Unique Muskoka Issue 48 - October 2024 : simplebooklet.com

2 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Features11The Early Days – KilworthyArticle by J Patrick BoyerStretching a couple kilometres west of today’s Highway 11, between Severn Bridge and Gravenhurst, the farming community of Kilworthy began with immigrants spreading north from Severn Bridge. First known as Lethbridge, Kilworthy is one of the earliest homesteader settlements in Muskoka....telling the Muskoka story[18][34]34Channels to the Past – Peerless IIArticle by Meghan Taylor Photography by Andy ZeltkansCruising Muskoka’s waterways is an iconic and historic activity. Passengers aboard Peerless II can relax, enjoy the incredible scenery of Muskoka’s lakes and landscapes and be taken back in time as Captain Randy Potts shares the chronicles of the good old days – from Muskoka’s history and Peerless II’s long career on the water.26Muskoka HockeyArticle by Matt Driscoll Professional hockey player Sam Gagner combined his love of Muskoka with playing high-calibre hockey in his creation of Muskoka Hockey camps. Having amateur and professional players come together is an opportunity for building the next generation of players.[11]18Painting with Words, Writing with Colour – A Photographer’s JourneyArticle by Bronwyn Boyer Photography by Josianne MasseauLocal artist and author Wendie Donabie’s most recent book release, Views from the Edge of the Earth, is a culmination of her mission as an artist. Pairing her art with her own poetry conveys Donabie’s deep concern for and connection to nature. [26]

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Opinion9Muskoka InsightsBy Meghan Taylor64Muskoka MomentsBy Ann Curley40Powering Muskoka's Pioneer EraArticle by J. Patrick BoyerPower sources during Muskoka’s pioneer era were limited, even as technologies advanced in other parts of the province, the country and the world. As in many circumstances, tools and technologies adapted based on the needs of the settlers and various power sources even needed to be used in tandem to achieve desired outcomes. Whether basic or state of the art, power sources played a role in Muskoka’s development. 48Wild Ones – Keeping the Wildlife OutsideArticle by Meghan Taylore change of seasons is a time when creatures who may not want to brave the blustery Muskoka winter begin to hunt for alternative accommodations. Planning and preventative maintenance can help to keep homes and cottages free from unwelcome furry visitors.Departments54What’s HappenedArticle by Matt DriscollBala Cranberry Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, Oktoberfest Muskoka returns to the region and Rosseau celebrates all things fall with its annual Pumpkin Festival. Muskoka Heritage Place hosts the Fall Art Walk in partnership with the Huntsville Art Society and the Festival of Lights returns to Bracebridge this November. Huntsville’s Holiday Market and Bala’s Trek to Bethlehem continue to attract visitors this year. ree Fires International Film Festival is set to ignite the screen once again and Huntsville Festival of the Arts recently announced the launch of the Lakeland Networks Arts Access Program. 58Cottage Country CuisineArticle by K.M. Wehrstein Describing game meats, such as venison, rabbit or wild boar, as “gamey” likely implies the meat may have spoiled or has not been handled correctly. Dave Purdon and chefs Alain Irvine and Iain Irvine share their methods for preparing game meats that ensure the distinct and delicate ﬂavours prevail. [48]Our CoverPhotograph by Andy Zeltkaln A red fox’s curious expression belies the truth – they’re likely more scared and wary of humans than humans are of them.PPoowweerriinngg MMuusskkookkaa tthhrroouugghh sseettttlleemmeenntt ttaakkeess mmaannyy ffoorrmmssWILD THINGSKeeping creatures out of your home or cottageSTARS ON ICEHockey training camp attracts prosFALL/WINTER 2024[58]Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 5

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…telling the Muskoka story Unique Muskoka is published six times per year by Unique Publishing Inc.Meghan TaylorPublisher/EditorDonna AnsleyJennifer MontpetitSalesLisa BrazierMarianne DawsonDesignSusan SmithAdministrationBronwyn BoyerJ. Patrick BoyerAnn CurleyMatt DriscollKelly HolinsheadJosianne MasseauTomasz SzumskiK.M. WehrsteinAndy ZeltkalnsContributorsAnnual Subscription Rates: (including HST where applicable)In Ontario $30.00 All Other Provinces $36.00 U.S. $60.00 All Other Countries $72.00HST: 773172721Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement Number: 43268016Copyright © 2024Unique Publishing Inc.No content published in Unique Muskoka can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.Mailing AddressBox 616, Bracebridge ON P1L 1T9Street Address28 Manitoba St., Bracebridge ON P1L 1S1www.uniquemuskoka.cominfo@uniquemuskoka.com 705-637-0204 6 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024DISCOVER THE LOCAL MARKET WITH BIG CITY SELECTIONS IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BRACEBRIDGEbigriverbakingco.com• Black Angus AAA beef, Ontario lamb, pork, chicken and sustainable sh• Assorted selection of house-made sausages• Variety of cheeses, dips, sauces and exclusive pantry items• Chef-inspired ready-to-eat meals and salads• Catering for staff luncheons, private parties and everyday needs• Fine Artisan Breads Daily• Assorted Baked Goods• Made in House DessertsServing fresh gourmet and artisan coffee, an assortment of teas, hot beverages, seasonal refreshments and baked goodsHIRAM ST MARKET 705-204-0857SULLYS MUSKOKA705-204-0857BIG RIVER BAKING COMPANY705-394-4499OPEN TUESDAY TO SATURDAY11A TAYLOR ROADOPEN TUESDAY TO SATURDAY 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.baristahcoffee.ca

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 9Muskoka InsightsPhotograph: MacKenzie TaylorARIYA HYBRIDby DreamStar BeddingMUSKOKACURATED COLLECTIONby Marshall MattressYour Home and CottageMattress Centre6 Monica Lane, Bracebridge705.646.2557www.mattressesofmuskoka.comTHE LARGEST SELECTIONOF IN-STOCKMATTRESSES IN MUSKOKAere is nothing quite like summer in Muskoka. And yet, fall has always been my favourite time of year. ere are still delightfully sunny days with warm temperatures. ere are crisp evenings without the humidity of high summer that are perfect for an evening walk, a dinner outdoors and a bonﬁre underneath a blanket of twinkling stars. And while the sun may be rising later in the mornings, fall sunrises can feel like their own brand of magic. e colours of the leaves changing is an obvious draw for tourists, locals and cottagers. Appreciating the show nature puts on calls for hikes, walks, boating or road trips to favourite places. Even in your own backyard, ﬂashes of reds, oranges and yellows among the greens and browns bring a colourful new look to a well-known space. From one week to the next, the transformation in colours progresses, until the changing season has left more leaves on the ground than on the trees. e loss of foliage is a clear shift towards colder, darker months. And, it’s also a chance to look out at new views and fresh perspectives.For me, fall is also an opportunity to reﬂect on growth and evolution. Like the transition of the leaves, we’re not who we were at the beginning of the year or even at the beginning of the summer. As time and experiences expose us to new viewpoints or new mindsets, we have the ability to adapt, shift and develop. Much like the growth of a tree, every year our own evolution is impacted by the circumstances surrounding us. In this issue of Unique Muskoka, regular contributor Bronwyn Boyer shares with us Wendie Donabie’s art and words, intertwined in her newest book Views from the Edge of the Earth. Donabie’s art is deeply connected to her concern for the planet. Her poetry is simple and also calls for mindfulness in understanding our impact on the environment. Combining her talents, Donabie continues to evolve as an artist and author.Contributor Matt Driscoll details the story of Muskoka Hockey’s training camps for elite and junior hockey players. Making use of local facilities while also spending time at his cottage with family, NHL player Sam Gagner and a cadre of professional players and coaches host athletes who are developing and wanting to improve their skills. While Muskoka is already on the map as its own destination for tourists and cottagers, the oﬀerings of Muskoka Hockey bring new opportunities for advancement to young athletes in the area. For this edition of Unique Muskoka, I had the pleasure of speaking with Captain Randy Potts about Peerless II and his own history on the water. As Potts shared with me, Peerless II is a piece of Muskoka history that was worth saving. Now, she oﬀers passengers a step back in time, to experience Muskoka’s lakes and rivers at the pace settlers would have. e restoration and repair of a gasoline supply boat to a passenger-carrying touring vessel was a labour of love that keeps history alive. As fall becomes winter, I am thankful for everyone who has a part in bringing each issue of Unique Muskoka to life. I’ve spent another year as publisher. Another year ﬁlled with challenges and achievements. Another year full of incredible people, intriguing stories and the honour of sharing them with you. Most of all, thank you for taking the time to dive into this (and hopefully other) copies of the magazine. Happy reading!DiscoveryDreamHomes.comProud to be a strategic partner in2278 ON-11, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1R11.866.715.5647 Model Home & Design Centrein MuskokaVisit Our New

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 11Kilworthy, one of Muskoka’s earliest homesteader settlements, illustrates the diﬀerence between a compact village and a dispersed township community. Kilworthy’s layout resulted from a land-holding system causing settlers to build their widely spaced homes along concession lines on lots distant from one another, rather than in a compact village site with streets. It is also an example, rare for Muskoka, of a locale that is not a waterside settlement. Stretching a couple kilometres west of today’s Highway 11, between Severn Bridge and Gravenhurst, the farming community of Kilworthy began with immigrants spreading north. Severn Bridge itself began in 1858 when pioneers James Jackson, William Johnston and John Young crossed a ﬂoating log-bridge thrown across the river the year before. Each built a cabin to launch Muskoka’s ﬁrst non-Indigenous village. e rudimentary bridge, having given the community one of Muskoka’s most apt names, would often be upgraded as traﬃc increased. During the next two years, surveyor J. O’Brien subdivided all 41,633 acres of the district’s ﬁrst township – Morrison. e area was named for North Simcoe’s than MP Angus Morrison, an ardent champion for Muskoka settlement and a railway extension north. Settlers crossing the Severn intent on farming followed the Muskoka Colonization Road into the forested interior, a number choosing lots around Sparrow Lake to its west, others further north to McCabe’s Landing (now Gravenhurst), gateway to Lake Muskoka. Within a decade half Article by J. Patrick BoyerThis stone cairn erected in Bethel Cemetery was dedicated in the 1960s “In Memory of Morrison Township Pioneers.”Photograph: Gravenhurst ArchivesPhotograph: Gravenhurst ArchivesPhotograph: Gravenhurst ArchivesSymbolizing how the Steam Age and Muskoka’s pioneer era coincided and reinforced one another, the Grand Trunk Railway’s steam train is seen here pulling passenger cars through the Morrison Township elds of farmer William Lethbridge, whose surname was initially adopted for the community’s name. The inset postmark for Kilworthy, showing a date of August 6, 1886, used to cancel letters mailed here, shows the new name the community was given by the post oce department.

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12 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024the township’s lots were claimed, the majority along the Muskoka Road corridor, mostly by young couples. Despite the seeming prominence of Anglo-Canadians, the 1861 Census reported many German and Irish settlers. e former, from Prussia, arrived in Ontario at Berlin (later renamed Kitchener), then made their way north to buy Muskoka land for $1 an acre, the price all settlers paid until 1868 when, to further encourage settlement, the government began giving it away.In 1861 Johan Everbeck, a German Muskokan, built the ﬁrst lumbermill on the Kashe-she-bog-amog River. John Grant then built a combination sawmill and gristmill further on the same stream, producing lumber but also grinding local farmers’ wheat into ﬂour. By 1865, blacksmith Michael Clipsham arrived, serving the farming community and shoeing its horses. With such growth and development, that same year Morrison and its abutting neighbour Muskoka Township combined municipally for local government.The Protestant immigrants from Northern Ireland, though aspiring to a fresh start in the New World, brought their Orange Lodge beliefs with them. Most every Muskoka community would have, in addition to its churches, shops, library and schoolhouse, a prominent Orange Hall – Kilworthy among them.Settlers at Severn Bridge ﬁrst raised Orangeism’s banner with Moses McClelland leading them in Muskoka. Morrison township’s second Orange Lodge at Kilworthy was led by George Robinson, inaugural lodge master. Muskoka would continue filling up with Orange Halls and militant Orangemen, with Kilworthy settlers a part of their socially divisive anti-Catholic, anti-French crusade. Settlement continued as the Free Grant and Homestead Act drew more families into the district along the Muskoka Road’s various extensions and Morrison people began interacting more with the dynamic north, where McCabe’s Landing had become Gravenhurst.By 1875, the Grand Trunk Railway ran tracks This Pre-Confederation map, based on C. Rankin’s 1859 plan of survey and issued by the Department of Crown Lands at Quebec City on December 29, 1860, shows Morrison Township lots laid out, starting from the Severn River at bottom, running north along both sides of the winding Muskoka Colonization Road.Photograph: Boyer Muskoka ArchivesPhotograph: Boyer Muskoka ArchivesThe postmark dated November 16, 1876 shows the original place name of Lethbridge, named for local farmer William Lethbridge. Although Muskoka’s settlement was rst, the post oce department gave the name to larger Lethbridge in Alberta, resulting in the now known Kilworthy.

