Unique Muskoka - Issue 33 June 2022 : simplebooklet.com

2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022...telling the Muskoka storyFeatures11Jenny Cressman’s Cuban Odyssey - a Real and Fictional JourneyArticle by K.M. Wehrstein Photography by Josianne MasseauWhile writing has been in Jenny Cressman’s family for years, it wasn’t until she happened upon a sweet deal to an all-inclusive resort in Cuba that inspiration truly struck. Her novels, set in Cuba, draw on her own life experiences and observations from her travels in the sunny south. 17Trees of Muskoka - The Mighty MapleArticle by John Challisere are an estimated 41 species of trees native to Muskoka and 10 of those are of the Acer genus, better known as maple trees. From the delicious, sweet syrup produced from sugar maple sap to the rosy blush of red maple buds in spring, these trees are a big player in the health of Muskoka’s forests. 21Historic Libraries - Lake of Bays Township LibraryArticle by J. Patrick BoyerMunicipal libraries in Baysville and Dwight, located at the north and south ends of Lake of Bays, provide more than just reading materials to permanent residents and cottagers in the area. ese community hubs have evolved from small, community-led book-sharing initiatives into robust program and service providers. [36]26Planning for Preservation – Balancing Development and Lake EnjoymentArticle by Matt DriscollWaterfront development policy varies widely across Muskoka and its many lakes. While the goal of maximum safe enjoyment for residents and guests and protection of the local ecology is consistent, how to achieve that balance is more diﬃcult. Experts weigh-in on the success so far. 36Little Market Muskoka - In-season FarmingArticle by Meghan Taylor Photography by Josianne MasseauIn-season farming is about selecting and harvesting produce locally, as it naturally ripens. For Melissa Johnson, sustainability, waste reduction, nutrition and overall well-being are all tied into her business and her ability to give back to her community. 42Huntsville Festival of the Arts celebrating 30 years of musical traditionArticle by Bronwyn BoyerMuskoka’s largest arts organization is coming back this year and the timing couldn’t be better, since 2022 marks its 30th anniversary. Huntsville Festival of the Arts has a roster of 30 concerts and events to commemorate the milestone while also looking back on the many years of celebrating the arts.[11][42]

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Our CoverPhotography by Josianne MasseauMelissa Johnson, owner of Little Market Muskoka, grows and sells her own herbs and edible ﬂowers from her home in Bracebridge. SUSTAINABLELIFESTYLELiving o the landand the bountyof hard workHuntsville’s MusicalTradition Marks 30-Year High NoteBalancing Development andLake EnjoymentVersatile asparagus –a home-grown favouriteJUNE 2022UM Issue 33 Coverpage Ba- Use this one.indd 1UM Issue 33 Coverpage Ba- Use this one.indd 1 4/29/2022 4:10:11 PM4/29/2022 4:10:11 PMOpinion9 Muskoka InsightsBy Don Smith72Muskoka MomentsBy George YoungDepartments 60What’s HappenedArticle by Matt DriscollA survey from Safe and Quiet Lakes indicates growing concerns with boat noise and wakes, Northland passenger train service is set to return to Muskoka, ﬂoating accommodations are debated by local councils and a Muskoka musician debuts a timely new single. Scott Aitchison announces his candidacy for Conservative party leadership while signiﬁcant changes to regulations are contemplated for Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve and Dark Sky Preserve.64Cottage Country CuisineArticle by K.M. Wehrstein / Photography by Tomasz SzumskiIt’s asparagus season and this versatile vegetable can be presented in many mouth-watering ways. From growing to preserving to cooking, three Muskokans share their preferred way to enjoy asparagus. June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5[64][54]50Voices from the PastArticle by Jack HuttonAs Swift River Energy Ltd. excavated for the foundation of a new hydroelectric plant at Bala Falls in 2017, it uncovered signatures chiselled into the Precambrian rock. Who were the four men who left their names in stone? anks to local historians, the history behind the signatures is now more clear. 54Power Generation accelerated Muskoka’s ProgressArticle by J. Patrick Boyere rivers and falls across Muskoka have been noted for their power, and the opportunity to harness it, since the region was settled. As industry came to the area, and with the dawn of the Electric Age, hydroelectric energy generation became a major factor in the growth and development of Muskoka. [60]

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…telling the Muskoka story Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc.Donald SmithPublisherMeghan TaylorEditorDonna AnsleySalesLisa BrazierDesignSusan SmithAdministrationBronwyn BoyerJ. Patrick BoyerJohn ChallisMatt DriscollKelly Holinshead Jack HuttonJosianne MasseauTomasz SzumskiMeghan TaylorK.M. WehrsteinGeorge YoungAndy ZeltkalnsContributorsAnnual Subscription Rates: (including HST where applicable)In Ontario $30.00 All Other Provinces $36.00 U.S. $60.00 All Other Countries $72.00HST: 773172721Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number: 43268016Copyright © 2022 Unique Publishing Inc.No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.Mailing AddressBox 616, Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9Street Address28 Manitoba St., Bracebridge ON P1L 1S1www.uniquemuskoka.cominfo@uniquemuskoka.com 705-637-0204 6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022stoneway marble & granite inc.Les and Renata Partyka1295 Muskoka Rd. 118 West, Bracebridge | 705.645.3380 | stoneway.inc@gmail.comINTRODUCING KIATHEThe Sportage21 Robert Dollar Dr, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1P9705-645-6575MUSKOKA KIA

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46 Ann Street, Bracebridge705-646-9995 | 877-877-3929www.LesBell.caTRUST • INTEGRITY • SERVICEOur local team is here to provide you with personalized insurance solutions. For the coverage your family deserves, call us today.Your Home and Cottage Mattress CentreTHE LARGEST SELECTION OF IN-STOCKMATTRESSES IN MUSKOKAMUSKOKACURATED COLLECTION by Marshall Mattress6 Monica Lane, Bracebridge705.646.2557www.mattressesofmuskoka.comMuskoka InsightsPhotograph: Susan SmithOne thing that is important to many Muskokans is traditions. ey’re the events and activities that bring friends and families together. Chat with Muskokans and some will tell you of traditions they have inherited from generations of their forebears while others will have developed more recent activities that have special meaning – once a season, once a year or over longer intervals.Maybe it’s a favourite stopping point for a meal, an annual cruise on the lakes, a family reunion, a weekly gathering around a campﬁre – whatever the circumstance, there is bound to be sharing of good times. It may also be the time for honest conversations, a lightening of a burden that needs the support that comes when traditions are celebrated.Over the past few years, as Unique Muskoka evolved, I have had the pleasure to work with our daughter, Meghan. First as a sounding board for ideas that might interest our readers and then as a regular contributor, her byline often appeared over more than one article in an issue. Meghan appreciates the traditions and the stories that are so important to Muskokans. She understands both the inherent and intrinsic elements that contribute to the character of Muskoka.As I shared with you in recent columns, this past year held a couple of personal milestones – 50 years since I wrote my ﬁrst news article and a signiﬁcant birthday. Both got me thinking about transitions. It seemed ﬁtting that I should ﬁnd someone who shared my understanding of traditions. With a sense of pride, I am pleased to advise Meghan was the person who best embraced Unique Muskoka and with this issue, she is our editor.From the line-up of articles, I think you’ll agree Meghan has stepped into this role as a natural.Striking balances in Muskoka is integral. First to preserve the reason so many are attracted to the district and then to ﬁnd ways to share the Muskoka experience. If we allow development to occur beyond the capacity of the district, Muskoka will no longer be as attractive nor sustainable. For that reason, the article by regular contributor Matt Driscoll, Planning for Preservation – Balancing Development and Lake Enjoyment, provides insight into how some jurisdictions are attempting to keep the scales level.One woman’s decision to live a sustainable life and share her choices with family, friends and neighbours is the interesting story of Melissa Johnson and her business – Little Market Muskoka.Muskoka is known for celebrating both home-grown talent and that of others. It’s noteworthy, therefore, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts which has been a home for many great performances since its founding days.Muskoka has many hidden stories, some tucked away for generations. Such is the case with the uncovering of two etched rocks during the construction of the new hydroelectric plant. Writer Jack Hutton digs a little deeper to share this history.And speaking of history, we’re certain you’ll enjoy Patrick Boyer’s look at the impact of waterpower generation on Muskoka’s development as well as his ongoing feature on the Libraries of Muskoka.Finally, two new features – Trees of Muskoka and an introduction to Muskoka authors – give a little more insight into what makes Muskoka such a special experience.Happy reading and welcome aboard, Meghan.June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9

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Jenny Cressman’s trilogy of novels, starting with Cuban Kisses, are set in a ctionalized version of Marea del Portillo resort in Cuba and based on her observations of interactions between locals and tourists. Article by K.M. Wehrstein / Photography by Josianne MasseauWriting is in Jenny Cressman’s blood. Now living in Huntsville, she was born in Kitchener of literary Mennonite stock: her mother published a book on parenting and her father wrote poems and articles and worked as an editor, both for the Mennonite community. “I used big words early on as a kid,” she recalls.How did she get from this straightlaced upbringing to writing a trilogy where the ﬁrst steamy, rollicking sex scene starts only a few pages into the ﬁrst book? It’s a long story and central to the plot is her falling in love with a much hotter nation than Canada.Cressman’s ﬁrst publication was a poem in a Mennonite youth magazine when she was in high school. After studying liberal arts and some journalism at a small Mennonite college, June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11

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she was hired as a reporter for a newspaper in Hesston, Kansas, then returned to Canada to attend a Mennonite college aﬃliated with the University of Waterloo, and edited the college paper. Her ﬁrst full-time job as a journalist was in Smiths Falls, Ontario, where she also met her husband, Gord Baker.e couple moved to Huntsville in 1992, and Cressman split her work three ways: for the town’s health-food store, e Great Vine, for the Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group as communications/media relations co-ordinator and women’s shelter crisis counsellor, and for the Huntsville Herald, one newspaper among a group of publications owned by Bracebridge entrepreneur Don Smith. Smith hired her as editor for Muskoka Magazine and other publications in 2002, a job that she left in 2005 to pursue personal creative projects. Her ﬁrst attempt at a novel, however, didn’t come to fruition.en in February 2009, when prices to Costa Rica suddenly went astronomical before she could book, Cressman happened upon a sweet deal for an all-inclusive vacation at the Marea del Portillo resort on the southern shore of Cuba. You need only read the lush and loving description in the ﬁrst chapters of her ﬁrst novel, Cuban Kisses, to ﬁnd 12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022In 2005, Cressman le journalism and began to pursue creative projects. While her rst novel did not come to fruition, Cuban Kisses is the culmination of years spent writing and editing, coupled with the inspiration from her travels in Cuba. Cressman recalls using big words as a kid. Thanks to her literary parents, writing is in her blood.

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out what this unassuming little paradise is like. Further into the book, you get to know Cuba’s people, culture, and some surprising diﬀerences from what you’re used to in Canada.“Going to Cuba changed my life, put me on a whole diﬀerent trajectory,” Cressman recalls. She was not only struck by its “rich landscape of beauty, culture, history and tears, and its imaginative, ingenious, inspirational people,” but also felt an odd familiarity, as if she had lived there before. Within two years she had started a Cuba-centric travel business that often encourages its clients to take needed items to give to the locals. But also, her writing exploded out of its shell, resulting in poetry, short stories, travelogues, blog posts, and three hot novels, the ﬁrst two published by Ripple Press in Huntsville before its closure, the third currently in search of a publisher.e work’s seminal moment, so to speak, came while 50 Shades of Grey was hitting a degree of popularity that surprised everyone, and Cressman’s husband suggested she pen some romance and make a million dollars (No exposé of a pillow secret here; it’s right in the foreword).“I haven’t made a million dollars yet,” Cressman confesses. “But one Netﬂix deal and I’ll be golden.”e shocking prologue of Cuban Kisses reveals, however, that it is not just smut but thriller, as Cressman draws from her women’s shelter knowledge to give her main character not just a luscious aﬀair with a muscled Cuban horseman, but a genuinely dangerous Canadian ex-husband who seems willing to stalk her to the ends of the earth. And then the book rises above itself again, transcending both the smut and thriller genres in its expert (but not excessive) discourses on Cuban culture, history and more.“It’s set in a ﬁctionalized version of Marea del Portillo and based on my observations of interactions between Cubans and tourists, as well as my reading on Cuba,” Cressman notes. Heroine Jackie’s Mennonite roots and similar life transformation on Cuba reveal that Cressman is writing from personal experience, but she cautions against assuming any other aspect is autobiographical.In the second book, Cuban Wishes, Jackie happens into a more mature relationship which takes her between Canada and Cuba; in the third and ﬁnal, Cuban Missus, her Cuban awakening comes together with her familial roots toward a happily-ever-after ending, assuming she survives.Cressman’s next planned work? A chain of short stories about successive incarnations of the same soul living Cuban history. “It starts,” she explains, “with a young woman witnessing the arrival of Columbus in 1492.” And goes downhill from there, one is tempted to think. We’ll have to wait and read it to ﬁnd out.We’re Celebrating our14 Gray Road, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1P8PURE MAPLE SYRUP1 LitreMAPLE COOKIES350 g. 1.800.461.5445info@mapleorchardfarms.comwith some Sweet Deals35YEARSTHANKYOUMapleOrchard299$1699$Farms- FACTORY OUTLET SPECIALS - 14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022Cuban Kisses, Cuban Wishes and the forthcoming third instalment, Cuban Missus, follow heroine Jackie as she escapes an abusive relationship in Canada, begins a luscious aair with a muscled Cuban horseman, settles into a more mature relationship and nally, a happily-ever-aer, assuming she survives.

