Unique Muskoka Issue 36 - September 2022 : simplebooklet.com

2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022...telling the Muskoka storyFeatures11Stripped Bare – Healing through WritingArticle by K.M. WehrsteinPhotography by Andy ZeltkalnsKristina Vanderlugt details her struggle with schizoaﬀective disorder and her path to recovery in her ﬁrst book, Stripped Bare – the result of journaling during her treatment.15Trees of Muskoka – TamarackArticle by John ChallisTamarack is one of the loveliest trees in Muskoka but it is often overlooked. A member of the pine family, tamarack can be found in bogs and on dry, sandy soil, and is well suited to Canada’s boreal forests.19Historic Libraries – Then & Now: Gravenhurst Public LibraryArticle by J. Patrick BoyerFirst opened in 1883, the Gravenhurst Public Library has moved but has never stopped catering to its members’ needs. As with many libraries, Gravenhurst’s library continues to evolve to serve its community and its members, far beyond supplying books.25Fantastic Fungi – A Magical, Baing KingdomArticle by John ChallisWhen most of us hear the word mushroom, it conjures up the white spotted, red-capped “toadstool.” However, fungi are far more complex than that one variety, and much more proliﬁc, even in Muskoka. 34Baked in Muskoka – A Time-honoured TraditionArticle by Meghan Taylor / Photography by Josianne MasseauOften, baking is much less about what you make, and more about with whom you share it. e simple tradition of breaking bread is an enduring one that bakeries across Muskoka get to share with their devoted clients on a daily basis. 40Vintage Muskoka Comes Alive – Currie’s Music and AntiquesArticle by Matt Driscoll Photography by Andy ZeltkalnsCurrie’s Music and Antiques in Gravenhurst, owned by brothers Andrew and Rob, is nothing less than Muskoka history epitomized. e people, the building and the eclectic collections all share in bringing vintage Muskoka to life. [25][15][34]

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44A Passion for Art & History – A Family Legacy RebornArticle by Bronwyn BoyerPhotography by Josianne Masseaue Britton Gallery was oﬃcially established in downtown Bracebridge by Miranda Britton and her father, Ted, in 2020. e love of research, art and art history is something passed down from father to daughter, culminating in an art gallery that holds unlimited potential.48Muskoka Horsepower – Horses Carried the Burden of Muskoka’s Early DevelopmentArticle by J. Patrick BoyerHorse stories run deeper and much longer than one might imagine in Muskoka’s history. From draft horses plowing ﬁelds and logging forests to carriage horses ferrying travellers and supplies to trotters creating excitement at local fall fairs, horses were critical to Muskoka’s early development. 52A Fall Favourite – Pumpkin Festival Draws Thousands to RosseauArticle by Matt Driscoll Photography by Tomasz SzumskiA twist on the traditional fall fair, Rosseau Pumpkin Festival has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception in 2012. e festival draws crowds of thousands with fun for the entire family. Departments56What’s HappenedArticle by Matt Driscolle District of Muskoka makes a ﬁnal decision on the development of Minett, Muskoka Conservancy launches its ﬁshing line recycling program in three locations and Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit aims to reduce the number of ATV injuries in the region through education. District Chair John Klinck announces he will not seek re-election this fall and the Muskoka Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualiﬁer, is set for October 1. 58Cottage Country CuisineArticle by K.M. WehrsteinPhotography by Tomasz SzumskiCooking with pumpkin and squash is the essence of autumn. If you’re looking for more ways to taste the season than good old pumpkin pie and squash soup, explore the ﬂavours of fall with recipes from restaurants and chefs across Muskoka. [58][44]Opinion9 Muskoka InsightsBy Don Smith64Muskoka MomentsBy Dara HowellOur CoverPhotography by Tomasz SzumskiPumpkin and squash are essential fall pantry items. Chef David Friesen of e Oven in Bracebridge enjoys a fall harvest pumpkin cupcake with cinnamon icing; the cupcakes are derived from an existing recipe, with the ﬂavour adapted for the season. SEPTEMBER 2022A TASTEFOR BAKINGHorses Carried the Burdenof Early DevelopmentCurrie’s Music and Antiques, Eclectic Muskoka EpitomizedDelectable treats are atime-honoured tradition[52]September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5

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mbaJack Judges 705-646-7424 Wayne Judges 705-645-0480email: jackjudges@gmail.comQuality workmanship and customer satisfactionfar beyond any written warranty.Restoring Muskoka’s heritage and building new traditions for over 45 yearsDESIGN • CONSTRUCTION • RESTORATIONMuskoka Insights46 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.comPhotograph: Susan SmithIt’s hard to believe but this summer is mere weeks away from slipping into the vibrancy of the autumn splendour that awaits us in late September and early October. It’s a good time to look back and, also, to consider the way forward.With a sense of caution, week after week, Muskokans have welcomed the opportunity to once again take part in traditional activities – boat shows, festivals, concerts, community events and more. Simpler pleasures – a dinner out, a night at the theatre, time with friends and family – all of these have become a way of life again. at’s not to suggest for a moment that pandemic challenges and cautions should be forgotten but rather, we’ve learned to respect the concerns of others and the majority have taken actions that have reduced the impact on our healthcare services. While community co-operation has been important in achieving somewhat of a return to normalcy, there remains an underlying sense of frustration; some might call it hostility and anger. From my perspective, the need to turn down the temperature and open up all lines of communication continues to be paramount. When we can understand and appreciate the concerns of others, we can empathize. at outreach does much more than open our eyes to others; it also gives them insight into us. From the earliest days of settlement, Muskokans have had to work together if they were going to overcome the challenges the district presented. However, as historian Patrick Boyer notes in his feature “Muskoka Horsepower,” it also took the muscle of a legion of horses to accomplish much of the heavy lifting required in opening up the roads and carrying the burden of early development. Much has rightfully been made of the tenacity of our pioneers but had they not been accompanied by their equine companions, it is certain much of the progress that was made would have been much more protracted.Today, there are many who celebrate Muskoka’s history but the Currie family of Gravenhurst, with its eclectic collection of music, memorabilia and antiques, has captured many of the celebrated days of the district’s past. As a warm-up to a visit to the Currie’s Gravenhurst store, you can enjoy the feature by regular contributor Matt Driscoll in this issue of Unique Muskoka.Some of my best Muskoka memories while growing up came from trips to local bake shops. Every town, it seemed, had at least one notable location where the aroma of freshly baked goods attracted the senses. Blueberry pies, butter tarts, Chelsea buns, an unending variety of breads – all these and more recall fun times with family. In her feature Baked in Muskoka, editor Meghan Taylor takes our readers on a journey to some of the high points on the district’s trail of amazing bakeries.If you want to discover more about Muskoka and its residents, there’s lots in this issue of Unique Muskoka including a young author who tells her story of living with schizoaﬀective disorder, the history of the Gravenhurst Library, the passion for art shared by a father and his daughter, the fantastic fungi found in Muskoka, the tale of the tamarack and the community spirit that drives the success of the Rosseau Pumpkin Festival.ere are still lots of outdoor activities to enjoy in Muskoka and lots to read in Unique Muskoka.Happy reading.September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9

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In ﬁts and starts over the course of the next 12 years, Vanderlugt wrote about schizoaﬀective disorder, her episodes and recovery through oft-tweaked medication. Her writing became Stripped Bare, a book which was published in 2020. In smooth, easy and utterly unaﬀected prose, Vanderlugt strips bare her own inner life with unﬂinching courage. In the psych ward, with its ever-changing cast of fascinating patients, nurses and doctors (names changed to protect identities), Vanderlugt wrestles both with her own demons (the ego-temptation of thinking she is assigned a divine mission, the terrifying demon-shapes that everyday objects turn into) and problems common in everyday life (frictions with friends, heartache over unrequited crushes, and, when she’s out, paying the bills). One could call it a testament to the normalcy of mental illness.Born in 1975, Vanderlugt has lived in Muskoka all her life, raised along with an elder sister by parents she does not criticize at all in the book. Growing up she was normal; at age 23, during a period of excessive alcohol and psychedelic mushroom use to soothe emotional pain, she says, “I thought this little red-hooded thing or person was following 12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022Downtown Orillia9 Mississauga Street, East705.326.9611Barrie South End531 Bryne Drive, Unit B1705.719.1474Downtown Bracebridge30 Manitoba Street705.645.2152www.pdmurphyjewellers.com • pdmurphy@bellnet.castoneway marble & granite inc.Les and Renata Partyka1295 Muskoka Rd. 118 West, Bracebridge | 705.645.3380 | stoneway.inc@gmail.comKristina Vanderlugt hopes to make a career of writing. To pen her rst autobiographical book, she had to wrestle with her fears. She is facing them again as she undertakes her second book.

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me, over about six months.” Getting sober and clean made it go away, however.e causes are hard to discern, but she does in part blame her former belief in scripture as literal truth. “ere are many things in the Bible that do not represent a loving God, and therefore I do not believe it to be from God,” Vanderlugt says. “God is love and only acts in love; the rest is just people getting in the way.” She doesn’t abide the notions of everything happening for a purpose or it all being part of a divine plan. “If that were true, it would make God a cruel God,” she aﬃrms. “It is life, and life happens.”Vanderlugt hopes to make a career of writing. To pen her ﬁrst autobiographical book, she had to wrestle with her fears. She is facing them again as she undertakes her second, about falling into and then rising out of the substance-abuse lifestyle. But as well as a way to express the stories and release the feelings she experienced during her ordeal, her writing is a mission of love. “As I wrote it, it became just as important to get awareness of mental health issues out there, to help others who may be experiencing similar things,” she says. “I had no clue what was happening to me, so it was important to let others know that it is an illness – not who you are.”Excellent advice, and this inspiring writer has more.“I want to tell readers who are struggling with a mental illness to not give up,” shares Vanderlugt. “Whatever diﬃculty you are dealing with, keep going. Look at the little things that bring you joy. Do the things that make you happy.” Healing can be diﬀerent for everyone. Vanderlugt suggests ﬁnding a hobby or getting a pet to bring joy and calm stress. Journaling or writing thoughts and feelings can help to work through or release emotions. Or, ﬁnd your own creative outlet – drawing, painting, singing. “Do what brings you joy, and joy will ﬁnd you,” she says. “And know that it’s okay to have tough days, even if it brings you to tears. And for those not struggling with these issues,” she adds, “love those who are dealing with tough times; they need you.”We’re Celebrating our14 Gray Road, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1P8MAPLE COOKIES350 g. 1.800.461.5445info@mapleorchardfarms.comwith some Sweet Deals35YEARSTHANKYOUMapleOrchard299$1699$Farms- FACTORY OUTLET SPECIALS -16$PURE MAPLE SYRUP1 LitreASSORTED CHOCOLATESHealing can be dierent for everyone. Kristina Vanderlugt suggests nding a hobby or your own creative outlet, such as writing, drawing, painting or singing. Getting a pet can also bring joy and calm stress. September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 13

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ere are over 40 species of trees 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 the more visible of our trees. One of the loveliest trees in Muskoka’s forests is easy to overlook. e tamarack, Larix laricina, is a member of the pine family. A true tree of the Canadian North, tamarack can be found in every province and territory, and is well suited to Canada’s boreal forests. e genus Larix is circumpolar, with 10 or 12 species across the northern hemisphere.Tamarack is full of contradictions. Common in bogs, the tamarack’s meandering branches provide shade for shrubs like bearberry, sweet gale, blueberry, cranberry and huckleberry – but it’s equally at home on dry, sandy soil.Unlike all the other conifers, which are evergreen, the tamarack drops its needles in the fall. After the forests have lost their autumn reds and yellows, tamaracks oﬀer up one more gift of colour in the grey woods. eir needles turn a brilliant gold, ﬁlling the forest with patches of lost sunset.Tamarack is important to wildlife as well. Seeds from cones provide winter food for many birds, and several animals feed on its bark, seedlings or young twigs.Its needles are as soft as duck down, yet its wood is hard and durable. A high resin content makes it resistant to water. In the days of wooden ships, the roots of tamarack were used to brace the hull’s ribs and deck timbers.In Europe, the tree is called larch – and therein lies a tale. In the days of the Roman empire, Caesar’s army laid siege to a town in the Alps called Larignum, which was fortiﬁed with towers made from stacks of crisscrossed logs. e army tried to set ﬁre to the towers, only to discover ﬂames could not break down the tough wood. e trees of Article by John ChallisTamarack needles are as so as duck down, yet its wood is hard and durable. A high resin content makes it resistant to water.A true tree of the Canadian North, tamarack can be found in every province and territory, and is well suited to Canada’s boreal forests. Common in bogs, the tamarack’s meandering branches provide shade for shrubs but it’s equally at home on dry, sandy soil.Photograph: Norma Van AlstinePhotograph: Norma Van AlstineSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15

