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WHAT’S UP
May 2010
MUSKOKA’S NEWS SOURCE
BRACEBRIDGE
GRAVENHURST
www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Studio tour marks
eighth year Page 27
Challenged to try
Muskoka trails Page 6
Cottage comedy
Inspired by a silly
boy’s antics Page 22
Top comedians set to make Muskoka laugh See page 27

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Flying high above Muskoka
Photograph: Don MacTavish
The view high above Muskoka is spectacular from Earle Robinson’s Cessna 172 as he comes in for a landing at Muskoka Airport.
By James Waterman
Muskoka is home to a group of likeminded
individuals who keep a high
profile – literally. As the people of
Muskoka go about their lives, they
cruise the skies high above the towns
and villages below.
The Muskoka Flying Club took
flight seven years ago when pilot Earle
Robinson arrived in Muskoka and discovered
there were no rental aircraft
with which to enjoy his favourite pastime.
His original idea to form a club of
local pilots and aviation enthusiasts in
order to purchase an aircraft as a
group was fraught with difficulties
and never got off the ground.
“So,” says Robinson, “I went ahead
and bought my own airplane and
started flying it.”
His early experience as a civil pilot
in Muskoka taught Robinson there
was a need for a different type of flying
club than the one he had proposed
originally.
“There was no ability for these people
to get currency,” he says. “With
private pilot’s licenses there are currency
requirements every couple of
years. What that means is that they’ve
actually had exposure to safety seminars
or some recurrent training. They
take a flight instructor up and do
some stalls and steep turns and some
practice take-offs and landings.”
So, five years ago, Robinson began
to organize “a loose association of
pilots” as the Muskoka Flying Club.
The club now has approximately 65
casual members ranging from aspiring
pilots, commercial pilots and even war
veterans. Like Robinson, they love to
fly.
The Muskoka Flying Club organizes
one or two seminars per year to
update local pilots on new safety
regulations and refresh their knowledge.
Robinson notes that having
well-trained and well-informed pilots
in our skies is critically important for
public safety.
“That’s the whole objective,” he
says, “to make our pilots safe and
make sure the community is safe with
Muskoka Flying Club members Ron Tomlinson, Henry Longhurst, Glenn
Willoughby and Earle Robinson chat in a hangar.
Photograph: Don MacTavish
our pilots up there.”
The efforts of the Muskoka Flying
Club often involve collaboration with
Transport Canada, Nav Canada and
the Muskoka Airport. The safety seminars
are largely run by Transport
Canada and they deal mostly with air
safety, procedural issues and regulatory
changes.
“Another thing that we’re proactive
in is working with the airport to try to
give a civil aviation voice to the airport,”
he says. “So, if they have
changes that they’re planning, I try to
act as a point of contact on behalf of
the civil aviation pilots here.”
Robinson is a strong promoter of
the Muskoka Airport. A number of
the members of the club also use the
airport as a centre for their social
interaction with each other, congregating
at the shop where the site’s airplane
mechanic does his work.
“That airport is absolutely a jewel,”
he says. “And I don’t think it’s recognized
for its true character.”
Robinson wonders how the airport
could be used to add a formal social
component to the club’s activities,
both among the members of his group
and with the other similar clubs
throughout southern Ontario with
which he is frequently in contact. His
main focus, however, will continue to
be ensuring the safety of Muskoka’s
pilots and communities through programs
such as the safety seminars.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 5

Challenge promotes area trails
Muskoka Trails Council board member Amy McLeish takes some time to
enjoy the Wilson Falls trails with her son Isaac McLeish Lafleur.
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
By Chris Occhiuzzi
The Muskoka Trails Council wants
people to get their hiking boots on
and explore Muskoka.
At the beginning of May, the council
launched its Passport to the Trails
Challenge to promote the use and
enjoyment of Muskoka’s many trails.
“This challenge is free for everyone.
Anyone can participate, it can be done
individually or with others and no
special equipment is needed,” says
Sandra Beausoleil, Muskoka’s regional
trails coordinator. “There are a variety
of unique features to watch out for on
the trails, such as floating bridges.”
The Muskoka Trails Council wants
people taking the challenge to have
fun, get exercise and explore the beauty
of Muskoka’s natural environment.
“The idea is for everyone to have
fun, enjoy the natural playground that
is in our backyards, and appreciate
some of the benefits of being physically
active,” says Beausoleil. “Muskoka
is such a beautiful place, full of important
wildlife species, life-giving trees,
fresh-water lakes and rivers, rocks and
granite outcroppings. This Trail Challenge
is all about getting outside to
experience all that Muskoka has to
offer, while being physically active.”
The challenge is to visit six different
trails marked on the passport: Gravenhurst’s
Kahshe Barrens, Georgian
Bay’s McCrae Lake Conservation
Trail, the Huckleberry Rock Lookout
Trail in the Township of Muskoka
Lakes, Bracebridge’s Wilson Falls
Trail, Huntsville’s Hunter’s Bay Trail
and Lake of Bays’ Dwight Beach Trail.
A Trail Passport Code will be clearly
marked on a sign at each of these
trails.
While there are no prizes, other
than good health, after completing the
trail challenge participants can have
their name added to the website by e-
mailing Beausoleil at
info@muskokatrails council.com with
the codes.
Plus, the Muskoka Trails Council
encourages people to take pictures and
submit them for display on their website.
“This brilliant program was developed
by my predecessor, the past
regional trails coordinator, Katie Pellerin,”
says Beausoleil. “She put
together this idea based on the
Muskoka Trails Council’s vision and
mission, and utilized Muskoka’s fantastic
venue of the trails to promote
health benefits of healthy active living.
The program is flexible – there is no
end date, and you can take part at any
time, any day of the year, and for as
long as you like.”
Passports are available at local
libraries, chambers of commerce,
Muskoka Tourism offices or local
parks and recreations departments.
They are also available online at
www.muskokatrailscouncil.com.
For Beausoleil, hiking is a family
affair enjoyed through all seasons.
“For me, any trail I can take my
kids on is a great trail. Our family
often takes in a trail or two on the
weekends all year round,” she says.
The sun’s shining, the birds are
singing and there’s no time like the
present to get up, get out and get on
the trails.
Frost Centre Institute closed due to significant loss
By Jenn Watt
Two months shy of its third anniversary,
the Frost Centre Institute north of
Halls Lake near Dorset will close down
permanently because of overdue rent.
Run by Al Aubry, a former IBM businessman,
the institute took over the
Frost Centre in June 2007 with the
intention of capitalizing on the environment
and arts to create a vibrant
summer camp, education system and
year-round conference centre.
But despite all efforts, Aubry couldn’t
stop the institute from losing money.
“Like any new business . . . it was
tough,” Aubry says. “It was brutally difficult
to find capital investments.”
Over the past three years, the institute
bled money through the winter
months, unable to get the numbers
needed to stay afloat. In a public report
released in November, Aubry wrote:
“The one goal that continues to elude
us is the all-important goal of making
the Frost Centre Institute economically
self-sufficient. Like many businesses
6 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
and governments these days, we are
operating at a deficit and we are accumulating
some debt. The reason is that
our activity levels drop off dramatically
in the period from November to April,
just at the time when the operating
costs are at their highest levels.”
The provincial government, which
owns the Frost Centre, was at first
lenient with the institute, says Rick
Johnson, MPP for Haliburton-
Kawartha Lakes-Brock, but eventually
it had to make a decision.
“The bottom line is they’re facing
some incredible financial challenges.
The province has gone above and
beyond trying to assist them with this
through not collecting rent I think
since the first payment and it just got to
a point where he’s not going to get out
of that,” he says.
The Frost Centre Institute hasn’t paid
rent on the building since its first
installment nearly three years ago, he
says.
Johnson wouldn’t disclose how much
money was lost on the venture, but
called it “significant.”
“We’ve really gone above and beyond
to help them out and make it work. If
it had been viable, if we could see a
point at some point where they’d have a
chance to repay the money that hadn’t
been collected, but it got to the point
where it didn’t seem that it was an
option,” he says.
Aubry had proposed a few scenarios
to the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
hoping to break even, but by
that point they weren’t biting, he says.
“We reduced the loss by 60 per cent .
. . and were to break even in 18
months,” he says.
He asked that the centre close down
in the winter months, but found the
government unwilling to take over the
building in the downtime.
Finally, he developed an idea to
launch the Frost Environmental College
to keep the place sustainable year
round, but needed large capital investment,
which couldn’t be found.
The government’s plan now is to take
over the building, keep it up to standard
and look for a new tenant or
owner.
“It’s unfortunate. I think [Aubry] had
some good ideas,” Johnson says.
“Whether the economy or just whatever
undercut his operation is unfortunate,
but it’s a great facility and I know
the government, we believe it’s got a lot
of history in the area. So the intent is to
find someone else to come in and operate
it.”
The government will be requesting
proposals for the Frost Centre in the
coming months.
Aubry, meanwhile, is planning to
spend time with his six grandkids and
do some woodworking.
“I feel extremely privileged to have
the opportunity to work on a project
that gave thousands of kids a learning
experience they wouldn’t have had otherwise,”
he says.
The Frost Centre Institute will close
at the end of the month.