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14 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024GENERATORSSMART HOME SYSTEMSNEW CONSTRUCTIONLIGHTINGECRA/ESA #7010474RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL / INDUSTRIAL519.805.3200ARKLTD.CAinfo@arkltd.castoneway marble & granite inc.Les and Renata Partyka1295 Muskoka Rd. 118 West, Bracebridge | 705.645.3380 | stoneway.inc@gmail.comthrough the countryside to Gravenhurst, building a station to serve the community on a strip of “Lethbridge’s land” across settler William Lethbridge’s eastern lot in the 8th concession at Lethbridge Street, lifting the local economy and enhancing community identity. Further boosts for the scattered farmers was the opening of a general store at Lethbridge Station, now that supplies were readily available by daily train, and opening a post oﬃce. Postmaster G.A. Lehmann opened the Lethbridge Post Oﬃce on The Grand Trunk Railway became a publicity department for Muskoka. In addition to posters and pamphlets, it issued large route maps showing “the Highlands of Ontario” which included Muskoka Lakes, Lake of Bays and the Islands of Georgian Bay. This detail from the map shows Kilworthy Station between Washago and Gravenhurst.Photograph: Boyer Muskoka Archives

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 15Muskoka's Largest Home Service Company!No job is too big or too small! www.GBScontracting.com 705.687.9143 1082 Beaumont Farm Rd., BracebridgeNovember 1, 1876. Six years later, in October 1882, Northwestern Coal Company opened a mine and the fast-growing community around it, ﬁrst called Coalbanks in Alberta, was renamed for the company’s president, another William Lethbridge. Mail destined for Canada’s two Lethbridge post oﬃces got mixed and Ottawa chose size over seniority. On August 1, 1886, Muskoka’s smaller but Canada’s ﬁrst Lethbridge was ﬁxed with a new name, perhaps because a post oﬃce department oﬃcial hailed from Kilworthy in England’s Devon County. G.A. Lehmann continued as postmaster. In 1862 the Symington Cemetery had been opened at Kahshe Corners (by today’s Kilworthy Road and Highway 11 intersection) and from 1870, a second cemetery operated at the Bethel Church. Hundreds of “Kilworthy” children attended Morrison Township schools but no school section bore the community’s name. It was similar for churches. When St. Paul’s Seen here in 1932, Kilworthy’s log cabin Woodlands Gas Station, the rst on Highway 11 as the community’s orientation began shiing from rail to roadway, doubled as admin oce for a motor park.This front cover from a wide-ranging collection of historical information and personal recollections by early settlers, published mid-1970s, preserves in 485 mimeographed pages Kilworthy’s “almost lost” legacy. Nancy Gray Ogle drew the cover’s Kilworthy Station.Photograph: Gravenhurst Archives Photograph: Boyer Muskoka Archives

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16 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Photograph: Gary LongAt a more developed stage of Muskoka being surveyed and occupied by settlers, cartographer Gary Long’s map shows the Muskoka Colonization Road (dark central line) into the district. The road started at Washago in 1858, reaching Severn Bridge in 1859, to McCabe’s Landing (Gravenhurst) by 1860 and Muskoka Falls the next year. “Killworthy” as Lethbridge was renamed, is identied just above MORRISON in the township’s name, the section passing it now Highway 11.Presbyterian was built in 1887 to serve the dispersed community, it was at Sparrow Lake. Kilworthy’s township community of spread-out farmers, mill operators and craftsmen, lacking accessible waterfront common to Muskoka settlements, focused on land transport. The Grand Trunk Railway, providing the train station hub, became part of the Canadian National Railway system but with the motor vehicle revolution the station closed. Canada Post restructured and closed many post oﬃces including the one which had caused Muskoka’s Lethbridge to be renamed Kilworthy. When Muskoka Road turned into Highway 11, Kilworthy had the route’s first gas station – a community rising, falling, then rising again with land transport.Kilworthy’s role in the Muskoka saga was all but lost until “old-timers” pooled their memories in the 1960s, at the urging of heritage-conscious MPP Robert Boyer, and produced an anthology about early settlers, churches, schools, stores, cottages and hotels. “e early pioneers are all gone, long ago,” said Harry L. Clipsham, son of blacksmith Michael Clipsham, “but we have built a monument to their memory in Bethel Cemetery. All honour to them.”And where the railway station, general store and post office had for a time galvanized a tangible centre, a quiet grassy park with picnic table, ﬂag pole and granite rock today bears a 1994 memorial plaque of the Kilworthy Historical Committee to “the legacy left by anyone and everyone passing through who have touched in some way this community.”

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18 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Article by Bronwyn Boyer / Photography by Josianne MasseauBracebridge artist Wendie Donabie’s latest book, Views from the Edge of the Earth, is a culmination of her mission as an artist. Self-published in June 2024, it’s a collection of poetry illustrated by her paintings. It’s a celebration of the miracle and majesty of nature and a call to action fueled by love and hope. As Donabie puts it, “My deep concern for our planet informs my paintings. e sight of a wind-blown Jack Pine, the twisted weave of tree roots in the forest, a brilliant sunset or sunrise over a placid lake or a cascade of rushing water over giant boulders provide the emotional triggers that inspire my work.”Written in a simple, straightforward style, Views from the Edge of the Earth is a message from Mother Earth to her children to remind them she needs to be cherished if they want to remain in her care. “My poetry isn't diﬃcult to understand,” Donabie says. “I'm not trying to write anything complex with deep meanings. I want it to be clear, so people don't have to spend a lot of time analyzing it.” Donabie grew up in Batawa, Ontario, where her father was the import-export manager for the Bata Shoe Company. Tragically, he passed away while in India on a business trip when Donabie was 15. Until Wendie Donabie, Bracebridge resident, has talents ranging from artist to author to TV show host. However, as her most recent book showcases, all these talents come together as she brings attention to the need to protect the environment.

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20 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024In addition to self-publishing books, Wendie Donabie runs her own art gallery in Bracebridge called The Heron’s Nest which, as of October 2024, will specialize in her own paintings and books from local authors.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 YEARSthen, she wanted to be a journalist. “at was my dream,” she recalls. “But I think when my dad passed away my dream died too. We had to move to Toronto and it meant starting over and ﬁnding new friends. It was a tough time and my plans changed.”While taking a correspondence course through the New York Institute of Technology in her twenties, Donabie started writing poetry. “I wasn't really taking it seriously,” she recalls. “It was just something fun for me to do.”It wasn’t until Donabie moved to Muskoka

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 21in 2010 that she started writing more intently. She joined a couple of writing groups and decided to follow her passions for writing and painting. For several years, she studied under the late Pat Fairhead, a well-known artist in the Muskoka community who passed away in 2023. Around the same time, Donabie joined a Bracebridge Library writing group run by the late Melody Richardson, who was also a signiﬁcant inspiration for her. “I had written a long children's poem called Pete's Feet,” Donabie says. “With Melody’s encouragement, I read it publicly a couple of times and got some great feedback. I wrote some short ﬂash ﬁction pieces as well and had a couple published.”One of those pieces, Mother of Us All, won an award from Art Ascent Magazine and became the initial seed Donabie’s latest book grew from.e genesis of Views from the Edge of the Earth began at an annual event held at e J.W. Marriott resort in Rosseau called Walking in My Mother's Shoes. “e ﬁrst year, I wrote about my mother,” recalls Donabie. “e second year I wrote about my mother-in-law. en the third year, I came up with the idea to write about Mother Earth.”A few years later, Donabie participated in an online poetry marathon that provided prompts to get the creative ball rolling. “At the beginning, I would use the prompts that they were giving,” she says. “But then I wanted to focus on something speciﬁc. at’s when my nature-based paintings became my inspiration for a series of poetry. ey’re in the book because they relate to the words.”At last year’s poetry marathon, one of the prompts was to write a poem based Bracebridge artist Wendie Donabie’s latest book, Views from the Edge of the Earth, is a culmination of her mission as an artist. At a poetry marathon in 2023 one of the prompts was to write a poem based on a view from the edge of a at earth, which sparked Donabie’s inspiration for the book.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 Centre

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22 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024MODERN HOME CARPET ONE350 Ecclestone Drive • Bracebridgemodernhomecarpetonebracebridge.comTAYLOR CARPET ONE30 Cairns Crescent • Huntsvilletaylorcarpetonehuntsville.com705.645.2443705.789.9259HARDWOOD • LAMINATE • VINYL PLANK & TILE • VINYL ROLLS CARPET • CERAMIC • NATURAL STONE & MOREFloors for Home & CottageNo matter which medium or style she works in, Wendie Donabie’s art has a clear connection to and love of nature. Her works are inspired, emotionally and visually, by the iconic landscapes and vistas in the Muskoka region.on a view from the edge of a ﬂat earth. “I thought it was intriguing,” Donabie says. “I had an image in my head right away and a little piece came out of it that was really strong. I'd never written anything like it before and I thought it had a purpose somewhere but I didn't know where yet. Eventually I compiled 78 poems. Views from the Edge of the Earth just ﬁt for the title and that’s how the book came together.” A woman of many talents, Donabie likes to have a variety of creative balls in the air. “Melody Richardson always said writers should ﬁnd something else creative to do because it feeds the writing,” she explains. “I guess I do need to have several things going on at once to stimulate me. ey're all connected and they inform and inspire each other.” As well as self-publishing books, Donabie runs her own gallery in Bracebridge called e Heron’s Nest, which as of October 2024 will

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specialize in her own paintings and books from local authors. In 2013 she and fellow writer Cindy Watson founded the Muskoka Authors Association, a chapter of the Canadian Authors Association that now has about 70 members. Donabie also hosts a television show through Cogeco Cable called Writer's Talk, where she interviews writers. Ten episodes will be airing this fall. Views from the Edge of the Earth is available for purchase through Amazon and throughout Muskoka at various locations including e Heron’s Nest in Bracebridge, Cedar Canoe Books in Huntsville, the Muskoka Arts & Crafts online store, e Wild Heart in Port Sydney, Birch Bark in Bala, Andy’s House in Port Carling, the Baysville Public Library, e Shipyards in Gravenhurst and Manticore Books in Orillia, to name a few. e call to action of Views from the Edge of the Earth is to be mindful of humanity’s connection to nature and the impact it has on the environment. “When you walk around outside, open your senses to your surroundings,” she says. “Notice the way a leaf turns on a tree in the wind or a ﬂower pops up in the middle of a pavement. Mother Nature is powerful and resilient. We need her but she doesn’t need us.” Donabie also encourages people to consider pollinators when planting their gardens and install bee and bat boxes at their homes. “It may not seem like much but it’s the butterﬂy eﬀect,” she says. “Each small step can create a ripple beyond our understanding.” 24 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024The call to action of Views from the Edge of the Earth is to be mindful of humanity’s connection to nature and the impact it has on the environment. Drawing inspiration from the scenes around her, Wendie Donabie’s art blends easily with her poetic words in her newest book.