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16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022705.765.0600 • 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.those logs were named larch, in recognition of the town.When arriving in Canada, European settlers put the tree to more prosaic uses, cutting tamarack logs for railway ties, poles and crates – even grinding it into pulpwood.e trees are known to Indigenous cultures in Canada by a variety of names; it is believed the common name tamarack derives from the Algonquin or Abenaki hackmatack or akemantak, which means wood for snowshoes. e Cree term muckigwatig, or mashkihkohpakwa means plant of the muskeg. Anishinaabe people call it mashkiigwaatig. Beyond its name, tamarack can be used for treating wounds, ailments and activities. e oxblood-coloured inner bark of the tamarack can be crushed to treat burns or wounds. e wood is used for toboggans. e tree bark has been woven into bags and Tamarack is important to wildlife as well. Seeds from cones provide winter food for many birds, and several animals feed on its bark, seedlings or young twigs.Photograph: Eleanor Kee Wellman

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100% 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)Dulcinea In Red 72x40 (B. Nowak)Aer the forests have lost their autumn reds and yellows, tamaracks oer up one more gi of colour in the grey woods. Their needles turn a brilliant gold, lling the forest with patches of lost sunset.strips of bark have been sewn together for canoes. e bark was also used for tanning animal hides. Tea brewed from tamarack bark is noted for aiding a variety of digestive and other ailments. e Indigenous community is also to thank for the knowledge that the tamarack’s needles make an excellent garnish on food. Fresh young sprigs of tamarack taste like a cross between dill and rosemary. Used with other native seeds or berries, crushed needles make savory rubs on chicken or steak, and can brighten the ﬂavour in salads.ere is one more gift from the tamarack, and that is the wonderfully delicate, ﬂexible stems at the ends of their branches. Plucked from the tree while they are green and young, the twigs can be woven. Skillfully woven likenesses of geese have been used as decoys during the spring goose hunt by generations of Cree. Today, woven geese made from tamarack are sold in many sizes as contemporary arts and crafts.e evergreen that isn’t, tamarack’s fall display of golden tones is just one of its many delights. Photograph: Eleanor Kee WellmanSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 17

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In 1883, Gravenhurst townsfolk created a Mechanics’ Institute library, the era’s prevailing model for lending libraries, so they could enjoy life and expand their horizons. Members’ yearly fees provided current newspapers and periodicals in the reading room, educational talks by authorities on diverse subjects, and books to borrow. is “part-time library,” open several hours a few days each week, was housed with the town clerk’s oﬃce in a red brick building (now relocated to a local construction company’s yard) behind the Opera House.On March 24, 1906, the same day Andrew Carnegie gave Bracebridge $10,000 for a library building, he oﬀered Gravenhurst $7,000. However, Gravenhurst’s councillors were prone to extreme frugality, moving with glacial slowness. Sixteen years later, council reconsidered the project, but discovered the Carnegie Corporation did not fund libraries. Article by J. Patrick BoyerOntarioCottageRentals.cominfo@ontariocottagerentals.com1-877-788-1809 Find UsWe have a variety of waterfront cottages, condos and cabins perfect for spring, summer, fall and winter. Let us match your family with the ideal holiday cottage or cabin rental for your next family vacation!MUSKOKA | NEAR NORTH | GEORGIAN BAY | PARRY SOUND | HALIBURTON | KAWARTHAS | ORILLIACONSIDERING RENTING YOUR COTTAGE? LET’S CONNECT. Call us toll free at 1-877-788-1809 or e-mail us at sales@ontariocottagerentals.comYour vacation begins hereOCR Ad_UM_(8.375x10.875).indd 1 2019-04-08 2:29:40 PMDesigned by architect Brian Chamberlain and opened on May 8, 2000, Gravenhurst Public Library currently resides in the town’s second purpose-built library building. A more attractive structure, but no longer in the “Carnegie Family,” the library is behind the Opera House, at 180 Sharpe Street West. Photograph: Tomasz SzumskiSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 19

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Carnegie libraries were personally funded by Andrew Carnegie and the last Ontario grant of $15,000 had gone to Ottawa’s West Branch Library on March 31, 1917. Having dallied, the council now pleaded with the Carnegie Corporation. Since Gravenhurst’s dusty application had theoretically been in the works for years, the grant was graciously “grandfathered” and awarded. In 1923, contractor Andrew Ferguson completed the building, immediately north of the Opera House. With the 17-year delay in accessing the funds, the $7,000 did not go as far in covering costs, resulting in the use of an oﬀ-the-shelf Carnegie blueprint. e ﬁnished building was rather ordinary, except for its ﬁreplace. Neither in the plans or budget, the only library ﬁreplace in Muskoka had appeared like magic. It was a comfort in the cold building when Librarian Mary Lindsell worked in her winter coat.Converted from Mechanics’ Institute to free public institution, Gravenhurst Public Library would now operate in its Carnegie building on the main street, enhanced by a $45,000 expansion in 1975, until the late 20th century. e town’s second purpose-built library building, designed by architect Brian Chamberlain, opened on May 8, 2000. A 20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022INTRODUCING KIATHEThe Sportage21 Robert Dollar Dr, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1P9705-645-6575MUSKOKA KIAEdith Johns (pictured) and her aunt Rose Johns, became Gravenhurst’s rst librarians in 1883 at the Mechanics’ Institute. They continued until 1906, when the Institute’s assets were turned over to the newly constituted public library. Photograph: Gravenhurst Public LibraryWith a relaxed fit and classic detailing, your TOPO Designs clothing will feel like an old favorite from its first wear. TOPO Designs – durable, versatile, beautiful products that can be used around town, out on the trail and travelling the globe.28 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGE

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more attractive structure, but no longer in the “Carnegie Family,” it was behind the Opera House, at 180 Sharpe Street West. e story of Muskoka libraries is commonly about male librarians to the mid-20th century, with mostly females in charge since. However, from inception Gravenhurst’s library has been the domain of women. From Rose Johns and her niece, Edith, in 1883 to Julia Reinhart today, a dozen women have been librarians in charge. e sole exception was Ron McNabb’s brief stint at the librarian’s desk in 1928. Today, serving a population of 14,000 and double that with summertime Muskokans, Gravenhurst Public Library houses books, periodicals and services. Along with its Muskoka Collection of books on the second ﬂoor, the oﬃce of Gravenhurst archivist and historian Judy Humphries can be found. When COVID closed the library for on-premises operation in 2020, staﬀ found ways to serve patrons remotely, including getting them new reading material. “ey took the initiative to call from the library about three new books I might be interested in and got them to me,” said resident Gord Durnan. “at is going the extra mile in service!”Taking advantage of the forced hiatus, CEO and chief librarian Julia Reinhart, with the support of the library board and town council, carried out a major refresh of the library’s interior, including new shelving, carpeting and entranceway. Plans that had been developed pre-COVID for an expansion at the building’s present site are now being carefully reconsidered in the altered universe of institutions, public activities and internet practices. BATH & 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 CentreConstruction of the long-delayed Carnegie Library building by contractor Andrew Ferguson began in 1922 and was completed the following year. The Carnegie building on the main street, enhanced by a $45,000 expansion in 1975, housed the Gravenhurst Library until the late twentieth century.Photograph: Gravenhurst Public LibrarySeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 21

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Book Now!Steamships • Discovery Centrewww.realmuskoka.com / 1-866-687-6667Muskoka Wharf, GravenhurstAUTHENTIC MUSKOKAHistory • Environment • SustainabilityReinhart is particularly attentive to grasping the full dimensions of these changes. She was the ﬁrst to reopen a Muskoka public library for an in-person author event, a book launch on June 29 this year. en, in July, Reinhart participated in a librarians’ conference evaluating changed practices produced by the pandemic. As with many libraries, Gravenhurst Public Library continues to evolve to serve its community and its members, far beyond supplying books. 22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022Today, serving a usual population of 14,000 and double that with summertime Muskokans, Gravenhurst Public Library houses books, periodicals and services. Plans developed pre-COVID for an expansion at the library’s present site are now being carefully reconsidered in the altered universe of institutions, public activities and internet practices. Photograph: Tomasz Szumski

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After a rain, and for days following, the air in a forest is thick with rich, complex and earthy aromas. Pine needles mingle with the dark funk of soil and the rotting leaves from hardwood trees, augmented by a subtle rawness from the slippery face of fallen logs. e banquet of perfumes – or at least much of it – owes itself to one thing: fungi.What we see above the ground as a mushroom is only a small part of a fungus; it’s the “fruit” that spreads spores to reproduce. ere are thousands of species, millions of individuals working almost completely invisibly, in the wood of trees, in the leaf litter, even high above in the upper branches of trees. Fungi are responsible for decay, turning fallen leaves and wood into humus, converting organic matter into nutrients. ey are the machine that keeps forests and grasslands alive. When most of us hear the word mushroom, it conjures up the white spotted, red-capped “toadstool,” also known as Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria), which has been a favourite of illustrators of children’s books. Fungi are far more complex than that one variety, and much more proliﬁc than can be fully explored in this feature. Article by John ChallisThe reproductive body of a fungus needs moisture to produce spores, which can happen in hours or years. The Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) sprouts spectacularly in lawns, but in a day or two turns to drooping black ooze. Photograph: Jan ThornhillSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 25

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26 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022Fungi require no sunlight to grow. In fact, they have very little in common with plants and, genetically, they’re more closely related to animals. Within the major scientiﬁc classiﬁcation divisions of life on earth, fungi have been separated from the plant kingdom to comprise their own separate kingdom.And such a varied kingdom! e majority of species visible in Muskoka’s natural settings look nothing like the mushrooms in the fridge. ey may appear on a log as tiny buttons of bright orange or yellow, on the forest ﬂoor as hair-thin “fairy threads,” or masses that look like they belong in a coral reef. ere are bright blues and purples, soft tans and pure white.e reproductive body of the fungus (the mushroom, to make it simple) needs moisture to produce spores. at process can happen in just a few hours in some species; the Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) sprouts spectacularly in lawns, but in a day or two turns to drooping black ooze. Others, like the jelly fungi and some gilled mushrooms, can dry out for as long as a couple of years, waiting for the rain that will let them ﬂourish. Painted Suillus, Suillus spraguei, is usually found growing with white pines, as they have a symbiotic relationship. Also known as Painted Boletes, they are readily identied by their red caps, separated to look like scales by yellow cracks. Muskoka's Largest Home Service Company!Photograph: John Challis

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Like plants, some fungi have medicinal applications. Many cultures have used the Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina), one of the bracket fungi, to staunch bleeding. In China, it is common to make a tea from Reishi, or Ganoderma lucidum, another bracket fungus, for its reputed powers as an antioxidant and as a blood pressure regulator. More and more, there is promising medical research taking place into the beneﬁts of fungi. Identifying fungi takes practice and research but searching the internet or apps can make it simple. George Barron’s excellent guide, Mushrooms of Ontario and Eastern Canada, breaks fungi into several major groups, dependent on various factors, including appearance. Gilled mushrooms are the familiar mushrooms on stems with round caps and little gills, or lamellae, underneath. Boletes look similar to gilled mushrooms but have spongy surfaces underneath instead of gills. Bracket fungi are the tough, wavy things jutting out of tree trunks like shelves, while jelly fungi emerge as slimy, rubbery folds of many colours. Puﬀballs are wide-ranging in Clavaria zollingeri, more commonly known as Violet Coral Fungus, can be identied in the wooded areas it grows in by the nger-like fruiting bodies, which resemble an underwater coral.Photograph: Jan ThornhillSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 27