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Photograph: Jane ClarkMaple trees may actually nurture the rest of the forest’s health. Once completely leafed out, surplus sap is sent back into a maple's roots. Growing evidence indicates the sap may be shared with other nearby trees through networks of underground fungi. Article by John ChallisThere are an estimated 41 species of tree native to Muskoka and another 24 smaller trees classiﬁed as shrubs. All play signiﬁcant roles in the balance of Muskoka’s ecosystem. is series explores some of our more visible trees. e word “maple” instantly conjures up thoughts of the enigmatic syrup so crucial to a pancake breakfast. e sugar maple, Canada’s national tree, has been tapped for its sweet bounty for thousands of years by Indigenous People, and since the 1600s by Europeans. Sooner than we may expect, the crimsons, golds and oranges of autumn will again be turning minds to the sugar maple. Commercially, sugar maple is also highly valued for its hard, beautifully grained wood. It’s not all sugar maple in the woods, though. ere are actually 10 species of maple in the genus Acer in Canada, six of which are common in Muskoka. ey include some of the largest trees in the forest, along with some shrub-like species that hide in the shade of the forest canopy. Most of them produce sweet sap, too. All species of maple sprout leaves in pairs, from stems that are opposite each other. All but one species have variations on the classic maple leaf shape, with three prominent points and often many more. An interesting bit of trivia: If you have June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 17

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18 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022any old Canadian pennies around, look at the maple leaves on the back. ey’re depicted incorrectly, sprouting in an alternating arrangement. e designer, G.E. Kruger Grey, was British and might have been drawing from a London plane tree, which has similar leaves but an alternate arrangement. Sugar maple may get the headlines, but red maple is the most common, tolerating a wide range of climate and habitats, even thriving in swamps. Red maple deserves appreciation for providing the ﬁrst colour to spring. Look out over a forested hillside in April and you may see the rosy blush of red maple ﬂowers emerging in the trees’ crowns. ey send out their ﬂowers well before the leaves emerge. Close up, they show as bright, red bundles of ﬂower buds, usually with male and female clusters on the same tree — an important early source of pollen and nectar for many insects and birds.Striped maple and mountain maple are shrub-sized trees, with trunks rarely thicker than your forearm. Mountain maple is the smaller of the two, and it sprouts erratic clusters of stems. e trunk of striped maple has pale, greenish streaks running lengthwise, giving the tree its name. Both these trees enjoy the shade and cool soil under large tree canopies and are rarely found outside mature forests.Two maples have a bit of a bad reputation. Silver maple’s spreading roots are notorious for ﬁnding their way through basement walls and sewer lines. Manitoba maples, which do Red maple deserves appreciation for providing the rst colour to spring. They send out their owers before leaves emerge, creating a rosy blush among the forest. 6048 Highway 9, Schomberg1-800-843-1732www.THEFIREPLACESTOP.com

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Photograph: Shirley Burtonnot have recognizable maple-shaped leaves, have trunks which often divide near the ground, with branches and twigs that split and shed regularly. All maple species throughout Muskoka have far more value to wildlife than to people. eir bark is a tender favourite of porcupines and beavers. In winter, their buds and young twigs are important food for rabbits, deer and moose. Ruﬀed grouse, chickadees, purple ﬁnches, nuthatches and grosbeaks all feed on the buds and ﬂowers of maple trees. And those iconic, winged maple keys contain seeds that are starchy treasures hoarded by squirrels and chipmunks for winter. Maples may actually nurture the rest of the forest’s health, too. Once a maple has completely leafed out, it will send some of its surplus sap back into its roots. ere’s growing evidence indicating the sap may be shared with other nearby trees, through networks of mycorrhizae, the underground stems of fungi. A maple tree could even be feeding its own young seedlings in this way. e mighty maple - so much more than just a sweet treat. Sugar maple, one of 10 species of maple tree in Muskoka, is easily recognizable as its leaves turn shades of crimson, gold and orange in the fall. Plus, its sweet sap is the top ingredient for maple syrup in the spring months. Photograph: Jane ClarkPhotograph: John ChallisJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19

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The village libraries of Lake of Bays Township anchor both ends of Muskoka’s highest major waterbody with the northern branch in Dwight’s Community Centre and its southern cousin in Baysville’s Community Centre. e lake between the libraries not only gave the municipality its name but created a vital vacation economy. When the 3,500 permanent residents of Lake of Bays are joined by 13,000 summer Muskokans, these libraries become busier than ever. Both libraries began as small, community-led initiatives, evolving with their residents and with the locations they occupied. In Baysville, historian Judy Vanclieaf traces the village’s library back a century and a quarter. Harvey Dwight, president and general manager of the Great North-Western Telegraph Company and avid summer Muskokan (whose memory endures in the village name “Dwight”), bought and donated books to launch a Baysville lending library. Others contributed volumes, too; a pattern across Muskoka for beginning libraries with homesteaders’ own books. In 1897, Baysville’s library opened in the hallway of the personal residence of Shirley Campbell, daughter of village founder W.H. Brown. As it grew, the library was promoted to the balcony level in the Township Hall on Bridge Street. e hall served as council chambers, had a jail in the basement and housed community dances, fall fair exhibits, Article by J. Patrick BoyerPhotograph: Tomasz SzumskiThirty years ago, Baysville library sta held the rapt attention of more than two dozen youngsters, boosting early engagement in library-centred activity that fosters literacy, social interaction, and learning. Photograph: Lake of Bays LibraryJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 21

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22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022and Christmas concerts; it was Baysville’s hub. e convenient indoor balcony seemed an ideal, if unusual, place for a library. Librarian Louise Ellis opened one night a week.After the Second World War, the library descended from the balcony to a basement dressing room in the community centre where librarian Georgie Moeller was helped by her daughter Vivian. After a number of years, the library migrated from this location across the parking lot to the north end of the school. Vivian Mitchell succeeded her mother as librarian and the library took up residence in a former classroom, after the school closed in the mid-1960s. Finally, a decade after a new Baysville Community Centre opened in June 1980, the library addition at its south end was oﬃcially opened in August 1991. Until 1983, the Dwight Library was housed in Irwin Public School as a joint The village libraries of Baysville (le) and Dwight make up the twin branches of the Lake of Bays Public Library. Both began as small, community led-initiatives that have grown into community hubs with a wide variety of programs and services.Photographs: Tomasz SzumskiBATH & KITCHEN SHOWROOMDESIGN. INSTALLATION. REPAIRSERVING ALL OF MUSKOKA279 MANITOBA ST, BRACEBRIDGE705.645.2671KNOWLESPLUMBING.COM @MUSKOKABATHTHE RIOBEL MOMENTI™ COLLECTION AVAILABLE AT KNOWLES PLUMBING!279 Manitoba Street, Bracebridge 705.645.2671 @knowlesplumbing @knowlesplumbing @knowlesplumbingBATH & KITCHEN SHOWROOMSALES•INSTALLATION•REPAIRSERVING ALL OF MUSKOKAknowlesplumbing.comMuskoka’s Bath & Plumbing Centre

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operation of the Township and Muskoka’s board of education. After the school, the library was relocated to a trailer near the municipal oﬃce. It was open just four hours a week, six in the summer months. When the township oﬃce burned down, the replacement community centre, built in 1994, included an extension for the library, readily accessible for community involvement, learning, and enrichment.By the early 1990s, both branches of the Lake of Bays Public Library were in their own buildings, professionally staﬀed, and increasingly well equipped. Today, the libraries have a total of eight staﬀ members, including chief executive oﬃcer and Dwight branch librarian Cathy Fairbairn. Fairbairn, whose background includes a B.Sc. from the University of Western Ontario, began her library career in 2006 part-time at the Dwight Branch. By 2013, she became full-time branch manager and ﬁve years later, in 2018, the library board appointed her chief executive oﬃcer. While she is responsible for the entire operation, Lizann Brunskill is Baysville’s branch librarian. “We want to have the latest, especially for kids, so they are not at a disadvantage to big city kids when advancing into higher education and their careers,” explains At the Dwight Library, concerts are held outdoors at the gazebo during the summer months and community members can enjoy their love of reading at the outdoor book nook. Photograph: Tomasz Szumski100% Canadian Artists• Large Original Paintings• Whimsical Sculptures• Hand made wood bowls,pottery & jewelry111 Medora St. (Hwy 118 West.)Port Carling, Muskoka705 765 7474www.redcanoegallery.comCelebrating 29 years in Muskoka(parking at rear)Painting by M.M. SauterJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 23

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24 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022Fairbairn. “e library is a place to level the playing ﬁeld.”Since 2009, library programs oﬀered to the Lake of Bays community have increased 310 percent while participation is up 257 percent. Since 2010, Wi-Fi usage has risen 218 percent. Clearly, both “community hubs,” as Fairbairn refers to the libraries, are dynamic. During her two decades of librarianship, Fairbairn has identiﬁed both constants and shifts in community expectations about the library. “One constant is ‘connection’ – how people want to feel part of the community,” shares Fairbairn. “A sense of belonging, being part of the community, is an unchanging element and we’ve striven to implement new ways to make this aspiration a reality. is is possible in communities like Lake of Bays more than in a big city library.” Although the idea of a “community hub” has been a Muskoka reality since the District’s ﬁrst libraries were established in the 1860s, what constitutes a “hub” has evolved – with interlibrary loans, talks by authors, programs for youth, computer technology, and internet service. At an outdoor gazebo by the Dwight branch, guest bands perform summer concerts. Indoors at Baysville, library service has advanced to a privacy oasis “pod.” e biggest shift over time is technology. e sound-dampening “pod” oﬀers Baysville library patrons privacy in an accessible space. A self-contained unit with plug-ins for internet connectivity, its occupant can have a medical appointment with their doctor, discuss ﬁnancial matters with their banker, get professional guidance from a lawyer, or hold a business meeting – all remotely. Library staﬀ provide technical Baysville’s Township Hall, seen here, was long a vital community hub. Before the First World War, Baysville’s library, under charge of librarian Louise Ellis, occupied the hall balcony (the upper window at rear showing its level.) As libraries have evolved with community needs, the addition of new services and programs, like the Baysville library’s technology hub, have been integral to continued growth and usage. Photograph: Marie Vanclieaf CollectionPhotograph: Tomasz Szumski705.645.4294 TF: 866.645.4294STORE: 228 TAYLOR RD., BRACEBRIDGEOFFICE: 1646 WINHARA RD., GRAVENHURSTSales & Service of MajorPropane Appliances(refrigerators, ranges, fireplaces, furnaces & more)Safe & reliableNo electricity requiredBulk propane deliveryto your home or cottageAppliancesSERVING MUSKOKA &PARRY SOUND FOROVER 70 YEARS

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support to individuals as needed. “We do a lot to get people in the door,” says Fairbairn. “ey discover this place is not a formal institution but can be an interesting and helpful part of their lives.” In September the library board voted unanimously to become ﬁne-free – joining more than 500 North American libraries who’ve taken this plunge since 2019. In ﬁne-free libraries people still return items, the number of materials borrowed increases, and people’s experience is more positive. Such ideas ﬂow from Lake of Bays Library’s membership in the Ontario Library Service. “For small libraries like ours,” says Fairbairn, “we get policy development on new matters that emerge, education and training for staﬀ, and new ideas for librarians. We’re far more eﬀective and relevant than we could ever be on our own.” With such varied programs and oﬀerings, the Dwight branch planned an 1,800 square foot extension to their existing space ﬁve years ago. However, the pandemic changed social patterns and workplace expectations. “What we’d planned back then may not be what the community needs now,” shares Fairbairn. “It’s the community’s library, so we’ve got to listen to what people want. We’re stepping back from that ﬁve-year-old plan to take stock of our new social and community and economic realities. e library is the only free space for everyone in the community.”Unafraid to re-evaluate, the libraries are asking people what they want, and what they’ll need ﬁve and ten years from now.In the mid-1990s, Baysville librarian Linda Lacroix introduced two youngsters to the marvels of computer use which, like books themselves, oer a passport to the larger world.Photograph: Lake of Bays Library705-764-0765 | muskokabarging.com | 1163 Milford Bay Rd, Milford Bay ONBARGING STEEL & CRIB DOCKS SEPTIC SYSTEMS LANDSCAPING ● ●Muskoka Barging●Family run construction company with over 35 years experience operating in the Muskoka Lakes area. No job is too small or too big.rewiring • alterations • heatingNEVER be left in the DARK or COLD:Call Mike Morrow705.765.3195get a quality home standby generator by GENERACwww.morrow-electric.comServing Muskoka Lakes since 1952 ESA License #: 7000286June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 25

