people 2 000 in the capital Reykjavik most everyone else farming rural areas and fishing coastal waters A colony of Denmark Iceland was struggling with depleted resources a livestock epidemic that annihilated 200 000 sheep and Danish trade restrictions Then it got clobbered by thick volcanic ash from Mount Hekla s eruptions a lethal degradation rendering farming impossible across much of the country Adventurer Sigtryggur J nasson looked hopefully to North America in 1872 becoming the first permanent Icelandic settler in Canada His enthusiastic letters home encouraged others to follow The government seeking more settlers to populate Canada s widespread land mass named J nasson an immigration agent and printed 20 000 promotional pamphlets for him to distribute in Iceland The first wave of immigrants reached the promising land the very next year First sailing to Scotland and then crossing the Atlantic to Quebec City the settlers and their Icelandic horses reached Toronto by train and continued north to the railway s terminus at Washago The intrepid homesteaders led by J nasson then made their way up the stumpy rutted road to Gravenhurst and boarded a steamer to northern Lake Rosseau Their final push inland led to waiting wilderness for homesteaders with small sturdy horses to clear and farm Naming Canada s first Icelandic community Hekla after Iceland s renowned mountain seemed bittersweet a nostalgic link to their homeland yes but a

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decades postmaster Helgasson s protests to Ottawa never succeeded in getting that embarrassing second k removed from Hekkla At first settlers worshiped in homes and buried their dead at their farms the common pattern of Muskoka s remote areas By the late 1890s they wanted a proper church accompanied by what Icelanders called a church garden They acquired an unused church building near Rosseau then dismantled moved and reconstructed it during 1900 on an acre bought from Jacob Einarson Alongside they d already established its garden or cemetery Hekkla s community church was served by Methodist and Presbyterian ministers until those churches merged in 1925 when clergy from the United Church of Canada assumed the duty until the church was closed continuing with one annual service each August In 2005 a unique event commemorating Icelandic settlement in Canada began in Iceland and ended in Manitoba Dubbed The Path to Gimli the adventure entailed Icelanders and A descendant of Hekkla s Icelandic pioneers Jakob and Jorunn Canadians riding Icelandic horses through Einarson Edith Smith visits Iceland s rocky landscape and waterfalls reminiscent of Muskoka in July 1969 Middle With the exhilarating all places connected with arrival of the Icelandic riders on The Path to Gimli the Hekkla early migration In churchyard becomes a lively spot as Muskokans with Icelandic links or Muskoka that meant interest in heritage are drawn from all corners of the District Declan Hekkla as Canada s first O Driscoll centre blue shirt was the Canadian organizer of this Icelandic colony as well unique bi national celebration Bottom In 1886 Gustave and Julius as Gravenhurst Brace Grenke built this fine squared log schoolhouse for children of Hekkla bridge and Rosseau They and elsewhere in Cardwell Township s No 2 school section just north visited the Hekkla Church of Skeleton Lake May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45 ALL HEKKLA PHOTOGRAPHS Edith Smith Heritage Collection Ullswater nod to the most prominent cauldron in Iceland s over active volcanic mountain range whose eruptions had triggered their departure These special Muskoka settlers were just the vanguard From 1873 until the late 1800s Iceland s exodus continued until 20 per cent of its entire population was in North America A number at Hekla felt there might be greener less rocky pastures elsewhere Already by 1874 some left to establish a new Icelandic community at Kinmount in Haliburton County joined by 365 more immigrants direct from Iceland This colony lasted only a year By spring 1875 their search resumed A few Kinmount settlers returned to Muskoka Others relocated to Nova Scotia Most headed west under Sigtryggur J nasson s leadership to settle the shores of Lake Winnipeg and establish a New Iceland community at Gimli Hekkla having taken root carried on From Iceland more hard luck farmers trickled in Jacob and Jouran Einarsson arrived in 1878 and before long gave the community its first locally born child Apart from naming newborns existing Icelandic names got tweaked to accommodate Englishspeakers sgeirsson to Asgeirson Einarsson to Einarson Gu mundsson to Goodman J nsson to Johnson Sn bj rnsson to Snaebjornsson Tomasson to Thompson Finnsson to Finnson Helgasson to Helgason Cultural adjustment took other forms too One of Hekkla s first settlers a bookbinder by trade discovered his craft was not yet needed in Muskoka so worked instead at a Parry Sound sawmill A decade and a half later realizing the need to keep Icelandic cultural life vital Pall Snaebjornsson organized Hekkla s reading and study society which from 1888 acquired and discussed many Icelandic books Desiring status as a real community Muskoka s Icelanders sought a post office Asgeir V Helgasson applied to Ottawa and was duly appointed postmaster However everyone was chagrined when postal officials refused to correct their misspelling on the franking hammer they d sent him He opened Hekla s post office in his trim wood frame house in January 1887 but for the next two

