September Issue 2018
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SEPTEMBER 2018 SCULPTURES INSPIRED BY NATURE Creations with permanence Protecting Lake of Bays Heritage Tamarack Legends and Facts The intriguing saga of rail service and prosperity
Selling in Muskoka for 40 years Richard Wallace grabs the brass ring Page 10 Wallace Real Estate Professionals Recognized across Canada for our 40 years in service by the premier real estate newspaper REM For the full story go to www remonline com w e esta Mu k k c 705 765 6176 Richard Wallace Real Estate Limited Brokerage
telling the Muskoka story Features 34 18 26 Muskoka Rail Service A Time trapped Saga Article by J Patrick Boyer The saga of railways in our district is a tale of beginnings and endings that starts in 1875 when the first train service to Muskoka crossed into Morrison Township at Severn Bridge A new era of prosperity resulted when Muskoka was linked directly by rail to the world beyond Small Community Raises Big Funds Article by Meghan Smith The small largely seasonal resident community of Windermere plays host to an incredibly successful Terry Fox Run each year Since it started in 2000 it has contributed 351 903 to cancer research 34 Nature Inspires Sculptures Created with Permanence Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Scott Turnbull Hilary Clark Cole creates one of a kind steel and cast bronze sculptures inspired by the animals plants and surroundings of her Muskoka home The ability to create such variety in her artwork speaks to the affinity Clark Cole has for her material and painstaking attention to detail 40 20 Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour Turns Forty Article by Dawn Huddlestone It was an inspired idea visitors could learn about Muskoka artisans while enjoying Muskoka s renowned colours Forty years since 10 artists first threw their doors open the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour remains an astounding success and forms a template for similar events across the country 26 Preserving the Rich Heritage of Lake of Bays Article by Judy Vanclieaf Photography by Kelly Holinshead Together the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation and its sister organization the Lake of Bays Heritage Advisory Committee are a preservation powerhouse that focuses on the natural the built and the cultural heritage of the area They work alongside each other doing what is best for the Lake of Bays area 46 Tipi Adventures Connecting Family Friends and the Environment Article by Matt Driscoll Photography by Tomasz Szumski Tipi Adventures offers an outdoor experience that is unlike most others It not only provides the opportunity to explore five kilometres of maintained trails a small pond and surrounding forest it has programming that connects participants with the environment
You plan for uninterrupted Muskoka sunsets here What about uninterrupted healthcare here In Muskoka there are some things you can simply count on Fresh air pristine nature the gentle sway of a dock But when the unexpected happens you can also count on exceptional hospital care from Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare To ensure it stays that way there is a growing need for state of the art equipment updated information technology and better infrastructure that provincial healthcare taxes don t cover With your generous support today those needs can be met and you can plan on the best possible care to be provided for you your family and every patient who needs it often when it s least expected Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is here for you with caring and compassionate healthcare professionals standing by at two sites Give to the foundation of your choice to support hospital care in Muskoka and everyone benefits today and for years to come healthmuskoka ca 705 645 4404 ext 3246 huntsvillehospitalfoundation ca 705 789 2311 ext 2492
Features 11 52 Distinctive Tamaracks Legend and Facts Article by Doug Smith Photography by Eleanor Kee Wellman Part of the last hurrah of autumn tamaracks are a unique deciduousconiferous tree While not as popular as many trees with the pioneer logging industry tamaracks were used for medicinal purposes and making snowshoes SEPTEMBER 2018 Departments 11 Muskoka Calendar SCULPTURES INSPIRED BY NATURE Creations with permanence Protecting Lake of Bays Heritage Our Cover Tamarack Legends and Facts The intriguing saga of rail service and prosperity Photograph By Scott Turnbull The heart of Hilary Clark Cole s body of work is her thoughtfulness in researching the figures she s choosing to depict The natural environment inspires her creations Opinion When the calendar flips to September there s a rush to enjoy outdoor events that require warm weather Water ski championships and rowing competitions continue the summer activities while fall fairs and a macaroni festival celebrate unique aspects of Muskoka s heritage 56 What s Happened A recommendation to keep two acutecare hospital sites has received the support of the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare board of directors paving the way for future planning The opening of a new visitor centre Muskoka s first Pride parade and an update on the health of Muskoka s watershed are all highlights of the past month 58 58 Cottage Country Cuisine September brings fall colours and the perfect opportunity to explore Muskoka s many trails If you re making it a substantial walk you re going to want to nibble along the way enjoy a picnic lunch in some idyllic spot and then recharge with a hearty dinner This month s food suggestions cover all of these bases 11 9 Muskoka Insights By Don Smith 64 Muskoka Moments By Scott Young September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5
THE ALL NEW 2018 C O A RT H AMERIC A N N E X P E R I E N C E R OF THE YE A R P E R F E C T B A L A N C E 2018 NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEAR TM FINALIST telling the Muskoka story Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc Donald Smith Publisher and Editor Donna Ansley Sales Stinger GT Limited shown Lisa Brazier Design STANDARD FEATURES Susan Smith Administration All Wheel Drive system 3 3 litre twin turbocharged V6 365 horsepower engine Apple CarPlay Android AutoTM Remote Start Stop Find my car and more 21 Robert Dollar Dr Bracebridge ON P1L 1P9 705 645 6575 stoneway marble granite inc J Patrick Boyer Matt Driscoll Kelly Holinshead Dawn Huddlestone Eleanor Kee Wellman Doug Smith Meghan Smith Tomasz Szumski Scott Turnbull Judy Vanclieaf Karen Wehrstein Contributors Annual Subscription Rates including HST where applicable In Ontario 30 00 All Other Provinces 36 00 U S 60 00 All Other Countries 72 00 HST 773172721 Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number 43268016 Copyright 2018 Unique Publishing Inc No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher Mailing Address Box 616 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9 Street Address 28 Manitoba St Bracebridge ON P1L 1S1 Les and Renata Partyka 1295 Muskoka Rd 118 West Bracebridge 705 645 3380 stoneway inc gmail com 6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 www uniquemuskoka com info uniquemuskoka com 705 637 0204
Intelligent individualized comfort Serta has redesigned the iComfort Sleep System from the inside out to intelligently respond to your body s individual Bracebridge Huntsville 6 Robert Dollar Drive Bracebridge ON P1L 1P9 Telephone 705 645 2279 67 Silverwood Drive Huntsville ON P1H 2K2 Telephone 705 789 5589 Regular Hours Mon Thu Friday Saturday Sunday 9 30 AM 6 00PM 9 30 AM 8 00PM 9 30 AM 5 30PM 10 00 AM 4 00PM
D E SI G N CO NS TR UCT ION R ESTOR ATI ON Restoring Muskoka s heritage and building new traditions for over 40 years Quality workmanship and customer satisfaction far beyond any written warranty Wayne Judges 705 645 0480 Jack Judges 705 646 7424 email judges muskoka com mba
Muskoka Insights Literally tens of thousands have shared this educational experience Over a couple of weekends the public can be a part of an artisan s life I enable the conversation which gives them a better appreciation for what I do says Jon Partridge one of the founding members of the tour and the only one who has taken part in all 40 years For more on the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour look inside this issue of Unique Muskoka for the feature written by regular contributor Dawn Huddlestone Also featured in this issue is respected sculptor Hilary Clark Cole An original member of the tour Clark Cole has pushed the boundaries of creativity since her days as a student at the Ontario College of Art Producing one of akind pieces in both welded metals and cast bronze Clark Cole s work truly embodies the creativity that comes from embracing the natural environment Featured in many public installations and held by private collectors Clark Cole s significant body of work marries the strength of steel with detailed research to produce works that are both powerful and beautiful As with every issue of Unique Muskoka we aim to celebrate a number of subjects At a time when passenger rail service is receiving increased attention historian and regular contributor Patrick Boyer explores the impact the development of rail service had on Muskoka The intriguing tamarack tree the devotion of Lake of Bays volunteers to local heritage adventures in tipis and the immense difference a small community can make in raising funds for cancer research are all interesting features for your perusal Photograph Susan Smith Here in Muskoka we are surrounded by natural beauty Bubbling streams flowing rivers vast lakes powerful waterfalls rugged rocks monumental cliffs magnificent trees swaying grasses inquisitive wildlife these and more provide a backdrop that is uniquely Muskokan Even our urban areas brim with these features It is what attracts so many regular visitors who return year after year With all of this inspiration it should come as little surprise Muskoka is home to a thriving community of artisans Quite simply there is inspiration everywhere for those who allow themselves to be embraced by Muskoka s natural attributes Not only is there much to stimulate the creative process nature is very valuable as a calming influence that allows the mind to refocus so it can better express its thoughts in art forms While early records refer to artists creating their works in Muskoka it was midway through the last century that the growth of the creative community resulted in the formation of Muskoka Arts Crafts in 1963 Among the endeavours that have set Muskoka and our artisans apart was the launch of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour which this year is celebrating its 40th anniversary It began with a group of artisans who thought combining the annual trek to view the autumn colours would be an excellent opportunity to provide visitors with another experience and they were right Welcoming visitors into their studios and homes Muskoka artisans provided the community with an inside look at their lifestyle how they create the effort that is devoted to creating the uniqueness of each piece The connections the tour has produced have resulted in the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour not only thriving for over 40 years but also becoming the template used by many other artistic communities Happy reading Our local team is here to provide you with personalized insurance solutions working closely with you to ensure we cover all your insurance needs For the coverage your family deserves call us today 46 Ann Street Bracebridge 705 646 9995 877 877 3929 www LesBell ca TRUST INTEGRITY SERVICE Your Home and Cottage Mattress Centre THE LARGEST SELECTION OF IN STOCK MATTRESSES IN MUSKOKA Premier Supreme by Marshall Mattress 6 MonicaMARSHALL Lane MATTRESS CO Bracebridge M 1 800 682 6861 705 646 2557 Or i gi na l P ock et S pr i ng TO LEARN MORE www mattressesofmuskoka com September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9
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Muskoka Calendar World Water ski Team Championships make history at Deerhurst The Bracebridge Fall Fair runs September 14 to 16 While the midway is always a big hit there s a wide variety of events in the tradition of fall fairs worldwaterskishowtournament com Ontario rowers compete on Gull Lake The Severn River Rowing Club will once again host the Muskoka Fall Classic Regatta with spectators invited to view the race from Rotary Gull Lake Park in Gravenhurst Competitors representing rowing clubs from Ontario and further afield will row along a three kilometre course extending the length of the beautiful lake passing under the Highway 11 bridge as they vie for the coveted Gold Honey Jar award which includes genuine golden honey from Lavender Hills Farms The event runs all day with the first race starting at 9 15 a m and the last at 3 15 p m Rules maps registration and more information are on the website srrc2016 wixsite com Off Broadway hit musical pokes fun at small town life Greater Tuna is coming to Gravenhurst Opera House This fabulous musical show stars accomplished local actors Allie Dunbar Photograph Bracebridge Agricultural Society The 2018 World Water ski Show Team Championship has never been held outside the USA until this year when it will happen at Deerhurst Resort September 7 to 9 This competition will host more than 250 top show skiers from Australia Belgium China Germany the USA and the home team of course from Canada More than 175 000 webcast viewers are expected to watch this spectacular tourney Opening ceremonies happen on September 7 at 6 30 p m and the public is invited Tickets are available for the two days of competition and closing ceremonies and Robin Clipsham playing the entire population of the perfectly normal little town of Tuna Texas population 20 at breakneck speed and with lightning costume changes It s written by Jaston Williams Joe Sears and Ed Howard and is directed by Maja Ardal former artistic director of YPT in Toronto Greater Tuna runs September 11to 28 with matinees Tuesday Thursday and evening performances WednesdayFriday For fast paced side splitting small town fun get tickets online or at the box office gravenhurst ca en opera shows asp 151st annual Bracebridge Fall Fair is packed with events Yes it s that time of year the leaves are turning the farmers are hauling in their harvests and everyone is celebrating it all at the local fall fairs The Bracebridge fair runs September 14 to 16 and features more activities events contests and fun than we can possibly list but here are some highlights midway rides antique tractor pull petting zoo super dogs mini chuckwagons horse competitions the Fire Guy weaving and spinning demos hay wagon rides pony rides parade weigh in for giant pumpkins and other giant vegetables draft horse pull dog powered sports livestock shows live music and beer garden bracebridgefair com Muskoka River X is world s longest single day race The Muskoka River X is back for its fifth gruelling year September 15 to 16 as competitors in the classic race paddle and portage 130 kilometres in less than 24 hours with no support teams and no re supplies taking on the toughest single day canoe race in the world Traversing two river systems three lakes and 20 portages the course takes them via the North Muskoka River from Huntsville to Port Sydney to Bracebridge where they ll portage through the centre of town then back to Huntsville via the South Muskoka River and Lake of Bays Beginners might try a mere 80 kilometres in the Muskoka River X Sprint travelling from Huntsville to Bracebridge Come out and cheer them on muskokariverx com September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11