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Bordering Muskoka to the northwest, Seguin Township, which includes the village of Rosseau, uses a diﬀerent system called recreational carrying capacity, or RCC. Seguin has a population of 4,280 permanent residents, which swells to 15,000 during the high season. It encompasses some 186 lakes and has 30 lake associations. An RCC is essentially an estimate of the number of users that can be accommodated on any given lake while maintaining the character and quality of the lake for all users. e rules in Seguin dictate a maximum density of one residential unit per 1.6 hectares of land and one tourist accommodation per 0.8 hectares of land.Seguin made the RCC a part of their Oﬃcial Plan in 1982 and the issue was revisited again during their Oﬃcial Plan update in 2006. At that point, the municipality hired Meridian Planning to look at lake capacity issues in the area. Meridian determined that the only way to control the RCC is to regulate the land use adjacent to lakes and that some aspects of social crowding can be mitigated through minimum lot sizes, Gord Nielsen (top), an ecologist and President of Michalski Nielsen Associates Limited, believes planning policies, like recreational carrying capacity, may not produce results that work for everyone. For lakes with large boatable surface, these policies may reduce and control development but they can also limit public access, reducing the ability for all to enjoy Muskoka’s natural beauty. Top Photograph: Gord NielsenBottom Photograph: Muskoka Conservancy June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27

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naturalization and viewscape protection. ey also recommend that issues of RCC and social crowding are assessed when reviewing development.Taylor Elgie, Seguin’s director of planning, says the municipality is currently in the midst of another Oﬃcial Plan review, but he isn’t aware of any impending changes as far as the RCC is concerned.“I believe the policy has been working quite well for us,” says Elgie, who took over as director of planning in November 2021. “I know it’s withstood some challenges at the Ontario Land Tribunal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be challenged again.” Few people in Ontario have a better understanding of RCC than Anthony Usher. Usher started his ﬁrm, Anthony Usher Planning Consultant, in 1984, providing services in land use, resource, recreation and tourism planning and has studied RCC extensively. He was called as a witness for Seguin Township when their RCC was challenged at the Ontario Municipal Board (now known as the Ontario Land Tribunal), and was more recently asked to peer review a boating capacity study as part of the controversial Langmaids Island development on Lake of Bays.“e term recreational carrying capacity has a very diﬀerent deﬁnition than it did when it ﬁrst surfaced in the 1960s and 70s,” says Usher.Following the Second World War there was a tremendous boom in outdoor recreation across North America. at saw ever-increasing numbers of people heading to lakes and rivers, and building homes, cottages and resorts in close proximity to bodies of water.“It was around that time people ﬁrst started to wonder if there was a maximum level and whether there should be some type of limit on the number of people allowed to use the lake,” says Usher. “ere are studies on boating capacity and water quality but recreational carrying capacity is something diﬀerent.”e factors that determine an RCC can be quite varied, says Usher, and can also change from lake to lake. An RCC typically isn’t Brent Parsons (above), principal and senior aquatic scientist with Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd., is in the midst of working on causation studies for the District of Muskoka. Ensuring lake management is properly executed relies on up-to-date information from these studies informing the guidelines implemented across the region. Common concerns among waterfront property owners are a perceived increase in boating trac and noise levels. While development on Muskoka’s lakes may be controlled, current development models have not fully considered the new emphasis on shared ownership cottages. Photograph: Gord NielsenPhotograph: Brent ParsonsJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 29

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30 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022concerned with water quality, per se, but more so with factors related to overdevelopment like noise, lights and boat traﬃc.“I prefer to think of it as the social capacity,” Usher comments. Usher says determining what constitutes a social capacity can be challenging at the best of times. “It’s really indeﬁnable. It isn’t strictly about boating capacity,” says Usher. “It’s a little bit like a neighbourhood in Toronto. People can sometimes become high-minded in terms of maintaining control over the character of the neighbourhood. Sometimes they don’t like the way their neighbourhood has changed and they don’t trust the ‘other’. I think that mentality can translate to cottage country.”Neil Hutchinson has a Ph.D. in Zoology (Aquatic Toxicology), and already had decades of experience in the study of lake capacity before he formed Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. in 2009. e consulting ﬁrm works across the country from its base in Bracebridge and specializes in aquatic science, technical facilitation and peer review services.“Lake capacity is a little bit like a speed limit,” says the recently retired Hutchinson. “If I drive a little bit over the speed limit, I’m muskokaseptic@gmail.com705-375-2797muskokasepticservices.comSeptic PumpingSpecializing inWATER ACCESS PROPERTIESLife here is good.WE ARE HIRING!Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is looking for caring professionals to join our health care team.Make your move to Muskoka today!Full-time, part-time and temporary positions availablein a variety of health care disciplines and hospital departments.Learn more about career opportunities and apply onlineat www.mahc.ca/careers/Recently retired Neil Hutchinson has decades of experience in the study of lake capacity, has a Ph.D. in Zoology (Aquatic Toxicology) and has helped establish the provincial guidelines for lake capacity. Photograph: Neil Hutchinson

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Photograph: Muskoka Conservancylikely to be all right but the more I go over the speed limit the more likely I am to get into trouble.”Hutchinson helped establish the provincial guidelines for lake capacity and various approaches for the District of Muskoka, and his ﬁrm has worked with many municipalities and individuals to develop capacity estimates. e planning standards in the District of Muskoka call for minimum lot frontages ranging from 200 to as much as 800 feet per lakeshore lot, depending on the lake and lot characteristics. “Simply having those standards in place reduces crowding,” explains Hutchinson. “at being said, it’s very diﬃcult to manage behaviour and behaviour has a large eﬀect on lake development impacts and lake aesthetics.”Some of the more common concerns among waterfront property owners are a perceived increase in boating traﬃc and noise levels. Hutchinson says part of the issue is that waterfront development models have at least partially failed to take into consideration the new emphasis on shared ownership cottages.“Just one or two loud groups of individuals on a lake, or a few boats that are very loud and very fast, and you can end up with some “We'e got he curefor hat ales you”muskokabeerspa.comDOWNTOWN TORRANCEWelcoming day isitorsand overnight guests.Municipal policy on waterfront development varies across the province of Ontario. In Muskoka, all of the methods in place aim to achieve the same goal; maximum safe enjoyment for residents and guests and protection of the local ecology. June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 31

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MODERN HOME CARPET ONE350 Ecclestone Drive • Bracebridgecarpetonebracebridge.caTAYLOR CARPET ONE30 Cairns Crescent • Huntsvilletaylorcarpetonehuntsville.comHARDWOOD • LAMINATE • VINYL PLANK & TILE • VINYL ROLLS CARPET • CERAMIC • NATURAL STONE & MOREFloors forHome & Cottage705.645.2443705.789.9259 32 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022very challenging outcomes,” Hutchinson says.In terms of ecology, Hutchinson shares there are several triggers that the District of Muskoka has in place to help recognize any potential threats to water quality and manage development accordingly. ose triggers include any signiﬁcant increases in phosphorus levels or documented algal blooms, which will, in turn, prompt the District to launch lake causation studies to determine if development, or other factors are responsible and to then identify appropriate management strategies.“e problem is climate change has really complicated things,” Hutchinson says. For instance, algal blooms seem to be appearing with much greater regularity in Photograph: Tim DuVernetRecreational carrying capacity is not typically concerned with water quality, per se, but more so with factors related to overdevelopment like noise, lights and boat trac. However, water quality is a clear indicator of the health of lakes in the region.

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Muskoka over the past decade and are appearing in lakes where nutrient levels, historically an important cause, are low. Brent Parsons is a principal and senior aquatic scientist with Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. In addition to helping create the guidelines for the District of Muskoka, the company has also completed one causation study and is in the midst of conducting four more causation studies in Muskoka. To make sure lake management is properly executed, Parsons says they need to stay on top of the latest developments. “It changes with the science,” Parsons says. “at means we need to stay up-to-date on peer-reviewed scientiﬁc literature, evaluate the success of management tools used by other lake managers, and continue to collect feedback from municipal staﬀ and lake associations as well as landowners.”According to Gord Nielsen, an ecologist and President of Michalski Nielsen Associates Limited, an environmental consulting ﬁrm located in Bracebridge, part of the issue is the changing nature of cottage ownership.“Investment in cottages and the wealth involved is very diﬀerent than it was 40 years ago,” says Nielsen, whose company has been providing services throughout Ontario and also in Quebec and Nova Scotia since 1983.Nielsen says part of the perceived problem is also down to changes in technology and the watercraft being used on local lakes. “ere used to be a lot of small tinnies and runabouts,” Nielsen says. “Now the boats are faster, louder and they create bigger wakes. I think most people would say they’re concerned about it.”Nielsen says many people believe the problem is an increase in new development but that really isn’t the case in Muskoka. Much less waterfront Crown Land is sold now than it has been in the past, says Nielsen, and there has been comparatively little waterfront development, which is also only allowed under much tighter standards 705.765.0600 • Port Carlingwww.sifft.caECRA / ESA 7002295 • TSSA 000365522MUSKOKA • PARRY SOUNDYour Source For All Your Electrical, HVAC, Backup Power And Home Automation NeedsWhen a power outage strikes, SOMMERS RESIDENTIAL GENERATORSensure your home or cottage automatically stays powered onA full range of generators that can be custom built to suit your home or cottage’s speciﬁc needs, so you’ll always have standby power ready.As Muskoka’s population, permanent and seasonal, continues to change, municipalities, planners, lake associations and other stakeholders will continue their eorts to strike a balance between development and preservation. Photograph: Muskoka ConservancyJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 33

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34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022Photograph: Gord Nielsenthan it had been years ago.Nielsen is skeptical about the ability of planning policies like RCC to produce results that work for everyone.“It really isn’t a very eﬀective way to deal with large lakes that have a huge boatable surface,” he says. “My concern is that it can be used as a tool for cottage owners to say we like what we’ve got and now you can stop coming here. ere’s also the potential to impose public access limits and that’s very bothersome to me. ey’re not just a resource for cottage owners.”As the wealth concentrated on Muskoka’s lakes continues to increase, year over year, it’s unlikely the issue will resolve itself anytime in the near future. However, the area’s municipalities, planners, lake associations and myriad other stakeholders will carry on in an eﬀort to ﬁnd a balance between development and mitigation.Win the growing GRAND PRIZE JACKPOT all while helping support Hospice Muskoka!3/$1040/$20150/$50Ticket Sales Deadline on the last Thursday of every month!www.hospicemuskoka5050.caSTARTING MAY 2022Wealth and cottage ownership has changed dramatically over the last 40 years, as has the technology and watercra used across the lakes. Regulating the “social capacity” of a body of water is challenging and needs to reect the current state of the environment and those who use and live in the area.

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Naturally dried, chemical-free herbs and ower blends provide a wide range of health benets, such as boosting immunity or decreasing anxiety, in addition to their nutritional benets.returning to growing their own produce and searching for a more local, sustainable lifestyle. “Waste is my biggest pet peeve,” explains Melissa Johnson, Bracebridge resident, day-care provider and homesteader. “I really thought about how much we consume and we consume so naively. It was about having and providing the best food for myself and my family and avoiding waste as much as possible.”Much like those ﬁrst settlers in Muskoka, Johnson approaches gardening and farming, along with the goods she produces for her business, Little Market Muskoka, with an in-season only approach to growing and harvesting. “We had our homestead for about six years before the Little Market transition and even now, it’s still trial and error,” she says.In-season only is precisely what it sounds like – selecting and harvesting produce as it is grown locally. Fruit, vegetables, herbs and ﬂowers that are harvested in-season require less transport, are picked at their ripest (instead of early to ripen during transport) and, therefore, contain more nutrients due to the natural ripening process. Produce that’s in-season is used at its freshest but can also be dried or preserved for use outside of the seasonal harvest. In addition to what she grows at their home property, Johnson spends signiﬁcant time harvesting and preserving goods from other local producers. A family trip or ﬁeld trip to a berry farm or an apple orchard means more in-season selection to eat or to preserve and then share. Focussing on in-season goods maintains Johnson’s eco-friendly approach June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 37

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38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022and preserving increases the shelf-life of perishables. “We get to enjoy ourselves throughout the year, harvesting as a family activity,” comments Johnson. Producing food from her own land is more than a hobby or cost-saving measure. For Johnson, it’s about nutrition, along with waste reduction. Any packaging she uses for goods is 99 percent, if not 100 percent plant-based and biodegradable. e garden beds at Johnson’s homestead are made out of reduced or reused products, like repurposed cedar boards. is spring she plans to test using old tires for a garden bed, continuing to evolve and grow while keeping sustainability at the forefront of her practices. How does someone go from growing their own garden and operating a childcare business to producing goods for donation and selling dried herb and ﬂower blends?“I just thought ‘why not start a whole new adventure?’,” says Johnson. “I was transitioning my day-care business because it wasn’t that busy with the pandemic.”Johnson has always worked as an entrepreneur in childcare and was even more dedicated to the sector after becoming a mother herself. Little Market Muskoka truly began when her children started to sell extra eggs from their chickens. ey had wanted a lemonade stand, but Johnson knew their location out of town would make sales diﬃcult and disappointing for the kids. “e kids came up with the name themselves,” shares Johnson. “ey were really involved and loved it.”Johnson and her family have a strong focus on producing a variety of goods for their own use. However, the idea of having their own source of produce and eggs did not mean she wanted those items to go to waste. At the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, Johnson’s kids began to lose interest in selling eggs to friends and neighbours. “We were still having the problem of having extra produce plus it was the pandemic, so we wanted to do something to bring people’s spirits up,” shares Johnson. “Plus, food and nutrition are something people don’t always have access to.”Johnson began with providing deliveries of bagged salads from her garden’s extra yield to community members. From that starting point of kindness and waste reduction, Little Market Muskoka has slowly evolved into something Johnson loves. Recently, Johnson secured a partnership with Gravenhurst Against Poverty to supply them with fresh produce from her garden. at means she can increase the amount she’s growing, knowing all the yield will be put to use. Johnson would love to supply even more organizations, if possible. “We get to live a fulﬁlling life while helping our community,” says Johnson. Working outside when the weather co-operates and throughout the growing season, Johnson spent time sharing her knowledge with her own two kids and with those who attended her day-care. While Johnson would tend the gardens, she could share the progress with the children, while they also had a chance to play in the sand and soil.“e day-care kids get to do the fun stuﬀ when they want to,” shares Johnson.From traditional produce, Johnson began to add edible ﬂowers and herbs to her garden and her family’s Johnson approaches gardening and farming, for her family and her business, with an in-season only approach to growing and harvesting.