Henny Brown, Lynda Hutt, Rosemary King, Virginia Hastings, Debi Davis, Jane Langmuir and Melissa Key were award recipients at the third annual
Muskoka Outstanding BusinessWomen’s Awards, presented at the Mark O’Meara Ballroom at Grandview Resort on May 4.
Event celebrates Muskoka’s business women
Supporters, friends and colleagues
gathered to recognize the contributions
of Muskoka’s business women at the
third annual Muskoka’s Outstanding
BusinessWomen’s Awards on May 4 at
Delta Grandview’s Mark O’Meara Ballroom
in Huntsville.
Keynote speaker at the event was
Libby Norris, the fitness expert on Canada
AM. She spoke about work life balance
and how many people in the business
world struggle to achieve it.
“Balance is relative to you, to the day
and the season of your life,” she says,
explaining that balance may look different
at different times in your life.
When Norris was focused on boxing,
she spent considerable time training. She
says that time in her life was not balanced,
but it opened other doors, such as
working with CTV and Canada AM.
“Balance ebbs and flows,” she says.
“Don’t overlook the ebbs and flows and
the opportunities of being in the
moment. Often the best things end up
creating waves.”
Following Norris and an auction, with
proceeds going to YWCA Muskoka,
awards were presented.
The Businesswoman of the Year, with
one to four employees, was Henny
Brown of Cottage Cravings and the Old
English Fudge Co. in Gravenhurst. She
was recognized for her life-long entrepreneurial
spirit and her support of the community.
The award recipient in the category of
Businesswoman of the Year, with five to
10 employees, was Rosemary King, coowner
of Vacation Time Real Estate and
Watts Printing in Gravenhurst. She is
involved with two businesses but still
finds time to support the community’s
economic development as president of
the Gravenhurst Chamber of Commerce.
Jane Langmuir, owner of the Muskoka
Natural Food Market, was named the
Businesswoman of the Year in the category
of 11 or more employees. While operating
a successful health food store, she
also helps to nurture the growth in
Muskoka’s wellness community.
The Heart and Soul Award went to
two recipients, Debi Davis of the
Huntsville District Memorial Hospital
Foundation and Virginia Hastings of
Starshine Video Productions. Hastings
was also named Young Entrepreneur of
the Year. Despite challenges that threatened
to derail her dreams, Hastings persevered
and started her own film business
at the age of 20.
Lynda Hutt of YWCA Muskoka was
honoured as the Employee of the Year,
recognizing her work with the YWCA’s
business programs.
This year’s special category, Businesswoman
of the Year, focussing on Health
and Fitness, went to Melissa Key of FITT
Gym and Personal Training Studio in
Huntsville. Key is known for her innovative
ideas, enthusiasm and community
involvement.
The Muskoka Outstanding Business-
Women’s Awards are presented by North
Country Business and Muskoka Magazine.
The silver sponsor for the event was
Delta Grandview Resort. Bronze sponsors
include Les Bell with State Farm
Insurance, Jacqui Semkow, mortgage
specialist with TD Canada Trust, North
Muskoka House and Royal LePage Lakes
of Muskoka Realty. Over $5,000 was
raised for YWCA Muskoka at the event.
Photograph: Heather Douglas
Photograph: Heather Douglas
Photograph: Heather Douglas
Libby Norris, a fitness expert for Canada AM, was the keynote speaker at
the third annual Muskoka Outstanding BusinessWomen’s Awards.
Muskoka Magazine and North Country Business publisher Don Smith
presents a donation to Beth Ward and Virginia Hastings of the YWCA.
See the May North Country Business for more photographs and reports.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 7

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
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Phone: (705) 646-1314
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E-mail: info@northcountrymedia.com
Website: www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Cover Photo
Bracebridge/Gravenhurst:
Scott Turnbull Photography
Huntsville/Lake of Bays:
Don McCormick

Preserving Muskoka’s past
By Kathryn Beirness
Walk upstairs to the second floor of
the Gravenhurst Public Library and
you’ll find one of the most interesting
– and organized – rooms in Muskoka.
There, in a modest space, a dedicated
volunteer committee has diligently
recorded and stored the fascinating
documents and photos that compile
the Gravenhurst Archives, preserving
the items that tell the story of the
town’s past.
The Gravenhurst Archives were
established in 1978 with grant money
left over from the town’s centennial
celebrations. The first documents were
submitted when Cyril Fry, who was
then writing about the town’s history
for the Gravenhurst News, invited readers
to send in their photos of days gone
by.
“We received about 1,000 photos of
which only about 200 were taken back
by the owners,” says Fry. “The remainder
– about 800 – were submitted to
the archives.”
The rest is history – literally.
Though it is difficult to determine
how many pieces have been added
manually to the archives in over 30
years, Jack Cline, a volunteer on the
committee that is scanning the documents
in order to computerize the
entire collection, estimates there may
be as many as 40,000 items.
“Our mandate,” says volunteer Marion
Fry, “is to collect material that may
be of use for public inquiries and for
future generations who are interested
in our town.”
Information is catalogued in
upwards of 120 categories, including
the lumber industry, prisoners of war
in Muskoka, the sanatorium, steamboats,
boatworks, high schools, hospitals,
camps and municipal services.
Archives are also stored relating to
Memoirs of an innkeeper
Cyril and Marion Fry, along with many others, have volunteered countless
hours to preserving the past in the Gravenhurst Archives.
By Sandy Lockhart
Author Sylvia Richardson will be signing
copies of her book, Holiday House –
Memoirs of a Muskoka Innkeeper, as a
fundraiser for St. Thomas’ Anglican
Church in Bracebridge.
Richardson and her husband Arthur
operated the Holiday House Inn, now
known as Inn at the Falls, in Bracebridge
for about four years in the early
and mid 1980s. Richardson wrote and
published a book about her time as an
innkeeper.
As a fundraiser for the church, she had
100 more copies printed, and will be selling
them at the church on Saturday, May
29 with all profits going to St. Thomas’
Anglican Church. The sale will take place
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Richardson wrote about her innkeeping
adventures shortly after leaving the
inn but let them sit tucked away for
many years. She rediscovered her notes
when spring cleaning several years later
and decided it was time to share her stories
and memories of their time at the
Inn. The book was published in 2004
and now in 2010, Richardson is making
the book available again.
Readers will learn something of the
history of Holiday House, its owners, visitors
and ghostly residents from the
innkeeper’s perspective. Richardson
shares the spirited and fun social times
and some of the more trying times they
experienced as innkeepers.
Memorabilia from the days at Holiday
House will also be on display.
“There will be photo albums, newspaper
clippings and letters for people to
browse through,” she says, explaining
that she saved letters from guests in special
albums.
“I want to support the church,” she
says. “I’m not able to volunteer like I’d
like to. This is a way to help out and give
back.”
Those wishing to order the book, but
who are not able to attend the signing
can contact St. Thomas’ Church.
Bala, Port Sandfield and Port Carling.
Archiving so many documents and
photographs can be an arduous task,
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
the volunteers admit, but uncovering
the stories that go along with each
piece is worth the time and effort.
Recently the committee was given a
collection of photographs dating back
to 1907 that showed a family at their
cottage on Lake Muskoka.
“There used to be a railway station
on Lake Joseph, close to what is now
the CNIB camp,” explains Marion Fry.
“These photos show how the cottage
was built near that railway station,
because the matriarch of the family,
the grandmother, she took the train to
Toronto every Sunday so she could
attend church service there.”
In 2004 the committee began scanning
all the documents in the collection
in an effort to preserve them, but
also to allow for greater access. So far
Cline and his team have scanned about
18,000 items.
“A collection of 100 items takes
about six or seven hours to scan and to
add descriptions,” says Cline.
Digitally recording the collections
means people will have wider search
capabilities, he adds.
“With the computers, we can save
the files under many more descriptions,”
he explains, “so that people will
have more key words to choose from.”
Cline was very excited by an item he
came across while scanning.
“It was a copy of The Globe newspaper,
dated July 1, 1867,” he says.
“Reading about how this country was
formed by the people who were actually
there – I just couldn’t believe it.”
He adds, “The most rewarding
thing about working on the archives is
the surprising information one discovers
when you delve into the collections.”
Sylvia Richardson will be signing copies Holiday House – Memoirs of a
Muskoka Innkeeper, as a fundraiser for St. Thomas’ Anglican Church.
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 9

