Whats Up Magazine — Bracebridge/Gravenhurst

WHAT’S UP
MUSKOKA’S NEWS SOURCE
BRACEBRIDGE
GRAVENHURST
October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Finding help when
children fall ill Page 10
Muskoka prepares
for a G20 Page 6
Bala bear hunt
documented Page 18
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Landowners not satisfied with resolution
By Sandy Lockhart
The District of Muskoka is moving
ahead with its forest health education
program despite resistance from
Muskoka members of the Ontario
Landowners Association.
At District council on Oct. 6, council
voted in favour of a forest health resolution
in place of the tree-cutting
bylaw they were voting on last winter.
The plan outlined in the resolution
calls for educational brochures to be
sent to anyone with more than 10 acres
of land, Muskoka’s website updated to
include forest health information, the
services of a contract forest technician
made available and partnerships with
stewardship networks like the Ontario
Woodlot Association solidified.
The planning and economic development
committee had developed
a more detailed tree-cutting bylaw last
year after the existing District bylaw
was no longer enforceable because of
provincial legislative changes. As a
result of proposed changes, the
Muskoka chapter of the Ontario
Landowners Association was formed
and threatened to close snowmobile
trails if the District went ahead with
the new bylaw. The District put the
bylaw on hold, but the trails were still
closed for a few days. Realizing that the
two groups could not come to an agreement,
the District hired an independent
facilitator to act as a mediator.
Last spring, the facilitator suggested
the District axe the tree bylaw and
work on a new forest health plan in
partnership with interested parties,
including the Muskoka Landowners
Association. He suggested a letter of
understanding between the District
and the landowners. Both groups prepared
letters but could not agree on
common content.
The resolution that came to council
from the planning and economic development
committee was five paragraphs
long but after a conversation at council
was shortened to just one sentence.
The councillors voted to pass a
resolution stating, “Public education,
extension and monitoring actions, consistent
with the recommendations of
the independent public facilitator,
as outlined in schedule A be implemented.”
The cost to implement this resolution
was $20,000, with $5,000 for
brochures and $15,000 for a tree technician
Speaking as a delegation at the recent
District council meeting, Carey-Anne
Oke-Cook, president of the Muskoka
Landowners Association, asked council
to review a new motion she forwarded.
Council did not address it, instead
voting to go ahead with the amended
forest health program resolution. She
also asked that council consider their
submitted letter of understanding as
null and void.
While there is no tree bylaw going
Muskoka Landowners Carey-Anne Oke-Cook, Karen Bainbridge and Deb
Madill continue to be focu sed on protecting their land rights.
forward at this point, Oke-Cook says
the landowners are not going to let
their guard down.
“We are standing together locally,
and it has absolutely grown into a vastly
wide membership,” she says.
She would not divulge the number
of members of the Muskoka chapter
citing confidentiality, saying only that
they had raised tens of thousands of
dollars through $60-per person membership
fees in the past 10 months.
She maintains land is private and
that government should have no say
in what landowners do with their property,
even if it means potentially
putting Muskoka at risk of poor tree
cutting practices.
“It is private,” Oke-Cooke says. “It is
their land. In every business, there is a
percentage of acceptable loss. I don’t
know all the information, but in every
business there is loss.”
Deb Madill, vice-president of the
Muskoka Landowners Association, says
a date for another Muskoka Landowners’
meeting is not planned at this point
and she doesn’t anticipate one in the
near future.
“We aren’t taking any action at this
point,” she says, when asked about
possible snowmobile trail closures
again this year in protest of the tree
cutting issue. “We are just watching
and waiting but I will never say never.”
She argues that the District of
Muskoka has no place to tell landowners
how to manage their property and
believes property owners are capable of
protecting their own land from rogue
foresters who don’t respect forest
health.
“We encourage landowners to be due
diligent – get references,” Madill says.
“We encourage them to ask questions
from others who’ve had property cut.
We ask them to get educated before the
property is harvested.”
Samantha Hastings, director of
policy and programs for the District
of Muskoka, says they had several
complaints this summer about tree cutting
that took place on Breezy Point
Trail, off Walker’s Point. With no bylaw,
the District could only talk to the
landowner and do some education work.
To that end, the District will spend
$5,000 for copies of the Ontario
Woodlot Association flyer, A Landowners
Guide to Selling Standing Timber,
for distribution to all 6,700 landowners
with over 10 hectares in Muskoka.
Madill, however, sees the move as
a waste of money. She says information
on proper forestry management is
already available through organizations
such as the Ontario Woodlot Association.
“We have to have the brochures
printed. They didn’t have enough,”
Hastings counters, explaining the
$5,000 will also cover the cost to
prepare an explanatory letter and the
mailing.
“When you are trying to build a
partnership with a third party, like the
Ontario Woodlot Association, you
can’t just freeload,” she says. “You have
to bring something to the table. You
can’t just go in and say thanks for the
brochures. It is a minimal way to
advocate partnership for those who
want to work with us.”
As part of its education program, the
District of Muskoka will also be advertising
for a tree technologist. The tech-
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
nologist, who will be a consultant on
a retainer, not an employee of the
District, will then be available to go
and meet with people who want to
learn more about forest health.
“I think it is a step in the right
direction for the District to take the
education and monitoring approach as
outlined in the facilitator’s response,”
says Scott Young, District councillor
and chair of the planning and economic
development committee.
He thinks landowners unhappy
about the tree-cutting resolution might
still resort to closing the trails as
leverage, but notes they might do the
same thing if they are upset about the
budget, a planning issue or even a
policy that comes forward.
“Ever since last winter, when District
council acquiesced to the landowners’
request and had the trails closed
anyway, we’ve also thought it’s likely
they’ll be closed each winter for one
reason or another,” says Young,
explaining that they can’t factor a
potential snowmobile trail closure
into every issue. “They are not afraid to
use that tool.”
Young hopes with the education
program, people will have the resources
to enable them to make good decisions
and choices when it comes to their
land.
“One of the salient points here is
that Muskoka is no longer actually
working on a tree bylaw. The only
thing that will bring it back is a
horrendous, horrible, terrible display of
improper logging,” he says.
Muskoka Snowmobile Region president
Norm Woods agrees the two sides
need to come to an understanding to
save the snowmobile season.
“We rely on the District when we
need help with colonization roads and
creating trails and at the same time
appreciate the land owners and their
generosity,” he says, noting there are
many landowners who are also
snowmobilers and helped develop
Muskoka’s trail system.
After attending the District council
meeting and talking to those landowners
in attendance he says, “There overall
seems to be a calmness. They don’t
want the trails closed either. The
landowners don’t want any governance
on their particular property.”
George Young, Huntsville councillor
and member of the District planning
and economic development committee
that has worked on the tree-cutting
bylaw since the beginning, hopes
the snowmobile trails remain open this
winter. He believes communication
between the landowners and the
District is crucial going forward.
“It is important the landowners
understand that the door is always
open,” he says. “I really hope they will
be part of the process. I don’t think all
landowners are as adamant as their
spokesperson.”
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 5

G20 details still unknown
By Don McCormick
Huntsville got more big news last
month when it was announced Muskoka
would host the G20 Summit in addition
to the G8 next year.
On Sept. 25 at Delta Grandview’s
Mark O’Meara Clubhouse, Parry
Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement
announced Muskoka would not only be
hosting the 2010 G8 Summit on June
25-27, 2010 but that it would be cohosting
(with South Korea) a 2010
“transition” G20 Summit as well.
“This is a great honour for Muskoka
and for Canada,” said Clement. “The
eyes of the world will be on Muskoka.”
Since the planning for the G20 is in
its infancy Clement was unable to provide
much in the way of details about
the additional summit. He was able to
confirm there would be two distinct
events, a G8 Summit and a G20 Summit.
They would occur sequentially. It
was not yet known which one would
take place first. It was also not known
whether both summits would take place
at Deerhurst Resort or whether the G20
would be held at another Muskoka location.
A G20 Summit is a relatively new
concept. Originally the leaders of the
top six industrialized democracies in the
world met in 1975 to discuss important
common political and economic issues.
Canada joined the group in 1977, Russia
in 1997, to make up the present G8.
This will be the group meeting at Deerhurst
Resort in June of 2010.
It has been common practice to invite
the emerging nations to the G8 Summit
as observers – called the Outreach
Group. India, China, Brazil, Mexico
and South Africa make up the Outreach
Group and they will also attend the
Deerhurst Summit.
But industrial giants like China and
India would not, for long, be satisfied
with being mere observers. As well,
other countries like Argentina, Australia,
Indonesia, South Korea, Saudi
Arabia and Turkey wanted a seat at the
table. Out of this was born the G20 –
the G8, plus the European Union, plus
11 other countries. The G20 accounts
for 90 per cent of the world’s GDP, 80
per cent of world trade and 64 per cent
6 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Parry Sound-Muskoka MP Tony Clement was at the Mark O’Meara Clubhouse
on Sept. 25 to announce Muskoka will host a G20 Summit.
of the world’s population.
“For future summits, the G20 will be
the focal point of the economic summit,”
according to Clement.
According to Ella Kokotsis, director
of research for the University of Toronto-based
G8 Research Group, this
G8/G20 Summit will make history.
“Having these back-to-back forums is
a phenomenal opportunity for Muskoka,
as the 2010 Summits will represent
the historic handover of global economic
decision-making from the G8 to a
larger club of emerging rich nations,”
she says. “Although the announcement
of Muskoka hosting the G20 may have
come as a surprise to many, it is a
remarkable honour and privilege to play
host to this momentous event. Muskoka
will always be remembered as the place
where history was made through the
ushering in of this new world order.”
Has the G8 become irrelevant? Not
for the moment, according to Clement.
It will continue to exist, at least into the
near future, and to deal with issues other
than the economy – environment, security,
foreign aid and so on.
“There is still a role for G8,” says
Clement. “There are environmental
issues, there are national security issues
and there are developmental aid issues
… and the locus of that is still the G8.”
How big is a G20 relative to a G8 and
what can locals expect in terms of the
number of people coming into the community?
According to Kokotsis it is a
very difficult question to answer. Such
numbers are not tracked so one can only
extrapolate from incomplete data.
In London, England in 2009 there
were 500 delegates, 1,000 bodyguards
and translators and 2,500 accredited
journalists. There were no numbers
Record donations for hospital foundation
Over $2.5 million was raised by the
South Muskoka Hospital Foundation
last year.
“Our foundation reported its most
successful fundraising year ever,” said
board chair J. Douglas Lamb at the
annual general meeting on September
24.
He reported extraordinary year-end
revenues following receipt of audited
financial statements.
“At our June 30th year-end, we had
raised in excess of $2.5 million, which
is a remarkable achievement when one
considers all the strikes we had against
us going into the year,” he said.
The Picture of Health campaign
wrapped up earlier this year, and the
results outperformed the predictions
from the original feasibility study, said
Lamb.
It was predicted that a $5 million
campaign would be a stretch and
would likely have to include funds typ-
ically raised during the annual appeal.
Instead, the campaign was completed
a year ahead of schedule, $800,000
over the target goal, and did not
include any funds raised through the
annual appeal.
“This speaks volumes to the spirit of
our community and the dedication of
our board members and volunteers,”
Lamb said. “Equally remarkable is our
cost-per-dollar ratio at 15 cents on the
dollar, a ratio that is considered
Photograph: Don McCormick
given for the number of police and military
personnel or for the number of
protesters the event attracted. The
recently completed G20 in Pittsburgh
had 1,500 delegates, 2,000 journalists
and 4,000 people assigned to security.
According to Kokotsis, organizers of the
Huntsville event are expecting over
10,000 delegates and 4,000 journalists.
No number is given for the number of
security personnel.
Clement speculated the increase in
numbers of people coming to the combined
summits will only be incrementally
greater than would have come for the
G8. The largest delegations are traditionally
from the G8 and Outreach
nations and they will already be here for
the G8.
Renjith Bengalil, the general manager
of the Marriott Residence Inn Gravenhurst
Muskoka Wharf, says his, and several
other Muskoka hotels, were asked
over a year ago to block off all their
rooms for G8 visitors for the duration of
the G8 Summit. He has not yet been
contacted with respect to the G20 nor is
he aware of any of his colleagues in the
hospitality industry having been contacted.
He expects the expanded summit
will translate into more rooms booked
and for a longer period of time in the
area hotels.
Clement further suggested the
increased costs of a G8/G20 Summit
would also be incremental and did not
see another large-scale injection of federal
money into the area.
“The incremental cost (of the G20)
should be bearable (within the budget
for the G8) and does not, at this time,
mean a whole new budget for the G20,”
says Clement.
In fact, he indicated he would argue
against any further large-scale infusions
of federal money. He also thought the
overall economic impact for the area
would be about the same as was estimated
for the G8 alone – about $300 million.
The location of the G20 Summit
within Muskoka is not yet known but
Kokotsis speculates it will likely be held
at the same location as the G8 to avoid
setting up a new security perimeter and
moving all the G8 delegates to a new
location.
extraordinary for an organization like
ours.” Lamb asked for continued support
to meet the needs of the hospital.
Currently, the South Muskoka Memorial
Hospital site has more than $5.4
million in equipment and capital funding
needs.
Of that $5.4 million, explained
Lamb, more than $2 million is deemed
“urgent need,” meaning that the equipment
is either not functional or is no
longer serviceable.

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www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 7

Susan Pryke heads for the land down under
By Sandy Lockhart
If all goes as planned, Muskoka Lakes
Township Mayor Susan Pryke will be
resigning from the mayor’s position in
mid-November, a year before the completion
of her term. It will be up to
council to decide if her position is filled
by appointment or by-election.
“My plan is that if the house sale goes
as I anticipate, I will give the clerk notice
that I intend to resign around the middle
of November,” she says. “It is a decision
I’ve made. It hasn’t been without a lot of
soul searching but it’s made.”
Pryke has been mayor for nine years
and prior to that served as a district
councillor for six years. She is moving to
Australia to be with her husband, David,
who has been living there for the past
year to care for his aging mother.
“I guess I’m moving there permanently,”
she says. “I’m applying for permanent
residency. I will be working there
and living there.”
Once Pryke has officially resigned,
then council will decide if they want to
hold a by-election or appoint someone
to finish out the term.
“It will be up to council,” says Muskoka
Lakes Township clerk Cheryl Mortimer.
“It is no longer prescribed under
the Municipal Act.”
The Municipal Act simply says council
can fill the position by appointing
someone who has consented to accept
the office if appointed.
“Council can appoint someone who
they feel will accept the position,”
explains Mortimer, adding that it is up to
By Sandy Lockhart
Muskoka’s YWCA has received almost
half a million dollars for a special program
for boys from the National Crime
Prevention Strategy.
The announcement was made in
Huntsville on Sept. 11 by Parry Sound-
Muskoka MP Tony Clement.
He announced on behalf of Peter Van
Loan, Minister of Public Safety, that
almost $500,000 has been supplied for a
local project aimed at providing support
and resources for at-risk boys in Muskoka.
“Our government is committed to
keeping our communities safe and preventing
crime before it happens,” Clement
said. “The funding announced today will
fund a program aimed at offering young
boys the support they need to succeed and
avoid a life in crime. I am very honoured
to be announcing this project in the
memory of Carolyn Bray.”
Clement explained that Bray, YWCA
Muskoka’s executive director who died last
spring in a tragic accident with her daughter,
Jolene Robinson, was very committed
to this project.
Clement acknowledged Bray knew the
YWCA had great programs for girls, but
needed a similar program for boys.
“I’d like to dedicate this program to her
and her memory as it wouldn’t have hap-
8 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Susan Pryke is leaving behind Muskoka’s lakes and trees for Australia.
council to determine how they will do
that if they take that route. Gravenhurst
had a vacancy prior to the last election
and chose a candidate after a call for
applicants from the community.
Once a vacancy occurs, council has 60
days to decide if they are going to
appoint someone to fill that position or
hold a by-election, says Mortimer. If they
decide on a by-election, it must follow
detailed directions as outlined in the
Municipal Act, including a 60-day peri-
pened without her,” he said. Attending
the announcement was Bray’s husband,
Tony Robinson.
The program will reach young men and
boys across Muskoka, explained Lynda
Hutt, YWCA Muskoka’s employment
program co-ordinator.
od to accept nominations and another
45-day wait prior to an election. In addition,
because 2010 is an election year, it
must take place by March 31 at the latest.
Pryke says being mayor is a difficult
job but it’s more difficult doing it alone
and coming home to an empty house.
“There are very difficult times and
stresses being mayor. I get a sense of balance
by coming home and talking to my
husband. Those who know me, know
“We will visit every public school and
every high school in Muskoka, within the
next four years,” she says.
The National Crime Prevention
Strategy, through Public Safety Canada, is
providing the money to the Community
YWCA of Muskoka to implement Quest,
how difficult it has been for me,” she
says of her time apart from her husband.
She says moving to Australia is only
fair as David, who is originally from Australia,
has been in Muskoka for 25 years.
“Life is too precious to be that far
apart from the person I love,” she says.
Pryke met her husband when she was
in Australia on a teaching exchange.
They married in 1983 and he moved to
Muskoka with her. She said he really
enjoyed the snow when they first moved
here, especially plowing the road at their
first home in Barkway.
Pryke has been to Australia for one
vacation in the past year.
“It’s clear that commuting back and
forth is not an option,” she says, explaining
that the Municipal Act limits the
duration and amount of time that she
can be out of the area.
“I think living in a state of limbo, as
you try to come to grips with a decision,
is more difficult than making the decision,
telling people and moving forward,”
she says of the whole process.
“I’m going to be with my husband. It’s
going to be wonderful.”
Understandably, there is much she will
miss once she leaves Muskoka as the
rocks, trees and water have always been
part of her life.
“I will miss the land, water and people
but I will come back and visit,” she says.
The Township of Muskoka Lakes has
also suffered the death of councillor
Stewart Martin but before that, has not
had to deal with a vacancy on council
since 1989.
Fund helps YWCA expand programs to boys
Lynda Hutt, Tony Robinson, Tony Clement and Claude Doughty gathered for the YWCA funding announcement.
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
a life skills program for boys. This project
will work with male youth ranging in age
from 10 to 18 years old, who are at risk of
criminal involvement. Participants will
take part in field trips, will be able to
explore potential career options, and will
also be provided with life-skills training.
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart