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diet. Johnson has shifted the focus of Little Market Muskoka’s sold goods to dried, edible ﬂowers, herbs and blends to boost and supplement daily nutrition, along with other ailments. “Nutrition is very important and I ﬁnd edible ﬂowers and herbs are often overlooked as part of that,” says Johnson. While culinary farms dedicated to producing these edible ﬂorals and herbs exist, there are few in Canada. Most are located overseas in Europe and in Australia. Johnson has dedicated signiﬁcant time to research including the types of edible ﬂowers, how to grow and harvest them and their beneﬁts. As with anything, understanding where and how these dried ﬂoral blends are produced is important and key to ensuring they’re safe and helpful. During her research, Johnson reached out to some of these farms for details and support. “For me, I don’t eat a lot of meat, so adding edible ﬂowers increases iron and magnesium in my diet,” says Johnson. “For those with anxiety, adding spearmint and lemon balm to their water helps. ose plants have calming eﬀects in them.”ere are a multitude of advantages to incorporating plants into meals, beverages and skin care. Herbs and ﬂowers provide a wide range of health beneﬁts, in addition to their nutritional beneﬁts. Johnson’s favourites include thyme and rosemary, which help boost the immune system and have antibacterial properties, in addition to the nutrients they contain. “A lot of people are worried about wrinkles and they buy all kinds of products for their skin but there are natural tricks that have been lost over the years,” she shares. With research and trial and error, Johnson developed natural recipes for bug spray and sunscreen, safe for those with allergies, sensitivities or those who choose to avoid added chemicals or preservatives. She is no longer producing the bug spray and sunscreen to sell but is quite happy to share the recipe with anyone Top photo - There are a multitude of advantages to incorporating plants and dried owers into meals, beverages and skin care. Johnson eats very little meat, so adding edible owers increases iron and magnesium in her diet. Bottom photo - The focus of Little Market Muskoka’s sold goods has shied to dried, edible owers, herbs and blends.June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 39

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40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022interested. Johnson also swears by a spray of ﬂoral tea blends, full of natural collagen, that can be sprayed on skin and beneﬁt the whole body. “is year I’m getting the ﬂowers and herbs into some of our local stores and expanding, and have some go into local restaurants, if they’ll have me,” explains Johnson. “Currently, the dried blends are just online and I’ll be at the Bracebridge farmers’ market this summer as a guest vendor.”Having worked in childcare for over 15 years, Johnson plans to continue in that ﬁeld, while also growing plants to help the community have more access to nutritious food. Johnson only donates their extra produce and has no intention of selling those items. Selling dried ﬂowers and herbs is the focus for Little Market Muskoka, for the time-being, and that continues to develop each year. “I get to incorporate everything I love while also being able to support and provide for my family,” says Johnson. “I’ve incorporated all the best parts of what I enjoy and created something that’s positive and proactive for our community and the little people in it.”With her homestead and business, Melissa Johnson is building a sustainable lifestyle and teaching her kids, and others, the importance of mindfulness, nutrition, community and sustainable, eco-friendly practices along the way. Food and nutrition are not always accessible for people. Johnson recently partnered with Gravenhurst Against Poverty to provide the organization with fresh produce. Johnson only donates the extra produce from her garden.Book Now!Steamships • Discovery Centrewww.realmuskoka.com / 1-866-687-6667Muskoka Wharf, GravenhurstAUTHENTIC MUSKOKAHistory • Environment • Sustainability

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And the timing couldn’t be better, since 2022 marks its 30th anniversary. A roster of 30 concerts and events will commemorate this milestone with a wide variety of musical and theatrical ﬂavours to satisfy every cultural palette. e 2022 line-up will feature everything from comedy, theatrical presentations, virtuoso musical performances of multiple genres, and even a drag show. Venues range from the sophisticated Algonquin eatre to romantic outdoor gems among the wild Muskokan landscape. Variety is said to be the spice of life, and HfA lavishes its community with a generous dose of all the ﬂavours it can conjure. HfA was the brainchild of Toronto residents Attila Glatz and Susan Alberghini. As accomplished curators of the arts, they recognized the potential of the area. e meteoric rise of summer population and natural beauty made Huntsville a logical setting for an arts festival. Local residents Jim and Jane Alexander were the biggest supporters of the idea and jumped on board as founders. As president of Algonquin Automotive Industries, Alexander used his business connections to gather and mobilize 34 more individuals. eir vision was to form a collective that would enrich community economic development through the arts. Even in its humble beginnings in 1993, HfA was spreading its wings across Huntsville and taking ﬂight. Events were held in several venues including Grandview Resort, Deerhurst Resort, Town Hall eatre and Muskoka Heritage Place. Over the years, more venues have been added to the list. e inaugural season in 1993 featured 20 ensembles and a 36-member festival orchestra led by maestro Kerry Stratton. Dancers from e National Ballet of Canada were featured as well as local groups Muskoka Dance Academy and the North Muskoka Players. ere was even a parade down Main St. to kick oﬀ the occasion. In 1994, HfA received federal funding through the Canadian Heritage grant as well as provincial funding through the Ontario Arts Council and Ministry of Culture & Tourism. e Town of Huntsville and the District of Muskoka also contributed support along with 46 local sponsors. is allowed the festival to present 42 events and host 56 artists. At its outset, classical music was at the core of HfA’s programming. e Huntsville Festival Symphony led by maestro Kerry Stratton remained the musical centrepiece for 12 years. is Volunteers, like festival founders Attila Glatz and Susan Alberghini, have made all the dierence in building a successful festival every year since the event’s inception. The addition of Nuit Blanche North to HfA’s lineup in 2011 included 25 performances, featuring interactive art, site specic performances, buskers, and a reworks show at the town docks.Photographs: Huntsville Festival of the Arts ArchiveJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43

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Photographs: Huntsville Festival of the Arts Archivetradition is upheld to this day, most notably with the Huntsville Festival of Music. is program is modelled on the Kiwanis Music Festival’s mission to foster “self-discipline, teamwork and excellence” in young musicians. World music has also always been an important part of HfA programming. Kyoshi Nagata Drum Ensemble brought Japanese Taiko Drumming and percussion to the mix. e Soweto Gospel Choir, Black Umfolsi, Arvel Bird, Jesse Cook, Pavlo and Johannes Linstead, Alex Cuba, Goitse, and the Sultans of String have been among the most successful shows. In 1997 the festival was greatly beneﬁted by the addition of Rob Saunders as general manager. Saunders’ ﬁnancial expertise as a commercial account manager was a welcome addition to the board. For 23 years, Saunders steered the festival from a summer event into a year-round celebration. Festival program-ming was diversiﬁed to include more contemporary music, more local artists, and innovative ideas that kept the festival growing. In 2001, the festival was proud to present Huntsville’s own Hawksley Workman. Having just caught the world’s attention with his sophomore album Last Night We Were the Delicious Wolves, it was an exciting event. e retirement of Rob Saunders in 2018 was a blow greatly softened by his successor, Dan Watson. A native of Huntsville, Watson earned an HfA scholarship and studied theatre at Humber College. He followed this up with two years in Paris at the École Internationale de éâtre Jacques Lecoq. He then spent 12 years in Toronto as a theatre artist while teaching at Humber College before Muskoka called him home. From a young age, Watson participated in local theatre and musical productions but never anticipated where it would lead him. “I never really took it seriously as a career path,” he says. “But I loved acting and being on stage, and the whole process of putting a show on. e kind of theatre I was interested in involved having to be the producer as well as the creator, and I discovered I had an aptitude for that.” Since 1997, HfA has continued developing Youth in the Arts, a concert series featuring alumni from the Festival Scholarship Program returning to showcase their talent. e scholarship program is designed to ﬁnancially support youth seeking a post-secondary arts education. Since its inception, the program has supported over 100 artists. Guided by its education committee, the festival also oﬀers a number of classes and camps teaching theatre, photography, puppetry, and music. Dance education programs through the festival also provided a rare opportunity for Huntsville’s students to perform with dancers from the National Ballet of Canada, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Ballet Jorgen. Additionally, HfA supports a visual arts student annually through the Kareen Burns HFA Scholarship. e late Kareen Burns was an HfA board member and valued member of the Huntsville community. Her spirit of imagination and ingenuity lives on in the youth aided by the scholarship. Literacy programs are also oﬀered through En Plein Air annually invites visual artists to create art in a performance style setting. The pieces are then auctioned o with all proceeds supporting HfA’s art scholarships. Incorporating a variety of world music, such as the Kyoshi Nagata Drum Ensemble, has always been an important part of programming for the festival. June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45

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46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022HfA. e Novel Marathon grew to become a popular outlet for writers and has donated over $200,000 to support literacy causes throughout the Muskoka area. Each year, the festival evolved and grew, adding diversity with the performances and venues involved. 2005 saw the grand opening of the Algonquin eatre in Downtown Huntsville. e 408-seat state-of-the-art performance space was a watershed, and the culmination of 20 years of ground work. e theatre allowed the HfA to expand their year-round concerts and events even further. e rest is history. In 2006 the Jazz Festival was launched. Jazz was a large component of programming that summer and was also presented at the annual event Jazz in the Garden, hosted at Tall Trees Restaurant. Jazz also remains an important part of the HfA scholarship program, supporting many young local musicians who are pursuing studies in jazz. 2010 was the year Huntsville hosted the G8 Summit, and HfA celebrated the opening of the G8 Summit Centre with a concert by Canadian rock band legend Blue Rodeo. Watson brings a distinctive energy to the festival, including his focus on one of HfA’s most popular events – Nuit Blanche North. Interactive multi-arts performances that emphasize a physical presence in the community are more in his wheelhouse than the traditional performance settings. Rob Saunders knew that Watson would be perfect to head up the Nuit Blanche North event because Watson and his wife, Christina Serra, had been producing the Edge of the Woods show for a number of years.Rob Saunders (le), former general manager, pictured with Natalie McMaster in 1997, spent his 23 years at the helm steering the festival from a summer event to a year round celebration. A NAME YOU CAN TRUSTwww.pdmurphyjewellers.com • pdmurphy@bellnet.caDowntown Orillia9 Mississauga Street, East705.326.9611Barrie South End531 Bryne Drive, Unit B1705.719.1474Downtown Bracebridge30 Manitoba Street705.645.215228 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGE 705-637-0204A TRULY MUSKOKA GIFTCoasters, Bracelets and Zippered Linen Bags featuring a vintage Muskoka map designAVAILABLE ONLY ATPhotograph: Huntsville Festival of the Arts Archive

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705-646-2508STYLEDESIGNINNOVATIONShoe Mount Glassexcelrailings.ca “We’d tour the parks all over Muskoka,” Watson explains. “We’d arrive on site, serve food, have hands-on art-making activities, and then put on a show. HfA sponsored that for a couple of years, so Nuit Blanche North was a natural transition and a great opportunity to take on a bigger project.” With provincial support through the Celebrate Ontario grant program, the ﬁrst Nuit Blanche North took place in 2011 and included 25 performances throughout downtown Huntsville. e night featured interactive art, site speciﬁc performances, buskers, and a ﬁreworks show at the town docks. e event was even attended by British Royals, who were served butter tarts. e response was electric and, in the years following, the event has continued to grow, drawing between 4000 and 6000 people to Huntsville annually. Visual art is a vital element of the festival’s mandate. En Plein Air, organized by Kelly Holinshead, is an annual event that invites artists to create art in a performance style setting. ese pieces are auctioned oﬀ with proceeds going to support HfA’s art scholarships. HfA also commissions local artists to create images for the cover of their summer programs. Artists like Gerry Lantaigne and Marc Walter were commissioned to paint the hugely popular Group of Seven Canoe Murals and build two large wood sculptures, respectively. During the pandemic, HfA presented online concerts including the Music at Noon program directed by piano virtuoso Kyung-A Lee and the Black Whole Quarantine Reunion Concert, which raised thousands of dollars for the Table Soup Foundation. ey also launched the Art Breaks program, which oﬀered free online arts programming for youth while schools were closed. Watson particularly enjoys the multi-venue aspect of the festival. Each show is designed and curated the way an artist prepares his canvas before the painting is made. “It’s great to be back in Huntsville and have more space,” he says. “e performance space is really important, as I like to think about the experience we’re trying to cultivate with each show we’re considering. Each event is like a work of art, and the venue is the medium.” Keeping a not-for-proﬁt organization for the arts aﬂoat in troubled waters is commendable. HfA Photograph: Huntsville Festival of the Arts ArchiveClassical music has always been at the core of the festival’s programming. The Huntsville Festival Symphony, led by maestro Kerry Stratton (pictured), was the musical centrepiece for 12 years. June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47