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28 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022appearance, from the Giant Puﬀball (Calvatia gigantea) that looks like an inﬂated pillow to the Stinkhorns (Phallaceae) that smell like rotting meat. Coral fungi and tooth fungi are separate groups that have clusters of toothy or coral-like stalks. Sac fungi are part of a gigantic division, including the much-sought-after morels and truﬄes, along with a wide range of colourful cup shapes. If the names did not already give it away, vivid imaginations have enjoyed devising common names for fungi, often unrelated to their Latin classiﬁcation names. Dead Man’s Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha), a sac fungus that emerges black and crusty out of rotting logs, fulﬁlls the ghoulish delights. ere’s the Dung-loving Bird’s Nest (Cyathus stercoreus), a tiny puﬀball that fruits on the feces of herbivores, and Witch’s Butter (Tremella mesenterica), a jelly fungus that oozes out of twigs or branches. For those with a rosier view of the world, there are the pretty Apricot Jellies (Guepinia helvelloides), which sprout under conifers. Sac fungi cups come in a startling range of colours, Scarlet Cup (Sarcoscypha occidentalis), and Lemon Drops (Bisporella citrina) among them. Some gilled mushrooms grow in circular “fairy rings,” inspiring their fair share of fantastical theories over the generations. ese rings are created by fungi that decompose. As the fungi use up their food supply, they fan out in growing circles. One such local species, according to naturalist Bob Bowles, is Marasmius oreades.Bowles has been studying local fungi in Muskoka and Simcoe for decades. His current Muskoka fungi checklist includes 630 species; his lifetime list is over 1,600 species. He explains Marasmius has a relationship with grass, and so it often comes up in lawns. Marasmius is also edible, with a slightly sweet ﬂavour. Fungi, like this Painted Suillus, require no sunlight to grow. In fact, they have very little in common with plants and, genetically, they’re more closely related to animals.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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Which brings up one of the most common questions from new fungi enthusiasts and visitors alike: “Is it edible?” Bowles’ response is to refer to an old European proverb: “You can eat any mushroom – but some kinds only once.” Amanita muscaria, the toadstool of fairy tales, has a cousin called Amanita bisporigera, which Bowles has recorded in his Muskoka list. ey’re pretty white mushrooms with a delicate fringe or skirt around the stem, just under the cap, and a cup sometimes visible at its base. ere are two other Amanita species in Ontario that are also pure white. All three are deadly poisonous, sometimes collectively referred to as “Destroying Angels.” e toxins in these fungi damage the liver and kidneys, and because symptoms do not appear until it’s too late to treat, the eﬀects are often fatal.Locally, there are some edible mushrooms that can be safely identiﬁed for consumption. Chicken Of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), a bright sulphur-yellow bracket fungus, is edible. e easy-to-ﬁnd Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) is apparently mild ﬂavoured but should be picked when young. However, unless you’re experienced in identifying mushrooms, it’s best to avoid experiments, and just appreciate their interesting shapes, colours and growth patterns.ere is no speciﬁc hot spot to hunt mushrooms. “ey each have their own speciﬁc habitat,” says Al Sinclair, another local expert. “e right weather and season are all important when looking for fungi.” Autumn is a good season for many species, but they can be found year-round.Fungi oﬀer up a lifetime supply of new discoveries, as Bowles can attest with his ever-growing checklist. Jan ornhill, a member of the Mycological Society of Toronto, hunts for fungi for the joy of ﬁnding new species.“It’s very hard to go out collecting without ﬁnding something that I’ve never seen before,” ornhill says. In three recent days, ornhill explained she found 12 species she had never seen before. Over the past 20 years, she has identiﬁed 1,000 species of fungus within walking distance of her house. She even recently discovered a species not seen in Canada for more than a century; Resupinatus dealbatus. ornhill is also drawn to the unseen role fungi play in the forest. e mushroom, Indigo Milk Cap, Lactarius indigo, is an edible mushroom with striking blue gills. When cut, the fungus stains a darker blue and produces blue "milk.”Photograph: John ChallisPhotograph: Jan ThornhillDOWNTOWN PORT CARLINGbeautiful results. beautiful you.QUALITYCOSMETIC SERVICES905.626.3080ENDURINGBEAUTY.CAENDURINGBEAUTYCLINIC@GMAIL.COMnursechristinernSCHEDULE YOURCONSULTATIONWITH CHRISTINE, RNSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 29

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30 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022above ground, has one function, to produce spores to reproduce. e actual “body” of a fungus is, in most species, a network of hidden, microscopic threads called hyphae that clump together to form networks of mycelium.As part of her own process, ornhill distinguishes fungi by the ecological niches they ﬁll. ere are the decomposers, which eat their way through anything dead, from logs to leaves, even breaking down herbivore scat. ere are parasitic fungi that feed on living plants and animals. e Honey Mushroom, Armillaria, is not just a parasite but one of the largest and oldest organisms on the planet. A forest in Oregon has become famous for being host to a Honey Mushroom that has spread its mycelium over 965 hectares and is estimated to be at least a staggering 2,400 years old. In true American fashion, it is dubbed the Humongous Fungus.Finally, and the most fascinating of ornhill’s niches, there are the mycorrhizal fungi, which grow around the root tips, or inside the root cells, of trees and other plants. New research is revealing the critical importance of mycorrhizal fungi to the health of forests. ey can reach beyond tree roots, providing nutrients like nitrogen for the trees, while drawing sugar from the trees. In her book Finding e Mother Tree, the B.C. researcher Suzanne Simard describes it as a communication network. She refers to it as the “wood wide web” between trees, passing vital resources back and forth based on need, not just among trees of the same species, but between neighbouring species for the beneﬁt of the whole forest. A slow stroll in the woods will always reveal mushrooms, and there’s really no need to do anything more than enjoy their appearance. However, the nearly inﬁnite world of fungi will undoubtedly beckon you to delve deeper. Scarlet Cup (Sarcoscypha occidentalis), is a small fungus that grows most commonly on hardwood sticks and logs, particularly when in shaded, rich soil. Most prolic in summer, it can also make appearances in late spring and fall. Bisporella citrina, commonly known as Yellow Fairy Cups or Lemon Drops, is a widespread but tiny fungus, and therefore is oen overlooked. Photograph: Jan ThornhillPhotograph: Jan Thornhill

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tarts, specialty breads, and more in Baysville for 13 years. Originally from the corporate world in Toronto, MacIsaac moved to Muskoka in 2003 and settled in Baysville in 2005. With little baking experience and, at the time she opened, no bakery in town, MacIsaac partnered with a baker for the ﬁrst year of operation and paid close attention. “I never anticipated that Humble Pie would be as popular as it is,” shares MacIsaac. In baking, one must know how ingredients interact to make a pie crust just ﬂaky enough, cookies just crunchy enough and bread rise just enough. Undermixing dough may mean ﬂavours will not develop but overmixing batter may result in too much air and a ﬁnal product ﬁlled with holes. Big River Baking Company in downtown Bracebridge uses all its own recipes for its handcrafted artisan breads. Plus, the bakers outline the many steps in the process right on the walls of the shop. e signage is an ode to their dedication to baking great products as well as an indication to customers that a great deal happens before the shelves are ﬁlled with fresh loaves of bread. “All our breads are sourdough,” explains Warren Dix, co-owner of Big River with his business partner, Sean Sullivan. “ey all take at least 24 hours before they go in the oven and develop their ﬂavours.”Starting with weighing or measuring ingredients is a must for a consistent ﬁnal product. For sourdough, fermentation and retarding are key steps in developing the dough. First fermentation combines ingredients, cultivating naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria within the mixture. Retarding delays the fermentation process for a period of time while maintaining the temperature and moisture levels of the dough, further developing the ﬂavours. e staged fermenting process of sourdough is what creates the unique and layered ﬂavour Sourdough is the starter used for many breads. The staged fermenting process of sourdough is what creates the unique and layered avour prole of a nished loaf.The demand for fresh baked goods is relentless and line-ups at Muskoka’s bakeries are anticipated daily. Selling out of in-demand breads and sweets happens on a regular basis. September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35

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36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022proﬁle of a ﬁnished loaf.Opened in 2021, Big River is the culmination of Dix and Sullivan searching for a baker to join their market concept. In their search, the business partners connected with a fourth-generation master baker. In talking with him, the business partners decided to take on the bakery themselves, with support from their bakery consultant. “We searched and searched, and couldn’t ﬁnd anyone to ﬁt the groove we envisioned,” shares Dix. “We realized with the right people we could do this, but the truth is, I fell in love with the bakery and stayed there. Sean opened the market on his own.”Dix fondly recalls both Waite’s Bakery and Herman’s Bakery in Bracebridge, which served the community for years. “We felt there was a need for a bakery in this town,” says Dix. “We let the town tell us what they want. We try things and if they don’t go, we move onto the next.”e demand for fresh baked goods is relentless. Muskoka’s bakeries sell out of their in-demand breads and sweets on a regular basis. Bakers with at-home kitchens who, during the pandemic, built up their business with weekly pick-ups and deliveries of their cookies, cupcakes and other items are now booked months in advance. However, several bakeries in Muskoka have long-standing history serving their communities. Henrietta’s Pine Bakery, e Bakery in Gravenhurst and Don’s Bakery in Bala have been in operation for decades, edging closer to a century in some cases. It’s clear that residents and visitors of Muskoka have a taste for fresh baking. Muskoka bakeries have become known for their specialty items, which draw crowds, line-ups and advance orders for delectable treats. Henrietta’s Pine Bakery, with locations in Dwight and Huntsville, has been family owned and operated since ﬁrst opening its doors in 1958. Current owners Geoﬀ and Carine Harriss, along with their sons, Kyle and Nick, and their team of staﬀ create over 150 diﬀerent varieties of bread, pastries and more, from artisan breads to sticky buns to their exclusive Muskoka Clouds – a tea biscuit with cranberries and cheese, brushed with butter and ﬁnished with sugar. “Savoury is as popular as sweet baked goods,” comments MacIsaac, of Humble Pie’s trending items. Often asked what their most popular pie is, MacIsaac recalls a charity event where they donated a portion of proceeds from each pie sold. ey tracked sales, selling upwards of 300 pies but every ﬂavour was within a few of the others. e answer? ey’re all great; pick your own favourite. “We’re known for our doughnuts,” says Judy Rebelein of e Bakery in Gravenhurst. “We still do them the old-fashioned way, out of a deep fryer. Our Chelsea buns have been our family secret for all 60 years we’ve been here.” New items are trial and error. ey’re baked and tested. If they sell? ey stay in the rotation. If they don’t, they move onto another idea. Meat pies and sausages rolls are more secret family recipes, unchanged and safeguarded for the entirety of e Bakery’s existence. “It’s fresh products,” says Rebelein. “We do it from scratch every day.” A ﬁxture in downtown Gravenhurst, e Bakery is all in the family. First opened by Fritz and Ursula Rebelein in 1959, it is now operated by their eldest son, Peter and his wife, Judy. Judy and Peter’s children, Jay and Robyn, grew up playing and working in the bakery and remain heavily involved in the operation. eir children, fourth generation, are now growing up as they did, playing in the bakery. “What’s kept us going is the quality and the quantity of the product you get,” shares Rebelein. “We’re not a department store but the quality is so good, and we never compromise on that.”While the pandemic added challenges, like staﬃng and supply shortages, demand for Patience and a process are required when it comes to handcraing breads, pastries, pies and all manner of sweet and savoury delights. Freshly baked, handcraed bread can take hours, or even days, of preparation before it hits the shelf.Tastes change over the years, but familiarity brings its own comfort, too. Tried and true recipes, like sticky buns or, have become tradition for many residents and cottagers.

