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Live each day like it were your last Around Bracebridge By Maria Duncalf-Barber Welcome to a new year, a new decade and a new you. It is a time for resolutions or aspirations of becoming a better human being. After the dreadful shock of what happened in Haiti, with many lives lost, it is important to take a look at our own lives. Here in Muskoka we have many amazing people walking their talk of enabling the community to become a better place through compassion and understanding. January was Alzheimer’s Awareness month. Each year in Ontario, 38,000 people are diagnosed with this terrible disease. My mother and grandmother and other family members have been victims of this soul-destroying, lifeinterrupting disease. This year was the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka’s 3rd annual Walk For Memories. The event took place Sunday, Jan. 31 at Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School. The group raised $14,000. Sheila Creasor and Anne Knight are volunteers at the Bracebridge Alzheimer's group and headed up the annual walk. Thank you for making a difference in our community. On the high school scene, my friends Billy and David Wray and their improv teammates present a show called “Lunchtime Live” every Friday, in the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre. It is open to the public for $1/person. This is part of the teams’ fundraising efforts to pay for going to the regional Canadian Improv Games competition in Sudbury in February. Last year Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School won the gold medal, and went on to the national competition in Ottawa. If you have time, go and support them and laugh out loud. Laughing helps us live longer. The BMLSS fencing teams with fencing coach Bill Bagshaw went to Ottawa to the Carleton Invitational Fencing Competition. Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School is the only high school invited to participate in the sabre fencing, and the students are competing against fencers who are older and much more experienced. Some have even fenced internationally. This year, the four-person boys team scored 70 points and the girls team scored 100 points, even defeating the team from Trent University. It was sad time for students and staff at St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School, as they attended the overflowing funeral Mass for Paul Frederick who was once a principal there. I worked with him closely when I began teaching peer support there many years ago. He was nothing but kind, considerate and respectful to me. He will be missed. I am excited that Nia has come to Bracebridge. I recently attended the session at the Muskoka Dance Connection. A blend of dance, martial arts and Nia instructor Paula McIaasc takes a break with Maria Duncalf-Barber. yoga, Nia is a low impact, cardiovascular conditioning workout danced to inspiring music. Ageless and limitless, it is a path to express and heal oneself through movement and sensation. But most of all, it’s fun. Women danced, laughed, and learned more about this revolutionary fitness program at the Nia launch. Classes will be held at Muskoka Dance Connection Saturdays and Wednesdays. In spite of the economy, one of the best deals around town is the sale of gently used clothing on Saturdays at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church. The dedicated women from the church volunteer their time and sell used clothes for all members of the family. They have packaged up boxes of clothes to send to the needy in Haiti. Good people surround us in our community. I don’t know where this month has gone. Tempus Fugit is Latin for Time Flies, and as we see what happened in Haiti it shows us how things can change in an instant. I am saddened. I ask you to live your life to its fullest. A new year is a perfect time to renew, rediscover, reclaim and recreate yourself in all the areas you have let be dormant. Life is short, start living and enjoying. Life is precious; embrace it with love. Photograph: courtesy of Maria Duncalf-Barber Muskokans step up to help the people of Haiti Around Gravenhurst By Gord Durnan Recently I spent some time learning about the fine work offered to our communities by the volunteer tutors at the Literacy Society of South Muskoka. They provide one-on-one literacy training to some 85 residents, both young and old, who need to improve their reading, comprehension skills and financial skills, which will allow them to provide a better life for their families and to enhance their participation in the community. You can help by making a much needed charitable gift or volunteering to be trained as a tutor. Muskoka folks have always been known as caring about the many fine groups that make our community better 14 February 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com and now they are showing leadership in supporting the recovery efforts in Haiti. Congratulations to the many hundreds of donors for giving thousands of dollars to the relief programs of the Canadian Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the other relief agencies. The Rotary Clubs of Muskoka are also rallying funds to provide Shelter Boxes to the hundreds of thousands of people whose homes were destroyed. The Gravenhurst Club has already sent four Shelter Boxes at a cost of $1,000 each. Each box contains a tent for up to 10 people, light and heat, clean water, cooking aids and tools. Hundreds of thousands will be arriving in Haiti in the months to come. The January issue of What’s Up Muskoka featured an article on the First World War quilt that has been repatriated to Gravenhurst. I had the opportunity to see this treasure on Jan. 21 at the library and meet Diane Harrop who is co-ordinating research on the history of this quilt and the many family names stitched in the many squares. Upon reading the list I found that 15 of the names were relatives of mine with the names of many Mickles, Canes and Harpers appearing. To me the most important was listed as “Baby Harper,” who I think is my mother Helen. Her mother Grace Harper returned to the family home “Roseneath” on Bay Street to give birth. Mom was born on July 1, 1915 in the front bedroom of their home which became Garner Lodge in later years. How neat is this piece of family history? I recently had a visit with Bob Collins, the owner of the new Home Building Centre rising out of the snowy landscape in west Gravenhurst. I am impressed with Bob’s commitment and confidence in growing Gravenhurst’s future economy by building this new destination store. The new Home Building Centre will replace the current 4,000 square feet facility with 16,500 square feet of modern retail showrooms to display thousands of new product lines for your renovation projects. To make this even better, there will be a 55 x 175-foot drivethrough lumber shed for your convenience. Gravenhurst is truly growing for our future prosperity. On another front, the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting to celebrate the success of 2009. It has announced a new partnership with the Gravenhurst BIA to make the voice of business and retailers stronger together and to manage a coordinated event program for 2010 to attract customers and tourists to downtown Gravenhurst. Leading the Chamber this year are Rosemary King as president, Marv McCabe as vice-president, along with Judy Ring as secretary and Dap Thach as treasurer. The excellent leadership of Jodi Holder the Chamber manager should mean another positive year for business growth in our town. In mid-January my wife organized a fun gathering of family and friends to celebrate winter in Muskoka. It proved to be a most delightful way to enjoy the beauty of our white winter and she announced that I had now matured enough to receive my Old Age Security from the federal government.
