July 2017, Issue 6 : simplebooklet.com

1978 to 2017 39 years STRONG Real Estate Professionals Serving the Muskoka Lakes since 1978 LAKE ROSSEAU 2 Lots with over 1500 of shoreline and 140 acres of privacy add a furnished 3 bedroom attractive cottage with large garage a 2 bedroom guest accommodation 1 slip dock sand beach and deep water If you want privacy this is it Richard Wallace 2 950 000 LAKE MUSKOKA This open concept 4 bedroom 1 5 bath cottage has a 2 bay garage boat port and beautiful views to Action Island the waterfront is exceptionally nice with deep water off the dock sandy bottom and smooth rock outcroppings surrounding the shore Adam Wallace 1 049 000 LAKE MUSKOKA Beaumaris Privacy furnished 3 bdrm Redesigned and renovated cottage with newer addition dock and boathouse has 3 slips and 650 sq ft of accomm above S exp long views with spacious decks this spectacular private property can be enjoyed all year Sandy Cornell 2 795 000 DRAPER AND ANSELMI LAKES Tranquility and beauty abound at this privately owned sanctuary 3 100 acre parcels which included 2 undisturbed pristine lakes magnificent shoreline abundant wild life year round home heart of vacationland nestled between lakes Rosseau and Joseph close to all amenities Richard Wallace and Adam Wallace 1 350 000 N E W L I ST I N G LAKE ROSSEAU 908 frontage with long views sand bottom and 4 bedroom cottage 2 slip boathouse with great access Adam Wallace 1 995 000 PRIME FOR RE DEVELOPMENT www realestateinMuskoka ca 705 765 6176 Richard Wallace Real Estate Limited Brokerage Broker of Record Broker Sales Representative

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Features 18 Boats of All Kinds Rub Gunwales By Tim Du Vernet As part of Canada s sesquicentennial Antique Classic Boat Society Toronto will celebrate 150 years of styles materials and designs in boating 24 Discovering Limberlost Muskoka s Hidden Gem July 2017 telling the Muskoka story 48 By Dawn Huddlestone Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve is more than 10 000 acres in size and is free for day use every day of the year It features more than 70 kilometres of trails 30 Stepping Up to Save the Snapping Turtle By Doug Smith While the public can still hunt snapping turtles changes in legislation and public advocacy are providing a brighter future for this long lived species 36 Huntsville Festival of the Arts Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence By Dale Peacock The first Huntsville Festival of the Arts began with a parade down Main Street With classical roots the festival is now known for its eclectic mix of performers 40 40 Summer Theatre Got Its Start in Muskoka By Sandy Lockhart The birthplace of popular summer theatre is Muskoka That tradition which began almost 85 years ago in Bala continues today in Gravenhurst 48 Artist Finds His Calling in Muskoka s Solitude 18 By Dianne Park Thach Using the encaustic method of painting to feature wildlife artist Paul Garbett finds Muskoka has provided him with plenty of inspiration for his work

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Departments 11 11 Muskoka Calendar The July calendar is filled with events with everything from tastebud tantalizing Flavours of Muskoka and a tour of local breweries to events for the fitness minded like the Limberlost Challenge and the Muskoka Yoga Festival Children can be entertained with their very own pirate party and there could be an entire calendar devoted to arts and entertainment 68 Features What s Happened A suggestion by Lake of Bays Mayor Bob Young to rename Highway 60 as Tom Thomson Parkway a Safe Quiet Lakes survey the 85th anniversary of the Bracebridge Horticultural Society among others are updated 55 Muskoka s Inaugural July 1 Celebration Included the Launching of an Anvil 72 By J Patrick Boyer While Muskoka s population was small in 1867 the early settlers found an interesting way to celebrate their new country with a big bang 62 72 A Legacy of Sea Fleas on Kahshe Lake Cottage Country Cuisine Naturally we want to be close to the water when we eat in the summer and chefs from some of Muskoka s greatest waterside eateries share some delicious offerings By Tim Du Vernet Brothers Chris and Andrew Taylor and their cousin Rob Renton have together re energized the Muskoka sea flea with their annual Fleafest Opinion 55 9 Muskoka Insights JULY 2017 Limberlost By Don Smith A Hidden Gem 80 The Birthplace of SummerTheatre Muskoka Moments Ted McMeekin MPP Stepping up to save snapping turtles July 1 celebration was a blast Our Cover Photograph by Andy Zeltkalns The view from Buck Lake Lookout in Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve 62 July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5

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KNOWLES PLUMBING Muskoka s Bath Plumbing Centre telling the Muskoka story Sales Installation Service Design Consultation Visit our Showroom Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc Donald Smith Publisher and Editor Donna Ansley Gord Kidder Sales Heather Glumac Designer Featuring the most complete selection of quality bathroom kitchen fixtures Celebrating our 60 th year serving Muskoka 279 Manitoba Street Bracebridge Tel 705 645 2671 visit us at knowlesplumbing com 6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Susan Smith Administration Patrice Anderson Lianne Atwood J Patrick Boyer Larry Carroll Tim Du Vernet Katherine Fleitas Dawn Huddlestone Jack Hutton Eleanor Kee Wellman Sandy Lockhart Tara McGrath Ted McMeekin Dianne Park Thach Dale Peacock Doug Smith Jon Snelson 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 2017 Unique Publishing Inc No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher Box 616 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9 www uniquemuskoka com info uniquemuskoka com 705 637 0204

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Muskoka Insights and if all of this is too much there s always the choice of curling up in an easy chair or a hammock with one of the many Muskoka books that tell the story of those who are responsible for the settling of this unique paradise In every issue of Unique Muskoka we attempt to foster an appreciation for our environment and in particular to encourage our readers to be a part of actively ensuring the Muskoka we know will be preserved for future generations Possibly one of Muskoka s less known gems is the Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve and we re pleased to feature it At 10 000 acres and offering more than 70 kilometres of hiking trails it is a natural treasure in the District s far northeast corner Most encouragingly its present owners not only want to retain its current state they see an opportunity to introduce the public to the great outdoors Also encouraging from a naturalist s perspective are the steps being taken to secure a better future for one of our more long lived species the snapping turtle Contributor Doug Smith supported by the always exceptional photography of Eleanor Kee Wellman tells the story of changes in legislation and how public engagement have made a difference in the future of the snapping turtle If we are to preserve our natural environment we always need greater understanding of the challenges it faces and the active support of the community in ensuring the legacy of Muskoka continues Photograph Susan Smith The arrival of July comes with great anticipation especially after a wet and cool spring like the one that preceded this year s summer A look at the Muskoka Calendar in this issue of Unique Muskoka is testament to the desire of all permanent residents cottagers and visitors to make the most of the summer My recollection of the summers of my youth was of a much more relaxed time the opportunity to while away the better part of a day floating along in a cedar strip boat tempting a bass from the depths of its weed filled habitat with the lazy cast of a lure Today we are much more organized in our activities That s not meant to be critical just a reflection on the changes in our level of engagement and anticipation While there may be some who are tempted to let their minds wander to boredom Muskoka has so much to offer that there should be no excuses when it comes to finding things to do For the sport and fitness enthusiasts events are as varied as triathlons and running races to a festival for those who enjoy meditation and yoga If your pursuits are more culinary you may choose to be tempted by Muskoka Chautauqua s annual food festival Flavours of Muskoka a chance to sample some of the best Muskoka created food samples or there s a tour of Muskoka s three craft breweries or there s the Sangria cruise being offered by the SS Bigwin and those are just a few of the opportunities being promoted in July Should your interests be more arts related you might want to put the Muskoka Arts Crafts Summer Show high on your list but don t forget the performing arts You can tap your feet to the music of the Olde Tyme Gospel Band in Port Carling or you can rub shoulders with thousands of others who take part in Nuit Blanche Huntsville s bold interactive street festival O pen For live chat push door Real local people Real local service With State Farm every policy comes with your own personal agent I pride myself on being part of the local community so I can truly understand and best serve the needs of my customers Get to a better State Get State Farm CALL ME TODAY Les Bell Ins Agcy Inc Les Bell Agent Bracebridge ON P1L2C1 Bus 705 646 9995 Toll Free 877 877 3929 www lesbell ca State Farm branded policies are underwritten by Certas Home and Auto Insurance Company or Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company State Farm and related trademarks and logos are registered trademarks owned by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company used under licence by Certas Home and Auto Insurance Company and certain of its affiliates 1410005CN 1 Your Home and Cottage Mattress Centre THE LARGEST SELECTION OF IN STOCK MATTRESSES IN MUSKOKA Happy reading 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 July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9

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Muskoka Calendar Arrr matey put on your pirate hat and sail on over to the Muskoka Discovery Centre on July 2 for a family event that s bound to shiver your timbers Games activities and of course a wharf wide treasure hunt The cost is 25 per pirate family registration required Gospel Band on July 4 at 7 p m Proceeds from the concert will be used to purchase slow cookers for the West Muskoka Food Bank Admission is by a suggested donation of 10 per person Come and enjoy some laughter and foot tappin music education in Muskoka This year for Canada s 150th anniversary the attending chefs will focus on traditional and contemporary Canadian fare Bring your appetite on July 6 from 7 10 p m to the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort Spa in Minett muskokachautauqua com discovermuskoka ca events pirate party St James the Apostle Anglican Church in Port Carling will be hosting the Olde Tyme Muskoka Chautauqua s Flavours of Muskoka is arguably the premier food and drink event of the year in Muskoka an exuberant gathering of local chefs wineries breweries distilleries growers and other purveyors of deliciousness in support of arts The 21st Annual Dorset Kids Fish Derby happens on the Public Dock in Dorset on the morning of July 8 with a rain date for this one is July 9 There are prizes not just for fishing prowess but also for kooky contests like craziest fishing hat Every youngster will get a prize Bait is provided bring rod and accompanying adult No one over 12 may compete For more information call 705 766 9968 or e mail recreation algonquinhighlands ca The Huntsville Bathtub Derby now in its fifth year as part of Rotary Dockfest takes place on July 8 It kicks off with an 8 a m pancake breakfast at Rivermill Park At 11 a m the motorized tubs will be paraded down Main Street At noon the brave captains of the tubs enter the Muskoka River from the park to navigate the hazardous skill testing obstacle course There s also a beer tent barbecue arts and crafts for the kids and live music Photograph Patrice Anderson rotarydockfest com Numerous floating beauties will be on display at Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst on July 8 as Antique and Classic Boat Society Toronto marks 150 years of boating in Canada The Antique and Classic Boat Society Toronto is pulling out all the stops for Canada s 150th anniversary with this year s July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11

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acbs ca The 33rd Pioneer Power Show is a weekend celebration of how things were done and made in the past It takes place July 7 9 at the J D Lang Activity Park in Bracebridge and features antique tractors on display and in action Step back in time with heritage display rooms a log cabin a blacksmith shop a country store steam driven saw mill demonstrations an antique Mowry shingle mill and much more There ll be food and drink vendors onsite free games for the kids a square dance and you can even camp there Photograph Muskoka Pioneer Power Association theme being Birch Bark to Fiberglass Celebrating 150 Years of Canadian Boating Numerous floating beauties will be on display at Muskoka Wharf on July 8 but there are three days of events leading up to that including a Lake of Bays tour poker run and non motorized regatta on Gull Lake in Gravenhurst On the Saturday there will be voyageur canoe rides exhibits from the Canadian Canoe Museum ceremonies by local First Nations and more muskokapioneerpower ca Step back in time by viewing heritage displays at the 33rd The Muskoka Yoga Festival Pioneer Power Show July 7 to 9 in Bracebridge happening July 8 9 at Annie Williams Park in Bracebridge gives you 30 hours of outdoor yoga and meditation classes led by world class teachers from all over Ontario in styles ranging from traditional to AcroYoga As a holistic event it also features a tour of the Lake Muskoka delta by the Muskoka With a reputation on the Ontario Conservancy and a concert on Saturday running circuit as a challenging race the evening with bands to be announced The Limberlost Challenge has scenery that the festival is great to enhance or start up your organizers say words can t describe The yoga practice 14 kilometre course runs along nature trails muskokayogafestival com wending its way around five lakes across excelrailings ca 705 646 2508 12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017