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bread, pastries and baked goods increased. Adapting to the many changes required ﬂexibility to try new things and rigour in maintaining processes and quality. “Demand has increased but we’re working harder with less supplies,” comments MacIsaac. Pre-ordering by phone provides MacIsaac and her staﬀ time to ensure ingredients arrive, to prepare the items and have them ready for pick up. During the pandemic, the strategy proved even more beneﬁcial.“From day one, since we started in a small facility, we coached our customers to call in orders in advance,” explains MacIsaac. “We felt bad if customers couldn’t get what they were looking for. Now it’s even more important.”Tastes change over the years, but familiarity brings its own comfort, too. While the ownership may have changed hands through the years at Don’s Bakery, tried and true recipes have become tradition for many residents and cottagers. “We’ll never take them away, the things that make us famous,” says Jana Foster, owner of Don’s Bakery with her husband, Bryan. “But we like to add new things, with new trends in food. It’s important to keep customers interested rather than having the same all the time.”Opened in the small town of Bala in 1947, Don’s Bakery, originally owned by Don Lloyd, boasts the longest history of any of Muskoka’s currently operating bakeries. Favourite’s, like Don’s Scones, have remained through the generations, creating repeat customers and a well-earned reputation.“Bryan grew up cottaging in Muskoka and Don’s Bakery was always a part of his childhood memories, just like it is for a lot of people,” explains Foster. “When we started dating, he’d take me to the bakery and we’d go shopping for his favourite things.” After noticing a “for sale” sign in the window of the bakery, the Fosters discussed the opportunity. Both came from business backgrounds and knew little of baking. ey took time to consider the opportunity and, ultimately, Foster says “took a leap of faith and bought the bakery” in 2010. “People have been in the area or coming to the area for generations,” shares Foster. “ey take their kids, grandkids, visitors, cousins - it’s part of their daily or weekly ritual stopping into the bakery. Just like it was for Bryan growing up and now it is for our kids.”e quality and quantity of the goods available is important. Customers come to expect certain favourites when they visit. But just as essential are the people. “We’ve got some really good young bakers, Willy and Molly, and they make it happen,” says Dix. “I’m just the guy behind the counter. People need to give their staﬀ credit. If they weren’t baking delicious things, people wouldn’t be buying them.”Skilled staﬀ are not always easy to come by and spending time training young recruits can result in multiple years of employment. MacIsaac notes that youth often stay with her for two or three seasons and parents comment on the skills their children learn from the bakery. One young woman has worked at Humble Pie since she was 13, learning the ropes as an assistant and working her way up to her current role as primary baker. “Without her, Humble Pie wouldn’t be what it is,” shares MacIsaac. “I talk to her about all of my decisions. She’s like my partner.”The quality and quantity of the baked goods and breads available is important, but equally so are the people. Sta become family, as do the community members who regularly stop into their favourite local bakery. Favourites remain on the menus of Muskoka’s bakeries, generating repeat customers and well-earned reputations. “We’re known for our doughnuts,” says Judy Rebelein of The Bakery in Gravenhurst. “We still do them the old fashioned way, out of a deep fryer.” September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 37

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38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022“We’d like to thank our loyal customers and our staﬀ as well,” shares Foster. “We wouldn’t be here today without them. ank you to those who continue to walk through the door and support a small business.” “People like small, hometown bakeries,” says Rebelein. “We make everything from scratch. ere are no preservatives or unnatural products in our baking. Our stuﬀ is good!“ere aren’t many of us anymore. I think that we’ve been consistent in what we do, and its family owned and operated and people come back for that.”Rebelein comments that she recognizes customers who were coming in as small children and are now coming in with their own children, or even grandchildren. “We always try to serve people with a smile,” shares Rebelein. “A bakery is a cornerstone of the community,” says Dix. “People come in here and there’s a sense of community. People walk in and they call it their own. People bump into each other and I see people talking. ey bring visitors. ey tell people to try it out. Everybody embraces it. at’s really cool.”“It’s a comfort thing for people,” says Foster. “Sharing with friends and family. It’s happy. One of the things we noticed when we bought the bakery, we didn’t realize how nice it was to own a business where everyone was happy to be there.”Baking is often much less about what you make, and more about with whom you share it. Breaking bread describes the sharing of a meal; sharing with friends, family, neighbours and acquaintances. A simple tradition continued across bakeries in Muskoka. 705-764-0765 | 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.Baking is oen much less about what you make, and more about with whom you share it. No matter who is visiting – kids, grandkids, cousins, or friends – a trip to a Muskoka bakery is a visit well-spent.

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It could be the people, the building or the collection but Currie’s Music and Antiques in Gravenhurst is nothing less than Muskoka history epitomized.Located on Muskoka Road South in the former home of one of the district’s early movie theatres, the store is a monument to memorabilia with a special emphasis on all things Muskoka and all things musical.“We know the culture of Muskoka and we live it,” says Andrew Currie who co-owns the business with his brother, Rob. “We’re a family-run business and we really do keep it in the family but this community is also our family.”While Andrew and Rob technically run the business, it’s truly a family aﬀair. eir mother, Suzanne, does clothing repairs and upgrades using the vintage sewing machines the family has collected over the years. “She works on vintage clothing but she’ll do things like hemming and repairs on new clothes as well,” says Andrew. “She’ll even repair the leather straps on the guitars or knit socks when she has time.”Patriarch Ted Currie is responsible for collecting many of the items which now comprise the collection. “He’s deﬁnitely the hunter-gatherer,” shares Andrew with a chuckle. “He and I are primarily the ones who will go out picking but he started collecting when we were just Article by Matt Driscoll / Photography by Andy Zeltkalns 40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022Brothers Rob and Andrew Currie own and operate Currie’s Music and Antiques in Gravenhurst but their parents, Suzanne and Ted, also help with repairing clothing and adding to the collections. The “general store”, as they’ve taken to calling it, is a family aair.

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little kids.”Ted is also a veritable fountain of knowledge when it comes to the history of Gravenhurst, as well as its people and places. “He’s helped out with a lot of the local museums,” explains Andrew. “He really wants to help preserve the history of Muskoka, and we’re proud that we’re able to help preserve and present that history here at the store.”e range of vintage items for sale at Currie’s is truly staggering. Hundreds of vintage guitars, thousands of records, memorabilia, toys, furniture and clothing are all available for those with the diligence and know-how to sniﬀ them out.“It’s a little bit of everything,” says Andrew. “ese days we’re calling it a general store.”While Andrew and Ted would typically head out on scavenger missions in the Muskoka area, these days items of interest are more likely to ﬁnd their way to them.“We never know what’s going to come through our doors,” shares Andrew. “is morning a guy walked in with several big boxes full of stuﬀ. He was downsizing and he just wanted to make sure he could ﬁnd a good home for some of his old things.”If the Curries feel an item is of particular local signiﬁcance, they may decide to hang on to it for safekeeping. In some cases, they put such items on display so others can enjoy them too.Menus from the venerable Sloan’s Restaurant in Gravenhurst, concert posters from the Kee to Bala… essentially, Currie’s Music and Antiques showcases anything they feel connects with the history of Gravenhurst and Muskoka.“A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from a guy who had a photo of three brothers from Gravenhurst, all in uniform with the 122nd (Muskoka) Battalion,” says Andrew. “We thought it was pretty cool and we decided to put it up on display. It’s actually up right now as a matter of fact.”Beyond the eclectic mixture of goods and memorabilia in Currie’s “general store,” the building itself is also steeped in local history. It was originally run in the 1930s as the Muskoka eatre.“We have people come in and say, ‘I saw Star Wars here or I saw an Elvis movie in here. I can still smell the popcorn’,” says Andrew.In the days of the Muskoka Winter Carnival, the theatre welcomed acts like Stompin’ Tom Connors and Canadian folk troubadour Valdy, to play on the small stage in front of the movie screen. Sadly, the theatre closed in the early 1990s and The range of vintage items for sale at Currie's is truly staggering. Hundreds of vintage guitars, thousands of records, memorabilia, toys, furniture and clothing are all available for those with the diligence and know-how to sni them out. If the Curries feel an item is of particular local signicance, they may decide to hang on to it for safekeeping and display, for all to enjoy. September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41

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42 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022the marquee was removed in 2011 for safety reasons.e idea that would evolve into Currie’s Music and Antiques began with modest roots in the halls of Gravenhurst High School.“I was actually doing guitar repairs out of my locker when I graduated in 2004 and it just continued to grow,” explains Andrew. “I also had a large collection of used guitars, so I opened upstairs here, originally, selling used guitars.”From vintage guitars to vintage musical instruments and equipment of all description, to used records, and then eventually to everything under the sun, the store continued to grow.“We had vintage lamps and chairs but we were actually using them,” says Andrew. “One day, someone came in and asked if they could buy them and it sort of took oﬀ from there.”Ted and Suzanne had formerly run an antique store on Manitoba Street in Bracebridge, and much of what was left went into the new Gravenhurst location as they continued to occupy more and more of the building. Now, Currie’s includes a full recording studio, which is run by Rob and has drawn a variety of acts over the years.e musical aspect is tremendously important to both The idea that evolved into Currie's Music and Antiques began with modest roots in the halls of Gravenhurst High School. Andrew started doing guitar repairs from his locker, which grew into selling used guitars. From vintage guitars to musical instruments and equipment of all description, to used records, and then eventually to everything under the sun, the store continues to grow. Essentially, Currie’s showcases anything they feel connects with the history of Gravenhurst and Muskoka.

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705.645.4294 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 YEARSbrothers, not just from a business standpoint but also for the role they have come to play in the local music scene. e brothers collaborate musically as e Currie Brothers, as well as playing with other musicians in the area. “Whether it’s Sawdust City or Music on the Barge or the Muskoka Music Festival, the music scene in Gravenhurst has come back big time,” says Andrew.e Curries work with Miranda Mulholland, who runs the Muskoka Music Festival at locations throughout Gravenhurst on the weekend of August 19. Andrew explains it’s a perfect ﬁt, as her family were major players in the evolution of Gravenhurst as well. e Gravenhurst Opera House was constructed by her great-great-grandfather, Charles Mickle, in 1901 during his tenure as the mayor.Andrew also feels like it’s their role to help grow the music scene in the area. at could mean supplying equipment if a pedal malfunctions at the Kee to Bala, helping out with tech at Sawdust City’s Saturday night live music shows, or playing in a band himself with his brother Rob. e Curries have also made a habit of giving away used guitars for free to children in the community who they feel could beneﬁt.In return, Currie’s Music and Antiques has become a must visit location for bands and musical acts coming through Muskoka.“Murray McLaughlin bought a guitar from us and wrote a whole album around it,” Andrews shares. “Johnny Fay (from e Tragically Hip) is always here. One day, I came in and heard people talking at the back of the store, so I went back there and my dad was having a conversation with Kiefer Sutherland.”People often drop in for a cup of coﬀee, and to ﬁnd out who’s been in the store and what’s going on locally.“We’re a bit like an old-time barber shop that way,” says Andrew. “We try to make it as friendly and inviting as possible, and give it a home sort of feel because for us it basically is our home.”Beyond the thousands of quirky items found in every nook and cranny of the shop, it’s that feeling of home and family that has made Currie’s a local landmark and a monument to the history of Muskoka.The musical aspect is tremendously important to Andrew and Rob Currie, not just from a business standpoint but also for the role they have come to play in the local music scene. The brothers collaborate musically as The Currie Brothers, as well as playing with other musicians in the area. Now, Currie's includes a full recording studio, which is run by Rob.September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43

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was actually quite fantastic. A lot more people were in the area full time with disposable income that wasn’t going towards travel. ere was more of a focus on home and ﬁnding artwork to decorate their spaces.”Britton’s parents owned and operated newspaper publications in Muskoka for many years, so she worked as a reporter at the outset of her working life. Writing is in her blood as well as art creation and collecting. Her writing skills came in handy for developing her own biography and descriptions of her jewelry for her website and other online shops. “I really enjoy writing about my own pieces,” she says. “It gives me the chance to provide background that I don’t usually get to provide in person, to explain the deeper meaning behind each piece.” Despite being married to photographer Scott Turnbull, Britton also photographs her own work. “Jewelry is hard to photograph,” she explains. “I’m very particular; I want things to look a certain way. I would get technical advice from Scott, but whenever he tried to help me, he would end up suggesting that I just do it myself,” she laughs. Britton draws inspiration from books she reads and anything that happens to catch her interest, especially if it’s related to the natural world. “I’m a ‘rabbit hole’ type of person,” she says. “I listen to a lot of CBC and anything that comes up that interests me, I’ll dig deeper and get inspired to create a piece around it.” Britton grew up in Bracebridge and then moved to British Columbia to study visual art at Simon Fraser University. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my art degree, so I came back and worked for the newspaper,” Britton explains. “I helped my mom with the accounting and learned how to operate the ﬁnancial side of the business. It was a nice break for my brain after years of conceptual study.” Britton’s mother was diagnosed with leukemia a few months later and passed away in 2005. at same year, the family business was sold to Metroland Media. Britton stayed on with Metroland but eventually the job lost its appeal. “I wasn’t really passionate about it because it wasn’t the family business anymore,” she explains. Britton’s creative muse was also calling to her, so she started looking into courses at the Haliburton School of Art and Design. “At that point, I had an interest in welding that I never really pursued,” she says. “But the timing wasn’t really right to take the blacksmithing course. I was always really interested in jewelry making, too, so I ended up taking that course, and I just loved it. It was perfect for me. I think because of the stage of grief I was at, I really needed to immerse myself into something productive.” And the rest is history, as Britton has been a jeweller ever since. Once an artist ﬁnds their niche, there’s no going back. But when the mood strikes her, she also enjoys encaustic painting, a technique of merging pigment with hot beeswax that dates to 100-300 AD. Le: Art and art history are passions Ted and Miranda Britton have shared for years. What started just for fun as sending real estate listings to each other became real when they sent each other the Manitoba St. building the gallery now occupies. Miranda Britton studied visual art at university but a course in jewelry making at the Haliburton School of Art and Design helped her to channel her grief when her mother passed away in 2005. September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45