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and Cemetery and were Hermann Weizmiller contributed accommodated by Edith and timbers and boards Volunteers Harry Smith at Ullswater formed working groups What a thrill it was recalls carpenters to construct the log Edith a descendant of the pioneer building artisans to craft pews Einarson family to host the and an altar others to paint to Icelandic riders watch them on landscape the grounds to mark the original road built by my out a cemetery Muskoka s great great grandfather Rasmus multicultural nature got a boost as Oleson see them go from the Old Muskoka s first church of the Lutheran denomination the original services in German became Parry Sound Road into a waiting Protestant church formed 400 years ago in Germany displays the strength increasingly mixed with English knee high field of hay to graze and of logs crafted by German artisans in 1876 at Germania usage while Germania s nonspend the night in while we and many others Gilbert and wife Margrieta brother Georj Lutherans built a Methodist church welcomed the riders and invited them to Gilbert and wife Katarina and Katarina s From an early age in Hekkla and Germania enjoy a July swim in Skeleton Lake parents Hermann and Maria Dorothea while children worked diligently alongside parents Meanwhile back in 1870 Muskoka s 25 more German families joined them in and their extended family as in Muskoka s German arrivals left their duchy of Hessen settling their Muskoka colony Adjusting for other close knit pioneer communities Girls Darmstadt because the place was undergoing the British setting anglicized names included made candles and soap fetched eggs milked a disruptive geopolitical realignment within variations such as Weizm ler to Weizmiller cows cooked food washed clothes and ironed Bismarck s newly minted German Empire then Weismiller Weis to Wise and Snieder to laundry Boys plowed fields weeded gardens and because an expansive spirit was igniting Snider Other German speaking families had split firewood carried water learned to hunt Germans to colonize the wider world Late to surnames such as Chettle Toye Germyn and kept an alert eye for livestock predators achieve unification Germany had missed out Deitz Hyndemann and Speicher In Germania s early years children in the empire building conquests by which Germania s homesteaders primarily attended other township schools but by other European powers gained overseas Lutherans built their Germania Nazareth 1888 local families built their own territories Evangelical Lutheran Church on land schoolhouse in the village centre on land Coming for Free Grant land were Wilhelm Wilhelm Gilbert donated Lumberman donated this time by Wilhelm Gilbert s HOSPICE MUSKOKA PRESENTS Plant a Seed Start a Conversation Monday May 14 2018 1 00 PM to 4 00 PM Guest speaker Paul Davidson is Clinical Chaplain of Philip Aziz Centre Visiting Hospice Emily s House Drawing from his experience providing spiritual supportive care for the terminally ill and their families Paul will speak about redefining hope Knox Presbyterian Church 120 Taylor Road Bracebridge FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENT Refreshments will be served Donations are welcome 46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 RSVP to 705 646 1697 or info hospicemuskoka com www hospicemuskoka com

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brother Georj Families contributed some 400 toward costs of the board and batten schoolhouse and adjacent sports field From the fine brick chimney for its wood stove to the well proportioned housing for the school s rooftop bell the calibre of German craftsmanship was on full display Germania s goal was self sufficiency After clearing land they plowed and planted raising fields of oats wheat corn beans and potatoes Alongside their crops Germania s farmers such as Willem Gilbert kept well tended livestock including poultry hogs and large dairy herds In 1884 when the community had some 100 residents John Weismiller son of Hermann and Dorothea opened a post office The next year William Stamp took over postmaster s duties amidst jibes about the aptness of his name Stamp which two decades later were entrusted to Julius Rossgar who in 1906 combined Germania s post office with a store beside Weismiller Lake Germania was not a closed ethnic society and its non Germans included the Tait brothers Thomas who operated a sawmill and William who ran a general store supplying such products as wire and nails socks and pans tinned foods and matches hard candy and blankets cups cheesecloth biscuits and bullets Special shopping excursions into Bracebridge or Gravenhurst by wagon in summer and sleigh during winter offered wider choices plus the entertainment of observing town doings The community had put down roots With more baptisms weddings and funerals new generations became entwined with Germania life Following the village s first blacksmith P Herman Nikolas Weis took over shoeing horses and fashioning hinges and other ironwork as Germania s smithy In 1896 when Wilhelm Gilbert died his two storey home and farm were inherited by son Heinrich and his wife Rachel who carried on the productive operation The population reached 150 Prosperity increased Thomas Tait expanded his lumber business to include a shingle mill Charles Tingey another non German introduced competition by opening Germania s second general store Then Hermann Weismiller took over Tait s saw and shingle mill running the steam powered operation beside a tiny lake named after himself As in Muskoka s other snow bound farming communities men harvested trees during winter to supply logs for Weismiller s sawblades in exchange for cash or boards or both When fire destroyed his mill early in the 20th century Weismiller sold his steam engine to the Speichers who operated a lumber mill of their own until it too burned down Though Germania s population began dwindling life continued to arrive On July 8 1912 Nikolas Wettlaufer s neighbours joined in a successful barn raising at his farm By the mid 1920s the convenience of automobiles spelled an end for the settlement s remaining general store with locals shopping elsewhere it went out of business Germania s schoolhouse closed in 1960 with school consolidation for awhile the building served as a community centre for events and entertainment Germania s post office operated until 1957 Summer services are occasionally held at the Lutheran church Both Hekkla and Germania families enriched Muskoka by their diversity and devotion to community betterment Their descendants through generations of intermarriage and engagement in District life are melded into that unique blend of Canadians known as Muskokans Top In winter farmers harvested logs for such sawmills as the Weismiller Lumber Company in Germania The entire Weis family got into the act as shown in this logging scene with Nick Weis Germania s blacksmith atop one of the oxen Middle The tranquil setting of Hekkla Community Church and Cemetery Bottom Children learn to honour their heritage in special moments such as laying flowers at the plaque Honouring the first Icelandic colony and early settlers in Hekkla 1873 May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47