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Agent/Owner
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3B-295 Wellington Street
Bracebridge ON P1L 1P3
Bus: (705) 645-8766
Fax: (705) 645-7655
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690 Muskoka Road South,
Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1K2
Tel. 705-687-3451
Fax 705-687-7985
Recalling the perils
of using a party line
Around Muskoka Lakes
By Jack Hutton
Bala historian
Bob Sutton
remembers what it
was like to pick up
a local telephone
in the 1940s and
hear a frantic
clicking in your
ear. Some impatient
soul wanted
to use the party line. Life-long friendships
were sometimes destroyed by the
wrangling over that precious telephone
time – and not just in Bala.
You heard many similar stories if you
attended the Heritage Day potluck dinner
at the Muskoka Lakes Museum in
Port Carling on May 3. The guest speaker
was telephone historian Dean Clark,
whose talk introduced a “must-see”
exhibit on the history of phones in West
Muskoka.
The first phone at the west end of Lake
Muskoka was installed in the Port Carling
home of William Killen in 1907,
and linked to Bracebridge druggist John
Thompson. When the service was
extended to Bala in 1910, Killen became
manager of the Port Carling exchange,
working for Thompson.
The first telephone service to Bala and
Port Carling was a far cry from what we
know today. A small switchboard in John
Thompson’s Bracebridge drugstore gave
service between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on
week days, between 2 and 4 p.m. on Sundays
and one hour only on holidays.
Hats off to Dean Clark, Doug Smith,
curator of the Port Carling museum, and
others for stirring up these memories.
The museum is located on James Bartleman
Island Park between the locks, with
free parking at the library and the community
centre.
Meanwhile, have you noticed how
small town bazaars give you a unique
opportunity to learn about the artists?
For me, the highlight of the 10th annual
Easter bazaar organized by the Bala
Lioness Club on April 3 was a display of
colourful Mohawk beaded earrings crafted
by Barb Dewasha. She is more than a
special lady. Her ability to demonstrate
and teach forgotten native craft skills is in
demand at other reserves.
Dewasha, whose family history goes
back to the beginning of the Wahta
reserve, has lived at the end of Wahta 1
Road, just inside the Bala end of the
reserve, for 22 years. She and brother
Alvin, who lives next door, frequently see
wildlife outside their windows, including
a rare cinnamon brown bear six years ago.
Don’t miss any chance you get to see
Barb’s native crafts and hear her stories.
Author, author! Bala’s Glad Bryce,
already famous for setting world swim
records at an age when others have
retired, has written a book which tells the
story of Canadian women who served in
the RCAF and as nurses during the Second
World War. The long-awaited book,
with a foreword by Roberta Bondar,
Canada’s first woman astronaut, was
launched May 8 at the University
Women’s Club in Toronto.
Attending the launching were Bryce,
Bondar, photographer Jon Gurr and Second
World War airplane historian Gord
Ramey. Bryce made a point of inviting all
the women veterans highlighted in her
book, including Jean Metcalfe and Rita
Frederickson of Torrance. The veteran
ladies, says Bryce, were the real celebrities
at the event.
A sure sign of spring is Port Carling’s
opening day plant sale and bake sale, taking
place on Saturday, May 22, from 9 to
2 at the Muskoka Lakes Museum. The
plant sale will feature perennials from
local gardeners as well as annuals and
other garden offerings. There will also be
a bake sale, plus complimentary specialty
teas, coffee and cider.
Mark May 15 on your calendar. At
10 a.m. that day, Muskoka’s Habitat for
Humanity will be breaking ground on
Burgess Street South in Bala for a twofamily
duplex that will be ready for the
fall. They will also announce the names
of the two families chosen to live there.
I wrote a personal letter of recommendation
for one of the new occupants
months ago, and know that everyone
will be delighted by the choice. Contact
Habitat at 705-646-1016 if you can
offer help with any of the skills required
to construct the duplex. Jane Templeton
at the Muskoka Lakes Chamber
office in Bala has sign-up sheets.
Bala wordsmith Jack Hutton will be
writing Norah Fountain’s column while she
is on temporary leave. Contact him at balamus@muskoka.com
Barb Dewasha displays her
colourful Mohawk beaded earrings.
Photograph: Jack Hutton
10 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com

There’s so much to see and do this spring
Around Bracebridge
By Maria Duncalf-Barber
Around Gravenhurst
By Gord Durnan
What an
extraordinary
month April
2010 was
throughout
Muskoka. Consider
that for
many Easter
weekends the tradition
has been
to hide Easter
Eggs in the snow, but this year they
may have melted.
The whole concept of golfing in
Muskoka on the Easter weekend may
never be repeated in my lifetime, but it
sure was fun and this ranked right
alongside canoeing on the open water
of our lakes and rivers while taking
appropriate safety precautions.
The Gravenhurst Seniors Club is
celebrating its 60th anniversary this
year and while I was the guest speaker
at the regular monthly meeting of
members on April 9, I made the
I love to see
the daffodils
and spring
flowers popping
out of
the earth as
we enter into
the heart of
spring. Easter
was wonderful. I celebrated my 17th
year here in marvellous Muskoka.
On April 6, the YWCA Women In
Business graduation took place at Riverwalk
Restaurant in Bracebridge. A total
of 37 women graduated on what was
the 10th anniversary of the program.
“Each group gave a presentation
about the highlights of the program –
lots of laughs and energy,” says Lynda
Hutt, the Y’s employment programs coordinator.
On April 22, YWCA Muskoka held
its annual general meeting at Nipissing
University. In attendance were graduates
of the Women in Business program,
representatives of the Ontario Women’s
Directorate, YWCA members and directors
past and present, community supporters
and staff, as well as participants
in the Encore program, a breast cancer
exercise program presented in partnership
with the community YWCA and
Bracebridge Culture and Recreation.
“We thanked departing directors
Johanne Hills, Jacqueline Lawrence and
Don Smith for their hard work and welcomed
Ginny Kernohan and Jodi Golding
as incoming directors,” says executive
director Beth Ward.
“Facilitator Kim Irvine-Albano was
thanked for her contributions to the
Girls Unplugged, Girls Choice and the
Women in Business programs as well as
to the general strength of YWCA,” says
Ward, noting Irvine-Albano is moving
on to other opportunities. “She will be
missed.”
The film Exposure: Environmental
Links to Breast Cancer was screened at
the annual general meeting. Dorothy
Goldin-Rosenberg, principal researcher
and co-producer of Exposure provided
insight, resources, background data and
answered questions. Considering it was
Earth Day this was an excellent choice.
On April 24, I was around the town,
the sun was shining and I went to
garage sales. I met lots of Bracebridge
residents who tell me they love reading
my column for all the positive news.
Then I went to one of my favourite
places, the Chapel Gallery. The Brown
Baggers have an exhibition called, All
The World’s A Stage. The colours and
paintings of people and places like
Zanzibar and Wales overwhelmed me.
“This is a great exhibition,” says Elene
Freer, who is celebrating her 20th year
this June as the curator of the Chapel
Gallery. “The Brown Baggers paint for
the sheer love of it, and it shows in their
work. Each year is a different concept,
they are fabulous.”
I agree. Make sure you go and see the
show.
I also checked out the 19th Muskoka
Builders’ Association Annual Home &
Cottage Show, which took place April
promise that I will take out a membership.
This is a very active club with
a beautiful building, so if you are
looking to enhance your quality of life
as a young senior, give them a call or
drop by for a visit.
On April 17, a prayer breakfast was
held at Deerhurst Resort in support of
all the mayors of Muskoka. I decided
with a friend of mine to buy a ticket to
see what this was all about. To my surprise
the room was packed with more
than 400 citizens from all corners of
Muskoka.
Two delightful young ladies, Kaitlin
Dafoe and Jamie Payne, provided some
inspirational music and also led the
audience in a spirited rendition of O
Canada, including the second verse
that I had totally forgotten existed, but
which has some really neat words and
phrases about our great country. Each
of the mayors had a role in the proceedings
and a guest speaker shared his
inspirational story of how Christianity
has changed his life.
Recently a group of volunteers called
Creative Muskoka held an afternoon
Students from St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School washed cars as a
fundraiser to raise money for their upcoming prom.
23-25 at the Bracebridge arena. I love
that admission was by donation of food
or money, which went to the food bank.
A total of 60 exhibitors showed. I
talked to lots of people in the booths
who are proud of what they offer the
public. I noticed a lot of green products
this year. About 2,500 people attend the
show each year. It is a well-presented
event that showcases all the professionals
who work in Muskoka.
Outside in the sunshine, students
from St. Dominic Catholic Secondary
School were washing cars to raise money
for the school prom. Of course I got my
car cleaned by them. They did an excellent
job. Thanks and enjoy the prom. I
love the energy and generosity of our
planning and learning session in Bracebridge
with representation from all the
local municipalities and the district to
explore the importance of “the creative
economy” to Muskoka’s economic
prosperity in the future. It was a great
beginning to inviting culture and arts
to play a special role in our daily lives.
The Town of Gravenhurst once again
this year held a town hall open forum
for everyone in the community, including
many seasonal residents. They were
able to learn, ask questions and challenge
our political leaders and staff
leadership on the plans and performance
of Gravenhurst in the past year
and future opportunities.
It was delightful to see all the town
department heads available to chat with
about a hundred citizens in attendance
alongside our complete town council.
Hopefully this important type of public
forum will enhance the teamwork
necessary to meet all our diverse aspirations
for our favourite community
The YWCA Muskoka also held its
annual meeting to celebrate another
wonderful year of service. I am always
young people in this town.
Energy was the order of the day at the
Orillia Opera House Dance Festival on
April 22-25, where 100 dancers from
the Bracebridge School of Ballet went to
strut their stuff. The dancers competed
in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical and tap. It
was their most successful year to date.
They brought home silvers and golds,
and finished the competition with Gold
with Distinction (96%). Congratulations
to teachers Evelyn and Erin.
That’s a little snippet of the many
wonderful events in our town with
interesting people who are connected to
their community and loving every
minute of it. Here’s looking forward to
more.
The weather has been perfect for everything from gardening to golf
amazed at the really special programs
they offer throughout the district and
this year some 1,500 women and girls
were served from 25 separate locations
in Muskoka.
This year they also ran a special
Quest program for boys in elementary
schools and a successful 16-week Men
in Business program modelled after the
Women in Business program that has
been operating for many years.
I hope this fabulous spring weather
has everyone out gardening. I know
our family is really enjoying our gardens
and every day you can see the
new growth sprouting up towards the
sun. The joy of daffodils and tulips
with their vibrant colours certainly
help keep the spirits high. As you wander
around town you have to be
absolutely amazed by the work of the
volunteers with Communities in
Bloom as they spruce up and plant our
collective gardens throughout Gravenhurst.
Wave at them when you see
them on their hands and knees weeding
and thank them in person every
chance you get.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 11
Photograph: courtesy of Maria Duncalf-Barber