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48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022also manages to put a small town on the map by bringing thousands to the area each year. It takes a village, to be sure. e festival owes its success to its many corporate and private sponsors, members, and hundreds of volunteers that keep the gears turning. Notable performers slated for this year’s roster include Natalie MacMaster, Downchild Blues Band, Jim Cuddy, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider, Kathleen Edwards, William Prince, Joel Plaskett, Dan Mangan, Michael Kaeshammer, and Gord Sinclair of e Tragically Hip. e Huntsville String Quartet will also be featured this year as well as many local performers as part of the popular Music at Noon Series. Audiences can look forward to the resurrection of Ralph & Lina, a comedic melodrama starring Dan Watson and his wife, Christina Serra. Considering the festival’s accomplishments to date, there is a lot to celebrate. e number of high calibre shows and the people who made them happen are too many to mention. And after the isolation and uncertainty of a global pandemic, patrons can look forward to a vibrant 2022 season.The Huntsville Festival of the Arts relies on its board of directors and volunteers to guide the programming and execute high calibre performances, year aer year, even during and post-pandemic. The festival’s success is always worth celebrating. Youth arts has and continues to be a focus for Huntsville Festival of the Arts. The “Youth in the Arts” series features Festival Scholarship Program recipients returning home to showcase their talent.28 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGE705-637-0204featuringDISTINCTIVELYLOCAL PRODUCTS AND ARTISANSQuality Crafted HandbagsFlavourful Coffees and TreatsBooks and More...Photographs: Huntsville Festival of the Arts Archive

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Several voices from the past were heard when a granite ridge overlooking the Moon River in Bala was exposed in November 2017. Overnight, heavy equipment had been used to uncover the bedrock where the foundations for Swift River Energy’s new hydroelectric plant was to be situated. By morning, history halted construction. As Jean-Marie Gagné, the site supervisor, began his day, he thought he could see outlines below the heavy mud and soil crust on the granite ridge. Acting on his hunch, Gagné used the handle of a broom to chip away at the grime. His heart almost missed a beat when he saw “1888” chiselled into the rock. By noon Gagné had uncovered two side-by-side inscriptions. Under 1888 were two signatures, HIRAM DEPUY and G.V. WILLSON , followed by PITTSBURG US. At the right were two names: W.A.T. AND G.G. BIRRELL, AUG 1919, followed by LONDON ONT. e discovery was a shock for Swift River, recalls Nhung Nguyen, a vice-president of the company. Halting construction due to century-Article by Jack HuttonCentury-old signatures decorate a large slab of granite, now on display at Bala falls. Photograph: Andy Zeltkalns

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old rock signatures was deﬁnitely not in the plans. Nguyen had no doubts the signatures had to be preserved after a lengthy phone conversation with Gunta Towsley, president of the local branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. Just before Christmas, Nguyen announced that a construction team led by Alan Labonté had successfully removed the block of granite with the signatures unharmed. Meanwhile, a small group of individuals involved with Muskoka history and heritage were diligently combing records to ﬁnd out who the individuals were behind the signatures. Liz Lundell, founding president of the Muskoka branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and author of several books on Muskoka history, connected two of the signatures to an archival photo of the Pittsburgh Rod and Gun Club. e club visited the North Falls of Bala in 1888, camping in large tents. Lundell also found online an 1887 issue of American Angler Magazine which reported that the Pittsburgh club made a similar visit to a small freshwater lake in upper Michigan State, just south of Sault Ste. Marie, that year. Hiram DePuy, a Pittsburgh dentist who would leave his signature at Bala a year later, caught three black bass, according to the magazine. Meanwhile, Pam Wong, a Bala area cottager, Muskoka historian and artist, was able to identify G.V. (George) Willson as general manager of a Pittsburgh steel plant. Lundell further researched other roles that Willson held in the steel industry.George Willson was still a prominent ﬁgure in the Pittsburgh steel industry in 1909 when he died at 55. Hiram DePuy left dentistry in his later years to become the horticulturist for the Tacoma Parks Board in Washington State. He was also the creator of several new hybrid roses. So, who were W.A.T and Gordon Birrell who added their signatures in 1919? One day after Swift River discovered the signatures, a Toronto genealogist, Jeﬀ Stewart, told Bala’s Museum that W.A.T. (Walker) Birrell was a 19-year Canadian soldier who had just returned from service on a troop ship in late May or early June. He came to Bala with his slightly older brother Gordon, who had also served overseas, for a brief stay in early August. Both were electricians with the City of London’s Hydro unit. is was not the only inscription W.A.T. Birrell had left in Bala during his 1919 visit. He also chiselled his name on the United Church side of the North Bala Falls. For years, local historians had wondered who W.A.T. Birrell was. However, no connections were made until 2017, when the newly unearthed signatures noted that Walker was from London, Ontario. With this new information, Pam Wong made a connection with the Birrell family – Robin M. Birrell who lives in Waco, Texas. Robin, the self-proclaimed family historian, is married to the grandson of Chester Birrell, Walker Birrell le his signature in rock on the United Church side of the Bala falls (top photo) before adding his and his brother’s name to an inscription le by members of the Pittsburgh Rod & Gun Club in 1888 (middle). Jean-Marie Gagné (bottom), site supervisor for Swi River Energy Ltd., unearthed the side-by-side inscriptions from 1888 and 1919 in November 2017.Photograph: Andy Zeltkalns Photograph: Jack HuttonPhotograph: Jack HuttonJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 51

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52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022a younger brother of Walker Birrell. She graciously shared wartime photos that included 18-year-old Walker in uniform, as well as Walker with his brother Gordon, both in uniform, and an unidentiﬁed Canadian nurse standing between them.Further discoveries came from discussions with a longtime cottager at Torrance, Donna House, who is related to the Birrell family through her late husband’s mother. She revealed that Walker and his brother Gordon were both motorcycle dispatch riders for the Canadian Army during World War I. She also shared that a half-sister, Della, 12 years older than Walker, served as a Nursing Sister. e unidentiﬁed nurse from Robin Birrell’s photo now had an identity – Della. Walker and his brother arrived in Europe in 1917 in time for some of the war’s bloodiest battles. ey were involved in action somewhere not far from the Battle of Amiens in northern France, where Canadian forces were the ﬁrst to break through German lines before dawn on August 8, 1918. is battle signalled the beginning of the 100 Days Oﬀensive that concluded with the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Canadians helped win a series of battles but at a heavy cost. Walker would have heard almost every day about friends dying on the battleﬁeld. As a dispatch rider, he was never in a battle but risked his life each day, all the same. Often he was not far from enemy forces and was expected to burn or swallow top secret messages if he faced capture. Totally on his own, he carried two cans of gasoline and a tool kit with a replacement for every part on his motorcycle. If the enemy appeared Walker was expected to carry on his delivery through the woods, no matter how diﬃcult the terrain was. However, he did continue to make use of his wartime experiences once he was home. For several years after World War I Walker and Gordon Birrell drew big audiences as they did motorcycle stunt riding at London’s Western Fair. Understanding Walker’s dangerous wartime role, it’s easier to appreciate why he wanted to tell the world that he was still alive. Just days before the ﬁrst anniversary of the Battle of Amiens, he brought a rock chisel and mallet with him to Bala, plus a smaller chisel with a rounded point for the periods. He sat down on the granite rock on the church side of the Bala Falls on August 1, 1919 and would have spent most of the day leaving his message in the rock. A day or so later, Walker chiselled his name and Gordon’s on the other side of the falls beside the 1888 signatures. In the early 1960s, highway construction caused tons of earth to be pushed down the Walker Birrell le his name twice, chiselled into granite, when he visited Bala with his brother in 1919, shortly aer his return from serving in World War I.Nhung Nguyen (le), vice-president of Swi River Energy Ltd. showcases the rock signatures that paused construction at the new hydroelectric plant, along with Laura Carter, a member of the Municipal Heritage Committee, Jack Hutton, Bala historian and Liz Lundell, Muskoka representative of Architectural Conservancy Ontario. Photograph: Andy ZeltkalnsPhotograph: Birrell Family Photo Collection

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banks, towards the river, covering the granite slabs. e signatures remained entombed until 2017. Drive through Bala today and you will see a large granite rock the size of a small car beside a new hydro plant. A closer look reveals the signatures from 1888 and 1919. e large block of Precambrian Shield, almost as old as the planet, was severed from the ridge below the falls in an operation almost as delicate as human brain surgery. Today, it is ﬁnally on display. e rock’s prominent location in Bala is thanks to the municipal Heritage Committee, which is headed by respected Port Carling historian Susan Daglish. She and the committee were closely involved in preparing the rock and selecting its location for display.ese signatures and their stories have now become part of Bala history. e display is an honorarium to those who made the carvings, as well as those who found them. Without Jean-Marie Gagné’s eagle vision on that November morning in 2017, the rock signatures would never have been discovered. e inscriptions are simple, yet enduring reminders of the visitors to Bala in 1888 and 1919. e more than century-old signatures have become diﬃcult to read. However, their story can now be shared based on two years of research and interviews with family members. Hiram Depuy and George Willson, who left their signatures behind in 1888, and Walker and Gordon Birrell who added theirs 30 years later in 1919 might be amazed to know that their rock calligraphy has become the most exciting archeological ﬁnd in Bala’s history. Voices from the past are speaking through those signatures.Walker Birrell (right), his brother, Gordon (le), and their older half-sister, Della, all served with the Canadian Army in World War I. Della out-ranked her half brothers as Nursing Sisters were equivalent to full lieutenants.Photograph: Birrell Family Photo CollectionJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53

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54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022On February 16, 1848, 26-year-old Robert Bell, who’d led his survey crew for a gruelling half-year from Renfrew to the centre of Muskoka, explored the north branch and declared “the river aﬀords water power of the ﬁrst order.” A half-decade later, but during summer, 43-year-old Alexander Murray, exploring Muskoka for the Geological Survey of Canada, recorded “the river aﬀords every facility for using water power in a great many places.” By the 1860s, when Muskoka opened for development, new arrivals brought ancient waterwheel technology with them. Soon after, the District’s many waterfalls and rapids were being tapped to produce mechanical power. Water ﬂowing downstream caused the waterwheel to turn and – with driveshafts, belts, and gears – drive machinery. ese mills beneﬁtted from “free” fuel – no need to burn wood or coal, just direct some of the plummeting river into a millrace to spin the waterwheel. In Muskoka, where generally a good drop could be obtained at the numerous falls, powerful mills used “overshot” waterwheels. e water, feeding in at the top, ﬁlled buckets on the wheel’s perimeter and this weight caused the wheel to spin. Far less eﬃcient was the “undershot” wheel, occasionally used where only slower water was available, turning like a steamboat paddlewheel as ﬂowing water pushed against the paddles.e mills beside Muskoka’s waterfalls began to rotate saw blades slicing logs into lumber or to turn grindstones making ﬂour and oatmeal from ﬁeld crops. While lumbermen delivered their logs and farmers brought their grain to these sawmills and gristmills, other mills manufactured shingles from wood, cloth from sheep’s wool, cheese from milk. Around the mills other businesses sprang up selling goods and services to Muskoka’s homesteading pioneers, and soon riverside villages clustering around mills dotted the district’s landscape. Impassable falls at Bala and Bracebridge further underpinned their local economies – making them transhipment centres for passengers and freight, while oﬀering appealing scenery for tourists. Yet the Canadian Shield’s rugged watershed distributed its blessings unevenly. Flat Gravenhurst had no large waterfall, and even hilly Huntsville faced a similar conundrum, despite both having plenty of water nearby. However, this was also the Steam Era. Steam engines burning wood or coal boiled water into steam whose pressure generated mechanical power and propulsion. Steam engines made waterfalls unnecessary for places like Gravenhurst or Huntsville. Indeed, versatile steam power meant mills Ontario Hydro’s expansion of the South Falls generating station, completed by 1925, remains intact a century on. At the top of the South Falls Gorge, concrete barriers along Highway 11 block views of Muskoka’s largest power station, and what might have once been Muskoka’s greatest natural attraction.Article by J. Patrick BoyerPOWER GENERATIONACCELERATED MUSKOKA’S PROGRESSPhotograph: Gary Long Collection