Torrance celebrates the celestial
By Norah Fountain
Ten years after the night skies over the
Torrance Barrens were declared the
world’s first Dark Sky Reserve, the
Muskoka Heritage Foundation is throwing
a 10th anniversary party to mark that
significant act of conservation.
Astronomers and nature lovers alike are
invited to join in the Oct. 17 celebrations
at the Barrens and at the nearby Torrance
Community Centre.
“This is a great way of reconfirming
our community’s commitment to this
ecologically sensitive area,” says Jan
McDonnell, a Natural Heritage Biologist
with the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources and chair of the anniversary
event. In 1997, the Barrens’ 4,700 acres
of bedrock and wetlands were regulated
as a conservation area. Two years later, the
Ministry of Natural Resources also designated
the Barrens as a Dark Sky Reserve
with the support of many individuals and
associations like the Muskoka Heritage
Foundation and Muskoka Ratepayers’
Association.
McDonnell adds the celebration coincides
nicely with 2009 being the International
Year of Astronomy – it’s been 400
years since Galileo observed the heavens
with the first telescope in 1609.
Those who join the celebrations will
The Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve is the perfect place to view the
night skies. This significant conservation area is celebrating its 10th year.
learn a great deal about the unique geological,
biological and astronomical wonders
of the Barrens. The day starts with
the unveiling of a commemorative plaque
at 11 a.m., followed in the afternoon by
short interpretive hikes led by McDonnell
and naturalist Brian Thompson.
Field naturalists Al Sinclair and Bob
Bowles will give talks on the natural history
of the barrens, and astronomers
Peter Ryback and Seth Verzyden will have
telescopes on site at 6 p.m. to guide visitors
in their view of the night skies.
“The barrens offer two big advantages
for stargazers,” explains McDonnell.
“First there are the flat rock outcroppings
Photograph: Terence Dickinson of SkyNews Magazine
that make it perfect for setting up telescopes
or laying flat on your back.”
Then there’s the huge expanse of the
area with its stunted tree growth.
“You can view the stars from horizon
to horizon,” she says.
In tandem with the action at the Barrens,
there will be displays and activities
at the Torrance Community Centre. Star
attractions include the StarLab Planetarium,
a travelling planetarium. Once
inside, visitors are treated to an educational
view of the planets and stars. Other
exhibits will help people better understand
what it means to be dark sky
friendly, and what they can do to reduce
the impact of light pollution.
“Lighting is the big issue,” says
McDonnell, who points out that despite
the dark haven the barrens provides, you
can still see a glow from urban areas outside
Muskoka. “That’s how far away light
travels.”
Keep your fingers crossed for clear
skies and an unbeatable view of the Milky
Way. The anniversary starts at 11 a.m. at
the Barrens and 12 noon at the Torrance
Community Centre. In case of poor
weather call 646-5517 for recorded
updates. All events at the Barrens start at
the main parking lot off Southwood
Road (District Road 13).
The Rosseau, A JW Marriott Resort
& Spa – Holiday Gala
Book your table now at Muskoka’s most exciting holiday party. The sparkle of the
season will captivate you and your guests with glittering surroundings, wonderful
food and fabulous entertainment. Everyone will be on the dance floor, with the highenergy
horns of the Mitch Beube Quintet from 9pm to midnight.
Tickets for dinner/dance are $75 per person (plus taxes). Special overnight guest
room rates for party-goers start at $119 plus taxes and fees.
Friday, December 18, join the hottest holiday party in Muskoka.
Call 705-765-1900 for reservations.
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P.O. Box 31, 1050 Paignton House Road, Minett, Ontario P0B 1G0 , jwrosseau.com
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 9

Melanie Scribner plays with her five-year-old daughter Jeana Lynn Johnson who was diagnosed with a form of leukemia in November 2008.
Finding help when a child falls ill
Life changed completely for Gravenhurst resident
Melanie Scribner and her daughter Jeana
Lynn Johnson on Nov. 17, 2008. On that day,
Jeana Lynn, who is now five years old, was diagnosed
with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
It’s not just the threat of the treatment failing – they
won’t find out for another two and a half years whether
the treatment she is undergoing will be fully successful –
or the frequent visits to hospital in Toronto, or the pain,
or the missed school, or the hair loss.
It’s also the money.
“Most of her medical expenses are covered, but there
are certain things that aren’t,” says Scribner.
She adds, “I’ve had to take a month off of work without
getting paid. When she was originally diagnosed we
were living from major bill to bill, and the credit card
bills fell in between the cracks.’”
Scribner applied to the Ontario Drug Benefit for help
in November but wasn’t accepted until January. The family
spent $1,000 on medications for Jeana Lynn in the
meantime.
It is hard for her to hold a job when she not only has
to take frequent regular days off, but emergency ones as
well. She had to quit her position as a loan representative.
“Jeana Lynn gets a fever, I’m taking the rest of the week
off,” she says.
She is very grateful to her current employer for their
flexibility, but every employer she has sought a second
job with has turned her down. “I’m classified as high-risk
and unreliable,” she says.
“There’s not a lot of solutions,” says Barbara Neilson,
an academic and clinical specialist in social work at the
Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. “The majority of
the workforce, if they don’t work, they don’t get paid.
There have been family support groups that have worked
10 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Article by Karen Wehrstein and photographs by Don MacTavish
over the years to see if something could be done to
Employment Insurance, but nothing has been done.
There is no income replacement program for caregivers.”
There is Employment Canada’s Compassionate Care
Benefits Program, but that provides only six weeks of
benefits up to 55 per cent of your salary, one time
only. Muskokans can apply at the Services Canada
Jeana Lynn hugs her 15-month-old sister Holly
at the family’s home.
office in Bracebridge.
“There needs to be a better structure,” says Scribner.
“I’m trying to get 900 hours so I can go on pogey.”
A family on the Ontario Works program due to low
income can get help with medical and travel expenses,
and utility bills or rent, which are in arrears, says Heather
Moore, director of programs for Muskoka Community
Services. Other help depends on the nature of the illness.
If your water bill skyrockets because your child needs
home dialysis, for instance, Community Services can
sometimes help, Moore says.
There is also the Ontario Drug Benefit Program,
which can be accessed through the Ministry of Child and
Youth Services’ Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
Program, but does not cover all prescription
medications, or over-the-counter ones. The Ministry of
Health’s Trillium Drug Program can also help. Both these
programs are based on income.
Some financial relief can come as income tax deductions,
Neilson points out. Many medical expenses
including travel, meals, parking, drugs, medical equipment
can be written off. If your child has a functional
disability and so qualifies for Assistance for Children
with Severe Disabilities, you should qualify for the disability
tax credit.
“It does sometimes seem like there’s a lot of different
players,” says Kevin Spafford, spokesperson for Deb
Matthews, Minister of Child and Youth Services. The
Ministry is currently working to create central access
points in each community, he notes. “We’re working at
bringing together everyone to the table, including the
services and community.”
In the meantime, help can be accessed through social
workers. There is one on staff part-time at the
Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, notes executive

assistant Tammy Tkachuk.
“The worker can help the patient go through the
process of application and getting qualified,” she says.
Private charities fill some of the gaps left by government
programs. Ronald McDonald House, for instance,
provides parents with a home-away-from-home while
their ill or injured child is undergoing treatment. There
are 12 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada.
At the Toronto Ronald McDonald House, the average
stay for a family there is 51 days, says director of development
Judy MacGowan. They pay $15 per night rather
than typical Toronto hotel rates, which means a family of
four staying at the house for 51 days is saving $12,000,
MacGowan estimates.
There’s a fully accredited school on-site to allow
youngsters to continue their education, programs to help
them cope emotionally, a car on loan from Subaru for
grocery runs and community groups that donate meals
and other treats
“Very often the families have suddenly discovered that
they’re relocating to Toronto,” she says. “But they still
have mortgage and car payments.”
But, until a planned three-fold expansion is complete,
the house still has to turn away 70 per cent of requests.
Huntsville resident Christine Kemper and her family
are all too familiar with Ronald McDonald House. They
are also familiar with the emotional and financial challenges
families face when a child is diagnosed with a lifethreatening
illness.
Kemper’s four-year-old grandson Isaac was diagnosed
with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of muscle and
tissue cancer that manifested itself in the form of a football-size
tumour in the boy’s stomach.
His diagnosis on Sept. 8, as he was poised to begin
kindergarten, left the family reeling.
“Your whole life goes out of focus,” Kemper says. “You
can’t focus on anything. Your life is taking one breath at
a time.”
Kemper’s son, Bradley, had to take time off from his
position at a landscaping company, and his wife, Larisa,
had to put her plans to open her own esthetics salon on
hold. They’ve been living at the Ronald McDonald
House near the McMaster Children’s Hospital where
By Karen Wehrstein
PhoneBusters, the RCMP/OPP
agency that fights phone, mail and
Internet fraud, investigated 190
cases of fraudulent charity appeals in
Ontario last year.
But, says Louis Robertson, the
RCMP corporal in charge of criminal
intelligence at PhoneBusters, that’s
only an estimated five per cent of the
charity scams going on out there.
“Many thousands of people don’t
call, don’t report,” he says. “They are
too ashamed, or they don’t know
we’re here. It is a humongous problem.”
If you think you’ve been defrauded,
he recommends, don’t hesitate to
contact your local police, or PhoneBusters
directly at 1-888-495-8501.
To avoid being scammed in the
first place, he says, use your common
sense.
“If you’re vigilant, you will probably
solve three-quarters of the problem,”
Robertson says. “But if you give your
money to whoever knocks on your
door, then you’ve got a good chance
of losing your money.”
You can easily check out any
organization registered as a charity
for tax purposes.
“Anything that we publish to do
with a request for charitable giving
has to quote our Canada Revenue
Agency charitable number,” says
Sandra Winspear, executive director
of Hospice Muskoka. “That can be
verified online.”
That information can also be verified
by calling Revenue Canada at 1-
800-267-2384.
“If you haven’t heard of them and
you’re intrigued with what they are,
you can ask if they have a website,
ask ‘Where can I learn more about
your charity?’” Winspear advises.
“They should all have mission statements.”
Any legitimate charity will happily
tell you what percentage of their revenue
goes towards their cause, so
take any unwillingness as a warning
sign. Other little red flags listed on the
PhoneBusters website include highpressure
tactics, names that sound
similar to those of established charities,
and someone contacting you to
thank you for a pledge you don’t
remember making.
Don’t forget also that someone
may contact you saying they’re from
Christine Kemper comforts her grandson Isaac
who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer
at the McMaster Children’s Hospital.
Isaac is being treated.
But the bills piled up as the two saw their son through
procedure after procedure and a few setbacks along the
way.
Fortunately, Christine and her husband helped with
their expenses until Bradley was able to return to work as
crew leader for a landscape company in Grimsby.
“The first month we were able to help them financially
and one of the neighbours even gave them a cash
donation, which was amazing,” says Kemper. “Any
money they get they are putting in a fund for Isaac for
anything he may need in the future because his health is
Don’t get fooled by fraudulent charities
an established charity. If that happens,
double-check: ask for something
in writing, or contact that charity
yourself and ask if they’re currently
campaigning. The end of the year is
traditionally a high-volume time for
charity appeals – both real, and
bogus.
“If you’re not 200 per cent sure,
make the call,” says Robertson.
Never give out personal or financial
information out over the phone, at the
door or by email – that goes not only
for prospective donors, but if you are
in a medical or financial emergency
and need charitable help. You can set
yourself up not only for charity fraud
by giving that info to the wrong people,
but identity fraud.
“The world has changed, communications
are better and faster, and
fraudsters are more equipped and
more intelligent than they were 20
years ago,” says Robertson.
Decide at the beginning of the year
who you want to donate to, and how
much, and send cheques directly to
the charities’ head offices. Then
when you’re approached you can say
you’ve already done your giving for
this year.
Photograph: courtesy of Christine Kemper
definitely compromised in the future.”
The couple, who also have a 15-month-old daughter,
will no doubt see more bills pile up as they try to cope
with Isaac’s condition.
Without a strong support network and the knowledge
that there is help out there, Kemper says she doesn’t
know how they would cope.
“It’s amazing the amount of help that’s out there,” says
Kemper. “It just makes you want to cry there’s so much
goodness out there.”
There are organizations like the Pediatric Oncology
Group of Ontario, the Canadian Cancer Society, the
Cancer Recovery Foundation of Canada, the Jennifer
Ashleigh Children’s Foundation and many others. Service
clubs such as Rotary and St. Vincent de Paul can
often help as well.
“And quite often, when something appears in the
paper the community is pretty wonderful about responding
as well,” Moore says.
That was the case for Jeana Lynn. Relatives and friends
have organized various fundraisers, including a New
Year’s Eve event that raised more than $9,000.
Despite the help of the community, Scribner, who
lives paycheque to paycheque, tries to cover a quarter of
the extra expenses herself.
“That account has to last for two and a half years.
They’d pay 100 per cent if I let them, but there’s always
a 15 per cent chance of relapse,” she says. “I’m petrified
that if that time comes, I’ll have been greedy and used all
of it and suddenly we have to go through all of the organizing
and fundraising all over again. Jeana Lynn’s my
responsibility, and I take it proudly.”
There are no two ways about it, discovering a child has
a serious illness can turn a family’s life upside down. As
Scribner and Kemper know all too well, it’s a roller coaster
– both emotionally and financially – filled with highs
and lows. While financial and emotional assistance is
available, these families face challenges and worries most
people will never know.
440 Ecclestone Drive, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1Z6
(705) 645-9827 www.ywcamuskoka.com
COMING EVENTS
MEN IN BUSINESS
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Wednesday evenings, 6-9pm
Start date: November 4th.
Register now at ywcamuskoka.com or 645-9827
LUNCHEONS 12:00-1:00
Bracebridge – YWCA Muskoka, 440 Ecclestone Dr.
Friday, Oct. 30: Meet Beth Ward, our new Executive
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Gravenhurst –Trinity United Church
Friday Nov. 6: Meet Beth Ward, our new Executive
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Huntsville – Partners Hall, Algonquin Theatre
Friday, Nov. 13 2009: TBA
$5 YWCA members, $10 non-members
$25 for a one year YWCA membership
RSVP to Lee Ann at office@ywcamuskoka.com or by
phone 705-645-9827
MUNCHEON MINGLE
Bracebridge November 27
Huntsville December 11
Mark your calendar
NEW!!!
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 11

WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA
EDITORIAL
Tree fiasco
wearing thin
Almost anyone who’s been paying attention
to Muskoka’s tree-cutting bylaw fiasco has to be
getting tired of it. More information and education
in the early stages of the bylaw plan could
have made a huge difference.
People were concerned about the new bylaw,
worried a permit would be required any time
they wanted to cut down a dead tree, cut firewood
for personal use or even clear out a half
dozen trees on their large-acreage property.
If anyone actually read through the proposed
bylaw, it was evident a permit would not have
been required for these circumstance. But very
few did that and inaccurate information spread.
Trying to appease landowners, the District
made so many changes to the proposed tree-cutting
bylaw that many council members feared
the document had lost its teeth. But, they decided
this bylaw was better than no bylaw at all.
It still didn’t pass. The militant Ontario
Landowners Association swooped into the area
and created an environment of animosity.
Landowners threatened to close snowmobile
trails if it passed; so council sent it back for
more discussion, yet trails were closed anyway.
Seemingly, enjoying the power, the landowners
decided to push harder, refusing to accept any
bylaw. By putting off the approval of a new
bylaw, District council is only delaying the
inevitable.
You have to respect the councillors who
remained calm in discussions with residents
wearing shirts that read Back off Government,
while at the same time claiming to want to
work with the District. At the latest council
meeting, attached to the press copy of the vice
president of the Muskoka Landowners Association’s
speech, was a joke about political spin.
That kind of attitude doesn’t build good relationships.
Now, Muskoka Landowners Association president
Carey-Anne Oke-Cook complains saying
she thinks the District doesn’t want to work
with them anymore. While councillors say the
door is always open should the landowners want
to come back to the table, one could understand
if council instead wanted to lock the door.
It is important to remember not all landowners
in Muskoka are members of the Muskoka
Chapter of the Ontario Landowners Association
and may be more receptive to change. The
Muskoka Landowners Association president
stresses the importance of honesty and clarity
but won’t release the number of members in the
local association. How many landowners are
they really representing?
Looking back, it seems a bit of education
and old-fashioned pioneer courtesy could have
averted the fiasco, protected Muskoka’s forests
and saved everyone a lot of time, money and
energy.
12 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Inside What’s Up
This issue of What’s Up
Muskoka marks two special
occasions. For our
Bracebridge, Gravenhurst
and Muskoka Lakes readers,
it has been one year
since we released the first
edition of What’s Up
Bracebridge/Gravenhurst.
For our readers in
Huntsville and Lake of
Bays, it marks the release
of the first edition of What’s Up
Huntsville/Lake of Bays.
Working towards the release of a
new edition is always an exciting
time in the publishing world,
especially when one launch follows
exactly on the first anniversary
of another launch. It provides an
opportunity look back at the
successes of the previous year and
to incorporate them into the new
product.
As was the case with our Bracebridge,
Gravenhurst and Muskoka
Lakes readers, Huntsville and Lake
of Bays residents have told us that
you have been looking for something
different – a more in-depth review
of the news and what’s
happening. Our regional
editions provide truly
local perspectives. However,
keeping in mind
our shared geography,
politics and economies as
a part of Muskoka, we are
able to give our readers an
informed overview.
And, we are delivering
this information in a
colourful, magazine format to every
household from Dorset to Bala and
from Novar to Kilworthy.
As we plan for the future, your
input is important us. I’d encourage
you to e-mail me your thoughts:
don@northcountrymedia.com.
In closing, I’d like to extend my
personal thanks to everyone who has
made this issue possible. We look
forward to working together in the
weeks, months and years ahead.
Donald Smit h
Publisher
Melissa Kosowan
Editor
Sandy Lockhart
Assistant Editor
Donna Ansley
Curtis Armstrong
Alan Bruder
Laurie Johle
Cyndi Kirkpatrick
Spence McGrath
Mary Lee Zimmer
Advertising Sales
Marc Bonitatibus
Production Manager
Addie Collins
Matthew Walker
Design Department
Angy Gliddon
Ken Northey
Susan Smith
Reader Sales and Service
What’s Up Muskoka is published by Cottage
Country Communications, a division of Osprey
Media Publishing Inc. which is a part of:
Published every month.
Copyright© 2009, Osprey Media Publishing
Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any
material published in What’s Up Muskoka is
strictly prohibited without the written permission
of the publisher. The publisher assumes no
responsibility for unsolicited material.
Printed in Canada.
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Two years $45 including GST.
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Address changes should be sent to the address
below.
How to contact us:
Mail:
P.O. Box 180, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T6
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Phone: (705) 646-1314
Fax: (705) 645-6424
E-mail: info@northcountrymedia.com
Website: www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Cover Photo
Bracebridge/Gravenhurst:
Sandy Lockhart
Huntsville/Lake of Bays:
Kelly Holinshead

New accessible playground brings fun to everyone
By Jason Dickson
A new accessible playground was
recently unveiled at the Bracebridge
Sportsplex.
Constructed by ABC Recreation Ltd.
of Paris, Ontario, the playground is a
unique facility as it is fully wheelchair
accessible.
“It was definitely a team effort,”
explains Linda Hillman, manager of
aquatics and youth for the Town.
“We’ve got so many young people in
Bracebridge. It’s just great to have it.”
Don Campbell, facility manager at
the Sportsplex, explains that the playground
is unique in that it has a threeinch
deep rubber surface beneath it.
“The idea is that someone with
mobility issues can get to the play
structure and that if someone fell they’d
have a soft landing,” explains Campbell.
Valued at approximately $100,000
the facility was subsidized by a grant of
$25,000 through Ronald McDonald
House Charities.
Alan and Lisa Cumber, owners/operators
of McDonalds Restaurants
of Muskoka and Parry Sound,
supported the project and endorsed the
grant application to Ronald McDonald
House Charities.
“It’s great to see these funds coming
back into the community,” said Alan
Cumber at the playground’s opening.
Bracebridge Mayor Don Coates, who
received the McDonald’s Helping
Hands Plaque on behalf of the town,
was also pleased with the final result.
“We are blessed with having a wonderful
accessibility advisory committee
in Bracebridge,” says Coates. “Council
is very proud of this facility.”
The Town’s Accessibility Advisory
Committee strongly supported development
of the accessible playground.
“We now have a safe and accessible
facility for the children in the community
to enjoy,” says Bob Jones, chair of
the Advisory Committee. “We have a
wish list that we’ll work away at.”
Dorothy Leavens, secretary for the
Advisory Committee, emphasizes that
many accessibility projects have been
completed recently, including the
Chamber of Commerce building,
which was recently refurbished, as well
as the Sportsplex roadway and parking
lot. G8 funding was received to replace
the bathrooms in Annie Williams
Memorial Park with fully accessible
facilities and any plans for a pavilion or
bandshell must also consider accessibility.
“Even little things like cement pads
under picnic tables make a difference,”
explains Leavens. “They might be small
things but they mean a lot.”
2009
M U S K O K A O U T F I T T E R S
A boy tries out the new accessible playground recently unveiled at the
Bracebridge Sportsplex. The project is fully wheelchair accessible.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 13
Photograph: Zander Sherman

Fall is a time for friends
Around Gravenhurst
By Gord Durnan
The end of summer
and the early
fall weather seems
to have teased us
with sun and
warmth for three
weeks and then,
wow, here comes
the rain and cool
temperatures.
Nonetheless, my
wife and I enjoyed a 20-year tradition on
Labour Day weekend when we were privileged
to attend a reunion that I refer to
as Gull Lake Friends for Life. About 20
of us gather every year to tell tall tales of
our childhood in Gravenhurst and cottaging
on the lake. Many of you would
recognize a couple of names from this
group such as Greg Simmons, whose
family have deep roots in our town.
Greg’s father Gerry Simmons was mayor
and a prominent businessman and Rotarian.
Another familiar name from the
group is Michael Cole, who for years was
the inspiration for the Muskoka Festival
and Tamarack Gallery.
Another important annual gathering is
the Terry Fox Run in mid-September. It
was also great to see public schools out a
few days after the main community event
all walking to Gull Lake Rotary Park in
memory of Terry. Bruce and Bonnie
Dart, the event co-ordinators, reminded
me that in 2010 it will be the 30th
anniversary of the Terry Fox run and his
inspirational run across Canada to raise
funds for cancer research.
September is also special in our family
14 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
as we celebrate both our daughters’ birthdays.
Amazingly, as they grow older my
wife and I seem to stay so young. I had
fun taking both Sarah and Shannon to
the Rogers Centre to see the Blue Jays
win one of their season ending games.
I hope many of you noticed the latest
addition to our cultural entertainment
scene with the beginning of monthly
movies at the Gravenhurst Opera House.
A non-profit group spearheaded by
Mandy Dart and Noelle Rebelein will be
bringing to town Fine Films in association
with the Toronto International Film
Festival. The Rotary Club of Gravenhurst
is proud to be one of the presenting
sponsors. Mark your calendars and be
sure to attend every month on the third
Tuesday of the month at the absolute
bargain price of $6 in advance from
Penny Varney’s jewelry store or $7 at the
door. At these prices you can afford to
bring family and friends for an enjoyable
night at the movies.
During the past month I also visited
several friends and family members who,
for various reasons, were receiving great
service at the South Muskoka Memorial
Hospital Site of Algonquin Health Services.
We should all be so proud of the
caring staff in all departments throughout
the hospital who really go the extra mile
to comfort both patients and family
members. I even had several mention
that they enjoyed the meals and loved the
desserts. I was so pleased to see so many
Gravenhurst folks working as volunteers
with the Auxiliary bringing the personalized
care to families and visitors; this
truly is Gravenhurst’s hospital.
Until next month, enjoy what’s left of
autumn in Muskoka. Before long, winter
will be upon us.
Mark your calendars
Town of Gravenhurst notes
The Farmer’s Market has wrapped up
for the season but be sure to mark your
calendars for Dec. 5, 2009 for the
Christmas Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre.
It’s a great opportunity to pick up that
special Christmas gift!
Oct. 16, 17, 18 is the 25th Annual
Bala Cranberry Festival and this year the
Town of Gravenhurst is offering a shuttle
service to the festival from Muskoka
Wharf. Saturday and Sunday the shuttle
will be leaving from the Due North
Parking Lot at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1
p.m. The bus will be running from 2
p.m. to 5 p.m. back to Gravenhurst.
Your passport button will get you on the
shuttle and into the festival. Visit
www.balacranberryfestival.on.ca
The Winter Carnival committee is
busy at work preparing for the launch of
the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, being
brought back by popular demand. The
Winter Carnival will run from March 4-
7, 2010. Some of the great events
include: a doggie dash, donut eating on
a string, nail driving, snowmobile radar
runs, bed races, a youth dance at the
high school, a licensed dance for adults,
broomball, hockey, curling and the list
goes on and on. It is a major undertaking
to bring this tradition back to the
community and the committee is always
looking for volunteers and sponsors.
If you are interested in lending your
time and talent, contact Marg
McLaughlin at margmclaughlin@rogers.com
or Amy Taylor at ataylor@gravenhurst.ca.
Also, just a reminder the Gravenhurst
Chamber of Commerce has now
released their Santa Claus Parade registration
and sponsorship forms. If you
are interested in putting in a float, sponsoring
a band or helping, please contact
Brea at the Chamber, 705-687-4432 or
events@gravenhurstchamber.com. Nov.
21 will come fast! Don’t miss out!
For more event details, visit
www.gravenhurst.ca,
www.gravenhurstchamber.com and
www.gravenhursttbia.com
Embrace life’s changes
Around Bracebridge
By Maria Duncalf-Barber
With students
back at school and
university, and
tourists gone
home, September
reminds me of
change and how
people resist
change. Yet, in
reality, the one
constant thing in
this life is change, because nothing stays
the same.
From Sept. 22 when the autumnal
equinox takes place, we are officially in
autumn. Writer George Elliot said about
autumn, “Delicious autumn! My very
soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird,
I would fly about the earth seeking
successive autumns.”
The fall is a beautiful time of the year.
I love this month because Peter and I
celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary
on 9/9/09. We chose to get married
on the Lady Muskoka. We planned it so
we would exchange vows as we passed
the Bracebridge Falls. I was delighted
showing off the falls to family and
friends from England and Ireland who
were thrilled as the ship took us on a
two-hour cruise around Lake Muskoka.
To celebrate our anniversary, we went
to one fifty five, a wonderful restaurant
in Bracebridge owned by Europeantrained
Chef Michael Rickard. The
décor and classy design of one fifty five
is a testament of a world-class restaurant.
As the food danced on my palette,
the trained knowledgeable wait staff
answered our every need. We were
satisfied patrons.
I spoke to my friend Joyce Mallows
who was married 65 years and she said
the secret of a good marriage is tolerance.
I would throw in a smattering of
love, communication and laughter.
I love Six Degrees Muskoka and I
have attended a lot of their art shows
this summer. Recently I was at a wine
and cheese reception with Kaj Pindal,
National Film Board animation pioneer
and creator of the Emmy and Geminiaward
winning series Peep and the Big
Wide World. Pindal was born in Nazi
occupied Denmark and immigrated
here in the 1950s. He is an amazing
man who still draws using bright
primary colours. He graciously signed
autographs and allowed guests to hold
his awards.
Six Degrees also held the seventh and
final art exhibit in the first phase of the
Muskoka initiative. Following completion
of the Second Chances exhibition,
Six Degrees closed its doors. I attended
their last soiree celebration Sept. 14.
On Sept. 12, I was happy to attend
a fundraiser barbecue for Jolene Robinson,
hosted by the Muskoka Slow
Spokes Mountain Bike Group. Jolene
died tragically this past spring at the age
of 12, but her love for dance will live on
in the hearts of others through the
Jolene Robinson Dance for Joy Ballet
Scholarship and Award.
Her father Tony Robinson did the
barbecuing at Wellington Place Plaza;
Fresh Kutz Market & Grill donated
food. It was an excellent day; the sun
was shining and dancers of all ages from
the Bracebridge School of Ballet danced
in honour of Jolene who was one of
their classmates.
“The students still have a hard time
and are still sad, but we are going to still
dance for joy because that’s what she
would have wanted,” says director Evelyn
Finlayson-Kelly. “Tony called it
Dance for Joy because it’s inspiring; we
hope it will inspire others.”
People were generous as they donated
over $5,000 for the award.
Just as Jolene Robinson was a very
special little girl, so too was her mother
Carolyn Bray, the YWCA Muskoka
executive director who also lost her life
in March. Needless to say, finding someone
to fill her shoes at the Y was no easy
task. But Beth Ward, the new executive
director of YWCA Muskoka, took over
officially on Sept. 14. Beth has been
active in advocacy work with women,
children, the disabled and the elderly
throughout Muskoka for several years.
Sept. 13 was the annual Terry Fox Run
at Memorial Park in Bracebridge and coordinator
Wendy Moses says over 241
walkers and runners participated.
“Good weather, families, kids and
strollers made it a family event, raising
over $25,000,” she says. “Ellen Yeo was
master of ceremonies, Norm Miller and
Don Coates spoke and Andre Bourque
from Muskoka Fitness facilitated the
warm up. Tony Clement came and
cheered people on at the finish line.
Everyone gobbled up food and we are
gearing up for next year the 30th year
with many celebrations.”
Movie group Spinning Reels started
the season on Sept. 14 with a reception
for all movie patrons at Riverwalk
where chef/owner David Friesen
cooked some delectable food. This year
we gave over $3,500 to libraries and
seniors’ homes. This included a bursary
of $500 each to two Muskoka Film
students. The board of Spinning Reels
is happy to contribute the first bursary
to the education of local students and
know it will make a difference.
The Bracebridge Agricultural Society
Fall Fair and Horse Show celebrated the
142nd annual show on Sept. 18-20
with food, entertainment, exhibits in
baking, vegetables, flowers, handcrafts,
poultry, cattle, goats and the like.
September may not be quite the last
hurrah of summer. Remember while
change is inevitable, learn to receive it
graciously, think of change as the
butterfly who denotes new beginnings
and a sense of freedom. As we
transition into another phase of our
lives I hope yours is full of love, kindness
and adventure. Enjoy the fall
colours and the change in the air.