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Photograph Lianne Atwood 106 Manitoba Street Bracebridge ON Since 1949 With you over the generations The 14 kilometre Limberlost Challenge July 8 has scenery that the organizers say words can t describe boardwalks through wetlands and around stunning rock formations Runners taking part in the July 8 race can choose 14 28 or 56 kilometre races Lunch is served all day 8 Main Street West Huntsville ON Since 19 48 woodwork furniture toys sculpture metalwork and much much more muskokaartsandcrafts com thelimberlostchallenge com The Muskoka Ironman 70 3 triathlon runs on July 9 based at the Canada Summit Centre in Huntsville Racers will swim a 1 2 mile loop in Fairy Lake and Muskoka River landing by the Summit Centre cycle a 56 mile course that circumnavigates Lake of Bays and run 13 1 miles including through downtown Huntsville This means there ll be lots of opportunities for spectators to cheer on these impressive athletes 30 of whom will qualify for the 2018 world championships in South Africa Muskoka s premier association of artists and artisans Muskoka Arts Crafts holds its 55th annual summer show from July 14 16 at Annie Williams Memorial Park in Bracebridge More than 150 talented artists from across Canada will showcase their clothing fashion accessories glasswork painting drawing pottery jewelry Led by a dedicated tour guide the Muskoka edition of the Brews Tour series starts with a meet up at 11 a m July 15 at the Sawdust City Brewing Co in Gravenhurst then takes your group on a chartered bus for tastings and tours of the beer making facilities at Sawdust City the Griffin Gastropub in Bracebridge Lake of Bays Brewery in Baysville and Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge Lunch is at the Griffin myshopify com The 23rd annual Muskoka Kids Triathlon takes place on July 15 in Port Sydney giving kids as young as six a chance to try the swimming bicycling running challenge A range of race lengths based on age is offered from a 50 metre swim 2 2 kilometre bike and 0 7 kilometre run for the six year olds to a 400 metre swim 12 4 kilometre bike and 3 2 kilometre run for participants 15 years of age and up Sales Representatives muskokakidstri com July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 13

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July 21 is the date for Downtown Huntsville Midnight Madness with the lunacy starting early evening and ending at midnight What will happen during this traditional and cherished event is that the Main Street retailers will stay open past their usual closing hours the street will be blocked off to traffic and every manner of retail item will be brought out onto the pavement and sold at discounts that can only be described as madness There will also be live music food vendors and other crazy fun downtownhuntsvilleadventures ca The SS Bigwin which was lovingly restored after decades of decay has partnered up with Portevino Wine Bar for a special cruise that s perfect for the nautical minded bon vivant There are two cruises on July 21 at 6 and 8 p m each lasting one hour and including fresh and flavourful Sangria assorted antipasti appetizers and a Portevino glass to take home as a souvenir It s a great gift idea for a birthday or anniversary Space is limited ssbigwin com sangriasunset The Muskoka Boat Cottage Show and Muskoka Ribfest will happen concurrently at the Muskoka Wharf in Gravenhurst from July 21 23 with more than 100 cottage and boat related exhibitors and food providers at the weekend one stop shop Exhibitors range from cottage builders boat equipment vendors and vegetable growers to waste solution companies barbecue makers and much more muskokashows com On July 22 from 10 a m to 4 p m more than 100 artists bakers and vendors will 14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017

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offer their best goods for sale in the village of Baysville There ll be a wide selection of food available starting with a pancake breakfast There ll also be live music a fire department display bird calling face painting and for the kids laser tag and Zorb ball Admission is by donation with proceeds going to the Baysville Community Group balasmuseum com In case the kids were wondering what Santa Claus does in the summer on July 22 he ll leave his summer home at Santa s Photograph Jack Hutton Photograph Baysville Walkabout The eclectic Baysville Walkabout draws thousands to this small Lake of Bays community to view over exhibits Lucy Maud Montgomery the legendary Canadian author of Anne of Green Gables enjoyed a two week vacation in Muskoka in 1922 which inspired her to write The Blue Castle a romance set here Montgomery stayed in a tourist house that is now the Bala Museum which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year Everything Anne Day Tuesday July 25 is a re enactment of the author s visit but also includes egg on aspoon three legged and sack races for the kids as well as prizes for best Anne related costumes Everything Anne Day at the Bala Museum includes sack races for the kids 100 Canadian Artists Large Original Paintings Whimsical Sculptures Hand made wood bowls pottery jewelry 111 Medora St Hwy 118 West Port Carling Muskoka 705 765 7474 www redcanoegallery com Open seven days a week parking at rear Painting by Paul Garbett 72 x 48 July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15

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Photographs Katherine Fleitas Above and Below An interactive multi arts street festival Nuit Blache North in Huntsville has become a must attend summer event that includes circus style acts and all sorts of hands on creative fun Village to take their gift orders at SantaFest in Bracebridge It starts with a summer style Santa Claus parade on Manitoba Street at 11 a m and ends at Wharf Road below the Bracebridge Falls where there will be exhibits kids activities games and watersports demonstrations SantaFest is also home to the 16th Annual Muskoka Escapades of Town Crying Competition which will draw some 12 15 town criers in historical costumes from all over Ontario and the United States vying for glory in the longest such competition in the world The town crying happens at 12 30 p m and 2 p m Nuit Blanche North is a natural fit for a town that has Tom Thomson murals wherever 16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 you look On July 29 the bold interactive multi arts street festival takes over downtown Huntsville from dusk until the wee hours After a year hiatus Nuit Blanche North is back bigger and better than ever Look for multiple mind bending art installations performance art circus style acts all sorts of hands on creative fun live music and more nuitblanchenorthhuntsville wordpress com Check theatre and event websites Gravenhurst Opera House Peter s Players Gravenhurst Algonquin Theatre Huntsville Rene Caisse Theatre Bracebridge The Kee to Bala Huntsville Festival of the Arts

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Above Years ago Clevelands House had a fleet of Peterborough rowboats and canoes for guests to use Below Jim Minett rows one of the canoes that came from that collection renewed attention and prominence including a special rendezvous of the smaller boats at Gull Lake on July 7 the day before the show Both Antique Classic Boat Society members and non members are welcome to take part and there is no fee to participate Arrive after 8 30 a m and enjoy the day With frequent emphasis on long deck boats for their impressive appearance other styles of boats sometime need to work a little harder to shine Dispro the disappearing propeller boat held centre stage last year as it celebrated 100 years since the invention of the unique device Fibreglass boats also received special attention several years ago as the earliest examples fell into vintage territory Fibreglass boats are so commonplace and take such a variety of shapes that it is difficult to think of them as particularly collectible But it has been over 50 years since the first production fibreglass boats were made In the 1960s when vintage wooden boats were in need of serious repairs many were thought not to be worth saving It seems shocking today to consider that a Muskoka built boat of any kind could have been deliberately scuttled burned or driven into the bush But that is what happened especially when fibreglass boats seemed so durable and practical The small boats such as canoes rowboats and sailing dinghies are in danger of facing the same changing interest The cost of maintenance and function of a cedar lapstrake rowboat or canvas canoe seems impractical when compared to the design features and ease of use of a Kevlar or fibreglass canoe or rowing skiff The days when an Albacore was made of wood have long past A few survive here and there mostly at sailing clubs Speed style convenience and innovation in design have been the driving forces in boating since the beginning Fibreglass just made it that much easier Remember the finned wonders of the early days of July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19

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fibreglass boats They are available today as reproductions from American builder Retro Boats In Muskoka Ron Stevenson president of the Maple Leaf Antique Outboard Club says his Power Cat racer that was popular in the Top Painted in eye bleeding blue the twin outboard powered Power Cat is not only a head turner but also a very quick boat with its twin hull design Above and left The cedar strip outboard was a common sight with its simple design and practicality Small cedar strip outboards made by Peterborough Lakecraft and others didn t need more than 25 hp to get up and go 20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 1960s draws lots of crowd attention The Power Cat was a catamaran or twin hull outboard design by Ray Leger of the U S and dates to around 1958 While most were constructed of fibreglass some early models were made from plywood These craft became popular in races for their light weight and twin six cylinder outboards With two vintage 80 hp Mercury outboards on the back Stevenson s blue beast of the 1960s will easily top 60 mph on the lake The two motors are a matched set The props turn outwards effectively lifting the boat out of the water He calls it a dock crasher because it doesn t have a reverse gear Once in motion it better be pointed in the right direction Chris Craft one of the great names in production wooden boats experimented with fibreglass in 1955 The 1955 Cobra sports was an enormous fibreglass gold fin that was all about style Little over 100 of the 18 foot and 21 foot models were ever built in 1955 the only year of production The Cobra was Chris Craft s first foray into fibreglass The fin is built from one solid piece of fibreglass making it a very heavy piece of decoration Greavette was the last Muskoka builder to make watercraft to rival

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Human powered craft and small sailboats or dinghies will receive renewed attention and prominence at this year s ACBS Toronto show in Gravenhurst including a special rendezvous of smaller boats at Gull Lake on July 7 the day before the main show fibreglass hulls The Executive model is now especially collectible as the last boat built by Greavette The Sun Flash model with its inboard outboard motor came in either planked or plywood construction and was a direct response to the growing desire for performance planing hulls In many boathouses in Muskoka the powered vintage boats that require slips and hoists are accompanied by canoes rowboats or sailboats In some boathouses canoes sit decoratively on racks while other canoes are less lucky being relegated to rafters or against the side of a boathouse wall Further complicating the historical value of some smaller boats is that it can be impossible to determine how old they might be The museums of Muskoka all have a small collection of canoes and rowboats The Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst has on display two Walter Dean canoes a Ditchburn canoe and an Aykroyd sailboat The danger facing small boats is they don t receive the same attention as bigger boats and may wind up disintegrating beyond repair before being restored A few local builders will take on the restoration of smaller boats Muskoka boat restorer Paul Gockel has long made this a specialty since it falls naturally alongside the restoration of a Dispro Another Muskokan who specializes in the replacement of the canvas on canoes is Michael Shumaker Ken Lavalette of Woodwind Yachts in Nestleton has specialized in small to medium 22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 sized sailing craft for more than 30 years His team has an impressive list of restored boats to their name Lake Joseph cottager Pete Little had his little Peterborough row boat sailing dinghy recently restored by Lavalette as a treat for his granddaughter While she currently looks small in the boat it won t take long for her to grow into it The canoe a craft of Indigenous origin and design was a key method of transportation in Muskoka s early days In recognition of the role the canoe played the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst will also have a display this summer representing 150 years of mapping including a map from 1852 In addition to their regular displays the Discovery Centre will celebrate National Canoe Day at our show with The Birch Bark Highway an outdoor exhibit telling the story of the birchbark canoe says Kathy Rhodes president of the Antique Classic Boat Society Toronto Included will be ceremonies to celebrate water with Jack Payette a First Nations representative and a drumming ceremony performed by members of the Rama First Nation With the show covering such a broad time frame and range of boats expect an unrivaled variety and scope in this year s show And thanks to the Ride Along Program and generous boat owners visitors will have the opportunity to ride in a vintage wooden boat

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Article by Dawn Huddlestone Photography by Andy Zeltkalns The owners of Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve want visitors to experience the wilderness such as this view from the Buck Lake Lookout ou d be forgiven if you ve never heard of the Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve For years it s been a hidden gem tucked away in the woods northeast of Huntsville But that s changing and with it the area is fulfilling its objective to introduce as many people as possible to a wilderness experience If you can t instill that there is value in nature you aren t going to have a population that appreciates it and has an interest in protecting it says Gareth Cockwell the reserve s manager You need to make this valuable and the best way we can do that is by saying Come get a kick out of it come for a paddle come for a hike stay overnight and go fishing To that end the more than 10 000 acre reserve is free for day use every day of the year from 9 a m until 5 p m visitors only need to sign in at a self check in booth and include an emergency contact number so that reserve staff can ensure they re safe if they don t make it back to their car in time Limberlost s ecotourism roots go back decades although they wouldn t have recognized it as such back then and its history begins even earlier Fire blackened stones buried ashes and stone axe heads have been found on the reserve lands suggesting that Indigenous peoples at least moved through the area if not inhabiting it There s also evidence within the reserve of early European homesteads dating back to the 1800s including stone walls and apple orchards A resort Limberlost Lodge began operation in the early 1900s Bobbie Burns an early settler on a farm adjacent to the Limberlost Reserve laid out the area s original network of hiking trails thought to be more than 150 kilometres at its peak He also acted as a guide for guests staying at the lodge Limberlost Lodge s owners at that time Gordon and Marion Hill promoted the area as a unique wilderness experience There were horses available for trail rides and in the winter skijoring The lodge offered tennis badminton and canoeing as some of its activities and was the first in the region to install a mechanized tow rope for downhill skiing I m not convinced that the Hills were aware that such an ecotourism market would exist today It was a different industry with I think a lot of the same themes regeneration through the natural environment and the appreciation of outdoor experiences says Cockwell I can only imagine if they could see it today they would be impressed and July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 25