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Whats Happened MLA releases 2017 water quality report Early this year the Muskoka Lakes Association released the results of its 2017 Water Quality Initiative Data was collected from 193 locations in 55 areas last summer and then compared to what was collected from 2002 to 2006 It found that water quality at most of the sampling locations is good to excellent Volunteers aimed to sample each location four times for a variety of criteria including temperature water clarity dissolved organic carbon DOC total Phosphorus and bacteria E coli and total coliforms Of the 55 areas sampled 41 areas received a green light indicating that water quality remains consistently good while 14 areas received a yellow light recommending more investigation to 48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 maintain good water quality The report suggests that Minett and Windermere remain primary focus areas for 2018 sampling The full report is available at mla on ca Discovery Centre to open major new attraction This summer the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst will unveil its first new permanent exhibit since 2006 Watershed Wonders explores physical and biological elements of the Muskoka River Watershed how it works how it shapes our lives and how research in the area has helped to improve the quality of freshwater lakes around the world It s an opportunity to find out what the watershed is the importance of it how it contributes to what Muskoka is says Ann Curley operations manager curator at the Muskoka Discovery Centre The Muskoka watershed has many unique features people will have to come here to find those out The interactive exhibit comprises five sections The Water Cycle Biodiversity

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Nature Challenged Humans and Stewardship and Sustainability One of the many highlights of the exhibit will be a virtual aquarium which Curley believes is the only one in Ontario showcasing what we typically can t see beneath the surface The Discovery Centre is well named says volunteer Ian Turnbull This new exhibit will explain explore and discover the watershed and all its features There is nothing more unique about Muskoka than the watershed it s what makes us a different place in Ontario let alone Canada than many other places The exhibit is being designed and fabricated by Canadian companies Simbioz Expographiq and Reich and Petch with content developed in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry the Muskoka Watershed Council Friends of the Muskoka Watershed and the Muskoka Lakes Association It is expected to open in July of 2018 Ontario Heritage Trust commemorates Anishinaabeg history in Lake of Bays Photograph Rebecca Krawczyk Late last year dignitaries gathered at Dorset s Cedar Narrows Heritage Park for the unveiling of provincial plaques that relay the long history of the Anishinaabeg people in the area The plaques are part of the Ontario Heritage Trust s Provincial Plaque Program which commemorates provincially significant people places and events in Ontario s history The plaques are presented in three languages English French and Anishinaabemowin and read A waterbased people the Anishinaabeg the original people of this region were a hunter gatherer society that often travelled here to the narrows at Trading Bay Lake of Bays The area that is now Dorset was a special spiritual place abundant in natural resources For thousands of years the Anishinaabeg set up small camps here harvesting maple syrup and birch bark fishing and trading in the spring and summer and hunting and trapping during the fall and winter Eventually the Anishinaabeg realized that their hunting and harvesting rights and territory had been lost through a series of treaties They continued to travel to the region to work as fishing and hunting guides and trading with seasonal tourists and cottagers The descendants of the Anishinaabeg are members of the seven First Nations of the Williams Treaties 1923 the nearest of which is the Chippewas of Rama First Nation The legacy of the original inhabitants lives on through the many landmarks rivers lakes and islands that bear Anishinaabemowin Ojibwe place names Chief Rodney Noganosh of the Dignitaries and guests unveil provincial plaques commemorating the Anishinaabeg history in the Dorset area May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49

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Dara Howell returns to the podium Cup Big Air competition in March It s a discipline she doesn t normally compete in she was focused on honing her slopestyle skills in the lead up to the PyeongChang Olympics the month before The podium eluded her there after she missed a berth in the finals when she lost a ski during the landing of a difficult jump But in Quebec City it was a different story Her execution was flawless at lot Fleurie a park in Quebec City s Lower Town district where a 40 metre high and 110 metre long ramp was built beneath the Dufferin Montmorency highway for the competition She told Freestyle Canada that It means everything to me to end the season with a Huntsville s Dara Howell centre celebrates her win Just to come out here and have no World Cup gold medal win in Quebec City pressure for the Big Air and walk away with the win means everything to me This is my first Big Air event and I hope there is more of these events in the future for me The Friends of Muskoka has brought And there may be indeed Big Air could together cottage associations local become an official Olympic discipline for the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing residents environmentalists farmers and Friends of Muskoka fights development Huntsville s Dara Howell is a golden girl once again The slopestyle skier returned to the podium with a gold medal at the World E X P E R T A DV I C E DESIGN I N S TA L L AT I O N Light up Spring with a sleek new bathroom design Visit our Muskoka showroom KNOWLES PLUMBING Muskoka s Bath Plumbing Centre 279 Manitoba Street Bracebridge T 705 645 2671 knowlesplumbing com 50 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 muskokabath Photograph Mathieu B langer Chippewas of Rama First Nation said The Chippewas of Rama First Nation are proud to take part in this ceremony which celebrates our long history in this area Our ancestors including Chief Bigwin travelled through these waters regularly hunting harvesting fishing and trading In 1923 our traditional rights were taken away through the Williams Treaties The loss of these resources was devastating to our community as many of our elders who were children at the time have shared in their stories These rights were restored last year as part of our negotiations with the Crown Our members are looking forward to practicing our traditional rights again and ensuring that future generations find a strong connection to their heritage and history throughout this area

