June 2018 Issue 11
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JUNE 2018 ALBION ARTISTS Locks and canals link Muskoka Creating Co operatively The story of two pioneer families Sightings generate a passion for birding
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Your trusted name in Muskoka waterfront for years 40 Here today Here tomorrow Please drop in our of ce in Port Carling next to Scotiabank Saturday July 7 2018 1 00PM to 3 00PM and share in our celebrations LAKE ROSSEAU 2 995 000 LAKE MUSKOKA 1 395 000 LAKE ROSSEAU 1 250 000 MILFORD BAY 699 000 BRACEBRIDGE 315 000 SOLD BRUCE LAKE 1 025 000 Photo Lyle McIntyre w e esta Mu k k c 705 765 6176 Richard Wallace Real Estate Limited Brokerage Broker of Record Broker Sales Representative
telling the Muskoka story 46 Living together working together the story of two pioneer families By Meghan Smith The Wallace and Pain families boast deep roots in Muskoka Their beginnings in Muskoka started during the land grant era and they have stayed in the area since with the land continuing to be a big part of their lives 54 20 Features 20 Farmers Markets A Local Shopping Experience By Meghan Smith Almost every day of the week in eight Muskoka communities local vendors gather to sell their goods Market goers can search for their weekly groceries at fresh produce stalls select meats and cheeses for weekend entertaining or pick up delicious baked goods for dessert or brunch 26 Locks and Canals An Essential Service in Muskoka By J Patrick Boyer Muskoka s canals locks channels and dams address differences in Muskoka watershed saving time earning money and providing safety Muskoka without these navigation aids would still be good but not the jewel it has become 2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 34 Arts at the Albion Creating New Life for a Historic Building By Heather Glumac The Arts at the Albion in Gravenhurst is a co op that features artists from all over Muskoka Gravenhurst Washago Bala and Bracebridge Artists have joined together in the historic Albion building and amassed bodies of work one would expect to see in a major urban gallery Igniting a Passion for Birding in Muskoka By Doug Smith Birding can be as passive as observing the birds at a winter bird feeder or enjoying the backyard antics of hummingbirds during the summertime Then a rare bird sighting or other notable event changes a pastime into an obsession 40 Boat Building Evolves in Muskoka By Tim Du Vernet Running a boat building shop isn t an easy task There are so many parts to the job Like any good business the basis for success is respecting customers with honesty and fairness While Muskoka s boat builders are transitioning they remain true to these values 54
DEFINING DETAILS Building Your Legacy 4 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018 705 765 5253 705 645 9095 lakeridgedevelopments com Jamie Watkinson jamie lakeridgedevelopments com Dave Watkinson dave lakeridgedevelopments com
62 Opinion Departments 9 Muskoka Calendar 11 Muskoka Insights Muskoka s June calendar is offering events and activities for those of many different interests There s a choice from art exhibits to antique car shows and from community yard sales to triathlons Take a look and add these events to your calendar By Don Smith 68 Muskoka Moments By Jane Templeton 62 Cottage Country Cuisine Rhubarb firm red juicy tangy nutrition loaded stems bursting up out of the ground Strawberries scarlet shining multi bite crunchy berries exploding with their inimitable sweet flavour Both these glorious fruits of the field are taste staples of Muskoka cuisine 60 What s Happened JUNE 2018 ALBION ARTISTS Locks and canals link Muskoka Creating Co operatively The story of two pioneer families Sightings generate a passion for birding With municipal election campaigns ramping up the release of the Muskoka Watershed Report Card a swim to draw attention to water quality and other updates there s a number of newsworthy reports in this issue Our Cover Photograph by Andy Zeltkalns Cindy Kelly s upcycled jewelry and sculptures are on display at Arts at the Albion in Gravenhurst 11 June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5
telling the Muskoka story Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc Donald Smith Publisher and Editor Donna Ansley Sales Lisa Brazier Design Susan Smith Administration J Patrick Boyer Larry Carroll Heather Douglas Brendan Duggan Tim Du Vernet Andrew Elsdon Lindsay Fetterley Coles Heather Glumac Dawn Huddlestone Eleanor Kee Wellman Lyndsie McGregor Sandy Schofield Doug Smith Meghan Smith Tomasz Szumski Karen Wehrstein Andy Zeltkalns Contributors Annual Subscription Rates including HST where applicable In Ontario 30 00 All Other Provinces 36 00 U S 45 00 All Other Countries 59 00 HST 773172721 Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number 43268016 Copyright 2018 Unique Publishing Inc No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher Mailing Address Box 616 Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9 Street Address 28 Manitoba St Bracebridge ON P1L 1S1 www uniquemuskoka com info uniquemuskoka com 705 637 0204 6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
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Muskoka Insights of Unique Muskoka I find as much as things have changed they remain the same Despite living out of town boredom was never a part of my vocabulary as a youth A look at the list of events in this month s Muskoka Calendar has something for a wide variety of interests there s no need to not be involved There s also many ways to be a part of the community such as visiting one of the nine farmers markets that feature local producers and artisans A regular stroll through these outdoor shopping experiences is certain to develop friendships with both customers and vendors Or you might want to head out for a hike with the district s avid birders For another sense of community and creativity you can explore Arts at the Albion the co operative that showcases the works of 20 Muskoka artisans If you re looking for a good read and a better understanding of Muskoka s early development you could turn to one of three features Locks and Canals Extend Navigation an insight into the development of water transportation Boat Building Evolves in Muskoka that explores the transition that is underway in this famed industry or Living Together Working Together the story of the deep roots of the Wallace and Pain families who have shared common interests since Muskoka s earliest days Wrapping up this issue is Jane Templeton s fitting recollections of growing up in Bala Happy reading Photograph Susan Smith This month is a bit of a celebration for me It s been a full 50 years since my family moved from the suburbs of Toronto to the small Muskoka community of Glen Orchard It was a bit of a leap of faith Neither of my parents had secured employment Not unlike the early settlers they had confidence their skills and hard work would secure them a future As we landed at our new home with the moving van in close pursuit the discovery of carpenters tools and wood shavings was I am certain more than a little disheartening for my parents The work on our new home had not been finished as had been confirmed Fully committed at this point and not to be deterred everyone jumped into action A quick clean up made room for the movers The finishing touches on the house would wait for another day In my mid teens I had enjoyed lazy vacations in Muskoka but I wasn t quite as certain what life would be like during the long winters up north New friends A new school Not only were we leaving behind city life but our locale was remote away from any major Muskoka community It was a half hour bus ride to and from classes My embrace of Muskoka however didn t take long Three years later when I graduated from secondary school in Bracebridge I was one of the few who didn t want to escape the pull of Muskoka The smell of pines the freshness of a dewy morning the relaxation of a day on the water they replaced any youthful desire for action in the big city It had been my plan to take a year off before heading away to further my education Within weeks I was fortunate to find employment as a reporter photographer under the mentorship of longtime Muskoka publisher and editor R J Bob Boyer The rest as is commonly said is history So started my career in publishing As I look through the line up in this issue 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 June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9
YOUR BEDROOM RUSTIC DINING SOFAS EXPERIENCE ENTERTAINMENT AWAITS HOME DECOR w w w muskokaf u rnitu re n e t 1 9 5 Wel l i n g to n St r eet Brace b rid ge 7 0 5 6 4 5 8 1 8 3 MATTRESSES
Muskoka Calendar Lloyd Walton s paintings captivate the eye and mind He is a multi talented person a writer a painter and an award winning cinematographer with a flair for detail in all three disciplines The exhibition All Roads Lead to Home The Works of Lloyd Walton showcases Walton s paintings of landscapes architecture and objects from all across Canada framed and rendered with a cinematographer s eye so as to tell their stories with a writer s candor It s on now at the Chapel Gallery in Bracebridge ending June 16 muskokaartsandcrafts com Chapel_Gallery Next_Show next_show htm On June 2 the village of Port Sydney will indulge in its annual festival of tidying and haggling at the 19th annual Port Sydney Village Wide Yard Sale More than 50 vendors will offer everything imaginable under the sun from your everyday useful items to the occasional real treasures for a steal you can luck out by finding There s just 50 times more of them than at your usual sale Venue all over Port Sydney Drive or walk around and look for tables and then lobster lobster lobster Wrap up your Port Sydney day at the fourth annual Port Sydney Lobsterfest where you can stuff yourself with fresh East Coast lobster and the beverage of your choice accompanied by live music Presented by the local Lions Club it happens at the Port Sydney Community Hall on the evening of June 2 and all proceeds go to The Table Food Bank and local Lions Club projects raceroster com events 2018 17591 lobsterfest of port sydney Photograph Andrew Elsdon Deals deals deals at mega yard sale Huntsville s Band on the Run race which is being held June 9 has a tradition of being a totally different sport event including a fun race for kids Huntsville s most rocking race is Band on the Run the Faith Bon Jovi tribute and Soul 45 joining them Other running events have their T shirts and their after parties but it s only Band on the Run that has stages all through the course with live bands rocking you to the finish line Happening on June 9 in Huntsville this amazing cross over event has a race for every level of mobility from the kids fun run to the 5 km walk to the half marathon and a wide variety of musical acts as well Performers on the course this year are Christine Heron Sean Cotton Clayton Earl Tobin Spring Slow Motion Walker Overdrives Paul Noonan Scott Gilson Tonic Lane Band Tony Clement really Rich Howard Band and Zack FitzSimmons This year s post race concert which you get into free if you register as a runner is headlined by Jonesy with Keep Enjoy SS Bigwin cruising and community barbecue bandontherun ca Every year the village of Dorset celebrates the start of summer with the SS Bigwin Community Barbecue offering free cruises aboard the beautifully restored SS Bigwin first come first served and free delicious barbecued food generously donated by local supermarkets This year it happens from 10 a m to 1 p m at the Dorset docks on June 10 Music will be provided by the Moose FM street team and face painting is by Fluffy Feet Face Painting At the same time Dorset Community Health Hub is offering an Open House at 1096 Main ssbigwin com communitybbq June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11
Photograph Larry Carroll It s the 25th anniversary of the Gravenhurst Car Show on June 16 with over 400 gleaming vehicles anticipated to be on display Gravenhurst Op presents play about worst opera singer ever As part of its Summer Theatre Season the Gravenhurst Opera House presents Souvenir a play by Stephen Temperley starring Mary Pitt and Clive Walton Heroine Florence Foster Jenkins is one of these characters you couldn t make up a real life 20s socialite and amateur soprano famed for her spectacular costumes and not so spectacular singing voice Time Out NY called the play a memorable illustration of the real limits of self perception and of the purely theatrical magic that can turn the tinniest ear to gold It runs June 12 to July 13 gravenhurst ca en opera shows asp Businesses of Muskoka Lakes roll out their best at the Kee On June 15 the annual Spotlight on Muskoka Lakes at The Kee to Bala will showcase businesses within the Township of Muskoka Lakes offering their best including fabulous food from local restaurants food producers and resorts and a silent auction OCCUPANCY SUMMER 2019 www WaterfrontatGrandview com 12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
table with many fabulous items to choose from Beverley Mahood and friends will provide the live entertainment This is the first time the Spotlight has been held on Friday allowing weekend Muskoka visitors to partake of the fare and fun It runs from 6 to 9 p m muskokalakeschamber ca event spotlight on muskoka lakes at the kee Gravenhurst Car Show shines it up for 25th anniversary Car enthusiasts from Muskoka and beyond should mark June 16 on their calendars and then converge upon the Gravenhurst Car Show billed as the largest in northern Ontario with more than 400 gleaming steel and chrome beauties on display As usual the show will happen on the wooded shore of Gull Lake Rotary Park and there will be judging voting 1950s music shuttles to the show from Gravenhurst fun kids activities vendors and food trucks and door prizes For the show s silver anniversary the theme is silver VERANDA gravenhurstcarshow com Put Dad on the Bigwin with suds sampling for his day If your dad likes boats and beer nothing could be more perfect for a gift outing than the Father s Day Beer Tasting Cruise aboard the restored historical steamship SS Bigwin on June 16 embarking from the Baysville docks The cruise lasts an hour and a quarter and a variety of brews are available for one 12 oz glass and five small samplings provided by the Lake of Bays Brewing Company who ll give Dad and you a tour of their facilities as well The cruise runs three times at noon 2 p m and 4 p m ssbigwin com fathers day beer cruise You re never too old for a model train show The Muskoka Model Railway Show happens June 16 and 17 at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds JD Lang Activity Park 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 June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 13