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Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve offers guests the opportunity to partake in many waterrelated activities including paddling and fishing very happy with it By the 1950s interest in the type of experience offered by the Hills at Limberlost had begun to wane In the late 1960s Limberlost was sold to local cottage owners The Friends of Limberlost who later sold it to a developer But in the early 1980s before the property was developed Limberlost s future changed for the better when it was acquired by its current owners who had a desire to restore Limberlost s oncerenowned hiking trails for public use and introduced forest stewardship practices to protect the area It s an unusual model most park areas like Limberlost require users to pay to play but its owners have made a conscious decision not to do that A group of owners in the reserve s heritage lands and adjacent properties share common environmental and natural resource management beliefs and they have generously opened the reserve s lands to the public for use Those owners are heavily involved in trail maintenance as are Limberlost s staff The Limberlost Challenge an annual trail race held at the reserve also contributes greatly to maintenance of some of the trails But with free use how do the owners pay the bills Primarily through a combination of accommodation rentals selective forestry and land use agreements Through its forest management plan Limberlost Reserve does single tree selection to harvest firewood for use on the property and markets saw logs and veneer logs to local buyers It s a way for the reserve to reduce its non renewable energy consumption wood fired boilers send hot water to the chalet and the shop and every building has a woodstove for heat while generating income Plus guests use firewood produced on the property for campfires As for accommodation the original Limberlost Lodge burned down in 1942 and was rebuilt The new structure that replaced it was destroyed by fire in the 1980s Smaller lodges and cottages were built on the property and provide along with fishing camps and campsites paid overnight accommodations for those who want to extend their visit at the reserve We hope we deliver a similar experience to small resorts with access to watersports like paddling but guests also get to live eat and sleep right on the trail head They are able to do as much hiking as they could possibly want says Cockwell And they get to appreciate some of the reserve s remoteness that day users might not There was a brighter future for this area than development and we are seeing that dream come to fruition says Cockwell Every day that we get more people out here is evidence of that for us Visitors to the area have access to more Above Since the Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve does not use chemicals goats are used for vegetation control Right Gareth Cockwell stands in front of one of the cabins where guests can stay while visiting the reserve July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27

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Photograph Courtesy of Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve pheasants blue herons and sandhill than 70 kilometres of hiking trails cranes There is a secluded bird many of which can be used for sanctuary on Buck Lake which serves snowshoeing and cross country skiing as a nesting site for many species in the winter Overnight guests also have In addition the reserve has a access to canoes Day users can by pheasant rookery and last year released advance request do a day long canoe ring necked pheasants into the wild trip through several lakes Buck which visitors will hear if they listen Poverty Twin Little Twin and Long closely If they re lucky they may even lakes ending at Crystal Falls catch a glimpse of the elusive birds It Whether on land or water for an hour also has a chicken coop with the eggs or a full day or more visitors to Limberlost used by staff and often shared with can get a remote wilderness experience overnight guests with little effort And since the reserve doesn t use A cleared area not far past the checkchemicals goats with names like King in booth features a sculpture trail that is William a k a Big Bad Bill Little easily accessible for beginner hikers who Willy Debbie and Barb are used for can do a short or long loop while vegetation control remaining in sight of their car For a We let these guys up in our pasture slightly longer and more immersive and they knock down our raspberry outdoor experience a hike around Clear cane and our thistle and keep it Lake on a trail that follows the lakeshore looking good They generally can be a and passes through hardwood forest and Visitors to the Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve have lot of fun and I get a real kick out of a beautiful stand of hemlock can be access to more than 70 kilometres of hiking trails some of them says Cockwell The trade off they got there is the meteorite impact that done in under an hour The longest trail on the property Solitaire created the Brent Crater in Algonquin Park is it s not as effective as a whipper snipper Fishing is also permitted on four lakes Lake is 13 kilometres but with all the trails 450 million years ago That impact blasted intersecting hikers can customize their visit to rock into the air some of it landing up to 50 within the reserve three of which are stocked under the property s aquaculture license go as long or as short a distance as they like kilometres away There is also a large quartz deposit at the Anglers with an Ontario fishing license and a while the trails are open In addition to its forests and lakes top of Echo Rock its milky white sheen an Limberlost fishing pass will find rainbow trout brook trout lake trout smallmouth Limberlost has several interesting geological unexpected find deep in the forest And then there s the wildlife Limberlost is bass and yellow perch if they can catch them features that are worth exploring There are stories to be told and interesting Naomi s Rest is a massive erratic large home to a wide range of animals from larger boulders out of character with the mammals like deer moose bear wolves and things to discover anywhere you look at surrounding landscape One theory for how otters to birds like osprey loons grouse Limberlost says Cockwell The area s social history just makes it that much more interesting He acknowledges that not everyone might want to go for a hike on the reserve s trails or go camping or even stay in its modern accommodations but for those who want to give it a try it can be a rewarding experience For some like the inner city kids who come to the reserve through a partnership with the Trails Youth Initiatives it can even be life changing Maybe it doesn t have an immediate impact says Cockwell Maybe visitors aren t immediately filled with joy but they might come back again or they might go somewhere closer to home if we can participate in giving them a wilderness opportunity by removing as many barriers as The more than 10 000 acre Limberlost Forest and Wildlife Reserve is free for day use every day of the possible to that kind of experience that s really exciting for us year from 9 a m until 5 p m 28 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017

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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 32 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 such as road mortality The Ministry has closed the snapping turtle season to help maintain populations of this species into the future It s good news indeed The other significant stressors are more than enough for the snapping turtle to contend with Habitat destruction and fragmentation caused by roadways are among the biggest problems they face Snappers make their homes in shallow wetlands of which there are fewer and fewer due to ongoing development Being a reptile the snapping turtle reproduces on land laying its eggs in sandy soil in a sunny location Roadway embankments are ideal although crossing the road is not Muskokans witness the carnage every year in late spring as snappers and other turtle species fight a losing battle with vehicular traffic Making matters worse is that some drivers intentionally drive over them despite a fine for killing any wildlife that are specially protected under Ontario s Fish and Wildlife Act All of Ontario s eight turtle species have some form of protection including snapping turtles When local naturalist Bob Bowles helped start not for profit environmental organization Kids for Turtles in 2006 the newly formed group erected 12 turtle crossing signs in Muskoka to alert the public to the presence of local reptiles and amphibians The next year they put out 45 more signs and added a focus on vernal pools and the ecosystems found there he says They have continued to grow and expand with a mission on environmental awareness and education for all ages Bowles is also involved in consulting about road ecology to encourage such things as turtle underpasses so the slow moving reptiles can freely and safely cross under the roads Such eco passages were installed along the Highway 400 extension between Pointe auBaril and Britt Jeff Hathaway of Scales Nature Park a conservation facility located near Orillia that focuses on preserving reptiles amphibians and fish and their habitats is working towards this end in Muskoka with exclusion fencing to prevent the turtles from moving across the roads Research conducted by Saving Turtles at Risk Today START a Muskoka based research initiative that aims to identify indirect and direct threats on turtles has

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Above A moss covered snapping turtle basks in the sun Below The size of a snapping turtle hatchling is seen in perspective beside a ring identified several hot spots in Muskoka where turtle road mortality is particularly high Among them are Highway 169 between Gravenhurst and Bala and Doe Lake Road in Gravenhurst If the snapper is successful in laying her eggs she attempts to make it safely back to her wetland home leaving her eggs unattended and vulnerable Many predators smell the freshly laid eggs and have no trouble digging them out of the shallow nests in sandy soil According to Bowles raccoons are particularly notorious for this In fact in some locations the nest mortality rate is 100 per cent Bowles s experience with this staggeringly high nest mortality stems from projects done with Kids for Turtles Working with a team of volunteers from the organization on projects near Gravenhurst as well as at Tiny Marsh and Wye Marsh in Simcoe County turtle nesting sites were monitored during the nesting period in late spring Once a nesting turtle was located and after she was finished laying her eggs the team immediately covered the nests with specially designed cages to keep predators out It worked well explains Bowles although the raccoons were still digging up the eggs through the cages so we modified the design With the new cages they can t get in Bowles says he has heard of using cayenne pepper and other scents to mask the egg smell but pointed out that raccoons in particular have a welldeveloped sense of smell and will likely still detect the eggs The nest only retains the odour of the newly laid eggs for about a week and after a July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 33

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project which includes couple of rains the odour is ongoing research on snappers gone he says Once the nest and other species START has is past that stage the eggs are spent several summers carrying safer from predation out research in Muskoka and But the extremely high gathering data on turtles nest mortality is not normal As part of its research and is a result of subsidized START is also interested in predators obtaining information on In a natural setting such turtle sightings and has set up a as Algonquin Park raccoons turtle hotline to facilitate this are relatively rare says Peter It will then pass that data over Mills park naturalist at to the Ontario Reptile and Algonquin Provincial Park Amphibian Atlas run by When a natural area Ontario Nature becomes developed with We need volunteer citizen more roads and human scientists of all levels to submit presence most animals Above A snapping turtle retreats into its shell from attacking mosquitoes Below respond negatively as their Roadside sand is often a favourite nesting spot for snapping turtles to lay their eggs sightings of all reptile and amphibian species not just habitat is destroyed But the rare ones the Atlas states Sightings can Hathaway One way is to help protect the raccoons are one species that benefits positively with the result that there is an nests from predators Place a protective cage be reported through Ontario Nature s online over a turtle nest he advises adding that form at ontarionature org or via e mail exaggerated number of raccoons He points out The snapper has a slow but Scales Nature Park has some available as well regular mail or their app In addition to reporting turtle sightings steady reproductive strategy which doesn t as plans to make a simple protective cage and knowing who to call if you see an injured work with raccoons and other subsidized from 2x4 s and screening If you come across an injured turtle call turtle you can also do your part to help the predators such as skunks coyotes and gulls If the eggs escape predation the hatchlings the Scales Nature Park at 705 327 2808 species by volunteering to assist with emerge in late summer or early fall although They have contacts in Muskoka that can pick preservation efforts Scales is looking for volunteers to do a they may stay in the nest over the winter and up the turtle The Scales Nature Park then emerge the following spring These tiny arranges to get it to the Ontario Turtle variety of things including outdoor versions of their parents are still vulnerable Conservation Centre formerly Kawartha maintenance animal care and aid with our outreach efforts says Crawford START is Gulls and other predators make a feast of Turtle Hospital in Peterborough Even if it dies or is dead the data is still looking for hardy indestructible volunteers them as they make their journey to the useful Hathaway explains He says this to take out into the field and catch and relative safety of the water With all of this happening the chances of information helps with the monitoring of process reptiles We can also use volunteers even one surviving to adulthood are slim at turtle activities and provides information on with experience with GIS and other mapping best We believe that for approximately changing trends in turtle behaviour Scales software Being aware of the issues around our native 1 800 snapping turtle eggs that are laid one Nature Park is the lead partner in the START turtles and if possible volunteering turtle reaches adulthood explains with one of the many organizations Kelsey Crawford project coinvolved with their welfare can make ordinator with START a difference for snapping turtles and With statistics like that other turtle species Other ways to snapping turtles are hardly a viable help include encouraging govgame species especially compared ernment funding for ongoing to some other game animals Deer research and government action for reproduce after just their second the preservation of wetlands and year and moose are much the turtle habitat same Most fish species reproduce The removal of the open season themselves in the hundreds and on snappers is an important step rabbits are infamous for their but with all the other pressures on reproductive capabilities Ending the population these big turtles the snapping turtle hunt will help need all the protection we can give but more can be done them Help is multi pronged says 34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017