Before the Huntsville Town Hall was built the Strano Pasta Factory sat on the same plot of land To celebrate this history as well as pasta in all its glory downtown Huntsville presents the inaugural Macaroni Festival happening on Sept 15 This newly rolled out event will feature a mac n cheese contest macaroni art community bake sales the selection of a macaroni king and queen umpteen opportunities to smell taste and gorge on freshly made pasta and more downtownhuntsvilleadventures ca calendar 2017 9 16 harvest festival ycz94 Enough spookiness to wake the dead happens at Spirits Come Alive Muskoka Heritage Place s pioneer village in Huntsville is reputed to be one of Muskoka s most spirit populated places 12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 Photograph Gail Lawrence Downtown Huntsville hosts first ever Macaroni Festival The Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary Autumn House Tour will give you an opportunity to have a peek inside some of the area s homes and raise money for much needed hospital equipment at the same time Thus it s the perfect venue for Spirits Come Alive an evening exploration of the haunted history of the recreated buildings and all their spooky tales with writers Maria Da Silva and Andrew Hind authors of Cottage Country Ghosts and Haunted Ontario Lakes It happens on the evening of Sept 15 as it s getting dark As the organizers say If you don t feel chills during this event check your pulse you may already be dead Call the Heritage Place directly to book muskokaheritageplace org Huntsville Fall Fair features Western horse competitions On the weekend of September 21 to 23 it s Huntsville s turn to have its fall fair Look for midway rides live music and competitions in every imaginable category for adults and kids including heaviest giant pumpkin tallest sunflower photography artwork fibre arts poultry rabbits and much more Skilled riders will challenge
www huntsvillefallfair com located on water or on a farm and with varying styles of renovation and d cor that will uplift and inspire you Get tickets online at Castle Antiques Trophies and Engraving or at the hospital gift shop tickets algonquintheatre ca TheatreManager 1tmEvent tmEvent1312 html 40th annual studio tour is a must see event Beautiful houses are opened to benefit Huntsville Hospital You ll get the opportunity to visit six beautiful houses in the Huntsville Port Sydney area as well as enjoy an elegant lunch on September 22 at the Port Sydney Community Hall all to aid the purchase of much needed equipment and services for patients at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital You can visit the houses in the Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary Fundraiser Autumn House Tour in any order and you ll see gorgeous residences both historical and new Forty years ago Muskoka sculptor Richard Green and some of his artistic colleagues decided meeting artists in their natural surroundings while in the act of creation would engender the deepest appreciation for art Thus the studio tour concept was founded It has since spread throughout North America Yes the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour was the very first studio tour and it continues to annually invite thousands to visit Muskoka s finest artists and craftspeople in Muskoka s most beautiful and welcoming studios This year it happens on the weekends of September 22 Photograph Paul Bennett for Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour themselves and each other at horsemanship contests such as barrel racing stake racing an egg and spoon race and Extreme Cowboy You can even try your hand at excavator operating in a tire stacking contest that is always fun to watch See the website for full listings Bonnie Bews will be among artisans who will be welcoming the public to their homes and cottages for the 40th annual Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour the first such tour of its kind in Canada to 23 and 29 to 30 and is not to be missed You can also catch the tail end of a special arts and crafts exhibition celebrating the Tour s 40th anniversary and its storied history at the Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge as it runs till September 7 muskokaautumnstudiotour com 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 Celebrating 25 years in Muskoka parking at rear Painting by Paul Garbett 72 xoil48 n yanaky booth s rock September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 13
Photograph Johnston s Cranberry Marsh Muskoka Lakes Winery September 22 to October 31 is the season for harvesting the deliciously tart red berries at Johnston s Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes Winery near Bala Experience more than the cranberry harvest at Johnston s marsh Muskoka is cranberry country and September 22 to October 31 is the season for harvesting the deliciously tart red berries At Johnston s Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes Winery near Bala it s not just about picking 300 000 to 400 000 pounds of berries but also daily harvest and Bog to Bottle tours wine tasting cranberry goodies sampling wine and cheese trail hikes geocaching kids activities and on the weekends all day wagon tours helicopter rides and the Cranberry Plunge see website for dates and details cranberry ca Marketing genius Terry O Reilly shares his expertise in Huntsville Business owners and budding entrepreneurs take note one of Canada s most successful marketing minds is coming to educate and entertain you September 27 at the Algonquin Theatre during Mixing Business with Pleasure An Evening with Terry O Reilly Combining expertise gained from his 30 year marketing career with passion and humour this author and popular radio show host will talk about the power of big ideas the thinking behind effective campaigns out of the box strategies why branding matters how to create an identity and how to cut through the data smog with concepts that are impossible to ignore tickets algonquintheatre ca TheatreManager 1 tmEvent tmEvent1317 html excelrailings ca 705 646 2508 14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018
Tour iconic institutions at Doors Open Gravenhurst Doors Open Ontario is a province wide educational event in which Gravenhurst has been participating since 2010 On Sept 29 you ll be able to visit and tour 10 important sites old and new when they throw open their doors Albion Hotel Beyond the Painted Door Gravenhurst Ambulance Station Gravenhurst Opera House Gravenhurst Public Library Heritage Boatworks Muskoka Wharf ship and boat building Muskoka Airport Sawdust City Brewery and Southwood Church Come on in find out how these institutions work or build and learn all about their fascinating histories doorsopenontario on ca en gravenhurst Port Carling Museum s Culture Days puts you in the picture September 29 and 30 are 2018 s Culture Days at Muskoka Lakes Museum in Port Carling It s always an interesting event and also part of an Ontario wide celebration While it s always a journey into Muskoka s past at the museum this weekend it ll be more like time travelling Try participating in a Put Yourself in the Picture exercise designed to explore local heritage through old postcards and modern photography More details to follow check the website or call 705 765 5367 mlmuseum com Muskoka weekend is brimming with happenings There are all sorts of cultural happenings planned for September 28 to 30 in Huntsville and elsewhere in Muskoka Here s a sampling take a selfie with Tom Thomson Huntsville Sports Memorabilia Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery Work and Play Tool or Instrument news beats with YourTV and Hunter s Bay Radio Finding Your Family I have had many customers tell me that they would need to shop in 12 stores to find the range of furnishings that I carry at VERANDA Open year round seven days a week we are here for all your d cor needs Our four showrooms are filled with timeless items that you will love for both your home and cottage Let us help you find that classic table that comfy chair or the perfect piece of art Because at VERANDA you live beautifully Visit VERANDA s Other Shops Outlet Outdoors Woodlands Moose Crossing FURNISHINGS ART ACCESSORIES CUSTOM DRAPERIES DECORATING SERVICES RUGS LIGHTING FINE LINENS 24 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE ON 705 645 6451 WWW VERANDACOLLECTION CA September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15
History Cops on the Beat on the Street a colouring contest at West Side Fish and Chips and umpteen art workshops demonstrations and exhibitions Visit the website search by region and select Muskoka for a full listing on culturedays ca The true model train enthusiast doesn t just have a miniature train putt putting around a small loop of track The true model train enthusiast creates a massive diorama with miniature landscapes buildings vegetation and trains so true to life that there s even dirt in the right places and photos of his work look close to the real thing You ll be able to see 20 layouts like this during the 14th Annual Muskoka and Simcoe County Model Railroad Layout Tour The Muskokian It happens on September 30 at 20 locations around Photograph Brian Searles Model train fans will love these realistic layouts The 14th annual Muskoka and Simcoe County Model Railroad Layout Tour The Muskokian will provide enthusiasts the opportunity to view dioramas at 20 locations around Muskoka September 30 Muskoka Visit the website to see pics and videos to whet your appetite then download the guidebook with GPS friendly maps thank you Admission by donation all proceeds to Salvation Army food banks www model railroad infoguy com muskoka tour html South Muskoka Hospital Foundation thanks the following donors who supported the Bed Monitor campaign listed in alphabetical order George and Avis Boddington Mark and Patricia Gidley Brock Napier David Burrows Greystone Project Management P Medley Sons Ltd Call of the Wild Sanitation Paul and Shirley Hammond George and Alana Reid Canadian Tire Store Bracebridge Home Building Centre Gravenhurst Rocky Island Tire Co Casey Contracting Muskoka Ltd Robert and Lynn Jacob Royal Canadian Legion Branch 161 Ungad and Stephanie Rickard John and Thelma Jarvis Chadda Bracebridge Kawartha Credit Union Tom and Barbara J Ryder James and Edna Claydon Pete Laurence Morley and Dawn Stephen Don and Helen Coates Bruce and Keltie Law The Sam Yakubowicz Family Bill and Pat Collie Lions Club of Port Carling Dan Cornacchia Michael and Margaret Michalski True North Log Homes Judith Crockford Gary and Judy Moore R Murray Walker John and Liz Curran William Moore Indianhead Harbour Walkers Point Marina Gary and Susan Elliott Muskoka Chrysler Sales Weismiller Tim Br Mart Estate of Murray and Joan Dauphin Muskoka Mechanical Services Wes Finch Sons Excavating Ltd Fixtures Plumbing Hardware Muskoka Timber Mills Windermere Women s Institute Foundation our community is our foundation Give Today 75 Ann Street Bracebridge ON P1L 2E4 705 645 4404 ext 3193 healthmuskoka ca Follow Us 16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 South Muskoka
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Small Community Raises Big Funds The small largely seasonal resident community of Windermere plays host to an incredibly successful Terry Fox Run each year In 2000 Bev Longhurst an employee at Windermere House learned her daughter had been diagnosed with cancer Longhurst with support from her co workers planned and held the first Terry Fox Run in Windermere with every dollar raised supporting cancer research The event made 2 016 that year The next year and every year since Allen and Linda Edwards have been involved in planning the event Each year the committee of 18 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 eight or nine connects with local businesses for donations and plans a full day of activities including a silent auction games and face painting for kids and a barbecue with live music to engage the entire community in the event The silent auction is set up two weeks before the event at the Port Carling Public Library for anyone to place bids Successful auction bidders are announced at the end of the run The dedication and community spirit of the organizing team as well as the participants and supporters have made the Windermere Terry Fox Run one of the top 10 events for money raised per capita In 2017 the event raised 27 143 25 and to date since 2000 the Windermere Terry Fox Run has contributed 351 903 70 to cancer research This year participants will head to the Windermere Village Hall on Sunday September 16 to walk run or cycle the 18th annual Windermere Terry Fox Run Registration opens at 8 15 a m with the event kicking off at 9 00 a m Participants must register and Photograph Jennifer Jackson Article by Meghan Smith The organizers of the Windermere Terry Fox Run have included events for the entire community It has become one of the largest fundraisers on a per capita basis hand in their pledges and choose their distance Participants can walk run or cycle the five kilometre route to the Windermere Fire Hall and back or the 10 kilometre route to Brackenrig Road and back This year s organizing team includes Bev Longhurst the founding member as well as her daughter and cancer survivor Jennifer Jackson The team also includes Jackson s husband Randy the Edwards Susan Marshall John Roberts and Glenn O Rourke Not only do they organize the run itself but also a golf tournament in June and donation days at local businesses to increase their total funds donated to the cause
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g n i t a r b e l e C y t i v i t a e r C I Article by Dawn Huddlestone t was an inspired idea encourage people to enjoy the fall colours of Muskoka while touring the studios of some of the artists who call this area home Forty years ago sculptor Richard Green broached the concept to some artist friends Why not invite people into local studios where they could see artists at work and ask them questions about their process and their tools and their inspiration Potters Jon Partridge and Rick Vail metal sculptors Wayne Church and Hilary Clark Cole stained glass artist Charles Knapp photographer Lyle McIntyre and painters Michael Cleary Richard Karon and Paul Rainey were all on board and the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour MAST was born But none of them could have had any inkling at the time just how good an idea it would turn out to be Almost 100 artists have participated in the tour since 1979 and many tens of thousands of people have visited their studios To think back to 40 years ago there was an art community but nothing like it is today says glass painter Bonnie Bews who has been part of the tour since 2006 It s amazing that it s still going strong More and more artists are coming to the area I guess it s because of the rustic beauty and peacefulness that perhaps artists need Like all of the artists on the tour Bews enjoys opening up her studio to share what s so often done in solitude At first I didn t think I could do it having someone over my shoulder watching me work But I like to see when people come in and don t know what to expect Sometimes people get emotional It s nice when they make a connection with your art pieces 20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 That personal connection has contributed to both the tour s success and its longevity Like all good things it s been copied many times over Although the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour was the first of its kind in Canada imitators have sprung up across the country over the years not all of them opening up studios and not all committed to the same goal of providing education in the artistic process