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Auston Matthews and Marshall Rifai, along with other Toronto Maple Leafs and NHL players, joined Muskoka Hockey in christening the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre’s rink in August.Bringing star power to cottage country rinksArticle by Matt DriscollNHL veteran Sam Gagner has two passions: spending time at the lake with his family and playing high-calibre hockey. His stroke of genius was deciding to combine the two with Muskoka Hockey. “I started Muskoka Hockey just to create a little balance in my life,” says Gagner. “I love being around my kids and being up in Muskoka. Being able to relax in the afternoon and enjoy your downtime is something that was really appealing.”A 16-year NHL veteran Gagner started the camp in 2020. Since then, he's brought a cadre of elite-level trainers and NHL superstars to local rinks. Perhaps most notably in August when Muskoka Hockey helped christen the new Muskoka Lumber Community Centre in Bracebridge by bringing in Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews and John Tavares, along with fellow NHLers from other teams including Erik Gudbranson, Brandon Montour and Nathan Bastian. All told, more than a dozen NHL players trained with Muskoka Hockey over the summer. 26 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024

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28 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024“We've gotten a great response from the pros and as it’s gone on, I really felt like it was something that the kids would really enjoy as well,” says Gagner. “It's an opportunity to have elite level hockey in one of the best places in the world to be in the summertime.”Originally from London, Ontario, Gagner was selected sixth overall in the ﬁrst round of the NHL draft by the Edmonton Oilers in 2007. After playing seven seasons with the Oilers, Gagner spent time with the Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks. e 35-year-old is not ready to call it quits just yet and after training in Muskoka all summer he was oﬀ to a fall tryout at Carolina Hurricanes training camp.Dave Gagner, Sam’s father, was also a longtime NHL player. Having formed a lifetime of connections with the NHL during his career, he has utilized those relationships to help make Muskoka Hockey a success. “e NHL is really a small community,” says Gord Grace, a director of Muskoka Hockey. “During his time in the NHL Sam's built relationships with a lot of teams. He wanted to grow the camp up here so he's added a lot of professionals to help him along the way. We also added more elite players and it's just continued to grow and grow.”Grace is also the president and CEO of Ontario University Athletics, as well as Sam Gagner's uncle and he says the location of the camp has also been a huge factor in its growth. NHL stars like Taylor Hall, Bo Horvat and many others spend their summers in Muskoka and have decided to take advantage of the camp. Muskoka’s proximity to the GTA and major centres in southern Ontario also means professionals can travel up for a day or two of training and then head back home if need be, says Grace.As NHL players increasingly ﬂock to the Muskoka Hockey program, the level of competition in the training camps has also become increasingly more intense. e professionals are able to hone their skills playing against some of the best in the world, another appealing prospect as they prepare to head out to big league training camps across North America.Along the way, Gagner has surrounded himself with a group of high-level professionals to ensure sure the camp continues to grow and builds on that success. Bryan Marshall is a director of the camp and a performance coach who has worked with top-tier athletes across major organizations like the London Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks. He's currently serving as the director of applied sports science for the Canucks. Brady Leavold spent 10 years playing professional hockey and is well known to many in the hockey community and abroad for hockey camps he operates in Muskoka, in addition to his Puck Support Network nonproﬁt organization, which works towards change in mental health and substance misuse issues. Leavold, who coaches with Muskoka Hockey, has been featured on national television for his unique journey in the amateur and professional hockey ranks and his subsequent work in the mental health ﬁeld.Despite the elite level training and NHL star power, Muskoka Hockey organizers also pride themselves on the work they do with young athletes both on and oﬀ the ice.e camp hosts day programs for youth between the ages of seven and 15, an elite academy for athletes who want to push their game a little bit further and even team camps for organizations interested in bringing their entire squad to Muskoka for Sam Gagner, a 16-year NHL veteran rst draed by the Edmonton Oilers in 2007, chose to combine his love of hockey with his time in Muskoka during the summer when he created Muskoka Hockey camp in 2020.Photograph: Muskoka Hockey

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 29bonding and overall team improvement. “It's really important to Sam to give back to minor hockey, especially in the Muskoka region,” says Grace. “He wants to oﬀer grassroots elite youth training programs and he wants to train the next NHLer that comes from Muskoka.”e on-ice development program (which up until the opening of the new Bracebridge arena took place at the Humphrey Arena) is designed to help players improve their skating, stickhandling, shooting and game sense, with coaches providing personalized feedback and guidance. Oﬀ the ice, players have access to Rosseau Lake College and a fully equipped gym and training area, with state-of-the-art equipment for strength and conditioning exercises. Campers can also head over to Muskoka Woods to enjoy a range of activities, from ropes course to paintball, as well as swimming, sailing, kayaking, and other water sports.“ese are really incredible venues and they've been very supportive since we ﬁrst started these camps,” says Grace.Having amateur and professional players Making use of facilities throughout Muskoka, like Rosseau Lake College, Muskoka Woods and Humphrey Arena, Muskoka Hockey hosts day programs for youth between the ages of seven and 15, an elite academy for athletes who want to progress and even team camps for organizations interested in bringing their entire squad to Muskoka.SERVING MUSKOKA / GEORGIAN BAY / HALIBURTON1-888-417-8761 www.techhomeltd.comBUILDING CUSTOM HOMES & COTTAGES FOR 50 YEARSGREATER TORONTO AREA DESIGN CENTRE130 Konrad Cres, Unit #18 Markham, ON | L3R 0G5905.479.9013 • 1.888.417.8761Visit our Toronto Design Centre, & we’ll bring your dream to lifePhotograph: Muskoka HockeyPhotograph: Muskoka Hockey

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30 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Fraser Minten and John Tavares, both Toronto Maple Leafs, showcased their skills and teamwork during their time on the ice at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre. Photograph: Muskoka Hockeyboth taking part in the camp is an opportunity for the younger players to see what they're striving for, says Grace, and it's an opportunity that is not oﬀered at many hockey training camps.e chance to get up close and personal with the stars of Muskoka Hockey was granted to the entire Muskoka community with the oﬃcial opening of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre in Bracebridge on August 23, 2024. To celebrate the occasion, 300 community members had the opportunity to watch a Muskoka Hockey training session with NHL superstars on the ice. “We really wanted to oﬀer a showcase and give the public a chance to see some of the pros and the opening of the arena was the perfect opportunity,” says Grace. “We had conversations with the Town and they were very receptive to the idea. e response from the community was excellent. e players were great and getting the chance to see the kids afterwards getting the autographs signed was really fantastic.”e organizers of the camp are meeting in the fall to take a closer look at how they want to manage growth. at could mean extending camps into the Christmas season or March break or expanding some programming into the GTA, says Grace, but the plans are ﬂuid for the time being.Regardless of what the future holds, with Muskoka's new on-ice facilities, the growth of Muskoka Hockey and the plethora of stars now training and spending their summers in the region, the hockey scene in Muskoka appears poised for a period of growth unlike any it's ever experienced.

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34 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Article by Meghan Taylor / Photography by Andy ZeltkalnsMuskoka’s waterways are an interconnected tangle of channels used to travel the region, move supplies, transport passengers and experience the natural wonders of Muskoka. Cruising the waters is an iconic, historic activity for locals, cottagers and visitors to the area. Once the primary mode of travel, the rivers and lakes have become a way to go back in time and relive what early settlers may have experienced. Vessels with history, like Peerless II, let passengers glimpse how life was lived in the early settlement of Muskoka and enjoy a slower pace. “It’s a ticket to go back in time and just relax,” explains Captain Randy Potts, owner and operator of Sunset Cruises aboard Peerless II. “People are amazed to hear how life was 100 years ago.”During cruises aboard Peerless II, local history and lore are a key element of the experience, drawing passengers deeper into the magic. Much like the larger steamship Segwun, Peerless II boasts her own Peerless IIStepping aboard Peerless II is like stepping into the pages of Muskoka’s history, travelling the lakes and rivers as early settlers and tourists would have.

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 35history in the Muskoka region, adding to the overall feeling of stepping back in time. “ey are truly a time machine,” says Potts of old boats like Peerless II, Idyllwood and Segwun. Potts retired from captaining the Segwun in 2007 and operated his own Idyllwood until 2012. “I’ve been lucky enough to be captain of all of them.” Peerless II was originally built in 1946 as a supply boat. In an attempt to gain position in the Muskoka gasoline market in the early 1900s, to compete with Imperial Oil Co., the British American Oil Company engaged a local businessman to perform deliveries on the water to shoreline properties. Mr. Bert Brown operated the ﬁrst Peerless, formerly a private yacht known as the Ina. Outﬁtted with two 1,000-gallon tanks, gasoline was manually pumped from the boat to customer’s facilities. As business increased, an order was placed with the Northern Shipbuilding yard in Bronte, Ontario in 1945 for the construction of the Peerless II to expand the British American Oil Company’s marine delivery ﬂeet. Built entirely from steel, Peerless II had a capacity closer to 8,000 gallons. When she was delivered in late July, both Peerless and Peerless II

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36 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Assisted Living ServicesPersonalized Care PlansOur Enhanced Care option provides full support for residents who require dedicated assistance for daily living. Includes assistance with daily activities, bathing, advanced emergency response system and access to health care professionals 24/7.Contact Aussa today at leasing@castlepeakmuskoka.comto book a tour and enjoy a complimentary lunch!705.646.0808 castlepeakmuskoka.com56 Douglas Drive, Bracebridge P1L 0B9Peerless II cruises every day of the week during the sailing season, launching from the Port Carling locks to tour all three of Muskoka’s big lakes. The history of the area and the boat are both key elements in the cruising experience.www.brackenrig.com | 705-765-5565 | info@brackenrig.com Inspired NatureNaturebyOriginally built as a supply boat for the British American Oil Company, Peerless II has been on Muskoka’s lakes since 1946. Purchased by Captain Randy Potts in 2003, Peerless II was repaired and restored to transform from a gasoline supply boat to a small cruise ship.operated on all three of Muskoka’s larger lakes, delivering gasoline and home heating oil. Not a week goes by through the sailing season that Potts doesn’t have at least one person say, “you know, this used to deliver to my family’s cottage.”However, within two years of arriving in Muskoka, the more modern Peerless II was managing all of the deliveries on the lakes. e smaller, wooden Peerless was sold. rough many diﬀerent captains, an acquisition by Gulf Canada in the 1960s and then Gulf Canada’s cease of operations in the 1980s, Peerless II continued to operate. en, Peerless II sold gasoline for independent suppliers until 1994, when she ended her 49th season and was taken out of service as a supply boat. While ﬁrst sold privately, Peerless II was for sale again in 2003 when Potts purchased the boat. Growing up in Bracebridge, Potts’ childhood home on Dill St. backed onto the Muskoka River. His very ﬁrst boat was a hand-me-down from two older brothers“I couldn’t get far with a pair of oars,” shares Potts. It wasn’t long before he moved up to larger boats, becoming a deckhand and eventually a captain. Having been on the water, in one way or another, since the age of 12, Potts has over 50 years of experience navigating Muskoka’s lakes and rivers and over 40 years of those as a licensed captain. Potts acquired Peerless II as a birthday present for himself in 2003, with his wife Debbie’s approval, of course. “Idyllwood was the ﬁrst boat I built and we met partway through that construction,” explains Potts. “She was willing to let me take

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 37Peerless II continued as a supply boat aer being purchased by Gulf Canada in the 1960s, through to that company’s closure in the 1980s. Her career as a gasoline supply boat continued with independent suppliers until 1994. At the end of that year, her 49th season on Muskoka waters, she was taken out of service.Considering renting your cottage? LET’S CONNECT.Full Service 4-Season waterfront cottage rental management agencyFind Us1-877-788-1809• Inquiries & Reservations• Marketing• 24/7 Guest Support• Checking and Assessing• Detailed Cottage Listing• Professional Photography• Cleaning & Check-UpsOCR_MRA (2.3755x9.875).indd 1 2019-05-31 3:41:20 PMnewowners@OntarioCottageRentals.comthe leap of faith. She didn’t have the vision at ﬁrst but she got it when she saw the ﬁnished project.”From his life and career of working on boats and with a good idea of what would work, Potts set out to bring Peerless II back from retirement. He drydocked her brieﬂy before she launched in 2004. She then sat idle until 2008. Over the course of four winters, Potts worked on the repairs and restoration needed for Peerless II’s makeover. e work required a specialized steel construction on the boat with, at times, up to ﬁve welders on board. In spring of 2012, Peerless II relaunched. “It’s a piece of Muskoka history,” says Potts. “is one deserved to be saved. It was a huge undertaking and ﬁnancial commitment and it hasn’t been a mistake. It would have been cheaper to buy new but it wouldn’t have had the history or the character of Peerless II.”Potts recalls being on the phone night and day with Transport Canada to ensure the work he was completing would meet the standards Captain Randy Potts has spent almost his entire life on the water in Muskoka. Since his rst hand-me-down boat at the age of 12, Potts has spent over 50 years on boats, with over 40 of them as a licensed captain.