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could even operate away from falls, deeper in Muskoka’s forests, closer to the logs, extending the scope of the District’s numerous wood industries. Both towns, adrift in sawdust and oﬀ-cut lumber from their steam-powered sawmills, used by-product as fuel, as well as low-cost cordwood, and had ample power – at least while the district’s lumbering boom lasted. Steam boats on Muskoka waters, from the early 1870s, pulled log booms, moved freight and construction materials, carried passengers, and delivered mail. Muskoka’s development became Exhibit A of the Steam Era’s revolutionary impact.Automobiles of the 1800s showed just how much the Industrial Revolution was surging with new technologies. “Horseless’’ carriages were propelled by steam, others by internal combustion engines, and some with battery-produced electricity. For a century, experimenters sought to make electricity, which had many sources, an alternative to steam. Benjamin Franklin and Nikola Tesla sought to tap the immense supply of it from stormy heavens. ose unwilling to risk lightning turned to various forms of pile batteries. Others sought to modify waterwheel power, producing electricity using a rotating millwheel linked to a generator that converted the mechanical energy into electricity. An initial problem using this power for lights was inability to regulate water ﬂow powering the generator. If too fast and high, lights would burn out. Short circuiting was frequent. However, omas Edison’s perfection of the incandescent light bulb in 1880 rapidly changed all that by creating huge demand for electric lighting. is tipping point for electricity ignited a high-stakes race for the best means of generating it. Entertainment was out; enterprise was in. Millions of dollars were at stake. Within two years, in 1882, the world’s ﬁrst hydro-electric station opened on the Fox River in Wisconsin. Just a decade later, a water-power station was also producing electricity in Bracebridge. e great advance with “hydro” electricity was water now passed through hydraulic turbines. A shaft from the turbine connected to the generator. is innovation rapidly replaced the traditional waterwheel as the means of converting water power to mechanical power – Muskoka’s universal pattern from the 1850s to 1880s. Not only were turbines smaller, faster, and more powerful than waterwheels, but by operating completely submerged they could function in winter without ice buildup. With this accomplished, the electrical revolution next began applying science and engineering to upgraded generator design, transmission technology, and more powerful electric motors.In this dawning of the Electric Age, which omas Edison’s light bulb did so much to spark, transmission of electricity became a particular battlefront. Edison’s patented “direct current” system was unsuited to transmit “juice” over long distances, but Nikola Tesla’s rival “alternating current” system for electricity meant it could travel far with little degradation. Eventually AC triumphed over DC as Tesla and George Westinghouse supplied it to ever wider markets over increasingly better long-distance transmission lines. And on the other fronts, larger generators were being engineered to supply growing demand for electricity to power the higher capacity electric motors.e ﬁrst hydro-electric generating stations in Muskoka, as everywhere else, were built by either private companies (pulp and paper mills, leather tanneries) for their own industrial use, or by privately-owned businesses selling power to their customers. e pattern was ground-up, small-to-larger, with local control. Government was not in the picture.In 1890, Bracebridge council began dealing This 1904 view of the lower Bracebridge Falls generating station shows the “penstock” or water pipeline running from the top of the falls to the generator that it supplied at the foot of the falls. In 1906 a second penstock was added. By May 1924, aer the Great War ended, Ontario Hydro completely rebuilt the facility at South Falls to extract its full power potential. As shown, construction was underway during spring in Muskoka, as testied by water owing down the log chute.Photograph: Ontario ArchivesPhotograph: Ontario HydroJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55

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56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022with the Ball Electric Light Co. to build a power plant. e mighty Bracebridge Falls had been powering mills for three decades, and now with the miraculous light bulb, council decided to replace its kerosene street lamps with electric ones. Ratepayers voted with strong approval for the cost of this public work. But Ball Electric failed to perform; the Town sued for breach of contract. At this point of extreme frustration, William Sutherland Shaw appeared on the scene. For generations the Shaw Family had tanned leather in Maine and was now expanding into Canada with tanneries in Bracebridge and Huntsville. In the early 1890s Shaw built small generating stations in both towns to power their sprawling plants. e one in Bracebridge was a 60-kilowatt generating station at the top of the falls, beside Henry Bird’s woollen mill. (W.S. Shaw should not be confused with his cousin, Charles Orlando Shaw, who came to Muskoka from the U.S. in 1898 to take ﬁrmer charge of their two “Anglo-Canadian” tanneries.) Both towns contracted Shaw to supply electricity from his generator for their streetlights. In Bracebridge, this was only until council could secure its own power plant. Ball Electric had already failed in this project and, with no satisfactory bids tendered for its new generating station by 1884, council instead, again with ratepayer approval at the ballot box, simply purchased Shaw’s power plant for $3,500. In “nationalizing” a privately owned power company and making it a public utility, Bracebridge was in the vanguard. Along with two other Ontario municipalities, orold and Campbellford, Muskoka’s capital town had its own hydro plant to serve local needs. e very next year, to supply all the electricity it required, Bracebridge conﬁdently installed a new turbine and larger capacity generator in its power station. It wasn’t until 1914 that the province’s publicly-owned electricity utility, Ontario Hydro, began controversially buying up existing private power companies to help meet public demand for low-cost electricity.Meanwhile, with more powerful electric motors being installed, industrialization and modernization in Muskoka accelerated. To keep attracting more industries to town, Bracebridge Council not only brandished the expected tax concessions, but sweetened By 1900, Sydney-Smith’s mill at Port Sydney was prosperous, evidenced by the expansion of the operation. The expanded complex housed not only the sawmill with a jack-ladder to carry in logs, but also a combination grist-mill for both our and oatmeal milling. By May 1924, aer the Great War ended, Ontario Hydro completely rebuilt the facility at South Falls to extract its full power potential. As shown, construction was underway during spring in Muskoka, as testied by water owing down the log chute.Photograph: George H. Johnson CollectionPhotograph: Ontario Hydro

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matters by oﬀering plentiful supplies of low-cost electricity. Yet with electric power accelerating Muskoka’s economic development, eﬀect became cause: still more power was needed. As the promising new 20th century began, Bracebridge’s next project at the falls epitomized townsfolks’ resolute faith in “Progress.” A second powerhouse was built at the foot of the falls to harness their full force. e entire drop – 35 feet (10.7 metres) below the Bird mill tailrace and the original powerhouse – now fed two generators. e ﬁrst, with 250 kilowatt capacity, came into service in 1902; the second, rated at 300 kilowatts, in 1906.ose running Bracebridge, visionary about laying foundations for long-term prosperity, also remained mindful of their municipality’s economic dependence on tourists. e second powerhouse, still one of the oldest operating power plants in Canada, was built as a handsome stone structure, endowing Bracebridge Bay with a measure of class enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of summer visitors arriving for decades aboard steamships. Understandably, steam-powered Gravenhurst and Huntsville sought to join the Electrical Revolution and enter the 20th Century, too. In 1900, Gravenhurst began searching for hydro-electricity to replace its costly fuel-burning steam generators of limited capacity.e Muskoka Falls, also known as South Falls, were very close to Bracebridge. As the most dramatic waterfalls in all of Muskoka, their potential to become an outstanding tourist draw was real. By this date the District’s vital vacation economy was an established reality. Attentive development of the Muskoka Falls site with appropriate dining facilities, spa, accommodation, and excursions could be for Muskoka what the Niagara Falls were to New York State and the Niagara Peninsula – a powerful tourist magnet.Gravenhurst’s intent to harness majestic South Falls with a generating plant rekindled intertown rivalry with Bracebridge and, for a half-decade, the two towns fought over development rights. In 1906 Gravenhurst changed course, opting for a lower-cost plant on smaller upstream Trethewey Falls, leaving Muskoka’s greatest geographic feature in its natural state, essentially for ﬁnancial reasons. en Gravenhurst reversed gear and resumed competing with Bracebridge for the South Falls power lease. Bracebridge refused a compromise joint-development in light of its own projected electricity needs. Now it was Bracebridge that seemed more interested in electricity than scenic splendour. e province gave the rights to Gravenhurst and in 1907 the town built a tiny red-brick, 360-kilowatt generating station at the foot of South Falls, ﬂowing river water for its turbine down through a 1,000 foot (305 metre) pipe. Bracebridge, annoyed that only a tiny fraction of the fall’s power potential had been tapped, and worse, by another municipality, immediately acquired upstream rights on the Muskoka River’s north branch for both Wilson’s Falls and High Falls. On the ﬁrst, it built a 600-kilowatt plant for $52,000 in 1910 and brought its electricity on stream to supply Bracebridge’s soaring power demands from expanding industry. Huntsville’s impatience to advance beyond its inadequate steam-generated electricity was compounded, as Gravenhurst’s had been, by having no waterfalls within town limits. By 1908 engineers had canvassed every prospect, from the Oxtongue River’s Ragged Falls at the east to the Muskoka River’s High Falls down south. Bracebridge, gaining the High Falls’ rights after being denied South Falls, intended that power for its own needs. Another Huntsville plan, to divert water from Lake of Bays into Peninsula Lake and generate power at the Portage, was vigorously opposed by all concerned and prohibited by the Government of Canada on the grounds the diversion would adversely Sawmills, like this one built by W.H. Brown above the Baysville dam on the Muskoka River’s south branch in 1873, benetted from “free” fuel by directing some of the plummeting river into a millrace to spin the waterwheel. In 1918, a second dam built of stone replaced the early 1870s wood dam. W.H. Brown’s sawmill, seen here from below the dam, is still in service, sawing logs – such as those in the bay and jammed at the foot of the dam – into lumber. Photograph: Mervyn “Bill” Kelly Collection Photograph: Mervyn “Bill” Kelly Collection June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57

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58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022impact navigable waters.Huntsville then imagined buying hydro-electricity from Gravenhurst’s wee generating station at South Falls, but protracted negotiations between the towns stalemated. Ontario Hydro, asserting jurisdiction, took charge. “It was becoming increasingly clear,” explains geographic historian Gary Long, leading authority on the subject, “that South Falls held the key to meeting the future electricity needs not only of Huntsville but, because of its enormous power potential, all Muskoka.”But Hydro was busy elsewhere. Huntsville’s frustration grew as its dependence on steam-power continued. “Finally,” reports Long, “the situation came to a head in 1915. Ontario Hydro signed a contract with Huntsville to supply the town with hydro-electricity within 18 months.” Gravenhurst, with the South Falls rights but heavily in debt from its power plant, was relieved to turn over its “asset” and its obligations to Hydro. e provincial utility revamped South Falls generation to supply enough power for both Gravenhurst and Huntsville. By 1916, along a 26-mile (42-kilometre) transmission line, electricity began ﬂowing to Huntsville at last. In 1917 at Bala, which like Bracebridge developed around waterfalls, the Burgess family built a 100-kilowatt generating plant to create electricity from the falls. Alexander Burgess built this power station on the millstream where, decades earlier, his father omas had built the water-powered sawmill that ﬁrst launched Bala as a settlement. Now other communities in the vicinity, mirroring what happened in Gravenhurst and Huntsville when Bracebridge developed its own hydro-electricity, wanted to enlist in Bala’s march of progress. Bala Electric Light and Power Company, the Burgess company, ran transmission lines to MacTier and Port Carling. In 1922, Bala Electric Light installed a second generator, needed to meet everyone’s rising demands for clean, inexpensive power.Without the interconnected power service that would come later in the 20th century with Ontario Hydro’s province-wide electricity grid, small hydro-electric plants in Muskoka meant all the diﬀerence between stagnation and progress. Muskokans, as the historical record shows, chose progress.Prospering Baysville’s townsite, seen here in 1890 from the east side of the Muskoka River’s south branch, shows the grist mill (on the le, beside the dam) William Gammage built in 1877 to grind corn, wheat, and oats for homesteading farmers. Photograph: Mervyn “Bill” Kelly Collection When Bracebridge, outanked by Gravenhurst and the provincial government, was unable to develop electricity from South Falls, it promptly acquired rights on the north branch and built this generating station at Wilson’s Falls in 1910. Photograph: Gary Long Collection

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Whats HappenedSignicant changes contemplated for Torrance BarrensGravenhurst Council heard recently that a number of potential changes are being considered for the operation of Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve and Dark Sky Preserve.e area includes sections of Crown Land as well as property which falls within the borders of both the Town of Gravenhurst and the Township of Muskoka Lakes. It is the location of the ﬁrst dark sky preserve in Canada and is also notable for its unique geological and environmental features.Mike Nageleisen, who represents the Torrance Barrens Working Group, spoke during a recent Gravenhurst committee of the whole meeting and explained that the park is being “loved to death”.Nageleisen discussed some of the possible recommendations that the working group is considering. He also solicited information and input from Gravenhurst council. He told Council that the working group is composed of representatives from both Gravenhurst and Muskoka Lakes, as well as government agencies and concerned residents.He told councillors that many concerns have been raised. ose concerns range from the risks of uncontrolled ﬁres and increases in people dumping garbage, to noise control and overuse for camping.Nageleisen said one signiﬁcant concern is large parties, which coincide with overnight camping in the park. He said those parties often, in turn, lead to those other concerns such as ﬁre and noise.e group is proposing and looking at maps, in detail, to restrict camping to designated areas that would make it much easier for the Ministry to manage and enforce camping regulations, he said. “It would be more of a permit-typed camping, similar to what you might see in a provincial park,” Nageleisen explained. e process is underway, but the designation and location of those sites has not been ﬁnalized for recommendation.Backcountry camping will be encouraged so that large vehicles cannot drive through the Barrens and engage in large parties.Another concern that the working group is dealing with is parking, speciﬁcally along the Southwood Road area. Last year some parking restrictions and associated signage were constructed, and the group reported to council that the situation has improved somewhat.Nageleisen summarized by saying, “I think we might have a park that encourages day hiking on well-maintained and signed trails and backcountry camping sites for the people who are really going there in the spirit of enjoying nature and leaving no footprint as opposed to what is currently happening.”Survey indicates growing concerns with boat noise and wakesMuskoka residents are becoming increasingly concerned with boating safety and increased noise levels throughout the region.at’s the message from Safe and Quiet Lakes, a group formed in 2011 by Torrance is the Barrens location of the rst dark sky preserve in Canada and is also notable for its unique geological and environmental features. 60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022Safe and Quiet Lakes works collaboratively with lake community stakeholders to promote safer and quieter lakes.Photograph: Matt DriscollPhotograph: Pixabay