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Jane and I had attended Tanglewood near Boston and we thought it would be wonderful to have something like that in Huntsville Jim says of the festival He jokes My mother was a music teacher and of six kids I was the only one not to be musically inclined Maybe getting involved in a new festival was my way of making it up to her Glatz who had a chalet in Hidden Valley was familiar with the area He connected with former Deerhurst Resort owner Bill Waterhouse and Bruce Evans of Grandview Inn and quickly gained their support as venues for potential productions and for financial assistance to get the festival launched They were all tremendously supportive says Glatz We put the festival together in nine months and the first year was a smashing success For the first three years Deerhurst provided the main venue with smaller productions taking place at Pioneer Village and Trinity United Church One memorable Stina Nyquist play took place outdoors at Pioneer Village which is now Muskoka Heritage Place The first Huntsville Festival of the Arts began with a parade down Main Street followed by an arts picnic and Canada Day concert at Deerhurst complete with the Huntsville Festival Orchestra and the Toronto Artillery Band playing a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky s 1812 Overture Canada Day wrapped up with spectacular fireworks put on by Deerhurst Resort There was such a learning curve in the first few years in determining what residents and visitors liked and would support says Pam Smyth who has long been involved in local theatre and is a past president of the festival She recalls that by year three the workload had become too much for the core group that organized and directed hundreds of volunteers The festival had become a full time job so in 1995 Rob Saunders was hired to provide professional leadership to the festival After three years of mostly classical offerings in ballet jazz symphony orchestras and classical teas a substantial financial loss following a big ballet production threatened the future of the festival The logistics of running the festival out of Toronto plus the financial deficit led organizers to reflect and analyze the entertainment slate A local board took over and in its first year 38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 With local roots Hawksley Workman has always been a popular and returning performer at the Huntsville Festival of the Arts

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of classical and contempthe deficit became a orary music events as well surplus At the four year as dance theatre literature mark the Huntsville children s cultural activities Festival of the Arts arrived and public celebrations at a break even point The festival has also been Looking back the an incubator for highly quality of the successful events like the entertainment roster was Muskoka Novel Marathon mind boggling It was and En Plein Air an also extremely eclectic outdoor painting and which gave organizers an auction event that raises opportunity to assess funds for a student arts what worked Some of the scholarship and the Festival early offerings included Scholarship Program renowned Canadian con It is exciting and such tralto Maureen Forrester National Ballet stars Classical orchestral performances were a mainstay of the early programs of the Huntsville an honour to be president in HFA s 25th anniversary Gizella Witkowsky and Festival of the Arts year says Huntsville Serge Lavoie the Paula comprised of professional orchestra members Festival of the Arts current president Karen Moreno Spanish Dance Company the Elmer from orchestras around the province with Cassian We are very excited about this Iseler Singers and the Canadian Brass Memorable festival highlights include the core group being from the Toronto year s lineup I think that during the past 25 Kerry Stratton conducting a performance of Philharmonic Each year 30 or 40 members years the festival has evolved to include entertainment that encompasses a broader Beethoven s Ninth Symphony with 45 would arrive and be billeted in local homes Today the festival covers a broad spectrum spectrum of our Huntsville community orchestra members and 95 members of the This year in homage to the festival s Mendelssohn Choir Blue Rodeo roots the Canadian Brass which performing at the Canada Summit opened the festival in 1993 will be Centre s official opening in 2010 and performing and Maestro Stratton will Romeo D Allaire Stephen Lewis and close out the 25th season by conducting Roberta Bondar as part of the very the Festival Orchestra in Last Night at popular speaker series the Proms In the fourth year of the festival And for the first time since the early Deerhurst was undergoing renovations days we ll be back at and the festival took up Muskoka Heritage Place residence at Grandview with original works by Stina Inn s tennis courts Smyth Nyquist who passed on in remembers the effort it 2016 after 20 years as an took to transform tennis important contributor to courts into a theatre the Huntsville theatre It took us 12 hours to scene says general manager set up for one particular Rob Saunders performance and at the Longtime festival favourend of it we invited the ites like Hawksley Workmen audience to stay and Jesse Cook Colin James observe the take down Natalie MacMaster and she recalls She laughs and Donnell Leahy will also be adds It came down in a back by popular demand fraction of the time it took As Smyth aptly sums it to set up up After 25 years the The Huntsville Festival Huntsville Festival of the Orchestra was a mainstay of the festival Under the Above The themed spring Marche has always been a popular fundraiser of the Huntsville Arts has become a beloved baton of the renowned Festival of the Arts Below Community theatre including musicals such as the Wizard of fixture on the cultural calendar of Huntsville Kerry Stratton it was Oz has provided popular programs for the festival stage July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 39

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Photograph Courtesy of Richard Corcelli got its start in Muskoka Article by Sandy Lockhart Photography by Larry Carroll hile professional summer theatre now dots the province many may not know Muskoka is its true birthplace Back in 1934 actor John Holden had been busy touring the United States with a theatre group While taking a break and visiting his sister Lillian Sutton at her Bala cottage he realized he d found the perfect place for summer theatre Sutton s husband owned a hotel where the 40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 actors could stay for free He also was the town clerk so he helped them work out a deal to use Victory Hall Bala s town hall as a theatre That same summer the John Holden Players originally known as the Good Companions started performing in Bala Hence summer theatre in Canada was born says Krista Storey who operates the Gravenhurst Opera House as the Town of Gravenhurst manager of Arts and Culture Muskoka Festival s opening night at the Port Carling Memorial Community Hall in July 1981 was a dress up occasion Among those attending were the Col Frank McEachern aide de camp Richard Corcelli president of Muskoka Festival Jane Aird John Black Aird Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Maryellen Corcelli and Michael Ayoub Muskoka Festival s artistic director This was before Stratford before Shaw Since then summer theatre has been popular in Muskoka with companies setting up in Bala Gravenhurst Port Carling Rosseau and performing in other Muskoka locations Muskoka has some very talented amateur theatre groups but Muskoka s summer theatre features experienced professional actors directors and other necessary theatre staff While some were paid minimally they

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s venhurst Archive Photographs Gra invited John Holden and his troupe to perform at the Gravenhurst Top In addition to producing Opera House It was such a success that they Muskoka Festival shows Michael Ayoub and Mary Bellows were often among the performers almost moved to the Opera House as home Below Taras Shipowick and Frank Ruffo take part base for their next season Tickets at the Opera House at that time were 25 cents for in 1975 production of Good Times West children and 50 cents for adults are professional actors But the people of Bala acted quickly Back in 1934 Gravenhurst s mayor renaming their Victory Hall as the Actor s George Panter attended a show in Bala and Colony Theatre and making extensive renovations and improvements to the building over the winter In 1935 the group changed its name to Actors Colony Theatre They continued to perform most of their shows in Bala but still performed a few shows in Gravenhurst In 1937 they performed their last show in Gravenhurst as they thought it was drawing the same audience as their Bala shows Instead they took one show each week to the Bigwin Inn on Lake of Bays They continued this until 1942 when the war lessened the demand and interest in summer theatre The Gravenhurst Rotary Club became involved in sponsoring the return of summer theatre As a result the Straw Hat Players opened their first season in the summer of 1948 and returned for eight consecutive summers They were part of a troupe that travelled Muskoka and Simcoe The group started in Jackson s Point then went to Beaverton Gravenhurst and more including Port Carling and Huntsville They even gave open air performances at the Gravenhurst Sanitarium and occasional shorter promotional shows at Gull Lake Park By 1952 ticket prices had risen to 1 25 for Straw Hat s July performance of The Importance of Being Earnest That show featured Araby Lockhart a Straw Hat favourite for seven seasons who later returned to the Opera House many times She even performed and directed with the Muskoka Festival a later incarnation of summer theatre in Muskoka in the 1980s and 1990s in a show that also featured Honor Blackman who would later gain fame as a Bond girl The Straw Hat Players performed their final season in 1955 They returned for a test run in the fall of 1961 but that was the their final act Howard Cable a famed composer with a Muskoka connection operated a season of theatre in the square at the Gravenhurst Opera House in 1971 July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41

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In 1971 and 1972 Port Carling Summer Theatre operated from the Port Carling community centre under the direction of Michael Ayoub The Gravenhurst Opera House had just completed a significant improvement and upgrading so facility manager Michael Cole convinced Ayoub to offer theatre in Gravenhurst in 1972 Based on the success of these shows an Opera House Arts Foundation assisted with fundraising to present a full summer of professional theatre in Port Carling in 1973 and in Gravenhurst in 1973 Then in 1974 Muskoka Summer Theatre launched with Ayoub as artistic director In 1981 the name Co hosts Shelia McCarthy and Neil Crone entertain at the changed to Muskoka Festival and 2017 Muskoka Summer Theatre summer season gala show money and contribute quite a bit yourself operated until 1995 Gravenhurst residents Richard and he says adding with a laugh And always Maryellen Corcelli moved to Muskoka in the bring a big a cheese tray for events They made a financial commitment signed mid 1970s They d been involved in theatre in Markham so Maryellen was a natural to for loans with the bank sold season tickets act in an amateur play in Gravenhurst Once and always advocated for summer theatre It wasn t easy but by and large it was fun it was recognized she was involved in theatre says Richard she was quickly recruited to join the Muskoka It was good quality theatre says Festival Board Not long after Richard also Maryellen recalling the many shows joined and went on to serve as president Over the years they spent time working Being on the board was a big responsibility and workload The board s job was to raise with actors directors and others who were Opera House sound and lighting manager Martin Greene runs a sound check on singer songwriter Grant Tingey before a show 42 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Big Band show is highlight of summer season at Gravenhurst Opera House Celebrating its Muskoka roots and Canadian culture the Gravenhurst Opera House is offering a full season of professional theatre for the summer of 2017 The highlight is Swing a Big Band review that promises to take the audience back to when swing was king Running from July 19 to Aug 25 it s an all singing and all dancing tribute to the glory days of big band and swing In Muskoka that brings to mind the stories of Count Basie and other legends at Dunn s Pavilion in Bala Swing has a Muskoka connection because the show was conceived by Alan Lund and the music arranged by Howard Cable Both of these famous musical pioneers were also summer cottagers Cable even wrote the Muskoka Winter Carnival Skokie song Since we are only doing three this year we wanted one to be a big musical says Krista Storey manager of Arts and Culture for the Town of Gravenhurst This show will have a live band and six brilliant singers and dancers many just off a U S tour We don t mess around when it comes to talent This is the third year of entertainment at the Gravenhurst Opera House under the artistic direction of Dave Campbell He s got an impressive resume with everything from directing Toronto s revival of CATS to most recently choreographing the 2017 Junos in Ottawa He brings experience as an actor dancer and director to the historic Gravenhurst stage to offer high caliber entertainment It is fun to note that Campbell performed in Swing in the past Old Wives Tales started the season off on June 13 and runs until July 14 It features local favourite actor Robin Clipsham Robin is brilliant and has her own following in Muskoka and beyond says Storey The show opens to a nervous bride and her mother and showcases that unique mother daughter relationship Filled with wit and dry humour the show will leave you laughing The season ends with Sexy Laundry from Sept 12 to 29 It s a very funny and touching piece says Storey Anyone who has ever been in a relationship should see this For the 2017 summer season there is a mix of both evening and matinee performances for all three shows Concerts round out the summer schedule

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well respected in the entertainment industry Maryellen recalls Michael Burgess known for over 1 000 performances of Les Mis rables across Canada needing sheets for his apartment when he first moved in for the summer He came to see me at lunchtime at Bethune House and I found him a set of sheets She adds fondly He had a lovely singing voice and was such a charmer The Corcellis remember a night when an actor in Gravenhurst had an issue 10 minutes before the curtain was to go up We had 350 people in the theatre and the main actor would not go on stage says Richard He needed to talk to Muskoka Festival director and actor Michael Ayoub who was on the pay phone at the Port Carling theatre in full Dracula costume minutes before his own show was starting Long before the days Above Just back from shows in Zimbabwe Angie Nussey an award winning Canadian recording artist waits tentatively back stage before performing Left Wardrobe manager Chris Cristobal fits actress Robin Clipsham for the 2017 summer theatre play Old Wives Tales of cell phones it was the only phone available Those heading to the box office at the Port Carling theatre then in the community centre right on the main street had a sneak peek of what was to come The old Port Carling theatre had large double doors that led straight to the theatre One night the power went off but the show went on with some improvised lighting Someone pulled a car up on the sidewalk and pointed it through the doors says Richard The car lights shone through and lit up the theatre Socializing with actors was always exciting They are dramatic people always says Richard They have stories of big parties lots of drama on and off the stage and interesting personalities some best not repeated While they spent a lot of time partying they also spent a lot of time working With the short season and the number of plays they were rehearsing for a new play at the same time as another one was on the stage This was like the big time they had all July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43