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38 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024necessary for the responsibility of transporting people. “It was like making a 1946 automobile into a 2024 state-of-the-art automobile,” shares Potts. “e rules and regulations are vastly diﬀerent now than back in 1946.”e retroﬁt was a long process but ensured the vessel was outﬁtted correctly, including emergency electrics and a ﬁre system. As the keel was laid in 1946, despite the modiﬁcations made, Peerless II is considered a 1946 boat. However, in 2012, after signiﬁcant renovation and restoration, she was recertiﬁed as a brand new boat to carry people, instead of just supplies. Restoration of the Peerless II preserves a historic watercraft, allowing locals and visitors the opportunity to see her on the water and take a cruise. As a smaller vessel, Peerless II can get to many places that larger boats simply cannot. “ere’s enough water here for everybody to enjoy,” says Potts. “We get to see some special places on board.”While he admits Lake Rosseau has some of his favourite places to cruise, Potts also shares his favourite spots are all similar in that they showcase “the rugged natural beauty that is Muskoka.”Operating seven days a week during the sailing season, cruises aboard the Peerless II are slower paced than the many speedboats that now grace Muskoka’s waters. With a leisurely pace, adventures on Peerless II are about the journey, not the destination, meaning passengers have time to relax and revel in the area’s natural beauty. “Rock, trees and the water are Muskoka’s iconic image,” shares Potts. “Rugged rock and stretches of shoreline. at’s the beauty. First time visitors often comment that it’s a spiritual place, really.”No longer outﬁtted as she once was, Peerless II now delivers enjoyment to passengers, rather than gasoline and home heating oil. e opportunity to cruise Muskoka’s lakes aboard the last supply boat to operate on them keeps a piece of Muskoka history alive. The crew of Peerless II help to welcome passengers sail the Muskoka waterways. As a smaller vessel, Peerless II can access many spots on the lakes and rivers that larger boats simply cannot. This gives passengers the chance to explore Muskoka’s rugged and beautiful shorelines in a dierent way.DETAILS ABOUT THE MILDREDIn the July 2024 edition of Unique Muskoka, the feature “Muskoka’s Boats At Work” erroneously identiﬁed details regarding the Mildred. e yacht Mildred was originally built in 1903 by Polson Iron Works of Toronto for Edward Rogers Wood and named for his daughter Mildred. e yacht is a twin for another Polson Iron Works vessel known as Rambler, also built 1903 in Toronto and currently in Muskoka.She was sold to Captain Charles Wesley Archer in 1925 and operated by him until his death in 1945. e steam engine was removed and a new Mack Marine Diesel engine was installed when Mildred sold from Captain Archer’s estate to Captain Ralph McPherson in 1946. e original steam engine from Mildred was restored by the late Roy Davies Sr., of Bracebridge Machine and is on display at Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst. Captain McPherson operated Mildred as a cruise boat, starting in 1946. Mildred suﬀered a major ﬁre in July of 1961 on the Muskoka River while on a cruise with passengers onboard. All passengers made it oﬀ the burning ship safely but Mildred was seriously damaged. She was rebuilt with a new steel superstructure or cabin and reopened for business in 1962 and continued until the mid 1970s. Mildred was taken over by Owen Walbridge in the late 1970s and operated for a few years as a charter yacht. She was then purchased by Martin and Gerarda Kupferschmidt in 1982 and used as a private yacht. Purchased by Captain Randy Potts in 2017, Mildred has been rebuilt to modern Transport Canada standards for a ship of her size. Nowhere in research completed by Captain Randy Potts is there conﬁrmation that Mildred was ever scuttled. Mildred is 121 years old this year, not in public use at present and the plans for her future are not yet deﬁned. Photograph: Ontario Archives

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40 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024A sudden power outage can leave us floundering in the dark, unable to ring-up sales, pump gas, cook food or be online and, in the silent calm, reﬂect on how dependent we have become on the energy sources enabling modern living. For Muskoka pioneers, the absence of electricity was the normal condition. Inventors had sought to harness electricity from fabric static and ﬂashing lightning, then experiment with generators and batteries but electricity was unavailable to early loggers, homesteaders and holidaymakers reaching Muskoka in the mid-1800s. en, as today, most people accepted their conditions as “state of the art” and gratefully drew upon available sources. Another similarity between both eras is the overlap of energy technologies. People used candles after coal oil lamps came in, then kept both when gas lamps were introduced. Most people still had all three burning after omas Edison patented his incandescent electric light bulb in 1880 and, a decade later, electricity generated at Bracebridge Falls lit them. Overlap was not only inevitable but desirable. As blackouts prove, back-up systems are essential and redundancy can be helpful. Muskokans used broad axes to square logs, then long-blade handsaws, next rotary saws driven by waterwheel power, advancing to bandsaws powered by electric motors. Another succession of energy technologies in Muskoka was heating with wood-burning stoves, furnaces and ﬁreplaces. Over time oil furnaces took over, followed by gas furnaces, electric baseboard heaters, heat exchangers, warming ﬂoor panels and solar power. Ontario has no coal to mine, so any Muskokans who burned coal brought it in from the U.S., Nova Scotia or Alberta.A settler’s top ten list of power sources might have been: humans, animals, ﬁre, lamps, wind, waterwheels, steam, dynamite, mechanical energy and early electricity. Self-generated Power With human bone and sinew providing a Article by J. Patrick BoyerHorsepower made it possible to open routes for utility wires, install poles, then hoist wires into place. These 19 men, four horses and a hound were “opening” Muskoka. The two teams and the steam engine to the le mark the overlapping of power sources.Photograph: Frank Micklethwaite

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 41Prospering by the end of the 1890s, the Gardiner family’s Stephenson Township farm had been cleared of forest, most stumps removed, a number of buildings constructed with lumber from a water-powered sawmill, with endless expenditure of human and animal energy before motorized water pumps, steam engine plows or electricity came to rural Muskoka.Photograph: Boyer Family ArchivesWith loggers operating in Muskoka from the 1850s, spring log drives to sawmills downstream saw massive jams at the district’s rugged waterfalls. Clearing them was dangerous work; many died or were badly injured. The manpower of these 11 agile men with pike poles was the only solution – until 1867, when they added dynamite to their arsenal.Photograph: Frank MicklethwaiteMuskoka’s three vast tanneries produced more boot leather than any other place in the British Empire, even tanning hides from Argentina. The tanning process was helped by horses transporting hemlock bark, a source of tannic acid, from district forests. Here Watt and Nel pull a well-loaded sleigh of bark, driven by Dougald Boyes, to cross Clear Lake near Vankoughnet.Photograph: Graydon Boyes Collectionversatile framework for leverage and muscles supplying motor power, Indigenous peoples crossed Muskoka paddling and portaging canoes, following woodland trails and moving on snowshoes – as did settlers emulating their ways. Homesteaders deployed their energy digging, hoeing, harvesting and slicing, milking cows and goats, picking fruit, fetching eggs and drawing water. Printers of the ﬁrst newspaper, the Northern Advocate, set type by hand and operated the printing press that way too. Elizabeth Penson rowed across roiling Lake Rosseau waters with heavy sacks of grain destined for Dee Bank’s gristmill.People walked, often and far: from Walker’s Point to Bala and back for a council meeting; Bracebridge to Orillia and back for supplies; youthful homesteader Thomas Osborne to Huntsville from North Portage and back for mail; Muskoka home-boy Johnny Moon down to Toronto then back, or on to Montreal. en as now, what someone believed necessary, their brain instructed their body to do. e advantages with human energy are its ready availability, ability to use it when no alternative exists and no need for ﬁtness centres.Working Animals After humans emerged among Earth’s species, they trained or forced other animals into heavy lifting and carrying weighty loads for long distances. Horses, cows, mules, donkeys and burros, but also elephants, camels and dogs, became “beasts of burden” carrying heavy loads, dragging sleds and pulling wheeled vehicles. Animal power enabled all manner of work to be done, every kind of structure to be built and

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42 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024705-764-0765 | 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.BRACEBRIDGE GENERATION LTD.Water Power Generating a Cleaner EnvironmentInterested in more information or a free tour? www.bracebridgegeneration.comALL TILLEY HATS40% OFFWinter and Traditional Hats28 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGESHOP ONLINEwww.uniquemuskoka.comAt waterfalls entrepreneurial Muskokans generated millwheel power for gristmills from Matthiasville to Dee Bank and sawmills aplenty. At the millrace of Henry Bird’s woollen mill by Bracebridge Falls, the Muskoka visionary experimented with electricity. The falls also generated electricity to power the Shaw family’s leather tannery.Photograph: Frank Micklethwaitetasks beyond description to be accomplished. e timing of Muskoka’s development came when North America’s horse-drawn society was at its zenith, with district farmers’ cows augmenting equine-power. Combustion During Muskoka’s pioneer era, folks continued using ﬁre for cooking, warmth and metal working. Anthropologists hypothesize from carbon-dated ancient ash that homo erectus cooked with ﬁre and used it as a tool a million years ago – eons before our homo sapiens species evolved. Muskoka’s modern history, resuming when living creatures reinhabited this part of the Canadian Shield after kilometres-deep ice receded, included First Nations striking ﬂints to spark birchbark shards or dry pine needles aﬂame. Settlers brought magnifying glass to concentrate the sun’s rays to the point of ignition and chemical compound matches that blazed into ﬂame upon striking particular surfaces. Several match factories dotted the district’s landscape. Muskokans used ﬂame to boil sap for maple syrup, cook meat and vegetables, create incendiary firestorms that consumed the logs and slash after clearing forests for ﬁelds, turn metal white-hot to forge tools or red-hot to fashion horseshoes and burn wood in stoves or campﬁres for warmth and cooking.Lighting Anywhere at night, and during daytime in the darkness of enclosed mills, tunnels and building interiors, burning candles and lamps provided artiﬁcial lighting. Both methods dating back tens of thousands of years. Frugal pioneers did not waste matches lighting them, instead keeping