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local business people to preserve the natural environment and unique character of Muskoka by promoting responsible use and development of its land and lakes The group told Muskoka District Council in Februrary it has incorporated as a non profit It has also hired strong legal counsel to take our fight wherever we need to go to protect Muskoka The Friends of Muskoka oppose the overdevelopment of Muskoka s lakes and are concerned about policy directions in the District s Official Plan Review process that would allow for up to 50 per cent of units to be residential while a minimum of 50 per cent would have to be available to the general public on a short term basis Via a change org petition the group is asking the District to protect our environment by enforcing current residential setback and density restrictions for any residential construction proposed on commercial or resort designated or zoned lakefront properties More information is available at friendsofmuskoka ca Future planning review of Muskoka hospital continues The Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare MAHC Capital Development Plan Task Force which formed to recommend a preferred model for the future of Muskoka s hospitals recently finalized the programs and services proposed for each of the models Under consideration are a two hospital acute care model which would maintain acute care beds emergency departments general surgery obstetrics and intensive care at two sites with the addition of a Stroke Rehabilitation Unit and MRI capabilities at one of the sites an inpatient and outpatient model that would include emergency departments at two sites with separate outpatient and inpatient services at each and a one hospital option that would amalgamate all services at a single location including the addition of a Stroke Rehabilitation Unit and MRI capabilities In March the Ontario government announced that its 2018 19 budget would include a 750 000 increase in funding for MAHC an amount lower than the provincial average The budget includes an overall hospital funding increase of 4 6 per cent while MAHC s increase amounts to an increase of just 1 4 per cent Hospital funding has not kept pace with many new and rising costs including salary increases mandated through collective agreements increasing energy costs and new regulations said Natalie Bubela Chief Executive Officer We continue to face enormous pressure to do more with less to ensure access to care The 750 000 earmarked in the budget is very disappointing and does not address the multi million dollar operating shortfall we are projecting for the 2018 19 fiscal year MAHC Board Chair Evelyn Brown said that the board would continue to advocate for proper funding with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network More information is available at mahc ca SERVING MUSKOKA LAKES FOR 4 GENERATIONS Septic Systems Licensed Installer Specializing in Island Septic Systems Barging of all Materials Dock Building Excavating C W B Certified BROWNING ISLAND JOHN ARCHER 705 645 9586 705 646 3015 johnarcher live com May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 51

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Muskoka grown greens sprouting healthy food year round Article by Karen Wehrstein Photography by Heather Douglas Four Seasons Greens supplies many of Muskoka s restaurants and retailers with fresh greens for salads and cooking on a year round basis At first glance Four Seasons Greens does not look like an agricultural enterprise It looks like a typical modest residence with a Muskoka look on a quiet street in the sleepy well treed village of Port Sydney In fact it is the residence of Steven and Sharon Bacon as well as some of their five mostly grown children But go into the backyard and you ll see there is much much more going on The yard is dominated by greenhouses Inside are complex arrays of shelves trays hoses tanks and pumps One room in the house is also set up that way for a total of 2 500 square feet of growing space on a 0 93 acre lot 52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 On the trays you ll see green The rich green of tiny cilantro plants the fresh green of small lettuce leaves the very pale green of sunflower or alfalfa sprouts the bright green of wheat grass blades The nutrition packed health enhancing tasty green that for the Bacons has become their living and their life They have been married for 30 years Steve worked in various fields previously teaching at a private boys school running an outdoor education program for a camp helping at a church general carpentry and renovations Sharon had her hands full raising and home schooling five youngsters but also worked semi professionally as a harpist singer and children s music teacher things she still does But Steve always had little jars with sprouts growing and did research on how to grow produce with the highest nutritional value as his bedtime reading Around 2008 2009 we built a mini aquaponics thing in the back says Sharon referring to a system of growing that was new at the time We also put together a sprouting kit to start people on growing sprouts People were starting to be interested We had conversations people started asking questions That led to sprout parties both at other