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Attendees find their seats and await the 2017 Muskoka Summer Theatre summer season gala show at the historic Gravenhurst Opera House the right people says Maryellen In addition to actors and directors there were milliners costumers set designers a master carpenter and several carpenter s helpers With shows in two locations the carpenters had a tough job recalls Maryellen They were trucking stuff all over the place and those sets were quite impressive she says Richard adds We hired some spectacular people and it showed on stage Since those days the Corcellis have enjoyed watching the careers of many Muskoka Festival actors including stage film and television actor and director Geraint Wyn Davies who played in TV series 24 and Murdoch Mysteries Stratford performers Peter Hutt and Cynthia Dale and TV actor and stage performer Donald Davis known for Christmas in the Market Place and Oedipus Rex Other notables include Sean McCann of Tommy Boy Helen Shaver of Hill Street Blues and T J Hooker Len Doncheff of Strange Brew Michael Burgess of Les Mis rables Fiona Reid of King of Kensington Nancy Palk who has performed on stage across Canada and the United States Grant Cowan as Snoopy in You re a Good Man Charlie Brown on Broadway and Mary Bellows in Do it for Yourself Rising insurance costs and fundraising fatigue were two of the challenges faced by Muskoka Festival Their last performance was in 1995 Since that time there have been a few different programs at the Gravenhurst Opera House Vince Grittani had some success in both Minett and later Rosseau with the Rosseau Culture and Arts Project but does July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45

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Above Sarah Girdwood the Currie Bros and Bet Smith wow the hometown crowd at the 2017 Muskoka Summer Theatre summer season gala show Below Krista Storey and Dave Campbell get ready for SWING a big band review that celebrates Canadian talent not have a series planned for this summer In the summer of 2011 New ACT opened under the direction of Eva Moore It changed its name to Actors Colony Summer Theatre and ran for several summers in Bala but did not return to the stage in 2016 They made it through the first year performing in the community centre even though sharing the space with events and fitness classes made it challenging They moved to curling club the following summer and enjoyed wonderful reviews but sadly didn t last For those looking to recapture the past live professional theatre is back this summer at the 46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Gravenhurst Opera House Artistic director Dave Campbell has an impressive resume great energy and some wonderful shows this season By definition culture is how we transmit who we are from one generation to the next say Campbell Theatre imitates our behaviour and takes a major role in this Life shouldn t be lived looking in the rear view mirror but the occasional glance back reminds us to stay the course and be proud says Campbell This summer with our all Canadian season be prepared to see yourself on the stage laugh cry sing dance and celebrate our unique proudly Canadian identity in the world It s a great time to see summer theatre in its birthplace and help sustain it for the future

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Artist Paul Garbett uses the encaustic method of painting which combines a mixture of pigment such as oil or powder with hot wax fusing each layer I t s been 10 years since artist Paul Garbett traded in his fast paced city life for a quieter and slowerpaced Muskoka life Garbett had just turned 50 when he decided that becoming an artist and painting full time was something he wanted to do Garbett worked in the digital marketing field for decades designing and branding from studios in Toronto The graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design now called OCAD University started out as an illustrator creating work for magazines and corporations I ve always been a creative individual he says I ve always had my foot in projects that allowed me to create with my hands whether it s through painting sculpture digital film or video Garbett has always enjoyed expressing himself through painting and drawing While renovating a house in Toronto he took the first step in his career shift by converting one of the bedrooms into an art studio No sooner had he hammered in the last nail to finish the renovation when he decided to put the house on the market and made the move to Muskoka originally locating in Bracebridge His family had bought land in Muskoka on Wilson Island in the 1970s They went there every summer building a small cabin and then later a small cottage at their Lake Muskoka retreat until it was sold in the 90s That s how we fell in love with Muskoka he says I d missed it very much and it gave me inspiration to come back up here While in Bracebridge he spent a lot of his time outdoors July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49

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Cooper s Falls studio and a real doing day trips hiking and bear walked by his window kayaking He then purchased a heading to the apple tree next home on the Black River in to his house Cooper s Falls near Washago I have a need to express He began his transition from what these animals and wildlife digital marketing to painting are about because I have a by gradually splitting his time concern about the envirobetween the two until he was nment he explains We re painting full time losing a lot of our important Garbett paints using the resources and down the line I encaustic medium and can see where potentially there ll remembers being inspired by be some species we won t see the work of Toronto artist Tony much anymore Scherman in the 1990s He adds If people can I went to his show and it blew connect with the work that I m me away says Garbett I would doing because it connects a call him a world class master feeling that they have or an Once I saw his work I decided idea of what they want to see that if I was going to get into then fantastic he says If I painting then this was the one can take that small difference medium I had to at least attempt and expand it a little more by The encaustic method of getting involved with painting combines a mixture of Muskoka artist Paul Garbett believes art can play a role in bringing awareness to the disintegration of the valuable environment and the need fundraising and provide for the pigment such as oil or powder for the public to preserve it environment then that s even with hot wax fusing each layer Every artist uses it differently and Garbett in Muskoka has provided him with plenty of better inspiration for his work He was once Garbett believes art can play a role in prefers to use oil pigment working on a painting of a bear in his bringing awareness to the disintegration of You have the flexibility in terms of melting what you don t want melting for creation of what you re hoping for and scraping There s so much you can do with it he says But you can also destroy something just as quickly Encaustic painting has a sharp learning curve and some artists shy away from the method because it can prove to be a difficult medium to use But Garbett sees mistakes as part of the learning process I feel that a lot of good comes from experimenting and making mistakes he says Garbett is now at a stage in his career where he feels free to experiment with encaustic painting and is confident in working with it It took him about a year before he was comfortable using it and a lot is learned through trial and error I ve had moments where I ve said I m going to put this aside and work in oil but I never gave up he says From spring season to fall Garbett is busy and spends as much time outdoors as possible He loves to canoe paint sketch bike hike and kayak And being July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 51

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Swapping skyscrapers and pavement for lakes and trees Paul Garbett appreciates the inspiration Muskoka provides for his paintings our valuable environment There s an opportunity for me to go down that road to make something that s more jolting and not as pretty and send a message to people that they need to pay more attention says Garbett But often he acknowledges those types of paintings don t sell and an artist is faced with the decision of painting to make a living or painting for a cause that they support I need to start painting in what I believe in and part of that lies in bringing attention to some real issues that we have in our environment and wildlife he says Garbett also strongly believes in using art as a form of therapy He s not alone as some hospitals and medical centres are also seeing the value of art and incorporating it as therapy for their patients For people experiencing stress whether it is through recovery or 52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 loss art can provide a feeling of relaxation and anxiety can be reduced he says He is currently involved with a foundation in Toronto that approaches banks and corporations for donations of art The artwork is then installed in various hospital cancer clinics throughout the city The response has been outstanding says Garbett We re getting a lot of amazing work donated So for me when I paint I m hoping that something in the way that I m painting can bring a certain amount of beauty and emotional embrace Swapping skyscrapers and pavement for lakes and trees Garbett is thankful to be in Muskoka doing what he loves His work can be found in galleries in Whistler B C Blue Mountain and soon Toronto In Muskoka it is available at the Red Canoe Gallery in Port Carling I m terribly grateful for the position I m in he says What is encaustic is what drives me crazy and it is what lights my fire I never take it for granted

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Photograph Courtesy of Gordon Aiken Family J Patrick Boyer No picture is known to exist of the glorious festivities in Bracebridge on July 1 1867 This rendition by artist Paul Miller of a bunting draped stage on the main street of town with A P Cockburn or his rival addressing an audience in the 1872 election conveys a sense of the era In the 1867 election Cockburn was elected to the Ontario legislature in 1872 to the House of Commons Blowing Up an Anvil for Muskoka s Inaugural July 1 Celebration By J Patrick Boyer hen Canada marked its inaugural July 1 celebration early settlements throughout the south of the District bustled with patriotic pioneers keen to mark a new confederacy of four colonial provinces Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec and Ontario Huntsville Muskoka s largest municipality did not yet exist in 1867 so nobody staged celebrations to inaugurate Confederation on July 1 in the north of the District Only the following year did the provincial government enact a Free Grant Lands and Homestead Act to entice settlers into the District It was 1869 before George Hunt boldly envisaged a settlement which he d name after himself at the spot where the Muskoka Road would cross the river at its narrowest In the centre of the District where John Beal erected his shanty in 1861 even before the Muskoka Road had been built the little community of Bracebridge had emerged in a clear cut area amidst stumps and mud beside the Muskoka River s North Falls Alert to what was going on in the country with the arrival of July 1 1867 local people celebrated as an observer later wrote with becoming loyalty and clat The hundred or so inhabitants of Bracebridge were joined early that July morning by settlers of the surrounding townships all streaming into the settlement Folks gathered on a level patch of ground of which the village offered little on the low field above North Falls lying between the Muskoka Road and the Muskoka River in front of Willson s general store Gillman Willson came to Bracebridge in 1861 as a Methodist Episcopal minister but turned to additional activity with a lumber mill at the next waterfalls upstream which bear his misspelled name Wilson s Falls and his busy store in the village Bracebridge s well devised program to celebrate Confederation began sharply at 9 a m first with races for boys and girls followed by foot races for men Then there were running and jumping competitions Next came the hilarious three man sack contest followed by a wild wheelbarrow race one person in the wheelbarrow another pushing it toward the finish line Risk of injury in the commotion and tumult of contests upped their entertainment value for spectators In the 1860s everyone young and old joined in these lively events encouraged by irrepressible dares and much July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55

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Photograph Courtesy of Boyer Archives cheering Prizes were given Between explosions four for winners of whom there assembled musicians provided were many given the more stirring sounds with drum seemingly unending variety clarinet and two horns The of competitions impressionable young daughter By mid day the comof Monck pioneers Mr and munity picnic continued as Mrs Gordon wrote an account families baskets were opened years later of her still fresh and if improvised benches memories about the friendwere unavailable blankets liness good will and good spread on the ground cheer everyone displayed At intervals through the Reflecting the leveling nature of afternoon the settlement s frontier society and Muskoka s blacksmith provided the most A photo of Bracebridge in 1867 exists but its rough quality matches the rugged we re all in this together spectacular fireworks avail scattering of buildings it portrays It is also a winter not a July scene This 1873 pioneer spirit she added able in Ontario s bushland picture conveys well the still primitive state of central Muskoka s pioneer There were no distinctions due frontier It required two men settlement when Confederation began to good clothes or money to lift the heavy anvil from its The next sound came in the place in his shop and get it by wagon to the twist and fall heavily It landed with a more familiar form of male voices delivering flats A heavy charge of gunpowder was placed pounding thud close to boys and men prayers speeches and tributes Prosperous under the anvil and lighted celebrating in unison with lusty cheers farmer and justice of the peace A J Alport Then came the dangerous thrill of hearing Standing closest to where it landed was its who since 1862 had resided downriver on a a deafening bang watching the heavy object own prize a badge of masculine courage and rich lakefront spread known today as soar upwards out of a cloud of thick smoke skilled judgement Demand for encores of Beaumont s Farm the site of an earlier inhaling the oily smell of misting gunpowder the day s noisiest event lasted until there was Indigenous trading post was a leading spirit then seeing the anvil come to a sky high halt no more gunpowder of the July 1 celebration As his day long Elevate Yourself 705 645 4567 InclinedElevation com InclinedElevation 56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017

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Photograph Courtesy of Gravenhurst Archives program progressed to its grand finale the large assembly of Muskokans adjourned from the sporting and noisy entertainments to gather round a platform that had been specially erected A Union Jack the flag of Britain and hence of colonial Canada established its patriotic emotions in those present Leading pioneer Hiram James McDonald owner of the Royal Hotel called everyone to order and chaired proceedings Rev Marmaduke D Archer whose descendants today operate Archer Barging Service from Lake Muskoka s Browning Island and Rev Gillman Wilson each offered up prayers of invocation and thanksgiving for this historic day and for all the promise that Confederation entailed Then came uplifting speeches of tribute to Muskoka and its pioneer families and to Canada with its new Confederation constitution and the triumph of patriotism delivered by three prominent speakers A J Alport whose wharf enabled the Wenonah to land with mail passengers and freight publican Roderick Stewart and leading Dugald Brown was an entrepreneurial pioneer operating many businesses in early Gravenhurst including a hotel liquor store and water bottling plant bringing the community s economy to life His retail liquor operation and the community s several hotels doubtless helped ensure that locals were plentifully regaled in that era s parlance with the one thing needful on July 1 1867 mercantilist Alexander Bailey a fur trader owner of the Victoria Hotel builder of the first flour and grist mill at the falls first postmaster of Bracebridge and operator of a stagecoach and freight line The village s three store keepers McDonald Willson and Bailey provided cheese and crackers for the crowd with all the lemonade anyone could drink The lemonade served by the barrelful was made from plenty of fresh lemons and ice cold water that bubbled up between two rocks from an artesian spring on the nearby property of another Bracebridge store owner John Teviotdale who opened the beginnings of his hardware store that year Finally all joined in singing to the glory of the British Empire and its reigning monarch Victoria II God Save the Queen Before the big day local land developer William Holditch still remembered by Holditch Street in Bracebridge proposed naming the settlement s principal streets to commemorate Canada s first Dominion Day He suggested with fitting patriotic flare four names Dominion Quebec Manitoba and Ontario Dominion Street was one of the main routes into the community ascending steeply from Bracebridge Bay below the falls where Weather Master Windows 3 Season Sunrooms Aluminium Picket and Glass Topless Railing Aluminum Decking Residential and Commercial Awnings 1 705 645 7511 DAVLINS CA July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57

