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WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA EDITORIAL Environmental jewel dumped by government It is sad news that the Frost Centre Institute, formerly the site of the Leslie M. Frost Centre, is closing but it’s not totally surprising. Those involved in the operation of privately run educational facilities will tell you it’s no easy task. However, the failure of this most recent endeavour is more than simply the story of an educational facility that is no longer in business. It is a story that must bring back memories of the concerns that were raised when the provincial government was contemplating what it would do with this jewel, located beside an easily accessible piece of relative wilderness. It appears the government will again be requesting proposals for the facility in the next few months. After investing almost three years in the centre, the most recent owners were unable to even make the rent payments. But if an experienced executive with deep pockets and solid ideas can’t make it work, who exactly is the province hoping will come forward next? In today’s world, a place that teaches people about nature and respect for the environment is an essential service. In our province, the role of education has traditionally been a provincial responsibility, in part because it is a service too expensive for a private company to operate. Yet, here, that responsibility is being offered to the highest bidder. And while the public might recognize the potential of the Frost Centre, it is hard to find a buyer who can afford to operate or replace these old buildings. Who, then, will teach future generations about our natural environment? There is no doubt that the centre is a unique piece of property. The Frost property is adjacent to about 24,000 acres of Crown land. It would be very disappointing to see that piece of property and its heritage lost to private development. While the facility is not technically in Muskoka, it borders the district and there has been a long-standing connection with local residents. What happens at the Frost Centre will impact us. We need to watch what happens there and be vigilant. If the government is willing to give up this land for a commercial development, we could find ourselves on a slippery slope that puts at risk huge amounts of land held by the Crown in Muskoka. Send your Letters to the Editor to: editor@northcountrymedia.com Box 180, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T6 8 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com Letter to the Editor ‘Sufferer of depression’ urged to seek help We were very troubled to read the letter to the editor in the April issue of What’s Up Muskoka regarding the individual accessing mental health services and would like to respond with the following: We want to invite the “sufferer of depression” to contact the Muskoka-Parry Sound Community Mental Health Service in order for us to address their concerns and as an opportunity to improve our services. We would like to confirm that people are assessed over the phone because we can respond more rapidly and to more people in this way. If we, for any reason, think that it would be best to see a person face to face, then this is arranged. The telephone screening is the initial assessment and consists of asking people questions to clarify and understand what their struggles are and what they need. If the person is not in a crisis the assessment information is reviewed to decide which service would best meet the needs of the person. Sometimes people do not meet the mandate of the agency and are referred to other services in the community. If people are in a crisis, they are asked to come in as quickly as possible for an appointment to begin to resolve/cope with the immediate issues. The mandate of the agency is to provide crisis service and serve people with serious mental illness. The agency would love to provide all referrals with services but are not funded to serve everyone. However, there are services that can be accessed through Family Health Teams, Employee Assistance Programs, OHIP funded physicians who provide mental health services, all at no cost to the individual. Private practitioners are available as well, but as the writer points out, there is a fee for their services. Regardless of the circumstances we would like to hear from the individual to correct and improve their experience with our service. Charlane Cluett Muskoka Parry-Sound Community Mental Health Service Bracebridge Donald Smit h Publisher Melissa Kosowan Editor Sandy Lockhart Assistant Editor Donna Ansley Curtis Armstrong Alan Bruder Jennifer Cooper Laurie Johle 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: Copyright© 2010, 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. Published every month. Subscription Rates: Within in Canada One year $25.00 including GST. Two years $45 including GST. Canada Post Publication Sales Product Agreement Number 40025080 Address changes should be sent to the address below. How to contact us: Mail: P.O. Box 180, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T6 Street Address: 195 Ecclestone Drive, Bracebridge Phone: (705) 646-1314 Fax: (705) 645-6424 E-mail: info@northcountrymedia.com Website: www.whatsupmuskoka.com Cover Photo Bracebridge/Gravenhurst: Scott Turnbull Photography Huntsville/Lake of Bays: Don McCormick