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 43tightly rolled twists of paper near the ﬁreplace to transfer some ﬂame. Windows provided natural light illumination. As Muskoka villages and towns grew, extremely large plate-glass windows were features in oﬃce-blocks along main streets, public schools and, by 1900, Muskoka District Court House. e immense light-admitting windows of Bracebridge’s Carnegie Library (1905) replicated the massive windows of Ontario’s legislative building at Queen’s Park (1880s) because their architects maximized natural daylight. Artiﬁcial lighting accelerated while Muskoka’s settler society was establishing itself. From the late 1860s, fashionable residences, stores, public buildings and resorts installed gas lights suspended from ceilings. Before long, even this advance in lighting took second spot as newly perfected kerosene fuel for lamps eliminated installation of costly gas-line piping. All the while, electric lighting was gaining in the background on an inside lane. In 1809, working to produce luminescence by electricity, inventor Humphry Davy created an arc lamp. In the 1830s, various electric lamps were developed and experimental light bulbs tried out. By the 1840s, arc lighting – also known as “limelight” – lit up entertainment theatres in Paris. At Bracebridge in the 1860s, woollen mill owner Henry Bird experimented with limelight and delivered a paper on this topic at the Mechanics’ Institute, later trying to generate other early forms of electric light from his watercourse at the town falls. A decade after Thomas Edison produced his incandescent lightbulb, William Sutherland Shaw began generating electricity at Bracebridge Falls for his tannery in 1890. e town acquired the plant and converted its gas street lights to electric ones. By the 1920s a number of homes had chandeliers, bracket lights and electric lamps similar to those familiar today, though many houses and retail stores instead used ceiling “drop lights” – an exposed bulb in a socket oﬀering harsh light but, all the same, extending “daytime” well into the evening.Wind Although windmills in Iran began spinning to generate power for pumping water and grinding grain a thousand years ago – spreading to Europe where the Dutch especially used continuously pumping windmills to keep their country’s below sea-level land dry – wind power’s main connection with Muskoka were sailing ships delivering a variety of Europeans to North America. Many of their descendants became settlers in the district, as did others arriving directly as homesteaders just as the Age of Sail began morphing into the more reliable Age of Steam. A few North American windmills appeared in the 1880s but by then a succession of more practical sources supplied settler society’s energy needs. Vessels driven by wind were being displaced by those with steam propulsion, then diesel, next nuclear power and, most recently, solar power. Yet the thrill of sailing could not completely crowd wood and canvas from the scene, as today’s wind-powered recreation craft in Muskoka attests. Falling Water By the 1860s, new arrivals opening Muskoka for development brought ancient waterwheel technology with them. Soon district waterfalls and rapids were being tapped to produce mechanical power for milling operations. Water diverted into a ﬂume or headrace leading down onto a waterwheel converted its energy. Where a good drop could be obtained, Muskoka mills used “overshot” waterwheels. e water, feeding in at the top, filled buckets on the wheel’s perimeter and this weight caused the wheel to turn. Less eﬃcient was the “undershot” wheel, occasionally used where only slower water was available – turning, like a boat’s paddlewheel, as ﬂowing water pushed against its blades. From the rotating waterwheel, power was transmitted Photograph: Muskoka Discovery Centre, GravenhurstHorses pulled their weight but oxen were preferred by many Muskoka farmers for being more stable, better foragers and stronger. Getting a load of summer hay o their eld, this district farmer posed with his team of oxen.In 1908, with washing machines still in the future, these women at Pen Lake used their own power to tub-wash laundry. For many of the chores of daily life during the settlement of Muskoka, completing them by hand with self-generated power was the only option.Photograph: Frank Micklethwaite

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44 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024by driveshafts, belts and gears to activate machinery. Water-powered mills beneﬁted from clean fuel along Muskoka’s watersheds – no need to burn wood or imported coal, as happened powering steam engines. Mills sprouted around Muskoka’s waterfalls driving the local economy by rotating sawblades slicing logs into lumber and turning grindstones that converted ﬁeld crops into ﬂour and oatmeal. While lumbermen delivered logs and farmers grain to sawmills and gristmills, other water-powered mills produced shingles from wood and cloth from sheep’s wool.Steam When boiling water to create steam under pressure that powered all types of engines for a wide variety of roles, the phenomenon so transformed economic life and society it became Photograph: J. Patrick BoyerPhotograph: J. Patrick BoyerForty years ago farsighted Muskokans recognized the importance of preserving the district’s rich heritage of early machinery. Muskoka Pioneer Power, headquartered at Bracebridge’s JD Lang Activity Park, houses all manner of development-era equipment. The powerhouse green Linn Tractor on display replaced many teams of horses at the Moore family’s Falkenburg lumber mill.Three members of Muskoka Pioneer Power operate their belt-driven circular saw at Bracebridge; a public demonstration of superb lumber-making.

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 45known as the Steam Age. e era, too, coincided directly with Muskoka’s pioneer development years. By the 1870s steam’s revolutionary impacts on the district rolled up with steam trains and castoﬀ with steam-powered watercraft. Land and water were suddenly much easier to travel. Muskoka’s treasures became readily accessible. e ascendancy of steam also enabled district manufacturing to expand into new realms, including the generation of electricity. While communities around waterfalls like Bala and Bracebridge could generate electric power by turbines, locations elsewhere lacking waterfalls such as Gravenhurst, Huntsville and Port Carling now also joined the parade of progress with this new way to spin turbines. Where often there were no roadways or even much possibility of building them, steam engines propelled watercraft throughout Muskoka’s extensive and interconnected waterways moving building materials, transporting all manner of supplies and carrying passengers. Where road construction was taking place, steam-powered machinery began replacing horses. In nearby ﬁelds, where teams once pulled plows, steam tractors took over much of that work too. From the mid-1870s, steam trains gave Muskoka-produced lumber, woollen fabrics, famous Muskoka lamb, maple syrup, maple sugar, blocks of refrigeration ice and tons of boot leather access to world markets. Steam turbines delivered new eﬃciency to district forestry operations because logs no longer had to be driven distances to waterfall sawmills when they could be sawn into easier to move lumber close to where they fell, if a nearby stream or pond had water available to boil. Dynamite If any place had need of explosive force to deepen and widen navigation channels and space for roads, it was Muskoka. Initially settlers built roads around giant boulders because it was easier but when solid rock faces impeded their route, they stopped – as was the case north of Dorset with the early Bobcaygeon colonization road intended to run to North Bay. In most cases, the only solution was dynamite. Railway Help Hospice Muskoka build stronger, healthier, more compassionate communities by leaving a legacy gift, such as a will bequest in your will, a donation of securities, or naming us beneciary in a life insurance policy. Your gift will help guarantee future end-of-life services in our communities. Receive a charitable receipt to offset capital gains and reduce your income tax.Leave A LegacyTo learn more about legacy giving, speak to your nancial advisor or visit: hospicemuskoka.com/planned-givingPhotograph: Graydon Boyes CollectionBefore motor chainsaws, two strong men operated a crosscut saw from dawn to dusk. This Mickle-Dyment crew out of Gravenhurst shows Billy Burridge and Joe Tryon holding the handle at each end of theirs. A blade typically ran four to 12 feet in length, depending on a tree’s girth.

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46 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024construction crews laying tracks across the Canadian Shield’s surface had no choice but to make noise and scatter rock. Once again dovetailing with Muskoka’s pioneering era, far more powerful explosives were invented in the mid-1800s by treating various organic substances with nitric acid. Among the new explosives was dynamite, a stabilized form of nitroglycerin which Alfred Nobel produced in 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation. Blowing things up with this potent new energy source quickly caught on everywhere, including Muskoka where it was a blessing for pioneers struggling to extract a homeland from primordial rock. Dynamite, the great novelty that year, even provided entertainment when Bracebridge blacksmith Duncan Cameron provided spectacular frontier ﬁreworks by blowing his anvil sky high on July 1 to celebrate the inauguration of a four-province country. Mechanical Energy Leverage systems using pulleys made it possible to raise and move boulders when building roads, lift logs onto sleighs, heft cargoes at loading docks, construct buildings and do most anything else by multiplying the strength of humans or horses. Today this principle of mechanical energy and multiplication of lift or pull force is still seen with motorized cranes on construction projects, cargoes lifted onto and from waterborne vessels, Muskoka bridge construction and at logging yards.ElectricityWhile Muskokans developed a pioneer community using various combinations of those nine energy sources, electricity kept nudging further to the forefront. e 1752 eﬀorts by Benjamin Franklin to capture electricity from lightning using a metal key on a kite had advanced by the 1830s to scientists and engineers working to generate alternating current power, with Nicola Tesla by 1888 getting a patent for his AC motor. During the district’s settler era, battles raged over alternating or direct current electricity, about constructing power lines, building power dams that back-ﬂooded Muskoka communities like Matthiasville and Wahta, safety issues and death by accidental electrocution, dangers of electrical ﬁres and the politics of private or public ownership of such a vital utility. In 1894 Bracebridge, with voter referendum endorsement, became the first municipality to own and operate a water-power station generating electricity. In 1906 the provincial government created the publicly owned Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario. Today’s power generated by nuclear reactors (some 58% of Ontario’s total), mobile generators, motor vehicles running on liquid fuels or batteries, solar energy concentrated to heat homes and power solid fuel launching rockets through gravity’s forceﬁeld into space, were all still science ﬁction in Muskoka’s pioneer era.Each form of energy has played a role in Muskoka’s settlement and continues to factor into the character of the region today. For those who appreciate how the present is the past in disguise, Muskoka Pioneer Power Association showcases power source transitions and the types of machinery supplanting horses at Bracebridge’s JD Lang Activity Park, adding special annual displays in August and at September’s fall fair.Photograph: Boyer Family ArchivesRailway construction crews pushing tracks north from Gravenhurst in 1884 were able to supplement their manpower with dynamite to make this rock cut that still serves trains coming through Bracebridge.Grunwald Lodge’s 1899 Fairbanks-Morse single-cylinder gasoline engine, as with other engines before electric spark plugs, was started by hand crank. It red by a xed blowtorch keeping a tube on the cylinder hot.Photograph: John Gall

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Article by Meghan TaylorWhile most animals have their young in the spring or early summer and are heading o on their own come fall, it is not unusual for squirrels to have babies in September.Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 49Keeping the Wildlife OutsideNo matter the season, visitors and locals alike thrill at viewing wildlife in its natural habitat. People ﬂock to Algonquin Park as the leaves change colour, viewing one of nature’s spectacles, and hope to see a bear, moose or wolf living its life. Foxes, raccoons, skunks and deer are now easily identiﬁable in neighbourhoods or hiking trails in Muskoka. However, as fall becomes winter, and most humans are spending more time inside, keeping nature outside seems like the best option. It’s understandable that critters change their own habits as the seasons change, as we do, and search for a comfortable place to hole up in as temperatures turn frigid. While mice, squirrels, and chipmunks are often the wildlife most considered as “pests” coming inside during the colder months, some of the larger customers should not be forgotten. Weasels may also consider a home or cottage a wonderful refuge during the winter, particularly if it gives them access to mice or other food sources. Foxes may craft dens under sheds, decks or porches. However, foxes are likely more scared of people than people need to be of them. If a fox doesn’t appear scared, they have likely been fed by someone and have learned to associate people with food. If this is the case, they may exhibit boldness or even approach humans.Bears may wander into residential areas, particularly as more and more rural areas are developed for human use. However, they belong in nature, not neighbourhoods, and the best way to discourage anything more than a bypass is to make it diﬃcult for bears to access food sources. Removing food sources and sealing entry points of all sizes are two major ways to keep wildlife outside. “Wildlife prooﬁng” your property can factor into closing a cottage for the season. With older cottages and homes, sealing entry points may feel like a challenge. However, it’s also good practice for general home maintenance to take time to check your property before winter sets in. Keeping these tasks top-of-mind when so many other seasonal chores are required can be daunting. ere are several things that can be added to a fall clean-up checklist to help prevent intruders. Spaces under porches, deck stairs or sheds must be checked for any holes, cracks or other compromises. Cracks in foundation or siding need to be checked and repaired, not only to reduce potential entry points for mice but also for ﬂooding and other potential impacts. Inspect the roof for holes and regularly clean soﬃt and eavestroughs. Windows and doors should be checked for holes. Chimney and vent covers and basement window grates or covers should also be installed and checked. Some animals need only millimetres to access the interior of a home or cottage. Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary asks that individuals ensure no animals are already inside before sealing a hole in the fall: “If you’re uncertain, simply crumple up a paper towel and put it in the entrance. If it gets pushed out, you likely have a visitor and can call someone for help.”Keep vegetation in the yard – plants, grasses, trees and shrubs – trimmed or cut back to limit the potential pathways for creatures to ﬁnd holes or weak points to enter a home. More than just the trees and shrubs, yards in the fall are ﬁlled with food sources like pinecones, acorns and fallen fruit or berries, which can attract creatures. While bird feeders in the winter months can help feathered friends, ensure spills are cleaned up and keep the feeder away from your home. Putting away outdoor furniture, particularly cushioned items, and cleaning and covering grills also remove options for food. As with foxes, bears are likely more scared of you, then you are of them. However, hunger and preparing for hibernation are strong urges. Once bears are aware of a food source, they’ll continue to return to it. Bird feeders, Photograph: Andy Zeltkalns