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Aussa Penniall supports Sara Clipsham of The Canadian Hearing
Society and Christine Cox of Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka.
May is hearing awareness month and
Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka and The
Canadian Hearing Society want to raise
awareness about the services available
locally for deaf, deafened and hard of
hearing individuals.
Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka and
The Canadian Hearing Society organizations
have partnered to offer programs
to people over the age of 55 who
are deaf, oral deaf, deafened or hard of
hearing. They share an ideal of respect,
communication and participation for
all of society.
Locally, the services are free and open
to both residents and visitors through
funding provided by the North Simcoe
Muskoka Local Health Integration
Network.
“These programs are important in
Muskoka because it’s an underserviced
population of people,” says Christine
Cox, general support service counsellor
for Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka. “The
programs we offer are mainly senior
based and we go into their homes. It’s no
charge to anyone thanks to the funding
we receive.”
Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka offers
services to those who are culturally Deaf.
Deaf Access provides general support
services, American Sign Language-to-
English interpreters, sign language classes
and advocacy and communication
accessibility education.
“The Deaf population’s language is
American Sign Language,(ASL)” says
Cox. “There are sometimes difficulties
bridging English to American Sign Language,
so I find there are a lot of times
when I’m helping to create understanding
between people.”
Services provided by The Canadian
Hearing Society are for those who are
hard of hearing, but not culturally Deaf.
The Canadian Hearing Society provides
counselling, which includes home
visits and education for those with hearing
loss, their family members and
other caregivers.
As well, The Canadian Hearing Society
provides demonstrations, information
and assistance with communication
devices such as visual smoke
alarms, specialized telephones and personal
listening devices.
“We offer ways for people to cope
with their new or continuing hearing
loss,” says Sara Clipsham, hearing care
counsellor at The Canadian Hearing
Society. “Our programs are offered to
55 plus, but we like to hear from anyone,
so we can help them find out who
they do need to speak to, even if we
can’t help them.”
With new legislation under the
Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act requiring all public
places to become accessible in the next
year, Deaf Access and The Canadian
Hearing Society can be a resource for
those with questions on how to comply
with the law.
“Basically, we’re here as a resource for
the community at large and as a support
for deaf individuals,” says Cox.
Apart from the aforementioned programs,
throughout the year Deaf Access
and The Canadian Hearing Society
present seminars as part of their Accessible
Presentation Series. Various presenters
and topics are covered in the
series, with sign language interpreters
and note takers provided.
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12 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com

Advertising Feature
Owner Mike Warr, chef Gwen Holmes and Owen Warr welcome guests to The Old Station Restaurant in Bracebridge, which is celebrating 25 years.
Photograph: Paul Bennett
The Old Station celebrates 25 years
By Sandy Lockhart
The Old Station Restaurant is a fixture in downtown
Bracebridge and has been a popular spot for people to
dine and socialize for the past 25 years.
To celebrate its anniversary, owner Mike Warr pulled
out a menu from 1985 and offered a selection of Old
Station favourites at 1985 prices for one day on
Saturday, May 1, 2010.
The celebration was a great success with more than
450 people visiting the restaurant to join in the
anniversary party.
Warr has been in the restaurant business for a long
time.
“I was a dishwasher at Bigwin in 1972,” he says of his
early restaurant days, adding that he was soon promoted
to bus boy.
Bigwin didn’t open the next year, so Warr never had
the opportunity to learn the kitchen prep and cooking
side of the restaurant.
“I didn’t stay at Bigwin long enough,” he says
laughing. “I’m still doing dishes too but at least I own
this place.”
Warr has always been fond of Muskoka, as his family
had a cottage in Lake of Bays since 1965. After years
of working in western Canada and Toronto, Warr
moved to Muskoka to work at Grandview Resort,
which was then known as Grandview Farms.
He and business partner Doug White purchased the
business in the spring of 1985 and after some renovations,
it opened May 1, 1985. White took care of the
kitchen and staff and Warr looked after the front.
After three years, Warr bought out White’s part of
the business.
“We worked well as partners but he was ready for a
change,” says Warr.
“One of our first clients was Mayor Jim Lang and
(town clerk) Ken Veitch,” says Warr of the two who
came in on the first day that the restaurant was open.
Years later, during the renovations of 2002, Veitch,
who is a local historian, helped Warr pick out the old
photographs that now decorate the restaurant.
The restaurant has grown since those early days when
the capacity was 33 inside and 33 outside. The capacity
has more than doubled, with room for 70 guests
inside plus another 70 outside enjoying the patio.
Warr says the dining room that customers see today
was the size of the entire restaurant when he first
purchased it.
The biggest renovation to the restaurant was in the
winter of 2001 to 2002 when it closed right after
Thanksgiving and opened again at the end of April. A
new timber frame structure, built in 2002, is the sports
lounge part of the restaurant.
“It is a good atmosphere here,” says Warr of the room
with photographs adorning the wall. “It was full for the
Olympics.”
Continues on Page 15
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 13

Advertising Feature
Warr enjoys social side
Restaurant owner Mike Warr is usually behind the bar on Friday nights.
Congratulations!
TO
THE OLD STATION
RESTAURANT
Congratulations Mike!
Lic # 10217
Leslie J. McCann
Mortgage Broker
Lic # M08000661
Photographs: Sandy Lockhart
Mike Warr, owner of The Old Station
Restaurant, has been a big part of the
Bracebridge community since opening
his restaurant in 1985.
Whether taking part in fun downtown
events, donating to charitable causes or
contributing to the downtown economic
committees, he has always been involved
in the community.
Warr trained for hotel and restaurant
management, then worked at the Skyline
Hotel and later the Park Plaza in Toronto
before heading out west to Vancouver
when he was 21.
There he worked as a front desk clerk
and then moved up through various
management positions at area hotels. In
1980 he was hired as supervisor of passenger
services for Ward Air and moved
back to Toronto.
A few years later he decided to move
to Muskoka, returning to the area of his
family cottage to work at Grandview as
the dining room manager. His next stop
was purchasing The Old Station Restaurant
in 1985.
After those fairly transient early years,
he has remained at The Old Station
Restaurant for 25 years.
Warr enjoys the social part of the job
and is known for taking part in special
events.
For the summer midnight madness
each year, Warr and the staff dress up by
picking a different movie as the theme. In
the past Warr has played the role of
Austin Powers, Shrek, a super hero and
even a pirate from the Caribbean.
One year for Christmas in July, the
whole staff dressed up as Santa’s elves and
Warr was the jolly old man. He even had
a load of Zamboni snow from the arena
deposited on the restaurant’s front lawn
to help everyone get in the mood.
Through the business, Warr has made
a point of giving back to the community.
“We sponsor the MS walk,” he says.
For the past five years Warr and his suppliers
have donated hamburgers and hot
dogs for the event and he and his staff
have run the barbecue.
“We sponsor rep soccer teams and the
kids soccer teams,” he says. He started
sponsoring soccer when his son Owen,
now 23, played soccer and has continued
to do so.
There is a plaque at the South Muskoka
Memorial Hospital Site recognizing
the restaurant’s contribution of over
$5,000 raised over the years.
During the “working for your hospital”
campaign, his staff would put a portion
of their tips aside, then customers
would add something and Warr would
match that total.
“Over the years, there have been so
many charities that I can’t name them
all,” he says, listing Interval House and
the Salvation Army among others.
“I believe in supporting local charities,”
he says, adding that through the
Rotary Club he is also involved in helping
out many organizations.
Each Tuesday morning for the last five
years, the Bracebridge/Muskoka Lakes
Rotary Club has met at his restaurant.
Before his involvement in Rotary,
Warr was a Kinsmen for 10 years.
Warr is a member of both the Bracebridge
Chamber of Commerce and BIA,
and has spent time as a director for both
organizations.
But he does make a little bit of time for
leisure. Each year when the restaurant
closes for about six weeks after New
Year’s, Warr tries to head somewhere
warm for a little while.
He is hoping to have even more free
time in the future, as Owen becomes
more involved in the business.
CELEBRATING
25
705-645-8645 or 1-888-707-0883
leslie@summitmortgage.ca
www.summitmortgage.ca
YEARS
Jim Campbell
Independent Distributor
of Sealtest and Natrel
Products
Mike Warr and his son Owen look over some of the many menus and specials
featured at The Old Station Restaurant over the past 25 years.
14 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com

Advertising Feature
The Old Station is
constantly evolving
Kelly Warr, Mike Warr, supporter Gary McMullen of Lakes of Muskoka
Cottage Brewery and Owen Warr enjoyed special celebrations on Saturday,
May 1 to mark The Old Station Restaurant’s 25th anniversary.
Photograph: Don MacTavish
Continued from Page 13
He says many of his regular customers
enjoy sitting in this area.
Other additions in 2001-02 included
making the entrance and washrooms
wheelchair accessible, a new
heating and air conditioning system
and adding a gas fireplace and historic
cozy log cabin look to the main dining
area.
The patio was also expanded to the
library side, creating a wraparound
outdoor eating and lounge area. Warr
says he considered expanding the
patio to the front, and going a little
closer to the sidewalk but didn’t want
to lose the lawn.
“We wanted to keep some green
space,” he says. “People like to sit
under the tree on the grass. We even
put a water dish out there for dogs
that need a drink.”
Each year the restaurant closes for
about six weeks after New Year’s,
reopening just in time for Valentine’s
Day. Last year they refinished the bar
and another year they put new wood
flooring in the sports lounge area.
Warr likes opening the restaurant
for special occasions such as Christmas
parties, rehearsal dinners or even
smaller weddings.
“We have the white linen table
clothes and can dress it up for Christmas
or special parties with the gas fireplace
and wooden trim and a Christmas
tree in the corner,” he says.
The restaurant can accommodate
65 people for a sit-down dinner. Warr
says with large enough numbers, the
restaurant is then closed to the public.
“I’m proud to be an independent,”
he says of being in a society where
there are many chain restaurants. “We
make most of our foods from
scratch.”
In 2006, The Old Station Restaurant
was recognized as Established
Business of the Year by the Bracebridge
Chamber of Commerce.
Usually, Warr spends days in the
restaurant but Friday nights are designated
as his night and many regulars
come in just to see him.
“I like to stand behind the bar, talk
to people and socialize,” he says. “I
like to see regular customers.”
With 25 years invested at The Old
Station, Warr has obviously found the
right place to spend his time and energy.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 15