Presented by the South Muskoka Model Railway Club the show will feature everything model train enthusiasts need and want operating layouts dioramas with running mini trains for you to admire how to clinics on model trains and vendors selling model train supplies The Lions Club will also provide a barbecue muskokamodelrailwayclub org Photograph Lindsay Fetterley Coles Father s Day Car Show another fun outing for Dad Local artisans will be displaying throughout downtown Gravenhurst June 23 when the community hosts its Spring into Summer Art Crawl that features many activities It s not just Gravenhurst that has a treat for the whitewall and fins crowd but Bracebridge too so if your father is part of that crowd you can bring him to the Father s Day Car Show June 17 in downtown Bracebridge As well as 150 shined to glittering special interest vehicles there will be live music and great food extending along Manitoba St and Memorial Park from 9 a m to 3 p m downtownbracebridge com visiting Guaranteed for life Not to Wear Out Insured Against Loss Floats Repels Rain Crushable Packable Excellent UV Protection OPENING IN JUNE AT 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE 705 637 0204 14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
It s summer time for Muskoka art to open its doors The Spring into Summer Art Crawl happens all day on June 23 in downtown Gravenhurst In Trillium Court and along Muskoka Road South not just the art galleries but other sponsor businesses will display the work of local artists and artisans See and buy all media jewelry clothing pottery wood carving painting sculpture print making glass and much more facebook com SpringIntoSummerArtCrawl Huntsville born and raised singer songwriter Alexis Taylor showed musical inclinations early Photograph Sandy Schofield One woman show features homegrown vocalist Alexis Taylor South Muskoka Model Railway Club will be hosting its annual show including model railroading clinics June 16 and 17 at the Bracebridge Fairgrounds building 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 x 48 June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15
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in life writing her first song at age 12 and learning guitar soon after During her high school years she played local venues such as Deerhurst Resort Hidden Valley Resort the Gravenhurst Opera House and the Algonquin Theatre After studying at Berklee School of Music she performed throughout North America In the summer of 2016 she began her international career by opening for Doug Seegers On June 23 Alexis will return to the Algonquin to delight her hometown fans tickets algonquintheatre ca TheatreManager 1 tmEvent tmEvent1256 html Pure fun comes in tiny boats at Powerboat Races The Muskoka Powerboat Races happen June 23 and 24 on Gull Lake near Gravenhurst featuring three categories of boats hydroplanes runabouts and t boats They re all small most custom built at home by handy competitors and all fast enough for great excitement The event is presented by the Toronto Outboard Racing Club torc ca events html TriMuskokan offers a triathlon experience for everyone A goal should scare you a little and excite you a lot That s the motto of the TriMuskokan which happens in Huntsville on June 24 The goal of its organizers is to present enough levels and variants of the triathlon experience swimming running and bicycling to draw in people who have never dared to attempt it The Try a Tri is comprised of a 400 metre swim 2 5 km run and 10 km bike course you can also split the exertion by doing a longer course as a relay or try the swim bike event or the duathlon run bike run Races are categorized by age group trimuskoka com events trimuskokan Start your paddling on Canoe Day in Gravenhurst In celebration of National Canoe Day June 26 the Muskoka Discovery Centre presents a paddle celebration on the nearest Sunday June 24 Bring your canoe kayak paddleboard or whatever human powered vessel you ve got at 10 a m for a one hour guided paddle around Steamship Bay suitable for beginner to intermediate paddlers Then a First Nations blessing will be performed by an elder Stay around to see paddle making and costumed paddlers realmuskoka com event canoe daymuskoka discovery centre Artist takes us on a pragmatic space journey The hard science fictionesque exhibition Clank Sculptures and Drawings by Brendan Duggan will be on at the Chapel Gallery in excelrailings ca 705 646 2508 June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 17
Bracebridge from June 23 to July 14 This work as a whole builds a narrative for what an early space colony might require remarks the artist Pieces represent vehicles such as space transports taxis mining trucks and more In Clank Brendan Duggan continues his exploration of spaceships that are needed for space exploration including transports taxis mining trucks and other vehicles Reception on opening day 1 to 4 p m muskokaartsandcrafts com Calendar_of_Events Get nostalgic in Bala at this show and sale The Bala Antique and Nostalgia Show and Sale happens 6 to 9 p m June 29 10 a m to 5 p m June 30 and 10 a m to 4 p m July 1 with 40 exhibitors offering formal and country furniture decorative accents jewelry vintage and Victoriana treasures It takes place at the Bala Sports Arena 1009 Maple Ave Parking is free and refreshments available 18 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 Brendan Duggan s display Clank will take visitors to the Chapel Gallery on a tour into future space travel from June 23 to July 14 Photographs Brendan Duggan calendar_of_events htm
Q7F Q Picture Experience an incredible picture with Quantum dot technology QLED provides consistently bright true to life colours that last with no burn in over time guaranteed 1 Q Style Your Samsung QLED TV is designed to complete a seamless entertainment space with minimal wires and Ambient Mode2 which adds value to your QLED as an information hub and wall d cor Q Smart The intuitive Smart Hub allows you to enjoy a seamless and instant browsing experience Your QLED TV now connects with Bixby3 so you can control your TV simply by talking to it Samsung QLED is Quantum dot based TV 2018 Samsung Electronics Canada Inc All rights reserved Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd used with permission 1 Burn in is a permanent defect in areas of a TV display that can be caused by cumulative effects of displaying the same image or scene for long periods of time sometimes even as little as one hour In the event of burn in from normal consumer use Samsung Customer Service 1 800 726 7864 will either repair or replace at its option the 2018 QLED TV with a similar model This guarantee requires a valid serial number valid picture proof of burn in and product registration on Samsung com starting from May 1st 2017 Does not cover fraudulent claims or claims of burn in resulting from negligence or improper use of TV Repair or replacement typically occurs within 2 3 weeks but could take longer 2 The Ambient Mode background setting feature may vary depending on the environment where the TV is installed including but not limited to wall designs patterns and or colours 3 Samsung Account log in and data network connection Wi Fi or data network are required to use Bixby User interface design is subject to change Not all features available at launch Bixby recognizes select languages Others to be supported Using Bixby Voice may be limited under certain situations Bixby Voice is designed to recognize certain US English accents and dialects Some Bixby features may not be available depending on country region or language muskoka LEON S BRACEBRIDGE 6 Robert Dollar Drive Bracebridge ON www muskokaleons com 705 645 2279 LEON S HUNTSVILLE 67 Silverwood Drive Huntsville ON www facebook com LeonsMuskoka 705 789 5589
A LOCAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Andy Zeltkalns 20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
Anna McKenzie welcomes visitors to a floral display at the Bracebridge Farmers Market The Bracebridge market is held Saturday mornings Opposite Gravenhurst Farmers Market draws many vendors and large crowds to the Muskoka Wharf every Wednesday T he beginning of summer in Muskoka is marked by traditions Kicking off the season can be the first trip to the cottage the first swim in the lake or the first boat ride Across the many communities in Muskoka summer also marks the beginning of weekly farmers markets Almost every day of the week in eight Muskoka communities local vendors gather to sell their goods Market vendors provide an opportunity for the public to find a treasure in the marketplace that is not always sold in any retail location Throughout the summer we attend both the Gravenhurst and Bracebridge markets as a family says Bracebridge resident Bailey Burke Gravenhurst s is much bigger and hosts a lot more vendors But I love that I m able to walk down with my family early Saturday mornings and pick up what I need at the one here in Bracebridge Market goers can search for their weekly groceries at fresh produce stalls select meats and cheeses for weekend entertaining or pick up delicious baked goods for dessert or brunch I m able to buy fresh farm grown local produce and foods at the market explains Burke The quality is exceptional and the experience is more enjoyable If I can support local business I like to put my money towards that Local farmers often have starter plants for sale including herbs perennials or annuals and sometimes even fresh cut flowers for market goers to take home and brighten their kitchen or dining room At our booth shoppers can definitely expect to find everything lavender inspired from natural botanical skin care to bath and body explains Shanna Todd owner of Muskoka Lavender a vendor at both the Rosseau and Gravenhurst Farmers Markets I make all of my skincare products by hand I even create fresh organic wild crafted lavender tea bouquets picked fresh from our little farm Vendors selling handmade vinegars jams and jellies maple syrup and more at farmers markets bring customers premium products crafted from local supplies The ability to shop for everyday groceries at a market is an experience instead of a chore I normally go for fresh produce and things like local honey and Milford Bay smoked trout explains Kelsey Davis a former cottager and now a Muskoka resident I like to know the food came from the June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 21
LINGERIE BRA FITTING BOUTIQUE Sizes A H Cup Top Brands like Wacoal Chantelle Paris Simone Perele Marlies Dekkers PJ Salvage area and to support some of the smaller farmers around We have a core group of vendors each week but also have guest vendors that change each week explains Tricia Markle 100 K Market manager in Huntsville The 100 K Market requires vendors sell items that are grown made or processed within 100 kilometres of Huntsville Exploring a Farmers Market is not just a shopping experience but also an opportunity to socialize People are newly engaged in knowing where their food has been grown and shopping at a local farmers market allows for that in a way a supermarket cannot Markets are nice because they can be a social outing as opposed to just going to the grocery store like a chore says Davis It s much nicer to be shopping outside in the sun as well Port Carling hosts its farmers market on Thursdays Visit us this summer in our NEW LOCATION 34 Manitoba Street Downtown Bracebridge as we celebrate 7 years www littleblackbow ca littleblackbow 705 645 7734 22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 I think it s a fun and important experience for Gage our son to learn to appreciate comments Burke I feel much better about serving hormone and pesticide free foods on the table Plus it s a great way to spend the morning shopping outdoors We usually grab some snacks or treats and come home to enjoy them on the deck We ve had the full support of the Town and the local BIA for six years says Markle of the 100 K market in Huntsville We started off being visited mostly by tourists as locals stayed away from downtown on a Saturday But now we see more locals coming
Farmers Market Schedule Town Location Time Season BALA Jaspen Park Mondays 9 a m to 2 p m DWIGHT 1009 Dwight Beach Rd Tuesdays 10 a m to 2 p m GRAVENHURST Muskoka Wharf Bay Street Wednesdays 9 a m to 2 p m PORT CARLING Hanna Park 40 Bailey Street Thursdays 9 a m to 2 p m HUNTSVILLE Canadian Tire Parking Lot Thursdays 9 a m to 2 p m 77 King William Street ROSSEAU End of Short Street Fridays 9 a m to 2 p m BAYSVILLE Baysville Country Store Fridays 2 p m to 6 p m 2611 Muskoka Rd 117 BRACEBRIDGE Memorial Park Saturdays 8 30 a m to 1 p m 130 Manitoba Street HUNTSVILLE West Street South Saturdays 9 a m to 2 p m 100 K Market June 25 to September 3 2018 June 26 to August 28 2018 May 16 to October 31 2018 June 28 to August 30 2018 May 17 to October 4 2018 June 29 to August 31 2018 June 29 to August 31 2018 May 19 to October 6 2018 June 16 to September15 2018 THE RIOBEL MOMENTI COLLECTION AVAILABLE AT KNOWLES PLUMBING BAT H KITC H E N S H OW RO O M DESIGN INSTALLATION REPAIR S E RVING A LL OF M USKOKA 279 MA N ITOBA ST BR AC EBR ID G E 70 5 6 4 5 2 67 1 K NOWLESP LUMB IN G COM MUSKOKA BATH June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 23
Karla Holt offers her soups stews and other snacks at the Bala Farmers Market in Jaspen Park out to pick up their organic meats or fresh produce The market really adds more life to the downtown on weekends I get to meet many different people locals tourists cottagers says Bonnie Bews of Hinterglas Paintings an artisan and member of the Gravenhurst Farmers Market for over 10 years I get to expose my work to people who may have never seen my work before People are not as intimidated to come and look at your work or ask questions Bews showcases her own artwork including original paintings greetings cards prints and children s books she has illustrated at her stall Many artists showcase works in progress and one of a kind pieces as well as signature works of art They have the opportunity to take home something that is not found in the big box stores explains Bews Our work is special unique one of a kind We take pride in our craft and it s always nice to meet 24 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 the people who appreciate our work I buy lots of gifts for people at the market says Burke As far as arts and crafts they re unique and one of a kind A piece of Muskoka to give Leisurely strolling from stall to stall market attendees speak with artisans selling their woodworking pottery art and photographs while discovering the artists inspiration Farmers and producers share their story as well as their product with anyone perusing their display Whether a cottager tourist or local farmers markets hold memorable opportunities and fresh experiences for those who spend time in Muskoka