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Photograph: Andy Zeltkalnsfruit trees, pet food and even garbage can attract bears. Keeping feeders away from a home and ensuring the cleanliness and security of the yard, porch, shed or even garage can all assist in dissuading bears from visiting regularly. Kitchens, pantries and other food storage spaces are a prime target for critters. Keep these, and all areas of your home, free from crumbs and spills or clean them promptly as they happen. Pet food is another target, so store it in an air-tight container and feed pets inside. Ensure trash bags are tied tightly and any trash is stored in a secure bin. Cleaning the bins on a regular basis limits the odours of household waste, eﬀectively reducing the attraction for most animals. e Township of Muskoka Lakes includes tips in their code of conduct regarding wildlife: “Do not feed the birds or any other wildlife. Keep garbage in bear-proof containers, clean your barbecue and don't leave pet food outside to avoid attracting bears, raccoons and other unwanted animals.”Despite best eﬀorts, at some point it is likely the creatures will ﬁnd a way into a cottage or home to stay warm, dry and fed through the winter. If living with a family of raccoons or squirrels is truly unbearable, select a humane option for relocation. It may be tempting to handle an invasion of mice or chipmunks with rodenticide, if prevention did not keep the critters at bay. While these substances do work, the victim suﬀers a slow death, which does not fall into the humane category. ere is also a much higher risk and likelihood the victim will be eaten by a predator who will then suﬀer the same fate. While the predator could be an owl, hawk or fox, there’s also the possibility it could be someone’s pet, a cat or dog, who then becomes a secondary victim. Pest control or wildlife removal are options. However, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is willing and able to share Generally, foxes are more scared of people than people need to be of them. However, if a fox does not seem scared, approaches or acts boldly, they have likely been fed by someone and have learned to associate people with food.Chipmunks, squirrels and mice are typically the rst critters people think of that may venture into a home or cottage for shelter. However, larger customers like weasels, skunks and raccoons may also look for a refuge under porches or decks, in or under sheds or in garages or other out-buildings.Photograph: Andy Zeltkalns

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 51options and guidance on how to encourage wild animals to leave your space. If there are unwelcome guests, patience will be needed in order to get them to vacate. While most babies leave nests or dens by the end of August, it is not unusual for squirrels to be born in September. If you ﬁnd a fox family in an inconvenient spot, consider allowing them to stay until the young are old enough to begin accompanying their parents on foraging outings. Fox kits are born in the spring, usually in March or April and will emerge from the den four or ﬁve weeks after birth. At nine weeks, they will begin to hunt with their parent. At this point they are nearly ready to say goodbye to the den site and move on for good so, it’s safe to encourage them to leave.Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary urges research and caution when selecting an organization to remove unwanted wildlife: “While many organizations will claim to “humanely” trap and remove animals from your home, this does not guarantee the humane treatment of these animals after they are removed from your property. e best businesses are the ones that treat all animals with the utmost respect – regardless of the species or the company’s bottom line.”Companies that do focus on humane treatment understand the habits of animals and can even help reunite mothers with their young, allowing the mother to safely take her babies to a secondary or backup den, once removed from a space. Reputable companies will also go beyond Photograph: Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Photograph: Andy ZeltkalnsFox kits are born in the spring, usually in March or April and will emerge from the den four or ve weeks aer birth. At nine weeks they begin to hunt with their parent, so they are nearly ready to move on from the den. At this point, it’s safe to encourage them to leave.Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary oen has to deal with abandoned baby animals, throughout the year. When sourcing a company to remove wildlife from a premises, ensure the company treats the animals humanely once they have collected them.

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52 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024just removal to prevention, assisting in keeping wildlife out by identifying and repairing potential entry points. Making preparations in advance of closing the cottage or putting all the seasonal goods away in a shed or bunkie can reduce the potential of wildlife making your space their own. Taking time to inspect the building exterior before snow makes its appearance can help keep critters from ﬁnding their way in.As humans, we often take for granted that nature continues to adapt to our whims as we build roads, infrastructure, businesses, cottages and homes. Every project we undertake that pushes further into the wilderness disturbs the wildlife and invites them into our way of life. Be mindful, always, of wildlife. While animals may seem cute and cuddly, their behaviours, especially when threatened, may be anything but friendly. Rather than frustration when creatures attempt to make themselves unwanted guests, practice prevention, maintenance and security to keep the wild ones outdoors. Photograph: Andy ZeltkalnsPhotograph: Andy ZeltkalnsWhile deer are unlikely to attempt to enter a home, they will search for food sources in yards and gardens through the winter. As a prey animal, they may attract predators, so keeping yards well-maintained can ensure deer do not set up camp there.Hunger and preparing for hibernation are strong urges for bears. Once a bear is aware of a food source, they’ll continue to return to it, making it very important to keep bird feeders tidy, clean barbecue grills and store trash securely.

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 53Hello Friends. PURE COMFORT,SUSTAINABLY-BUILT28 MANITOBA STREET, BRACEBRIDGENEW ARRIVALSPACKS BAGSCLOTHINGEND OF SEASON SALE: UP TO 40% OFFSTORE CLOSING - 40% OFF MOST STOCKIt’s been a little over 11 years since we started “our experiment” as retailers in downtown Bracebridge with the opening of Momma Bear’s Ice Cream and Sweets. It was to be a transition between a long-time career in publishing and retirement. And… quite a bit has happened in the interim. With the announcement of our pending retirement from retailing, we have lots of reﬂ ections – making many friends and acquaintances, getting out of publishing and then getting back into it with Unique Muskoka magazine, a foray into local politics, the sale of Momma Bear’s, the opening of the Unique Muskoka store, the arrival of our grandson, saying a ﬁ nal good-bye to both of our mothers and so much more. In addition to saying thanks to the many customers who have been part of our lives and made great memories with us, we’d like to particularly acknowledge co-worker Donna Ansley who has been a conﬁ dante and constant source of support. Donna’s creativity and personality have brought joy to each day. Our weekends were made special with the addition of Marilyn Corrigan to our team and previously Shelley Emond. As we wind things up with store-wide sales, drop by to say “hello.” By the way, our daughter Meghan Taylor, who purchased Unique Muskoka magazine, will be continuing our tradition of publishing and we look forward to supporting her publishing efforts. Thanks to all of you for sharing in this part of our lives. While we don’t know what the future will bring, we’re looking forward to giving it a whirl!more. In addition to saying thanks to the many customers who have been part of our lives and made great memories with us, we’d like to Thank You, Muskoka!Susan & Don Smith

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54 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Town maintains ownership of Carnegie Library One of Bracebridge’s most notable historic buildings will remain in municipal hands.at was the verdict from Bracebridge Town Council when they recently approved a recommendation to maintain ownership of 94 Manitoba Street, otherwise known as the Carnegie Library. e library was recently moved from its longtime location in downtown Bracebridge to the new Muskoka Lumber Community Centre on Salmon Avenue. ere was some discussion over what would become of the former library building, which marked its 115th anniversary earlier this year. Council's decision means the location will become the future home of the town's planning and development department including economic development, planning services and building services, as well as the Muskoka Small Business Centre. e town also plans to explore co-location opportunities with the Downtown Bracebridge Business Improvement Area, Visitor Information Centre and Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce, with the goal of creating a Business Development Centre to be located within a portion of 94 Manitoba Street. is proposed hub would provide aspiring and current business owners with access to a number of services under one roof including one-on-one consultation, business planning and support and guidance regarding funding opportunities. Consultations with these business support organizations are underway to determine feasibility and interest in co-location.Bala Cranberry Festival celebrates 40th anniversaryBala's beloved berry will be front and centre when the 40th annual Bala Cranberry Festival takes place in October.is year, the festival will be held from Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20 oﬀering a weekend full of family-friendly fun. Visitors can look forward to a variety of vendors, cranberry-themed activities, delicious food and entertainment.e list of achievements since the festival’s inception in 1984 is truly remarkable. e estimated overall attendance over the course of the past four decades is now more than 500,000 people. Hundreds of local community groups and nonproﬁt associations have been supported, over $150,000 in scholarships have been disbursed, more than 150 local musicians have graced the main stage and more than 5,000 volunteer hours have been contributed per decade. Pumpkin Festival set to take over RosseauWhen it comes to local tradition, few date back as far or are as anticipated as Muskoka's fall fairs. While the midway, music and variety of culinary treats are always a key part Whats HappenedPhotograph: Matt DriscollPhotograph: Rosseau Pumpkin FestivalIn a recent meeting, Bracebridge town council approved a recommendation to maintain ownership of the Carnegie Library building at 94 Manitoba Street. Use is still being determined and is likely to be a combination of town services oces.The annual Rosseau Pumpkin Festival will take place on Saturday, October 12 and will feature family-friendly activities and farmer’s market vendors.

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 55of the fall fair festivities, in Rosseau it's all about the pumpkins. is year the annual Rosseau Pumpkin Festival will be held on Saturday, October 12 on Victoria Street in Rosseau."ere was a period where we really didn't have much going on here in Rosseau in the fall. 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," says Susanne Powell, who was one of a handful of Rosseau residents who helped launch the pumpkin Festival in 2012. "At that point we had Christmas events but by the time Christmas came around many of those people weren't around anymore."e village hosts an extremely popular farmer’s market and many of those vendors will also be taking part in the Pumpkin Festival, which always occurs on the Saturday of anksgiving weekend.e 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.Muskokans raise a pint to Oktoberfest celebrationsProbst! Oktoberfest Muskoka is back for another round with events across the region.Taking place every October, the event includes musical and culinary experiences in participating breweries and restaurants across Muskoka. As part of the event, breweries provide tours, with local chefs, retail vendors and food trucks pairing their beer with products, ingredients and menus that are often locally sourced. roughout the festival, restaurants provide traditional Oktoberfest features such as roast chicken, sausages, pretzels, dumplings, potato pancakes, sauerkraut and spätzle. Chefs and eateries are encouraged to put a Muskoka ‘spin’ on the dishes incorporating locally sourced ingredients such as cranberries, maple and shiitake mushrooms.Oktoberfest Muskoka always takes place the weekend after the Bala Cranberry Festival, which is always the weekend after anksgiving.“Almost 40 years ago the Cranberry Festival was started to extend our shoulder season and Oktoberfest builds on that idea,” explains Norah Fountain of the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce, who helps organize the event along with the Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville/Lake of Bays and SEGBAY Chambers of Commerce. “Not only does it encourage our seasonal residents to stay here longer, it also helps give employees in the tourism and hospitality industry more hours,” says Fountain. “In turn, that helps encourage staﬀ to come back for seasonal jobs next year.”Muskoka Heritage Place to host Fall Art WalkBilled as a merger of art, history, culture and Muskoka's world-renowned fall foliage, the Huntsville Fall Art Walk is set to take place on October 12 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Muskoka Heritage Place. A partnership between Muskoka Heritage Place and the Huntsville Art Society, the event is a chance to experience the creativity and talent of Muskoka's local artists in the unique setting of Huntsville's pioneer village. Guests will get the chance to explore an inspiring array of artwork that reﬂects the creative tapestry of the Huntsville community set against the backdrop of Huntsville's spectacular fall colours. Artists will be on hand so visitors can connect and support them while checking out one-of-a-kind locally crafted artwork. Muskoka Heritage Place is located at 88 Brunel Road in Huntsville and the cost of the Fall Art Walk is included in the price of admission to the pioneer village.Music, prizes and holiday cheer at the Huntsville Holiday Markete holiday season is quickly approaching and the Huntsville BIA is hoping to get shoppers in the festive spirit. e Huntsville BIA has announced the 4th Annual Muskoka Market: Huntsville Holiday Edition.e BIA is working with local partners to bring the community together to shop locally and take part in some holiday cheer on Saturday, November 30 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. e streets will be decorated with holiday cheer and warming outdoor ﬁre pits will also be set up. Carolers and dancers will entertain guests and an organized shopping experience for kids will take place. Guests can also expect giveaways and much more.While the event is on, Main Street from Brunel Road to Centre Street will be closed to vehicle traﬃc.To kick oﬀ the weekend, the BIA is hosting its annual Customer Appreciation Crawl on ursday, November 28 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Friday, November 29 at 5 p.m. there will also be a Tree Lighting Ceremony in Kent Park.Photograph: Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce The Huntsville Fall Art Walk at Muskoka Heritage Place, in partnership with the Huntsville Art Society, on October 12 features a wide array of local artworks amidst the fall colours with Huntsville’s pioneer village as the singular backdrop.