Photograph MAST photographs by Paul Bennett MUSKOKA AUTUMN STUDIO TOUR TURNS 40 Above Potter Jon Partridge is the only member of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour to have taken part throughout the entire 40 years of the event Left Partridge s showroom studio and grounds are open to the public during the two weekends of the annual tour Richard wanted the artists to be in their studios working and explaining their process and we have held true to that idea all these years says painter Catherine O Mara This will be her 19th year on the tour He was wanting to make a successful way for artists to be able to live in Muskoka sell their work and not have to take it to Toronto and pay a gallery to sell it for them It was absolutely a great concept and it has worked beautifully in Muskoka this marrying of people coming to see the beautiful colours of fall on a driving tour where they re also stopping and being invited into artists studios Although some of each artists works are usually available for sale at their individual studios sales are discrete so that the educational focus of the tour isn t undermined Having people come to your studio is a very personal way to show your work says O Mara You work all year usually in isolation so it s a nice time to meet the public and for them to see what you do There have been a few changes over the years Some artists have come and gone and the work of those who participate for consecutive tours has evolved or expanded so even visitors who return again and again see something different each time And there is much to see So much that the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour expanded to encompass two weekends instead of its original one to give people more opportunity to get to the studios in all corners of Muskoka This 40th year is doubly special Not only is it an accomplishment on its own to have remained popular despite rising gas prices and the advent of readily accessible digital entertainment it s also the year earmarked September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 21
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Photograph MAST photograph by Paul Bennett Painting with acrylics artist Wendy Moses captures nature by focusing on abstracted flowers and landscapes that are featured at The Alexandra Luke Gallery for its entire 40 years He feels that part of its success is due to the glimpse it offers into the lifestyle of an artist People sometimes romanticize it he says They are always intrigued And sometimes they find it s not quite what they expected Yes it can seem like an idyllic life and in many ways it is to be an artist with Photograph MAST photograph by Paul Bennett It s a great tour it s lots of fun and everybody works hard towards it says O Mara We don t get to see each other because we are all so spread out This year s shows are a nice time for us to get together and see each other s work Jon Partridge a potter is the only artist who has been on the tour Photograph Marni Martin photograph by Mark Reeder for the opening of a time capsule created for the tour s 20th anniversary The MAST time capsule a wooden box built by furniture maker Stephen Sprague and carved by Bill Hunnisett contains a book about the tour that was created for the occasion along with small works by each of the artists who were on the tour that year The capsule was opened at the Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge where it was locked shut 20 years ago and its contents will be displayed in a special show at the gallery with works from the 21 artists participating in the 40th anniversary tour It runs until September 8 2018 An earlier three month exhibit was hosted at the Canada Summit Centre in Huntsville this summer to showcase both current and past artists and there was a weekend show at the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst in August A show is an unusual undertaking for the MAST artists as a whole Usually they are in their studios to welcome visitors throughout the tour and spend much of the rest of the year focused on their own work Left Uniting ancient traditions of weaving with contemporary techniques Marni Martin creates tapestries and woven wearables Above Hinterglas artist Bonnie Bews enjoys opening her studio to share what is so often done in solitude September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 23
could lose the work if don t get to it As someone who works in a multi stage medium Partridge has found that videos and displays help to illustrate the long process involved in getting to a finished piece for visitors on the tour Because there are so many steps to get to the finished product we produced a 45 minute video he says The video is supplemented with a display that includes a Multi talented artist Jim Carter who has developed a following for his cherry wood boards has returned to blacksmithing and is making functional ironwork pieces 24 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 Photograph MAST photographs by Paul Bennett a studio tucked away down a rural road inspired by the scenery and guided by whim But in reality artists put in long hours working to perfect their craft Most artists work 12 hours a day seven days a week says Partridge If I have work on the go it s kind of like having an infant and it starts crying in the middle of the night You can t just say it can wait until the morning I have to address it at the time and piece fresh off the potter s wheel one that has been fired once in a kiln one with glaze applied and finally the finished product It s a conversation starter both for those who are interested in the art and those who can find a way to relate it to their own life Sometimes people may not understand the process but they get interested in the materials explains Partridge He might talk with someone who has an interest in science about the chemistry of the glazes or the expansion and contraction of the clay or with someone who can see the similarities in Partridge s process to another interest like baking It s engaging the public when they come through in a broad range of things I enable the conversation which gives them a better appreciation for what I do or even for when they are just looking at pottery in a store There are no stupid questions he adds It s all innocent They want to understand and the more I talk the more questions I ll get Ask me any question it doesn t matter The Muskoka Autumn Studio tour runs on September 22 to 23 and September 29 to 30 from 10 a m to 6 p m each day Learn more at muskokaautumnstudiotour com Photograph MAST photographs by Paul Bennett Potter Jon Partridge feels part of the success of the studio tour is the glimpse it offers into the lifestyle of an artist Partridge welcomes the opportunity to answer questions from visitors
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Article by J Patrick Boyer For a full decade Gravenhurst s movers and shakers succeeded in holding onto their competitive advantage combining Muskoka s railway terminus and steamship harbour at the foot of Lake Muskoka A letter between lumbermen and the railroad company confirmed there d be no northern extension that is to Bracebridge and beyond for 10 years Straddling the culmination of one transportation system steam trains and the starting point of another steam boats gave the town a monopoly lock on economic prosperity Gravenhurst from 1875 thrived as a transshipment centre for people and goods Beneficiaries of this transfer business to and from horse drawn coaches and wagons travelling up and down Muskoka Road year round and during navigation season adding steamships plying to and from Bracebridge Bala Port Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives T he current interest in restoring passenger rail service to Muskoka specifically the Northlander between Toronto and Cochrane with stops at Gravenhurst Bracebridge and Huntsville is sparked by travellers needs and aching feelings of loss This is not new The saga of railways in our district is a tale of beginnings and endings The first train service to Muskoka crossed into Morrison Township at Severn Bridge Railway service reached Gravenhurst with a spur line out to Muskoka Wharf by late 1875 Then everything stopped
A Time Trapped Saga jobs and mountains of sawdust Preventing extension of the railway northward was only a temporary victory for the district s senior town because Muskoka inextricably part of a larger community was moved by larger forces In 1871 British Columbia agreed to join Confederation if a transcontinental railroad linked east and west Prime Minister John Macdonald wanted an all Canadian route Though costing more than a rail line running south of Lake Superior through Wisconsin and Minnesota to circumvent the Canadian Shield it would ensure national security and independence But the Pacific Scandal over the governing Conservatives getting secret kickbacks from the railway contractors to finance election campaigns drove Macdonald from office Canada s first Liberal Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie elected in 1874 took Photograph Boyer Family Archives Carling Windermere and Rosseau were Gravenhurst s hotels taverns stores livery stables blacksmiths warehouses teamsters captains crews engineers and labourers Within just two years 2 800 tons of rail freight was arriving each summer at Muskoka Wharf and A P Cockburn shrewd owner of steamships and lumbering operations gleefully built more warehouse sheds to accommodate rapidly rising storage needs Muskoka lumbermen with rail connections to outside markets and a decade of fixed operations encircled Gravenhurst Bay with saw mills new prosperity more Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives CPR trains connected with steamships at Barnsdale s Lake Joseph Wharf This is where Prime Minister Robert Borden hurriedly departed Muskoka on July 30 1914 returning to Ottawa by train as world war erupted Bottom Left Lake Joseph Station as seen from the bow of steamship Sagamo which was docking just as a southbound CNOR train pulls in The shop on the dock not only sold souvenirs but train tickets and boat fares Bottom Right After a decade Gravenhurst s monopoly as a transit hub was broken when rail service reached Bracebridge In 1885 nine workers posed by their newly built bridge over the town s North Falls four on the lower iron crosspieces five on or by the foreground stumps
WHENEVER THERE S AN OUTAGE KOHLER GENERATORS KEEP YOUR LIGHTS ON YOUR FRIDGE COLD AND YOUR HOUSE COZY MUSKOKA PARRY SOUND Your Source For All Your Electrical Backup Power And Home Automation Needs 705 765 0600 www sifftelectric com Port Carling Muskoka s only family owned funeral home providing unparalleled care 705 789 5252 www mitchellfuneralhome ca admin mitchellfuneralhome ca 15 High St Huntsville 28 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 up the railway challenge His idea was to not lay down a single uninterrupted track but instead run a series of rail lines between intermediate water bodies as proposed by the Department of Railways and Canals whose leading lights saw how canal systems made use of available rivers and lakes Thus in Muskoka with the railway already built to Gravenhurst Mackenzie s plan was that the next leg would be by steamship to the top of Lake Rosseau so railway tracks would only need to run from there to the shore of Lake Nipissing where another transfer could leap ahead on that lake to the next section of track beyond This plan took no account of transshipment costs in time money and inconvenience at each leg of this cross Canada relay line Nothing was said about cost savings from building less track being gobbled up buying more trains and engines for each of the stranded short segments or even how to transport the heavy rolling stock especially the engines to them Nor did the Liberal plan address frozen lakes in winter At their next opportunity in 1878 voters returned Macdonald to office to resume his political drive for the Canadian Pacific Railway and by 1885 it bound the country together from sea to shining sea These larger forces kick started Muskoka s next railroad phase Train service north from Gravenhurst reached Bracebridge that same year with the 10 year moratorium ended and a big push underway to join other rail lines planned or being built to Baysville through Algonquin Park for lumbering and especially connecting with Ottawa Valley transcontinental lines coming from the Maritimes through Quebec at North Bay It seemed Muskoka could become a major railway hub or at least a main artery between Canada s transcontinental and northern routes and southern Ontario and northern United States rail lines From 1885 Bracebridge started a new era of prosperity linked directly by rail to the larger universe Cow hides from distant Argentina after reaching Halifax by ship arrived at the town s two sprawling leather tanneries Woollen products from Henry Bird s mill as well as Muskoka Lamb and more lumber flowed readily to Canadian American and British Empire markets
Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives These ten navvies working near Torrance in 1907 on the Canadian Northern Ontario Railway s line were typical of crews maintaining safe tracks Further north at the west side of Lake Vernon Hoodstown bustled along well laid out streets with good homes two hotels three churches a livery stable and smithy three general stores and post office Founder Charles Hood had insider information that a planned railway would cause his town to surge to even greater prosperity However a different company built its rail line to the east crossing the Muskoka River at the narrow point where John Hunt had started his settlement The route was well chosen because at Huntsville the railway intersected the river s connections to the entire north Muskoka lakes system This further round of endings and beginnings in Muskoka s railway saga saw Hoodstown empty out and Huntsville emerge as Muskoka s largest town prospering on leather tanning lumber milling and vacationing each directly Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives Railway tracks bringing vacationers from southern Ontario and the United States to Muskoka had all the while inaugurated a transformative stage in district life Hunting parties fishing groups and individuals seeking a northern experience found all they hoped for on the district s scenic southern edge of the Canadian Shield despite the ugly scars of clear cutting forestry and the Muskoka Cure was born Early railway advertisements promoted Muskoka as A woodland region abounding in lakes and streams affording every variety of fishing and game black bass rock bass pickerel maskinonge brook and salmon trout Sportsmen can obtain on the spot guides boats and canoes to all points Excellent summer hotels at Bracebridge Port Carling Rosseau Port Cockburn Farmers homesteads abutting lakefronts soon morphed into hostelries then lodges next resorts By 1889 when the rail line was pushed through to Huntsville its route caused more beginnings and endings Thriving Port Sydney boasted a gristmill oatmeal mill sawmill sash factory cheese factory hotel accommodations and was home port of the steamer Northern running passengers and freight between Mary Lake Huntsville and Hoodstown The village was primed to become the centre for north Muskoka with the railway coming through But a change of route put the train service through the small settlement of Utterson to its west instead Gaining a station Utterson rose to new prominence while Port Sydney paled linked to rail service Politics and economics meshed with bold dreams and hard choices in Muskoka s ever changing railway landscape as the train to Baysville reminds us The Bracebridge and Trading Lake Railway Company had been incorporated its directors elected and officers chosen and start up money provided by the Ontario Government to not only run a line 14 miles east to Baysville but also 10 miles west to Beaumaris linking all major lake systems with an east west line on which Bracebridge already central in the district would be hub Beaumaris Wharf with its train terminal would give Muskoka Wharf at Gravenhurst competition while the railway terminal at Baysville Wharf would pull that hinterland into Bracebridge s orbit as well Another company the Huntsville and Lake of Bays Navigation Railway Company was also incorporated to link the Grand Trunk Railway system with Lake of Bays as gateway to the tourists and hunters paradise Other railroad companies too were proposing train service to Baysville one of them a radial line from Gravenhurst In March 1915 Baysville s correspondent for the Bracebridge Gazette touted a new tourist resort the busy lumber mill and the coming of hydro electricity only to sideline such progress by concluding but the railroad is what we ve been waiting for for the last 20 years Despite early work clearing the roadbed A northbound train pulls in to Bracebridge engine coal car mail car passenger cars and freight cars A horse drawn wagon stands ready Rail commerce includes parcels luggage and milk cans for farmers up the line who supply the town s dairy and its cheese factory September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 29
Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives An example of Muskoka s harmonious integration of trains and steamships the swing bridge at Bala Park accommodated both for the Bracebridge Baysville line it remained a phantom but propelled action from Huntsville After discovering a canal for steamboats could not economically be built between Lake of Bays Trading Lake and Peninsula Lake the company fashioned the world s shortest commercial railway instead Humorously dubbed The Portage Flyer because it crawled so slowly passengers enjoyed descending to pick wild strawberries alongside the steeply ascending track then remounting to struggling Flyer to eat them the railway began operating between North Portage and South Portage in 1904 On the west side of the district meanwhile the village of Bala was booming thanks to railways operating with commutertrain frequency In 1907 the Canadian Pacific Railway opened a vacationers summer station complete with freight elevator to supplement its year round station further up the line By the 1920s the CPR was running four trains in and out of Bala every day during the summer Competitor CNOR Canadian Northern Ontario Railway was also serving Bala with its own summer schedule to Bala Park Island This excellent train service brought the big name entertainers to happily perform at Bala With so many musicians tourists and cottagers detraining from the United States Ottawa deemed Bala a port 40 SOLD CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY Visit Us At www WaterfrontatGrandview com 30 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018
Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives of entry and opened a convenient customs clearing house When highways and automobiles ousted passenger trains in the 1950s weekend train service to Bala continued until 1963 Train tourism continued to benefit north Muskoka too Enterprising Huntsville resort operators extended the vacation season by actively promoting special ski excursion trains from the United States Even so as the postwar era advanced the Government of Canada put its resources into civil aviation with new and bigger airports The Government of Ontario put its resources into bigger and better highways and a vast transcontinental country with few people discovered it was no longer possible to sustain three completely different transportation systems for rail road and air Canada s canal systems had already come to its end except for tourism Ottawa heavily subsidized passenger rail travel until in the 1980s Transport Minister Don Mazankowski repeating his mantra Use it or lose it reduced or eliminated passenger service As an MP at the time a constituent upbraided me about how terrible this was I explained that a train traveller spent 18 for a ticket while taxpayers topped up the rest of its 640 actual cost But the trains are special she protested My husband and I went to Quebec City by train for our honeymoon When was that 1948 Have you been on a train since Sotto voce No Mail service by train is another timetrapped element in this saga Railway and shipping companies vied for postal contracts At least twice a day except Sundays trains through Muskoka included mail cars on which postal workers sorted mail whilst in transit dropping off at Gravenhurst Bracebridge and Huntsville the letters subscription newspapers and parcels for each community and its hinterland post offices picking up large canvas bags of outgoing mail Mail service to Muskoka s main lakes was twice a day The Huntsville and Lake of Bays Navigation Company got the mail contracts for Muskoka s upper lakes and the Gravenhurst Steamships line the contract to pick up and deliver mail morning and afternoon during navigation season to communities and resorts around lakes Muskoka Rosseau and Joseph explaining why the reinstated Segwun has the designation Royal Mail Ship or RMS Segwun Those days too are gone not to return Passengers aboard the Segwun today can personally send and receive mail 24 hours a day to and from anywhere in the world from a personal hand held device These beginnings and endings for railway passenger and mail services exclude freight train service which continues to prosper Today the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission is drawing more freight offhighway onto rail from new multi modal yards in Timmins and Cochrane for industrial clients to increasing grain shipments from Temiskaming s farming communities Should Ontario s Ford Government mandate the commission to reinstate the Northland s full passenger service heritageconscious Gravenhurst has its attractive train station ready North Muskoka prospered even more when the world shortest commercial railway began operating between North Portage on Peninsula Lake and South Portage on Lake of Bays The Portage Flyer links with steamships and automobiles as the age of steam melds into the era of the internal combustion engine September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 31
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Nature inspires Sculptures created with permanence
Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Scott Turnbull T he story of a piece of art begins far before anyone views it in a gallery admires the piece at an exhibit and even before it s seen complete in an artist s studio The story of a work of art begins the moment the artist sees the piece in their mind complete or incomplete The journey of bringing that vision to reality often takes months or even years filled with trial and error success and failure and hours of adjustment and tweaking As far as process goes I seem to have a head full of ideas and thoughts all the time that I translate three dimensionally into sculpture explains Hilary Clark Cole I can and do draw but it s already finished three dimensionally in my head so I m going backwards if I do a drawing I ve already worked around it in my brain and I think in pictures so I see it finished Most commonly artists express their vision in traditional art mediums such as sculpted clay or paint on canvas Not so Hilary Clark Cole She creates one of a kind steel and cast bronze sculptures inspired by the animals plants and surroundings of her Muskoka home the blueblack wings of a crow shining in the sunlight the grace of a windswept pine growing from granite a pair of mallard ducks synchronized in flight a luna moth worshipping its namesake moon These are only a sampling of the massive body of work Clark Cole has created Clark Cole s process builds a piece from the inside out from the skeletal armature outward to include various finishes colours and textures There are two different kinds of sculpture One approach begins from the inside working outward to create first a skeleton or frame and continuing to form the finished piece The second approach is starting with a block of material granite wax clay or another medium and working inward chipping off pieces until the sculpture is revealed by the artist The ability to create such variety in her artwork with a single medium speaks to the affinity Clark Cole has for the material and her painstaking attention to detail She develops the armature the metal framework for the sculpture with the correct pose and dimensions and scales up for the life sized version A lot of sculptors who work in other media will use a steel armature to support whatever else they re doing but in my case I just keep going right to the outside with steel explains Clark Cole With welding that s really what you do and how you build things The heart of Clark Cole s body of work is her thoughtfulness in researching the figure she s choosing to depict as well as what materials can best showcase the desired outcome For cast bronze sculptures and larger steel sculptures Clark Cole develops a maquette a sculptor s small preliminary model or sketch created from microcrystalline wax Maquettes are built by hand often using the same material the final sculpture will be in Clark Cole may spend months creating a maquette in either steel or wax before officially beginning a new piece I literally just start says Clark Cole If I m doing a big piece like the Chestnut Filly I m not going to commit a year of my life to something that s incorrect I have to make sure I ve solved all the problems beforehand with the maquette and then I can just work September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35
Above Sculptor Hilary Clark Cole uses a plasma cutter to create shapes for one of her projects Below Loona is a wall sculpture and is Clark Cole s interpretation of a loon in a female form What I do when I begin with the maquette is I m working out the proportions the pose the details in whatever the sculpture is and then I use that as my model says Clark Cole The lifesize sculpture is about six times the size of the maquette All of the research really is in the maquette More than just working in steel Clark Cole s ability to see an entire piece including the fine details lends authenticity to her art Whether it s the flow of hair down a girl s back or each individual feather on a crow that attention to detail began early on in her life When I think back it s just so obvious I was thinking 3D all the time as I grew up says Clark Cole When I was a little kid I used to make little people 36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 with garden materials like a poppy seed pod for a head and then keep the stem and put on little arms and legs and pieces of cedar I was always bringing stuff that I could carry in my hands that were threedimensional Since attending the Ontario College of Art where she graduated in 1969 Clark Cole has worked in various welded steel She has left behind her childhood use of natural objects and instead is drawing on her attention to detail to bring nature into her welding The program I was in was called material arts which was pottery weaving and metal arts with the metal arts being jewelry says Clark Cole The biggest you got was a small vessel out of silver I just kept going into the welding shop and watching what they were doing and going in after hours to start on things Her interest in the welding shop and the use of steel led Clark Cole to switch to the sculpture department and refocus her studies She was allowed into the welding shop a year earlier than others in her stream thanks to a teacher who recognized her talent Clark Cole learned the use of equipment and skills not typical of women in the 1960s Although unaware when she began working with welding as her expression of art metalwork is in her genes After 15 years working with metals Clark Cole discovered her grandfather had been a blacksmith It s a very interesting medium explains Clark Cole I feel like nothing is impossible with steel You can make it look soft like a feather or you can make it look hard like I ve done armadillos and turtles and things like that They just work It s an amazing medium The works of art Clark Cole breathes life into in her welding studio are significant dedications of time and research Each piece particularly her large welded pieces is a careful construction of artistic vision Welding does not allow for the quick stroke of a pencil or paint brush to define form Welded steel sculptures require careful