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46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022“I love being in the gallery because it’s making me appreciate other art mediums again,” Britton shares. “Jewelry always is my main focus, but every now and then I get inspired to get back into painting.”e impetus for the Britton Gallery is something Ted and Miranda had talked about for many years. “My dad has been collecting art my whole life and always took us to galleries and studio tours growing up,” Britton explains. “So, he has an extensive art collection.” Ted Britton has a PhD in Medieval History and loves to research historical paintings and learn about art movements and periods. Art collecting is his passion. He loves watching auctions for when pieces come up for sale and acquiring new paintings for his personal collection. “My sister and I would also joke about how he should open his own art gallery,” Britton says. “But it’s something we have been seriously thinking about at the same time. My dad and I have been sending each other listings that came up for sale, mostly just for fun. But when this building came up, I sent it to him, and he said, ‘I was just about to send that one to you.’” Great minds think alike. Or perhaps it was kismet that a long time running “joke” in the family would ﬁnally come to fruition. After a renovation period to transform and prepare the space, the Britton Gallery was born. Art galleries are a slow growing business at the best of times, even without the looming waves of a global pandemic. But Britton has embraced the challenge of unpredictability. “I really enjoy discovering new up and coming artists,” she says. “e gallery is a mix of all diﬀerent types of art. I reach out to the ones I really love and see if they’re interested in selling with us. And artists reach out to us as well as we ﬁnd each other online. I think people enjoy that it’s eclectic, anything from Group of Seven to local painters, sculptors, and craftspeople. I try to use my best judgement as to what works together as well as my own personal tastes, so it’s a compromise between those two things. It’s a little bit of everything.” e gallery is also the ideal space to showcase Britton’s jewelry, because it delineates her work into an art exhibition rather than a jewelry store. She’s also transitioning to use the gallery as her main work studio. For many years, Britton worked at her home studio in Windermere, known as the Stable Studio. “I love working at home,” Without a doubt, the Britton Gallery will not be limited by any particular artistic speciality. Miranda Britton has plenty of ideas for how the gallery space could evolve. She plans on running jewelry making classes out of the gallery and selling coee while patrons browse.When exploring the gallery it’s apparent that Miranda Britton is most inspired by contemplating the interconnectedness of the environment around her. Nature is evident in the pieces she creates as well as the pieces she displays.

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she says. “But I have to accept that working in town will be a good change for me so that when I’m at home I can focus more on spending time with my kids. Also, my ideas come to me more when I’m out in the world, so I think it will be a good transition.” Britton has plenty of ideas for how the gallery space could evolve. She plans on running jewelry making classes out of the gallery and selling coﬀee while patrons browse. ere is studio and display space for her husband’s photography as well. Without a doubt, the Britton Gallery will not be limited by any particular artistic speciality. In the past year, Britton has also become involved with the Muskoka Arts and Crafts Show as a member of the board of directors. “We’re trying to attract more arts patrons to the area for the beneﬁt of all of us,” she explains. “It’s a great team of people, very positive and I feel energized by working with other artists in a way that’s symbiotic – we all help each other, rather than compete.” Navigating multiple disciplines in the art world is a delicate dance. Christmas is the busiest time for Britton’s jewelry-making business. She uses the rest of the winter to rest and spend time with her family. “Sometimes the ebb and ﬂow of the seasons can be a challenge,” she says. “Once you stop, it’s hard to get started again, and vice versa. But it comes with the territory.” Britton describes her own art as “a visual exploration of the many ways we converge with the natural world.” It’s apparent when exploring the gallery that she is most inspired by contemplating the interconnectedness of the environment around her. e imagery and concepts discovered by being in nature are what informs the pieces she creates as well as the pieces she displays. ere’s no telling what will spark Britton’s creative imagination next. Any item, whether natural or man-made, tangible or conceptual, can hold personal secrets or mysteries of existence. As she puts it, “objects are imbued with meaning by the stories they contain.”e love of intellectual understanding and research is something passed down from father to daughter, culminating in an art gallery that holds unlimited potential. As Ted and Miranda continue the family tradition of art appreciation, they have a foot in both sides of the art world – past and future. It seems the Britton family legacy has found a new home. As it was once the written word; it is now the painted canvas. The gallery is an eclectic mix, admits Miranda Britton. “Anything from Group of Seven to local painters, sculptors, and craspeople. I try to use my best judgement as to what works together as well as my own personal tastes, so it’s a compromise between those two things. It’s a little bit of everything.”RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIALINDUSTRIAL519.865.6209ARKLTD.CAGENERATORSSMART HOME SYSTEMSNEW CONSTRUCTIONLIGHTINGECRA/ESA #7010474With timeless styling and durable build, TOPO backpacks and bags will hold up in any environment and stand out in all of them.28 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGEAvailable atSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 47

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48 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022Horse stories run deeper and much longer than one might imagine in Muskoka’s history. Primitive “dawn horses” in early stages of evolution were native to North America some 40 million years ago. Archeological evidence, including campﬁre sites with intermingled horse bones, arrowheads and ashes, conﬁrm early horses encountered prehistoric humans. As millennia passed, horses were domesticated. By 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez landed 16 or 17 horses on North America’s mainland. After millions of years, globe-circling horses could again paw their ancestral soil. In the early 1800s, several generations of the Menominee family in north Muskoka brought horses east with them during their migration into new homelands. Settling at Lake Vernon the family, like a number of others, grew crops, ﬁshed and hunted, in addition to using their horses for work and travel. ey also bartered with Indigenous people in the area and, in the 1840s, sold several horses to early-arriving Euro-Canadians. eir little-known legacy of bringing the ﬁrst modern horses into Muskoka still echoes in the name of Menominee Lake draining into Lake of Bays. Muskoka could not have been developed the way it was, when it was, without the versatility of horses. Working “draft” horses pulled wagons, plows, boulders and logs. Various “carriage” horse breeds transported people in buggies, wagons and carriages, and continued through heavy winter snow pulling them in sleighs and wagons with runners. Many types of horses were saddled and mounted by proud riders for travel, exploration or enjoyment. For speed, racing horses would become prized possessions, including “trotters” who pulled sulkies at Muskoka’s fall fair tracks. Races continued on frozen Bracebridge Bay during winter months when the racers were shod with vulcanized rubber horseshoes. Article by J. Patrick BoyerPhotograph: Gary Long CollectionThis sturdy capstan ra, operated by a horse walking in circles, progresses slowly down Hollow Lake – the way Muskoka lumber companies moved log booms before the era of steam-tugs. The horse-powered machine advances the heavy weight by rotating a vertical drum, at the centre of which an upright windlass winds around it a cable tied to the boom.The brick buildings and utility lines of downtown Bracebridge are characteristic of a Muskoka era when horses enjoyed earthen roadways and people used wooden sidewalks. Photograph: Boyer Family Archives

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Early settlers readily walked for days to buy or sell goods, attend municipal meetings or for mail, covering distances most people today would not contemplate without a car. Muskokans, who served as their own beasts of burden, wanted horses and those with horses always wanted better ones. Stallions arrived at Huntsville’s train station from Western Canada to be broken (accustomed to saddle and bridle) and trained at Buckhorn Ranch and to improve the stock of horses in the district. Similarly, on a farm near Rosseau, farmers could attend and watch from the bleachers to evaluate the performance of diﬀerent well-bred steeds. en, two hired-hands took selected stud stallions to lakeside farms by bush trails, often away days on end making these rounds.Pioneers learned necessary farrier skills to shoe their horses’ hooves, keeping the horses ready for work. Many fashioned horseshoes at a small smithy on their own farm where they also did other metal work, fashioning farm implements and household items. However, to prepare horses for winter’s hard bush-camp work, most took them to a full-time blacksmith shop for the real deal. Horses at work in the bush bore the full weight of Muskoka forestry, dragging huge hardwood logs out of the woods. In deep winter, horses pulled water wagons over roads so ice would let sleigh runners under tons of logs slide along more readily; the earliest snow plows. ey powered jammers to hoist logs onto sleighs and hauled immense loads onto frozen lakes or deposited them on riverbanks to await spring freshets and log drives. In any season, their tasks continued. Aﬂoat on wooden structures, horses became part of downriver drives, for example, powering winches. At the mills sawing lumber and shingles, horses pulled loads, moved equipment and powered wheels. Horses valued by pioneers in Muskoka, worked hard at the raw edge of “settling” a wilderness of trees, rocks, swamps, rivers and lakes. ey helped settlers operate in a bushland without roads, then provided the power to build primitive ones, then with improved equipment, even better ones. e early colonization road from Gravenhurst west to Bala, running along the south end of Lake Muskoka, was no more than a rough trail, which was the case for roads in most of Muskoka for a long time. “It was impassable in summer except on foot or horseback,” reported historian Joyce Schell, “and usable by horse-drawn sleigh in winter only when packed with snow.” Settlers ignored the road and instead built homes by the lake because that was easier for drawing water, more pleasing to the eye, and far better for travel. “ey went everywhere by boat in summer, and over the ice in winter by horse-drawn sleighs, on snowshoes or skates, living almost as islanders,” explained Schell. In 1861, the ﬁrst Christian religious service in central Muskoka took place when Methodist minister Rev. J.J. Kerr at Orillia heard of a tiny settlement at North Falls and came by horseback through the bush to ﬁnd the isolated folks. Methodist circuit riders became renowned for making their rounds, but they had to be able horsemen with sturdy steeds.Similarly, horses were integral to frontier healthcare, whether saddled and carrying a doctor or harnessed and pulling a sleigh or buggy. Dr. John McRuer of Huntsville, awakened by a desperate caller pounding on his door late at night, hitched up his mare and drove by moonlight across frozen lakes to a log shanty where he saved a life. In Bracebridge, Dr. Peter McGibbon stabled his ﬁne Dan Patch horses beside his home on Manitoba Street, handy at all times to take the doctor to the next medical emergency, wherever the winding roads of central Muskoka led. From 1870 until 1885, Muskoka’s ﬁrst organized transportation system with horses, the Harvie Royal Mail Coachline, ruled the road north from Orillia through Washago, Severn Bridge, north to McCabe’s Landing (Gravenhurst) and on further to all Muskoka settlements along the colonization roads. Owned and operated by J.T. Harvie and his brothers, the coachline had hundreds of horses in teams, dozens of livery stables, blacksmiths, teamsters, wagons, coaches and sleighs. ey moved mail, parcels, passengers, freight, foodstuﬀs and barrels of whisky. Once steamships and trains became part of Muskoka’s transport network, it fell to Muskoka’s horses to make the system actually work by integrating the hundreds of trans-shipment points. e system laid the basis for a new and unexpected vacation economy. Teams, teamsters and wagons awaited at train stations, wharfs and resorts to ferry trunks and supplies, vacationers and campers. Back and forth, horses provided reliable, ﬂexible, custom-ﬁt connections between trains and boats, vacationers and shippers, all who had ﬁxed schedules, heavy packages and time-sensitive supplies and reservations.Muskoka’s horse population dwelt in towns and villages as well as the district’s rural sections. A laneway to the back of most Clarence Green and his workhorse with their general purpose freight wagon, on the road from Bracebridge Bay, contend with the era of automobiles. Green and his horses were still plying their trade in the early 1950s. Photograph: Boyer Family ArchivesSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49