It’s a time of change
Around Muskoka Lakes
By Norah Fountain
It was as if
someone threw a
switch on Sept.
21 and presto,
autumn was here.
It’s a bittersweet
time as we say
goodbye to summer
yet marvel in
the bounty of harvest
time.
This fall also marks significant passages
on the Township of Muskoka Lakes
council front. Friends and colleagues
gathered Sept. 10 in an impromptu
memorial at Bass Lake Restaurant for
District councillor Stewart Martin who
passed away Sept. 5. Stewart was a lover
of all things nautical, especially the Segwun.
He spent countless hours working
to push for better technology for Muskoka.
He was a friend to those at Aspen
Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. He worked
hard for our region. He was my mentor
and he will be missed by many. A public
memorial to remember “Stew” is being
held Oct. 25 at the Port Carling Community
Centre.
Another significant change at council
is the imminent departure of Mayor
Susan Pryke who is joining her family in
Australia. Considering the rules of the
Municipal Act, replacements for municipal
councillors must be determined 60
days after council declares a vacancy.
That means a new Ward C councillor
could be in place before the end of the
year, and a new mayor could be on board
by February.
Clean up at the Delta Sherwood Inn
continues after the Port Carling landmark
was damaged by fire last month.
Muskoka Lakes fire chief Jim Sawkins has
commended the staff of the Delta Sherwood
Inn for the effectiveness of their
emergency preparedness in coping with
the fire that destroyed the resort’s dining
room and conference area. The resort
expects areas affected in the Sept. 18
blaze to be reopened ahead of the 2010
Winter Games.
A year has gone by since crowds gathered
to protest a proposed power project
at the Bala Falls, and the Save the Bala
Falls group brought people together again
this Thanksgiving to ensure concerns are
still being heard. Organizers had hoped
for a meeting with the Ontario Minister
of Natural Resources but Donna Cansfield’s
office says no such meeting will
occur – at least not until the long-awaited
environmental assessment for the project
is released. That report was to be
released by now, but at press time, a specific
release date was still unconfirmed.
Activists and volunteers alike in our
area seem to have boundless energy that
deserves applause, and you certainly see
volunteer commitment in action at the
Bala Cranberry Festival. The festival can
always use more volunteers so give them
a call at 762-1564 and leave a message if
you would like to help out. The Bala
Legion is also looking for volunteers to
help out. Call them at 762-3913 or just
show up and Ursula will put you to work
this weekend.
Over at the Bala Museum, judges will
select another Anne Shirley look-alike in
the Cran-Anne Contest on Oct. 17. It’s
the 10th year in a row that they’ve run
the Cran-Anne contest, a must for all
Anne of Green Gables fans.
Golfers made the most of fabulous fall
weather. The Muskoka Lakes Township
Mayor’s tournament at the Lake Joseph
Club raised over $34,000 for the Muskoka
Heritage Fund. The Bala Curling
Club held its Golf Classic at Beaver Run
Golf Course with about 60 golfers playing
through and dining afterward at the
Bala Legion.
The Bala Curling Club holds its annual
general meeting and open social night
on Oct. 30 and potential curlers are
invited to come hear what’s in store to
warm up your winter. To learn more, give
Rob Davidson a call at 762-2662.
Keep your good news tips coming to
norah@muskoka.com
Fall in Bala wouldn’t be complete without the cranberry harvest at Johnston’s
Cranberry Marsh.
Photograph: Wendy Hogarth
What Parents
Need to Know...
Center for Addiction and
Menal Health 2007 Student
Drug Use Survey results show
1 in 10 Ontario students drink at least once a week.
33% of Northern Ontario students are more likely to binge drink
(consuming 5 or more drinks at a single sitting) than the rest of the
provincial average of 22-27%.
26% of Ontario students report using Cannabis at least once in the
last year.
12% of all student drivers admit to driving within an hour of
consuming 2 or more alcoholic drinks.
16% of all student drivers admit to driving a vehicle within an hour
of using cannabis at least once in the past year.
What Parents Can Do...
Don’t assume your kids, for whatever reason, will never be offered or
tempted to experiment with alcohol and other drugs.
Talk to them and encourage them to talk to you – tell them your
expectations around drugs and alcohol, know the facts and be open
and honest.
Don’t assume your kids will know better than to drive impaired or
get a ride from someone who is impaired – talk to them about the
dangers and how impaired driving is never the right choice.
Call me if you need help,
anytime, anywhere - no questions, no hassles.
Name______________________________
Phone______________________________
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www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 15

By Sandy Lockhart
Muskokans from all walks of life gathered
at the First Annual Muskoka Awards
gala on Sept. 18 to honour those who
have made a lasting difference in their
communities.
“Tonight is a night of celebration, recognizing
46 nominees – individuals and
groups – who have touched the lives of
their fellow Muskokans and people in far
away places,” said Don Smith, publisher
of Muskoka Magazine and What’s Up
Muskoka, hosts of the Muskoka Awards.
The master of ceremonies at the gala
event, which was held at The Rosseau, a
JW Marriott Resort & Spa at Red Leaves,
was Roy MacGregor, a well-known journalist
and author with Muskoka roots.
He entertained the crowd with a few stories
and then proudly presented the
Muskoka Awards.
The first award, in the Arts category,
was presented to Gayle Dempsey of Port
Carling. A painter, impresario, educator,
writer, poet and mentor, Gayle Dempsey’s
contributions and leadership in the
Muskoka arts community inspire those
around her.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said,
bringing the 250 guests in attendance to
their feet in standing ovation. “I’m thinking
about geese flying in formation, and
how they all work together and it is
because they are all together.”
The Natural Environment Award was
presented to the Muskoka Heritage
Foundation, which works to conserve
Muskoka’s natural heritage and plays an
integral role in the Muskoka Heritage
Trust and the Muskoka Watershed
Council.
Foundation president John Finley
Podium Sponsor
About 250 people gathered in the ballroom of The Rosseau, JW Marriott Resort & Spa, to honour fellow Muskokans who have made a difference.
Honouring Muskoka’s community builders
16 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
accepted the award on behalf of the foundation’s
directors, volunteers, staff,
donors and members.
“Without them we would not be able
to do what we do and continue to do
what we do, which is maintain this marvellous
location – Muskoka,” he said.
When Ken Black of Bracebridge was
named the recipient of the Community
Advocate Award, the crowd rose to their
feet, filling the ballroom with applause.
Black is wel-known as an educator, politician
and community advocate and is per-
haps best known for his role in the development
and creation of the Muskoka
Watershed Council.
“I’m honoured to be recognized among
so many other deserving people,’ he said.
“I’m accepting not on behalf of myself,
but on behalf of others who make a difference
in Muskoka.”
Muskoka Futures took the nod for
Community Organization at the first
annual Muskoka Awards celebration.
Muskoka Futures board chair Marguerite
Urban accepted the award.
Muskoka Lakes Mayor Susan Pryke and Leah Leslie, director of sales and
marketing for The Rosseau, chat before the Muskoka Awards ceremony.
Photographs: Scott Turnbull
“Thank you on behalf of this wonderful
organization, our volunteer board,
wonderful staff, and partners too many to
name, and our sponsor FedNor,” she said
as she took the podium with a handcrafted
award made by Muskoka artist Jon
Partridge.
A well-known name in the region,
Muskoka Futures believes in the economic
enhancement of the community, by the
community, for the community. Since
1987, it has supported many Muskoka
businesses and incubated many significant
programs and project.
The Humanitarian Award was presented
to 97-year-old the Honourable Douglas
C. Thomas of Bracebridge. Judge
Thomas served for 34 years after being
appointed to the Superior Court of Justice
in 1953. He became the founding president
of the J.W. McConnell and Margaret
Ann Wilson McConnell Memorial Foundation,
best known today for providing
educational grants and funds for those in
need. Until his judicial duties occupied
much of his time, he was also very active
in service clubs and arts activities.
“On behalf of my father, I’m very
grateful to those who made the decision,”
said Cynthia Smith. “Thank you very
much.”
The Sports and Recreation Award was
presented to Lisle Bynoe of Bala, who has
operated a Bala boxing club for the past
16 years. Bynoe expects club members to
work hard to reach their full potential and
accepts nothing but their very best.
He was unable to attend because he
was at a boxing show with his club in
Sault Ste Marie but his son-in-law Peter
Morrison read his prepared statement.
“If I can help an athlete to succeed by

Ken Black was the recipient of the
Muskoka Award in the Community
Advocate category.
passing on the little knowledge, that was
passed on to me, then, I truly believe that
I have done my duty to my community,”
he wrote.
The last award of the evening was presented
in the Youth category, described
by MacGregor as, “the present and
future ambassadors of the Muskoka
community.”
The recipient of the award was 17year-old
Jessica Bacon of Port Sydney.
She has performed in many theatre productions,
is an accomplished musician
and even recently volunteered on a mission
to South America.
“I’m very surprised,” she said upon
receiving the award. “This is an amazing
evening.” She then thanked her family
and parents “who’ve been so good in supporting
my life.”
MacGregor finished the evening by
telling the audience about a conversation
he had with one of the nominees, Robin
Tapley, who has travelled all over the
world.
“He told me, ‘Once you get a chance
to see other places, you see how wonderful
Muskoka is. People ask my favourite
place and I say home,’” MacGregor said.
Ninety-seven-year-old Douglas C.
Thomas was the recipient of the
Humanitarian Award.
Gayle Dempsey’s contribution to
the arts was recognized with the
Muskoka Award in the Arts.
Marguerite Urban accepted the
Community Organization award on
behalf of Muskoka Futures.
Nominee representative Brenda Wainman Goulet and Paul
Goulet enjoy each other’s company at the Muskoka Awards
(above). Savannah Robinson and Virginia Hastings share a
laugh (right). Savannah’s late mother, Carolyn Bray, was
among the nominees.
Kerri Morrison accepted the Sports
& Recreation Muskoka Award on
behalf of her father Lisle Bynoe.
Photographs: Scott Turnbull
Jessica Bacon was presented with
the Muskoka Award in the youth
category.
John Finley accepted the award for
Natural Environment on behalf of
the Muskoka Heritage Foundation.
What’s Up Muskoka publisher Don
Smith hosted the First Annual
Muskoka Awards gala.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 17

By Allan Cook
Muskoka will receive international
attention in the outdoor sporting community
when an episode of Canada In
The Rough spotlighting bear hunting in
Bala airs next year.
The documentary-style hunting show
was in the region the second week of
September to film an episode that will air
when the show returns for its sixth
season in January.
“The top cottage country in Canada is
dealing with a major bear dilemma,” says
producer Keith Beasley, explaining one
of the reasons for filming in Muskoka.
“The OPP answered 85 nuisance bear
calls here from May to August.”
The production crew worked closely
with the Ministry of Natural Resources
Bear Wise program and hunted with an
off-duty OPP officer as their local guide.
Beasley explains that Canada in the
Rough is not a “how to” show that focuses
only on the hunt.
“We try to tell the tale, look at the
stories behind the hunt and introduce
our viewers to another part of the country,”
he says, adding the Muskoka
episode examines issues and problems of
bears in cottage country.
Because the bears were killed near cottages
and homes, the production skillful-
visit:
www.theHeartofMuskoka.com
for a full list of shopping and dining locations
Bala bear hunt filmed
18 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Canada in the Rough television show producer Keith Beasley takes aim with
the bow while Michael Higgins shoots footage for their Bala episode.
ly used short-range weapons for the
hunt.
“One of them we took with vertical
archery equipment – a bow and arrow –
and the other one we took with a
shotgun (firing a slug),” Beasley explains.
“The slug gun only goes a couple hundred
yards but a rife goes a couple miles.”
Photograph:Brett McRoberts
Insurance Brokers
After purchasing the show this year,
Beasley and his brothers Paul and Kevin
produce and co-host the series with longtime
host Thomas Pigeon. About 3.8
million viewers watch the show on
Global, which also airs on Wild TV in
Canada and on Pursuit: America's Hunting
and Fishing Network in the United
States. The trio are also publishers of
Ontario Monster Whitetails magazine, a
quarterly magazine about deer hunting.
Beasley, whose wife is from Bracebridge,
assures Muskoka will be receiving
plenty of exposure during the episode.
“The hunts took place just outside
Bala and near Torrance,” he says, “but we
spent a lot of time filming Muskoka, so
we did all the postcard stops and all that
stuff of just what Muskoka is to me.”
The Beasleys see hunting and wildlife
management as beneficial to communities
where animals and humans have to
coexist, and even donate the meat from
the animals they hunt to needy families
in their hometown area of Peterborough.
“I try when I'm talking with the public
not to say 'I killed an animal' because
that's not what it is to us,” Beasley says.
“The meat gets well used. With the
animals we harvest it equals a lot of meat
and helps out a lot of people.”
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WHAT’S UP
BRACEBRIDGE
GRAVENHURST
Knapp’s Furniture marks milestone
By Sandy Lockhart
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture is celebrating
60 years in business this year – a
noteworthy accomplishment in this day
and age.
The business has operated at the same
location on the main street in Gravenhurst
since 1957.
“I’m standing on my parents’ shoulders
so to speak,” says Greg Knapp who, with
his wife Colleen, took over the family
business in 1988. “They got it going and
the goodwill that they generated has
helped us through the tough times.”
Knapp recognizes it is very different
from having to start and build their own
business from scratch. He joined the family
business in 1976.
“We’ve evolved and changed and built
our own goodwill,” says Colleen, explaining
they still have the support from customers
originally served by Greg’s parents
but have also managed to build their own
clientele.
Today, Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture
is a 10,000-square foot store that carries
furniture, large appliances, mattresses,
bedroom furniture, lamps and even artwork.
Over the years, Knapp’s has adapted,
changing what it carried to meet what customers
were looking for. At one point, it
was even a small department store, with a
huge toy department downstairs.
“We’ve had giftware, carpet, musical
instruments and even LPs back in the
day,” says Greg.
Colleen adds, “We’ve returned to our
core, which has always been furniture and
major appliances. A benefit from that is
that we can carry a better selection. When
you specialize more, you become more
knowledgeable.”
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture carries
both furniture and appliances and specializes
in La-Z-Boy furniture.
“There are easily over 100 pieces of La-
Z-Boy product in the store at any time,”
says Greg. “It is our primary furniture
line.”
Both Greg and Colleen stress that La-Z-
Boy is much more than just recliners.
“The whole La-Z-Boy business has
evolved,” says Greg. “They are much more
diverse.”
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture offers
La-Z-Boy love seats, chairs, couches and
even theatre seating. Pieces are available in
both stationary or reclining and fabric or
leather.
The company has been carrying La-Z-
Boy for 25 years and the Knapps say it is a
great company to deal with.
“They are the leaders in the recliner and
sofa business,” Greg says. “It’s durable. The
quality of the product itself is superior.”
Continued on Page 3
Advertising Feature
Colleen and Greg Knapp have carried on the family tradition at Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture, now in its 60th year.
A guest model joined Knapp’s employees George Brown and Ted Buck with owner Allan Knapp at this 1950s event.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 Knapp’s 1
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
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2 Knapp’s October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
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Continued from Front Page
He says parts are even available to repair
older chairs.
In addition to La-Z-Boy furniture,
Knapps also carries a wide range of appliances.
“There are over 125 appliances sitting
on display here, plus a warehouse,”
says Greg.
The store carries 10 different brands of
appliances including Whirlpool,
KitchenAid, Jenn-Air and Maytag. The
focus is large appliances with refrigerators,
stoves, dishwashers, freezers plus washers
and dryers.
Because of the large selection in the
store, customers can often pick out an
appliance one day and have it delivered
the next. “It can be in the customer’s home
within 48 hours,” Greg says.
And with products in various price
ranges – from economical and functional
up to the gorgeous state-of-the-art designs
– Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture is sure to
have something for everyone.
“Appliances are probably one of the best
bargains around,” he says. “I sold fridges
for $599 years ago and am still selling
some for that same price today. They are a
good value.”
While great prices have been a constant
at the store since it first opened, appliances
have come a long way since then, particularly
in energy saving technology.
“Fridges, dishwashers, front-load washers
use a fraction of what they once guzzled,”
he says.
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture carries a
variety of Canadian-made furniture. For
instance, much of their bedroom furniture
is made by College Woodwork, an
Ontario company that produces solid
birch bedroom furniture, including chests
of drawers, headboards and bedside tables.
“When practical and feasible, we buy
Ontario and Canadian-made before we
buy offshore goods,” says Greg. “The
quality and service is better. There is no
real service for offshore goods.”
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture is also a
Simmons Canada Sleep Centre and carries
a large selection of their mattresses. The
Knapps recommend you lie down and try
out a mattress before you purchase one.
Even with lighting, Knapp’s has a Canadian-made
line. The store sells floor
lamps, table lamps and more.
Knapp’s also carries coffee tables, cocktail
tables, living room tables and end
tables. “Tables that accessorize your
Advertising Feature
Knapp’s offers an array of appliances and furniture
Retired employee Richard Urquhart spent many years working at Knapp’s.
couch,” Colleen says.
After so many years in business, Greg
and Colleen have learned what works and
what doesn’t.
“Just knowing your clientele over the
years, you get to know what people like in
our area,” they say.
An example of that is the artwork sold
in the store. Knapp’s carries prints from
both Superior and Northland Art Company.
The latter has Canadian-framed prints
and canvases, only available for sale at
independent merchants like Knapp’s
Photographs: Sandy Lockhart
Gravenhurst Furniture.
“We have pieces scattered throughout
the store,” says Colleen. “We have a good
variety of sizes and frames.”
Customers can order special mats or
frames but she says most people buy right
from the walls. A lot of the prints and canvases
are natural Canadian landscapes,
with rocks and trees, often by artists such
as the Group of Seven.
Superior is another company that features
scenes of Muskoka and surrounding
areas.
“We choose art that is a good fit,” says
Greg, explaining that Superior often features
steamships and Muskoka chairs in
their selection. “People aren’t going to
come in here and see modern art,” he
says. “They may purchase something to
remind them of their stay in Muskoka.”
Greg says he has learned a lot from his
customers over the years.
“If you aren’t learning from your customers,
you aren’t going to be around
long, especially when you start in your
20s,” he says, referring to the young age
at which he joined the family business 33
years ago.
“As the able-bodied young boys in the
family, we were expected to jump into
the lurch when needed, often for deliveries,”
he says of his early involvement
with the company.
“It is the same with Jeff today,” he says
referring to his own son helping out
when something needs to be delivered.
Jeff is away at university now, but still
helps out, if needed, when home in the
summer.
“In some respects, it was a time to be
with your dad,” Greg reflects.
“You had that with your dad and Jeff
had that with you,” says Colleen.
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture is truly
a family business built on tradition and
dedication to the customer.
Vicki Culham reclines on one of the many La-Z-Boy products in the store. Part-time employee Helen Humenick has been at the store for 14 years.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 Knapp’s 3