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representatives of lake associations in central Ontario to work collaboratively with lake community stakeholders to promote safer and quieter lakes.Speaking during a recent Gravenhurst council meeting Colleen Kennedy, a director from the Safe and Quiet Lakes organization, discussed the results of a 2021 study they conducted. at study included more than 6,000 respondents and resulted in a 72-page report.Kennedy said the number one message that came across was that noise and traﬃc are increasing and the quality of the lake experience is decreasing as safety also declines.She said those frustrations led many respondents to express a desire for stronger interventions.Kennedy said that more than 90 percent of respondents said they feel like they have a responsibility to preserve the natural state of the lake for future generations. Safe and Quiet Lakes have previously conducted surveys in 2013 and 2017. Kennedy said compared to those surveys, noise and behaviour complaints have increased signiﬁcantly. She also pointed out that the largest source of those complaints was due to personal watercraft - which only account for an estimated ﬁve percent of the watercraft on the lakes, she said.Kennedy ﬁnished by urging Council to join the Decibel Coalition, which currently has over 65 member associations including the Town of Bracebridge, the Township of Seguin and the Township of Muskoka Lakes. “We want reasonable standards that are consistent with the U.S. and European Union and that are easy to enforce,” she said.Meanwhile, in Muskoka Lakes, Safe Quiet Lakes was encouraging councillors to contact Transport Canada, who are currently collecting submissions via their Let’s Talk website on vessel engine noise emissions. Council voted unanimously to support option ﬁve of the various options listed on the government website. Option ﬁve would update the Small Vessel Regulations so both manufacturers and operators must make sure their vessels don’t exceed noise-emission levels.e considerations listed by Transport Canada include:• Proposed changes would make sure that new and existing vessels don’t exceed noise-emission levels• Police could more easily identify whether a vessel complies with the regulations• Police would need to buy equipment to measure noise levels and train oﬃcers on how to use it• Vessel operators who comply with the current regulations may need to modify their vessels to meet new requirementsCouncillor Barb Bridgeman said she has already received complaints about new boats on the lake that are way above the allowable noise level. She said voting for the motion would be a strong show of support for organizations like Safe Quiet Lakes and the Decibel Coalition.Councillor Peter Kelly said one of the major problems was people blasting music from their watercraft and he questioned whether the new rules would apply to stereo systems.Councillor Bridgeman said the restrictions would not apply to stereo systems but would apply to personal watercraft. Northland passenger train set for return to Muskokae Ontario government recently announced that it plans to invest $75 million to bring passenger rail service back to northeastern Ontario, including service through Muskoka.Ontario Northland passenger service was cancelled in 2012.e province released an updated initial business case that outlines options for passenger rail service from Toronto to Timmins. Future feasibility work on a preferred route will include a new rail connection to Cochrane, which will provide a connection to the Polar Bear Express service to Moosonee.e planned return to service will not happen until some time in the middle of this decade, and will be based on seasonal travel demands. Seven-day-a-week service is proposed for the peak season of July to December, dropping to four days per week Ontario Northland passenger service was cancelled in 2012 but a recent announcement from the government of Ontario plans to restore the service to Muskoka. Photograph: Government of OntarioJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61

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62 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022from January to June.According to the business plan, southbound service would travel through Muskoka in between 7:50 and 8:40 a.m. and arrive at Union Station at about 11 a.m., while northbound service would leave Union station at 6:30 p.m. and pass through Muskoka between 8:35 and 9:45 p.m.e proposed service would stop at the following locations: Toronto, Langstaﬀ, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Temiskaming Shores (New Liskeard), Englehart, Kirkland Lake, Matheson, and Timmins or Cochrane.Muskoka councils debate oating accommodationse Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry is engaging the public for ideas and approaches to manage the use of ﬂoating accommodations on the water. During the latest Muskoka Lakes Planning Committee meeting, Muskoka Lakes councillors voted to send a message to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines Natural Resources and Forestry asking that ﬂoating accommodations be prohibited across the province.e move comes in response to a request from the Ministry sent in March looking for engagement from municipalities on the subject. e Ministry says there has been increased use of public waterways by ﬂoating accommodations, or what they term “camping”. e Ministry says the “camping” typically involves watercraft equipped for overnight accommodation, and in some cases vessels that are primarily designed for accommodation and not navigation.Muskoka Lakes staﬀ told councillors that “camping” doesn’t appear to be an overly common practice in the Township or a very pressing concern right now. However, staﬀ also said they have heard some concerns from waterfront property owners who might take issue with property owners using a houseboat or some other kind of ﬂoating accommodation in the waterway on which their recreational properties face. Staﬀ said the concerns are typically related to navigation, negative impact on waterfront views and character, and potential environmental impacts from a sewage spill. Staﬀ indicated they share those concerns, and recommended that ﬂoating accommodations be prohibited. e committee agreed and the input was sent to the Ministry.In north Muskoka councillors also debated the subject earlier in the spring at Huntsville general committee before asking the Ministry to allow them to provide their input if the Ministry decides to legislate ﬂoating accommodations.Lake of Bays Council also debated the issue before agreeing to forward on a number of recommendations to the Ministry. Among those recommendations was that all vessel gray water should be discharged into a holding tank and disposed of as per provincial regulations, ﬂoating accommodations require permits from the Ministry which will, in turn, require consent from the local municipality, and a reduction in the maximum duration of a stay from 21 days down to seven.Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover said he was shocked to learn that watercraft are allowed to discharge gray water into the lakes. He also had serious concerns with the potential for noise violations, as well as the fact that such ﬂoating accommodations do not pay taxes.Muskoka musician debuts Let There be PeaceA Muskoka-based musician’s debut release appears to be a track perfectly timed to spread hope in challenging times.Bodeen is a singer-songwriter from the Toronto area who is currently living in Muskoka and in April she released her debut song Let ere Be Peace.“It is an extremely timely piece of music due to there being so much hate and war in the world right now,” she says. “It touches on social issues like disease (COVID19), police brutality and hatred within mankind.”Bodeen was born and raised in Toronto and spent the majority of her life in the Beaches, leaving Toronto after high school for London to get her sociology degree at Western University. It was in London where she created a name (and alter ego Bodeen) for herself before relocating to Muskoka.She says that creating the artist name and image for Bodeen meant she could step into the light and be who she wanted to be, without her past getting in the way.e drive to make music began when Bodeen asked for a guitar at the age of nine. at Christmas her wish was answered and At a recent Muskoka Lakes Planning Committee meeting, councillors voted to request that oating accommodations be prohibited across the province by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines Natural Resources and Forestry. Photograph: Michael Lauer

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by the age of 10 she was taking classes for both guitar and singing. By the time middle school and high school rolled around Bodeen had a long list of original material she created. Fast forward to today, the 26-year-old artist is writing, recording and releasing music on all platforms.You can ﬁnd out more and listen to Let ere Be Peace at bodeen.ca.Scott Aitchison running for Conservative leadership Local Member of Parliament for Muskoka - Parry Sound, and former mayor of Huntsville, Scott Aitchison has set his sights on becoming the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.Aitchison made the announcement via Twitter on March 16, and followed it up with an oﬃcial opening ceremony on March 21 at the Canvas Brewing Company in Huntsville. e Huntsville launch party was attended by roughly 100 people including former Huntsville and District Councillor, Fran Coleman and Eric Melillo, the Conservative MP for the Kenora riding.Aitchison says the country is facing a serious crisis that includes uncertainty about climate change, a housing crisis and a failing healthcare system, among other things. He said that partisan bickering won’t get anyone the results they desire and strong leadership is needed within the Conservative Party to help achieve their goals in the next general election.In April he released a plan called YIMBY: A Plan To Build More Homes for Canadians.In it he called for federal, provincial, and municipal governments to work together to end exclusionary zoning in big cities, get shovels in the ground faster and expand skilled trades, invest in aﬀordable and social housing and crack down on money laundering.“We got housing built when I was mayor in Huntsville with a common-sense approach to planning,” said Aitchison. “We set clear rules and incentives for builders, and it’s the kind of leadership we need in Ottawa to solve the housing crisis.”Aitchison was elected as an MP in 2019. While in the federal oﬃce he has served as the Conservative’s labour critic.Aitchison joins a crowded ﬁeld of candidates that includes former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, Pierre Poilievre and Patrick Brown, the current Mayor of Brampton.Bodeen is a 26-year-old singer-songwriter from the Toronto area who is currently living in Muskoka. In April she released her debut song Let There Be Peace, which is available on all platforms. Scott Aitchison, rst elected as an MP in 2019, has announced he will run for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada. His announcement included his intention to focus on aordable housing and reducing barriers to development. Photograph: Scott AitchisonPhotograph: James Ellis28 MANITOBA STREETBRACEBRIDGE | 705-637-0204INTRODUCINGCanadian-MadeShop Onlineuniquemuskoka.comor In-StoreAPPARELFeature by Matt DriscollJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63

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64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022Article by K.M. Wehrstein / Photography by Tomasz SzumskiAsparagus – nutritious, versatileand most importantly, scrumptiousIt’s one of my favourite vegetables, with its rich ﬂavour, crunchy texture and those melt-in-your-mouth tips. It’s asparagus season in Muskoka, and this delicious vegetable can be presented in many mouth-watering ways.But ﬁrst it must be grown, and it can be grown in Muskoka; just ask Ken and Katya Riley of Brooklands Farm, located near Milford Bay. Ken’s great-great-grandparents, Charles and Emma Riley, moved onto the farm in 1876 and it has gone through a few reinventions. Part of Ken and Katya’s market-gardening emphasis is four 200-metre rows of asparagus, originally planted in May of 2000. As the rows are coming to the end of their natural lifespan (an asparagus planting lasts about 30 years), the Rileys no longer sell them in large amounts, but still enjoy them.ere are two ways of starting an asparagus patch: rootstock or seeds. Go with rootstock if you’re in a hurry to start eating it.“You have to dig a trench at least 8 inches deep,” instructs Ken, “then add at least a couple inches of manure on the bottom, the more the better. Cover that with a little bit of soil so you don’t burn the roots, then put the roots in about a foot apart.” Cover the roots and don’t harvest for the ﬁrst year to let the plants develop.If using seeds, plant them indoors in later winter in plant cells, “like any vegetable,” advises Katya. “When they get about two or three inches tall, and look like little pine trees, plant them in the garden”. Use the same trenching technique, but place the seedlings level with the soil surface. Wait three years before harvesting. “e roots have to develop and that takes a while,” says Katya.To maintain, cultivate between the rows annually, top-dress with manure in early spring before the spears emerge, and harvest every day, picking all spears when they’re 8-10 inches high, starting from when they ﬁrst spring up in May to mid-June. en let them grow, which they will, into spectacular six-foot male and female plants, to maintain them year after year.e Rileys grow two varieties: Millennium (originated in Guelph) which the farm website says is Ontario’s favourite, high yielding and delicious; and Jersey Giant, Katya and Ken Riley share their tips for growing asparagus. With proper care, a patch will produce for up to 30 years.

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oxtonguecraf tcabin.com Canadian Craft Garden ArtStudio JewelleryOriginal PaintingsOpen weekends May 21 through June Open daily July/Aug 1073 Fox Point Road Dwight, Lake of Bays 705.635.1602Famous for tarts, pies, pastries,breads & authentic Italian pizzas6 Bay Street, downtown Baysville705-224-TARThumble_pie@live.caFarmer’s Daughter Pickled Asparagus Michelle ShabaturaIngredients6 lbs. (bunches) fresh thicker asparagus (short asparagus is recommended as there’s less of the tough part)Enough spring water to cover the asparagus (for soaking in fridge)2½ litres spring water 2 litres white vinegar5 cups white sugar2 Tbsp + 4 Tbsp coarse salt 1 small white onion, chopped Asian style (wedges)1 large carrot, cut into strips3 average-sized cloves of garlic, halved For the spice blend:¼ tsp each ofDill seedCumin seedCoriander seedFennelBlack peppercorns½ tsp dried parsley Method• Soak the asparagus overnight in just enough cold spring water with 2 Tbsp of coarse salt dissolved in it to cover the spears, refrigerated. Drain just before pickling.• Sterilize six 1-litre wide-mouthed jars. Warm lids in a bath of hot water. Add enough water to a wide pot to cover ¾ of jars when placed in after bottling.• Combine 2½ litres of spring water, vinegar, sugar and 4 Tbsp salt, cover and bring to boil. (Stir to keep sugar from sticking to bottom.) Cover to reduce evaporation.• Place ¼ tsp of spice blend and half a clove of garlic in each jar.• Place asparagus spears, carrot strips and onion pieces in the jars: carrot and onion go on the outside for colour; spears go in tip up except the last four or ﬁve, which go in tip down for extra tightness (or the asparagus will ﬂoat).• Once water mixture is boiling, pour into jars. Use a butter knife to slide between spears and shift them, to remove air. Add additional water mixture if needed to ensure all asparagus is covered (ﬁll to mid-neck/mouth of bottle).• After making sure that the edge of each jar opening is entirely clean, screw lid on loosely.• Cook jars in boiling water bath on stove, until spices start to ﬂoat up or bubbles start forming (5-7 minutes - don’t overcook or asparagus will shrivel). Remove and screw lid on as tight as possible.• It is best to wait about two weeks before eating asparagus, to let the ﬂavours permeate it. Pickler’s TipsFollow the instructions very carefully to avoid disappointment.Photograph: Michelle ShabaturaRESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIALINDUSTRIAL519.865.6209ARKLTD.CAGENERATORSSMART HOME SYSTEMSNEW CONSTRUCTIONLIGHTINGECRA/ESA #7010474June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 65