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50 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022homes led to a barn or stable, while hitching stones or posts were often available on the street to tether the reins of visiting horses. As towns developed, horses helped local dairies and bakeries provide delivery services, most knowing the route of customers so well they stopped and started up without command. Some were still operating well after the Second World War. Over the decades when ice-boxes provided refrigeration for food in homes, restaurants, resorts and cottages, horses again were indispensable. From frozen lakes and rivers, horses hauled thousands of large blocks of cut ice ashore and then to sheds to which they’d earlier pulled wagon loads of sawdust from lumber mills to act as insulation. en, throughout the warm and hot months from spring to fall, horses completed the cycle by delivering ice to customers – a service that also continued well through the 20th century.Times change more than humans do. In the 1890s, Muskoka Magistrate James Boyer adjudicated many cases arising from human-and-horse relations. In January 1895, Jacob Winch and George Henry Taylor were each driving their teams with sleighs along the town line between Draper and Macaulay townships, Taylor’s horses pulling a load of logs, Winch’s sleigh empty. What ensued was classic road-rage, and Winch was sentenced to a $10 ﬁne plus $4.25 costs, or two months in Bracebridge jail with hard labour. e following winter, James Fitzmaurice was charged with “furious driving upon a public highway,” his team tearing through Bracebridge like runaways. Despite accusations young Fitzmaurice was whipping his horses, a witness countered he witnessed the lad pulling on the reins to stop them and that “it was another horse coming alongside that caused them to run.” e case was dismissed. Later that year, William Hannon the Elder brought charges against William Atkinson for willfully obstructing a public highway in Stephenson Township with his wagon and team of horses, preventing Hannon from passing in his horse and buggy. Each climbed down onto the roadway, one charged the other with a pitchfork. Fighting ensued. is road-rage episode led to ﬁnes and costs, or failing payment jail time with hard labour, and both men also had to post a $200 recognizance to keep the peace for the coming year. On December 28, 1897, Peter Sword was convicted and ﬁned for “furious driving” on a Macaulay road. ese cases kept coming. Now such familiar behaviours involve humans and motor vehicles. Horses have been conscripted for military service ever since warriors around the globe learned to ride them. Even in the 20th century when eight of the world’s empires, with their colonies in tow, descended into global warfare in 1914, horses still had full roles to play. In Muskoka, Lieutenant-Colonel Donald M. Grant of Huntsville and his fellow oﬃcers raised the 122nd Overseas Battalion during the summer of 1916, riding their horses around the district with uniformed recruits marching on foot in a training and enrolment manoeuvre. Overseas, a number of Muskokans were in cavalry units, while Muskoka’s forestry soldiers worked with horses just as they did at home, except for having to down saws and pick up riﬂes at critical intervals during the conﬂict. By 1921, when almost every Canadian farmer was a horseman, the country’s horse population stood at 3.5 million. Muskoka’s many farms, sawmills, logging operations, public works construction projects, livery services, work wagons, coaches and sleighs still largely depended on Muskoka’s 3,000 horses and their harnessed power.Towns depended on horses for a range of municipal work, from watering dusty roads in summer, to plowing snow in winter, and even pulling the ﬁre wagon with its hoses, ladders and ﬁreﬁghting brigade. For years, intensely competitive annual tournaments pitted the horses and ﬁremen of Parry Sound, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Midland and Penetanguishene against each other. e program drew crowds of cheering townsfolk in the host community.However, the inevitable transition from Fred Morris’ blacksmith shop in downtown Bracebridge, at the south end of the main street, was busy in 1910 with town and country horses getting new shoes. The need could arise at any time of day or night, so Morris’ house was conveniently next door. Blacksmith Jack Oleson made eld calls when a workhorse needed to be re-shod. Holding down the metal rim of a portable anvil by standing on it with both feet, he holds the horseshoe in place with his le hand, hammering with the right. His le, to nish the job, awaits on the ground. Photograph: Boyer Family ArchivesPhotograph: Bob Henderson photo, courtesy of Edith Oleson Smith

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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 & Cottage705.645.2443705.789.9259horsepower to mechanical propulsion was underway, challenging horses, their drivers and motor vehicle operators alike. When horses were replaced by motorized ﬁre brigades, the tournaments became a thing of the past. In 1933, Bracebridge bought a ﬁre truck and sold the town’s handsome team, Rock and Tom, to Captain Wes Archer. He took them to his Browning Island farm so they could continue productive work lives.Despite changes, horses continued to provide sport and entertainment. Fall fairs hosted by Muskoka’s dozen diﬀerent agricultural societies included horse judging and equestrian competitions, from draft horses pulling heavy weights to lighter steeds jumping hurdles, circling barrels, and racing – despite laws restricting horse races. Money being bet on the outcome was illegal at the time, which meant such events were billed innocently as just “speeding in the ring.” Farmers and most everyone else enjoyed watching the horses, leaning against their stalls, patting their heads and inhaling the countryside aromas. A generally more genteel example of humans with horses was provided at a number of Muskoka summer resorts which maintained stables and riding trails for their guests as part of Muskoka’s well-rounded vacation experience. Farms in many corners of the district had horses that holidayers and local townsfolk alike could saddle up and ride for very reasonable fees. Today’s horse-related operations in Muskoka, including work on farms, at riding centres and at equestrian events, remain a colourful facet of the ever-evolving relationship between man and beast. e unheralded horse deserves much greater recognition for its role in making the Muskoka experience what it became.Horse racing at the 1920 Bracebridge Fall Fair included fast trotters ying around the track pulling light-weight sulkies and their drivers while spectators xate on the drama. Above, in the background, the houses in view are on treeless Church Street. Photograph: Boyer Family ArchivesSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 51

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52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022The tradition of the fall fair is as old as Muskoka itself. Across Ontario, fall fairs have maintained the tradition of bringing the community together and celebrating the year’s harvest before the long winter sets in.Muskoka’s fall fairs mark the onset of autumn with a variety of diﬀerent displays and activities. Bracebridge, Huntsville and Severn Bridge all celebrate the occasion with displays of the year’s best oﬀerings in livestock and agriculture, as well as arts and crafts and baking competitions. In the village of Rosseau, it’s all about the pumpkins.“ere was a period where we really didn’t have much going on here in Rosseau in the fall,” says Susanne Powell, who was one of a handful of local residents who helped launch the Rosseau Pumpkin Festival in 2012. “ere are a lot of communities who have pumpkin festivals and we thought it would be something really fun for people to do while they’re closing up the cottage.”Article by Matt Driscoll / Photography by Tomasz Szumski

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Like many of the small villages in the area, Rosseau is home to a small permanent population but its numbers swell with seasonal residents and visitors during the summer and fall. Rosseau lies at the border of the District of Muskoka and the Township of Seguin. With a picturesque waterfront on the north shore of Lake Rosseau, the village hosts an extremely popular farmers market on Fridays through the summer months. Many of the vendors from the farmers market will also be taking part in this year’s pumpkin festival, which always occurs on the Saturday of anksgiving weekend.Since its inception in 2012, the Rosseau Pumpkin Festival has grown by leaps and bounds. e marker of just how much the festival had grown was the attendance of more than 5,000 people during the last event. “I’ll bet we’ll have even more than that this year,” says Sue Margeson, the committee chair for this year’s edition of the festival. e popular event had been canceled the past two years due to pandemic restrictions, and Margeson feels there’s likely a great deal of pent-up demand to gather together as a community. “If I had a dime for every time someone asked me what’s going on with the pumpkin festival, I’d be rich,” laughs Margeson.e Rosseau Pumpkin Festival has evolved into much more than a tourist draw in the shoulder season. It’s become something of a homecoming, drawing residents and cottagers, both current and former, to partake in the festivities.“I think another part of the reason it’s so successful is that it’s something completely free to do with your entire family,” says Margeson. “Even for families that might not have a ton of money, it’s a day where parents can just say, ‘yes, yes, yes’ to their kids.”e festival activities include games and inﬂatables for kids, live music and all types of diﬀerent vendors. e annual slapshot competition is a favorite for young and old alike and, sometimes, an expert is on hand to Top: Since its inception in 2012, the Rosseau Pumpkin Festival has grown by leaps and bounds. Bottom: More than 5,000 people were in attendance during the last event, enjoying a wide variety of vendors and fun for the whole family like pumpkin painting.September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53

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54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022provide a few tips. “Everybody loves the slapshot competition,” explains Margeson. “Eric Lindros has a cottage in the area and there was one year he came to check out the pumpkin festival and decided he was going to help out with the slapshot competition. ere are actually a lot of retired NHLers who cottage in the area and you’ll sometimes see them at the festival. It’s one of the little things that makes it so special.”Another popular guest is Paula Banks, a well-known local photographer who will be setting up a booth to display her artwork and books. Sarah Ditchburn descends from one of the original families to settle in Muskoka and her last name is recognizable as the family who formerly produced the renowned Ditchburn boats. As a Muskoka historian and author, Ditchburn will also be on hand to take guests on a journey to the past. Of course, what would a pumpkin festival be without pumpkins? Pumpkins proliferate on the day of the festival, and children are encouraged to paint their own pumpkin and take it with them. Margeson explains that a great deal of research goes into ﬁnding the best pumpkins when buying them by the hundreds. e majority of the pumpkins are purchased from a source in Parry Sound, but others are collected from a garden centre and nursery in Huntsville. e larger, specialty pumpkins are sourced with the help of the Rosseau Horticultural Society.When the festival ends, the organizers have to contend with the disposal of leftover pumpkins. However, they’ve found a novel solution that supports a local wildlife sanctuary. Margeson’s son George, a Rosseau Lake College alumni who decided to stay in the area upon graduation, helps collect all of the unwanted pumpkins and ships them to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. He also goes around the village after Halloween and does the same again.“Apparently the animals there just love them,” says Margeson. As with many events, it takes the entire village coming together to make the pumpkin festival such a hit. e festival is powered by the energy of volunteers who begin Pumpkins are the feautre of the festival and a great deal of research goes into nding the best pumpkins.Aer the event leovers are donated to the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.For details visit www.hospicemuskoka.comHospice MuskokaWere Ready To Fly.metalli bludonate$20+metalli silverdonate$50+metalli goldonate$100+glitter bludonate$150+Virtual Butterﬂ y ReleaseWE ARE EXCITED TO OFFER A YEAR-ROUND BUTTERFLY CAMPAIGN.BUTTERFLIES WILL BE ABLE TO ‘FLY’ ANNUALLY UNTIL APRIL 1ST OF EACH YEAR! Everyone can celebrate special anniversaries of their loved ones by purchasing a personalized butterﬂ y at any time throughout the year.

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planning well in advance of the event, work tirelessly throughout the day of, and then help with the cleanup afterwards. e pumpkin festival organizers are thankful for receiving strong support from virtually all of the businesses in the village and many more in the broader Muskoka area. e Village of Rosseau places its own distinctive twist on the traditional fall fair with the Rosseau Pumpkin Festival. It’s a fall event you don’t want to miss. If you’d like to be a part of the volunteer team for the Rosseau Pumpkin Festival, contact Margeson at suemargeson@live.ca. The Rosseau Pumpkin Festival has evolved into much more than a tourist draw in the shoulder season. It's become something of a homecoming, drawing residents and cottagers, both current and former, to partake in the festivities.Muskoka’s fall fairs mark the onset of autumn with a variety of dierent displays and activities. For Rosseau, the Pumpkin Festival takes place on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. oxtonguecraf tcabin.com Fine Canadian Craft Original Paintings See website for Fall hours1073 Fox Point Rd Dwight, Lake of Bays705.635.1602Driftwood SwanNoble NeedhamFINE IRISH AND SCOTTISH WOOLLENS28 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGENow Available in MuskokaSeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55