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supportive people s homes and in Then in February the Bacons own Their Steve s construction kitchen smells work dried up deliciously like a health completely So we food store jumped off the deep We d have a potluck end he says Did a supper and a bunch of cold calls conversation around took them trays By good eating Sharon June most of them says We d have 20 to signed up We jumped 25 people once a and started to run month After doing this Running the Bacons for two years or so the never looked back They Bacons were providing now supply the vast more kits getting majority of medium to requests to grow sprouts high end restaurants in and wondering whether Muskoka a fair number they should take it to the of the delis the next level when they aforementioned health had a fortuitous meeting A longtime shared interest in healthy eating resulted in the launch of Four Seasons Greens by food stores and the Your with a prominent the husband and wife team of Steve and Sharon Bacon Independent Grocer Muskoka chef supermarkets of Gravenhurst Bracebridge there d be too much regulation you have to In 2010 they joined the agricultural and Huntsville get all food grade qualifications He said culinary organization Savour Muskoka and Attending farmers markets for three Go do your research We ll buy stuff from signed up for its August Field to Fork summers led to Four Season s Community you event We were in an out of the way Construction was drying up so I had an Supported Agriculture program in which corner not the main loop and we thought customers buy sprouts and greens by extra day a week for research Steve recalls nobody will see us here Sharon recalls In December we told Rory We re good to subscription making monthly payments However their table happened to be online and picking up their produce at 16 go Deerhurst other restaurants such as beside that of Chef Rory Golden of depots from Port Carling to Dwight Tall Trees in Huntsville and Muskoka s Deerhurst Resort including delis gyms and libraries main health food stores The Great Vine Rory came over and he was running his In addition to Steve who does the bulk in Huntsville and Muskoka Natural Food hands over the plants says Sharon He Market in Bracebridge were immediately of the farming as well as delivery to the asked How can I get these We thought Aquaponics enables Four Seasons Greens to grow year round Steve Bacon watches over 2 500 squarefeet of plants May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53

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blooded he says their depots and waste is quickly construction of the converted to fertilizer growing spaces and by bacteria and the Sharon who handles health risks of administration Four salmonella and E coli Seasons now has three are eliminated It also additional part time extends the growing staffers in winter and season in an area such six or seven in as Muskoka from a summer Their few months to all 12 experiment to see Even in the depth of whether they could this past winter when make a living at it in the temperature hit Muskoka has been a 36 C the air inside spectacular success the inner envelope of So what exactly Four Seasons Greens does Four Season main greenhouse was Greens offer There are 12 C sprouts of various Everything Steven plants microgreens and Sharon say is meaning baby plants experimental It s like usually 10 to 15 days Edison trying 792 old micro herbs such ways that didn t work as basil and cilantro to make a lightbulb which has a sweeter says Steve They are taste than the grown Karoline and Sharon Bacon prepare food with fresh greens in the family kitchen constantly tweaking plant and plants such adjusting temperature and humidity technique uses two per cent of the water as lettuce kale and basil all grown using growing new species the chefs always want five to 10 per cent of the energy and 12 5 aquaponics They also have everything you Good for you is Four Season Greens need to grow and use sprouts and microgreens yourself including workshops seeds books kits blenders and compostable packaging There s lots of free information on their website What is aquaponics The Bacons define it as the integration of horticulture with fish culture in a closed system Also the most sustainable system of food production in the world Basically a fish tank is combined with soil free planting with the fish waste producing the nutrients for the plants and the fish fed by the larvae of flies bred on compost mats all inside a greenhouse According to Steve this 54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 per cent of the land needed to produce the same amount of food with conventional agriculture Because the fish are cold to try new things says Sharon Because their crops grow in a week or two rather than a year they can do trial and error faster than most farmers A new experiment for this year is LED grow lights for use through the dark months from October to February Some of the shelves have white LEDs some a combination of red and blue to see which works best Good for you is Four Season Greens motto and their claims of health benefits are derived from research as well as personal experience at least in Sharon s case I had high blood pressure she says grinning at Steve as she

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adds Something about five kids and a husband with a wild dream She was on three different medications to control it when they learned about the nutritional power of broccoli sprouts from a 1997 study conducted at John Hopkins University Sprouts have on average 20 to 30 times as much nutritional value as the full grown plant Steve explains With broccoli it s 50 times In the summer of 2010 Sharon prescribed herself broccoli sprouts daily three to four packages per week In two weeks she was getting light headed due to her blood pressure decreasing She was able to cease taking the meds and is now on a maintenance broccoli dose That s my medicine she says It was also a key reason for them going into business and they have customers who ve seen health improvements Our health is totally based on what we put into our body so it s got to be good because if it s not we re suffering advises Steve You want to be healthy have energy and no brain fog Growing microgreens is actually in Sharon s blood her great grandfather happened to be the chandler who outfitted Antarctic explorer Robert Scott s ship including microgreens Captain James Cook used sprouts to prevent scurvy on his voyages Steve points out and during the First World War they were delivered to the front lines to provide nutrition to fighting troops Steve s ultimate personal dream is to live entirely independently and sustainably off the grid To this end he s experimenting with unusual technologies like deriving heat from the decomposition process that happens within compost and Chinese style greenhouse design in which heat from the sun is gathered and entrapped by way of a sloping south facing transparent ceiling between solid front and back walls four feet and 12 feet high respectively I m the dreamer he says Sharon laughs and says And I m the one who drags him back to earth Possibly this combination of idealism and pragmatism is the key to their success Because the Bacons are innovators on the edge of agricultural technology they have received funding from FedNor the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and red canoe gallery large original paintings 100 Canadian artists Port Carling Muskoka www redcanoegallery com 705 765 7474 celebrating 25 years in Muskoka n yanaky booth s rock oil Guaranteed for life Not to Wear Out Insured Against Loss Floats Repels Rain Crushable Packable Excellent UV Protection MOVING IN MAY TO 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE 705 637 0204 GBS Contracting Inc are professionals with over 25 year s experience We get the job done ROOFING SIDING DOORS WINDOWS GENERAL CONSTRUCTION Where one call does it all 2288 Highway 11 North Gravenhurst Ontario P1P 1R1 705 687 9143 info gbscontrac ng com www gbscontrac ng com May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55