Knapp found the right niche for business
By Ken Black
Allan and Gwen Knapp may not have
arrived in the Town of Gravenhurst in
1949 with a detailed plan to establish a
furniture and appliance business that
would be a cornerstone of the community’s
business sector six decades later.
Fact is, they probably didn’t. Like most
young couples in the years following the
Second World War, they were more
likely focused on more immediate goals
such as establishing a home, raising a
family, and enjoying life in their new
community.
What brought the Knapps to Gravenhurst
initially was an opportunity for
Allan to continue his hockey career that
had begun with the Sudbury Wolves
close to his hometown of Capreol, and
continued in Parry Sound during
employment at the nearby Nobel Munitions
factory.
And play hockey he did, as a heady,
playmaking defenceman on the Gravenhurst
Indians, one of several very good
hockey teams that drew standing roomonly
crowds to local arenas in what was
at the time arguably the toughest and
most competitive Intermediate hockey
league in Ontario.
Surviving often very physical epic
struggles with teams like Bucko
McDonald’s Sundridge Beavers, the
Bracebridge Bears, Huntsville Hawks
www.collegewoodwork.com
College Woodwork would like to Congratulate Knapp’s
Gravenhurst Furniture for 60 years of Business in the Muskoka area.
Wishing you all the best in all your future endeavors!
4 Knapp’s October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Advertising Feature
Madelaine Ortwein stands between her old and new washer, as Knapp’s founder Allan Knapp looks on. She won
the new Westinghouse because she traded in the oldest washer in a contest held at Knapp’s in the early 1950s.
Celebrating
KNAPP’S FURNITURE - 60th ANNIVERSARY
Best Wishes
for your continued success!
The
Gravenhurst
Book Store
...for the love of words!
120 Muskoka Road South
Phone: 705-687-0555
Fax: 705-687-0556
bookstore@muskoka.com
Congratulations on 60 years
of service to your community
ScotiaMcleod
44 Collier St 2nd Floor
Barrie ON L4M 1G6
Monteith Oldfield
Wealth Management
705.725.4743
Scotiabank Gravenhurst
198 Muskoka Rd. N,
705.687.2248
Photograph: Courtesy of Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture

and Parry Sound Shamrocks was good
training for the very competitive business
world Knapp faced in his early
years as a businessman in his new community.
Finding the right market niche, getting
established, and laying the foundation
for the success that was to follow
was not easy. After opening the doors in
1949 of what was to become Gravenhurst
Furniture, Knapp sold a bit of furniture,
a few appliances, some carpet
and linoleum, even some gifts and toys,
as he searched for the right combination
of products to offer the people of
his new community.
The Knapps operated in three different
locations before purchasing the
premises and furniture business of
Lloyd Cosby who was doing double
duty as the local undertaker at the time.
That move, on Sept. 1, 1957, was
undoubtedly a turning point for the
Knapps. The more prominent location
on the main street of Gravenhurst and
larger premises allowed for a focus on
the furniture and appliances that were
to become the mainstays of the business
in the years that followed.
As well, the success of the Gravenhurst
operation allowed expansion to
other outlets, first in Huntsville, then in
his hometown of Capreol, and eventually
in Parry Sound. Subsequently,
Allan reached the decision to concentrate
his energies in Gravenhurst, and
closed the other outlets. That allowed
him to not only prosper in business, but
also continue to give back to the community
that had treated him and his
family so well.
After his retirement from hockey, he
became an avid curler. He was a lifelong
member of the local Lions Club,
and was a school trustee with the
Gravenhurst Board of Education for
several years. He even tried his hand at
federal politics, running as the Liberal
candidate in the 1970 election. Unfortunately
for Knapp, his opponent in
that election was the popular Stan Darling
who won and held the riding until
his retirement more than 20 years later.
During those years, it was not only
business operations that prospered and
expanded for the Knapps. Gwen and
Allan also found time to raise four children,
Edward, Valerie, Greg and Vivian.
Then sadly, tragedy struck with
Allan’s sudden death in 1976. Suddenly,
Gwen, who up until then had contributed
her bookkeeping skills to the
family business on a part-time basis,
became the full-time owner and operator
of Gravenhurst Furniture.
Within months, her son Greg decided
to leave his university studies and
return to Gravenhurst to support her in
the family business. He eventually took
over the business and continues to
build on the very strong business foundation
established by his parents in
preparation for 60th anniversary cele-
Congratulations on your
60th year in business!
290 Church Street East, Gravenhurst
Behind Terry’s Independent
888-200-9860 • 705-687-2289
www.hbcgravenhurst.com
The evolution of Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture can be seen in advertisements
from the past 60 years that have been kept by the family.
brations this month.
Asked for his thoughts on the future,
Greg Knapp is positive and enthusiastic
about the long-term outlook for
Muskoka.
“We are blessed with the fact that
Muskoka is a place that people want to
come to,” he says.
It is also a place where he and wife
Colleen plan to continue the tradition
of personalized service that his parents
began. In many cases, he’s dealing with
the third generation of Gravenhurst
Furniture customers.
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
CONGRATULATIONS
ON 60 GREAT YEARS!
Blondie’s
Catering Cottage Country
We provide
Customized Menus
for Birthdays, Weddings,
Corporate Functions
and more!
705-687-7756
www.cateringcottagecountry.ca
cateringcottagecountry@sympatico.ca
COREY MAINVILLE
APPLIANCE SERVICE
FACTORY WARRANTY AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN
FAST, RELIABLE SERVICE
705.385.1094
Best Wishes &
Continued Success!
135 Muskoka Road South, Gravenhurst, ON
Tel: 705-687-0262
Email: gemdiajewellers@bellnet.ca
the buying power of over 1,200 retailers across Canada
The Cantrex Group would like to wish
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture
Congratulations on 60 years in business!
9501 Hwy #50 • Vaughan, Ontario • L4H 2B9
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 Knapp’s 5

Good service is key to success at Knapp’s
Whether by boat or by truck, Knapp’s
Gravenhurst Furniture delivers the
products they sell.
“Our delivery service is great,” says
Greg Knapp, who owns Knapp’s
Gravenhurst Furniture with his wife
Colleen. “In Muskoka it’s huge to have
prompt, dependable delivery service.”
Their customers regularly compliment
the Knapps on their delivery service.
“We’ve been some interesting places,”
he says noting he has only refused a
delivery once because it was unsafe.
Chris Sidhu, who made deliveries for
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture, for 14
years, says he has many interesting
memories and experiences.
“I bent a dolly, pulling a side-by-side
fridge up a hill,” he says, the dolly being
a $700 professional moving wheel truck.
The customer had built a deck around a
tree so there wasn’t room to haul the
fridge.
“I had to bring it up the cliff instead,”
he recalls.
Knapp says access and terrain make
the deliveries a little more challenging.
W.C. Wood Corporation
wishes Knapp’s
All the best
for another 60 years!
6 Knapp’s October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
“We still do lots of boat deliveries,” he
says of the many appliances and furniture
pieces delivered to island cottages.
“There is constant demand to go on
boats.”
Then of course, there is the snow in
winter adding a whole new element to
deliveries.
Some things are easier to deliver now
and others are more difficult. Today’s
mattresses and box springs are lighter
than they were 30 years ago. Fridges,
though, are another story.
“Fridges are bigger and freezers are
Congratulations on your 60th!
A Complete Tire & Auto Centre
All Major Brands Available
Tires for Domestic & Import
Cars, Light Trucks & R.V.’s
Congratulations to Knapp’s Furniture!
Wishing you continued success.
645-8000
TOLL FREE 1-888-840-7338
TAYLOR ROAD & HWY 11
BRACEBRIDGE
www.rockyislandtire.com
R.G. Holder Plumbing
1064 Barkway Road, Gravenhurst
Phone: 705-687-7448 Fax: 705-687-9316
Serving Muskoka
Advertising Feature
5 Arthur Street South, P.O. Box 750
Guelph, ON N1H 6L9 www.wcwood.com 1.800.265.7247
60
Years
smaller,” says Knapp. “In the past, a 13cubic
foot fridge was family size, today
an 18 to 19-cubic foot is considered adequate
but not opulent. Twenty-five is
not uncommon.”
Knapp says the quality of their service
is the key.
“People remember when you do a little
extra,” he says. “We do a lot of same
day or next-day delivery.”
With the large number of items in
stock, it is not unusual to have a purchase
delivered to a customer’s home
within 48 hours.
GRANT MORRIS
POWER & PIPES
Your Complete Electrical
and Plumbing Specialist
Congratulations to
Knapp’s Gravenhurst
Furniture on their
60th Anniversary!
R.R.3 Gravenhurst, 2054 Doe Lake Rd.
687-5756
glmorris@viatnet.ca
CONGRATULATIONS ON
YOUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY
IN BUSINESS!
ASSURANCE | ACCOUNTING | TAXATION | ADVISORY SERVICES
Nicole White, CA
Partner
nwhite@bdo.ca
Suite1
239 Manitoba St.
Bracebridge
705.645.5215
www.bdo.ca
Ken W. Garth, CA
Partner
kgarth@bdo.ca
Congratulations
to Knapp’s
on 60 years
of success

Loyal staff form the store’s foundation
It is not unusual for customers at
Knapp's Gravenhurst Furniture to see
the same faces year after year. The company
is built upon the dedication and
loyalty of employees who stay on staff for
a long time. They seem to enjoy working
there and dealing with the customers.
Even when they leave, they stay in touch.
“We really are a big happy family,”
says Colleen Knapp who owns the business
with her husband Greg.
The store has three full-time staff in
addition to Greg and Colleen. They also
have part-time staff, and that number
fluctuates, with extra part-timers in the
summer.
Helen Humenick has been working at
the store for about 14 years, now on a
part-time basis. Richard Urquhart retired
three years ago after spending almost
seven years with the company, but he
likes to drop in and visit.
Chris Sidhu worked for Knapp's for
14 years before leaving for further education.
Vicki Culham joined about two
years ago, and is quite familiar with other
staff who like to come back and visit. She
is already well-known to customers.
Colleen says Sherry Vass, an employee
who moved to London about 10 years
ago, is still a very close friend.
“We stay there when we go to London
and she stays here when she visits.”
“The customers have a familiarity
60
with people working here,” she says. “I
think it’s a trust issue. They see the
same staff, happy staff and know the
cycle is complete.”
Congratulations on 60 Years
from
RBC Staff & Management in Gravenhurst
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Tel: 705-687-3577
Fax: 705-687-4015
60
MUSKOKA CARPET
Operating under Muskoka
Carpet & Drapery Centre Inc.
705.687.8994
www.muskokacarpet.com
265 Muskoka Rd S - Gravenhurst -
Beside The Opera House
60
Advertising Feature
Owners Greg and Colleen Knapp (back) and dedicated employees Robb Clarke, Richard Urquhart, Vicki Culham,
Helen Humenick, Chris Sidhu and Shane Cribbie gather in the showroom of the furniture store in Gravenhurst.
60 60
Barb Hunter
Sr. Account Manager
Business & Personal
Royal Bank of Canada
398 Muskoka Raod
Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1G3
barb.hunter@rbc.com
Congratulations
Greg & Colleen for
60 years of serving Muskoka
CONGRATULATIONS! 240-1 Muskoka Rd. S.
Gravenhurst, ON
Phone 705.687.1510
Fax 705.687.2003
Learn more at theartstract.com/pie
Those years of experience also mean
the staff at Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture
are knowledgeable about the company
and the products it sells. So not
only do customers get a friendly, familiar
face greeting them, but someone
who can help find whatever they are
looking for.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 Knapp’s 7
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart

8 Knapp’s October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Advertising Feature
Thank You for 60 Years!
Celebrate our Anniversary and help the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation.
6% of all sales will be donated.
(October 15th to 31st)
Fill out this ballot and mail or drop off at Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture
Enter to Win a Genuine
La-Z-Boy Rocker Recliner
(No purchase necessary)
We wish to thank our patrons for 60 wonderful years
of business! We have enjoyed our journey and continue
our commitment to provide good value, personal
service and quality products to our community.
Greg, Colleen & Jeff Knapp
Knapp’s is proud to sell the following fine products:
705.687.2217
...and many more!
Name: ______________________________
Address: ____________________________
____________________________
Phone: _____________________________
Contest Deadline - Oct. 31/09. Draw to be made @ 4 P.M. Sat. Oct. 31/09.
Knapp’s Gravenhurst Furniture 171 Muskoka Road, South. Box 940 Gravenhurst, P1L 1X3

SPORTS
Women find friendship in half-marathon
By Sandy Lockhart
In six short months, a small group of
Muskoka women started running and
didn’t stop until they conquered a halfmarathon.
Six runners trained through a group
at Muskoka Fitness and finished the
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half-
Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 27.
“They all finished with a great time,”
says their trainer, Katherine McPhee,
obviously proud of the six women who
trained with her, explaining the times
ranged from 2:02:41 to 2:28:53. A
half-marathon is 13.1 miles or just over
21 kilometres. The fastest woman in
the half-marathon finished with a time
of 1:17:59
In April, Muskoka Fitness offered a
learn to run program, and at the conclusion,
three of the participants from
it joined the 16-week program to train
and prepare for a half-marathon.
“Everyone finished and everyone had
a great experience,” McPhee says, noting
the Muskoka group could see they
had trained properly and were proud of
their success.
The six runners, along with McPhee,
were Tara Williams, Melissa Imrie and
Jane Rawson from the learn to run
group, Janean Bell, in her first halfmarathon,
Tammy Dyment who ran a
few 10-kilometre runs back in high
school and Anna DeSellas who has runhalf-marathons
before. Two younger
runners, 13-year-olds Fleur VanEynde
and Victoria Verbeek did not run the
half marathon but did participate in
the Muskoka Fitness program.
“It was amazing,” says Melissa Imrie
of Bracebridge who explains the race
was much different than their usual
training runs. “Our last long run was
on Lone Pine Drive and then we went
to this run with 18,000 people.”
She joined the learn to run group in
April and hasn’t looked back.
“I jogged a bit in college but I’d just
come off a mat leave and was pretty
inactive.”
Imrie explains that joining the halfmarathon
group was a great motivator.
“I knew that I probably wouldn’t go
further than 5-k without the group,”
she says.
They ran together on Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays and did a
fourth run on their own each week. By
the end, it was only females and the
group grew very close.
Anna DeSellas of Port Sydney joined
the half-marathon group 16 weeks ago
for the social aspect.
“I didn’t want to run alone anymore,”
she says. “I was running alone
on rural roads.”
After living here for three years, she
had not yet met anyone to run with.
The Scotiabank half-marathon was
not her first “but it was the first that I
trained properly for,” she says. “It was a
much better experience. It was great
training with a group of friendly
women.”
DeSellas says the running camaraderie,
or running bond with these
women is very strong.
“You run with these people for a couple
of hours every week,” DeSellas.
“We talk as we run. We became very
close.”
She says that even through the formal
running clinic with Muskoka Fitness
is over, they will continue to run
together regularly.
“This race – it is one of the coolest
things I’ve done since I moved here. It
was great and I love running with this
group of women.”
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
HOT TUB WAREHOUSE
www.hottubwarehouse.ca
SPAS/HOT TUBS/SAUNAS
GAZEBOS/POOL SUPPLIES
PARTS & SERVICE/SOFTUBS
RENTALS/TRADE-INS
440 Ecclestone Drive
Bracebridge
705-645-8613
info@hottubwarehouse.ca
Fleur VanEynde and Victoria Verbeek,(top) ran a half-marathon with Katherine
McPhee, Melissa Imrie, Tara Williams, Janean Bell and Anna DeSellas.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 19