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56 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Three Fires back on the big screen in Bracebridgee ree Fires International Film Festival is set to ignite the screen once again this year, bringing together ﬁlmmakers, artists and cinema lovers from around the world to celebrate the power of storytelling. is year’s festival will take place at the Muskoka Foundry in Bracebridge from October 10 to 12, 2024 and promises to be a showcase of local, global and Indigenous cinema.“e ree Fires International Film Festival is more than just a celebration of ﬁlm; it’s a platform for dialogue, connection and cultural exchange,” says festival director Melissa Pole. “With our oﬃcial Muskoka 2024 program now released, we are excited to share a diverse lineup of 36 ﬁlms and invite ﬁlmmakers from 16 diﬀerent countries to Muskoka this fall.”e 2024 edition of the festival is presented in partnership with Muskoka Arts & Crafts and will feature a curated selection of ﬁlms that span genres, cultures and perspectives, with a special focus on Indigenous voices and intersectional representation. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with ﬁlmmakers through question-and-answer sessions and panel discussions that delve into the art and craft of ﬁlmmaking.Tickets for the ree Fires International Film Festival are now available online. For more information on the festival program, tickets and how to get involved, please visit the oﬃcial website at www.3ﬁﬀ.caBracebridge Festival of Lights returns November 22Holiday magic returns to downtown Bracebridge with the annual Festival of Lights in November. Fireworks, living window displays, late night shopping, Christmas carols, live entertainment, kids crafts and activities, hot cocoa trail, local vendors, Elf on the Shelf hide and seek, Santa Claus parade, illumination of holiday displays and many more festive events and activities are set to kick oﬀ with the Moonlight Shopping Party and Street Festival on November 22.Guests can stock up on holiday gifts and treats at this late-night shopping event and street festival. Sip on a hot chocolate while strolling from shop to shop to enjoy the living holiday window displays, ﬁreworks, children’s activities and much more. Don’t forget to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Fill-a-Cruiser toy drive.From November 29 to December 7, 2024 guests are encouraged to take part in self-guided holiday activities put on by the Town of Bracebridge and the Downtown Bracebridge BIA. You can ﬁnd more information at visitthebridge.caBala's Trek to Bethlehem returns this DecemberBala’s Trek to Bethlehem returns for another year of glad tidings on December 7.e annual tradition sees a circle of Bala streets transformed into a biblical village where guests journey back in time to experience what the ﬁrst Christmas night might have looked, sounded and felt like.Guests will follow the journey of Joseph and Mary on their ﬁrst Christmas and be inspired by the true meaning of the holiday.e trek begins at the Bala Community Centre at 1008 Maple Avenue. Guests will begin the evening singing Christmas carols, after being handed a decree stating they are summoned to the City of their Fathers ‘to be counted’ and pay their taxes. Guests are then Photograph: Town of BracebridgeBracebridge’s annual Festival of Lights returns this year, kicking o with the Moonlight Shopping Party and Street Festival on November 22.Photograph: Three Fires International Film FestivalThree Fires International Film Festival returns to Muskoka this fall with a diverse lineup of 36 lms and directors from 16 countries. The event will take place October 10 to 12 at Muskoka Foundry in Bracebridge.

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 57led by a costumed guide on the tour.Along the route, guests will meet a cast of biblical characters including the ree Magi, a choir of angels, shepherds, Roman soldiers and the lonely leper.e journey ends at the Bala Arena – disguised for the evening as the Jerusalem Inn – where guests may enjoy refreshments including hot chocolate and cookies.e Trek to Bethlehem is a free family-friendly event, supported entirely by volunteers. While donations are welcome, there is no charge to attend.Guests are reminded to dress accordingly, as this is an outdoor event.Province announces $50 million for Huntsville infrastructure A massive cash injection from the government of Ontario is expected to clear the way for constructing thousands of new homes in the Huntsville area.In September, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma made the announcement at the Mountview Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is currently in the process of being converted into a pumping station. e money will be used to increase the capacity of Huntsville's wastewater infrastructure system and potentially allow the construction of 3,193 new homes. “Our government is committed to making life more aﬀordable. A big part of that mission is enabling the construction of new homes. is historic investment into Muskoka will do exactly that,” said MPP Graydon Smith, Parry Sound-Muskoka, who was also in attendance. “Under our government, our riding has and continues to receive truly unprecedented levels of provincial government investment. I’m thrilled that Muskoka is receiving over $50 million to make home ownership more attainable for our residents.” e funding is being delivered through the ﬁrst round of investments under the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, which includes $970 million to help municipalities develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.New program promises greater access to the arts A local arts organization is teaming up with one of the region's largest businesses to help break down barriers for youth who want to become involved in the arts. e Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HfA) recently announced the launch of the Lakeland Networks Arts Access Program, taking place throughout its 2024-25 programming year.e goal of this new program is to increase access to the arts for Muskokans. rough the support of Lakeland Networks, individuals facing ﬁnancial barriers will receive bursaries for HfA youth programs as well as complimentary tickets to its concerts. Inclusion in the program is based on nominations from community and the family members.“Access to the arts fosters creativity, reduces stress and builds community,” says HfA executive director Dan Watson. “We are so thankful to Lakeland Networks for supporting this initiative that will oﬀer community members access to these important experiences that enhance their social, emotional and physical well-being.”Nominations for the 2024-2025 program are now open. Community and family members can recommend individuals who have an interest in the arts and would beneﬁt from support.Nominators will need to answer a few questions about the nominee’s interests and explain how they would beneﬁt from the Arts Access Program. Once a nomination has been recommended, there will be a follow-up interview. Decisions regarding participation in the program will be at the discretion of HfA representatives. Opportunities for fall HfA youth programming are currently available. Opportunities for concert tickets will be oﬀered as they become available throughout 2024-25 HfA Season.To nominate a candidate for the 2024-2025 Arts Access Program or visit huntsvillefestival.ca or call 705-788-2787 for more information.Feature by Matt DriscollPhotograph: Trek to BethlehemThe Trek to Bethlehem takes place once again this December in Bala and invites guests to journey back in time to experience what the rst Christmas night might have looked, sounded and felt like.Photograph: MPP Graydon SmithIn September, the Ontario government announced $50 million in funding for Huntsville’s wastewater infrastructure system. The investment is intended to support increased home construction, potentially allowing 3,193 new homes to be built.

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Article by K.M. Wehrstein Game Meats: Delicate, distinct avours“Gamey” is never said as a compliment about how meat tastes. It’s a dark, crude, overly strong sort of ﬂavour and something of a turn-oﬀ. Many people think it’s inevitable with game meats. However, the two chefs and the butcher in this feature agree it can be avoided if the game is properly handled and they have proved it with these recipes. Dave Purdon is the owner-operator of Muskoka Meats near Gravenhurst. He uses more natural methods in meat production and presentation, avoiding growth hormones and meat byproducts in feed, eschewing extensive preservatives, binders and ﬁllers in the ﬁnal products. Goods he oﬀers include standard meats plus lamb, veal, venison, wild boar, bison, pheasant, quail, rabbit, emu, caribou, ostrich and various seafoods. He prepares sausages from his own recipes too. Both his venison and wild boar sausages are delicious in completely diﬀerent ways and have a little spicy kick. Services Purdon oﬀers to hunters include custom cutting, smoking, sausages, patties and education on what to do and what not to do with a carcass, as he won’t accept one that is subpar. He does not do slaughtering or gutting.“A lot of people, when they say it’s gamey, it’s slightly spoiled,” Purdon says. “If you have tried game and had varied results, it’s about how it’s been handled.”It’s crucial for a hunter to have a plan for when they bag a wild animal, he explains. “You go to all the trouble of getting your gun, getting your ammo, getting your tags – to let the meat spoil is such a shame. Make your arrangements for where you’re going to take it, have a spot where you can keep it cool.” A lot of local hunters, he says, have accepted his instruction, brought in good carcasses and become regular customers.Non-hunting readers may not realize that by law you’re not permitted to sell wild game meat in Ontario or even give it away to anyone but immediate family. ere are two reasons for this. One is “to prevent poaching” as Purdon puts it, a polite way of saying that but for this law, the tastiest wild animals would be wiped out shortly, as our species has a tendency to do. e other reason is that with hunted meat it’s easy to avoid the standard meat-inspection process.Accordingly, the game meats Purdon sells are farmed but he chooses his farms carefully. “e good farmers have compounds that are Dave Purdon, owner-operator of Muskoka Meats, uses more natural methods for meat production and presentation and oers a wide array of products and services to his clientele. 58 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024Photograph: Kelly Holinshead

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 59Pan-Roasted Venison Loin with Red Currant Demi-Glaze, Mushroom Duxelles and Parsnip Puree – Alain IrvineIngredientsVenison and Demi-Glaze700g venison loin60ml grapeseed oil2 sprigs fresh rosemary6 juniper berries10 black peppercorns2 garlic cloves, crushed30ml red currant jelly125ml red wine500ml beef stock Method • Preheat oven to 375° F.• Season the venison on both sides with sea salt. • In a heavy-based pan, pour in oil and bring to a medium heat. Brown the venison for two minutes on each side to seal. • Put the rosemary, garlic, juniper berries and peppercorns into the pan, transfer the pan to the oven and cook for ﬁve to seven minutes. • Remove venison from the pan and leave to rest.• Put the pan back over a medium heat. • Add the red wine to deglaze the pan. • en add in the red currant jelly and stir in the stock. • Strain out solid items and reduce until it becomes syrupy. • To serve, cut venison into medallions and pour the sauce over and around them.IngredientsMushroom Duxelles200g butter2 shallots, ﬁnely chopped3 garlic cloves, ﬁnely chopped3 pounds cremini mushrooms,washed and choppedSalt and pepper250ml white wine125ml whipping cream60ml brandyMethod• In a large heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and sauté for about two minutes. • Add brandy and ﬂame (that is, ﬂambé). • Add the chopped mushrooms and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes stirring occasionally until the mushrooms begin to caramelize and all the liquid has evaporated. • Add the wine and cook, stirring until again all the liquid has evaporated, about ﬁve minutes. • Remove from the heat, transfer into a food processor and blitz for two to three minutes. • Add cream and seasoning to taste. If the mixture is too thin, put it back on the stove and simmer until it reaches the desired consistency.Yield: ½ cup Duxelles.IngredientsParsnip Purée1 kg parsnips, peeled andcut into chunks60ml whipping cream, at room temperature30g butterSalt and pepperMethod• Place parsnips in a large pot and cover with water, season with salt and bring to a boil. • Turn the heat down and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until soft and cooked through. • Drain and transfer to a food processor, blitz until it’s a smooth paste. • Add cream and butter and season with salt and pepper to taste.Yield: about 500 ml.; about four portions.Wine Pairing • A strong red but one that is a little lighter and more delicate like Pinot Noir.Chefs Tips• Why grapeseed oil? “Because it’s neutral,” says Alain. “I love cooking with olive oil but don’t want to overpower this.”• On cooking venison: “You must keep in mind that it cooks very fast. It takes no more than ﬁve minutes to sear, both sides.”• Why ﬂambé the brandy? To remove the alcohol taste while leaving the (delicious!) brandy taste.• e presentation Alain chose for the duxelles? Sandwiched between two mushroom caps, the larger one on the bottom with a nice sprig of rosemary as a garnish.Chef Alain Irvine’s recipe for venison loin calls for pan-roasting for the lean meat and accompaniments with delicate avours and a hint of fruit that pair well with the venison.Photograph: Tomasz SzumskiPhotograph: Tomasz Szumski