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Recipes Rainbow Seedling Salad with Basil Mint Vinaigrette Courtesy of Sharon Bacon Four Seasons Greens Ingredients Salad 3 cups pea shoots chopped into one inch pieces these make a wonderful base for a salad 1 cup colourful micro greens such as Red Daikon Radish Bull s Blood Beets Purple Kohlrabi or Swiss Chard 1 cup fresh herbs such as dill basil and flat leaf parsley remove stems 1 cup something sweet such as chopped mangoes strawberries or other fresh picked berries cup something crunchy such as red onion radish snap peas or sprouts Garnish with edible flowers and petals borage violas marigolds nasturtiums etc Serves 4 to 6 Vinaigrette Pur e in a blender 3 oz basil tops and leaves 1 oz fresh mint tops and leaves cup white onion 1 clove garlic cup red wine vinegar cup fresh squeezed lemon juice 1 Tbsp maple syrup or other sweetener 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard tsp sea salt tsp pepper With blender running on low slowly add 1 cup olive oil light and extra virgin and blend until incorporated Store refrigerated in a sealed container Serve at room temperature Custom Copper Work Cupolas Lighting Sinks Architectural Accents Stained Glass Fused Glass by Gail Wilson 705 641 8256 w w w coppersmithing ca f 56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018

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Innovation Initiatives Ontario North That last organization Steve says likes us because what we re doing is not super high tech and computerized Anyone can do it Steve and Sharon envision aquaponics technology being used in First Nations reservations Third World countries and even big cities where growing spaces can be built on roofs or in abandoned warehouses An aquaponics system can range in size from an aquarium with plants on top to a warehouse making it suitable for anywhere that needs food that is local and fresh They ve already had inquiries from Temagami First Nation among others The whole vision of this thing is that it s possible to grow food for the community that s healthy turn it into a microbusiness and make a living says Steve That s the pragmatic dream this dynamic couple wants to spread from their own little space in Muskoka to the world Rainbow Seedling Salad with Basil Mint Vinaigrette People often ask us how to eat sprouts says Sharon Our simple answer is Umm just eat them Okay fine but what if you re having guests over for dinner She s ahead of me Having grown up on the standard North American diet of cooked food and at best a salad consisting of iceberg lettuce and not much of it she says we began thinking of how to give salads a facelift The Bacons turned to their friend Chef Grant McArthur of Grant s Woodfired Smokery http www maincoursemuskoka ca and he came up with this open ended recipe This salad is bursting with flavour and nutrition and it looks beautiful too Sharon enthuses adding some advice Make sure you take time to chew leafy greens well Plant cell walls have to be ruptured in order to release the dense nutrition and you will find in doing so that your appetite is satiated for a longer time because your body is getting the goodness it needs telling the Muskoka story Here s How You Can Subscribe Send us a note with your complete mailing address and include a cheque Annual Subscription Rates including HST where applicable HST 773172721 In Ontario 30 00 All Other Provinces 36 00 U S 45 00 All Other Countries 59 00 Mail your payment to Unique Muskoka Box 616 BRACEBRIDGE ON P1L 1T9 View current and past issues online at www uniquemuskoka com May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57

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Living in Muskoka Elusive Dream Becomes Reality Article and Photography by Heather Douglas The realization of a dream kitchen was a top priority for Cindy Thompson when she and her family were designing their new home Inset Cindy and Tim Thompson with their daughter Cassandra Inset photo submitted T he dream of winning the big one is for most people just that an elusive dream But occasionally that dream becomes a reality For Tim and Cindy Thompson that reality occurred on February 29 2012 when Tim pulled the handle on a slot machine at Casino Rama and won 3 2 million February 29 2012 changed our lives said Cindy The couple had just moved their daughter Cassandra and her then boyfriend now husband Jared Turcotte back to Huntsville from Ottawa where they had been attending school The Sunday night prior to moving them Tim had a dream that he couldn t get out of his mind that he had won 3 2 million on a 58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 slot machine Cindy said During the Monday move Tim stopped at the Gatineau Casino and tried his luck to no avail That Wednesday after a long move back to Huntsville and the mood in the home rather sombre as Cassandra and Jared were both missing Ottawa Cindy encouraged Tim to try again to make his dream a reality as Wednesdays tended to be his lucky day I texted him to see how he was doing and he said he was playing cards I told him to get off the card tables and go win that 3 2 million Cindy said No word of a lie within seven minutes from that text Tim called with the unbelievable news It took some time for Cindy and Cassan dra to believe him and it wasn t until he told them to call his mother they understood he wasn t joking The next 12 hours were filled with a lot of tears so much joy absolutely the most amazing experience of our lives she said We rushed down to meet him to get his big cheque along with many friends and family by our side Cindy added it took another 12 hours to get Tim to get some sleep because he was terrified it was all a big dream and he would wake up again While winning the big one changed their lives in a lot of ways it did not change who they were Their family values and work ethic have remained the cornerstone of who they are