Concrete riders shred up the skate parks
By Emily MacDuff
In skateboarding, there are no rules.
No boundaries. No time limits or team
practices. There are no coaches. There
are no penalties. In skateboarding,
there are just the elements of nature
and the sound of a skateboard grinding
on a rail.
While skateboarders once took to
local streets and sidewalks to perfect
their art, Muskoka has answered their
call. With the increase in popularity of
skateboarding and BMX biking, skate
parks have been springing up across the
region, with the most recent opening in
Bracebridge last month.
Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst
and Bala are all equipped with
professionally designed skate parks that
took significant community efforts to
create. In Huntsville, for example, the
dedicated fundraising efforts of the
Rotary Club, with the help of Algonquin
Outfitters, helped make the construction
of a skate park possible.
“Our ‘design a skateboard deck’ contest
was designed to bring more exposure
and excitement about the new
Huntsville Rotary Youth (skateboard)
Park by offering a contest for local
artists to design their own skateboard
deck,” explains Algonquin Outfitters
marketing director Randy Mitson.
“Blank decks were sold at a reduced
cost then various artists were open to
design their skateboard in any way they
wanted. The finished decks were auctioned
off with the proceeds going to
the Huntsville skateboard park project,”
says Mitson.
On May 31, 2008 the skate park was
opened at the McCulley Robertson
Park complex.
“It’s definitely a very well used park
20 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
and the investment is definitely paying
off,” says Colleen MacDonald, the
Town of Huntsville’s manager of parks.
MacDonald explains that despite the
poor weather Muskoka experienced
during the summer, the skate park was
A skateboarder tests out the new skate park that recently opened in Bracebridge.
The $410,000 project opened on Sept. 22 to much excitement.
Photograph: David Crombie
BMX rider Tyler Rizzi pops out of the bowl at the skate park in Huntsville. The park was “jam packed” this summer.
Photograph:Sandy Lockhart
“jam packed.”
“Judging by the number of kids who
use the skate park regularly, there has to
be less kids elsewhere whether it be loitering
downtown or wherever,” says
MacDonald. “So it is a very good
thing.”
Gravenhurst’s skate park is located
adjacent to the arena and community
centre complex and with plans in the
works to expand the community centre,
the skate park’s future is uncertain.
“The final expansion plans have not
yet been finalized, but in a number of
the plan options, there is the possibility
of the existing skate park having to
be moved,” says Judy Vanderveer, the
recreation co-ordinator for the Town of
Gravenhurst.
“We realize it’s really important to
have one so there is money allotted in
the budget for us to build a new one if
the plans require it,” she explains.
“With the new expansion project, we
would even like to see the possibility of
the skate park expanded.”
In the Township of Muskoka Lakes,
Deputy Mayor Mary Grady has nothing
but praise for the skate park in
Bala, located behind the OPP station
on Highway 169.
“The project initially started in 2001
and was focused on bringing regulatory
sized soccer fields to the town, but we
added a skate park to the project,” says
Grady. “It was too far for parents to
drive their kids all the way to Graven-
hurst or Bracebridge, and it has proved
to be a wonderful thing to have.”
On Sept. 22, the Town of Bracebridge
opened its new, state-of-the-art
8,000 square foot skate park on Chub
Downey Lane, adjacent to the arena.
Trish Conley-Knight, manager of programs
for the Town of Bracebridge, was
the project manager.
“It was quite a process finding a location.
There is a retirement residence
close by which worked out really well
because it gives the residents there a
feeling of involvement in the community
by being able to watch,” says Conley-Knight.
“Another positive thing
about its location is that there is first
aid at the arena which helps with the
safety of the park and always a set of
eyes on it.”
Local skate park user Joey Norsworthy
loves the new facility.
“It’s an amazing new addition to our
community,” he says. “The Town was
very gracious to allow skateboarders
and BMX riders to have a brand new
park. Everyone should respect the park
and those who use it.”
Skate parks have added a distinct culture
to the Muskoka scene and have
given area youth a place to call their
own as they enjoy the sport.
“Skate parks are an alternative facility
to typical sports such as hockey, soccer
and figure skating,” Conley-Knight
concludes, “and promote a physically
active and healthy lifestyle.”

and
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O.A.C.
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950 MUSKOKA RD. S., GRAVENHURST
Scotiabank
Mortgage Specialist
Evening and
Weekend
Appointments
Available
Eleanor Coulson, AMP
Accredited Mortgage Professional
Mortgage Development Manager
Muskoka & Surrounding Area
Phone 705. 641.0102
Fax 705.687.2769
eleanor.coulson@scotiabank.com
Trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
NEW
SCOOTERS
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FROM
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Sales Service Rentals New & Used
(705) 687-4796
Cuts Colour
Perms Straightening
Updos Waxing Facials
Massage Manicures
Pedicures Tanning
Wedding Packages
Gift Certificates Available
Monday – Friday, 9am – 7pm, Saturday 9am – 3pm
31 Dominion St., Bracebridge
(705) 645-9600
www.elementssalonandspa.ca
GETTING TO KNOW US
Shine: Girls’ Night Out
SELECTION: Kelly McBride is excited about the new lines and
products that are available at Shine for the fall and winter season.
A night out with the friends, special savings
and a free gift to take home are all part
of Shine’s semi-annual Girls’ Night Out, a
20 per cent storewide sale. Customers and
friends are encouraged to drop by and preview
the new fall and winter lines.
Shine will be celebrating the annual
autumn Girls’ Night Out on Thursday,
Oct. 22 from 5 to 9 p.m.
“I’m celebrating my third anniversary by
doing extra special things for my customers,”
says Shine owner Kelly McBride.
Customers are welcome to come in,
visit, and preview the fall and winter collection.
“Extra savings will be announced that
night,” she says, adding there is a gift with
every purchase. Refreshments, door prizes
and the popular crown and anchor game
wheel are all part of the evening. “It’s a fun
night.”
Anyone who makes a purchase during
Girls’ Night Out will also get a special
Shine pre-shopping Christmas card that
will allow them 15 per cent savings during
the week of November 16 to 22. “It is
great for Christmas shopping,” she says.
McBride explains that she holds the
Girls’ Night Out events in the spring and
fall of each year, especially for her yearround
customers. “I think I’m still here
today because of the local clientele,” she
notes.
The store carries handbags, jewelry and
related accessories. “This year I’ve made a
point of finding some great gift items for
under $10. You can add them to a gift, or
they can be a gift on their own,” she says.
McBride is adding some new Canadianmade
jewelry lines to her selection. She is
excited about Ice925, a diamond and silver
jewelry line, with diamonds from the
Northwest Territories.
“It is stunning, set in silver and available
at an affordable price,” she says. “They are
calling it the greener, cleaner diamond.”
New pieces are also available for the
Kameleon line. The jewelry has interchangeable
pieces to allow you to customize
the piece for a different look each
day. She also has some new charms for the
Thomas Sabo charm club.
The store is also well known for its selection
of handbags. “We have a lot of cross
body styles. They are very big for this winter,”
she says, noting she has them in a
variety of price points. A vintage suitcasestyle
laptop bag the store now carries is
sure to prove popular.
“We are not just jewelry, handbags and
accessories,” McBride says. Shine is also
carrying a new soy candle line from
Ottawa. It has also added jewelry boxes to
the inventory by popular demand.
For fall, Shine is carrying a line of
slip-on shoes. For those who enjoyed the
Switch Flops in the summer, for winter,
the same company offers an Italian leather
ballet flat. “They can be jazzed up with
pins and clips,” she says.
Shine also carries fabulous and fun picture
frames. “There are lots of new ones
for fall, new companies and new prices,”
she says suggesting they would make a
great Christmas gift. “Some are even lower
priced than before.”
McBride welcomes everyone to attend
the Girls’ Night Out on Thursday, Oct. 22
from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. “It is a really fun
night,” she says.
It’s that time of year
again for the women of
Muskoka to have a
“Girls’ Night Out!”
Thurs. Oct. 22 nd
5 – 9 PM
BRACEBRIDGE
15 Manitoba St.
645-9700
CHOCOLATE HOUSE
MAPLE SYRUP MANUFACTURING
CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE
G MODEL TRAINS
14 Gray Road, Bracebridge – Off Cedar Lane
OPEN MON-FRI 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. SAT 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.
www.mapleorchardfarms.com
705-645-3053 • 1-800-461-5445
Tempt Your
Tastebuds
9 Ontario St., Bracebridge
645-8080
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 21

Muskoka
Fashion
Urban Textures Muskoka is not just
another hair salon. Shelly Clifford, who
has lived in Muskoka since 1991, says, “I
kept thinking that there was room for a
salon that offered a higher level of technical
ability and a bit of an urban edge.”
That thought translated into action
when she and her stylist daughter Kahlae
Clifford launched their salon on Gravenhurst’s
Main Street in November of
2008.
Shelly laughs, “I guess that I was right.
Thanks to the wonderful response by
local residents and cottagers, we had to
expand our space to double its original
size within the first six months.”
She adds, “The larger salon gives
clients enough space to feel relaxed. One
side of the salon is devoted to hair only
and the other side to esthetic services
such as facial waxing, pedicure, and
manicures. Additional services will be
added over time.”
Urban Textures Muskoka is an affiliate
of two Urban Textures locations in
Toronto, owned by world-renowned
stylist Christos Cox. Kahlae Clifford has
been dividing her time between Muskoka
and Toronto but she will be in the
Gravenhurst salon for the entire month
of October, instead of her usual three
days a week.
Shelly explains, “Senior stylist Jennifer
Merritt just had a beautiful baby girl –
Kora Grace – on Sept. 17. While Jen-
Laser Hair Removal
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Monday – 9 am - 5 pm
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Saturday – 10 am - 4 pm
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if booked in advance
>> Salon brings big-city talent to Muskoka
684-8000
Hair Styling
Facial Treatments
Aromatherapy Massage
Manicure/Pedicures
Air Brush Tanning
22 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Holly Beard, make-up artist with owner and director stylist Kahlae Clifford.
nifer is at home with the baby, Kahlae
and Lindsay Orr will be happy to accommodate
her clients.” She chuckles, “Jen
just adores her little girl but she is eager
to get back to work and her clients too. I
have to shoo her out of the salon some
days!”
Despite their warm and friendly
approach, both Cliffords are serious
about the level of professionalism they
bring to the business. They say that one
295 Wellington St.
645-4441
141 Main Street at Muskoka Rd. S.,
GRAVENHURST
Toronto Salon
Services
meets
Muskoka Market
Pricing
Technicians: Kahlae Clifford, Jenn Merritt,
Lindsay Orr & Holly Beard, Make-up Artist
thing that really sets them apart is the
regular training updates their stylists
receive through L’Oréal, whose product
line they carry exclusively. As Shelly puts
it, “With the level of training our stylists
get, the benefit to the client is cutting
and colour techniques that are straight
out of L’Oreal Paris.”
Shelly emphasizes, “Continuing education
is key in this business. Clients
want the hair cuts they see on celebrities
Always a Friendly Atmosphere
• Creative Colouring •
• Corrective Colour • Mani’s & Pedi’s •
• Ion Cleanse • Tanning Bed • Waxing •
• Ear Candling • Make-up Applications •
• Specializing In Long Hair Updo’s & Cutting •
(705) 645-8574
www.sunbursthairdesign.ca
85 Manitoba Street
Bracebridge, ON
P1L 2B3
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
and in the latest fashion magazines.” She
adds, “Our stylists didn’t just get out of
school either. They have experience that
is then enhanced by the latest courses.
Things change fast in this business and
we learn new things about the biology of
hair all the time. You aren’t going to be
on top of what’s new if you graduate
from school and think you are finished.
Our stylists believe in ongoing training.”
There are some very unique abilities
that Urban Textures brings to Muskoka.
In addition to being trained in applying
relaxers to straighten super curly hair,
which as anyone who watches Oprah
knows is a highly specialized process, the
salon does hair extensions. Shelly says,
“Our Toronto supplier only uses real hair
which gives us the ability to use hot tools
and to style it as if it’s your own hair.”
She adds, “We are able to provide three
different techniques for applying hair
extensions too.”
Shelly says that when it comes to hair
styling and stylists, “If they keep doing
what they’re doing you’ll keep getting
what you’re getting, which is a look that
never changes.” She adds emphatically,
“That’s not good enough for our clients!”
At Urban Textures Muskoka, the owners
and the stylists are committed to
helping clients look their very best and
most fashion forward by using up-to-the
minutes techniques, products and the
latest in L’Oréal education.
The best selection of children's clothing
& baby gifts in Muskoka.
OPEN DAILY 2 LOCATIONS
3 Brunel Road, Huntsville | 16 Manitoba St., Bracebridge
788-7777 carrie@4muskokakids.ca
To advertise
your business
or services in this
feature please call
705-646-1314