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66 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022which has “fat large succulent spears with a sweet, nutty ﬂavour similar to sweet peas.”Asparagus is nutritious as well as yummy. Being 93 percent water, it’s good for hydration. It’s also high in ﬁbre, antioxidants and many vitamins and minerals, while being low in calories and carbohydrates. However, asparagus is not the longest-lasting vegetable. “If it’s fresh-cut you can keep it in the fridge for up to 10 days,” says Katya. “It freezes very well, but when you cook after defrosting, it’s best in soups and stews. You lose the crunch.” To freeze asparagus, blanch it beforehand for best results.Another way to preserve asparagus is to pickle it. Here we turn to Michelle Shabatura, owner of Farmer’s Daughter Gourmet Market and Groceries in Huntsville. Yes, she really is the daughter of a farmer, having grown up near Waterford.Aer much trial and error, Michelle Shabatura and her mother perfected the art of pickling asparagus. Her tip? Follow the instructions very carefully to avoid mushy asparagus. 28 MANITOBA STREETBRACEBRIDGE | 705-637-0204Largest selection of Tilley Hats north of TorontoTHERE’S A TILLEY FOR EVERY OCCASIONNow offering a cute collection of Kids’ Tilley hats

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“After I quit my corporate job, I went back to my family’s farm,” says Shabatura. “at year I grew ﬁve acres of pesticide-free produce, certiﬁed the kitchen (as commercial), created a little eating area in the barn and did four farmer’s markets from London to Toronto.” After sales at one of the markets in Toronto burgeoned, she found retail space near the Beaches and opened the ﬁrst Farmer’s Daughter.en when the business was outgrowing the space, she was visiting her brother at his cottage on Lake of Bays when she drove past the building that was to become her current location on Hwy 60. Once inside she was gobsmacked to ﬁnd a box from Shabatura Produce, showing that the previous owners had known her family. She took this as an omen and in 2007, Farmer’s Daughter Huntsville opened. It sells all manner of fresh local produce, baked goods, cheese, charcuterie boards, gourmet meals (to go or frozen), and other goodies. She founded her Wild Daughter brand last year, leading wilderness walks, teaching about foraging, and selling only foods harvested from Muskoka wilderness.Shabatura’s precise pickling method was developed by her mother and herself on the farm through much trial, error and bad asparagus. “ere’d be a table outside and we’d pickle,” she reminisces.“You only want to make what you want to eat this year,” Shabatura advises. “Other pickles, like salsa, you can leave on the shelf for a couple of years. Asparagus, because it’s so delicate, gets mushy.”Be creative with ingredients: use apple cider vinegar for health reasons, more zingy taste and diﬀerent colour. Include rhubarb for tanginess (goes well with apple cider). Add chili seeds for more spice. For a more striking presentation, add pansies, nasturtiums, daisies or other ﬂowers, or garlic scapes for ﬂavour. “Embrace the opportunity and Matthew Hodgman, lead cook at the Muskoka North Good Food Co-op and its eatery, Uproot, in Huntsville, shares a specially created spring carbonara, featuring crisp asparagus. June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 67

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make it your own,” Shabatura encourages. And then, there’s cooking asparagus. “Our favourite way is to steam the spears for about three minutes and savour them smothered with sour cream or butter,” says Katya Riley. Or try the same quick steaming but then grind black pepper on top; the ﬂavour of the asparagus still comes through.Whatever the seasoning, the key rule here is: cook asparagus fast. When it becomes a darker more vivid green, it’s done. Much longer and it will turn into yellow-greyish mush that tastes like it came out of a can, and that’s a crime against asparagus.Matthew Hodgman, the lead cook at the Muskoka North Good Food Co-op and its eatery, Uproot, in Huntsville, landed in Muskoka by happenstance. Born in Caledon, he didn’t start cooking until about 10 years ago, aged 25. His move from bartending and restaurant management into cooking happened gradually at numerous diﬀerent establishments including Hopgoods Foodliner in Toronto, known as one of the best restaurants in Canada, and the Hearth & Garden in Toronto’s historic Campbell House, owned by TV personality David Vallee.Feeling a pull to return to his roots – “I got the bug for farm-style cooking” – Hodgman left the big city for Grey-Bruce County, where he began learning to make bread and cheese. “I tried to move to Germany to learn more breadmaking when the pandemic hit,” he says, “then met a girl.” Homeless, he followed her to Muskoka and began working for a restaurateur we’ve featured here more than once before: David Friesen. It was another young lady Hodgman Bring in Spring Carbonara Matthew Hodgman, Kelli Ebbs and Jemma Schrauwen, Muskoka North Good Food Co-operativeIngredients 1½ cup heavy Sheldon Creek cream 2 whole fresh farm eggs and 1 or more egg yolks 1/3 cup grated ornloe hard cheese, such as Parmesan and/or Pecorino1 lb. local fresh spring asparagus¼ lb. Fisherfolk cooked shrimp1 lemon350g uncooked fresh pasta, such as fettuccine or linguine 2 local garlic cloves, sliced or 1 onion, halved (optional) 100g local bacon lardons (small strips) Freshly cracked black pepperMethod• is dish is best prepared with most ingredients at room temperature, so begin by pulling out and portioning the eggs, cream, and grated cheese(s).• To prepare the asparagus: chop all but four fronds (spears) into bite-sized pieces. Blanche both full and chopped asparagus on high in a wide sauté pan containing very little water, which will evaporate quickly. Continue to sauté your asparagus on high until they are dark green but still have crunch – don’t overcook. Add a little olive oil if needed. Remove from heat and ﬁnish with salt and fresh-squeezed lemon.• To prepare the shrimp: defrost and sauté lightly in a little butter, ﬁnish with a squeeze of lemon juice, and set aside.• Set a pot of salted water to boil for the pasta, ensuring there is a generous amount of water and several handfuls of salt; it should taste like the ocean. Boil until pasta is al dente or “to the tooth”, meaning it still has some bite to it – do not overcook. (Save a cup or so of pasta water in case you need to adjust your sauce consistency.)• Coat a stainless steel pot with a splash of water then add cream and gently bring up the temperature. is dish rarely calls for onions or garlic, but we ﬁnd the best way to incorporate these alliums is by scalding them with the cream. Allow to simmer, not boil, until you’ve yielded a sweet piquant ﬂavour.• Bacon crisps up nicely from cold, so cube or slice it and immediately sauté in a large skillet until you have a crispy, chewy consistency. Adding a tablespoon of water will assist in rendering more fat from the meat, so feel free to pull some from the boiling pasta pot and sauté until it has evaporated. Alternatively, you can add some olive oil to stretch your fat if your pork is lean.• Remove and discard the alliums or pour cream through a sieve into the pan with the bacon and reduce the cream gently for a few minutes until it thickens slightly.• While the cream is reducing, beat egg and grated cheese together to a consistent mixture.• Add warm pasta to the pan with cream and bacon.• Add egg and cheese mixture.• Add chopped asparagus and shrimp, folding pasta over itself consistently on low heat until the eggs begin to thicken and the cheese begins to melt. Finish doing so oﬀ the heat so as not to overcook or break your sauce (transform it into liquid plus solid bits). Add a splash of pasta water if you desire a looser consistency.• Finish with parsley and fresh cracked pepper (essential!)• Twist the pasta to a high proﬁle on the plate, and artistically arrange the full asparagus fronds on the pasta tower. Enjoy!Serves two. Wine pairing: “something sharp and steely and bright to cut the fat,” Hodgman recommends, e.g. a Pinot Gris, Viognier or Chablis.Lead Cook’s Tips:• A splash of cold water can reconstitute a broken sauce.• Vegetarian version: substitute butter for bacon.• On the art of food as visual art: “ere’s colour theory involved in cooking.”June 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 69

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BRACEBRIDGE GENERATION LTD.Water Power Generating a Cleaner EnvironmentInterested in more information or a free tour? www.bracebridgegeneration.comstuck around for, however: Jemma Schrauwen, who, as you might recall from last year’s article on pickling, works at the Co-op. Hodgman joined the Co-op in December 2020. “It seemed like the best and most logical place for me to be,” he says. “It was honest, earnest, roots, the type of cooking which I think is most important.” Now, he also cooks discounted meals for local seniors as part of the Co-op’s “Nourishing Seniors” program. He served up 800 such servings in April.“I love cooking because it’s a perfect blend of art and science,” Hodgman grins. “It lets me ﬂex both of those muscles.”Created specially for Cottage Country Cuisine by Hodgman, Co-op general manager Kelli Ebbs and Schrauwen, the Co-op’s oﬀering for this issue builds from the traditional simple Italian dish Carbonara, which combines pasta, pork fat, coddled eggs, pecorino or another hard cheese, and black pepper. e acceptability of adding cream is hotly disputed, since, as Hodgman notes: “the carbonari -- charcoal men – whose work in the mountains of Italy necessitated this dish likely wouldn’t have been lugging much dairy with them.” is version includes a rich, high-fat cream the Co-op regularly has in stock, and also departs from the tradition in including not only egg yolks but some whites for consistency purposes, and other interesting ingredients including asparagus.“We wanted to showcase some of our local fresh ingredients,” Hodgman says. “Good pasta, good eggs, good cream.” e asparagus comes from a source north of Huntsville; the shrimp hails from Nova Scotia.e bacon is smoked in-house, which gives the whole dish a delicious smokiness that blends brilliantly with the cheese. In Hodgman’s version, the pasta used is linguine and the cheese, parmesan. e asparagus is crispy and has a lovely lemony tang, foiling the shrimp nicely. Over-salting a carbonara is easy but that doesn’t happen at all here, nor is it too sweet. Texture is crucial in this dish: it could all end up homogenous mush, but Hodgman’s touch for al dente makes each ingredient stand up and be counted with its particular mouth-feel helping distinguish its taste.&B B Sanitation Services Ltd.FORMERLY B&S SANITATION&B B Sanitation Services Ltd.FORMERLY B&S SANITATIONYOUR FURNITURE & CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY SPECIALISTS Cal Cur an Paul Toda!705.784.0906muskokauph@gmail.com • MuskokaUpholstery.com 28 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGEAvailable atSUSTAINABILITY IS WOVEN INTO EVERY FIBRE OF NOMADIX TOWELS30 Plastic Bottles = One Nomadix TowelJune 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 71

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72 UNIQUE MUSKOKA June 2022Muskoka MomentsArticle by George YoungWas it luck, or just plain good fortune?Many years ago, I was born in a home at the locks near Huntsville. ere wasn’t a hospital yet and I came into this world where the view out the window was the North Muskoka River. I don’t remember anything about that day, but I had lucked out. My relationship with a beautiful area called Muskoka had begun. It would help to shape my personality and values. It would give me a lifestyle that so many in the rest of the world could only wish they had. It would oﬀer a great quality of life in the most beautiful of natural settings in Canada. Family life on North Mary Lake Road was traditional. We made a lot of our own fun. I can still remember my ﬁrst bike and a fort we made way back in the bush. We went to a two-room school which is now the Montessori School. Recess in the winter meant time to toboggan on the gullies across the road, or softball in the yard in the spring and fall. A lot has transpired since those days in the 1950s. I am still enjoying my Muskoka good fortune, but now as a mostly retired radio and TV sports reporter, politician and entrepreneur. One gets a special appreciation for what we have here when you go away, pursue your career and then come back.For me the plan was always to return. at happened in 1998 after retiring from the CBC and marrying my wife, Pat, who was also from the area. We spent about 20 years enjoying that same North Muskoka River view, just above the locks. Ironically, directly across from the house where I was born in 1944.ere is a special appreciation for what we have here in Muskoka when one goes away and lives in other parts of the world. In my case, that feeling was further enhanced by considerable travel covering many international sports events. Stories told by Olympic athletes reminded me of the fun we had growing up in Huntsville, playing hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the summer. Living in Halifax, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Ottawa and Toronto, as well as some other smaller centres, while nice in their own way, didn’t measure up to what I called home. e mountains in B.C. are beautiful, but there wasn’t the abundance of lakes we have. e politics of the World Soccer Championship in Argentina in 1978 wasn’t like anything we knew. e poverty in Haiti and other Central American countries gave me an increased appreciation for the lifestyle we had in Muskoka. We didn’t necessarily have much but we never wanted for anything. We enjoyed our friends and family and the many outdoor activities. We were rich in our own way and always felt safe.After 15 years of living in the Toronto area, there was a sense of anticipation as we made the decision to return to Huntsville. We had made many visits over the years but this time we were coming back to live once again. I thought back to the time when we used to swim at the locks or at my grandparents’ cottage on Peninsula Lake. I remembered how, as a teenager, I was able to rent a motorboat at Blackburn’s Marine, cross Fairy Lake, pass through the canal and then the better part of Penn Lake to get to the cottage for the day. Now, we have retraced those adventures with our own boat. e cottage still stands and the memories remain. Muskoka is changing with time. Change is not necessarily a bad thing. Huntsville and the other towns are growing, and new people are coming to make Muskoka their home. ey come for a variety of reasons, but most of all to enjoy what Muskoka has to oﬀer. For those of us who also grew up here, it’s a great place to come back to. It’s a great place to retire. It’s a place to make new memories and those too will have a special place for those of us fortunate enough to call this place home. The good fortune of being MuskokanPhotograph: Kelly Hollinshead

Unique Muskoka - Issue 33 June 2022

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