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Port Sandfield was a hub for summer activity In this photograph the swing bridge is open as a crowded steamer comes through the cut with boats moored everywhere Prospect House guests and others fashionably enjoy a Muskoka day Article by J Patrick Boyer E verybody driving up Highway 11 enters Muskoka by crossing over a canal The 386 kilometre long Trent Severn waterway system linking Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario like other canals in Canada and elsewhere incorporates lakes and rivers with engineered channels and locks Depending on time and place such transportation corridors 26 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 serve trade commerce tourism and defence Muskoka s canals locks channels and dams fit a similar pattern to others around the world accommodating water level differences saving time earning money and providng safety The first to propose a canal in Muskoka was Canada s legendary explorer and mapmaker David Thompson In July 1837 when making a detailed study of this district s waters he encountered two sets of picturesque rapids on a loop of the river draining Lake Rosseau into Lake Muskoka Thompson also found Ojibwa villagers living at the same location many families in a permanent village called Obajewanung With two dozen log cabins domesticated dogs and
Photographs Micklethwaite Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives Photograph Aikens Historical Engraving Series Woodcut Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives Higher Lake Joseph was brought to Lake Rosseau s level by excavating a canal rather than building a lock This high footbridge across the canal is the earliest known image circa 1883 of the cut where Port Sandfield emerged Inset shows early edition of Prospect House cleared land growing potatoes corn and beans they also had numerous birchbark canoes to ply the lakes above and below the rapids Their carrying place lay on the left bank N 60 E 50 yd very good to a Bay of still water His measurements of the river s loop here record a strong Rapid abt 2 ft descent and about 260 yd above it a strong shoal Rapid of large Stones of abt 2 ft descent in all say 5 ft descent His conclusion easy to make a Lock Thompson envisaged improving navigation by cutting a channel with this lock across the same neck of land used by the Ojibwa as a portage to bypass the rapids whose drop in 1837 was five feet Three decades later Alexander Cockburn had become Muskoka s largest employer with lumbering retail and shipping operations He wanted a proper canal between Lakes Muskoka and Rosseau for his Gravenhurst based steamships Already with ingenious improvisation and herculean effort large vessels had been moved above the rapids so steamers were operating on the upper waters But real locks would make shipping more convenient facilitate economic growth and ease travel for fishermen and hunting parties travelling deeper into the District Two developments facilitated Cockburn s plan In the 1860s the Ojibwa families had been removed despite their opposition to a comparatively barren reserve on Parry Island in Georgian Bay Only a tiny reserve on one side of the riverbank remained Second Cockburn won election to the Ontario legislature as Muskoka s representative He traded votes in the House and influence with ministers for programs in his district In 1869 construction of the lock began That same year Obajewanung the Indian village was renamed Port Carling to the abiding satisfaction of Public Works Minister John Carling The Public Works engineers laid out the canal exactly where David Thompson proposed the carrying place of Indigenous peoples in Muskoka over the prior ten thousand years A hive of activity buzzed around a disorganized cluster of workers shanties recorded one of the stoneworkers pioneer settler Harry Boyer in his diary The 19 yearold dynamiting solid rock was blasting to June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27
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Photograph Ontario Archives Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives create a channel for the locks The arduous work continued into 1870 then 1871 Coffer dams created a water free work area Construction used timbers but when the hewn pine logs proved unable to hold back the water the first attempted structure was torn apart At least one man had drowned in the effort A new construction supervisor John L Shea took charge Men toiled down in the well to more closely fit squared timbers into stronger water tight walls By opening a channel through the neck of land they created an island in the centre of Port Carling Today it is named James Bartleman Park to honour Ontario s first Indigenous lieutenant governor who grew up in the village a descendent of the Ojibwa band who traditionally occupied the entire place Ready by 1872 the locks were put into service for central Muskoka lakes steamship traffic a major advance for Muskoka s settler society and Cockburn s steamship fleet The gates on the locks as well as the swing bridge were opened and closed many times a day throughout navigation season by the musclepower of two men usually the lockmaster and his assistant Meanwhile a canal and lock project was also underway to link north Muskoka waterways for navigation With a three metre difference in water levels between Fairy and Mary lakes the North Muskoka River draining the higher into the lower generated spectacular rapids crashing down 10 feet downstream from where the Brunel Road crossed the river A dam was built to back up the waterfalls and harness the force of their more concentrated drop for power to drive lumber milling operations From 1873 a sawmill began using the water s energy to turn logs into lumber shingles siding and flooring To use this same watercourse for navigation Ontario s Public Works engineers in 1873 laid out channels to bypass the dam and mill on its east side and a lock to accommodate the waters different elevations Constructed of timber this canal project continued during 1874 and was completed by 1875 The benefits were immediately realized as steamers began carrying passengers and freight between Huntsville upriver from Fairy Lake and Port Sydney at the foot of Mary Lake All social and commercial life around Mary Lake became more readily part of an extended four lake Top Rapids on the North Muskoka River between Fairy and Mary lakes were bypassed for navigation with locks that came into operation in 1875 The manual gates were operated by pushing on large projecting beams The Dortha a passenger vessel of the Huntsville Navigation Company is in the lock Above Construction is underway on locks at Port Carling The first attempt in 1869 was superseded by rebuilding with squared timbers community Walls of the Brunel Locks channel had to be repaired every year until reinforced by squared logs Even then they were rebuilt in 1890 and again in 1926 In 1947 a concrete facing was added Between 1987 and 1989 the locks were completely reconstructed using concrete and incorporating modern operating mechanisms Like the Brunel Locks Port Carling s locks demanded continuous attention after 1872 In 1902 and 1903 the lock was enlarged to accommodate longer steamships By1909 the lock gates needed replacement New oak ones were built As back up the old ones were sunk on recommendation of the public works superintendent to have them on hand in case of accident to the new gates During 1921 and 1922 major reconstruction of the Port Carling locks included a new swing bridge mounted on a round concrete base A great deal of steel was used delivered to Bala by train transported over winter ice by teams and sleighs and then in an era before cranes hoisted into place by a derrick pole At this time around the other side of the Port Carling island along the river s original course a new lock for small boats was also constructed In the 1950s Ontario Premier Leslie Frost launched his historic site marker program by unveiling the Province s first in Port Carling Water transportation so vital to the early farmers and lumbermen was greatly aided by the construction of these locks 1869 71 by June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 29
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Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives with his sons the strategic the provincial government acreages both as free grant In 1962 and 1963 the lands and direct purchases small boat locks and from others including accompanying control dam squatters keen to sell their holding water at navigable infertile patches Osborne levels were reconstructed had always seen his future supported by funding from more in harvesting transit a Winter Works grant from fares than raising farm Ottawa to reduce seasonal crops unemployment Work took Monopolizing access place under a plastic Top This view across the river in Huntsville shows steamers waiting for the bridge to open between the two lake canopy the working space systems he saw his dream heated by a boiler And so The logs are boomed to prevent hazards to boats and shipping Above In this photo early 20th century photographer Frank Micklethwaite captures an expanded Prospect House the becoming reality in 1886 maintenance continues swing bridge steamers Muskoka Lakes Association members socializing a regatta underway when the canal was being Port Carling s swing and rowers lined up to compete opened to create bridge would be supplanted by a lift bridge Motors would replace muscles Lake of Bays and Peninsula Lake a route so Muskoka s longest artificial waterway Linking to open and close lock gates to raise and lower famous it even bequeathed its popular name Fairy and Peninsula lakes would greatly extend Huntsville s hinterland In 1887 Osborne the bridge The big locks helped revival of The Portage to this locale In 1886 Ontario s Department of Public upgraded the crude track over his awkward steamboat tourism unique to Muskoka in summer and during winter drained has served Works began dredging a canal between Fairy stretch of rocky ridges and swampy mud areas as dry dock for Segwun and Wenonah II and Peninsula lakes following the course of a grading and gravelling his roadway getting swampy creek Working through 1887 the ready to move people and cargo across the maintenance work Today Muskoka District s commissioner canal was completed in 1888 at a cost of portage New steamships came into service on both of engineering and public works Fred Jahn 25 000 Where natural banks did not exist calls Port Carling s navigation infrastructure along the route log piles and squared timbers sides with wharfs at North Portage for Captain an essential service for commercial and shored up the excavations from erosion by Alfred Denton s Northern and Florence Main passenger traffic Muskoka this year is spending wash soon common as the canal was opened on Peninsula Lake and at South Portage for Captain George Marsh s Mary Louise and 2 245 900 on new gates for both sets of Port to shipping Meanwhile at The Portage homesteader Excelsior working Lake of Bays More vacation Carling s locks necessary upkeep for a transportation corridor that Anne Duke Judd William Osborne happily saw his vision coming resorts appeared Busy Huntsville needed describing the Indian River aptly calls the true The need for a canal between North increasing supplies of tanning bark WaterMuskoka s two major lake systems the four borne traffic for passengers and cargo grew real main street of Port Carling Where the two lakes most closely approached The third set of locks after Port Carling lakes around Huntsville and the Lake of Bays and Brunel would come at north Muskoka s drew him to the remote inter lake zone years each other was of course Osborne s land just well used First Nations carrying place between before as a shrewd early settler He acquired five eighths of a mile across However this June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 31
Photograph Muskoka Discovery Centre Archives From 1886 to 1888 a swampy creek between Peninsula and Fairy lakes in north Muskoka was dredged for a navigation canal The Algonquin flagship of the Huntsville Navigation Company passes through while the smaller steamer Sarona holds to in a bay of the canal tantalizing proximity was as Muskoka authority Gary Long notes tempered by the geographic reality that Lake of Bays stands 103 feet higher and the fact a line of hill runs along the narrow isthmus Those cliffs and precipitous slopes had led savvy Indigenous canoeists to make a longer portage rather than attempt the shortest overland trail Though a canal had seemed inevitable engineers plotting its route and the number of locks needed revealed the project s cost to be an even higher barrier than its geographic hurdles The place would retain its name The Portage Osborne now started dreaming of a railway In the meantime dominating the trans shipment centre his teams and wagons carried the full load Dredging that navigation channel between Fairy and Peninsula lakes was not the only place in Muskoka where water traffic could be expanded without having to build locks Cutting a channel between Lakes Rosseau and Joseph lowered both to the same level and saved money an engineering expedient only possible politically in a pre development era before docks and boathouses dotted the higher lake s shoreline With steamships and other craft moving readily between both lakes through the cut over which a bridge was built to maintain the land route as well the small village of Port Sandfield named for Ontario Premier Sandfield Macdonald again a nod to provincial funding emerged The high level stationary bridge was replaced by a more pragmatic swing bridge in 1924 which was again fully reconstructed in 1997 Elsewhere engineers sometimes had just to widen existing channels Dynamiting off the rock on one side of The Narrows between Gravenhurst Bay and Lake Muskoka opened passage for larger steamships from Gravenhurst s expanding fleet and tugs pulling wide booms of logs to Sawdust City s bay rimming sawmills Muskoka without canals would still be good but not the jewel it has become Steel Dock Construction Structural Steel Welding Steel Fabrication Project Management Professional Barge Service 32 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
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Article by Heather Glumac Photography by Andy Zeltkalns M eet me in five minutes said the voice at the other end of the phone It was April of 2013 and Penny Varney had just finished talking with Guy Gagnon the then prospective buyer of the historic Albion Hotel in downtown Gravenhurst Varney a Gravenhurst based jeweler had heard through the grapevine the Albion was 34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 for sale and promptly phoned the real estate office representing the sale to ask if she could speak with the buyer She had an idea for the potential owner After 15 years of having her own business called Penny Varney Jewellery Gallery and Gifts on Gravenhurst s main street Varney had decided she wanted to get out of retail and focus on her jewelry She also knew moving her business to her home would mean traffic in her private space something she only likes to do once a year for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour Her idea was an artists co op in the Albion Hotel The realtor contacted Gagnon and shortly thereafter the prospective owner and artist met in the hotel s former dining room two large west facing front rooms which were an