Manna Food Bank celebrates 20th anniversary
By Jason Dickson
This month marks two decades of the
Manna Food Bank in Bracebridge helping
Muskokans in need, but the anniversary is
met with both gratitude and gravity.
“It’s not really a celebration,” says
Manna president Carolyn Horne. “This is
more about thanking the community for
their support these last 20 years.”
Founded in 1989, the Food Bank has
steadily grown in the past two decades,
providing food for over 5,000 people in
2008 alone.
It has certainly come a long way since its
first meeting at Browning Hall in the St.
Thomas Church in Bracebridge.
Barbara Bertrand, former president of
the food bank, remembers what it was like
putting the organization together.
“Folks were going to the minister of the
church asking for help,” explains Bertrand.
“It became obvious that there was a need.”
Bertrand says in the beginning it was
tough to get started, as they relied mostly
on the donations of local church congregations.
But despite its rough beginnings,
the project steadily grew in size. One way
The Rotary Centennial Gardens in
Bracebridge has a new pavilion for shelter
and entertainment thanks in a large part to
the generosity of a Bracebridge family with
deep roots in the area.
The official dedication of the Coates
Pavilion took place in September with a
ribbon cutting.
“Glen (Coates) was the president of the
Rotary Club of Bracebridge in 1948, serving
as a dedicated Rotarian for over four
Volunteers stock shelves at the Manna Food Bank in Bracebridge.
or another, the shelves managed to be
stocked.
“The food seemed to come to our
door,” says Bertrand. “That’s how we came
to the name Manna.”
decades, where he and (his wife) Etheleyn
contributed countless hours of service to
the community of Bracebridge,” said
Bracebridge Rotary president Richard
Borland to the Rotary members. “Glen
was also a multiple Paul Harris fellow. Our
community today would not be the same
wonderful place without the many contributions
of Glen and Etheleyn Coates.”
Bracebridge Mayor Don Coates and his
sister Janice Boyes made a generous con-
The Food Bank served only half a dozen
to a dozen clients in its early days.
“Our aim was to put ourselves out of
business,” explains Bertrand. “Of course
unfortunately I don’t see that happening.”
tribution towards the cost of the pavilion,
in memory of their parents.
Glen Coates, a former mayor of Bracebridge,
was involved in many community
organizations and, along with Archie
Fowler and Ralph Boothby, founded
Fowler Construction Company in 1949.
The Rotary Centennial Gardens, on
the corner of Pine Street and Taylor Road,
were established by the Rotary Club of
Bracebridge as a community service proj-
Today Manna is run by group of more
than 70 dedicated volunteers who come
from every part of Muskoka.
“The support is just amazing,” says
Horne. “We’ve had so many volunteers.”
In fact, the food bank operates on the
support of its volunteers without a single
paid employee.
“Muskoka has the reputation of being
wealthy,” explains Horne. “There are so
many families in need as most of the work
around here is seasonal.”
She says people are shocked when they
hear the numbers. For instance, about 40
per cent of Manna’s clients are children
and about 500 people used the food bank
this past August alone.
Despite the current economic shortfall
which has left food banks in other areas
struggling, Horne is pleased to say the
Manna Food Bank is fairing well.
“Their shelves are bare,” she says. “Our
shelves are not bare. The community really
deserves the congratulations.”
To make a donation, to volunteer, or if
you are in need of assistance, contact the
Manna Food Bank at 646-0114.
Coates Pavilion honours prominent family
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ect. The District of Muskoka, the Town of
Bracebridge, the Trillium Foundation and
many individual and corporate sponsors
have all partnered with the club to create
the garden.
“Our Rotary theme this year is ‘the
Future of Rotary is in your hands,” says
Borland. “We are indeed fortunate that
the past for Bracebridge and Rotary was in
the hands of people like Glen and Etheleyn
Coates.”
The Pines Community Support Committee
Thank You for
Supporting our Seniors!
The Pines first S.O.S.
(Support Our Seniors) Gala,
Silent & Live Auction was held
September 26 at the Muskoka
Boat & Heritage Centre
in Gravenhurst.
Thanks to your generosity, it was a huge success!
The Pines Long Term Care Home is a not for profit organization.
Funds raised will provide the “extras” for our seniors,
enhancing quality of life for this special clientele.
THE LONG TERM CARE PINES
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98 LONG Pine street, TERM Bracebridge, CARE Ontario RESIDENCE
P1L 1N5
Telephone 705-645-4488
Fax: 705-645-6857
The Pines’ Vision ♥ Optimizing Life ♥
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 23

Now is the time to get ready for winter
Article by Allan Cook
Autumn may amaze the eye in
Muskoka, but falling leaves means raking
leaves, and by the time that task is
underway, a whole host of fall projects
around the home have revealed themselves.
Fortunately, experts around the
region are ready with products, services,
and advice to help you get your
Muskoka home ready for winter.
After raking so many leaves it’s easy
to overlook the fact that they don’t just
fall on the ground; your eavestroughs
may be full of them. Kevin Browne of
NorStar Aluminum Products in
Bracebridge warns even the smallest
amount of debris in your gutters can
cause ice-dams and roof damage.
“Make sure all your eavestroughs are
clear,” Browne advises. “If you have
even a little bit of debris covering the
hole for your downpipe your eaves are
holding water. When that water
freezes you have ice that’s building up
in your eavestrough.”
Browne notes that climate change
has led to more freeze/thaw cycles during
the winter, making it even more
important to ensure your gutters work
properly.
“It snows, and then the following
day it rains, and what happens is your
eavestroughs are completely full with
ice and snow; an ice dam,” Browne
explains, pointing out that shingles are
designed to work in one direction;
down. “So these ice dams are created,
it rains, and it creates puddles. The
puddles grow up your roof, get underneath
your shingles, and then into
your house.”
NorStar offers two solutions to help
keep debris out of your eaves: a screen
product that can help reduce maintenance
and cleaning by half, and the
Clearwater gutter guard, which moves
leaves, needles and debris past the
24 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Installing gutter guards means no more dangerous eavestrough cleaning.
eaves while channeling water into the
trough.
Other ice dam problems can sometimes
be the result of ventilation issues,
according to Pete Hallam of Hallam
Building & Construction in Port Sydney.
An attic is designed to be as cold
as the exterior in the winter, and if too
much heat builds up it can lead to
melting and refreezing of the snowload
on the roof.
“Get up into your attic and make
sure that the insulation in your attic is
not pushed up into the cavities where
the venting for the soffit is,” advises
Hallam. “The other part of that is to
make sure that you have an adequate
amount of exit ventilation at the
peak.”
Hallam recommends ridge vents, as
they provide an escape for all the air
coming from the interior of the attic.
Along with a check of the insulation
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in the attic, Hallam suggests a thorough
inspection of the caulking and
seals around your windows and doors.
“Make sure the caulking is not
cracked, and make sure that when the
doors are closed that the weather seal is
actually in contact with the door,” he
says.
Fall is the time mice and other critters
come looking for a place to nest
and Hallam has an easy fix for any
potential entrances you find during
your inspection.
“A mouse can get through a dimesized
hole, so take some steel wool, put
it in there, and fill the hole with sprayfoam,”
suggests Hallam. “The mice
won’t chew through the steel wool,
and the spray foam will keep the
weather on the outside from coming
into the inside.”
Many homeowners worry about
critters in the chimney as well, but
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Bracebridge-based chimney sweep
Mike MacDonald explains that they
are unusual occurrences. Creosote
build up, on the other hand, is something
to worry about.
“If you don’t clean your chimney
there is definitely a risk of chimney
fire,” MacDonald cautions. “There’s
definite risk of the house burning
down, and at the very least it can actually
damage the chimney to the point
that it needs to be replaced.”
MacDonald estimates the average
Muskokan who heats with wood goes
through 10 cords a year, and the wet
summers of recent years have made it
difficult to season wood, leading to an
increase in residue buildup.
“We could be looking at another
year of dirty chimneys,” he says, noting
that chimney sweeps can help you
learn to burn properly. “That’s part of
our business; make sure people understand
how to operate their stoves and
what the best wood is. And we check
the whole system out to make sure
that it’s not just clean, but it’s safe.”
If you heat with a furnace instead of
a wood stove, fall is still the right time
to have your system cleaned and
checked.
“Better now than in January when
it’s minus 20,” says Adam Smith of
Yanch Heating in Barrie. “It should be
a biannual event, and not predicated
by the change in weather.”
Heating systems should be cleaned
and maintained regularly, Smith advises.
“The preventative maintenance plan
is where we’re finding people are getting
more value for their dollar,
extending the life, and also therefore
being able to rely on it when they need
it,” he says, noting that there are also
items that can be incorporated into an
existing system to make it more effec-
705-646-5756
Don Wilton
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Fall is also a great time to get things done
around the yard, including installing irrigation
(above). Before you can enjoy sitting by a warm
fire (below), you must clean your chimney.
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26 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
tive. “These different add-on pieces can increase the
efficiency of your system and get you an even greater
value.”
Outside the home, Linda Crozier from Seasons in
the Country in Bracebridge knows the best bulbs for
autumn planting.
“Anything that’s going to bloom next spring,” she
says, “like daffodils and tulips and snowdrops; and
there’s crocuses, and hyacinths, and even garlic is a
good bulb to plant in the fall.”
Fall is also time to protect your shrubs as well,
applying deer repellent and wrapping them to guard
them from the wind and snow.
“We don’t always recommend burlap,” advises
Crozier. “We use a nylon netting now which is not
going to freeze and thaw like burlap does. If you get
a hot winter day, your cedar could burn underneath
that (burlap). We find the nylon netting works better.”
Luke Pattman, owner of Muskoka Outdoor Lighting
and Way To Grow Irrigation in Bracebridge,
reminds folks that winterizing your irrigation system
is an important fall project too, to protect it from
freezing.
“Blowing out the lines is the most common task,”
Pattman says, “and it requires a fairly large air compressor
to do the job. Not too many people can do it
on their own.”
Your outdoor lighting may need some attention
this time of year as well, Pattman advises.
“We have clients with landscape lighting that
needs to be pinned down before the snow and ice
hit,” he says. “We also check the wiring and direction
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705.645.8984
gregjames@sympatico.ca
of lighting around the property.”
That thick blanket of snow that’s soon to come will
be the best indicator of how well your home
insulation is working for you, and now is the time to
ensure that it’s up to the task.
“If you had icicles on your roof last winter, you
may want to have your attic insulation and
ventilation checked,” suggests Richard Clement,
owner of Thermo Seal Insulation Systems in
Utterson. “We can have one of our estimators take a
look for you to see if your attic meets current building
code requirements.”
Icicles and ice dams on the roof are not the only
telltale sign that something may not be up to snuff.
“Cold floors can also be an indication of
inadequate insulation,” Clement says, and reveals
that adding insulation is easy and cost-effective.
“Areas of the home to consider are crawlspaces, basement
walls, rim joists, and cantilevers.
Checking for drafts around windows and doors is
useful for identifying cracks that need to be resealed
or re-insulated, too. The advantages are it not only
keeps your house warm in the winter and cool in the
summer; it will also keep your wallet where it belongs
– in your pocket.”
Many fall projects are easily tackled alone, but if
you need help or advice, it’s always best to seek an
expert, Kevin Browne of NorStar advises.
“If you have any questions or if you want to reach
a professional you should call the Muskoka homebuilders
association,” Browne says. “You’re going
to find the people and advice that you need at
muskokabuilders.com.”
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Do your homework before heading south
Special Feature
Home Health Care
By Dale Peacock
The annual migration of Canadian
snowbirds is a sweet dream that can quickly
sour if close attention isn’t paid to issues
of health care, insurance, documentation,
finances and personal security.
Arranging adequate insurance, both
medical, car and home should be a top
priority. Travel insurance can be purchased
from an insurance broker, a bank, a credit
card company, a travel insurance company,
or through a travel agent. The Canadian
Snowbird Association reminds Ontario
residents that OHIP only covers up to a
maximum of $400 CAD per day for
emergency medical services.
“Treatment in the United States can
cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of
dollars for surgery and hospitalization, so
travel insurance is one of your most
important considerations,” says Charles
Burton, CRB Insurance Agency Limited
in Bracebridge. “Schedule a doctor and
dentist visit at least 90 days prior to travelling;
travel health insurance claims may
be affected by pre-existing conditions.”
Burton suggests you sit down with your
agent/broker to “go over the fine print.”
He stresses, “At the least read your
entire insurance policy and pay special
attention to any limitations of coverage or
exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions.”
Not fully disclosing pre-existing ailments
or changes to medical condition are
two big reasons why claims are denied.
Don’t forget about adequately protecting
your home while you are away.
“Any lengthy absences from your home
should be reviewed with your broker to
make sure all policy conditions are being
met at your residence while you are away,”
suggests Nicole Binsted, Port Carling
branch manager at Firstbrook Cassie &
Anderson Limited.
Prior to leaving home is the time to find
out if there are exclusions in your policy.
If you plan on driving in the litigationminded
U.S. it is wise to discuss increasing
your third-party liability with your
Are You A Caregiver?
Muskoka Home Care Connection
can provide relief.
info@mhcc.ca
Personal Support
Home Support
Foot Care
BRACEBRIDGE
645-0099
HUNTSVILLE
788-0199
Going south in winter isn’t all fun and games. It requires careful planning.
insurance provider. Purchase Mexican
insurance coverage if entering Mexico by
car; it is readily available at most border
crossing points.
If you regularly go south for the winter,
it makes sense to have a U.S. bank
account. Many Canadian banks have
branches in the U.S. that offer a range of
banking products and services that allow
you to access your money and your credit
history. Notify your credit card company
of your travel plans and check the expiry
date of your cards.
If you plan to take your pets with you,
take up-to-date proof of immunization.
Check first to be certain your sun-destination
allows pets on property or has size or
breed restrictions.
Canada Post can redirect your mail for
a small fee. Many snowbirds arrange to
have bills sent via e-mail and pay them
electronically. A friend, neighbour or
property maintenance professional can
pick up your mail and forward it to you.
They can also check on your property at
intervals that may be required by your
home insurance provider.
Huntsville pharmacist Bill Coon of
Muskoka Medical Centre Pharmacy suggests
snowbirds have a list of medications
in the event they are questioned at the
border.
“Given that the Ontario government
now has a mechanism in place that allows
pharmacies to fill six months worth of
prescriptions for seniors, it might come in
handy if you are travelling with multiple
medications.”
For those under 65, a prescription plan
may not have a provision for lengthy stays
in which case you will have to pay for your
m edications and submit claims month by
month to your insurer.
Coon also suggests that the list has contact
numbers for both your doctor and
your pharmacy “just in case.”
Coon cautions, “I’d really suggest a note
from your doctor on a prescription pad if
you are taking any injectable medications,
such as insulin, with you.”
Never consolidate multiple bottles of
prescription medication into one large
container to save space. It is important
that proper pharmacy labels are affixed to
all prescription medication containers to
present at border crossings in the event
you are asked. Take sufficient prescriptions
with you but be mindful that some
medications – codeine, for example – may
only be taken into the U.S. in limited
quantities.
The Foreign Affairs and International
Trade Canada website at
www.voyage.gc.ca includes essential information
on understanding travel health
risks; taking preventive measures before,
during and after your travel; coping with a
health emergency abroad; and accessing
consular services in a health emergency. As
well, the site provides links to suggested
immunization that may be recommended
prior to travel. If you are going to places
other than the U.S. you should read travel
reports and warnings for country-specific
advice and precautions you can take
to reduce your risk of harm.
Most of the time you will be asked a few
simple questions at border crossings and
then waved through. However, it is wise to
carry documents that prove that you plan
to return to Canada such as property tax
receipts and/or utility bills. Proof that you
have the means to support yourself during
your stay includes recent bank statements
and a Canadian tax assessment notice.
The Canadian Snowbirds Association
website www.canadiansnowbirds.org has
an extensive checklist across all categories
– home, health, and finances – pertaining
to travel outside the county. It looks a bit
daunting but a few hours spent ensuring
that you are covering all your bases can
save untold time and trouble in the
unlikely event that you encounter problems
in any aspect of your travels.
Bon Voyage!
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 27

Companionship • Gentle Exercise
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Ph: 705-684-9956
Cell: 705-327-9418
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28 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
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By Dianne Park Thach
The dropping temperatures remind us
that winter is soon approaching. Though
it is a season of fun and adventure in the
snow for many, it is also a time to take
extra care and precautions.
Slips and falls are always a concern,
especially for seniors.
“Keep the entrance ways clear of ice and
snow, as well as free from clutter,” says
public health nurse Cheryl Richardson
from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health
Unit. “Also, you can mix a bit of sand and
salt and keep it in a bucket outside the
door.”
If you need to walk across an icy patch,
slow down and think about your next
move.
“Keep the body loose and spread your
feet far apart to stabilize. Take little steps,”
says Richardson.
Modifications to your footwear, such as
adding ice grippers, or an ice pick to the
end of a cane, can also help.
“These are all helpful in providing
improved stability and non-slip traction
while walking,” says Leslie Tempest, physiotherapist
and owner of ProActive Rehab
and Sport Injury Centre in Huntsville.
Staying warm during the cold months is
also very important and takes a bit of consideration,
says Tina Roberts, owner of
Muskoka HomeCARE Plus in Huntsville.
“Wear layers, woollen socks with slippers,
and keep extra blankets inside.”
Richardson recommends wearing two
to three layers of loose-fitting clothing.
“It’s warmer than one layer of thick
clothing,” she says.
(705) 645-6923
(705) 644-0743
Senior
Shut-In
Home Service
Extended Hrs. Salon
trudiessalon@bell.blackberry.net
1012 Dells Lane
Bracebridge, ON P1L 1W9
Always wear a hat, gloves or mittens
(which are warmer), and have a scarf cover
part of your face to keep your skin from
chapping.
Many outdoor winter tasks such as
snow shovelling can cause injury and
require extra care and time to complete.
Stan Vogt, a physiotherapist at Gravenhurst
Physiotherapy Associates says snow
shovelling is like all other physical
activities.
“If you are away from the activity for a
while, your tolerance to that activity is not
the same as it was at the end of the snow
season,” he says.
“Use proper equipment with good
ergonomics, proper length of shovel handle
or scoop. If there is lots of snow, use a
snow blower or contractor,” says Vogt.
“Push small amounts of snow at once, and
do a little at a time, especially early in the
year. Build your tolerance. All the shovelling
doesn’t need to be done at once,” he
says.
Tempest even suggests a warm up
before you head out.
“Range of motion actions and some
stretching will go a long way to preparing
your body for the work,” she says.
Harsh weather and poor conditions can
also lead to isolation among seniors.
Roberts, who assists seniors with everything
from cooking and cleaning to taking
them to appointments, says an individual’s
level of socialization all depends on the
person’s degree of fear and ability.
“It is ultimately up to each individual,”
she says. “If going outside is an effort and
there is no family or friends to invite over
or chat with on the phone, there is a
seniors’ volunteer program through
Community Mental Health that phones
you every Monday morning,” says
Roberts. “It is run by and maintained
through mature, experienced people . . .
who are concerned about our local seniors
and people with disabilities.”
There are also local senior centres and
senior support services, like those offered
by Roberts, which can all help make the
winter a little more tolerable.
Being cautious and prepared will help
ensure a safe winter season to those who
are vulnerable. And remember, help is just
a phone call away. All you have to do is
ask.
“When you get older, it may be a
good time to get a helping hand,”
says Richardson.
Gravenhurst
Pharmacy
705-687-2207
OPEN 7 DAYS
Home Health Care Centre
Convalescent Aids
Sales Service Rentals
Home Health Care Consultant
Patti Johnston
100 Muskoka Road S.
Gravenhurst