thoughtful planning and knowledge of the many ways to manipulate the medium I consider life drawing really essential for my learning shares Clark Cole I m exploring the human figure all the time I ve got to make sure I have my chops When I talk about sculpture being from the inside out I talk about a skeletal structure and I have to know anatomy I have to know proportions I have to know the muscles and where they attach and what they do when they flex and all of that That applies to animals and people so I have to constantly be thinking inside as well as outside The majority of Clark Cole s sculptures are made with Cor Ten steel a nickel steel that is also referred to as weathering steel The steel will weather to a certain point but does not corrode It s perfect for someone like me who is doing one of a kind pieces that are often displayed outdoors says Clark Cole Clark Cole also brings copper bronze and plate metal into her pieces Cor Ten is found mostly in industrial uses but Clark Cole prefers the strength and lasting power of steel to other metals Some things just work beautifully in steel says Clark Cole I do tend to get a lot of my ideas when I m working and then develop from there I respond to the material very strongly In entering Clark Cole s studio one does not find the typical look of an artist s workspace Although significantly downsized thanks to technological improvements machinery and work benches line the walls What are traditionally seen as industrial tools like an oxy acetylene torch plasma cutter and mig flux welder are kept easily accessible and tidy in Clark Cole s studio Two Beverly shears sit in the open space of the studio floor for cutting and manipulating all kinds of metals and numerous hand tools wait to be used on work benches All these machines I m using used to be huge room sized industrial machines and now they re scaled down for a little shop like mine explains Clark Cole People often ask if I do my own welding because they think of that big industrial machinery but this is all perfectly sized for my use Bronze pieces are cast at a foundry and can be scaled up significantly or remain at the same size Once the first mould is cast bronze pieces can be replicated infinitely However artists working in this medium usually set a specific run in order to maintain the uniqueness and value of the sculpture Sculpture doesn t just spring out of the ground explains Clark Cole The craftsmanship at a foundry is exquisite A mould crafted at a foundry requires precision and attention to detail The wax sculpture is used to create a form with multiple channels into the form Molten bronze is carefully added to the form in order to melt the wax figure and create a bronze sculpture in its place Clark Cole crafts eye catching and moving sculptures such as her full size standing woman in a suit of armour Ironica Clark Cole documented Ironica s progress and crafting on her website weekly including photos from the skeletal structure to the day she finished She has a heart says Clark Cole All of my big sculptures have hearts Hers is metal like the rest of her but she has it It matters little whether Clark Cole s vision is small or large in working her craft Each and every piece in her vast collection showcases her intricate knowledge of her subject matter using hand tools to create the exact rounding of a leaf or the hammering of armour Beyond her knowledge Clark Cole s heart is evident in each piece as is her love for her Muskoka home and all its natural splendour Muskoka is the best place in the world really says Clark Cole There are so many artists here in Muskoka I may be considered one of the more established ones but there s so many new people starting out It s interesting how a lot of rural communities end up becoming art colonies A sculptor who goes beyond just making a piece of artwork Clark Cole enjoys sharing her studio space with neighbours adults and children alike Often local children visit the studio and leave with a handcrafted Since refocusing her studies at the Ontario College of Art in the late 1960s Hilary Clark Cole has used equipment such as Beverly shears for cutting and manipulating all kinds of metals September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 37
decorative spoon thanks to Clark Cole s instruction and generosity in sharing her talent The art community in Muskoka has grown significantly since Clark Cole first moved here over 40 years ago She took part in the first Autumn Studio Tour when only 10 artists participated Over the years she has also remained involved with Muskoka Arts Crafts the over arching organization for Muskoka artists Clark Cole s work graces both public spaces and private collections scattered throughout Muskoka and beyond Permanent installations in the District of Muskoka Council Chambers the Chapel Gallery the Town of Bracebridge offices the Torrance Barrens the Bracebridge Sportsplex and Algonquin Park all showcase Clark Cole s vision versatility and incredible talent I find that I gravitate to steel and its permanence says Clark Cole Although I like clay as a sculptural medium because it s much more malleable and easy to work with I stick to a material that I know is going to last In creating her works of fine art Hilary Clark Cole uses what are traditionally seen as industrial tools forever Forever is good like an oxy acetylene torch copper cedar roofing u eavestroughs u cupolas u lighting u architectural accents STAINED GLASS FUSED GLASS BY GAIL WILSON 705 641 8256 38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 u COPPERSMITHING CA
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Preserving THE RICH HERITAGE OF Lake of Bays Article by Judy Vanclieaf Photography by Kelly Holinshead W hen you have an area as rich in heritage as Lake of Bays preserving the pieces of its past and natural beauty is imperative to its future This is what links us to the stories of our roots They can include something treasured like an old photograph of our grandparents picnicking at Langmaid s 40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 Island or a hand drawn Ted Hungerford wall map of Lake of Bays dating back to 1965 Perhaps it s your late uncle s sailor outfit when he was deckhand on Cameron Peck s legendary Naiad It is treasures like these we hold dear in our heart that provide us with windows to our past and that we want to ensure are saved so future generations can continue to enjoy them
Lower Oxtongue River begins at Marsh s Falls and runs all the way down into Lake of Bays This beautiful part of the river is recognized by the District of Muskoka and the Township of Lake of Bays as an important natural heritage area Also rich in cultural heritage this area was once the traditional canoe portage for our First Nations to go around Marsh s Falls Lower Oxtongue River begins at Marsh s For the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation communities that surround the Lake of Bays It s the heritage foundation that creates Falls and runs all the way down into Lake of and its sister organization the Lake of Bays Heritage Advisory Committee the rivers and enforces the policies while focusing more Bays This beautiful part of the river is lakes and the land that surrounds them are on preserving the natural and structural recognized by the District of Muskoka and held in the same regard There are aspects of aspects of the area One of its objectives is to the Township of Lake of Bays as an important these bodies of land and water that represent educate within the communities by offering natural heritage area Also rich in cultural the past and these organizations want to be nature programs It is also a certified member heritage this area was once the traditional sure they are preserved While long term of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and is a canoe portage for the First Nations to go preservation is their main focus often they registered charity so tax receipts can be around Marsh s Falls Years after it was where the first steamboat on Lake of Bays was built work alongside each other doing what is best issued for donations by Capt George Marsh for the Lake of Bays area Judith Mills president of Together they are a the heritage foundation is preservation powerhouse that focuses on the natural the proud of what she feels is built and the cultural heritage one of the groups ongoing of the area achievements The Lake of Bays Heritage Over a period of six Foundation began in 1985 years we purchased three when Robin Cumine contiguous properties on president of Lake of Bays the lower Oxtongue River Association at the time came says Mills The 150 acres of up with the idea of creating a mostly wooded land and 6 5 foundation to preserve the km of shoreline on the lower area s history Since then it Oxtongue River is now has become an active nonprotected from development profit community based and over use by ATV and registered charitable organizsnowmobiles ation that is operated under a Nancy Tapley and Ruth Ross are both members of the Township of Lake of Bays Volunteers also work board of directors by Heritage Advisory Committee which advises the township council on matters of hard on freeing the wetlands volunteers from each of the conservation of built and natural heritage features of an invasive species such as September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41
Our health care future is bright show your support for Muskoka s two site hospital An open letter to our communities Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare MAHC is working through Stage 1 Proposal planning one of five distinct stages in the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care s capital planning process for hospitals Stage 1 has been a new chapter in MAHC s planning for the future work and involves more detailed planning and analysis of potential models for the future supported by a 1 million planning grant This planning has been a collaborative process with many partners including extensive input from all corners of our communities led by the MAHC Capital Plan Development Task Force On August 8 2018 the Task Force presented its findings to the Board supported by a 30 plus page report posted on our website The Task Force s recommendation was for a Two Acute Sites service delivery model Following final deliberations the Board endorsed the recommendation for Two Acute Sites which replaces the 2015 recommendation for one hospital centrally located This decision represents a major milestone and the halfway mark in the Stage 1 planning The Two Acute Sites service delivery model includes a full range of emergency inpatient and surgical services 61 more inpatient beds including a new stroke rehabilitation unit and also proposes the addition of MRI technology The next step is for the Task Force to focus on the physical design of the Two Acute Sites model how the sites are built through new construction or renovation or a combination where they are specifically sited and how the community will pay for its share Once that work is complete next year the Two Acute Sites plan goes to the Ministry for approval for MAHC to continue on to the next stage in the lengthy capital planning process Required investments in our buildings and medical equipment needs are significant today and will continue while the future planning work gets more refined over the next several years A defined plan for the future is important to ensuring infrastructure investments are tailored so they best support the overall capital plan We need your support today and in the future of our two site hospital Fundraising is critical to our ability to provide outstanding patient care today tomorrow and in the future On behalf of the MAHC Board thank you for your continued support of our capital needs through donations to our Auxiliaries and Foundations Thank you for your involvement in this planning process your input and your support of this future direction We hope the Two Acute Sites model is one that everyone can truly get behind so that together we can sustain the needs of our two sites and convince the Ministry that a two site hospital is what Muskoka and East Parry Sound needs and deserves in the future Yours in health Philip Matthews Chair MAHC Board of Directors www mahc ca Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Site 100 Frank Miller Drive Huntsville Ontario P1H 1H7 Tel 705 789 2311 Fax 705 789 0557 South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site 75 Ann Street Bracebridge Ontario P1L 2E4 Tel 705 645 4404 Fax 705 645 4594 Proudly Serving our Communities Delivering Best Patient Outcomes with High Standards and Compassion 42 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018
Plaques such as this explaining the history of Captain Marsh and Marsh s Falls is one of the ways the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation helps to preserve the built and natural heritage of Lake of Bays phragmites and protects various habitats especially the species at risk Mills continues Parts of the 150 acres are used for guided nature hikes usually with a specific species focus Other parts are only accessible by naturalists or people undertaking scientific observation The best way to experience Marsh s Falls is to join in on the legendary Silent Boat Rally where one can bring their canoe kayak or paddleboard and join in on 8 km selfdirected eco tour It really is one of the most beautiful settings in the township The heritage foundation has played an important role in reviving Lake of Bays favourite steamship the former Bigwin ferry The SS Bigwin began on Lake of Bays in 1925 as a ferry boat for vacationers and golfers for Bigwin Island Resort When the resort closed in 1966 she spent her next 20 some years partially submerged in her berth in one of the island s boathouses In 1991 Mark McLean then president of Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation happened to see the vessel submerged in its waters and decided it needed saving The heritage foundation then secured the lake s beloved ferry and made a plan to develop its eventual restoration Years later when restoration was about to begin ownership was transferred to the newly created Lake of Bays Marine Museum where they restored her to the magnificent vessel she is today Much of what the heritage foundation does goes unnoticed to the public For example there is the partnership with Ontario Heritage Trust to be the steward of the 100 acre Pyke property near Brown s Brae It has also purchased one mile of natural shoreline and 47 acres of forest at Port Cunnington protecting both properties from future development Each year the heritage foundation profiles a small community around the lake to be recognized Booklets are made and a documentary film is made with interviews of the people of the chosen community Heritage awards are also presented to owners who maintain and enjoy the heritage value of their property At present there are more than 30 property owners and 250 historic buildings that have been awarded plaques for heritage protection Wanting to reach out to the communities the heritage foundation has established the Harriet T Weaver Memorial Trust which awards two yearly bursaries to financially assist one student from both Bracebridge and The Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation has played an important role in reviving Lake of Bays favourite steamship the former Bigwin ferry The SS Bigwin began its tour of duty on Lake of Bays in 1925 as a ferry boat for vacationers and golfers for Bigwin Island Resort September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43