apartment at the time Gagnon didn t know what he wanted to do with the space but he knew he didn t want to keep it residential Other than the tavern in the rear of the building there were no commercial tenants Varney explained to Gagnon also owner of Gagnon s Your Independent Grocer in Bracebridge an artist s co op was a shared gallery space staffed by the participating artists Gravenhurst was going through an economic rough patch so she wanted to bring together artists exclusively from Gravenhurst She was certain she could find enough co op participants so splitting the rent phone supplies and insurance wouldn t be an enormous amount There would also be a 150 start up fee for paint and other supplies to get the place started I was happy when Penny called me says Gagnon Having someone interested in one of the bigger commercial spaces was very exciting He wanted to repair the Albion while keeping the visible changes to a minimum I thought I could make it look better I could give it a second life Gagnon explains Penny had a great vision of what the hotel June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35
could be and should be Gagnon s greatest concern in buying the building in downtown Gravenhurst was any potential difficulty finding commercial tenants However with a co op being a shared responsibility carrying the cost would be much easier Having Penny come in with her idea and initiative before the sale was some security he explains The timing was perfect Erected at the main intersection of Gravenhurst in 1879 by George Washington Taylor the Albion Hotel was originally a frame building which burned to the ground eight short years later It was rebuilt the next year 1888 in Gothic Revival style and became a hub of activity with a large dining room parlors and bar In the 1940s and 50s Toronto salesmen would travel with their goods to Gravenhurst on the Greyhound buses which arrived at the Albion Hotel s snack bar They d set up kitchen wares linens and merchandise in the south west room and then walk down Muskoka Road letting the retailers know they were ready to take orders Varney s family had a cottage on Sparrow Lake and Penny recalls coming to the Albion as a child in the early 1950s My father used to bring me here to pick up relatives who would come up on the bus And I had lunch here with my dad when I was five It was funny with all the heavy linen table cloths and silverware on the tables Above Jeweler Penny Varney had the vision for the Arts at the Albion co operative Right In its fifth year the gallery hosts the creations of 20 local artists 36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
online and through a Over 30 years later in newsletter produced by 1983 the Albion was Muskoka Arts declared an historic Crafts building Then in the The co op members late 1980s the exterior decide together who was restored and the they think would be rooms converted into the best fit Due to the apartments and business natural limit of wall space Today Penny space they can only Varney s vision has host a limited number breathed life back into of painters which those historic rooms creates a balance in The Arts at the mediums represented Albion co op is now between three dimenopen to artists from all sional artists and over Muskoka Washago painters If one 3D artist Bala Bracebridge In its decides to leave the fifth year it hosts the space can be redesigned creations of 20 local to accommodate new artists who are as difdisplays ferent as they are unique The creative energy of many local artists is displayed in the well lit Arts at the Albion Gallery Bews an original Each artist signs a oneyear contract and works one day a month the mediums Penny explains the best member of the co op explains the yearapproach is to get in touch with the artist round representation provided at the Albion sometimes two days in the summer The 10 foot ceilings and sunlight which and they will make the arrangements This is invaluable for both exposure and sales Arts at the Albion affords the artists good pours through the newly replaced five and a method has worked very well for all Over the five years only 10 artists have representation at an accessible location half foot windows create a lofty and bright space perfect for exhibiting local talent been lost to attrition but Hinterglas artist which is essential for business especially Armed with their weapons of choice silver Bonnie Bews explains it s good to have a little here in Muskoka where many of the artists paint glass and even driftwood to name a turn over Returning clients can see new live in the less accessible rural area To exhibit their work to a larger audience many of the few artists have joined together at the pieces and fresh displays artists at the Albion also attend events such as When there is an Albion and amassed bodies of work one the juried show in March at the Sportsplex in would expect to see in a gallery on Queen opening the co operative Bracebridge looks for applicants Street in Toronto s west end Their collections flow through the rooms and vibrate with creative energy Many of the resident artists also teach The work of Gravenhurst weekly classes in metal sculptor Brendan the adjacent Duggan is among those classroom stained featured in the Arts at glass figure drawing the Albion Gallery watercolour basket making fibre art and ceramics Some artists will teach one on one but others like to have a group of five or more There is no concrete class schedule and the artists are flexible If you have an interest in learning one of June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 37
When Guy Gagnon purchased Gravenhurst s historic Albion Hotel he welcomed the opportunity presented by the Arts at the Albion co operative to provide new life to the building This year the Artists at the Albion lost an artist and didn t have any applicants that fit the space We had painters that wanted to come in but we didn t have any wall space So we thought why don t we take in a guest artist Varney says So now we ve started a program where we take in a guest artist every month For the month of February of 2018 stained glass artist Brad Haines punched the co operative s dance card and entered the scene with a few moves of his own Haines subject matter was completely foreign to Varney and there was a small wave of uncertainty from the group The brightly coloured glass characters had them asking what is this and do we think this is appropriate But when a Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School co op student came in for her slot she looked at the stained glass and immediately identified the rep resentation of Toadstool from Nintendo s 1985 Super Mario Brothers as well as other classic video game characters To the surprise and joy of Varney the student even decided to purchase one of them Wouldn t you know That s just really neat remarked Varney Varney was ecstatic to be connecting to a younger generation through visual arts The prospect of reaching out to a new group of buyers especially from a demographic who talk about photograph and post the details of their lives and purchases on social media outlets is an exciting development To find out what else is new and upcoming at the Arts at the Albion go online to artsatthealbion com Better yet head to Gravenhurst and spend a few moments absorbing artistic energy and inspiration in this unique historic and now creative space Get in the Game stoneway marble granite inc Guaranteed for life Not to Wear Out Insured Against Loss Floats Repels Rain Crushable Packable Excellent UV Protection Les and Renata Partyka 1295 Muskoka Rd 118 West Bracebridge 705 645 3380 stoneway inc gmail com 38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 OPENING IN JUNE AT 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE 705 637 0204
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
EVOLVES IN MUSKOKA Article and Photography by Tim Du Vernet 40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
T here was a time when wooden boats shop in Bracebridge first trained to be a civil and is justified by the owner Everyone is were burned or sunk because they engineer but he was drawn back to the boat charged the same rates and we would rather were considered not worth repairing business and eventually to Greavette Boats in do the job well and traditionally than cut Opinions about the historic value of wooden 1975 where he became plant manager and corners He notes cutting corners would not boats have changed dramatically in recent helped oversee the move of that company to only depreciate the value of the boat but also Port Carling Ron joined him for the last two disappoint the owner and jeopardize the boat years builder s reputation Aging boats found in old barns or fields are or three years at Greavette Boats Tim Butson owes a lot to his father when When Greavette Boats ceased operating in extremely rare now Like pirate treasure a few very special boats have been dragged up from 1981 Butson Boats Ltd opened their doors it comes to understanding how to restore wooden boats the depths of the lakes of Muskoka Father of course is a mentor Equally significant the numbers and an endless source of are shrinking of those men with information says Tim and I a direct connection to the early appreciate a number of builders generation of Muskoka s boat of the past like Clive Brown some builders At one time the men of of his one of a kind designs were the villages of Muskoka were relied ahead of his time Other designers upon to keep the boat shops who worked unique details into humming their boats demonstrated their Ron Butson father of boat craftsmanship as a builder builder Tim Butson worked at When it comes time to prepare Duke Boat Works of Port Carling for the annual Antique and Classic in the 1960s and built some of Boat Society Spring Tour most the last new boats to come from boat shops make a special effort that shop Ron Butson and Ed to clean up for the day The Butsons Skinner both retired are the last believe keeping the shop clean and of the builders who worked in the tidy should be a natural part of original factories Ron can be the business credited for mentoring and If our shop is cared for says training the foundation of the Tim then the customers are current leaders in boat restoration reassured that the same care and and building dedication will be afforded their Wooden boat building is the boats only trade Ron Butson ever knew Located near the large boat locks except for four years spent overseas in Port Carling since the early during the Second World War 1930s Duke Marine was the He started when he was 16 and longest continuously operating retired in his late 70s He worked boat shop in Muskoka Many of in Midland Penetang Barrie and the current independent boat came to Muskoka in 1960 to work builders learned or practiced their at Duke Boat Works Tim Butson trade in Duke s at one time or Ron s only child is the sixth another generation of boat builders in the Duke Marine has undergone a Butson family Among projects tackled by boat builder Tom Adams was the restoration of dramatic transition since the Ron once described how he renowned racing boat Miss Canada IV closure of the original facility that would show a new recruit how to make a perfect shaving using a hand plane It in the Port Carling shop One of the first boats was owned by Ed Skinner and Rick Terry would be more than a metre long It all came to come through was the Kitty Hawk a Gidley Jeremy Fowler and Kath McKarthy took up the challenge of revitalizing the old building down to having properly sharpened tools The once owned by Orville Wright When it comes time to evaluate a potential and have transformed it into a restaurant and skill of a wooden boat builder is being able to judge the shape and fit of pieces of wood to project Tim Butson explains We look at rowing club as well as a boat building facility be positioned so that few if any adjustments each job on its own be it antique classic or and brokerage Scaled down a bit from its peak production days the building required extensive are needed This is not only more efficient but unique to another builder We enjoy projects with family ties and work to bring it up to modern standards This better built Tim Butson who now operates his own history he says The cost is largely labour accomplishment has maintained the landmark June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41
Bring your best for our silver anniversary The 25 Annual Th Admission by Donation Gull Lake Rotary Park 9am 3pm WWW GRAVENHURSTCARSHOW COM SPONSORED BY Saturday June 16th 2018 TROPHY SPONSOR WAYNE S TIRE AUTO DETAILING Gravenhurst