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56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022Whats HappenedMuskoka Marathon set for October 1One of Ontario’s most scenic marathon races is back in Bracebridge this fall. e 2022 Muskoka Marathon will take place on Saturday, October 1st, with the route set along Santa’s Village Road. e race features 5 km, 10 km, half marathon and full marathon distances, and is also a qualiﬁer for the world-famous Boston Marathon. is year the marathon will feature a complete shutdown of the road.e inaugural race was launched in 2020 when local business owner and events organizer Jed Corbeil decided to set himself a lofty goal to mark a major milestone.“I turned 40 in 2020 and I really wanted to set a big goal for myself,” said Corbeil. “It occurred to me that Muskoka doesn’t have a marathon and I thought you know what I’m going to have my own marathon.”rough a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of the organizers and a small army of volunteers, the Muskoka Marathon launched in 2020 with a modest ﬁeld before growing to almost 400 racers per day in 2021.e event has grown rapidly in popularity in a relatively short time. e 2021 edition saw more than 117 runners beat the Boston Marathon qualifying standard, up from 34 the previous year.More information about the event is available by looking up Muskoka Marathon on Facebook.District makes nal decision on Minett developmentAfter more than a decade of debate surrounding development regulations, the road appears to be clearing for the development of just over 2,000 new units in Minett. In July, the District Of Muskoka oﬃcially adopted an amendment to Muskoka’s Oﬃcial Plan. Under the amendment, the number of new units will be limited to 2,020.A previous Oﬃcial Plan amendment (OPA) was adopted by the Township of Muskoka Lakes in January 2007 and ultimately approved with modiﬁcations by the Ontario Municipal Board (now the Ontario Land Tribunal) in 2008. is OPA re-designated Minett from a “Community” to a “Resort Village” designation, in recognition of its historical land uses and destination character.e Township of Muskoka Lakes passed an Interim Control By-law (ICBL) on May 18, 2018. e purpose of the ICBL was to restrict development within the Minett area to allow time for appropriate studies to be undertaken as well as provide an opportunity to examine the applicability of existing land use policies for Minett. As such, in June 2018, reports were presented to the councils of both the Township of Muskoka Lakes and the District of Muskoka regarding a budget, timeline and overall process to review both the township and district Oﬃcial Plan policies that apply to the resort village of Minett. Following approval by both councils, district staﬀ began the process of establishing the skills-based Minett Joint Policy Review Steering Committee.In January 2020, the Committee presented ﬁnal recommendations to both Councils, which were reconﬁrmed in June 2020 upon receipt of ﬁnal reports from two independent studies that it had commissioned.As a result of a planning process undertaken by the District and Township between 2018 and 2021, Minett is planned to continue its evolution into a four-season tourist commercial and recreational resort area that includes permanent and seasonal residential uses, with all development ultimately intended to be on municipal water services and municipal sewer services. Conservancy launches shing line recycling programe Muskoka Conservancy is hoping a new program can help anglers protect the animals and environment they treasure. In early August the conservancy launched a new pilot program with the goal of recycling ﬁshing lines.“Improperly disposed ﬁshing line is a problem for birds, turtles and ﬁsh because when they encounter it, they can become tangled up and get injured or drowned,” said Ayden Veitch, program co-ordinator at Muskoka Conservancy. “is program will help prevent discarded ﬁshing line from entering the water in the ﬁrst place.”Veitch says it’s estimated there are approximately 1.5 million anglers in Ontario and much of the ﬁshing line they use is disposed of improperly.During the year, the old, worn out or tangled ﬁshing line will be collected in distinctive white recycling tubes in three locations. At the end of the year, Muskoka Conservancy will collect the ﬁshing line and send it to Berkley Fishing for recycling. Once The 2022 Muskoka Marathon will feature 5 km, 10 km, half marathon, and full marathon distances and is also a qualier for the world famous Boston Marathon. Aer more than a decade of a debate surrounding development regulations, the District of Muskoka has amended the Ocial Plan to allow for the development of just over 2,000 new units in Minett. Photograph: Muskoka Marathon/Josianne MasseauPhotograph: Muskoka Lakes Association

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Berkley Fishing receives the ﬁshing line, they melt it down into plastic pellets and turn it into new plastic products.e program was oﬃcially launched on August 4 at the wharf at Bracebridge Bay Park, a popular ﬁshing location. e launch was attended by Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Graydon Smith and Bracebridge Deputy Mayor Steve Clement.Two other Muskoka locations will be a part of the pilot – the George Road boat launch and the boat launch at the Gravenhurst Wharf. If the pilot project is successful, Muskoka Conservancy would like to expand the program across all of Muskoka.Health Units looks to bring down number of ATV injuires Muskokans love to hit the trails on their all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) but the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is encouraging riders to make safety a priority.“ATVs can be an exciting way to explore the outdoors, especially during the summer months,” said Mia Brown, manager of SMDHU’s substance use and injury prevention program. “However, as with any motorized vehicle, there is a serious risk of injury, if it is operated incorrectly and safety precautions have not been taken.”In 2020, there were 439 emergency department (ED) visits for ATV-related injuries across Simcoe-Muskoka, accounting for almost 75 per cent of all oﬀ-road motor vehicle injury-related ED visits. at same year, the ATV-related injury ED visit rate was 78.9 per 100,000 population in Simcoe and Muskoka, about 80 per cent higher than the rate of 43.9 per 100,000 for Ontario overall.Simcoe-Muskoka’s ATV-related ED visits rose sharply by 30 per cent in 2020 in comparison to 2019, a surge likely linked to changes in recreational use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to 2019, ATV-related ED visits had been consistently declining in the region.e health unit says there are many things individuals can do to help increase safety and decrease hospital visits.e health unit urges residents to apply the following safety tips that can reduce the risk of ATV accidents and injuries:• Take an ATV training course, such as from the Canadian ATV Safety Institute.• Wear protective gear every ride, including eye protection, gloves, boots, long-sleeved shirt and long pants.• Wear a helmet that is up to the standard recommended for motorcycles.• Control your speed. Excessive speed is a major risk factor for ATV-related deaths. • Always ride sober. Do not drive after consuming alcohol or drugs.• Follow manufacturer instructions for proper ATV use and maintenance.“ATVs are powerful machines that require strength and skill,” said Brown. “Children lack the knowledge, development, and skills to safely operate these vehicles and that is why the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that ATV drivers should be 16 years or older.”In Ontario, ATV drivers must be at least 12 years of age unless they are under direct adult supervision. However, drivers must be at least 16 years of age and have a valid Ontario driver’s license to drive on or across a public road.District Chair John Klinck will not seek re-electionIn early August the Muskoka Conservancy launched a new pilot program with the goal of recycling shing lines across three locations in Muskoka.Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is encouraging ATV riders to make safety a priority.Feature by Matt DriscollDistrict of Muskoka chair John Klinck is not seeking re-election aer three decades in local politics. Photograph: District of MuskokaPhotograph: Elievan JuniorPhotograph: Muskoka ConservancyAfter nearly three decades in local politics, District of Muskoka chair John Klinck is calling it a career. In July, Klinck issued a public statement saying he will not be seeking re-election this fall.In an email to the district council advising them of his decision, Klinck stated that he considers the opportunity to have served with them as Muskoka’s District Chair “one of his life’s greatest blessings.” He added, “I shall be forever grateful to you for the honour and privilege of serving with you and working with our exceptional district staﬀ to the beneﬁt of our Muskoka. It has been a remarkably enlightening and personally enriching experience!”Klinck served as a Gravenhurst councillor from 1994 until 2000 when he was elected mayor of Gravenhurst, a position he held until 2010. He was selected as district chair in 2010 and has held the position ever since.“To the thousands of Muskoka ratepayers I have met over the 28 years of my public service, thank you for the kindness, guidance, and encouragement you have consistently provided,” said Klinck. “It is my hope that in some small way my service has added value to your vision of the Muskoka legacy we all manage together.”Nominations for the oﬃce of the district chair for the 2022-2026 term are now open. e district chair will be elected by the newly formed Muskoka district council, following the municipal election in October, at its inaugural meeting to be held on Monday, December 5, 2022. September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57

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58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022Article by K.M. Wehrstein / Photography by Tomasz SzumskiThe essence of autumn iscooking with pumpkin and squashFall is almost here and grocery stores will soon be full of fall colours. e bright orange, green, red and yellow abundance of pumpkins and squash are a necessary addition to your kitchen. Are you looking for more ways to taste the essence of autumn than good old pumpkin pie and squash soup? Come on into the kitchens of some of Muskoka’s greatest chefs!Chef David Friesen, the owner of three restaurants in Muskoka including e Oven Wood-ﬁred Pizza in Bracebridge, is a big fan of the season. “I love fall cooking!” shares Friesen. “Pumpkins are plentiful, so that’s what we’re using. I like to feature as much local and seasonal as I can. I work closely with all my farmers.”Born on Vancouver Island, Friesen began his chef’s apprenticeship in Lake Louise, then got to see Eddie the Eagle and the Jamaican bobsled team while working the Calgary ’88 winter Olympics. Moving to the GTA in 1992, If they’re not already part of your pantry, pumpkins and squash are a necessary addition to your kitchen. Versatile and varied, fall squash bring avour and colour to your next meal – or dessert!Chef David Friesen, owner of three restaurants in Muskoka including The Oven Wood-red Pizza, is a big fan of fall. He shares a seasonal twist on an existing recipe with his Fall Harvest Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Icing.

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he went through several chef positions including a two-year partnership with renowned chef Mark McEwan, and a stint at the Courtyard Market Grill where his oﬃce was a historic jail cell.Yearning for escape when their daughter Madeleine was born, Friesen and his wife moved to Muskoka in 1999. He worked at the Hemingway-themed Compleat Angler in Port Carling and several other eateries over the years including Club One in Bracebridge, which became Riverwalk. He purchased e Oven in 2018.Like many dishes, Friesen’s pumpkin cupcakes (available at e Oven) are derived from an existing recipe, adapted for the season. e icing-heaped cupcakes have a lovely golden colour and a delightful, moist, pumpkin pie-like spice taste, with a slight citrus tanginess somehow conjured up by the cream cheese, cinnamon and pumpkin in combination.From dessert we’ll go backwards to a soup that Chef Jeﬀ Suddaby, owner of 3 Guys and a Stove in Huntsville, hasn’t been able to take oﬀ the menu for the 26 years of the restaurant’s existence. “We’d have everyone calling and complaining,” Suddaby says.3 Guys, as locals aﬀectionately call it, really was started by a partnership of three guys in May 1996, but Suddaby eventually bought the other two guys out. “What’s interesting about our age is that we had families in who had these little kids, and got to know them,” says Suddaby. “Now these kids are adults, bringing their children.”Suddaby’s cooking philosophy is locavorist. “Today’s diet is all about fresh vegetables, farm to ﬁeld,” Suddaby explains. “With a zucchini from California, you have to put in ﬂavour. Here, the farmer picks it ripe on Tuesday and delivers it on Wednesday.” Fruit and veggie ﬂavour is always best, Suddaby avows, ripened on the vine.But what makes cooking truly exciting for him is understanding the history and culture of diﬀerent culinary traditions. “You have to know where those cuisines came from, how they developed; then it’s a matter of taking two cultures and blending them to make some interesting food.”For example, squash soup is traditionally very popular in Canada, especially in the fall. “I wanted to keep that tradition because I love a squash soup – but I wanted to introduce something,” explains Suddaby. “Curry adds an interesting ﬂavour.” Suddaby’s father, a farmer whose kids Fall Harvest Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Icing – David FriesenPreheat oven to 350° F. In a bowl, mix together:Ingredients1½ cups all-purpose ﬂour 1 tsp baking powder½ tsp baking soda ¾ tsp salt1¾ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp ground ginger½ tsp ground nutmeg In another bowl, whisk together:1 cup pumpkin purée 21 grams eggs, beaten¼ cup apple juice1¼ cups sugar½ cup vegetable oilMethod• Add wet ingredients into the dry and fold with a rubber spatula until combined. Place 12 even portions into paper-cup-lined muﬃn tin. • Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes. Test by inserting a toothpick; when it comes out clean, they’re done. • Let cool slightly, remove from pan and place on a rack to cool. Meanwhile, prepare the icing: Ingredients½ lb. cream cheese, softened½ cup unsalted butter, softened3 cups powdered sugar½ Tbsp cinnamon Method• In a stand-up mixer, whip cream cheese and butter using a paddle attachment until light and ﬂuﬀy. • Add sugar one cup at a time, being careful not to let sugar ﬂy out of bowl. • Using a piping bag, decorate the tops of the cooled cupcakes.Yield: 1 dozen.Chef ’s Tips• 21 grams of eggs? Yes, weigh the beaten egg for the precise measure baking requires.• Pumpkin puree should be store bought or from pie pumpkins, not jack o’ lantern pumpkins, for good ﬂavour.• Use unsalted butter. “Anything pre-seasoned I can’t use because I can’t do my own seasoning,” Friesen explains.Chef Je Suddaby, owner of 3 Guys and a Stove, divulges the recipe for a soup he hasn’t been able to take o the menu forthe 26 years of the restaurant’s existence. September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 59