By Ken Veitch
The Old Station Restaurant, celebrating
its 25th anniversary in 2010, can lay
claim to being located on one of the most
historic sites in all of Bracebridge.
It is located at the top of “Queens
Hill,” so named because across the street
and down the hill was, for many years,
the Queens Hotel, later the Patterson
Hotel. It is now being restored.
The property occupied by The Old
Station Restaurant, the adjoining property
of the Bracebridge Public Library and
the V shaped property south of the
Dominion and Manitoba Street intersection,
in the earliest days was a town park.
It was in this park where the original
Bracebridge bandstand was located,
moved shortly after 1900 to a new park
named, as it remains today, Memorial
Park. The most memorable events that
took place on this property were circuses.
In Reminiscences, Redmond Thomas
wrote about riding a steam-powered
merry-go-round, watching minstrel
shows by the light of coal oil flares and
listening to spielers rave on and on about
their secret oil. All that took place on the
property occupied by The Old Station
Restaurant and surrounding area.
We think the Queens Hill is steep now,
but when Bracebridge was a pioneer settlement,
it was much steeper. During
excavation for municipal services cut tree
stumps have been found over 10 feet
below the surface at the bottom of the
hill. In fact, it was so steep that people
rarely attempted to walk up the west side
of Manitoba Street.
In early records, a wooden structure is
said to have been located west of the
Manitoba and Dominion Street intersection
that housed the manufacturing
operation of the Rogers Pump Works,
which made long-handled manual
pumps for pulling water from the dug
wells of the community. A number of
Advertising Feature
The Old Station Restaurant has a rich history
In the early 1930’s this station was at the Old Station Restaurant site.
these pumps were located on Woodchester
Avenue prior to the installation of
the municipal water supply. This may
not have been on the same lot as that of
The Old Station Restaurant, but it had to
be very close.
In 1928 J. Hudson Burton bought the
property of a Mr. Nelson and added 14
feet to it which he purchased from the
town (part of the Public Library property),
for the purpose of building a service
Photograph: Courtesy of Dorothy (Smith) Leavens
station. The structure was built by Ed
Hunt and the business was operated by
Burton’s son Douglas. This was the first
evidence of a substantial building being
on property now occupied by The Old
Station Restaurant.
In 1975, a Town centennial program
identifying long-time businesses recorded
there had been a service station continuously
on this property since 1929.
The Uptown Service Station, came
under the ownership of Earl Rosewarne
and then Ernie and Fenton Patterson. At
one time they sold Studebaker automobiles
there. These business entrepreneurs
were successful, involved, and an integral
part of Bracebridge economic affairs.
After many years, the business was
taken over by Ted Smith, a long-time and
trusted employee of the Patterson brothers.
An entire generation can remember
wheeling their first car in between the
concrete pillars and the front of the
building where the old fashioned gas
pumps were located and having Ted
Smith there to serve them fuel.
In 1980 the business closed and the
building was converted to the Garden
Café restaurant. In 1985 it was sold to
Mike Warr, who has successfully operated
since that time, now celebrating the
restaurant’s 25th anniversary.
The Norwood Theatre
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Congratulations to
Since 1949
THE OLD STATION RESTAURANT
on your 25th Anniversary!
Wishing you continued success
106 Manitoba Street Bracebridge, ON
boxoffice@norwoodtheatre.com ★ www.norwoodtheatre.com
admin: 705.645.1707 ★ 24-HOUR INFO: 705.645.2333
In 1968, this gas station operated where the restaurant is today.
Photograph: Courtesy of the Old Station Restaurant
Congratulations to
The Old Station Restaurant
on 25 years of success!
phone: (416) 746-3663 • toll free: 1-888-383-3663
www.macgregors.com
Flanagan Foodservice is a proud supplier to
The Old Station and congratulate Mike and
staff on their 25th anniversary.
2125 16th Ave East,
Owen Sound, ON
800.265.9690
16 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com

The
Muskoka
Watershed
REPORT CARD
2010

The
Muskoka
Watershed
REPORT CARD
2010

The
Muskoka
Watershed
REPORT CARD
2010

The
Muskoka
Watershed
REPORT CARD
2010

Advertising Feature
Enjoy quality food with friends
By Jason Dickson
As head chef at The Old Station,
Gwen Holmes brings an eclectic mix of
fine dining experience and local charm
to the popular Bracebridge restaurant.
This will be her third summer at The
Old Station, and owner Mike Warr is
pleased with the quality of food she
produces.
“It was a good change bringing
Holmes aboard,” says Warr. “Gwen has
a lot of people that follow her from
place to place.”
Over the past two years, Holmes and
Warr have worked hard to establish
The Old Station as one of the best family
restaurants in town.
“There wasn’t a great middle-of-theroad
restaurant in Bracebridge,”
Holmes says. “Mike and I have really
tried to etch out a place for that.”
They decided on a menu that promotes
casual fine dining, with an
emphasis on consistency, flavour and
fresh ingredients.
“I think it is really important for a
town to have that kind of place where
you can get great food but still wear
your blue jeans,” says Holmes.
Holmes creates most of the menu
items fresh on site, including burgers
and soups, as well as the sauces and
ever-popular chicken wings. Improving
the quality of the ingredients, she
explains, enhances the homemade
experience her guests are looking for.
“This is a from-scratch restaurant,”
she says. “We take your order seriously
whether it’s a chicken wing or a 16-oz
steak.”
She says customers have come to love
Photograph: Paul Bennett
A group of friends raise their glass to good times while dining at The Old Station Restaurant in Bracebridge.
the quality and variety of food offered
at The Old Station. Whether you have
a craving for a classic Caesar salad,
fresh fish or fine pasta, you’ll find it at
The Old Station.
“Maybe you simply want to eat a
One of chef’s specialities is a dish of steamed PEI mussels in Muskoka Pilsner Light over wilted greens.
Photograph:Paul Bennett
great prime rib,” says Holmes. “There’s
something for everyone.”
On Friday evenings, The Old Station’s
loyal customers gather to wrap up
the work week at their favourite eatery.
“We’ve got a great bunch of regulars,”
says Holmes. “If I can get out
from the kitchen for a second I’ll come
and do a little twirl.”
Friday is also the night where
Holmes gets to try out some unique,
impromptu recipes.
“Friday is Fresh Cut Night,” Holmes
says. “We’ve served P.E.I. mussels as
well as fresh Ontario pickerel.”
Holmes was born in Bracebridge and
is a graduate of the original food tech
program at Bracebridge and Muskoka
Lakes Secondary School.
Shortly thereafter she apprenticed at
the Riverside Inn under Thomas Hay.
She later worked at Expo ‘86, as well as
the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver, a
four-star dining establishment.
After returning home and working at
Patterson-Kaye Lodge for a decade, she
joined the team at The Old Station.
“We pay very close attention to food
trends,” Holmes explains. “Each
spring, Mike and I sit down and reconsider
the menu, deciding what to keep
and what to drop.”
As a member of Savour Muskoka,
Holmes sources as many local ingredients
as she can. During the summer
you can sometimes see her down at the
Bracebridge Farmers’ Market buying
produce.
“The food here is prepared with
love,” she says. “Everyone here is working
in concert to satisfy our guests.”
This certainly explains why so many
count The Old Station as one of their
favourite local restaurants.
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 17

Advertising Feature
Special guests visit Old Station
Congratulations on 25 years
of Serving Muskoka
121 Shorncliffe Road
Toronto, Ontario M8Z 5K7
Bus: (416) 234-2290 ext. 222
Fax: (416) 234-1038
ECONOMY
CHEMICAL
& SUPPLY INC.
Congratulations
Mike and Staff!
705-325-9995
1-800-461-0223
265 HUGHES ROAD, ORILLIA
In the past 25 years, well-known movie stars and
athletes have come through the doors of The Old
Station Restaurant in Bracebridge. More important
to owner Mike Warr, however, are the customers
who have been regulars through the years.
Cal and Norah Morrison made their first trip to
The Old Station Restaurant when they were offered
a free dinner there after coming to the Warr
family’s rescue when their car went off the road on a
snowy day.
That was their first trip of many to The Old
Station.
“Shortly after that we had a major renovation at
our house,” says Cal. “We had lunch and dinner,
well most of our meals there, almost every day for
about three months.”
That was about 25 years ago and since then they
have been regular customers.
“We try to make it there once a week,” he says.
“Especially in the summer. We like to sit on the
patio.”
Cal says The Old Station is their restaurant of
choice but a big part of it is visiting with Warr.
“Mike is the quintessential host, so to speak,” says
Cal, noting that Mike makes the time to visit each
table and take time for each customer. “He makes
you feel like he has been waiting all day just to see
you. He has that gift.”
Long-time customers have plenty of company at
the restaurant, some of it quite famous.
On the wall in the bar area are photographs, some
autographed, of famous visitors over the years. Many
years ago Warr was surprised to see Paul Shaffer,
musical director of Late Night with David Letterman
and comedian and movie star Martin Short sitting at
a table. Short has a cottage on Lake Rosseau.
Catherine O’Hara was there, with her baby, shortly
after she’d filmed Home Alone.
“I teased her and said ‘Don’t forget your baby,’”
says Warr, referring to her character in the movie,
who forgets one child home alone when going on a
family vacation.
Kurt Russell, another movie star and Lake Rosseau
cottager, has been in the restaurant.
“He was in with his son,” says Warr. He also
recalls visits by actors Harry Hamlin and Chevy
Chase.
A fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Warr has photos
of several hockey players up in the sports bar section
of the restaurant.
“A few years ago, a customer asked to see the
owner or manager,” says Warr, telling of his daughter
Kelly’s experience.
She was working as manager that day and
nervously asked what she could do to help. The
customer was retired Leaf Ron Ellis offering to sign
a plaqued photograph that hung on the wall in the
restaurant. Ellis had just happened to sit below a
photo of himself.
“He was a charming gentleman,” says Kelly.
When Warr returned to the restaurant a little
while later Kelly introduced her dad saying, “Meet
my good friend Ron Ellis.” Warr was thrilled. He
also let Warr and Kelly both try out his 1972
Canada Cup ring.
Of course, Warr was pleased to have the photograph
signed and today it has a special place in The
Old Station Restaurant.
Garden Nursery
YOUR MUSKOKA GROWERS
Specializing in:
Zone hardy perennials, Ornamental grasses,
Herbs and unusual annuals
North American natives, Deer resistant varieties
IMPROVE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
- BUY LOCALLY GROWN -
1728 Muskoka Beach Road, District Road 17
(Between Bracebridge and Gravenhurst)
705-645-7956
Monday to Saturday 9 to 5
Sunday 11 to 4
10% off purchases of $100 or
more on regularly priced items
18 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com