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The utilization of stone is an important feature in the Thompson s kitchen as is an island where family and friends can gather to chat over a meal While Cindy is a lifelong resident of Huntsville Tim grew up in Burlington He moved to Muskoka in September 1982 after purchasing a septic pumping company and began his first of many entrepreneurial ventures When he first moved to Huntsville he got a part time job at the Empire Hotel working as a bouncer at the door Cindy said That s where I met him and we have been together since 1983 Their first home on Morgan s Road was purchased in 1989 just prior to the birth of Cassandra This is the home where Cassandra grew up Cindy said It was a small home but it was full of love for our small family It was also full with friends and relatives The home was a meeting spot and the door was always open to enjoy a beverage and listen to the many hilarious stories that Tim was always relaying We also had our babysitter at the time Marilyn live with us and she instantly became family Cindy said She was like a daughter to us and still is to this day In fact Marilyn still has her bedroom in the couple s current home Before moving to the Morgan Road home Tim and Cindy resided in an apartment below Westside Fish and Chips which is owned by Tim s mother Rose and sister Deb Knobelsdorf After moving out Tim decided to turn the apartment into a laundromat and in 1991 created Westside Coin Laundry Cindy operated the laundromat while Tim continued to operate his septic company and began to develop a landscape business as well Life for the family changed again in 1996 when the couple decided to sell both the laundromat and the septic business and open Rock Ridge Recreation Park just off of Town Line in Huntsville The park opened on Boxing Day 1998 and was a huge attraction for Huntsville seeing over 10 000 visitors a season for 14 years A spectacular kitchen dining and living space provide the Thompsons with the perfect opportunity to entertain family and friends May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 59

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Call Mike Morrow 705 765 3195 www morrow electric com ESA License 7000286 Serving Muskoka Lakes since 1952 rewiring alterations heating NEVER be left in the DARK or COLD get a quality home standby generator by GENERAC 4 935 W x 4 875 H When our members thrive our entire community thrives Find out how we can help you 705 645 5231 chamber bracebridgechamber com bracebridgechamber com 60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 It was a great business a tiring one too Cindy said We closed it pending a sale After the park closed Tim focused his attention on his landscape businesses and changed the name to Thompson Landscape Construction or TLC for short We like to think it stands for Tim Loves Cindy and Cassandra Cindy said When their life changed in a flash with the pull of a slot machine the first thing they did was pay off their daughters student loan and help their family Family was by far the first thing on our list before thinking about our own debts Cindy said We wanted to share as much as we could with our family As well on the list was new toys for Tim s landscape business and looking for a new home While it was hard to sell their Morgan Road home with all the sentimental memories attached to it they wanted a bigger home with more property and preferably waterfront They spent a lot of time looking at various places before finding one with a lot of potential on the Big East River with access into Lake Vernon We knew there were a lot of things that needed to be upgraded in the home but it was a great price for 10 acres on the river so it checked off a lot of boxes for our must haves Cindy said Pine is the one word Cindy uses to describe what the original home was like There were a lot of things that needed to be updated Decks that needed to be replaced electrical that needed to be updated structural issues and more Before beginning their renovations the couple created their must have list which included Cindy s dream kitchen big enough for the entertaining the couple continues to do a Muskoka room a hot tub room and a pool The inspiration for the design elements of the home came from various sources and they found inspiration online and in decorating magazines We essentially knew what we wanted but it was finding it that was hard so we had to do some research Cindy said It was also really helpful to look for new ideas for example the hidden pantry The kitchen was Cindy s design She always wanted a round island with enough

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As the owners of a landscape business it was important for the Thompsons to incorporate the natural features of their property including the creation of a waterfall in their plans for a new home seating for entertaining and still ample room to work And rock had to be incorporated into the theme as both Tim and Cindy love Muskoka rock Rob Boyes made the architectural designs on the home and his crew worked to bring the vision to life Cindy credits him with making her round island vision a reality Cindy also loved the idea of light floors with marble tile and granite countertops and a whitewashed ceiling It took months to find the right floors she said The colour scheme throughout the house is a soft tone of grey Funny story Cindy said when Cassandra was in college and moved into her first student housing she wanted so badly to paint her bedroom She decided she wanted a dark grey room I thought she was nuts But after spending the day painting it grey Cindy fell in love with the colour and her future grey colour scheme vision was born While the couple is in agreement with most things there was an area of contention in the discussion of a medicine cabinet Tim wanted one Cindy hates them I searched high and low for one that I actually liked and finally found one made in Switzerland she said She immediately bought it In addition to the spectacular kitchen dining and living space upstairs the downstairs of the home boasts a theatre room with a 133 inch projection screen TV with a pool table and a bar There is also a fully equipped gym which is a favourite for Jared when he and Cassandra come to visit While the inside of the home is incredible the landscape makes this home a showstopper With Tim s background in landscaping he had the opportunity to stretch his creativity with a 35 foot rock wall he transformed into a waterfall Tim had a vision of this rock wall but little did we know it would turn into a 35 foot waterfall Cindy May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61