Some 150 acres of mostly wooded land and 6 5 km of shoreline on the lower Oxtongue River are now protected from development and over use by ATV and snowmobiles Huntsville high schools with their first year of university or college While a board of directors operates the heritage foundation the heritage advisory committee works under the umbrella of the Township of Lake of Bays and focuses more on the cultural historical tourism aspects The latter committee has been said to have the best record of success in all of the District of Muskoka at attracting properties into designations for protection according to chair of the committee Jacquie Godard This could have a little bit to do with the property tax relief offered to these landowners that encourages and supports them to be 44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 stewards of their own heritage properties At present the Township of Lake of Bays is the only municipality in Muskoka that offers this Heritage Tax Relief Program The advisory committee has a more of a hands on approach working closely with the communities in Lake of Bays To date they have produced three walking tour booklets on the historic aspects of Dorset Dwight and Baysville and have awarded government plaques to heritage designated buildings and properties They participated in the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce Doors Open weekend to promote cultural tourism for Lake of Bays In October of 2017 the heritage advisory committee hosted an afternoon cruise onboard the S S Bigwin as well as a luncheon for 26 elders and members of the Chippewa of Rama First Nations It is their ancestors who travelled through the waters of Lake of Bays hunting harvesting fishing and trading on a regular basis In 1923 their traditional rights were taken away through the Williams Treaties and have only been restored as part of their negotiations with the Crown within the last couple of years On behalf of the heritage advisory committee two provincial heritage plaques were unveiled in the Heritage Park at Dorset Narrows in honour of recognizing the importance of the local history of the Anishinabek in the Lake of Bays area With 120 people in attendance the heritage advisory committee along with the Chippewa s of Rama First Nation and Ontario Heritage Trust together unveiled the provincial plaque It was a proud moment for all parties involved and dubbed by the heritage trust employees as the most successful provincial heritage plaque unveiling ever In 2011 the Township of Lake of Bays was awarded second place in all of Ontario for the Lieutenant Governor s Ontario Heritage Award in Community Leadership for exemplary leadership in conservation and promotion It recognized the hard work and dedication and many achievements by the heritage advisory committee The community of Lake of Bays as a whole is very fortunate to have such a great assembly of people working on their behalf If it weren t for both the heritage foundation and the heritage advisory committee many old structures and the land around them would be just another collection of overdeveloped land and outdated wooden buildings eventually to vanish or be damaged or replaced If that were to happen the magic of Lake of Bays history would be lost forever
NOW KEEPING YOU INFORMED with MUSKOKA CONTENT ALL YEAR For regular updates visit www uniquemuskoka com telling the Muskoka story September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45
TIPI Adventures Connecting with family friends and the environment Article by Matt Driscoll Photography by Tomasz Szumski W hat do you get when take 26 young urbanites and plunk them in the middle of the Muskoka bush with no WiFi electricity or hot water and a tipi to sleep in Apparently you get a pretty good time It was awesome says Carlito Dumpit an Ajax resident who spent this past May long weekend with 25 friends from the GTA at Tipi Adventure on Beatrice Town Line in Bracebridge It s really off the grid They don t have electricity onsite there s not even hot water to bathe in so it was a really different experience We felt like we were pioneers Tipi Adventure is situated on 80 acres of boreal forest and the accommodations consist of three tipis capable of holding 10 guests each Dumpit heard about the tipis from a friend of a friend who had stayed there and recommended it At the start of the year my friends and I make sure that all our vacation dates jive with each other We usually go somewhere together for that May long weekend he says They wanted something different so that s why they tried it 46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018
The experience was like nothing the group had done before as they explored the five kilometres of maintained trails onsite the small pond and the surrounding forest They really enjoyed it There were a lot of blackflies but aside from that it was great says Dumpit It s really different compared to just setting up tents or even living in a yurt It s very peaceful at night and a great way to reconnect Tipi Adventure is the brainchild of Jochen and Elke Schlichte German immigrants who fell in love with the area when they first passed through on their way to Algonquin Park To be honest the owners were probably the thing I enjoyed the most says Dumpit They take care of everything right down to the hot chocolate and coffee they bring you in the morning It s a very nice personal touch The Schlichtes first came to Canada on vacation with their four young children in 1979 and were immediately smitten We fell in love with the country seeing how all these different people could live peacefully together says Elke Things may have changed but that main concept has not changed Canada in our eyes is still the best country in the world to live in The couple settled in Newmarket after moving to Canada in 1984 Upon retirement they were looking for a new challenge to engage their active lifestyle and help supplement their retirement income They had been eyeing property north of Toronto and the opportunity came up for them to purchase property on Beatrice Town Line through a relative Originally there was nothing here except one little cottage says Elke We were thinking about what we could do but there were limitations on what you can build You couldn t build any bunkhouses or cottages but we could have something that was not permanent The idea of building tipis began to percolate It s an idea that s been closely tied into the fabric of German culture for more than a century Starting in the late 1890s author Karl May wrote a series of novels illustrating the fictional exploits of a German engineer called Old Shatterhand and an Apache chief Above Tipi Adventures offers five kilometres of maintained trails a small pond and 80 acres of surrounding forest Below Campers at Tipi Adventures live off the grid and learn basic outdoor skills such as making a campfire named Winnetou The books would become a best selling novel series in the history of the German language and would spawn popular films and stage adaptations This is what we grew up with in Germany says Elke The Native people were our heroes The idea began to solidify and they were able to purchase the tipis from a company based out of Oro Medonte The exteriors and interiors were decorated with large original Canadian motifs painted by artist Milada Tillingerova By 2013 the washrooms and kitchen facility were completed and Tipi Adventure was open for trial runs with friends and family The following year they opened to the public Business has really been increasing says Elke If you look online you can see how people have really embraced it despite the mosquitoes up here In addition to the tipis themselves the property has a freshwater pond where guests can fish and swim in the summer and skate in the winter they clear an oval skating trail September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47
Call Mike Morrow 705 765 3195 www morrow electric com Serving Muskoka Lakes since 1952 ESA License 7000286 rewiring alterations heating NEVER be left in the DARK or COLD get a quality home standby generator by GENERAC BRACEBRIDGE GENERATION LTD Water Power Generating a Cleaner Environment Interested in more information or a free tour www bracebridgegeneration com Rotary Centre for Youth 131 Wellington St Bracebridge 705 644 2712 www clubrunner ca bracebridge 48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 and the tipis are heated There s a sports field and the trails can be hiked biked or snowshoed in the winter They also have private outdoor showers with change rooms waterless toilets kitchen facilities and various games for inside and outside You just bring a sleeping bag and your food says Elke The majority of guests thus far have come from the GTA but Elke says they ve had visitors from around the globe France Italy Australia Colombia all over the world We ve also had a few Aboriginal groups says Elke Often they re coming to visit family in Toronto and they want to do something special The number one goal is connection according to Elke connection with friends and family and connection with the surrounding environment They like that it s so beautiful here so peaceful and they re so close to nature she says We don t have Wi Fi so you need to talk to each other play games hang out While the idea of cutting the cord to the outside world could cause many people s blood pressure to rise Carlos Dumpit says it was quite the opposite for him It wasn t stressful at all he says In fact it helps you de stress The pace is a little slower and we just played everything by ear Giselle Valdeiro who visited in July with her husband son niece and nephew would tend to agree It was truly a one with nature experience says Valdeiro Tipi Adventures has struck the fine balance of providing essentials like shelter
The exteriors and interiors of the three tipis are decorated with large original Canadian motifs painted by artist Milada Tillingerova outdoor kitchen firepit solar lighting around the area amazing bunk beds in the tipi dishware with the silence of being alone in the woods For the first time we actually heard the sound of trembling aspens as their leaves rustled Valdeiro says the trip was a step up from traditional camping as they didn t have to pack the car with supplies and they could Hospice Muskoka presents Beauty Badges Bags Bingo THURSDAY OCTOBER 4 2018 6 30 PM BRACEBRIDGE SPORTSPLEX FABULOUS FASHION SHOW BADGES BAGS BINGO Win Designer Handbags with Muskoka s Finest in Uniform as Game Assistants WALL OF WINE GOLDEN TICKET DRAWS Two High End Designer Handbags EXCEPTIONAL PRIZES ON DRAW TABLE CASH BAR REFRESHMENTS SO MUCH MORE Girls Night Out Will Never Be the Same For more information call 705 646 1697 or visit us at www h o s p i c e m u s k o k a c om Tickets 30 Each Get yours today For sale at Scotia Bank Bracebridge Gravenhurst Port Carling September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49
Tipi Adventures is situated on 80 acres of boreal forest and the accommodations consist of three tipis capable of holding 10 guests each LARGEST SELECTION OF TILLEY CLOTHING HATS IN MUSKOKA Crushable Packable Excellent UV Protection Repels Rain Floats Ask about the lifetime guarantee 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE 705 637 0204 50 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 also bring their golden lab along something not allowed at provincial parks Valdeiro also cited the hospitality of their hosts as one of the factors that made the trip so special When their car blew a flat Jochen took it into town for repairs while Elke drove Valdiero to an appointment in Orillia We went to the tipi with a family of five and we returned with a family of seven so to speak says Valdiero Their thoughtfulness and hospitality will stay with us for a long time to come Making those connections is more than just a business philosophy for Jochen and Elke it s a personal mantra We don t have an automated booking system for that reason Things can be very impersonal these days but I want to speak with them because I enjoy it says Elke It s very important to us that people find a way back to nature cherish it and respect it It s about conscious living and really connecting not just texting but that real feeling of connection
Renovating Let us help Our team of skilled Habitat volunteers will remove your kitchen bathroom windows doors appliances and other usable household items and goods FREE OF CHARGE We work within your project timelines and your donated items withh be treated with care leaving your space renovation ready Your donation is eligible for a charitable tax receipt and you ll be saving time and helping the environment Better yet your donations help Habitat build local affordable homes Schedule your salvage or donation pickup from one of our locations today Sudbury ReStore Bracebridge ReStore Midland ReStore 799 Notre Dame Ave 505 Muskoka Rd 118 W 720 Balm Beach Rd Sudbury ON Bracebridge ON Midland ON 705 669 0624 705 646 0106 Huntsville ReStore 705 528 0681 Orillia ReStore 70 King William St 220 James St West Huntsville ON Orillia ON 705 788 0305 705 327 3279 September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 51
T amaracks DISTINCTIVE Article by Doug Smith Photography by Eleanor Kee Wellman T he First Nations have a legend about the tamarack tree and how it came to lose its needles It is told something like this In late fall many years ago a huge winter storm was rolling in while a flock of migrating birds were flying south for the season They needed to take shelter so they asked the tamaracks if they could roost in their branches full of soft needles while the storm hit The tamaracks were the most majestic trees in the forest and spent the majority of their time admiring their own reflections in the lakes nearby where they grew so they said No to the tired flock The tamaracks said they had already begun to settle in for their winter sleep and that the birds would be too noisy so the flock was forced to fly on and find other shelter The Great Spirit had watched the entire drama unfold and became very disappointed with the tamarack trees In an effort to teach them a lesson the Great Spirit declared Because you did not give your brothers and sisters the birds any shelter neither will you have shelter from the As the tamarack matures it produces both male and female flowers which turn into very small cones on the open areas on young branches or on the crown 52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 cold of winter From now on your needles will fall off like the leaves of the trees to the south All of a sudden the slumbering tamaracks awakened to feel the chilling wind on their branches They watched helplessly as their warm winter coat fell to the ground The winters were very very hard for the tamarack In the years that followed they gradually learned to weather the cold by becoming smaller and more unassuming while at the same time they became stronger and more durable Most of us know the tamarack as the tree with the glowing foliage in the late fall after most other trees have already dropped their leaves Part of the last hurrah of autumn along with poplars they are a unique deciduous coniferous tree These interesting trees are distinctive in a number of other lesser known ways Often referred to as larch because they are closely related to the larch of Europe the tamarack is a distinct species from its old world cousin A true northerner the tamarack can take the cold of a Canadian winter Muskoka is at the southern edge of their range They grow throughout the boreal forest all the way up to the tree line They are often the first trees to take root in the highly acidic substrate around peat bogs in northern areas says Gayle Carlyle a volunteer with the Couchiching Conservancy near Orillia in a blog post on tamaracks There are few peat bogs in Muskoka In this region Tamaracks thrive in wet sunny conditions such as open wetlands and are often found growing alongside balsam fir Carlyle explains pointing out that Tall mature tamaracks provide a safe nesting site for a variety of songbirds