See the earth in a new way
Geothermal energy is here
Saturday,
May 29/10 @ 9:30 am
Stockey Centre – 2 Bay St, Parry Sound
Owen Warr has worked at the family restaurant for 10 years but is now
taking over more responsibility and learning to operate the business side.
Family business is good fit
Growing up in a family that operated
a restaurant, it seemed natural to follow
that path when it came time for Owen
Warr to choose a career.
“The first year I was out on the floor
as a little bus boy clearing the tables,” he
says. “After bus boy, I went to the
kitchen as dishwasher, then food prep
and even cooked on
the line,” he says.
“I’ve done it all. I
have a pretty good
idea how the front
and back of the house
both work.
Now, after 10 years
of working at The
Old Station, Owen is
his father’s right hand
man and plans to take
over operation of the
business one day.
Owen graduated
from the hotel and
resort management
program at Georgian
College in 2007. He
then spent the summer
working at a high
end bistro in Halifax
before returning in
the fall to work with
his father at The Old
Station.
At 23, Owen recognizes
that he is young
and still has a lot to learn.
“I have a lot of knowledge but there is
a lot to learn from my father,” he says.
“I’ve done it
all and have
a pretty good
idea how
the front
and the back
of the
house both
work.”
Owen usually works the evening shift
but has also been working day shifts,
especially when there are new staff to be
trained.
He truly cares about The Old
Station restaurant and wants to be
involved in its continued success.
“It runs through my veins,” he says of
the family business.
“It is not that I feel
obligated. It just feels
natural.”
Working in the
restaurant is a good
fit for Owen’s personality.
“I love the social
part. By nature, I’m
sociable,” he says.
In his role at The
Old Station, Owen
is getting more
involved in the community.
He is looking
forward to sitting
on the committee
involved in the
Bracebridge BIA’s
September Colourfest
Street Festival.
While work takes
up much of his time,
Owen still tries to
make time to enjoy
the outdoors and
play hockey.
“I’m also very passionate about
music and do some photography as
well,” he says.
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
Visit yanchgeo.com
for upcoming public information sessions
around Muskoka
HOW GEO WORKS
Energy in the ground is actually stored energy from the sun.
At 6 feet below the surface, the earth’s temperature is
constant 10-15°C (40–50°F) all year round. The latent
energy is a steady heat source, even in the coldest winter.
HEATING
In the winter, a geothermal system extracts this heat from
the earth. The system consists of a geothermal unit inside
your house and a series of pipes bured underground on
your property.
COOLING
In the summer, the process is reversed – heat is extracted
from the house and deposited in the ground, with equal
efficiency, using the same equipment.
DOMESTIC HOT WATER
Year round, as a by product of the geothermal process,
heat is captured to supply your home’s hot water. It
typically provides 50–70% of your consumption for FREE!
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■ Top national dealer/installer of geo systems for '08 & '09
■ 1000s of homes & cottages have been converted
.
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GEO
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 19

MUSKOKA CASUAL FINE DINING TRADITION
Thank you for 25 years of
community support!
We look forward to
serving you for many more
• Exciting new items on our handcrafted menu
• Enjoy our outdoor wrap around patio
• Traditional Prime Rib everyday
• Fridays – Fresh Catch of the Day
88 Manitoba St.
TOP OF THE HILL, DOWNTOWN BRACEBRIDGE
705-645-9776
WWW.OLDSTATION.CA

Woodchester Villa to be closed for season
By Andrew Hind
Woodchester Villa, the Bracebridge
museum renowned for its unique octagonal
shape, will be closed for at least a year
while vital structural repairs are made.
Built in 1882 by Henry J. Bird and
named after his birthplace in England,
Woodchester Villa reflects the businessman’s
wealth and prestige. His woollen
mill, the first in Muskoka, was established
alongside the falls in Bracebridge
and proved remarkably successful, providing
one of the industrial pillars of the
growing town.
Today, Woodchester Villa is one of
only a handful of octagonal buildings left
anywhere in Ontario. An asset of the
Town of Bracebridge, it has been a museum
since the 1970s, and for the past few
years has been operated and managed by
Muskoka Arts and Crafts on behalf of the
Town of Bracebridge.
“Woodchester Villa is an important
asset for the town in terms of tourism
and, even more importantly, in terms of
heritage,” says John Sisson, chief administrative
officer for the Town of Bracebridge.
“It’s an incredibly significant
building, not just because of its heritage
designation but because of what it represents
to Bracebridge in terms of our history
and our town’s overall development.”
Woodchester Villa sustained structural
damage during the snowstorm of Dec. 11,
2009. The upper verandah of the building
collapsed under the weight of the snowfall.
As it collapsed, a section of the verandah
broke through a porch window.
“In addition to the collapsed porch
there are other structural issues that we
believe need to be addressed at this time,”
explains Sisson. “We’re going through the
analysis of that right now, and are in the
process of getting bid information from
contractors.”
While it’s early in the process, Sisson
anticipates the restoration will take more
than one year to complete, meaning that
Woodchester Villa may not be open in
time for its traditional Victoria Day opening
in 2011.
Muskoka
Fashion
At Beauty Comes Naturally in
Bracebridge, clients know feeling rejuvenated
and looking your best takes
neither extreme nor excessive measures.
Instead, all that is required is a
personalized and relaxing approach
that enhances one’s sense of wellbeing.
Owner, aesthetician and skin care
specialist Kerry Foreman had this in
mind when she moved her day spa to
its new location on Ball’s Drive, beside
Re/Max, in April.
“I wanted an intimate space,” says
Foreman. “One that offered our clients
a more private experience, rather than
the hustle and bustle of our previous
open concept.”
The new location allows Foreman
and her team of experts to provide
more concentrated service for each
client.
“When you come in, your needs are
entirely attended to,” she says.
“Whether you want your hair done or
you want a facial treatment, our full
attention is on you and what you want
to achieve.”
Indeed, the sole focus of the professional
staff is enabling both men and
women to look and feel their best –
naturally.
“We use the finest organic and natural
products in the industry,” Foreman
says, including Yonka skin care,
An intimate space awaits at Beauty Comes Naturally
Kerry Foreman, owner of Beauty Comes Naturally in Bracebridge,
welcomes clients to her new location.
Aveda’s plant-based line, and G.M.
Collin professional treatments from
France.
The benefit of these products, she
notes, is the active yet non-invasive
techniques they use.
Organic skin, hair and body care
“For instance, we use the Botinol
clinical treatment from G.M. Collin
on expression lines, fine lines and
wrinkles, which is a relaxing alternative
to needle injections,” she says.
“Our Collagen 90-11 treatment helps
correct the visible signs of aging without
using any potentially harmful
chemicals, and clients notice results
after just one treatment.”
Foreman, who specializes in skin
care treatments, will be concentrating
on those services, including laser hair
removal, electrolysis, plant-based cosmeceutical
skin care, and photo facials,
which use light to reduce the visibility
of spider veins and skin spots.
The spa also offers plant-based hair
products.
“We want to provide healthy organic
hair colouring, with fewer toxins
and fumes,” she says.
From hair care to skin care, from
nail care to full-body care, the overall
experience at Beauty Comes Naturally
is one of self-indulgent attention to
detail.
“Taking care of your physical self in
a natural and holistic way always leads
to feeling better mentally too,” says
Foreman. “At Beauty Comes Naturally,
we truly believe that investing in
this important time for yourself is
essential when it comes to your own
well-being.”
It’s an investment for men as well,
she notes.
“We have some gentlemen who
come in regularly,” says Foreman with
a smile. “They recognize the merit of a
good pedicure!
Always a Friendly Atmosphere
Now at our
NEW LOCATION!
23 BALL’S DRIVE
• 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
645-4441
www.beautycomesnaturally.ca • beauty@vianet.ca
31 Dominion St., Bracebridge
(705) 645-9600
www.elementssalonandspa.ca
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 21