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62 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 Photograph Vaughn Barry said In his line of work he has built a few waterfalls but never one this big The Thompsons knew they wanted to clear some of the trees beside the house Originally the forest went right to the back and to the sides of the house and this was where they wanted to have a pool As Tim started to clear he realized there was rock so he kept clearing The more he dug the more he discovered it was actually a mountain of rock and he thought that would be one awesome waterfall With the pool deck being built below Tim made a basin for the water to flow from and ran a three inch thick waterline pipe from there to the top This allowed for a constant flow of water from bottom to top He then created a platform at the top for the pipe so the water could run down over the rock into the basin The result is a spectacular water feature Cassandra and Jared became engaged in October 2016 and the decision was made to have the wedding at the home in September of 2017 The wedding definitely was a push for the outdoor space and inspired a lot of the work to be done Cindy said The work was completed and Cassandra and Jared married on a beautiful September day Tim likes to say he moved mountains for his daughter and he sure did Cindy said Having their new home ready for their daughter s outdoor wedding provided a deadline for the Thompson s Cassandra and her father Tim strut outside the then newly landscaped grounds

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Muskoka Moments A Place of Balance By Scott Turnbull Photograph Scott Turnbull deep lake effect powder on As a professional photovintage snowmobiles in January grapher I m keenly aware the and foraging for wild leeks when word Muskoka instantly conjures the forests come alive in spring scenes of a summer paradise for Without these moments the most people who know the warmth and pleasure of summer region Crisp blue skies and wouldn t be as sweet and sparkling lakes impossibly green without the irresistible appeal of pines gently waving in warm Muskoka summers for so many breezes and endless smiles from people and the economics that sun kissed vacationers are what go with it people like me and we see with eyes closed my family wouldn t be able to imagining this place These enjoy this magical year round images have been captured time lifestyle This equilibrium and time again in photographs between both seasons and and memories and shared by communities is part of what tens of thousands of people makes Muskoka such a special around the world Scott Turnbull and his wife Miranda Britton make their home in place As many of us know however Windermere with their children Bishop and Mercy As a fifth generation cottager Muskoka is so much more than and a second generation local I ve straddled years though it s felt more like there have this It can be the harshest of landscapes the line between those two worlds It s when winter winds whipping across the lake only been varying degrees of summer and amusing now to think of how unbearably winter fall and spring weather seems to get deep in your bones and it can be a long the drive between Bracebridge and Port have become measured in weeks not grinding hardship for the folks who work Carling felt on the way to the cottage as a months tirelessly while others holiday kid I made a definite choice to continue to For myself and so many others As with all things there is a symbiosis Muskoka s true tranquility happens between live that same lifestyle I grew up with and I between these contrasting elements love sharing those same experiences with my Labour Day and the May long weekend Summers wouldn t be the same without a own children The weather certainly isn t as appealing and long winter preceding them and the magic We do our best to spend more time the lakes lose some of their summer sparkle of a vacation wouldn t be possible without outside than in and living in the but the stillness on the water and in the some drudgery countryside near Lake Rosseau gives us lots woods is its own kind of paradise Part of Spending most of my four decades here what drew the original vacationers here 150 of opportunity to play in and around the has made me intimately acquainted with forests and lakes My hope for my children years ago was the solitude to be found in this unique balance of seasons and life in is they ll have the same freedoms to stay in Muskoka My work means I m at my busiest Muskoka and while remoteness is hard to Muskoka if they choose that I ve had find during the summer months this during the summer months when most landscape becomes a private playground for people are living it up in the sunshine and much of the rest of the year my networks of clients and friends let me Scott Turnbull lives and works from a tiny Some of my most cherished Muskoka mingle with people who arrive to their activities are road cycling on empty winding farm in Windermere with his two children cottages by helicopter as well as those who Bishop and Mercy his artist wife Miranda scrape by on venison for much of the winter asphalt in the late fall gliding on skis mirandabritton com a few chickens a dog a through silent woods in deepest winter and I feel extremely lucky to know both cat one miniature horse and one regular sized trudging through soft snow in the forest I m also hugely grateful to know horse while collecting sap for syrup in muddy Muskoka in all four of its seasons not just To view more of how he sees Muskoka visit April Other favourites are September boat those magical weeks of summer when the scottturnbull com rides on abandoned lakes ripping through region looks its very best For the past few 64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018

May 2018 Issue 10

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