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58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Maritime provinces These new Muskoka places were themselves growing in tandem with the country By 1867 Gravenhurst s first school had been operating four years the Anglicans were completing construction of the first church and an impressive wharf for the recently launched steamer Wenonah was extended from 100 feet to 400 feet into Muskoka Bay James McCabe who with his wife Letitia had begun the settlement by opening their Freemason Arms Hotel oversaw the village s post office which was in his hotel Other evidence of Gravenhurst s rise by 1867 included the decision by John Harvey to relocate his stagecoach and livery services from Severn Bridge to Gravenhurst He could see the village s promising future as a transportation hub with both steamboat and northern extensions of the colonization road a vision corroborated by new competition from Bracebridge s entrepreneurial Alexander Bailey extending his northern teamster service south through Muskokaville Gravenhurst and Washago to Orillia Meeting the rising tide of activity in addition to McCabe s Freemason Arms and Cannell s Gravenhurst Hotel energetic pioneer Dugald Brown added his hotel aptly named the Steamboat and Stage House on the present site of the town s post office Brown had the place in full operation for Confederation s second anniversary advertising on July 1 1868 his commodious new hotel as conveniently situated near the steamboat wharf stage road and post office Charges moderate Good stabling and an attentive hostler A few years later in 1873 Brown would add to the mix a local spring water beverage company operating under his name now succeeded by Muskoka Springs bottling company He also operated a liquor retail business Businessman Alexander Peter Cockburn added additional elements including a celebration cruise to the village s potential for patriotic celebrations on July 1 1867 Cockburn had mail and freight contracts a Photograph Courtesy of Muskoka Heritage Place the Wenonah played a huge role in local economic growth by making Bracebridge a hub of Muskoka transshipment centre at the head of inland navigation Manitoba Street was a section of the original Muskoka Road colonization tract Two cross streets intersecting Dominion and Manitoba were named for the twinned provinces of Quebec and Ontario The plan to inaugurate the new names involved improvising an amazing contraption necessity and limited available materials being the mother of invention Wooden grocery boxes were covered with white cotton fabric The name of the street in green tissue paper was placed on the box Each box was mounted on a post on its redesignated street In the early light of dusk as the crowd dispersed people were attracted to the artful spectacles and could make out the new street names for the first time a bonus prize won by the village itself on this joy filled historic day South Muskoka communities from Severn Bridge to Gravenhurst and a dozen or so tiny settlements across these earliest settled townships also marked the historic turning point as the province s name changed from Canada West to Ontario They too found themselves part of a larger country with two Photograph Courtesy of Gravenhurst Archives Right This Lumbermen s Welcome archway erected at Muskoka Wharf by Gravenhurst s Mickle Dyment Lumber Company in 1885 for Governor General Lansdowne s official visit is indicative of the celebratory enthusiasm that was a community hallmark from earliest days With parades and band concerts the lively spirit undoubtedly gained expression on July 1 1867 Loss of historical records prevents giving details Far right Wherever Captain George Hunt was on July 1 1867 he was so dedicated to Canada s future that he surely celebrated the opening day of Confederation He would soon prove his devotion to the new country s potential by establishing Huntsville anchor of north Muskoka

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Photograph Canadian Illustrated News 1874 general store for dry goods and in the way of the cruise flags groceries and steamboat service from speeches and food Gravenhurst Wharf to Alport Just how much southern Bracebridge and Baisong Rapids on the Muskokans were mindful of the big Indian River at the head of Lake day is hard to say without records Muskoka but if folks to the north flocked Here we come to the reality of with picnic baskets into Bracebridge Muskoka history when activities took to have a happy day with races place for which no record remains applauding patriotic addresses Gravenhurst would not get newspaper renaming streets and cheering service for several more years initially themselves hoarse as the blacksmith s in the 1870s The devastating fire that James Cuthbert s house and Gibraltar Rock fortress along the anvil blasted skyward it s safe to say burned away most of the town s wooden Muskoka Road near the South Kahshe River alarmed first arrivals other Muskokans were equally buildings turned irreplaceable records in Muskoka by its ominous black cannons charred logs at closer aware and had just as fine a time to ash In more recent times rare view guarding entrance to the District But the Governor s one And then there was Governor municipal records that did exist were real cannon fired on special occasions was no doubt heard a James Cuthbert a Scottish born deliberately destroyed by a house cleaning number of times as he saluted Confederation s arrival to Muskoka veteran soldier living at a fantasy local official Only the inspired in 1867 fortress he d dubbed Gibraltar determination of Gravenhurst historians to and erecting street spanning archways in Rock on the Muskoka Road in Morrison retrieve and archive whatever letters documents tribute to special moments such as a Township where he flew a worn Union Jack and photographs remained has given Muskoka s governor general s visit A P Cockburn had a from a tree pole and fired a canon whenever primary settlement some glimpses of those knack for promotion such as touring a notable person entered the district by missing years southern newspaper publishers and editors in stagecoach You could bet that on July 1 As Gravenhurst archivist Judy Humphries the 1870s aboard Wenonah to promote 1867 the Governor would have cannonaded notes the town is renowned for holding Muskoka settlement and would certainly his patriotic awareness of Muskoka itself parades whenever an occasion presents itself have featured something special on July 1 1867 entering a new era of history WE DIG MUSKOKA Complete Site Services Boulder Retaining Walls Patios Flagstone Pathways Stairs Professional Barging Service Excavation Road Maintenance Demolition Septic Systems 60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Contact us for a quote info riegercontracting com 705 765 DIGG 3444

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T he sea flea is unlike any other boat in Muskoka It really has no equal An outboard for sure but it is really a tiny hull designed to hold a motor Evolving out of the need for speed and the increasing capabilities of newly designed outboard motors the sea flea hit its peak in the 1960s and 1970s Anyone over the age of 30 who has spent a summer in Muskoka probably has a sea flea story to tell They were the first boat many kids had that allowed them to go as fast as they dared a bit like a homemade go kart with an outboard instead of wheels Unlike many inventions and summer lake toys the sea flea makes no fashion statement or expression of affluence which is just fine for those who are passionate about the little boats Brothers Chris and Andrew Taylor and their cousin Rob Renton have together reenergized the Muskoka sea flea community with their lively website www muskokaseaflea ca and unbridled enthusiasm for the sea flea in its various sizes and shapes Over the years the Taylor clan has brought their annual Fleafest a gathering of sea flea owners and hobbyists to different parts of Muskoka Gull Lake in Gravenhurst and the Muskoka Wharf area have been the site for several Fests This year s event will be held on Kahshe Lake We ve always wanted Fleafest on Kahshe Lake Chris Taylor By Tim Du Vernet explains Since the Taylor family summers on Kahshe Lake it has been a homecoming of sorts to plan this year s event Their memories and experiences with sea fleas on the lake span many generations They feel Kahshe Lake offers everything the flea enthusiast could want I suppose we re being biased here but the lake is the perfect location for boating with a ton Article and Photography by Tim Du Vernet of bays and small coves a bizzilion islands and warm water Chris admits It s a small boater s dream Rockhaven Inn is the base for this year s event to be held on July 1 The choice for Rockhaven as Chris explains was one of those moments where all the stars aligned It came up casually while Chris was chatting with Greig Holder and George Lindsay two members of the Kahshe Lake Ratepayers Association who happened to be at Rockhaven changing a notice board at the same time Chris was attending to his boat He noticed they had a photo taken in 1971 that featured a kid in a sea flea Chris happened to be that kid The discussion turned from A LEGACY OF SEA FLEAS ON KAHSHE LAKE July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63

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sharing memories of sea fleas to reviving the interest in boating among young people on the lake They were totally on board with getting Fleafest back on track from a local point of view he says of that meeting with Holder and Lindsay At the heart of the event is the opportunity for some family fun and to maintain traditions in the spirit of Canada s 150th anniversary As momentum developed the local organization known as Muskoka Seaflea got the support it needed to hold the event at Rockhaven Rob Abbott a key member of the Kahshe Lake Ratepayers Association reached out to Dennis Ring owner of the resort to see about using Rockhaven as our location Chris explains Rob was also brought on board because of his association with the Antique Outboard Motor Club and his knowledge of old motors Once things started rolling more people began to jump on board The core organizational team of Muskoka Seaflea supporters and other Above The kit models of sea flea were designed to be capable of being constructed in a weekend from less than two sheets of plywood Left and below Screaming along in a humble sea flea brings a smile to boaters of any age community members is nearly 20 strong with responsibilities ranging from publicity to website updates to preparing specific flea pit stops around the lake One thing that stands out for the Taylors is how the participation is becoming more diversified It isn t just crazy teenagers anymore There s a full range of ages and backgrounds taking part It is difficult to say how many sea fleas will come out for the day but the Taylor clan has at least 20 of their own Many are coming from afar Chris hopes that a family from Minnesota with their home built boat will make the trek Others from as far away as Manitoba Ottawa and New York are also expected to attend Chris notes that there is some overlap with the interests of the Toronto Outboard Racing Club and the Outboard Motor Club as well as the Antique Classic Boat Society so the event is likely to draw from a large base of interested folks July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 65

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TORQUED UP TOUGHNESS STOP IN FOR THE MICHELIN DEFENDER LTX M S ITS STRONGER ADVANCED TREAD COMPOUNDS HOLD UP TO TOUGHER CONDITIONS LONGER MICHELIN TM TM TM DEFENDER LTX M S TM TM TM Based on third party Treadwear tests using the MICHELIN Defender LTX M S tire versus MICHELIN LTX M S 2 tire using size LT265 70R17 121 118R tires Actual on road results may vary 2016 Michelin North America Canada Inc All rights reserved TM TM TM TM TM 1029 Taylor Ct Bracebridge ON P1L 0A1 705 645 8000 www rockyislandtire com COME VISIT OUR FRIENDLY KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF ABOUT KUBOTA EQUIPMENT 66 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 The social aspect is as significant as tearing around the lake in a sea flea The Taylors have been so involved in the events of past years that Chris is looking forward to getting out and having some fun with his boats and meeting other sea flea enthusiasts We ve always wanted to pay homage to our roots says Chris Kahshe Lake has a long history of sea fleas and boat racing For the Taylors Fleafest 2017 has been 25 years in the making It was back in 1992 that Chris and Andrew succumbed to the sea flea bug that bit them as kids As a kid Chris remembers his first experiences with the sea flea It began with all of 5 5 hp and the insatiable taste of speed that a few pulls of the motor provided Then came an unforgettable experience when he borrowed a 9 9 hp motor and was suddenly smashing over the waves at what seemed faster than light speed More power was awesome I begged my father for a bigger motor The following

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summer a 10 hp 1963 Merc 100 soon arrived says Chris Now I was finally in the same league as those dangerous sea flea owners and I loved it My cousin jumped on board and soon a bright orange eight foot Tiny Titan cemented the beginning of the Taylor Renton sea flea legacy Andrew Rob and I tore around the lake for many summers crazy kids having the time of our lives The passion the Taylor clan has for the sea flea comes across loud and clear The infectious nature of the flea is a legacy spanning generations and one the group hopes will continue Call it Kahshe Lake Crazy but as long as our kids are around there will always be sea fleas around says Chris Below The annual sea flea festival in Muskoka attracts passionate sea flea owners from south of the border and other provinces The fest draws all different styles sizes and power of sea fleas 21 Robert Dollar Dr Bracebridge ON P1L 1P9 705 645 6575 Call Mike Morrow 705 765 3195 www morrow electric com Serving Muskoka Lakes since 1952 rewiring alterations heating NEVER be left in the DARK or COLD get a quality home standby generator by GENERAC July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 67