Legend ANDFacts September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53
Tamaracks are often the first trees to take root in the highly acidic substrate around peat bogs in northern areas like Muskoka which is at the southern edge of tamarack s range She adds As the tree matures it produces both male and female flowers which turn into very small cones on the open areas on young branches or on the crown These cones contain nutritious nuts much sought after by crossbills and purple finches The tree is a winter food source for some mammals as well The bark must be somewhat tasty Tom Clark suggests Serving on the board of Westwind Forest Stewardship since its beginning in 1997 Clark has an ecologist background Snowshoe hares eat the young saplings above the snow notes Clark adding that mice eat the tree s bark from the subnivean layer under the snow The name tamarack is an Algonquin word meaning wood used for snowshoes The pliable but tough and rot resistant wood of the tamarack is ideal for such a use It s also known the native Algonquins used the tree for medicinal purposes such as a poultice for cuts to treat arthritis and to help with indigestion They found other uses for tamaracks as well More and more pictures of Indigenous structures which I m studying show what could only be tamaracks providing excellent support for tenting tipis and canvas lodges 54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 says historian Patrick Boyer It is a wonderful tree one I ve always appreciated for its appearance and because of its uniqueness as the only deciduous conifer I have used tamaracks when in the bush needing straight poles for tenting rail and other woodsman needs says Boyer Boyer s not sure the early Europeans in Muskoka found much use for the tamarack I ve not heard of tamaracks used for corduroy roads likely because they weren t Tamaracks being pretty small would not have likely been considered He adds They might well have been used for posts by surveyors The natural crooks in the trees stumps and roots did serve a special purpose for boat builders being used for the knee braces Local wooden boat aficionado and boat restorer Paul Gockel explains the tree s natural crook knees were the strongest part of a weak wood They may be more the item found in assembled stem construction of larger boats like the Fairmiles The Fairmiles were wooden minesweepers built locally for the Canadian navy during World War II Gockel continues Tamarack and Hackmatack are the same species This confused the boat builders during the war when one species was called for and the other nomenclature was used Same animal Nowadays the tamarack has some limited use as pulp though it s not as sought out for this purpose as the standard spruce pine and fir SPF trees according to Clark It s a low profile species Clark states meaning that is under utilized in the forestry industry The forest industry has tried to commercial it he explains but it just can t compete with the SPF trees Clark adds I can tell you our deck is made out of tamarack It s gorgeous wood with large growth rings and its finish is amazing Because of its grain and the hardness of the wood it gets dark when stained so looks like the deck of a ship He continues It is a very hard wood with excellent resistance to rot like cedar The idea to use tamarack came from some foresters who mentioned that some saw mills will supply it small mills It is not pressure treated While under appreciated in some ways the tamarack owns many enduring properties not the least of which is its soft golden colour late in the fall
www muskokaconservancy org In every walk with nature one receives far more than one seeks John Muir Conserving nature in Muskoka Join us today A registered charity September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55
Whats Happened 56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 Photograph Nancy Beal A service delivery model that would keep two acute care hospital sites in Muskoka was endorsed by the board of directors for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare MAHC at a meeting on Thursday August 9 It was a decision welcomed by the community which had expressed displeasure with the board s previous endorsement of a single site hospital model The board s new recommendation requires approval by the Ministry of Health The recommendation was made by a 25 member Capital Plan Development Task Force which has spent 12 months reviewing options After more extensive consultation and study through this stage of planning we learned that based on currently projected land use planning requirements a central location would not be feasible from a land use planning perspective The board also continues to acknowledge the importance of travel times and access to care when selecting the model as well as community and municipal support that is necessary for funding the local share said Phil Matthews MAHC board chair in a media release We hope that this decision to support a two acute sites model is one that everyone can truly get behind so that together we can sustain the needs of our two sites and convince the ministry that a two site hospital is what Muskoka and East Parry Sound needs and deserves in the future The endorsement replaces a 2015 recommendation that supported a single hospital for the region and will be part of a submission to the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network that will include programs and services envisioned for the future including additional inpatient beds a proposed stroke rehabilitation unit and MRI technology The task force will now move on to part B Photograph Kelly Holinshed MAHC board supports recommendation for two acute care hospital sites A recommendation to keep two acute care hospital sites has received the support of the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare board of directors Next steps will include among other things decisions on how those facilities will be developed in the future of the Stage 1 planning process which will concentrate on physical design and infrastructure including a recommendation for a new build renovation of the existing hospital sites or a combination of build and renovate Part B also requires a fundraising plan for the local share of the redevelopment costs Once both parts of the Stage 1 proposal are completed in 2019 the plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care for approval to continue with the next stage in the five stage capital planning process MAHC CEO Natalie Bubela urged the community to remember its hospitals in Bracebridge and Huntsville still need support throughout the multi year planning process Millions of dollars in infrastructure investments are needed today just to keep the two sites operating and we rely on community donations to fund the equipment technology and building upgrades that ensure safe high quality care for everyone we serve Please consider our foundations and auxiliaries in your charitable giving and show your support for our two site hospital now and in the future For more information on the recommendation visit mahc ca New multi use visitor centre opens at Arrowhead Park Visitors to Arrowhead Provincial Park now have a more central location to access interpretive programs rentals a park store and a place to warm up in the winter The park s new visitor centre opened in July Planning and design for the project began four years ago with the bulk of the construction happening over the past year It is a beautiful addition to the popular area just north of Huntsville
Bracebridge hosts Muskoka s first ever Pride parade In honour of the 10th anniversary of the Muskoka Pride Festival Bracebridge hosted the first ever Muskoka Pride Parade We ve been asked year after year when we ll have a parade and the 10th anniversary felt like the time to do it said organizer Shawn Forth of Muskoka Pride It was a successful event with about 130 participants in the parade and 700 800 people attending the picnic that followed in Memorial Park The theme for the 2018 festival which ran from July 20 29 was Bringing Pride to You Multiple events were held in many Muskoka communities including a kick off barbecue in Huntsville s River Mill Park and flag raisings in many of the region s municipalities The goal of the Photograph Dawn Henderson On the main floor a park store will be open throughout the summer and fall and will become rental space for winter gear in December A programming room complete with a stone fireplace and small kitchen will be used for interpretive programs in the summer months and as a warming area for skiers skaters and snowshoers in the winter The lower level houses a summer rental shop for bikes canoes kayaks and stand up paddleboards A separate winterized picnic building located across a green space from the main visitor centre has a stone fireplace a small food preparation area and a waxing room that will be used for ski programming in the winter It will be available for group rentals in the summer Arrowhead Provincial Park superintendent Peter Briand said the new facility will be well used in all seasons but particularly in the winter months Winter use has increased dramatically at the park in recent years thanks in part to the popularity of its skating trail The visitor centre s official opening ceremony will occur in December 2018 as part of Ontario Parks 125th anniversary celebrations Watch for details at ontarioparks com op125 Arrowhead Provincial Park now offers a more central location to access interpretive programs rentals a park store and a place to warm up in the winter when many visitors are attracted to park trails Muskoka Pride Festival is to create inclusive spaces for Muskoka s LGBTQ lesbian gay bisexual transgender and queer population and their allies It was 10 days of pretty awesome activities said Forth in a video to the organization s Facebook followers It s been a great 10 years and we re looking forward to 10 more Visit muskokapride com for more information about the organization Watershed Report Card shows fragmentation a big concern for Muskoka The Muskoka Watershed Council MWC released its fifth Watershed Report Card on July 19 The report card uses eight environmental indicators total phosphorus calcium benthic macroinvertebrates benthos interior forest climate change species at risk invasive species and fragmentation to evaluate the region s general environmental health Each of Muskoka s subwatersheds is rated as not stressed vulnerable or stressed for each indicator Overall there s some good news and some not so good news Phosphorus concentrations in Muskoka s lakes look good although they re on the rise in some and some lakes are vulnerable for too low calcium concentrations Benthos rates are typical across most of Muskoka s subwatersheds indicating good overall lake health these bugs are sensitive to changes in water quality and their numbers say a lot about how well the lakes are doing Climate change is an ongoing concern and data in the report card shows there s been an increase in surface water temperature and a decrease in days of ice coverage on Muskoka s lakes due to warming temperatures One of the biggest concerns is fragmentation with almost all of Muskoka s subwatersheds listed as vulnerable or stressed Eighty two per cent of the Muskoka Watershed comprises natural areas like lakes wetlands and forests Fragmentation occurs when these areas are destroyed for development purposes like building roads and urbans areas resulting in habitat loss decreased biodiversity and a fragmented landscape The best way to limit the effects of fragmentation in Muskoka says the MWC is to be a land steward and help support and protect shorelines and green infrastructure initiatives You can learn how your subwatershed ranks for all of the indicators in the 2018 Muskoka Watershed Report Card at muskokawatershed org September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57
Cuisine for the hiking trail and afterwards Article by Karen Wehrstein Photography by Tomasz Szumski It s fall and it s pretty much bug free in Muskoka the perfect time to hit the trail for a brisk hike or a relaxed amble through your favourite forest And if you re making it a walk of substantial length say a full day you re going to want to nibble along the way enjoy a picnic lunch in some idyllic spot then put up your well worked feet and sit back for a delicious hearty dinner For hiking fare that combines good nutrition with top of the line taste we start first with Best Ever a trail mix that started out as a favourite treat for Matt Richter of Port Sydney and his family Over the years this mix was gradually refined and since becoming a retail product at the beginning of 2017 has taken Muskoka and the world by storm recommended by no less than a member of Canada s winter Olympic team Origin of the name sampling after each new version of the recipe a family member would say that last batch was pretty good but this one is the best ever Through our outdoor For hiking fare that combines good nutrition with top of the line taste Best Ever is a trail mix that started out as a favourite treat for Matt Richter above of Port Sydney and his family 58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 experiences we found we were eating arguably good food but feeling like we were hungry right after says Richter Part of the journey that Best Ever took was to come up with a food that tasted really good but delivered sustainable energy so you re not hungry again within half an hour to an hour The ingredients are no secret listed right on the package almonds sunflower seeds pepitas walnuts pecans maple syrup coconut oil cinnamon and sea salt What gives the mix its unique texture it is crispy and tender at the same time so it melts in your mouth as you chew it if you can imagine that is the way it is made The nuts and seeds are soaked for more than 12 hours in filtered water Next the other ingredients are added and the mixture is placed in a dehydrator for more than 15 hours at a low temperature This process was arrived at through culinary research community input and trial and error We have the process down to get that specific texture that comes across as roasted but retains the nutritional value of raw food Richter says Both the Richter family and their customers began experimenting with Best Ever as an ingredient using it as a topper on salads a complement to appetizers or a crunchy and virtuous addition to desserts One intriguing picture on the company website shows a heap of Best Ever slathered with syrup atop a wheel of brie For a practical backpacking snack Richter offers us the recipe for the Best Ever Energy Bar adapted from an existing energy bar