and modernized the character of the space It s hard to believe we will be starting our eighth year with Duke s says McKarthy Like most of the other boat shops Duke s crew lead by Dylan Harris is splitting their time launching boats including those at the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst as well as finishing off a 1933 Scott boat in the shop Gary Clark also worked at Duke s and learned much about the trade from that old shop Self described as Muskoka s Wooden Boat Specialists he operates a large shop in Gravenhurst I spent five years working at Duke s some of the time under guidance of Lionel Cope who had been there for 46 years as Duke s finisher I also enjoyed working alongside Barry Duke explained Clark W h i l e m a n y b o a t b u i l d e r s e n j oy concentrating on the craft of shaping wood and constructing boats a few felt the urge to add the challenges and responsibilities of running a business as well Clark struck out on his own in 1987 first building boats on the old Ditchburn property and then working from his home I felt I was ready to take on more of a project than I was doing at Duke s explains Clark Running a boat restoration shop isn t an easy task There are so many parts to the job Like any good business the basis for success is respecting your customers with honesty and fairness Paul Brackley is very respected in the business for being clear and upfront with clients As a result most become good friends along the way After so many years in the boat building industry it s hard to believe that Brackley first considered a career in insurance I started out as an insurance broker following in my father s footsteps says Brackley but I quickly realized that I was not as good a salesman as my father I started working for Muskoka Fine Watercraft in the mid 80s followed by Butson s and Stan Hunter Ever since then I ve been on my own I was impressed with Butson s quality and attention to detail The Butson s were fine people to work for and I learned much under their tutelage remarks Brackley One boat that stands out for Brackley is a triple cockpit 1930s Minett Shield called Jolly Roger Brackley feels She was a boat that was extremely important to keep original A very Top Boat builder Stan Hunter builds a line of outboard powered boats and has assisted many hobbyists in building their own crafts Above After gaining experience with seasoned boat builders Paul Brackley established his own business complex bottom with half lapped joined framing at the keel which was riveted together Three ribs between frames on 24 inch centres all copper riveted Ribs that were socket fit into the chines both on the bottom and on the sides Overly complex bottom construction but so beautiful One role of a wooden boat builder is to first meet the objectives of a customer and then to offer advice about the best direction for a restoration or repair The boat building and restoration business is well past the era of repairing and restoring first generation boats coming from the famous factories of Muskoka and nearby Vic Carpenter one of the most famous restorers and builders who bridged the original era with the beginning of our current boat shops was also one of the most creative and particular builders Several of his creations Pistoff and the sailboat Passing Wind are still considered extreme expressions of the craft Carpenter also made a statement by building new boats in a time when it was seen as almost heretical to consider such a concept Today it is very reasonable to resurrect June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43
SERVING MUSKOKA LAKES FOR 4 GENERATIONS Septic Systems Licensed Installer Specializing in Island Septic Systems Barging of all Materials Dock Building Excavating C clamps have long been a mainstay of the boat building industry and are used to hold the wood in place C W B Certified BROWNING ISLAND JOHN ARCHER 705 645 9586 705 646 3015 johnarcher live com A Muskoka Tradition for 39 Years Acrylic Painting Eleanor Lowden Fine Canadian Craft Jewellery Original Art Open weekends May June daily July August 1073 Fox Point Road Dwight 705 635 1602 oxtonguecraftcabin com vintage models in the form of a re creation or to have a new custom interpretation built In most cases it is much more cost effective to build new Butson Boats were the first builders in the current generation to design and build new models that were interpretations of the classics Clark Wooden Boats has been commissioned to build several replicas of the Rainbow series of boats among others Brackley was commissioned to turn a Shepherd utility into a very sporty runabout with a finish so transparent that even the Epifanes varnish company was impressed Also in Gravenhurst Mike Windsor restores a variety of boats and was a Muskoka pioneer in the use of computer software and cutting tools in the design and construction of new boats One of the first prominent boats Windsor tackled was a well known Ditchburn Royaleze which was once used by the Toronto Harbour Commission In Milford Bay Stan Hunter builds a line of modest yet effective outboard powered boats Nearby off the Hewitt Road in the Milford Bay Bardsville area Curtis Hillman restores and builds boats in his own shop Starting out with Hunter when he was 24 Hillman takes the traditional approach towards restorations and building the same way it has been done for decades Perhaps the most recent shop to open is run by James Osler in Port Carling He worked with Hunter for many years before opening his own business telling the Muskoka story SEE US AT OUR NEW LOCATION 28 MANITOBA STREET BRACEBRIDGE JUNE 2018 44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 Retired boat builder Ron Butson continues to take an interest in the industry and enjoys chatting with others in the business Judy Semple of Hutchings Marine chats with Butson during a recent tour of boat builders
Tom Adams located on the west edge of Port Carling had the remarkable opportunity to restore Miss Canada IV Now working in a purpose built shop Adams first experience with new builds was taught to me by my father and grandfather back in Peterborough in the home garage Some years later I was offered an opportunity to build Muskoka style boats using modern adhesives and structural epoxies combined with traditional style plank on frame rib construction Adams believes this style of construction has its place in modern boating particularly for wooden boats that spend more time on trailers and don t need the soak up time The Miss Canada IV project was a unique opportunity to blend traditional methods with more advanced techniques demanded by the high performance requirements of this famous race boat Adams says the project opened my eyes to the philosophy of cutting edge technology of the late 1940s Using strong lightweight marine plywood combined with spruce core plywood frames stepped hull construction aerodynamics such as the wing like hull and the 12 cylinder RollsRoyce aircraft engine made a boat capable of record breaking speed The 12 cylinder aircraft engine was expected to produce upwards of 3000 hp at peak RPM While many a hobby boat restorer dreams of working on their own boat many will realize the comprehensive set of specialized skills is beyond their means Working in partnership with a boat builder is more often a common strategy now Tim Butson is advising a client through the restoration of a sailboat Windsor guided Rick Terry through the building of his updated sports runabout and Hunter has assisted hobbyists through their projects such as building a rowboat The timeless appeal of wood especially in its traditional form of a boat spans generational lines Cedar mahogany oak or cypress and Sitka spruce are favoured woods in Muskoka boats from Dispros to long deck launches When stained and varnished by a talented hand there is nothing more aesthetically pleasing The skills required to shape these woods are very much alive in Muskoka as the craft has evolved from restoring the boats first out of the historic shops of Muskoka to building new custom craft for a discerning generation CALL TODAY 705 787 1401 chad roll onpainting com w w w ro l l o npainting co m June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45
Article by Meghan Smith Photography by Tomasz Szumski T he Muskoka lifestyle is as much about the landscape as it is the people who are living it Throughout its history Muskoka has offered its inhabitants yearround and seasonal a playground as well as a place of opportunity The Wallace and Pain families boast deep roots in Muskoka Their beginnings in Muskoka started during the land grant era and they have stayed in the area since with the land continuing to be a big part of their lives Most families the Pains the Wallaces the Minetts they were all here pretty much at the same time in the late 1800s says Richard Wallace They grew up together they worked together they played together they fished 46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 together It was a community Henry Wallace Richard s great grandfather came to Muskoka to build a church in Bracebridge Henry ended up taking a land grant along with John Frederick Pain We still have a book with the original land grants and the names of the Pains and the Wallaces and it shows their original acreages says Adam Wallace The first plot of land owned by the Wallace family was located on Bruce Lake named for a member of the Wallace family Henry s son also named Henry Wallace inherited the land in time and relocated to the acreage originally granted to the Minett family While the Minett name remains in the area today the Wallace family history is honoured in the naming of Wallace Bay on Lake Rosseau John Frederick Pain who was my greatgrandfather had the original plot explains Douglas Pain The resort Paignton House was named for Paignton England although the family name does not have the same spelling Paignton House was a family affair First started by J F Pain Robert Dickinson Pain took over the management followed by William Archie Pain Douglas Pain s father All my sisters and everybody in the family worked at the resort says Pain On top of that my father and Adam s grandfather were very good friends They grew up together Our
families intertwine The resort stayed in the family until 1973 when it was sold to Ken Fowler Fowler resold the property bought it back and finally built what is now known as the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort Pain and his family continue to live on a portion of the property that was part of the original land grant of 141 years ago Living right next to Paignton House my great grandparents and grandparents owned steam boats and they drove them to make an income explains Adam Wallace They toured around the lakes with people showing them Muskoka Richard s grandparents operated cruise boats to show tourists the lakes and scenery while Irvin and Iris Wallace Richard s parents followed into seasonal tourism by opening Wallace Marine in the early 1960s The Wallaces operated a cruise boat named Lady Elgin ran the marina produced maple syrup and even had a market garden to serve their clientele We worked as a family comments Richard Wallace My brother mom dad and I we worked seven days a week 14 or 16 hours a Photographs Submitted Above An undated photo of Paignton House taken from the air This is now the site of the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort Spa Right Guests gather on the lawn of Paignton House that was owned by the Pain family who named it after Paignton in England Lower right Archie Pain is at the controls of a cedar strip boat in front of Paignton House on Lake Rosseau day Like a lot of families in those days you did whatever it took to survive and to prosper You couldn t imagine having a better lifestyle growing up says Richard founder of Richard Wallace Real Estate At one time we tapped June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47
Call Mike Morrow 705 765 3195 www morrow electric com ESA License 7000286 Serving Muskoka Lakes since 1952 rewiring alterations heating Photographs Submitted NEVER be left in the DARK or COLD get a quality home standby generator by GENERAC Robert Dick Pain and Marie Pain nee Macnaughton were the second owners of Paignton House 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 48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 TAYLOR CARPET ONE 30 Cairns Crescent Huntsville 705 789 9259 taylorcarpetonehuntsville com 1 200 trees for syrup We worked together and we played together and I m lucky that was the case I worked at the marina for six years when I was kid explains Pain broker of record and co owner of Richard Wallace Real Estate The Wallaces and the Pains have known each other for generations It was a little ironic when my sister Janet and Richard Wallace got married Family ties and stories are an important element in maintaining the history and memories of past generations in Muskoka Tales of family members walking to Washago in the winter to purchase flour or taking the train to a curling tournament and being unable to curl because the railway porter had put the rocks in the engine room while in transit and the rocks were too warm to curl are hallmarks of families with a long and deep connection to Muskoka I used to hunt golf balls when they had tournaments at Paignton House as a kid and then I d sell the balls back to them on the same round laughs Pain Guys would say wait a minute I think I lost that on the second hole My grandmother she bought property at Lash Point on Lake Rosseau with 4 000 feet of shoreline for 50 says Richard Wallace She sold it for 150 and a cow We still have the deed down in the boathouse and it talks about the money but it doesn t talk about the cow says Adam Wallace Richard
Photos of the Wallace family are displayed in the offices of Richard Wallace Real Estate in Port Carling and chronicle the family s early years in Muskoka Photographs Submitted Wallace s son and broker and co owner at seven years ago The tournament is now in its Members from the golf club participate Richard Wallace Real Estate in Port Carling 32rd year and its proceeds support the South but there s a lot of local support says Pain We still talk about the cow The cow is the Muskoka Memorial Hospital Foundation Some people have played in it the whole time story every year we ve run it The Wallace and Pain families Growing up in the area has both live in the area year round provided the Pains and the understanding the seasonality of Wallaces with their Muskoka the climate and the community lifestyle as well as assisting in their Actively participating in local careers Knowledge of the lakes events and tournaments is another and the land and their local perk of the Muskoka lifestyle c o n n e c t i o n s h a ve p rove n It s a small community invaluable in developing their comments Richard Wallace We business and in further deepening had a one room school in Minett their roots but we were just as well prepared We were on the lakes every with our education there as day with the marina out with anyone elsewhere In a small clients and I did all of my real community everybody works estate showings by the water together and helps each other comments Richard Wallace out After seven years working Adam Wallace took over locally with his mother Richard Richard s mantle of organizing Wallace opened his own real estate the annual Dave Ellis Pro Am The Viola M an early Muskoka steam yacht owned by the Wallace family company based in Minett in 1978 Tournament at the Muskoka photographed off the Pain s Paignton House near a point that was called Fish He and his mother Iris Wallace Lakes Golf and Country Club Rock served all of Muskoka with the June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49
www muskokaconservancy org Conservation is a state of harmony between people and land Leopold Conserving nature in Muskoka Join us today A registered charity