Volunteers build a better community
Muskoka’s Habitat for Humanity
ReStore contributes about $100,000
each year to build projects across the
region thanks to the hard work of dedicated
volunteers.
The regular ReStore staff are supported
by about 40 volunteers who do
everything from assist with merchandising
and set up to extracting valuable
materials from recyclables bound for
the landfill.
“We have everyone from artists to
people who are just trying to give back
to the community,” says Larry
Holditch, ReStore manager. They also
have co-op students and community
organization volunteers helping in the
store.
Each year the ReStore is able to contribute
about $100,000 towards community
habitat builds with the money
made through the store after expenses.
One special volunteer is Drew Corbett
who comes in once each week to
strip the precious and semi-precious
metals out of everything from electric
motors to faucet sets, separating the
metals to get more money once it is
recycled.
“Sometimes the faucets we receive
are no good but we get high value
from the brass underneath,” he says.
Another busy volunteer is Dianne
O’Hara, the unofficial librarian for the
more than 4,000 used books for sale at
the ReStore. Books are sorted into fiction
and non-fiction sections. Most of
the fiction paperbacks are even organized
alphabetically. While there are
about 4,000 books in the store, there
are about another 4,000 waiting to be
organized and put out.
“It is a bit overwhelming,” says
O’Hara, who is working to set them all
up for sale. The ReStore is no longer
accepting donations of books at this
time.
Ann Sova regularly shops at the
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore owes its success to its dedicated volunteers. As a result of their efforts, each
year the ReStore is able to contribute about $100,000 towards community Habitat build projects.
ReStore and decided to volunteer in
her own unique way. Last month she
taught people how to repurpose glassware
into artistic cake platters using
items found at the ReStore. By selecting
a vintage plate and a candleholder
or similar stand, customers could create
and take home a cake platter
thanks to Sova’s idea and epoxy.
“They’ve got an instant gift that is
elegant, functional, affordable and
environmentally responsible,” she says.
Many of the volunteers are involved
in merchandising, organizing and
keeping the store attractive and clean.
“Presentation is everything,” says
Holditch.
On an average day three to six volunteers
help out at the ReStore and
Holditch says more volunteer opportunities
are available for anyone looking
to take part.
Charles Close is in his 80s and volunteers
regularly at the store.
“I think it is a worthy cause and it’s
a nice place to volunteer,” he says.
Volunteer Debby Andrews says, “I
like the recycling part, instead of
throwing it out.”
Emma Dupuis probably sums it up
best. “There is a lot of cool stuff and
great people.”
Holditch believes it is the people
that make the ReStore and Habitat for
Humanity such a strong organization
in Muskoka.
“Your generosity is our success,” he
says. “It is the time people donate and
the product people donate.”
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
A silly boy’s antics inspire book
By Chris Occhiuzzi
Inspired by her son’s name game,
Bracebridge resident Teresa Leeder has
turned her son Izaac’s playfulness into
an 18-page book.
“Isaac was two-years-old at the time
and there was this game he played
with me, all day, every day, calling me
different names,” says Leeder, who
wrote Silly Boy in only a couple of
hours one night.
After completing the book, Leeder
began to research potential publishers
and sent her work out to see what
kind of response it would get.
“I literally Googled children’s publishers
and looked up as many as I
could and sent it to as many as I
could,” she says.
Eventually, Tate Publishing and
Enterprises agreed to publish the book
and provided an illustrator for Silly
Boy.
“Tate was one of the publishers I
was hoping would like it,” says Leeder,
who contacted the illustrator, Jason
Hutton, by phone. “He was really
good. I told him what Izaac looked
like, and his little stuffed elephant toy
that he has. Jason put it all in the
book.”
Teresa and her husband Adam have
three boys, Izaac, 3, Malakai, 5, and
Nate, 2. She says the boys love to read
Silly Boy, referring to it as “Izaac’s
book.”
However, Leeder is hoping for some
success in order to publish two additional
books she wrote, Kai’s Wise and
No, No Natey.
“If this works out I know I’m not
going to get off the hook until I have
two others,” says Leeder. “The process
has taken about a year. So, I’m going
to wait until I see what happens with
the first one before I get excited about
the others.”
Leeder has book signings scheduled
for May 22 at Muskoka Vegeez in
Bracebridge and on June 5 at the
Bookcase in Huntsville. Silly Boy is
currently available for purchase online
and at retail outlets.
Teresa Leeder was inspired by
her son Izaac, to write Silly Boy, a
children’s book.
Photograph: Sandy Lockhart
22 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com

Advertising Feature
GETTING TO KNOW US
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1130 Manitoba St. Bracebridge
440 Ecclestone Dr., Unit 7
Bracebridge
(Take exit 182 into Bracebridge.
Just 3 kms west of Hwy 11)
• • • • •
705.646.1354
Email: bracebridge@sunvoltssolar.com
Website: www.sunvoltssolar.com
1.800.558.7939
Glenn Ewing, owner of Sun Volts Unlimited in Bracebridge, is a
wealth of knowledge when it comes to solar electric systems.
Need Help With Your
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Solar electric systems are becoming
more and more popular, but in order to
get the most appropriate system for your
circumstances and proper installation, it is
always best to deal with a company with
experience. Sun Volts Unlimited has been
selling and installing solar systems across
the province for 23 years. From their location
in Bracebridge, Glenn and Nichole
Ewing have been servicing Muskoka’s
alternative power needs for the past five
years.
Glenn enjoys staying on top of the
industry, learning about new equipment
and techniques on a constant basis. “I’ve
been at it for a while and I have gained a
lot of knowledge,” says Glenn. “It changes
quickly, from year to year. Government
programs change, equipment itself
changes.”
For the off-grid market Sun Volts
Unlimited provides everything from small
cabin solar kits to systems that can reliably
power large homes without access to conventional
hydro. Although this market
has existed for many years the greatest
growth in the industry lately has actually
come from people who do have hydro.
The new government funded Feed–in
Tariff (FIT) Program is one where the
utility company purchases all the electricity
produced from a solar system at a rate
of up to $0.802 per kilowatt-hour.
Solar electric systems 10 kilowatts or
less can qualify for this rate, which is guaranteed
for 20 years by the Ontario Power
Authority.
“The FIT program allows the government
to encourage more people to invest
in solar by paying such a generous rate for
the power you produce,” says Glenn.
“These systems will now pay for themselves
two or three times over during the
20-year contract term. There’s been a lot
of interest generated as this is something
many people want to do and it now
makes great sense financially.”
Part of the financial initiative also
comes from lower prices of setting up a
solar electric system.
“The price of the equipment, especially
the solar panels, has come down markedly
over the past few years,” says Glenn. “As
the government kicks money into this at
the same time the prices are dropping,
there is going to be a lot of growth. People
with limited experience will jump on
the band wagon. I analyze what people
need and tell them honestly what to
expect from their system. I compare the
possible options to make sure we present
the best solution available for each particular
situation. At times like this it is especially
important to go with someone who
knows the industry and the products.”
Muskoka, as with any location, presents
its own unique challenges. With Sun
Volts Unlimited you get a company well
acquainted with the Muskoka environment.
“Often, for instance, we have the challenge
of shade from trees to work around
and l look for the best alternative,” says
Glenn. “The most economical place to
put the solar panels is often on the roof,
providing your roof is facing the right way
and isn’t shaded. If the roof isn’t suitable
for any reason, then we will look at other
mounting systems available. It will add to
the cost, but what we are looking to do is
produce the most power for the amount
of money spent. It’s no use putting the
panels in the most economical location
unless that location will also work well.”
In Business Since 1919,
Serving Muskoka for 20 years
FCA Insurance Brokers Ltd.
72 Joseph Street, Port Carling, ON
705.765.6844 / 1.800.285.8607
www.fcainsurance.com
Heather’s
Home Healthcare
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
& EQUIPMENT
193 Manitoba St., Unit #3
Bracebridge, On P1L 1S3
Phone: 705-645-7572
Fax: 705-645-2652
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 23

WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA
SPORTS
Adrienne’s
Family Restaurant, Gas Bar & Variety
Under
NEW
OWNERSHIP!
On Hwy 11 South, Huntsville | 789.6477
Early Bird Breakfast Special $5.99
Taking fitness goals
to the next level
By Maria Duncalf-Barber
Competing in fitness modelling
events take serious dedication and
hard work, but Muskoka’s athletes
wouldn’t trade their chiseled abs and
sculpted legs for a less demanding
lifestyle.
Bracebridge-based fitness studio
owner Erin Bailey-Boyes gets up at
dawn for a one-hour intense workout
before seeing clients. And that’s only
the beginning of her daily regime.
“The diet is the hardest important
part,” she explains. “You won’t get
dramatic results until you drastically
alter your diet. Competing in a
physique competition gives you a high
like no other. Achieving this gets you
in the best shape of your life, feeling
amazing in the process, getting to
know yourself and learning some life
lessons.”
Her diet consists of five small meals
per day, with few carbohydrates or fat.
A typical meal is a skinless chicken
breast boiled with raw broccoli.
Earlier this year, Bailey-Boyes won
her first competition of the season,
placing first at the Fitness Star Model
Search in March in Mississauga. She
competed in the athletic fitness model
category. Her next competition is the
Serious About Fitness Pro Elite
Continues on Page 25
Marisa Anderson competed in the Ultimate Fitness Events Spring Bash,
in April placing second in the masters fitness model category.
Photograph: Healthy Vision Photography
Erin Bailey-Boyes placed first at the Fitness Star Model Search in March.
Photograph: Jeremy Shortt Photography
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24 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com