Power boost for Huntsville radio station By Don McCormick The Moose FM in Huntsville will now look and sound different thanks to a new name, new programming and a power boost from five to 43.4 kilowatts for its Dwight transmitter. “We’ll be able to serve the community better,” says general manager Sean Connon. “It’ll be the biggest, strongest signal you’ll be able to get in all of Muskoka.” Now called the new 105.5 FM – Muskoka’s Lite Favourites, the station will feature adult contemporary programming featuring music from the 1970s, to today, Connon told supporters at a press conference on April 19. The new sound will include a lunch time program focusing on music of the 70s, a Saturday Night Oldies show featuring music of the 50s, 60s and early 70s and a Sunday morning brunch playing music of the 80s. The new 105.5 FM is one of 13 stations owned by the Haliburton Broadcasting Group. “It is the crown jewel of the group,” says Christopher Grossman, owner of Haliburton Broadcasting Group. “Our goal (since purchasing 105.5 FM) was always to get a larger signal and to get more coverage for the northern part of Muskoka and the Lake of Bays regions,” says Grossman. Prior to the power boost, there were Sean Connon, general manager of the new 105.5, talks about some of the changes to the radio station during a press conference on April 20. The station now has a new name, sound and a stronger signal. pockets in Muskoka where listeners could not pick up the signal. Now, assures Connon, “It will come in everywhere.” The Haliburton Broadcast Group now serves from Parry Sound in the west to Haliburton in the east and from North Bay in the north to Barrie in the south. Photograph: Don McCormick Councillor wins award for sports tourism By Don McCormick Huntsville councillor George Young has been awarded the prestigious President’s Award by the Canadian Sport Tourism Association in recognition for his work promoting sport and event tourism in the Huntsville-Lake of Bays area. After 28 years of working with the CBC as a sportscaster, Young retired to his hometown of Huntsville in 1994. He almost immediately immersed himself into the local political scene and was elected a Town of Huntsville and District of Muskoka councillor shortly thereafter. In 2002, Young was appointed chair of the economic development committee for the Town of Huntsville. In a survey relating to the economy of the town it was discovered that tourism made up about 50 per cent of the local economy. After almost three decades of reporting at provincial, national and international sporting events, Young was well aware of the economic impact sporting events had on communities. “I went down to the Canadian Sport Tourism conference and it became pretty obvious that, for Huntsville, being the sports town that Huntsville councillor George Young was honoured by the Canadian Sport Tourism Association for his work promoting sports tourism locally. it is, sports tourism was a good idea,” says Young. According to Young, so many things had changed over the years that Huntsville and Lake of Bays needed to be more than just a scenic area with welcoming people in order to thrive in the tourism industry. “You had to give people a reason to come here – you had to find a niche Photograph: Kate Austin tourism market,” says Young. He promoted the idea of sport tourism and his council slowly bought in. The Town of Huntsville formed two committees, the sport/event tourism committee to organize the events and the sport/event marketing committee to promote the area and the events. They made a four-year commitment of $100,000 a year. The events committee placed winning bids for the Ontario Paralympics Winter Championships, the Muskoka 70.3 Triathlon, the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and, most recently, the Ontario Winter Youth Games. These events, along with the 1992 World Triathlon Championships, the annual Muskoka Triathlon and the National Pond Hockey Championships, helped establish Huntsville and Lake of Bays as one of the premier venues in the province for sporting events. “I’m satisfied with the way the whole sports tourism initiative has gone,” says Young. The new sporting facilities that have resulted from the G8 funding has pushed Huntsville to a new level. “Huntsville is definitely on the sports tourism map,” says Young. www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 9
Page 1 and 2: WHAT’S UP May 2010 MUSKOKA’S NE
Page 3 and 4: If you can’t get 8 hours of sleep
Page 5 and 6: Flying high above Muskoka Photograp
Page 7: Henny Brown, Lynda Hutt, Rosemary K
Page 11 and 12: It was a busy and interesting month
Page 13 and 14: Advertising Feature Owner Mike Warr
Page 15 and 16: Advertising Feature The Old Station
Page 17 and 18: The Muskoka Watershed REPORT CARD 2
Page 19 and 20: The Muskoka Watershed REPORT CARD 2
Page 21 and 22: Advertising Feature Enjoy quality f
Page 23 and 24: See the earth in a new way Geotherm
Page 25 and 26: Helping others one kilometre at a t
Page 27 and 28: School of medicine expands its hori
Page 29 and 30: Brandon Occhiuzzi, Kale Johncox and
Page 31 and 32: Spring into the art season with ann
Page 33 and 34: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA SOCIAL SCENE 1
Page 35 and 36: Define Your Space with... Superior

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