office now located in Port Carling I grew up here then left for Toronto went to school for a few years and then moved back here with my wife says Pain I started in the business in January 1989 Richard sold to me in 2005 and then Adam came in as a partner in 2010 and we co own the business now With Pain joining and then buying the real estate business the family connections deepened when Adam Wallace joined as a partner in 2010 I never really left even to go to school says Adam Wallace I m a northern boy so I went further north for school I went to Laurentian University in Sudbury I came home on most weekends because it wasn t that long of a drive I never saw myself leaving the area as I grew up The company started by Richard and now run by Pain and Adam Wallace is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2018 Although not the oldest brokerage in Muskoka the family ties to the local region factor into the company s continued success We offer something a little different than other companies says Adam Wallace We re more boutique like We give more of a handson business opportunity Plus 40 years stands out The ties we have to the area have been instrumental in our success says Pain We ve always been known for honesty and integrity We can stand on any piece of property around Richard Wallace looks at a book that includes a map of the lands acquired by Muskoka s pioneers including members of the Wallace family Wallace is the founder of Richard Wallace Real Estate which is celebrating its 40th anniversary here and give you a history of who owned it and what was on it That s very important Business ventures have only drawn them further into their own history and the community Pain recalls preparing a title search on a property near Port Carling 20 years ago and discovering his family had owned the land at one time When his family sold that land the funds were used to add the third level to Paignton House That s the history that our families have with real estate and with Muskoka says Adam Doug Pain and Adam Wallace are both members of Muskoka pioneer families that have worked together since the earliest days of settlement They are now partners in Richard Wallace Real Estate Wallace The land and the water which really few other people can say Family businesses have come and gone some being passed onto family members while others have passed into other hands The lifestyle and traditions adapted from those early beginnings continue to connect the past and present Our old family traditions like fishing and making maple syrup the Muskoka traditions we try to keep those up shares Adam Wallace Our ancestors did them out of necessity while we do them as hobbies I want to pass those things on to my kids It s important That s who we are Adam Wallace fondly recalls time as a fishing guide during his teenage years as well as working at Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club The family cottage was right beside the marina and provided ample opportunity for swimming fishing and other memorable experiences I was really young when we owned the marina says Adam Wallace I remember going there and my favourite thing was to raid the ice cream freezer Free ice cream as a kid running around It was a good way to grow up The connection to the land extends beyond the family business When Adam Wallace was married four years ago they tied the knot at The Rock the golf course built on a portion of the original Pain land June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 51
telling the Muskoka story Here s How You Can Subscribe Send us a note with your complete mailing address and include a cheque Annual Subscription Rates including HST where applicable HST 773172721 In Ontario 30 00 All Other Provinces 36 00 U S 45 00 All Other Countries 59 00 Mail your payment to Unique Muskoka Box 616 BRACEBRIDGE ON P1L 1T9 View current and past issues online at www uniquemuskoka com BRACEBRIDGE GENERATION LTD Water Power Generating a Cleaner Environment Interested in more information or a free tour www bracebridgegeneration com 52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 The Wallace land abutted that property shares Adam Wallace When we got married we actually took pictures on the line where the Wallace land met the Pain land which was kind of neat I n a d d i t i o n t o m a r k i n g C a n a d a s sesquicentennial 2017 marked the 140th anniversary of the Pains living on their original homestead The Pain family as well as the Wallace relatives gathered to celebrate their history and Canada Day Everybody has stayed pretty close Bracebridge Port Carling Minett explains Pain It was nice to have everyone all together for something like that When William Archie Pain owned and operated Paignton House if fish was on the menu for dinner he had to catch the fish Living off the land was a necessity of the time period especially when factoring in hungry resort guests The necessity has become a sport and a hobby for many enjoying what Muskoka has to offer including Adam Wallace Grandpa Pain loved to fish says Adam Wallace As a kid he would take me fishing and those are some of my fondest memories At four years old I d be sleeping in the boat with my life jacket on and he d still be fishing When Adam was little growing up he d wake up and go catch some crawfish then he d go fishing bring it home clean it and have it for dinner says Richard Wallace Now most kids don t even know what a crawfish is because they haven t grown up doing that The use and their enjoyment of Muskoka has changed so much in the last 25 or 30 years In another 30 years it will change again The landscapes the homes the cottages and the resorts have all changed through the years since Muskoka was settled There are treasured spaces that if you had visited them 50 or 100 years ago would still look the same There are many other locations that have adapted and changed to suit the needs to those living or cottaging in the area Where Janet and I are living now abuts land my family previously owned explains Richard Wallace We re calling our farm the Full Circle Farm We re back home The Muskoka lifestyle living with the land and the changing seasons at a slightly different pace is what makes people keep coming back and will for years to come
Spring Cleaning 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 May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53
The belted kingfisher is one of the species that might be seen by birding enthusiasts in Muskoka 54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA May 2018
Article by Doug Smith Photography by Eleanor Kee Wellman W hen an American avocet was spotted in Bracebridge last October it caused quite a stir within the local birding community Rarely seen outside of its usual western range the elegant shorebird provided a highlight to the fall migration for many For novice birder Aaron Rusak it was life changing Up until that time the recent University of British Columbia grad was only casually interested in birding though he d taken a class in ornithology while at university Since the avocet sighting Rusak has become a self confessed birding fanatic Birding is like that It can be as passive as observing the birds at a winter bird feeder or enjoying the backyard antics of hummingbirds during the summertime Then a rare bird sighting or other notable event changes a pastime into an obsession The level of interest goes up accordingly For some things become very involved David and Regan Goodyear have been birding since 1985 when they lived in Ottawa Over the years the Goodyears have made birding an integral part of their travels Birding has taken us to places we might not otherwise have visited says Regan We ve travelled across Canada and the U S and have visited many different habitats in search of a particular species whether it is searching behind a waterfall in a canyon in Colorado to find a Black Swift or traipsing around a coastal saltmarsh in New Brunswick in search of a Nelson s Sparrow Regan explains their fascination with birds by saying We do it because it is a way to connect to the world around us Birds are both beautiful to look at and to listen to Following the migration of birds through our area has become another way of marking the passage of time for us and we are always thinking in terms of what birds are arriving or departing and what to look forward to or to expect next We love the challenge of identifying new birds says Regan The more we learn about them the more questions we have which takes us to new depths of learning and makes us June May 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55
realize we have barely scratched the surface Though often done solo birding is always part of larger community of others who are like minded Opportunities to delve deeper into the world of birds abound There are field trips with the local naturalists club to birding hotspots and participatory nature programs Bird Studies Canada the Audubon Society the Canadian Wildlife Service and similar organizations all enlist birders to help collect data through citizen scientist surveys One of these is the annual Christmas Bird Count CBC Originally organized in 1900 as an alternative to the ridiculous practice of shooting as many birds as possible on Christmas Day it has grown into a huge event Over 2 500 counts now take place each year throughout the Americas involving tens of thousands of participants In south Muskoka it has been running since 1981 and involves a friendly rivalry between Gravenhurst and Bracebridge Last year s contest went to Bracebridge which found 31 species compared to Gravenhurst s 24 The average number of species found is 36 per year and about 2 400 individual birds are usually reported including those monitored at bird feeders Later in the winter is the time for the nocturnal owl surveys organized by Bird Studies Canada These involve driving along a route of 10 stops each two kilometres apart and you play a CD with owl calls on it and wait to see if any owls call back or show up to hoot explains retired biologist Jan McDonnell who runs an owl survey on Fraserburg Road starting east of Highway 11 This year I did my owl survey later McDonnell points out Bird Studies Canada recommend that it be done during the month of April and preferably during the first two weeks but since we were away on our holiday I didn t end up doing it until April 20th We heard very few owls this year compared to normal two barred and one saw whet The year I heard and saw the most owls says McDonnell was 2014 when 21 owls six were saw whets responded to the CD That year we saw four of the barred owls they flew up and perched on trees by the road and hooted like mad It was a fun year McDonnell concludes adding it was the most A juvenile male ruby throated hummingbird approaches a flower The juvenile males do not develop owls recorded on a route that year in Ontario their distinctive red gorget until they depart for the warmer climes of their winter homes in the late Hearing the birds is as much a part of summer 56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
birding as the watching Most birds are located by their calls or songs so knowing what a species sounds like goes a long way to identifying the bird As can be imagined this takes practice and study and is best achieved in the field ideally learning from other more experienced birders Such skills are a necessary part of running a Breeding Bird Survey BBS for the Canadian Wildlife Service The most challenging part is getting up at 3 30 a m to get to my starting point by 5 a m says local birder Al Sinclair who surveys a route each spring BBS surveyors choose a morning during the breeding season late May to early July for the survey They there is usually an assistant must start one half hour before dawn The survey requires a 50 kilometre route with the surveyors stopping each kilometre and counting the number of individuals and species heard and seen for three minutes at each stop Sinclair relates his experience it is interesting to me to compare results over multiple years what species are stable declining increasing short term or long term How the same species are found at the same location year after year But the main reason I keep torturing myself is because my route has been going since 1969 started by someone in Barrie Few people know bird calls well enough to do it so I feel I have to help or the route will end This long term population data on Muskoka birds I think is priceless Sinclair concludes Sinclair is also the Muskoka eBird editor A smart phone app designed to let individual birders record their data as they bird eBird is revolutionizing the way birders do their birding When combined with GPS it is a powerful method of sharing sightings allowing the birder to provide current data on the species and individuals seen at any location Sinclair s regional role is to vet all records that are flagged as unusual by the program This same data becomes part of the collection of data being reported from birders using the app all over the world Sinclair says he uses eBird to alert me of rare sightings and pinpoint the location eBird is something Aaron Rusak uses Top Indigo buntings can be seen as far north as Muskoka which is approaching the northerly limits of their range Middle Eastern towhee are among birds that can be seen in Muskoka Bottom Muskoka Field Naturalists organize trips to birding hotspots and hold participatory nature programs June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57
Caption The brown creeper is a small songbird that can be found in mature forests especially conifers every day As the administration and program co ordinator at the Muskoka Conservancy MC Rusak is also leveraging its social aspect to advantage The Muskoka Conservancy currently protects 39 properties Rusak explains Some of them are privately owned properties that we maintain in the current state Others are properties that we own and protect some of which are public access Rusak continues eBirding is an interesting tool in that it s known really well to birders but isn t used in all other circles However establishing hotspots in eBird promotes an area to a very specific group of people who care about keeping the area protected already It also promotes the area to visiting birders as they re more likely to visit hotspots on eBird if they re new and unfamiliar with the area Hopefully it turns Join Hospice Muskoka The Andrew Potts Memorial Foundation for an Historical Ground Breaking Event Enjoy an evening of Celebration Music Refreshments See the Plans Share our Dreams THURSDAY JUNE 21 2018 Port Carling Community Centre 6 30 pm Main Auditorium Please RSVP For more information visit www hospicemuskoka com or call Hospice Muskoka 705 646 1697 Event made possible through Township of Muskoka Lakes community grant 58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 into somewhat of a snowball effect with word of mouth between birders For the Goodyears who have been using eBird since 2012 and are now recently retired it has added yet another dimension to their birding We used this when we were planning trips to Ecuador and Australia says Regan eBird generates a list of the top hotspots for every country province state or county We On June 20 2005 Constable Andrew Potts and partner Matt Hanes of the OPP were involved in a car accident while on duty Tragically Andy was killed and Matt was seriously injured The Andrew Potts Memorial Foundation was created to raise money for community projects in Andy s name In 2012 they partnered with Hospice Muskoka and dared to dream of a palliative residence to serve all of South and West Muskoka June 21 will celebrate this achievement as they prepare to break ground in Port Carling for Andy s House