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For 85 years local gardeners have been sharing tips and tricks for planting and tending beautiful gardens in Muskoka and they plan to keep doing it for many more The Bracebridge Horticultural Society meets monthly for nine months of the year December is holiday season and members are too busy gardening to meet in July and August Sometimes there are speakers and there is always camaraderie The society is most proud of its work on flower beds around town They care for seven of them including the one at the library We do it because we love it and we want to help beautify the town says Thelma Marrin They also take bus trips to see what other horticultural societies are doing and several 68 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Photograph Andy Zeltkalns Whats Happened Sharon Slater Piret Hurrell Thelma Marrin and Shara Davis of the Bracebridge Horticultural Society tend to the garden at the Bracebridge Public Library members go to the Ontario Horticultural Association s convention every year and bring back information to share with the rest of the group Some years they do a garden tour to showcase their efforts And they support horticultural efforts

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beyond their group donating money to local schools and providing bursaries for postsecondary students continuing their education in the fields of horticulture agriculture or environmental studies All are welcome and an annual membership is just 20 Celebrated Canadian painter Tom Thomson died 100 years ago in July 1917 In his honour Lake of Bays Mayor Bob Young has proposed renaming the section of Highway 60 from Highway 11 to the east gate of Algonquin Park It would be called Tom Thomson Parkway Thomson and his Group of Seven friends painted many scenes in Algonquin Park and at Oxtongue Lake which is on the western edge of the park Highway 60 travels over a narrow section of Oxtongue Lake Young s suggestion was well received by Lake of Bays Council and has the support of the neighbouring councils in Huntsville and Algonquin Highlands The idea will need to get the green light from Ontario s Ministry of Transportation before it can proceed but Young hopes that they will be on board so that it can be used to promote the area internationally SINCE 1976 Beautiful custom designed planters window boxes hanging baskets Unique Antiques home garden d cor Trees Shrubs Perennials WINDERMERE 1453 Dee Bank Rd 705 769 3238 PORT CARLING 2832 Muskoka Rd 118 W 705 764 1330 www windermeregardencentre com Rotary Centre for Youth 131 Wellington St Bracebridge 705 644 2712 www clubrunner ca bracebridge Safe Quiet Lakes wants your opinion about Muskoka s waterways The local organization was formed in 2011 by representatives of lake associations in Central Ontario It works with lake community stakeholders to promote safer and quieter lakes and help improve the sustainability of Muskoka s waterways Safe Quiet Lakes believes that lakes should be safe for all users swimmers humanpowered watercraft and motorized boats quiet enough to enjoy the sounds of nature as well as sustainable and protected so that they can be enjoyed by future Buying or Selling Muskoka Think Rosskoka For the informed professional real estate service you expect Hallmark Realty Ltd Brokerage In Muskoka Ross McLean Peter Steele Broker Broker Laura Stevens Sales Representative Lucy McLean Sales Representative 7 0 5 7 0 6 117 7 w w w r os s k oka com July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 69

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generations A survey available at safequiet ca aims to understand the positive aspects of lake based activities and what detracts from the enjoyment of Muskoka s lakes and rivers Results from the confidential survey will be available later in the summer on safequiet ca and will be compared to a Safe Quiet Lakes survey completed in 2013 The survey will be available until Monday July 10 One of Bracebridge s oldest houses will be graced with a beautiful garden this summer Perry House at the corner of Quebec and Dominion streets in downtown Bracebridge is home to Muskoka Conservancy and Riverstone Environmental They ve teamed up with Northway Gardeners and Fowler Construction to design build and maintain an award winning calibre interpretive garden says Bev Wicks of Riverstone Environmental The garden is intended to raise awareness about Muskoka s native plants and how to make a nature friendly yard and garden The yard and garden will be a fantastic resource for those who want to learn about solutions says Scott Young executive director of Muskoka Conservancy Invasive species wasteful use of water pesticides and fertilizers are all potential problems when we garden with little or no regard for local climate and environmental conditions These problems can be reduced or eliminated by gardening with species and techniques that are adapted to local conditions Designed to protect water quality and manage storm water runoff the garden includes features like permeable pavers in the parking lot to allow storm water and snowmelt to be absorbed into the ground rather than run off hard surfaces into the Muskoka River The project received grant support from It s Carnival Season the Evergreen Foundation Canada 150 and the Muskoka Community Foundation A landmark will be noticeably absent from the Bala Cranberry Festival this year Iroquois Cranberry Growers which is owned and operated by Wahta Mohawks First Nation announced in April that it will cease operations due to a decades long worldwide surplus of cranberries and the resulting collapse in cranberry prices The 68 acre cranberry farm started in 1969 and became one of the most successful Aboriginal community owned businesses in Canada The Bala Cranberry Festival a highlight of Ontario s fall festival circuit will continue to include tours of Johnston s Cranberry Marsh The marsh is also the home of Muskoka Lakes Winery which has been in business since 1950 Andy Potts Memorial Golf Tournament Wed Sept 21 2017 11am Shotgun Start Muskoka Lakes Golf Country Club for Hospice Muskoka and Andy s House Andy s Ride Sun July 16 2017 Port Carling Community Centre 8 30am 97km 10 30am 30km Music Mingle Cruise 4pm Fri Sept 8 2017 Port Carling Aboard the Peerless II 2hr cruise Live Entertainment Refreshments Butterfly Release Sun July 9th 2017 Bracebridge Memorial Park 12 30pm A magical experience for the whole family Help Hospice Muskoka to build on 22 years of serving South West Muskoka For more information on upcoming events call Hospice Muskoka at 705 646 1697 Visit our website www hospicemuskoka com or andypottsmemorialfoundation com 70 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017

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Cottage Country Cuisine The Beauty of Dining on the Water Article by Karen Wehrstein Photography by Andy Zeltkalns It s summer in Muskoka and everyone s out enjoying the district s lakes and rivers We re swimming boating and altogether using it as a wellspring so to speak of joy and rejuvenation Naturally we want to be close to the water when we eat and chefs from some of Muskoka s greatest waterside eateries have some delicious offerings We ll start at the Marine Dining Room on Bigwin Island on Lake of Bays home of the Bigwin Island Golf Club Set in the restored original round building that was part of the classic Bigwin Inn and built partly over the lake it offers several dining areas Guests can enjoy a fully enclosed section screened in seating or fully open outdoors dining spaces all with an understated nautical theme and atmosphere It also offers the services of executive chef Matt MacGean a precociously successful Executive chef Matt MacGean of the Marine Dining Room at Bigwin Island Golf Club says the simple touches make the cook who started difference when creating a new recipe working at the club at For the featured special Skillet Fried it on a plate and realize it s not what you age 19 as a co op student then flew up the Muskokan Trout with Lemon Zest ranks to land the top kitchen job this year at really want and try again MacGean says Cornbread Madeleines and Vegetable Tian It s a team thing you go to other people in the tender age of 24 in a Tarragon and Tomato Beurre Noisette the kitchen and ask what they think The Recipe creation he says is a lot of trial MacGean s simple touch is the delicate little and error You ll have an idea then you put simple touches make it 72 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017

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Chef Jennifer Balfour likes the connection between her Trading Bay Dining Company in Dorset and the water She says it has influenced their menu that includes a signature jerk sauce cornbread morsels moulded in the shape of shellfish The secret of this dish which uses locally sourced fish from the Milford Bay Trout Farm is arguably the beurre noisette which requires the chef s full attention to prepare When you heat up butter and it starts to brown it gets a nutty flavour MacGean explains Once it starts bubbling you ll see a brown film on the bubbles that s when it has the flavour Any longer however and it ll burn If you want to try his culinary creations note that the Marine Dining Room is open to the public only during spring ending this year on June 28 It reopens to the public in the fall running from Sept 5 to Oct 15 However dining memberships are available The Water s Edge Wine Bar and Grill at the Lake Joseph Club near Port Carling is also a shore built round building The atmosphere is very nice enthuses executive chef Brian Erridge There are lights on the dock boats passing by Especially if the moon is full it reflects off the water If you re coming in by boat the restaurant is lit up and it s a very elegant atmosphere Sitting right next to Lake Joe you can t ask for a better spot One of his favourite dishes Halibut with Cherry Tomato Bruschetta Wilted Garlic Kale and Basil infused Rice he originally created last year in a simpler form for his girlfriend I was at the grocery story and fish was on sale he recalls It was a hot summer day and I thought tomatoes would be light and fresh on it She really loved it kept asking me to make it For the restaurant I made it more fine dining Halibut is a fish that s not too fishy or fatty Erridge notes which is why it s a popular choice Dinner fare at the Water s July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 73

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Pear Stuffed Pork Tenderloins with a Spiced Pear Cider Reduction over Lightly Seasoned Root Mashed and Cider Seared Seasonal Vegetables Courtesy of Patrick Tremblay Paterson Kaye Resort internal temperature reaches 160 F This can also be done on the grill but needs to be watched Let rest 3 4 minutes Spiced Pear Cider Reduction Executive chef Patrick Tremblay Pear stuffed tenderloins Preparation Double butterfly one fair sized pork tenderloin approx 1 lb bisect lengthwise leaving a connection about inch thick then angle the knife sideways to bisect each side and open The result is one piece of meat a quarterthickness of the original Peel and blanch two pears or used canned slice them thick Evenly place them over the meat leaving about an inch of meat uncovered on one edge Sprinkle with salt black pepper and chili flakes to taste optional Carefully roll towards the uncovered edge Heat olive oil in a pan almost enough to burn then place the roll seam down to sear it closed Place in a pan with cup Grow a Pear cider Braise for 20 minutes or until 74 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Ingredients 2 pears pureed cup brown sugar 1 tsp chili flakes 2 tsp salt can Grow a Pear cider Preparation Mix together all ingredients and reduce until thick usually about 10 minutes Start at high heat drop to medium Mashed Potatoes Preparation Make mashed potatoes the way you like add parsnip if you like a little bit of carrot a little bit of shallot Tremblay s own preferred proportions are three potatoes to one carrot parsnipshallot mix those ingredients being in equal portions After mashing roll tight like a patty and crisp the outside in a frying pan with olive oil Add salt and pepper to taste Recipes Cider Seared Seasonal Vegetables Preparation Braise asparagus and carrots in the remainder of the can of Grow a Pear that you re not drinking When the asparagus becomes bright green remove Remove carrots when they are beginning to get lightly soft Heat a pan with olive oil plus salt and pepper hot enough that the vegetables will flame a little when you toss them in Remove quickly and serve Jerk Sauce Courtesy of Jennifer Balfour Trading Bay Dining Company Ingredients 20 green onions 20 sprigs fresh thyme cup salt cup brown sugar 3 tbsp allspice 4 tsp nutmeg 4 tsp cinnamon 8 scotch bonnet peppers cups soy sauce cup canola oil 1 cup white vinegar 2 large white onions 1 3 cup minced garlic 1 tbsp fresh ginger cup lime juice Preparation Remove stems and seeds from scotch bonnet peppers use caution when handling Coarsely chop green and white onions and place in food processor with scotch bonnet peppers Puree Add remaining ingredients and puree Transfer into storage containers Makes about 1 5 litres of sauce It will last 3 5 days refrigerated but freezes well Suggestion divide into one meal portions