Chef Sam Robertson below of Bartlett Lodge prepares a noodle salad for hikers that offers a range of textures and flavours that provide new surprises with each mouthful for quite a long time after one starts eating recipe by substituting Best Ever for other ingredients We ve been making these for about a year now Richter says The kids love them they really do It delivers everything that an energy bar or even a candy bar does It s super healthy You can eat it all without guilt Next on our culinary trek we will tread deep into one of Canada s most iconic trail destinations the vast and magnificent Algonquin Park in search of the perfect picnic lunch From a landing on Cache Lake about 23 kilometres in from the West Gate on Hwy 60 it s a short ferry ride to Bartlett Lodge a homey and rustic cottage resort that celebrated 100 years of continuous service last year Chef Sam Robertson is a graduate of George Brown College s cooking school in Toronto and a 24 year veteran of the culinary trade He has travelled all over the world to cook India Nepal Costa Rica Mexico Italy Malaysia Vietnam Laos Cambodia and Thailand Recipes Best Ever Energy Bar Matt Richter Best Ever Foods Ingredients 10 Medjool dates cup Best Ever cup hemp seed cup coconut flakes 2 Tbsp coconut oil 4 Tbsp raw cacao powder Method Combine all ingredients in a highpowered blender pulse 7 to 8 times 3 to 4 seconds per pulse stirring between each pulse until the dates are finely chopped or to your own preference Press into a glass dish with a lid and refrigerate for one hour then cut into bars Tip keep bars cool as you go to prevent them from getting gooey Unless you like them gooey where he learned among other things that Thai chefs use cilantro stems in their curries reserving the leaves for garnishes Having grown up in Bradford he s also cooked from coast to coast in Canada and writes columns on cuisine for the National Observer Not surprisingly Robertson has hiked throughout the park as well as hiking the Alberta Rockies Vancouver Island Australia and a park in the Himalayas beloved by Everest conqueror Edmund Hillary I found a way I like to cook tofu says Robertson We had a daily salad so I was looking for something different I tried vinaigrette with five spice powder Did your eyes just pop He goes on I wanted something slightly different but still accessible not so unusual that people don t want to eat it I find when you do a vegetarian dish it has to have a range of textures and flavours Vegetarians tend to be a little more curious that way The resulting noodle salad has such a range of textures and flavours that new surprises keep hitting your palate for quite a long time after you ve started eating The five spice works beautifully somehow with the Dijon Roasted sesame seeds add a lovely nuttiness to the sweetness of peppers and edamame You can make anything delicious by layering on fat sugar and salt Robertson philosophizes but it shouldn t dominate Indeed Where s the challenge in that September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 59
Soba Noodle Salad with Five Spice Vinaigrette Sam Robertson Bartlett s Lodge Note Chef Robertson prefers metric recipes because he says They re more precise Ingredients 500 ml or 2 cups cooked Soba noodles 1 block extra firm tofu diced 1 red pepper julienned 80 ml or 1 3 cup edamame cooked and shelled 3 green onions finely sliced 15 ml or 1 Tbsp sesame seeds toasted Fresh cilantro to taste 45 ml or 3 Tbsp soy sauce 10 ml or 2 tsp sesame oil 45 ml or 3 Tbsp cooking oil he uses sunflower CALL TODAY 705 787 1401 chad roll onpainting com w w w rol l o npainting co m Method Place a pan on the stove over medium high heat and allow to heat up for five minutes Add oil wait 30 seconds then add tofu Once it is seared on most sides turn off heat and add soy sauce and sesame oil Shake the pan to coat the tofu evenly and cool For the dressing GBS Contracting Inc Proudly Serving Muskoka for over 20 years We get the job done ROOFING SIDING DOORS WINDOWS GENERAL CONSTRUCTION Where one call does it all 2288 Highway 11 North Gravenhurst Ontario P1P 1R1 705 687 9143 info gbscontrac ng com www gbscontrac ng com We ll take care of your propane needs for your home cottage or business Serving Muskoka Gravenhurst Haliburton Barrie Simcoe County www budgetpropaneontario com Budget Propane Sales Service 705 687 5608 Toll Free 1 888 405 7777 60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 30ml or 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 15ml or 1 Tbsp five spice powder 90ml or 6 Tbsp maple syrup 45ml or 3 Tbsp soy sauce 250ml or 1 cup red wine vinegar 500ml or 2 cups vegetable oil Place all ingredients except the oil in a blender With blender running slowly add oil Combine the noodles edamame and red peppers in a large mixing bowl Mix in desired amount of dressing Divide into four bowls Garnish with tofu green onion cilantro and sesame seeds Enjoy Chef s Tips To get the tofu crisp on the outside You need to let the oil get nice and hot Robertson advises People make the mistake of stirring too soon leave it It sticks initially but once it s caramelized it ll unstick Meat lovers can substitute chicken salmon trout or barbecued pork for the tofu To keep the cilantro fresh while hiking put in a separate container or on top of the other ingredients
The recipe for sweet and savoury chicken is an original for Chef Jamie Weaver and new on The Norsemen s menu this summer It provides a hearty meal after a day of hiking A Muskoka Dining Tradition The boat is waiting take a boat ride to dinner at Algonquin Park s most acclaimed Dining Room For reservations please call 705 633 5543 www bartlettlodge com A Muskoka Tradition for 39 Years Representing 100 Canadian artists John Doherty Incomparably detailed loons canoe paddles 1073 Fox Point Road Dwight 705 635 1602 oxtonguecraftcabin com telling the Muskoka story featuring Tilley Clothing Hats SEE US AT OUR RETAIL LOCATION 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61
We now offer AIR MILES Reward Miles Beautiful Floors Naturally HARDWOOD LAMINATE VINYL CARPET CERAMIC NATURAL STONE CORK WINDOW COVERINGS MORE Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B V Used under license by LoyaltyOne Co Carpet One Floor Home MODERN HOME CARPET ONE 350 Ecclestone Drive Bracebridge 705 645 2443 carpetonebracebridge ca SERVING MUSKOKA LAKES FOR 4 GENERATIONS TAYLOR CARPET ONE 30 Cairns Crescent Huntsville 705 789 9259 taylorcarpetonehuntsville com Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream Septic Systems Licensed Installer Crafted on Site Chocolates Confections Specializing in Island Septic Systems Barging of all Materials Dock Building Excavating Muskoka Roastery Coffee Rick s Buttertarts Fudge Retro Sweets Nut gluten sugar dairy free treats and kosher vegan friendly options C W B Certified BROWNING ISLAND JOHN ARCHER 705 645 9586 705 646 3015 johnarcher live com 62 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018 www mommabears biz We end our tasty jaunt with an after hike dinner at The Norsemen Restaurant located on Walker Lake about 14 kilometres from downtown Huntsville The building is 93 years old and held up by 12 by 12 inch posts and beams the sort of wood you simply can t get new Currently being renovated by new owners who acquired it in August of last year The Norsemen has long been appreciated for dishes such as Duck Confit Pan Seared Trout Kalentil Salad or Sweet and Savoury Chicken The head chef is Jamie Weaver originally from the Alliston Barrie area and now in his third year at The Norsemen Cuisine is in Weaver s blood his parents own a restaurant in Nicaragua He began working in eateries at age 18 attended cooking school in Vancouver and then in his 20s travelled through southeast Asia South America and Australia learning new cooking tricks all the way He ended up settling in the community of Oxtongue Lake Chef Weaver says he enjoys the outdoors but wouldn t call himself an avid hiker I ve been very fortunate to have done quite a few memorable hikes in my travels though he says Two among many are Volcano Maderas in Nicaragua and Croagh Patrick in Ireland Nowadays I mostly just enjoy walking with my dog he says Once I return I like to find a nice patio and enjoy a hearty meal and some cold local beverages The recipe for sweet and savoury chicken is original to Chef Weaver and new on the Norsemen menu this summer It s popular with the clientele and also Norsemen manager Rob Duncan who confesses that he eats it at least once a week The bacon and onion enhanced kale is delicate and juicy but what really makes this dish is the glaze sweet and hot all at once a terrific foil for the delicacy of white meat You just want to keep eating it Kale s really healthy says Weaver I thought I d make it unhealthy with bacon and butter Everybody likes sweet chicken You can t go wrong It pleases the kids pleases grandma and everybody in between It s true The day after visiting the Norsemen your intrepid reporter tried just the chicken portion of this recipe at home and even with my amateur degree of skill it was to die for
Recipes Sweet and Savoury Chicken with Braised Kale Jamie Weaver The Norsemen Honey Mustard Glaze Ingredients 1 4 cup grainy mustard homemade is better 1 4 cup honey 1 tsp hot mustard powder salt and pepper to taste Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly Sweet and Savoury Chicken Ingredients 2 chicken breasts skin on bone in serves two Method Warm oven to 450 F season chicken with salt and pepper Heat an ovenproof pan at medium high until hot add 2 Tbsp of oil vegetable canola or sunflower then carefully add chicken skin side down Sear for a minute then place pan in oven Flip once skin is crispy about five minutes cover in glaze and let finish cooking at 350 to 160F on meat thermometer 8 10 minutes Braised Kale Ingredients 2 heaping handfuls of kale not chopped 3 slices thick cut bacon cut into lardons an onion sliced cup white wine 3 cloves garlic finely chopped grated or pressed 1 Tbsp butter Salt and pepper to taste Method Heat another ovenproof pan on medium heat and add bacon Once bacon fat starts to render add onions and garlic Place kale in pan with salt and pepper pour in wine and cover with a lid Place in 350F degree oven for 10 minutes or more if you want the kale to be very soft Remove and mix in butter Place the chicken atop the kale and serve with extra honey mustard mixture Chef s Tips Don t use olive oil as its burn point is too low You can use the same oven for both chicken and kale Or try it on the barbecue Happy hiking and bon app tit Chef Jamie Weaver with his hearty dish Sweet and Savoury Chicken with Braised Kale Experience everything Muskoka has to offer in a refreshingly affordable and revitalized environment Pine Lodge Muskoka offers 10 guest rooms and 4 suites with over 2 000 sq ft of dining and lounge space that caters to a variety of unique meetings events retreats and weddings pinelodgemuskoka com 705 385 2271 Located in Port Sydney ON Canada 484 Muskoka Road 10 MONDAY WING NIGHTS 8 95 lb bestwingsinmuskoka September 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63
Muskoka Moments Outrunning Pig By Scott Young get whether they live in town Pig was a medium small on a bush lot or on the lake white dog with short hair a These days I am focussed on large head and a pink muzzle promoting nature conservation It belonged to a cottage working with Muskoka neighbour at Lake of Bays Conservancy I m proud to say and when I was 10 or so Pig our group has been able to was always on the loose create a patchwork of protected I remember arriving at the areas across the district and we cottage a week later than are determined to add to it My usual one year Upon arrival personal motivation I m sure my brother sister and I is rooted in some of those bumped into a neighbour childhood memories like the John who d been there since ones I mentioned above What school ended it amounts to is this I don t Let s go for a swim said want to imagine Muskoka John without nature and wildness We said sure and John Without Lake trout Without said something like last one Childhood memories have informed Scott Young s perspective on future sparkling clean water forests in is a dirty rotten egg and development in Muskoka trails wetlands and turtles he took off running full speed Imagine Muskoka without bears No thanks around because he was busy triangulating barefoot on the gravel road We took off in What I have learned from my grandfather our position When we idled onto a certain pursuit none of us wanting to be the rotten and from reporting Muskoka s stories and spot he d give me the nod and I got to drop egg but within a step or two we were from sharing a few beers with old timers on a Secchi disc a tool used to help the lake tiptoeing gingerly slowed down by our soft council is if there s going to be space for association determine the water quality in suburban feet more and more people in Muskoka we need Lake of Bays Ooh ah ouch Every step was to take very specific steps to make sure wild Many people I know who spent summers torturously painful That is until Pig came Muskoka survives in Muskoka can go on and on with these charging around the bend Those steps may be uncomfortable like kinds of stories Love of Muskoka that s It s Pig we shouted as we leapt off the running barefoot on gravel but it s dock just ahead of the snarling pink muzzle ingrained in childhood I have thought is absolutely necessary if you want to escape Thankfully Pig didn t swim We were safe completely unshakeable the charging Pig Later in life I was lucky enough to land a in the lake job as a reporter with the Bracebridge Within a few days our feet were covered Examiner and able to move to Muskoka full in globs of blackened pine pitch and time Often I wrote stories about people s toughened up A bathing suit and T shirt Passionate about balancing the needs of stories Muskoka has some real characters was pretty much all we needed for clothes community and the natural environment Scott Some of those characters even run for We d put on shoes for only two reasons one Young is executive director of Muskoka local office and my own Muskoka if Mom made us go with her to Stinking experience really went into hyper drive when Conservancy where he has overall strategic and Creek Road where the coin laundry was at I ran for Muskoka District Council in 2000 operational responsibilities for its land trust A and two to go to weekly bingo at the For 14 years council allowed me to continue registered charity Muskoka Conservancy also Baysville arena where you could win a crisp engages people in outdoor activities and roving around learning to understand the 2 bill for yelling BINGO What a thrill stewardship experiences that inspire caring for deep passion Muskoka folks have for their Not everything was as topsy turvy as all the natural environment Young lives in neighbourhoods There s a wide range of that I remember how serious it was to be Bracebridge with Martha Armstrong and their circumstances in Muskoka but there seems invited to go out on the lake with my to be no variance in how fired up people can son Winston Grampa Harry We d always putt putt 64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2018
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