THE ALL NEW 2018 N E X P E R I E N C E C O A RT H AMERIC A N then built our trip itinerary around these hotspots thus ensuring that we would be visiting the birdiest locations Users can also search for a particular species and find out where it has been seen most recently she states We used this frequently on our trips to help us further pinpoint a location where we might see a desired species When we were in Australia for example states Regan we wanted to see a bird called the Beach Thick knee No problem We simply searched the species on eBird and saw that it had been seen at a particular beach the previous day We headed out later that afternoon and enjoyed incredible views of this 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 Stinger GT Limited shown STANDARD FEATURES 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 American bittern are well camouflaged as they wade through marshes and shoreline cover rare and difficult to see species We also enjoy using eBird because we are part of a larger community of birders We have met many eBird users in the field whose names we recognize from their online eBird lists and profiles We might be bird nerds but we are not alone Once considered something of a fringe activity birding is now mainstream and enjoyed by many millions worldwide While individual involvement and commitment varies all birders have a common goal studying and enjoying birds Once ignited birding becomes a passion that lasts a lifetime June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 59
Whats Happened Municipal elections will include elected chair internet telephone voting The MWC plans to launch the report card on Thursday July 19 during an event at the Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst It will be presented as a story map which will allow users to find where their property sits in the watershed and find data specific to that sub watershed Watch for details at www muskokawatershed org Muskoka s residents will head to the polls on October 22 2018 for municipal elections across the District For the first time the district chair will be included on the ballot In the past the chair has been elected at the first District council meeting following an election by a secret vote of Muskoka s six mayors and 16 District councillors The change came as the result of Bill 70 the Building Ontario Up for Everyone Act which included a provision directing that all regional chairs be elected at large All six of Muskoka s municipalities have also approved internet and telephone voting for the 2018 municipal elections Eligible voters will be mailed a voter information letter that includes instructions on how to vote Residents can confirm they are registered at voterlookup ca Muskoka Watershed Council to release its quadrennial watershed report card This summer the Muskoka Watershed Council MWC will release its fifth Muskoka Watershed Report Card which illustrates the health of and threats to Muskoka s watershed The report card which is developed every four years uses environmental indicators like calcium concentration phosphorus levels fragmentation climate invasive species and species at risk to evaluate the region s general environmental health We do this because if you don t measure it you can t manage it said Christy Doyle MWC Director of Environmental Watershed Programs We try to use the best available science to provide some analysis on various environmental conditions and this time we are also going to shine a light on the local 60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 New traffic lights to be installed in Port Carling Photographs Lyndsie McGregor It seems everyone loves Tim Hortons so much so that traffic lights will be installed in Port Carling thanks to the congestion caused by the new Tim Hortons located at the intersection of Muskoka Road 118 and Bruce Wilson Drive A study completed in 2015 had flagged the project for completion in 2019 but due to the impact of the new restaurant on traffic flow in the summer of 2017 District staff was directed to move the project forward so that the traffic signals could be installed in 2018 There are no detours or full road closures planned but drivers may encounter temporary lane closures No work will occur during the Victoria Day long weekend Construction is expected to be completed by June 15 initiatives that are helping to enhance our watershed and what we as individuals can do to minimize our impacts on the area The MWC has been doing more in recent years to engage youth and have included them in development of the report card It s science and evidence based content but because this report card will be online we are matching it with a lot of original and distinctive local content said Doyle Some of that content has come from local youth who the MWC has been seeking to involve more in its initiatives That s been great to get their reaction to some of the content we are proposing to include in the report card said Doyle and to get their sense of the questions we should be asking and the way we are looking at the data Lake of Bays resident to swim 210 km around Lake of Bays to highlight water quality Like many who live and cottage in Muskoka Glenn Vickery thinks the health of local lakes is important from both an environmental perspective and also for the enjoyment of those who love them The Lake of Bays resident wanted to do something to raise awareness about preserving and protecting both water quality and natural shorelines he thought that a swim that circumnavigated Lake of Bays would
North Bala Small Hydro Project forges ahead Construction continues on the controversial hydro project at the south end of Bala s North Dam Work on the 4 7 Megawatt facility by Swift River Energy which faced strong opposition from area residents began in August 2017 Residents found an ally in Ontario PC P arty leader Doug Ford back in February when he was running for the leadership He told local residents he would kill the project if elected premier in the upcoming provincial election The good people of this region do not want this project he told the gathered crowd Also in February the project s upstream coffer dam a temporary steel structure that sectioned off a small area in the water for excavation work was removed A similar structure downstream will allow work to be completed below the falls Blasting for excavation of the powerhouse where the generator will reside began in March and is expected to be completed by June The twice daily blasting periods require a section of Muskoka Road 169 road to be closed The project is expected to be complete in 2019 and will include the power plant an observation deck and a restored adjacent park at Portage Landing Diagram Swift River Energy Limited do the trick Vickery planned to start at the South Portage boat launch on Saturday May 19 and swim three times a week in stages of five to eight kilometres each He ll stop and start each stage at cottage docks where owners have given him permission to do so and also in the villages of Baysville Dorset and Dwight He anticipates it will take him between 35 and 40 individual swims to cover the full 210 kilometre distance finishing by the August long weekend The premise is based on the natural shoreline and water and for the whole duration I ll be in the water it just seemed to be the perfect combination and element that would tie into it said Vickery I m hoping to start a conversation to get people talking about the importance of preserving the shoreline that we have now and protecting it for future generations To prepare for the swim he s been training four times per week mostly in Huntsville s Centennial Pool and he also spent five weeks in Mexico this winter swimming in the Pacific The rest has been figuring out logistics and timing At first his swims will be solo mainly due to the water temperature when he starts a chilly 50 F 10 C but other swimmers may join him for later stages He s also planning to organize a couple of events one for when he lands in Dorset on July 1 and another at Dwight Beach at the end of July A viewing deck and restored park will be features when construction is completed on the hydro project in Bala June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61
Delicious strawberries and rhubarb are much more than pie filling Article by Karen Wehrstein Photography by Tomasz Szumski Rhubarb Firm red juicy tangy nutrition loaded stems bursting up out of the ground Strawberries Scarlet shining multi bite crunchy berries exploding with their inimitable sweet flavour Both these glorious fruits of the field are taste staples of Muskoka cuisine both are springing up in Muskoka even as you read Appropriately we will start at a place where they grow Riley s Brooklands Farm in Milford Bay established 1876 owned by Ken and Katya Riley Ken the fifthgeneration farmer of his family on the 30 acre property recalls the typical struggles of his great grandfather to eke a living from Muskoka s rocky soil as recorded in his diary He was trying everything different animals different crops Riley recounts A lot of produce was being sold to the tourists Strawberries were probably part of that Katya notes Ken s father started growing sweet corn about 40 years ago then strawberries because these were foods loved by summer visitors to Muskoka Now Brooklands Farm produces maple syrup rhubarb asparagus strawberries and sweet potatoes Crops are rotated annually and fields are sometimes left fallow as well as mown thoroughly to minimize the need for pesticides spraying is done only occasionally The rhubarb grown on the farm says Ken originated from old family stock It s at least 100 years old he says It is sold by the pound at the farm during picking season the end of May to the end of June Says Katya We tell customers to come early for rhubarb freeze it it freezes very well then use it in berry season Strawberry season usually starts when rhubarb season ends and extends into July 62 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 Above Strawberries and rhubarb are featured in recipes used by pastry chef Cindy James of the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort Spa Bottom Strawberry and rhubarb were the first ingredients used by Yummies in a Jar founder Lynn Murden Six acres of the Rileys land are devoted to strawberries and customers pick their own The Canada Day long weekend is the best time the peak says Ken But customers are still finding very nice berries at the end of July The strawberry utilizing recipe Katya has shared with us originates with her Germanby birth mother and is a family favourite used constantly in the summer Rote grutze
Recipes With a little encouragement from her supporters Michelle MacIsaac launched Humble Pie Butter Tart Factory and Pizzeria in Baysville in 2010 Rote Grutze German Berry Compote Courtesy of Katya Riley Riley s Brooklands Farm Ingredients 2 cups freshly picked strawberries 1 cup chopped freshly picked rhubarb 1 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract Add all ingredients to a saucepan and cook over medium heat until thick about 15 min This sauce can be used over ice cream cake pudding in summer spritzers with soda as an ingredient to roast glaze salad dressings and more This recipe can be modified and used with any red berries Humble Pie Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Courtesy of Michelle MacIsaac Humble Pie Butter Tart Factory and Pizzeria Filling 3 cups rhubarb cut into 1 inch cubes 3 cups strawberries halve if large 1 cup granulated sugar tsp lemon juice 1 Tbsp cornstarch 1 Tbsp liquid from fruits see below 2 3 cup strawberry jam seedless if available fruit will macerate and create liquid Combine liquid with cornstarch and mix well Add to fruit along with jam and fold ingredients together leave any excess liquid from filling behind Assembly Use premade pie crust available at Humble Pie Create egg wash mixture by Preparation whisking 1 large egg with 1 Tbsp cold water Egg wash rim of pie before adding Preheat oven to 400 degrees F top crust as this will help create a seal and Wash and stem strawberries and rhubarb prevent juice from running out sides during drain well Combine with lemon juice and baking Pinch top and bottom rim of pie sugar and let sit for 45 min to 1 hour The using thumbs or a fork creating a tight seal Egg wash top of pie place on baking sheet Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes reduce heat to 375 bake additional 35 to 40 minutes Reminder oven temperatures vary Let sit one hour we recommend eating it slightly warm Serve with vanilla ice cream The pie can be reheated in the oven at 375 heat for 15 20 minutes June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63
translates to red sauce Katya says of the recipe which is ridiculously simple but has one kicker ingredient You ll spot it Michelle MacIsaac is the owner operator of Humble Pie Butter Tart Factory and Pizzeria in Baysville Out of high school she charged into the fast paced corporate world of downtown Toronto and held administrative positions ranging from secretary to vice president for 23 years After many visits to friends in Utterson and a test winter of living in Muskoka she sold her house in Toronto in 2003 and moved to a house in the woods on Grandview Lake near Baysville for a complete change of lifestyle Looking for a career opportunity in the community she learned the local caf was looking for someone to help with their home style baking Though she had never baked beyond a cake mix box before she researched recipes made some samples and was hired on the spot When the opportunity presented itself to open a bakery in Wildflower Honey Semifreddo with Poached Rhubarb and Strawberries Courtesy of Cindy James The Rosseau A JW Marriott Resort Spa Semifreddo 1 Tbsp unflavored gelatin from a 1 4 oz package 3 Tbsp water 1 cup heavy cream 3 Tbsp wildflower honey 2 Tbsp white sugar 1 8 tsp salt 3 large egg yolks Preparation Sprinkle gelatin over 1 Tbsp water in a small bowl and let stand to soften 2 3 minutes Beat cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds soft peaks then chill covered Stir together honey sugar salt and remaining 2 tablespoons water in a 1 to 1 quart heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate heat stirring occasionally until sugar is dissolved Boil undisturbed until mixture registers 238 F on candy thermometer soft ball stage Add softened gelatin Beat yolks in a medium size bowl with cleaned beaters at high speed until they are thick and pale Reduce speed to medium and pour hot honey mixture in a slow stream into yolks try to avoid beaters and side of bowl 64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 Baysville she initially said no because baking is a hard job and I hadn t done it on a commercial level but was encouraged by her landlord Thus in April of 2010 Humble Pie was born The bakery pizzeria shares building space with Terry Glover s hand crafted sausage and catering business Fork in the Road Baker Jennifer Wood has been with MacIsaac from the start and up to five more staffers work with them in the summers We have come to know many of our customers by name MacIsaac says It s true as she does an interview customers come in Recipes Beat until mixture is pale thick and completely cool 3 to 5 minutes Fold one third of whipped cream into honey mixture with a rubber or silicon spatula until just combined then fold in remaining whipped cream gently but thoroughly Divide mixture evenly among acetate lined moulds then cover with plastic wrap and freeze You can also use a silicon muffin mould or even a tea cup Poached rhubarb 1 cup of fresh rhubarb cut into half inch coins To make the poaching syrup 1 cup brown sugar cup corn syrup maple syrup also works 2 pieces of star anise 1 cinnamon stick Half a vanilla bean 1 cup of non alcoholic apple cider Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil Lower temperature to simmer add rhubarb and cook until tender about five minutes Strain the rhubarb Poached strawberries 8 large strawberries cut into quarters 1 cup white sugar 2 cups apple cider Half a vanilla bean Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil Remove from heat add strawberries and refrigerate until ready to serve Serve semifreddo together with rhubarb and strawberries