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60 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024like the natural habitat, so the only real diﬀerence is that you don’t go out and hunt.” e animals are slaughtered at an abattoir, so the usual meat inspection is done. He also notes their diet is enhanced some with grains to oﬀset the vagaries of nature. “ey’re a little bit healthier than hunted game.”When Purdon was a boy, he had a close friend whose father was head butcher at the Dominion supermarket in Gravenhurst. “We always ate really well when we had supper at their place, so I always had that little bit of admiration for the butcher,” Purdon reminisces. Growing up, he worked at Muskoka Sands where the chef was hoping to steer him into culinary but then he got more interested in theatre production, for which he travelled all over the world. Finding the entertainment world wasn’t compatible with family life, he went into carpentry and meat-cutting in England, then returned to Gravenhurst and bought the butchery from Guy Stroop in 2006. He moved it to its current expanded location in 2014.“To me money isn’t that important,” Purdon says. “It’s more the satisfaction of being happy with who you are, what you’re doing and your family.”With steaks of venison, wild boar and bison, it’s important to know the ﬂavours of the meat itself before determining the pairings or other dishes to cook to accompany them. Venison could be compared to beef but it’s more delicate – it’s diﬀerent. e same way beef doesn’t taste like pork and turkey doesn’t taste like chicken, every animal has its distinct ﬂavour, so venison tastes like… venison. “Game meats have not been bred to be marbled, so they tend to be lean,” Purdon notes. ey also tend to be mild. Wild boar does have a ﬂavour like pork but lighter; an apple sauce, or a delicate mushroom dish would pair nicely. Purdon himself describes boar as a “redder pork, almost like a cross between pork and lamb or pork and venison or pork and beef.”While you might expect bison to be like beef, it’s not. It has a red meat type of taste, a bit as if it’s already been seasoned, making it full-ﬂavoured and delicate at once. To consult chefs, we’ll go to e Oar in downtown Gravenhurst, owned by chef Alain Irvine and his wife, Robbie, and staﬀed on and oﬀ by his son, chef Iain Irvine.Born in Scotland, chef Alain made his name cooking in some rather renowned venues, starting with apprenticing at Chewton Glen in England – “the best small hotel in the world,” he calls it, at age 17. After attaining master chef credentials at Bournemouth Lansdowne College, he chose a job posting at Jasper Park Lodge in the Alberta Rockies over one in New Zealand “because the Canadian job paid 25 cents more.” From there he travelled back and forth across Canada with stays in Jamaica, Bermuda and Venezuela as well and worked as chef at Dave Purdon’s own recipes for sausages have a touch of spice to avour the meat, which compliments the taste of game meats such as venison or wild boar.Available at Muskoka Meats are standard meats plus lamb, veal, venison, wild boar, bison, pheasant, quail, rabbit, emu, caribou, ostrich and various seafoods. Dave Purdon also oers custom cutting, smoking, sausages, patties and education on what to do and what not to do with a carcass to hunters.Photograph: Kelly HolinsheadPhotograph: Kelly Holinshead

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Rabbit Ragout with Pappardelle - Iain IrvineIngredients 1 whole rabbit3 stalks celery, ﬁnely cubed2 onions, ﬁnely cubed1 large carrot, ﬁnely cubed10 cloves garlic, minced1 leek1 lb cremini mushrooms, sliced1 bunch fresh thyme (or 1 Tbsp dried thyme)2 ounces shaved Parmesan cheese2 bay leaves1 cup red wine1 cup plain tomato sauce1 cup beef or chicken stock1 box pappardelle (or favourite noodle)Method• Quarter the rabbit, removing the legs (which will provide the meat for the dish), but keep the rib and back sections to braise with the legs for more rabbit ﬂavour.• Preheat a roasting pot on medium high heat and sear the rabbit until golden brown on all sides. Deglaze with red wine and add four sprigs of thyme (or 1 tsp dried), 2 cloves of garlic and 1 bay leaf. Cook covered at 325° F until the meat pulls oﬀ the bone, roughly two hours. • In a diﬀerent pot, add 1 tbsp of oil, then carrot, celery, onion and the remainder of the garlic. Sauté until fragrant. Deglaze with red wine and stock and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes. Add tomato sauce, the remainder of the thyme and 1 bay leaf and reduce to desired thickness.• While rabbit is braising, cut the leek in half and rinse out any dirt. Julienne into thin two-inch strips, coat in ﬂour and fry in canola oil until golden brown. Season with salt.• Pull rabbit meat oﬀ the bone and shred into bite-sized pieces. Add the rabbit to the sauce and cook for an additional 15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened to desired consistency.• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta for the time given in the instructions on the package. Remove from pot, add to a buttered pan and stir to glaze the pasta.• Place pasta in a bowl and top with ragout. Garnish with fried leeks and shaved Parmesan. Yield: about four portions.Wine Pairing• “With that kind of heavy red meat and sauce,” says Iain, “Go with a strong red: Merlot.”Chef's Tips• “Be careful when you’ve got it to the point of meat coming oﬀ the bones; the ribs are so small they can get into the meat.”Chef Iain Irvine’s Rabbit Ragout with Pappardelle is of his own making; a take on a classic French dish but with the sauce leaning to Italian with it’s Bolognese-style.Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 61Photograph: Tomasz SzumskiPhotograph: Tomasz SzumskiPhotograph: Tomasz Szumski

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62 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024YOUR GUIDE TO SERVICES AND RESOURCESDIRECTORYTruﬄes at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, Minaki Lodge near Kenora, the Grand Okanagan Hotel in Kelowna, the Rimrock Hotel in Banﬀ, the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary and ﬁnally Taboo in Muskoka, in 2004. “It was time to stop moving,” Alain says. “Robbie put the pressure on.” ey bought North Restaurant in 2007 and changed its name in 2014 to e Oar and Paddle. eir ﬁrst son, Andrew, was born in 1986 and their second, Iain, in 1990.Chef Iain started cooking at age 17, apprenticing with his dad and going on to a purely on-the-job culinary education which included stints at the Rimrock and the Langdon Hall Country House in Cambridge. “e Oar was my home base,” Iain says. “I went and learned in other places but always came back here.”“I love cooking game meat,” says Alain. “It’s easy. You’re braising a lot of it.” (Take-home point!)“Moose and bear we can’t do,” says Iain. “We can’t go hunting it, bring it in and cook it for customers. You’re generally going to get farmed unless you go out and hunt it yourself. Luckily our grocery store carries rabbit.”“Bison is easy to get,” says Alain. “We often use a butcher shop out of Toronto. I love venison because it’s such an easy, accessible dish. If you have access to the internet, you can have it delivered to your door, same price probably as beef tenderloin.” “Venison is pretty lean,” says Iain. “You don’t need much more than salt and pepper with it; if you’re cooking the loin, think of it like a lamb rack without the bones.”But let’s leave oﬀ the tasty father-and-son repartee for some recipes! We’ll start with WE BUILD QUALITY - Roads, Septic Systems, Driveways and Landscaping - On Budget and On Time!Our Business Depends on Your Satisfactiongreenleafexcavation.ca 705-229-9985 greenleafexc@gmail.comJOHNSON LOG HOMERESTORATIONS705-738-7831 jcd.johnson@hotmail.com Staining Chinking Log Repairs Sandblasting Timber Frames Renovation Log Wash Custom BuildsLogHomeRestore.caWhile Dave Purdon does oer meat preparation services to hunters, he does not do slaughtering or gutting. However, he also will not accept a carcass that is subpar.YOUR FURNITURE & CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY SPECIALISTS Cal Cur an Paul Toda!705.784.0906muskokauph@gmail.com • MuskokaUpholstery.com Photograph: Kelly Holinshead

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Fall/Winter 2024 UNIQUE MUSKOKA 63Alain’s: Pan-Roasted Venison Loin with Red Currant Demi-Glaze, Mushroom Duxelles and Parsnip Puree. It’s not on e Oar’s menu but is similar to dishes he’s done in the past and oh is it good. Venison is often sauced with something fruity and this is no exception; the demi-glaze with its hints of red currant, brandy and wine is to die for. So are the duxelles and the parsnip puree, with lovely little chunks of parsnip, is delectable. e ingredients all work together to terriﬁc eﬀect.Now Iain’s recipe: Rabbit Ragout with Pappardelle. It is said rabbit tastes just like chicken but let’s disagree on that. Rabbit has its own distinct taste and also very much its own texture. However, it is very tender. “I’ve only had it braised,” Iain says. “Slow-cooked, two-and-a-half to three hours – or you could put it into a crockpot and go to work. e recipe is a one-oﬀ, not on the menu. (Exclusive for us!) It’s a pretty classic French kind of dish; I did a more Bolognese-style sauce but without the peas. I made it up as I went.”Chef Iain made it up very well. e sauce is intensely ﬂavourful in a tomato-based way, with delightful tiny bits of vegetable mixed in with the morsels of rabbit. Topped with shaved parmesan and fried leeks, the dish is delicate, balanced and delightful to eat!And so concludes the 2024 edition of Cottage Country Cuisine. Have a good winter, may you stay well-fed, healthy, happy, and as ever, bon appetit!www.budgetpropaneontario.com Budget Propane Sales & Service Toll Free 1.888.405.7777Serving Muskoka • Haliburton • Simcoe County • Kawartha • York RegionWe’ll take care of your propane needs for your home, coage, or business.The tomato-based sauce of chef Iain Irvine’s Rabbit Ragout with Pappardelle is intensely avourful, balanced and delicate.Photograph: Tomasz Szumski

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64 UNIQUE MUSKOKA Fall/Winter 2024In 1993, I transitioned from a career with the Ministry of Tourism to move to Muskoka with my two young sons, settling in Huntsville. While many may not realize that I’ve lived in Huntsville since then, my work has primarily been in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and the Township of Muskoka Lakes.Muskoka’s natural beauty and landscape provided incredible opportunities for my sons. ey enjoyed skiing and curling as part of their physical education program and had the chance to skate outdoors and go tobogganing all winter long. I believe my niece and nephew’s frequent visits to Muskoka fostered their love for winter activities.With my background and expertise, I was oﬀered the position of executive director at the newly formed Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce when I ﬁrst came to Muskoka. is role allowed me to collaborate closely with local businesses, establish remarkable events, create new programs and build lasting friendships. Over the 31 years I have lived and worked in Muskoka, I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful people, some of whom have become my closest friends.In 2006, I embarked on a new chapter as the operations manager and curator at the Muskoka Discovery Centre (formerly known as Grace & Speed, Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre), part of the Muskoka Steamships and Discovery Centre. My time there was incredibly rewarding, allowing me to apply my skills to various initiatives and develop relationships with businesses, volunteers and team members. After 17 years, I made the diﬃcult decision to retire in December 2023. A colleague reassured me, saying, “Don’t be afraid to retire; some of the most exciting opportunities are still out there.”In February 2024, I was oﬀered and accepted the position of executive director at the Canadian Raceboat Hall of Fame and e Venue, which was set to complete construction and open in July. I quickly put my skills into high gear and we successfully opened on July 20 – exciting opportunities indeed! I’m looking forward to welcoming tourists, cottagers, raceboat enthusiasts and so many others to this new space. Volunteering has also always been a signiﬁcant part of my life. I have served as a Girl Guide leader, worked with the Windsor/Detroit International Freedom Festival, been involved with Huntsville Hawks Minor Lacrosse and served as president of Huntsville Hawks Junior B Lacrosse. Currently, I volunteer with the Madill Church Preservation Society, the Muskoka Watershed Council and the Breakfast Program at Spruce Glen Public School. As in my work life, volunteering with these organizations has resulted in meeting many incredible people in the communities across Muskoka. My husband, Larry, and I are blessed with four incredible grandchildren living in Huntsville. We cherish attending their soccer, hockey and lacrosse games, swimming events and fun-ﬁlled sleepovers. Fun, family and friends are paramount to me. Living in Muskoka has provided our family and friends with a wonderful place to vacation for a week or two and to call home.Ann Curley was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario. She graduated from the tourism/marketing management program at St. Clair College and worked for 17 years at the Ministry of Tourism before moving to Muskoka in 1993. When Ann is not working or volunteering, she loves to spend time with her grandchildren and travel. A third trip to Lagos, Portugal is planned for the fall followed by a trip to Mexico this winter where she will celebrate her birthday. Muskoka MomentsArticle by Ann CurleyA lifetime of fun, family and friendsPhotograph: Ann CurleyPhotograph: Ann Curley

Unique Muskoka Issue 48 - October 2024

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