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60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022Curried Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Soup – Jeff SuddabyIngredients1 tsp canola oil1 tsp garlic, minced1 cup red onion, ﬁnely chopped4 cups vegetable stock (store-bought powder or canned stock can be used, preferably without MSG)1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped in to ½ inch cubes2 cups pumpkin, cooked and mashed1½ tsp medium curry powder (or ¾ tsp each cumin and turmeric)1 tsp cilantro, chopped, plus 5 sprigs reserved for garnish3 Tbsp honey¼ tsp ginger, ground1 cup 2% milk (can be substituted with soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, etc.)Method• Begin by heating a non-stick frying pan. Add oil and follow with onion and garlic; saute until onion becomes transparent, about 5 minutes. • In a separate pot, combine the stock, sweet potato, pumpkin, curry, cilantro, honey and ginger. Cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 40 minutes. • Puree all the prepared ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth. • Slowly add enough milk to achieve desired consistency, usually about ¾ cup.Chef ’s Tips• For the chunky version: when pureeing, don’t include the sweet potato cubes or chopped onions (and garlic).• If you like it spicier, add cayenne. If milder, select a mild curry.• “Before the milk is added, you can store the soup in your refrigerator for about four days,” Suddaby says. “Which is nice for a dinner party, because you can prepare the dish in advance, simplifying your evening.”• “I like to serve the soup in heated bowls and garnish with the additional chopped cilantro, giving the dish the simple and pleasant presentation it deserves,” says Suddaby.Pumpkin Spice Crème Anglaise – Gus Gulmar Ingredients500 grams whipping cream 500 grams 2% milk 10 egg yolks, beaten 100 grams brown sugar 80 grams maple syrup 1 Tbsp vanilla extract 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon ½ Tbsp ground ginger ½ tsp ground nutmeg½ tsp ground cloves 8 slices of thick cut brioche, diced into ½-inch cubes 1 cup acorn squash, diced into ½-inch cubes ¼ cup maple syrup Method• In a mixing bowl, combine the cream, milk, brown sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract and spices, and whisk to mix. • In a saucepan, bring the mixture to a simmer on low heat. • Once it starts bubbling, add half of it little by little with a ladle to the egg yolks, stirring constantly with a whisk (this is called tempering). • Combine with remaining mixture in the pot and cook on medium heat for 5 more minutes while stirring slowly all the time. • Once cooked, transfer to a clean mixing bowl and reserve.• Soak the bread thoroughly in some of the warm crème anglaise, then add to the rest. • Place the mixture in a greased oven-safe baking dish.• Glaze the squash cubes with the syrup and bake on a sheet tray at 400° F until the squash has some colour and is soft enough that it can be picked up with a fork, about 15 minutes. • Top the bread pudding mix with the glazed squash. • Bake at 350° F for 25 minutes or until golden brown.• Drizzle with a little extra maple syrup and garnish with squash, microgreens, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, etc. • Serve with ice cream, vanilla chantilly or cold whipped cheesecake.Chef ’s Tips• Why is tempering required? So, the dish doesn’t turn into scrambled eggs.• Here too, 2% can be replaced by other types of milk including non-dairy.• If using the same oven to bake at 400 then 350, open the door for a bit to let out the heat.

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grew up on pumpkins and squashes grown on the family’s land, enhanced only with a little honey, was mind-boggled at the curry idea. But, Suddaby says, “at little touch of Indian cuisine could enhance a Canadian classic.” And it does.is soup has layers of ﬂavour and texture, and that’s what makes it. You expect smoothness all through, the standard for opaque soups, but then your teeth hit a morsel of sweet potato or a bit of onion and along with the change in texture there is a burst of a diﬀerent but harmonious ﬂavour. Cilantro-haters, don’t worry, it’s not overwhelming at all. It blends in with the other ﬂavours.Suddaby published this recipe in one of his three cookbooks, the latest of which you can buy at the restaurant. He also sells jars of the soup there, minus the milk for preservation reasons. Just heat it up in a pot and add milk gradually as per the recipe.Deerhurst Resort Executive Chef Gus Gulmar, who oversees all culinary activities at the resort and its four restaurants – Eclipse, Compass, Maple and e Antler – came from his native Hungary to Canada in 1998, then moved to the USA. For two years a culinary snowbird, summering at Deerhurst and wintering in Florida or South Carolina, he moved permanently to Huntsville after meeting his wife, fellow Deerhurst chef Rebecca Pacheco, whose “Two Tone Soup” you might remember from last year.“I always like to play with thoughts, and especially presentation,” Gulmar says. “Even when I was a child, even chicken soup had to be something diﬀerent. I took pictures of food.” at drive for something diﬀerent makes for some oﬀ-the-wall food ideas that Deerhurst guests have learned to love.“Two of my favourite vegetables are pumpkin and squash, because you can do so many things with them – soups, salads, desserts, main courses, sides,” Gulmar enthuses. “People love them, especially in the fall season when they remind us of holidays approaching.”On e Antler dessert menu for fall, along with beetroot cheesecake (beet-haters, you’ll still love it – trust me!) is another innovative treat. “Everyone loves bread pudding,” Gulmar says. “Let’s twist it with some acorn squash.” Pumpkin pie spiced, topped with tender morsels of squash and served with some exquisite accoutrements, this is bread pudding on steroids. It warms the palate and is not overly sweet, except where your tongue happens into golden drops of maple syrup.Also from Chef Gulmar comes a salad ﬁt to serve as an entrée, due to its warmth and its oﬀ-the-beaten-path ingredient. “Duck is one of my favourites,” Gulmar says, “and always a favourite here in fall with venison and other game.” Planned for e Antler’s fall menu, this dish is such a joyful riot of delectable tastes and textures, your tastebuds will dance. And, it includes both pumpkin and squash in it too.Famous for tarts, pies, pastries,breads & authentic Italian pizzas6 Bay Street, downtown Baysville705-224-TARThumble_pie@live.caDeerhurst Resort Executive Chef Gus Gulmar creatively plays with food by devising innovative pairings, like the pumpkin pie spiced, acorn squash bread pudding presented here. When you shop in our store...you’re supporting the work of local artisans, writers, craftspeople and other Muskoka businesses.28 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGESeptember 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61

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YOUR GUIDE TO SERVICES AND RESOURCESDIRECTORYWarm Pumpkin and Squash Salad with Roasted Duck Breast – Gus GulmarIngredients½ lb. pumpkin, cleaned and diced into ¾-inch pieces½ lb. acorn squash, cleaned and diced into ¾-inch pieces2 oz maple syrup5 Tbsp olive oil1 cup red quinoa4 cups water or vegetable stock2 boneless duck breasts, skin on¼ orange worth of orange or other citrus zest½ a shallot, minced1 sprig fresh thyme, ﬁnely choppedSalt and freshly-ground pepper to taste2 to 3 big handfuls of baby arugula¼ cup roasted pumpkin seeds4 oz crumbled goat cheese¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)Method• Preheat oven to 375° F. • In a mixing bowl, mix pumpkin, acorn squash, maple syrup, olive oil and salt to taste. • Transfer to a baking tray and place in the oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and transfer to a mixing bowl.• Boil water with a little salt or vegetable stock to cook red quinoa until it’s open or crunchy enough to eat, about 15 minutes. • Strain, cool and add to the roasted pumpkin and squash mixture. Set aside.• Preheat frying pan on medium heat. • Score the skin on the duck breasts gently, halfway through the fat to the meat (about ¼ inch deep). • Place breasts skin side down in pan to slowly render the fat. • Add citrus zest, minced shallot, thyme and a little salt and pepper. Once the skin is golden brown and crispy, almost like bacon, ﬂip breasts to meat side down for a couple minutes to sear, then place on a resting plate. If using meat thermometer, 125-130° F is the optimal internal temperature.• To serve, preheat a pan or a wok on medium heat, add pumpkin, squash and quinoa mixture with an ounce of olive oil, just until it’s warm to touch, and toss arugula in gently. • Portion salad onto four plates and drizzle with 1oz. of shallots vinaigrette each. • Add an ounce of goat cheese, roasted pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries if desired. • Slice the duck breasts into medallions and place them on salad, half a breast per portion. Enjoy! Serves four.www.budgetpropaneontario.com Budget Propane Sales & Service705.687.5608 Toll Free 1.888.405.7777Serving: Muskoka • Gravenhurst • Haliburton • Barrie • Simcoe CountyWe’ll take care of your propane needs for your home, coage, or business.

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Shallots Vinaigrette– Gus GulmarIngredients4 cups of either white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or aged sherry wine vinegar2 to 3 tsp Dijon mustardKosher saltFreshly ground black pepper1½ ﬁnely-minced shallots⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oilMethod • In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar and mustard, plus salt and pepper to taste. • Stir in the shallot. • Gradually whisk in the oil to make a smooth dressing.Chef ’s Tips• Cast iron frying pans are the best.• Meats other than duck will also work in this dish, as will tofu, for a vegetarian version. • Baby greens other than arugula will work, such as spinach, spring mix, or power greens.• Mix all shallots minced for both salad and vinaigrette in with the duck fat so that those that go into the vinaigrette give it extra ﬂavour.• When making zest, never go into the white, as it has a bitter taste.JOHNSON LOG HOMERESTORATIONS705-738-7831 jcd.johnson@hotmail.com Staining Chinking Log Repairs Sandblasting Timber Frames Renovation Log Wash Custom BuildsLogHomeRestore.caBRACEBRIDGE GENERATION LTD.Water Power Generating a Cleaner EnvironmentInterested in more information or a free tour? www.bracebridgegeneration.comYOUR FURNITURE & CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY SPECIALISTS Cal Cur an Paul Toda!705.784.0906muskokauph@gmail.com • MuskokaUpholstery.com greenleafexcavation.ca | 705-229-9985 | racheson@greenleafexcavation.caCertiﬁed septic installer specializing in environmentally friendly Ecoﬂo® systemsCONTACT US TODAY!September 2022 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63

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Muskoka MomentsArticle by Dara HowellLiving the Muskoka dreamMy family have been longtime residents of Muskoka. My brother and I were extremely lucky to grow up the best way, at a small resort located on Peninsula Lake, called Pow Wow Point Lodge. I truly believe growing up at the resort is why I am who I am today and why I’ve been able to accomplish the things that I have. My love for fresh air, activities and freedom is the dream that Muskoka allows us to have. I followed my brother around the resort trying to keep up with him, whether that was wakeboarding, atving or tobogganing. In the wintertime, my family would head over to Hidden Valley Ski Club as we are longtime members. My grandfather joined many years ago and would bring my mom up to ski from the city when she was young. Hidden Valley is actually where my parents met for the ﬁrst time! My older brother already knew how to ski when I came along, so my parents put me on skis at 18 months old. ey tell me stories of me being so small the ski and the boot would fall oﬀ as I went up the chair lift... oops! Skiing is in our blood. My grandfather is 98 and still gets on his skis every year at the Valley. Every time he goes out to ski, we make a big deal out of it. e tradition brings my family together for a nice Muskoka winter morning. Growing up, my mom always said I would go to the Olympics, she just never knew what for. I ski raced till I was 14. I ﬁgure skated competitively for many years as well. Neither of those sports clicked for me until I found slopestyle skiing (freestyle skiing) at Hidden Valley’s little terrain park. I like to say ski racing and ﬁgure skating mashed together to make up slopestyle skiing. I always had a passion to jump, to push my limits. I was 15 turning 16 at the time I got into slopestyle. My parents have always been extremely supportive of any direction I’ve wanted to take. Wanting to go to XGames was my big ﬁrst goal. From there, it was making the Canadian National Team, then eventually doing World Cups and, ultimately, the Olympics. When I ﬁrst got into the sport, competing in slopestyle skiing at the Olympics wasn’t a thing. Everything snowballed really fast and I wouldn’t change it. Competing and winning at my ﬁrst Olympics in 2014 at the age of 19 was the craziest experience I could have ever had. Truly a dream come true. Finally after almost 10 years of skiing, I knew it was time for me to move on. I knew I needed to push myself for more in my life. Skiing has given me so much and will forever be my stepping stone into my next chapters. Fitness is where I’m headed and I’ve had the privilege to slowly dive into it, ﬁnding my balance and strength along the way. I love running a morning ﬁtness class on the docks in Muskoka. Sharing my love for both movement and Muskoka in one. I’m excited to take on this next chapter and to make it into another success story of business and entrepreneurship.Muskoka means everything to me. It’s my home and where my family lives. I’m looking forward to building my home in Muskoka in the coming year, so I can share it with the people I’ve met along the way.At the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, Dara Howell won the ﬁrst ever Olympic gold medal awarded in slopestyle skiing at the age of 19. Howell is a certiﬁed personal trainer and ﬁtness coach, living in Huntsville, Ontario with her family. She continues to pursue her passion for the outdoors and an active lifestyle in the beauty of Muskoka.Photograph: Michael OverbeckPhotograph: Dara Howell 64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA September 2022

Unique Muskoka Issue 36 - September 2022

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