***WINTER SALE*** Buy any product get the second 50% off! 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 Advertising Feature GETTING TO KNOW US Eleanor Coulson helps clients reach goals 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. Sweets for your Sweetie ♥ 9 Ontario St., Bracebridge 645-8080 www.lilibird.com 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 Mortgage broker Eleanor Coulson with her assistant Sheila McCrank. Eleanor Coulson, mortgage development manager for Scotiabank, is an accredited mortgage specialist with the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals. Whether you are a first time home buyer, cottage purchaser, investment property seeker, or if you are looking to build a new home, Eleanor can help you. She walks people through the process and explains all the details. “I educate my clients on product knowledge, so they know exactly what they are getting,” she says, adding clients are amazed at the impact of the first meeting. “I help individuals look at their whole portfolio,” she explains. “I advise them on how to change things around to help them get approved to finance the home they want.” For example, Eleanor helped a couple that could not qualify to purchase a cottage. She coached them on how to realign their financial situation and helped them turn things around. This particular couple now owns their own home, a rental property and a summer vacation property. They are now using their earnings to build home equity and quite often call Eleanor just to say ‘Hello.’ Eleanor has over 20 years financial management experience and for the past seven years she has been helping individuals achieve their personal goals, devoting her skills to specializing in mortgage financing and home equity lending. Eleanor has been part of the Muskoka community for several years, having sat on a variety of volunteer committees such as Muskoka Employment Support Services, Access Muskoka for the Physically Handicapped, Gravenhurst Rotary and belongs to the Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst chambers of commerce through Scotiabank. Eleanor covers the District of Muskoka, Parry Sound and Haliburton, working closely with all of the local branches. Although Muskoka is Eleanor’s area, she also helps clients outside the region who are either relocating or have been recommended to her by a past client. She works non-traditional hours, which benefits clients who need to meet after business hours. Eleanor has a full-time assistant Sheila McCrank, who works with the administration processes, preparing flyers and booking seminars. Eleanor’s goals are to educate individuals on their own personal financial situation and help them find the right mortgage solution to suit their needs. “I usually work on their future goals with them,” she says, explaining that she has to understand their plans to help them find the right mortgage. “A five-year fixed rate mortgage doesn't work for someone who's planning to flip the house in two years.” There are a variety of different mortgage options she can use to suit each customer, including special programs for the self-employed. “I match clients to the mortgage that best suits them,” she says. Eleanor will work with you at your convenience to help find a tailored solution to your home ownership needs. She will discuss an equity plan to help set you up for the future. If you are looking to refinance, she can discuss options available to you. Eleanor can be reached on her cell phone at (705) 641-0102. and Medical Supply Muskoka Mobility Shop At Home Service LIFT CHAIRS & SO MUCH MORE * FREE LOCAL DELIVERY. NO TAXES. Sales • Service • Rentals • New & Used www.muskokamobility.com (705) 687-4796 950 MUSKOKA RD. S., GRAVENHURST A unique selection of silver jewellery and fun accessories to meet everyones style. BRACEBRIDGE 15 Manitoba St. 645-9700 www.whatsupmuskoka.com February 2010 15
Page 1 and 2: WHAT’S UP February 2010 MUSKOKA
Page 3 and 4: ON NOW! HURRY IN! RECORD BREAKING P
Page 5 and 6: Muskoka’s nursing shortage Photog
Page 7 and 8: The greenest paint available. Zero
Page 9 and 10: Muskoka Landowners change direction
Page 11: Olsson takes her message to Nunavut
Page 16: JOHN CLEATOR, CFP Agent/Owner JOHN
Page 19 and 20: Making a difference in the communit
Page 22 and 23: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA SPORTS Adrienne
Page 24 and 25: Continued from p. 23 Hockey League,
Page 26 and 27: Opera Guild brings the world to Mus
Page 28 and 29: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA MARKETPLACE eco
Page 30 and 31: Define Your Space with... Superior
Page 32: “Our Business is Satisfied Custom

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