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
OCTOBER
The Great Pumpkin Trail haunts Huntsville
By Bronwyn Boyer
This Halloween, get ready for another
thrilling edition of the Great Pumpkin
Trail at the Muskoka Heritage Place
in Huntsville.
The Pumpkin Trail is one of the oldest
Halloween traditions in Huntsville.
It goes back so far in history that none
of the organizers, past or present, can
remember when it began.
“I have been in contact with village
staff and volunteers that remember the
Great Pumpkin Trail taking place in the
1960s,” explains Muskoka Heritage
Place manager Ron Gostlin. “But no
one we know has any idea where, how,
when, or who thought it up. So we
refer to it as our “umpteenth” Great
Pumpkin Trail, because we don’t
know.”
The Great Pumpkin Trail is sponsored
by local businesses or individuals
who provide decorations for the exteriors
of the pioneer village buildings, as
well as a representative to dole out
candy supplied by Muskoka Heritage
Place.
This year, they expect to have 12
decorated buildings, including one
manned by Santa Claus. Also, a representative
of the Tooth Fairy will be
there handing out tooth brushes supplied
by local Huntsville dentists.
The site is also decorated by pumpkins
carved by Huntsville Public
School students, and visitors follow the
Trail that connects each building by
moonlit footpaths. There will also be
prizes for families who have the best
By Norah Fountain
Festival fever will reach a new high
this year in Bala. It’s the 25th anniversary
of the Bala Cranberry Festival, the
weekend when more than a quarter of
the town’s population pitches in to celebrate
the area’s cranberry crops and
show thousands of visitors a really great
time. Over 200 volunteers will sell festival
buttons, serve up cranberry crepes,
judge exhibits, and one will even dress
up as a giant cranberry.
Expectations are high for both a
good cranberry crop and a massive
turnout to the festival this year. While
the three originators – Don Sproul,
Dave MacDonald and John Chamberlain
– were convinced a festival would
be a success, they may never have imagined
how big a draw it would become.
The first year brought maybe 1,000
people. By the 15th year, they were
Little ghosts and goblins trick or treat at the Muskoka Heritage place during its Great Pumpkin Trail festivities.
costumes, as well as for the building
displays.
Since the event is primarily geared
towards small children and their fami-
coming by the tens of thousands, with
the biggest attendance ever pegged at
between 25,000 to 28,000 visitors.
“Even in poor weather, the festival
has still brought close to 20,000 people,”
says past festival chair Amy Taylor.
“This year we have 20,000 passport
buttons on hand, we printed 16,000
brochures, and we’re bound to have a
good turnout for our silver anniversary.”
One more thing to celebrate, adds
Taylor, is what the festival contributes
after the party is over.
“Over the years, the festival has put
more than a half a million dollars back
into the community through scholarships
and grants.”
Of course, the festival may never
have happened if it hadn’t been for
Bala’s original innovative cranberry
farmer, Orville Johnston. Visitors can
P057020CN 11/05
lies, it takes place before it gets too
dark, which makes it less frightening
for little trick-or-treaters.
The Great Pumpkin Trail provides a
read the tribute in the festival brochure
about how Orville started a legacy by
planting his first crop of berries in
1951.
The festival starts at 11 am on Friday
and runs through to 4 p.m. Sunday,
and will offer shuttle buses to both the
Johnston Cranberry Marsh and the Iroquois
Cranberry Growers. There’s even
a new button booth at the Muskoka
Wharf where visitors from Gravenhurst
can catch a festival bus into Bala.
The festival itself features a mix of
old and new attractions. The Summer
Water Sports crew will brave the fall
weather to put on a mid-day ski show
at Windsor Park. Fireworks are planned
at the same location Saturday night and
Muskoka Roads will play a free concert
under the tent at the Bala Bay Inn. The
midway rides on Bala Falls Road will be
open until 9 p.m. both nights. During
There are good reasons to
FOLLOW THE CROWD
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Les Bell, Agent
46 Ann St.
Bracebridge, ON P1L 2C1
Bus: 705-646-9995 Toll Free: 877-877-3929
safe, organized, and traffic free environment.
It takes place on Saturday,
Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the
last admission entry at 7:30 p.m.
For Bala, life is a bowl of berries during festival
the day, the pig races are back and local
businesses will be cheering on the porker
they sponsor. Even the judged
exhibits, a feature from day one of the
first festival, have grown this year.
Ruth Allan co-ordinates the judged
exhibits and Country Bazaar in the
Bala Community Centre. She’s done
this job for seven years, and is most
proud of starting the Visitor’s Vote,
where visitors cast ballots for their
favourite classroom and individual
entries. She says that vote has helped
increase interest, entries and prompted
new exhibit categories. This year, the
judges embrace the digital age, for
example. Along with the mainstays of
knitting and quilting, you can enter a
digitally enhanced photo, an architectural
rendering, or create something
fanciful on your computer for the Sci-
Fi exhibit.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 29
Photograph: Sara White

Six Degrees looks ahead at what’s to come
By Zander Sherman
Six Degrees Muskoka, located in
downtown Bracebridge, looks back on
the summer’s seven themed exhibits, 90
digital animation classes, and 600 art
instalments fondly. So do the residents
of Muskoka, who’ve responded with
enthusiasm in a survey being concluded
at the time of press.
“People were blown away and
amazed,” says Jen Skinner, who
co-founded Six Degrees with her husband,
Don. “It was unexpected. And
that’s what we like.”
The 42-question survey gathered the
opinions of artists, demonstrators, and
community members alike, and nearly
all to date have indicated their support
for the gallery.
“So far ninety-three per cent of our
respondents recommended Six Degrees
to someone else,” says projector co-ordinator
Tamsen Tillson. “And all were very
positive about our impact on the downtown
experience for shoppers, other
retailers in downtown Bracebridge, and
the Muskoka arts community.”
Now the gallery has closed, the Skinners
are using feedback from the community
to help form their strategy going
forward. At the same time, they don’t
want people thinking Six Degrees, or its
animation studio, Pixels on the Parallel,
didn’t make enough of an impact during
Thursday, October 22
The film Garbage Warrior is being
presented at the Rene M. Caisse Theatre
in Bracebridge in support of Habi-
30 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Jen and Don Skinner operated Six Degrees Muskoka this past summer. The
gallery is now closed for the season, but was well received.
the summer to carry it through the fall.
“This is an adaptive reuse of a 124year-old
building, and we’re basically
building it over,” Don says. “It’s a huge
tat for Humanity. The show starts at 7
p.m. Tickets available at Readers World
in Bracebridge, Sustain in Huntsville,
and at the door. Call 705-385-8721.
priority. A massive amount of resources .
. . We’re rehabilitating the entire thing.”
Though much of the work being done
to the building will be completed over
Thursday, Oct. 22 to Saturday, Oct.
24
Nights on Broadway, presented by the
North Muskoka Players at the Algonquin
Theatre will feature an evening
of some of the most memorable Broadway
productions such as Les Miserable,
Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ
Superstar and more. Call 705-789-
4975.
Saturday, Oct. 24
Auburn Gallery in Gravenhurst will
be hosting its 3rd annual Great Pumpkin
event from 7-9 p.m. Twenty-five
local artists carve pumpkins in support
of Hospice Muskoka. Come and enjoy
the winter, some finishing touches, such
as the planned rooftop ribbon (an energy
conservation measure which would
generate domestic hot water), will come a
little later. In the meantime, the Skinners
are excited by a forthcoming animation
event in Ottawa, which they’ll use to
co-ordinate a winter intensive workshop.
“We hope to have a Christmas class and
challenge students to create a ‘short’ in
time for the G8 Summit,” says Jen.
And come spring, the plan is for Pixels
on the Parallel to resume its classes and
busy creative schedule. The top two floors
of the Six Degrees building are already
leased to an international firm, and the
rest of the space will be adapted to a
variety of uses in an effort to make the
building sustainable from all angles.
“Sustainability is number one,” says
Don. “We see the use of rentable
interstitial space as a value-added piece to
Six Degrees. And the added cultural value
of creative content – static art, animated
art, visual art, performance art – creates a
richer environment.”
With winter coming on, the Skinners
are now looking for input from the community
about how to empower youth and
arts.
“Six Degrees is a global community
idea about connectivity,” Jen says. “We
want ideas about how that relates to
your creative cultural side.”
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Visit www.whatsupmuskoka.com for complete listings
READERS’ WORLD
pages for everyone
Enjoy an array of different titles
including:
Fiction, Non-Fiction,
Children’s Books,
Cook Books
and more!
52 Manitoba Street
Bracebridge, ON
705-645-5806
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
the evening and have a chance at winning
one of the talented creations. Call
705-812-0749.
Friday, Oct. 30
Johnny Cash, Man in Black will be
presented at the Algonquin Theatre.
Bill Cayley, who shares the same birthday
as Johnny Cash, will perform a
tribute to the artist. A June Carter
Cash character will join Bill on stage as
well as a three piece back-up band.
Show begins at 8 p.m. Call 705-789-
4975.
For additional events, visit our website
at www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Next advertising
deadline
Oct 29
Call now to book
your ad space
646-1314

Photograph: Don MacTavish
WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA
SOCIAL SCENE
1
4
1.Muskoka Heritage Foundation director Rick Terry and president John Finley present the Robert
J.Boyer award to Mary Storey at their annual general meeting and awards ceremony on Oct. 3.
2. Darrell Lieux and Karen Shepard are part of the Northern Lights Steel Orchestra entertaining the
participants and supporters at Dwight’s annual CIBC Run for the Cure on Oct. 4.
3. Celebrating the launch of What’s Up Huntsville/Lake of Bays at the chamber After Hours event on
Sept. 28 at Delta Grandview’s Mark O’Meara Clubhouse were Marguerite Urban and Laura Kennedy.
4. Bob “Elvis” Sharpe made an appearance at the Bracebridge Firebird Fall Cruise-In on Sept. 27.
5. Austin and Tristan Spiers were busy checking out the witches’ brew at Sandhill Nursery’s open
house in Huntsville on Sept. 17.
7
Email photo submissions to editor@northcountrymedia.com For more photos please visit our photo gallery at www.whatsupmuskoka.com
2
5 6
8 9
6. Catherine Wyle, Audrey Romagnoli, Christine Kitchen, Fraser Kitchen, Chantal Leason and Doug
Kitchen were members of an 18-member team at CIBC Run for the Cure in Dwight on Oct. 4.
7. Members chat and mingle at the Bracebridge Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event
held at Northern Kitchen Studio on Sept. 28.
8. Marc Van Eynde and Rob Clark chat at Gravenhurst Business After hours event on Sept. 29. The
event was held at A-Bay Storage with Muskoka Bay Clothing as co-host of the evening.
9. Aboard the Wenonah II for a celebratory cruise, Gary McMullen, Bob MacDonald and Craig
Prentice of the Lakes of Muskoka Cottage Brewery display the Canadian Brewing Awards they
recently won.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 31
3
Photograph: courtesy of Karla Dudley, editor TAPS Magazine

WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA
MARKETPLACE
SALES REPRESENTATIVE
HUNTSVILLE / LAKE OF BAYS
Cottage Country Communications is seeking an Advertising Sales Representative.
Working with an established call list, the successful candidate will be selling and
servicing clients in the Huntsville/Lake of Bays area, both one-on-one and by
telephone.
Primary responsibilities include: sales preparation, client contact, sales, copy writing
and administrative follow-up.
Preference will be given to applicants with the
following qualifications:
strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills including an ability
to use computers as a sales tool
ability to work both independently and as part of a team of dedicated
professionals
The successful applicant will be required to have a valid driver’s license and a
reliable vehicle.
Remuneration includes a base income, commission and travel allowance.
Cottage Country Communications publishes Muskoka Magazine, What’s Up
Muskoka, North Country Business and Cottage Home & Property Showcase.
We would like to thank all applicants for their
interest in this position; however, only those
considered for an interview will be contacted.
Apply in writing by E-mail to:
Don Smith, Publisher
Cottage Country Communications
don@northcountrymedia.com
Norm
Miller
Member of Provincial Parliament
Parry Sound – Muskoka
BRACEBRIDGE OFFICE
165 Manitoba Street, Unit 1 • Bracebridge, ON P1L 1L3
1-888-267-4826
norm.millerco@pc.ola.org
www.normmillermpp.com
Jacqui Semkow
Muskoka Mortgage
Specialist
Muskoka and Parry Sound
705-646-4238
Fax: 705-646-1810
Pager: 1-866-767-5446
semkoj@td.com
If you have questions or concerns about provincial
government services,please contact my office for
information and assistance. I am here to help!
HELP WANTED
32 October 2009 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
HELP WANTED
Do you have talent as a
writer or photographer?
Muskoka Magazine, North Country Business and
What's Up Muskoka are currently seeking
freelance writers and photographers,
preferably with samples of material published in a
newspaper or magazine.
If you think you have what it takes, call 705-646-1314
and ask for the editor, Melissa Kosowan,
or e-mail editor@northcountrymedia.com
WILD GAME ACCEPTED
BY APPOINTMENT
MEATS
1824 Hwy. 11 North, Kahshe Lake, beside RJ Liquidation
705-689-5565 www.muskokameats.com
Muskoka
STUART &
CRUICKSHANK
BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS &
NOTARIES PUBLIC
Peter B. Stuart, Q.C.
James W. Cruickshank, B.A., LL.B.
(705) 687-3441
facsimile (705) 687-5405
Office: 195 Church Street, Gravenhurst, ON
Mail: P.O. Box 1270, Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1V4
AREAS OF PRACTICE:
– Real Estate and Mortgages
– Wills and Trusts
– Corporate and Commercial
– Municipal and Land Use Planning
CHRIS TAYLOR
SWUFF
PROFESSIONAL
PET STYLING
231 Phillip Street East
Gravenhurst, ON
705.687.5269
by appointment only
STEVENSON
PLUMBING & ELECTRIC
295 Margaret St., Gravenhurst, Ont
Your Your Total Total
Concept Concept
PLUMBING,
ELECTRICAL
and
HEATING
CONTRACTOR
705-687-4994 Shop 705-687-7840
Fax 705-687-1048
www.stevensonplumbingandelectric.com

macs@work
empowering people in their digital lives
Macs in Muskoka?
Yes. It’s true!
Muskoka really has it’s very own Apple dealer specializing in
Macintosh computers, iPods, and all things digital that work with
them—printers, cameras, external hard drives, speakers, monitors
and tons of software and books.
macs@work is a local family run business and this year we are
celebrating our 15th year as an Apple Authorized Reseller and
Service Provider. Watch our website for special anniversary events
leading up to Christmas.
Please come and visit us at our store in Huntsville. We would love
to meet you and show you why we love working with Macintosh
computers. Also, if you are a small business you will be very
interested in MobileMe as well as what Jamie has to offer as a
Filemaker Pro Database programmer. He can create customized
solutions for you that will make your business soar.
See you soon!
Authorized
Reseller
Conveniently located in the
Parkway Plaza, 131 Hwy. 60
789-6600 macs-at-work.com

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645-8183
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www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2009 35

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