and not one enters who she doesn t know by Italian restaurant at JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka in Minett name We have formed some great strong includes a dessert called Wildflower Honey Semifreddo with friendships and loyal customers What accoutrements described thus lemon and saffron keeps them coming back she feels is the pudding orange segments poached home baked style and onsite preparation rhubarb Italian meringue and of the products consistency poppy seed sponge responsiveness to customer suggestions Executive chef Shaun Crymble and research into baking trends She also credits the recipe to his Rosseau gratefully credits her staff colleague pastry chef Cindy James and We said strawberries and rhubarb aren t provides further description just for pies but of course we re going Semifreddo in Italian translates to to include a recipe for strawberry half cold It is a semi frozen rhubarb pie MacIsaac s It does dessert made with eggs sugar and what strawberry rhubarb pie whipped cream that produces a should do avoids overpowering velvety mousse like texture The the natural flavours with sugar so fluffy and airy consistency is what that the tanginess of the rhubarb separates it from ice cream Chef serves as a foil for the sweetness of James combines the rich saffron the strawberries and vice versa flavour with the lemon pudding to I was taught the recipe by a give it a savoury aspect to the pastry chef she says but over the dessert while pairing it with the years we ve tweaked it We ve cut sweetness of the wildflower the sugar back by over half since honey To enhance the flavour opening in 2010 This pie is profiles orange segments and actually not so humble being her rhubarb are poached in wildflower most popular pie in the summer honey Yummies in a Jar Ginger Rhubarb Jam features in the ingredients for the martini in this month s bonus recipe The menu of Teca the fine When James was a girl in her 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 Muskoka Ratepayers Association MRA represents the interests of its members in local government property taxation economic development and environmental issues MRA membership is open to all full and part time residents and businesses that have an interest in the Township of Muskoka Lakes Join us at the MRA Annual General Meeting Doors open at 9 30 am meeting at 10 00 am July 21 at the Port Carling Community Centre This is your opportunity to get more involved in the future of Muskoka Join your neighbours for the MRA s annual community update Join us Visit the MRA website at muskokaratepayers ca to learn more about the MRA or to become a member now MUSKOKA RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION muskokaratepayers ca 705 765 0022 info muskokaratepayers ca June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 65
hometown of Ingersoll her grandfather began taking her on a special trip every Saturday to visit a different bakery in southwestern Ontario They d go as far as Niagara Falls a two and a half hour drive to sample baked goods This tradition instilled in her a passion for pastry she says My granny always said She s going to be a pastry chef she s going to be a baker Granny was right James went to school in Niagara Falls taking a culinary management program She then worked at a private country club that had no pastry kitchen making all the breads and desserts She also worked at several high end restaurants before moving to Muskoka to have a beautiful resort experience as she describes it I love Muskoka she enthuses The nature and how it s very peaceful a lot different from city life It was an adjustment at first especially the winters She has worked at The Rosseau for six years and is responsible for desserts for all of the resort s eateries and events as well The wildflower honey semifreddo recipe is original to her a fusion of several sources I had a saffron rice when I was out and I thought I could incorporate this into a new menu idea Balance off the flavour of saffron with the honey flower semifreddo You just take different ideas from traditional desserts for example crepes suzette I wanted to elevate the oranges from that to something that could complement the semifreddo In spring and summer James says the dish is very popular They say it s nice and creamy but not too heavy Because it s semi frozen it s a nice treat not too sweet They really like the rhubarb it gives it a nice tang The recipe she s giving us is a simplified version of the Teca semifreddo created exclusively for Unique Muskoka So you have to go to Teca for the original Remember when you add the strawberries the heat goes off The last word goes to Lynn Murden proprietor and cook at Yummies in a Jar in Baysville because strawberries and rhubarb kick started her artisan preserve business which is now so successful that it has been lauded in a speech made by Muskoka MPP Norm Miller to the Ontario Legislature 66 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018 Brooklands Farm in Milford Bay has been in Ken Riley s family for over 140 years Among its crops is rhubarb from plants that date back over 100 years We d picked strawberries and a friend had given me some rhubarb she recounts I made a couple of pies and wondered what else to do with it My mother had made jams before so I tried that Having made about a dozen jars of strawberry rhubarb jam Murden took a table at the 1992 Baysville Walkabout a popular annual summer festival and had a life changing experience I got such a thrill out of people buying things that I had made that that night I decided this was what I wanted to do She has never looked back At her next venue she sold a hundred jars Now she offers about 100 flavours of jam and jelly as well as oil free vinaigrettes flavoured maple syrups pepper jelly condiments jams with no added sugar mustards and barbecue sauces Customers include resorts such as Deerhurst Taboo and Windermere House and restaurants such as Three Guys and a Stove and Main St Local Kitchen They incorporate Yummies products into their dishes and also sell them separately Part of Murden s secret is creativity with flavour and combinations of ingredients you wouldn t expect She s willing to expend the trial and error effort to tweak them to perfection Sometimes she s had wins from apparent disasters such as when she accidently added mango to marmalade and the result was good enough to slap a label on In the strawberry and rhubarb realm in addition to the strawberry rhubarb jam there s Ginger Rhubarb two flavours that meld surprisingly well and Strawberry Chocolate Truffle which contains Cr me de Cacao and peppermint schnapps for a complex flavour that is only slightly minty with a soup on of chocolate But perhaps most arresting is Strawberry Chipotle Murden originally acquired the peppers from a now defunct restaurant in Dorset whose owner smoked them for her The result is a delicious smoky strawberry flavour with a pleasant afterburn terrific with camembert or cream cheese on crackers or with sausages or as a glaze on ham pork or turkey Murden s contribution came in response to a request for a recipe meant for savoury applications but incorporating either rhubarb or strawberries The solution Yummies in a Jar Rhubarb Chutney Merely one of Yummies 100 flavours Savour your strawberry rhubarb summer
Yummies in a Jar Rhubarb Chutney Courtesy of Lynn Murden Yummies in a Jar Ingredients 2 kg fresh rhubarb chopped 1 cups chopped onions 1 cup chopped celery 2 cups peeled cored chopped apples cups currants or raisins 2 cups apple cider vinegar 4 tsp ginger powder 4 tsp cinnamon powder tsp cayenne pepper 4 cloves of garlic peeled and finely chopped Preparation Grand Opening June 17 2018 Celebrity Scoop Enjoy a slice of Celebration Cake Free Samples of Lots of Stuff Proudly Serving Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream Crafted on Site Chocolates Confections Rick s Buttertarts Muskoka Roastery Coffee Fudge Retro Sweets Come on in Get the Scoop chocolatemargaret bell net 705 646 9079 1 95 Manitoba Street Downtown Bracebridge Across from the Post Office SUMMER HOURS 10AM 10PM STARTING JUNE 1 2018 Combine the above ingredients Slowly bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer Stir often and make sure it doesn t burn After 30 minutes add 4 cups of brown sugar Simmer till thick and soft 15 30 minutes While mixture is cooking sterilize your jars Wash jars in soapy water rinse well and dry upside down on a clean cloth Heat oven to 280 degrees F 140 C Put clean jars in a pan and bake for 10 minutes Pour the hot chutney into the warm sterilized jars seal with new lids that have been immersed in boiling water for a few minutes and enjoy Store in a cool dry and dark place and use within 1 year Makes about 14 cups Bonus Recipe Yummies in a Jar Ginger Rhubarb Martini Krista a member of the Yummies staff Pour 2oz of vodka and 1oz of Triple Sec into a shaker with ice and add half a teaspoon to one teaspoon Yummies in a Jar Ginger Rhubarb Jam Garnish with a strip of ginger or a twist of lemon Rotary Centre for Youth 131 Wellington St Bracebridge 705 644 2712 www clubrunner ca bracebridge 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 June 2018 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 67
Muskoka Moments Sweet memories of life in Muskoka By Jane Templeton September Year end piano My lifelong Muskoka recitals were a highlight as we experience has come full circle experienced the thrill of playing as today I live just down the in the grand Gravenhurst Opera shore in Gravenhurst from where House my grandfather first became Growing up in a close knit acquainted with Muskoka A community spurs a sense of recent immigrant from Belfast wanting to give back Both my and importer of Irish linens he mother and I served on township was sent to the Muskoka council and my father was the Sanatorium in 1923 seeking a last Mayor of Bala before it cure for his tuberculosis He amalgamated with the Township came for the next several of Muskoka Lakes in 1970 Our summers while my grandmother town s adults were remarkable and her three sons one being my volunteer mentors as they taught father rented homes in Bala 4H Homemaking figure skating They visited their dad whenever and hockey gave swimming they could get a ride lessons at Dempster s Island and In 1950 my parents Edna Jane Templeton considers herself lucky to have grown up in Muskoka ran Girls Auxiliary Girl Guides and Walter heard that a hardware and Sunday school They instilled in us a store and marina were for sale in Bala With Christmas drew near Walking to our sense of community that carried on As two storey red brick schoolhouse I could absolutely no knowledge of either they not pass the stone church without touching adults we continue working to make our bought the business and moved their three area a better place to live work and play the beautiful orange coloured rock in the kids to live above the shop Issues like no Would I have these sweet memories if I church gate I still have to touch it when running water no toilet and the five of us had been raised elsewhere Perhaps but I walking by today sharing a tiny space were outshone by the was one of the lucky ones to have grown up Our new house by the railway tracks adventure of living on the lake in Muskoka Today I live just down the My years growing up in Bala bring a rush near the winter and summer stations had shore from the site of the Gravenhurst its benefits too We knew where the of simple innocent memories spending Sanatorium where it all began It is my southbound train containing cows was hours at the Twins Studio known as Fairy hope that today s kids will have as many headed When it stopped we would often Land hanging around Balacade catching fond memories as I do about their feed cows through the slats in the cars and releasing frogs and turtles picking hometown memories that help build Devils Paintbrush and Dutchman s breeches calling it their last supper and feeling so character and the wish to contribute give badly for them not connecting the dots and making forts in the woods We would back and play it forward when we enjoyed a hamburger for dinner gather pussy willows along the rail tracks We spent hours walking the tracks and and later enjoyed Dunn s Jane Templeton lives on Muskoka Bay with her At age seven I was an entrepreneur I set recording information in a little black partner John McMechan They have six notebook the number of cars south or up in front of the Cotton Club with a wonderful children and 10 glorious cardboard carton and sign reading A Penny northbound the colour of the flag on the engine how many cabooses and whether or grandchildren Jane was the general manager a Peek Curious passersby paid a cent to of the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce not the engineer waved at us see my cat dressed up in doll clothes I for 17 years She is the recipient of The Helen We played outside in all seasons skating learned about money and budgeting early Keller Fellowship Award from Lions My weekly allowance was 25 cents a nickel in the old indoor rink and on Bala Bay International is a Paul Harris Fellow with the driving on the iced over bay in a big tow for church a nickel for Sunday school a Rotary Foundation and was a Muskoka truck making ice and snow forts and nickel for Red Cross leaving 10 cents for Business Woman of the Year swimming by the hour from May until treats We started saving for presents as 68 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2018
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