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2 0 17 AT A G L A N C E The Songs Stories of Stompin Tom July 2 2 00PM 33 30 20 Is there a more Canadian way to celebrate Canada s 150th Birthday than with the music of Stompin Tom Music At Noon July 3 21 12 15PM Trinity United Church FREE Refresh your body and spirit with this mid day musical offering The Canadian Brass July 5 8 00PM 42 39 30 Combining imagination and consumate musicianship the Canadian Brass has developed an engaging stage presence around the globe Jesse Cook July 6 8 00PM 48 45 30 Lightning fast guitar playing and driving percussive beats combining jazz rumba salsa and pop Black Umfolosi July 12 8 00PM 33 30 20 One of Zimbabwe s greatest artistic exports combining a cappella harmonies with traditional dance The Piano Men July 14 8 00PM 38 35 20 A time machine through our musical past featuring ageless hits from Billy Joel Elton John Piaf Encore Kerry Stratton July 15 8 00PM 48 45 30 The Huntsville Festival Orchestra returns for this evening s tribute to the music of Edith Piaf The Jerry Cans July 19 8 00PM 33 30 20 Inspired by their hometown of Iqaluit Nunavut these rising starts combine Inuktitut alt country throat singing and reggae Hawksley Workman July 20 8 00PM 42 39 30 Singer songwriter producer poet and playwright our 25th celebrations wouldn t have been complete without Hawksley Kyung A Lee July 22 8 00PM 25 25 20 Acclaimed pianist Kyung A Lee and cellist Amy McClary perform works by Chopin and Gershwin Jazz In The Garden July 23 1 00 3 00PM 20 Doug Banwell and the Muskoka Jazz Guys will make sure smooth jazz fills the air Natalie MacMaster Donnell Leahy July 26 27 8 00PM 52 49 30 Two of Canada s finest fiddlers and musicians return to thrill their Huntsville audiences Nuit Blanche North July 29 8 00PM FREE Nuit Blanche North returns to Huntsville s downtown core fun for the whole family A N N UA L J A Z Z F E S T I VA L AU G U S T 3 5 Lighthouse August 3 8 00PM 42 39 30 An evening of Lighthouse one of Canada s premier rock and roll bands Toronto All Star Big Band August 4 8 00PM 35 32 20 An ensemble of young very skilled jazz musicians who revive the big band sound Robi Botos Jackie Richardson August 5 8 00PM 35 32 20 Innovative jazz pianist is joined by legendary Jackie Richardson Corb Lund August 9 8 00PM 38 35 20 Corb and the Hurtin Albertans have made a living straddling the link between folk country and rockabilly Tales From Muskoka August 10 12 7 00PM Muskoka Heritage Place Adults Seniors 20 Youth 20 Two plays that tell the story of Muskoka life in the early 1800 s Esmerelda Enrique Spanish Dance Co August 11 8 00PM 42 39 30 Flamenco an art form like no other speaks to the heart and touches the soul The Last Waltz August 17 8 00PM 42 39 30 Some of the country s finest musicians come together to offer a musical celebration of The Bands s seminal work DID YOU KNOW WHEN YOU BUY TICKETS TO 3 SHOWS YOU GET 10 OFF AND TO 4 SHOWS 15 OFF huntsvillefestival on ca Box Office 705 789 4975 Steve Patterson August 18 8 00PM 33 30 20 With numerous Best Stand Up Comedian awards to his credit The Debaters Steve Patterson does funny as well as anyone Colin James August 21 8 00PM 58 55 30 A musician s musician James has worked with the Who s Who in the music scene Last Night at the Proms August 26 8 00PM 55 52 30 Maestro Stratton closes out the 25th Season with the penultimate celebration

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Skillet Fried Muskokan Trout Courtesy of Matt MacGean Bigwin Island Golf Club Trout Preparation Score trout fillet by making incisions on the skin side crosswise about every centimetre to prevent it from curling up while cooking Bruschetta Ingredients pint of cherry tomatoes sliced in half red onion finely diced 3 basil leaves chopped 1 clove garlic chopped 100 ml olive oil 50 ml balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste Portion into 3 4 pieces depending on size of fillet Heat pan to medium heat add olive oil and place trout skin side down Leave in pan until edges are golden brown or until it releases easily Add 1 tbsp of finely cubed Roma tomato and a pinch of fresh chopped tarragon Make beurre noisette by gently heating 2 tbsp butter until bubbly and brown Preparation Mix all ingredients together and set aside Basil infused rice Ingredients 150 ml basmati rice 3 basil leaves finely chopped 200 ml water Salt Preparation Put rice in a pot with chopped Madeleines Ingredients cup cornmeal 1 cups milk cup all purpose flour tbsp baking powder tsp salt lemon finely zested 1 tbsp chives chopped cup white sugar 1 egg beaten cup vegetable oil Preparation 1 Preheat oven to 400 F In a small bowl combine cornmeal and milk let stand for 5 minutes Grease a 9 x13 inch baking pan or 20 small 1 tbsp molds 2 In a large bowl whisk together flour baking powder salt and sugar Mix in the cornmeal mixture eggs lemon zest chives and oil until smooth Pour batter into prepared pan or molds 3 Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean if using pan If using molds check after 10 minutes basil and salt mix in water and bring to a boil Once boiling cover and reduce heat to simmer and cook for 15 minutes Turn off heat and let stand for 5 minutes Garlic kale Executive chef Brian Erridge Ingredients 5 leaves of kale washed and trimmed 1 clove garlic sliced Salt and pepper to taste Preparation Heat pan on medium drop in garlic till fragrant then add kale Toss for 30 seconds and remove from heat Halibut Ingredients 1 7 oz piece of halibut seasoned to taste with salt and pepper and patted dry 76 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Preparation Heat pan with olive oil on medium high heat Drop in halibut and cook for about six minutes or until browning starts to appear Flip fish and cook for another four minutes on medium heat Finish in a 400 F oven for five minutes and remove This cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the piece of fish for thinner pieces the oven finishing is not necessary Assemble the entire dish with rice kale and fish and top with bruschetta

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T H E M US K O KE RY GIFTWARE HOUSEWARES CONFECTIONS GAMES CLOTHING COTTAGE GOODS Located At The Muskoka Emporium Building 99 Maple St Port Carling 705 765 7731 THEMUSKOKERY COM BRACEBRIDGE GENERATION LTD Water Power Generating a Cleaner Environment Interested in more information or a free tour www bracebridgegeneration com 78 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017 Edge also includes choices like lamb tenderloin duck trout and tuna Lunch he says is more classic upscale pub kind of food such as burgers made fresh in house a variety of different types of fish tacos homemade falafels and upscale pizza And the atmosphere is more casual he says But people particularly love the halibut which is why it stays on the menu The professional version also includes soubise an onion b chamel sauce and might be something to try at the same time you re taking in an oyster shucking presentation by Erridge or one of his sous chefs accompanied by live guitar and the sound of the waves At Patterson Kaye Resort near Bracebridge Seasons Restaurant overlooks the mouth of Lake Muskoka Executive chef Patrick Tremblay came on board in late May and has updated the menu to a steak andseafood concept I brand it more as cottage contemporary says Tremblay who fell in love with Muskoka after working several months at Patterson Kaye last year We re right on the water and we re absolutely in cottage country That means cuisine like the Arctic Char Tower a tall standing dish involving two char filets pancetta herb and honey oatmeal leek and shallot polenta and a certain alcoholic ingredient he s keeping secret The one he is sharing has not only been restaurant tested but TV tested In addition to preparing meals for happy diners Tremblay also cooks for the camera having shared recipes on CTV News Ottawa in a cooking with beer segment He also has a contract with the craft brewery Double Trouble Brewing Company There s booze in everything I cook he confides More recently he appeared on the WS Daily Show with Bill Welychka on CKWS TV in Kingston to prepare Pear Stuffed Pork Tenderloins with a Spiced Pear Cider Reduction Over Lightly Seasoned Root Mashed and Cider Seared Seasonal Vegetables I double butterfly the pork tenderloin then layer everything in it for a pinwheel effect he explains It s really attractive and it tastes even better than it looks And it looks phenomenal

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The not so secret ingredient is Grow a Pear cider by Double Trouble Bring two cans to the kitchen Tremblay recommends One for the dish one for the chef In Dorset the Trading Bay Dining Company sits right next to the lake with only a dock between the patio and the water Chef Jennifer Balfour who grew up cottaging on Lake Kawagama co owns it with her husband Paul who grew up cottaging on Lake of Bays They met in the middle in Dorset so it only made sense to open a restaurant there Being on the water connects us especially to the fish explains Balfour who enjoys fishing and other outdoor pursuits with Paul Not only do we try to make the connection but our customers do Fish and chips is the most popular seller I also do Ontario trout and pickerel From the start she wanted to offer fish and other dishes featuring jerk sauce inspired by visits to Jamaica We had a store bought jerk sauce but it didn t taste that good she says So we decided to start making our own It was a collaboration between me and a chef who worked with me We looked at a bunch of recipes and did a lot of taste testing Like any good jerk sauce Balfour s is somewhat thermonuclear because it s injected with a fair amount of food processed scotch bonnet peppers You have to use caution with scotch bonnets she warns Wear rubber gloves and don t touch your face or any other sensitive parts Balfour recalls a couple of male employees who ate a whole pepper each presumably on a dare She notes without further elaboration They regretted it But the explosion of taste in your mouth as Balfour puts it is not sheer brutality The sauce has a freshness from the other ingredients that the store bought stuff just didn t It works well with chicken pork or fish saut ed or baked in foil or brushed on the grill Jamaica style She even makes jerk mayonnaise which her guests love to use for dipping fries People love it she says The possibilities really are endless And if you need to put out the fire you can always jump in the lake SEE STORE FOR DETAILS We now offer AIR MILES Reward Miles Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B V Used under license by LoyaltyOne Co Modern Home Carpet One Floor Home and Taylor 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 Downtown Bracebridge taylorcarpetonehuntsville com Momma Bear s Across from the post office Ice Cream Sweets John W Hiley B Sc O L S Douglas W Jemmett O L S Limited ONTARIO LAND SURVEYORS Phone 705 645 4611 800 494 1443 705 645 1845 Fax 127 Keith Road Bracebridge Ontario P1L 0A1 Est 1885 by William Galbraith O L S D L S P ENG Email surveys muskokasurveyors com Website www muskokasurveyors com Latitude 45 00 58 467 N Longitude 79 18 33 152 W Association of Ontario Land Surveyors LSR www landsurveyrecords com MUSKOKA BUILDERS A S S O C I AT I O N July 2017 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 79

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Muskoka Moments Spellbound by Muskoka By Ted McMeekin MPP Photograph Larry Carroll occasional special treat from Some five years ago wishing the Bakery to escape the hustle and bustle Whenever possible we also of our busy city lives Barb and try to purchase our food locally I ventured up to Gravenhurst The in season weekly farmers Like many weekend warriors markets and Northern Produce we were simply looking for a store in Bracebridge are fun few days of peace and experiences While we enjoy tranquility with a sidebar of great backyard barbecues and excitement Then something entertaining visitors we have wonderful happened we fell also discovered several wonderful in love with Muskoka local eateries Our favourites It all happened so quickly include the Dock of the Bay and The sign coming into the the Oar Paddle in Gravenhurst Town of Gravenhurst should as well as the Riverwalk have been our first clue Restaurant in Bracebridge Muskoka once discovered where the silver bridge never forgotten crosses the Muskoka River We were amazed by the So here we are enjoying our landscape and the lakes and special slice of Muskoka Our waterways As we explored hope is to one day retire to local art galleries in and Taboo In the meantime we around Bracebridge remain eager weekend warriors Gravenhurst and beyond we for the moment at least We began to appreciate the magic discover with each sojourn of Muskoka s healing north more of the beauty and landscapes It was easy to see wonder of Muskoka and its how a whole new generation people As we celebrate Canada s of naturalists and artisans Ted McMeekin enjoys a sample offered by Lynn Murden of Yummies in a Jar 150th birthday this year we ll would be drawn to trying to during a walk about at the Bracebridge Farmers Market celebrate our blessings and capture the essence of continue to discover more of the wonders of the nearby trails and beach as well as Muskoka s stunning outdoors We did what boating biking hiking snowshoeing and all our unique Muskoka all good tourists do we admired and the other program options at Taboo purchased several wonderful pieces of art Ted and Barb McMeekin live in An added blessing for us has been our from local galleries and some of the artisans Waterdown Ontario Barb is a family location between Gravenhurst and we met physician at the Carlisle Medical Centre Ted Bracebridge Each wonderful town has so After three days of touring the area we has served as MPP for Ancaster Dundasmuch to offer We have many favourite decided to buy a three bedroom cottage Flamborough Westdale for the last 17 years As stops including the wharf in Gravenhurst condo at Taboo on Lake Muskoka It made a former Minister of Community and Social and the Muskoka Discovery Centre as well sense to us The resort venue and the views Services and Minister of Municipal Affairs and as downtown shops especially those were gorgeous and the lodge ownership Housing he has toured the Muskoka region featuring local art and artisans We also came self contained As an avid golfer I enjoy the Dockside Festival of the Arts Arts meeting with local mayors councillors and appreciated that the Taboo and Muskoka local service providers Now Ted and Barb are at the Albion theatrical and musical Bay golf courses were just moments from delighted to call Muskoka their second home the lodge Barb an active exercise buff liked performances at the Opera House and the 80 UNIQUE MUSKOKA July 2017