Brandon Occhiuzzi, Kale Johncox and Jeffrey Johnson are looking
forward to playing on Huntsville’s two new soccer fields.
Soccer fields set to open
By Chris Occhiuzzi
A pair of new soccer fields will be
officially opened this month in
Huntsville.
The Huntsville Soccer Club is having
a grand opening for two new fields
in McCulley-Robertson Park on May
25 at 7 p.m.
All are invited to participate in this
event, with the Huntsville Soccer Club
holding a ribbon cutting ceremony
and offering cake to those in attendance.
Although the Huntsville Soccer
Club’s house leagues will begin play
the week before, the celebration has
been scheduled to follow Victoria Day
weekend.
The opening of the new fields is a
culmination of the Huntsville Soccer
Club’s efforts. Around five years ago,
the club began working on a plan to
develop new fields.
With rising enrollments into the
club’s youth programs, more space and
field time was becoming a necessity.
Finally, in Spring 2009, the
Huntsville Soccer Club and the Town
of Huntsville came together with a
plan to make this happen.
Work began on the new fields last
summer and thanks to the tireless
efforts of John Burnside, the cofounder
of the Huntsville Soccer Club
and the current club head, as well as
contributions from many other volunteers,
the fields are ready to go.
“The town’s been great with us.
They have been very co-operative,”
says Burnside. “We’ve worked really
well together and it’s huge bonus to
have these new fields this year.”
Also this year, the artificial turf field
at Conroy Park will be opened, creating
more opportunities from a business
and tourism standpoint.
“The two new fields and Conroy
Park coming on this year will allow us
to do tournaments and bring other
teams to town,” says Burnside. “Sports
tourism is very important to the town
and the club.”
Photograph: Chris Occhiuzzi
Continued from Page 24
Challenge at York University in June.
Marisa Anderson, a personal trainer
and aerobic instructor at Muskoka
Fitness in Bracebridge says fitness
competition has transformed her life.
“I’ve always wanted to compete in
fitness competitions. Two years ago I
finally took the bull by the horns.
People thought I was crazy. I needed a
challenge, something outside of my
comfort zone, to prove the 200 lbs girl
that I was in the past has finally
changed.”
Anderson’s diet consists of oatmeal,
chicken and potatoes, tuna, salmon,
rice cakes with peanut butter, egg
whites and protein powder.
Anderson recently competed in the
Ultimate Fitness Events Spring Bash
in April and placed second in masters
fitness model category and third in
the masters figure model category.
Anderson has been featured on the
cover of Beyond Fitness magazine and
on XtremeLifeStylemag.com.
Kelly Hammond, director of operations
at FITT Gym in Hunstville, also
takes part in fitness competitions
when she’s not helping others transform
their own bodies.
“I know everyone here, their stories,
their goals, seeing their progress and
accomplishments. It’s motivating
helping people change their bodies,”
she says.
Hammond got inspired during an
annual 12-week lifestyle program that
Insurance Brokers
FITT Gym presents. She saw people
making positive changes in their lives
and committed to making changes to
her lifestyle.
In her first competition, the Ultimate
Fitness Event Spring Bash,
Hammond placed in the top ten in
two of the three categories in which
she was entered, earning her elite bikini
modeling card, which qualifies her
for competition at the national level.
“I’ve seen what I can do. I know
that I can accomplish anything. I’m
feeling fit and fabulous at 42,” she
says.
Carol Turner, a landscaper from
Huntsville, has also been bitten by the
bug and now devotes her life to training
and proper nutrition.
“Weight training changed my
physique. With nutrition and good
posture I feel empowered,” she says.
She entered the London Ontario
Physique Association show and competed
at the Ultimate Fitness Events
Spring Bash in Mississauga. Now she’s
got her sights set on the UFE Halloween
mayhem.
“The competition world is welcoming.
I’ve met lots of new friends,” she
says.
This sport requires discipline and
these women take their lifestyle choices
seriously. They go to bed early, eat
properly and follow a strict exercise
regime. The result is a hard, healthy
body, a boost in self-esteem and a lifetime
of stories.
Hutcheson, Reynolds & Caswell
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Bracebridge, ON
dan@willettfinancial.ca
&
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COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN MUSKOKA
Helen Thompson, Broker
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Telephone: 1-866-922-0777
HUNTSVILLE: 705.571.0700
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www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 25

WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA
MAY
ARTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
P057020CN 11/05
There are good reasons to
FOLLOW THE CROWD
Les Bell Ins Agcy Inc
Les Bell, Agent
46 Ann St.
Bracebridge, ON P1L 2C1
Bus: 705-646-9995 Toll Free: 877-877-3929
Annual art event to fund student bursaries
The Shutterbug Gallery in Huntsville,
in partnership with the Huntsville
Festival of the Arts, is inviting applications
for its first student arts bursary.
Last July the gallery and festival of the
arts launched the 1st Annual en Plein Air
Painting & Auction. Proceeds from the
event were directed to a student art
bursary for students pursuing a fine arts
education in the visual arts.
A total of $3,000 was raised by
Muskoka artists to provide three bursaries
of $1,000 each for students in
Huntsville, Bracebridge and Gravenhurst.
The amount of the bursary will
fluctuate from year to year based on
monies raised in a given year.
In honour of the contribution of the
Muskoka artists in funding the award,
one student from each of the three towns
will be awarded a bursary.
To qualify for a bursary, students must
be enrolled in a secondary school in
Muskoka, be pursuing a post-secondary
education in the visual arts and be in
their graduating year or have graduated
within the past year but are not already
attending college, university or another
form of post-secondary education.
The bursaries will be presented at local
high school graduation ceremonies at the
end of the 2010 school year.
Applications must include a portfolio,
letter of intent, a copy of the student’s letter
of acceptance from a college or university
or a copy of the application and
contact information in Muskoka. Applications
can be submitted from May 15 to
June 5, 2010 at 4 p.m. The portfolio is
the student’s opportunity to present a
collection of 10 original pieces, or a documentation
of the work in the form of
photographs. Portfolios are to be mailed,
couriered or dropped off at the Shutterbug
Gallery and will be returned two
weeks following the deadline. Portfolios
that are sent by mail or courier must also
include a self-addressed return label as
well as sufficient postage and packaging
for its return. No e-mailed applications.
440 Ecclestone Drive, Bracebridge
(705) 645-9827 www.ywcamuskoka.com
Congratulations on a
Fabulous Event!
Community YWCA of Muskoka congratulates
North Country Business, Muskoka Magazine and the
sponsors of the Muskoka Outstanding
BusinessWomen’s Award 2010 event.
Thank you to all who attended,
for your ongoing support of YWCA Muskoka.
David Crombie and Luke Pattison perform at last year’s en Plein Air Painting
& Auction. This year’s even takes place on July 29.
YMCA Child Barrie Care YMCA
You chose the YMCA…
Your child couldn’t be in better hands.
Quality, Licensed Child Care
In Your Community!
Irwin Memorial School Age: 705-788-5040
Home Child Care: 705-788-5040
Deerhurst Child Care: 705-788-5040
Muskoka Falls Child Care: 705-646-7105
Photograph: Kelly Holinshead
Together we DO make a difference.
26 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca
705-726-6421 22 Grove St. W.
f i k k
10-060_ysm_cc_whatsup_v4.indd 1
2/23/10 4:51:56 PM

Spring into the art season with annual tour
There’s nothing quite like exploring an
artist’s studio and seeing how an idea is
turned into a masterpiece, which is why
the Muskoka Lakes Spring Art Tour, now
in its eighth year, can’t be missed.
Guests will have the opportunity to
visit 13 studios, featuring 22 artists in the
Muskoka Lakes area. An important and
exciting part of visiting the studios, is the
opportunity to watch artists at work
creating their unique pieces.
The tour will run from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. on Saturday, June 12 and Sunday,
June 13 and will feature an extensive
cross section of artistic styles. From painting
to photography, pottery to furniture,
jewelry to stone carving, the work of the
artists on the tour represents some of the
best of Muskoka arts and crafts.
“This tour is fun and gets you really
focused on the new season,” says artist
Wendy Moses of the Alexandra Luke
Gallery in Bracebridge. “It is the first
chance for people to see all of the work
that artists have created over the winter.”
The self-directed tour is simple to take
part in by picking up a guide and map,
available online or at locations across
Muskoka, and following the directions.
Winding around Muskoka’s three big
lakes on some of Ontario’s most scenic
country roads, guests can stop at the
galleries of their choice.
Artists from the Muskoka Lakes area welcome visitors to their studios during the Muskoka Lakes Spring Art Tour.
Prominent yellow signs show the way
to the artist’s individual studios – places
that are often as magical as the art itself.
This year, the tour features hinterglass
painter Bonnie Bews, potter Linda
Hrynyk, wildlife painter Christine Marshall,
jeweller Penny Varney, watercolour
artist Elke Scholz, basketmaker Ise Soja,
photographer John Gurr, watercolour
artist Glenda Davies, metal sculptor
Deborah Harkness, furniture maker
Ryan Coyne, painter Iris Gammon,
acrylic painter Connie Beninger, stained
glass artist Gail Wilson, stone sculptor
Elise Muller, painter Gayle Dempsey, oil
painter Jane Gordon, watercolour artist
Margo Gracey, woodcarver Andrea Turnbull,
sculptor and painter Haysam
Haytaoglu, expressionist painter Wendy
Moses, potters Jon and Suzann Partridge
and jeweller Miranda Britton.
Cottage Country Comedy returns
The hit CBC radio show, The Debaters, will hold a
special live taping at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial
Theatre in Bracebridge as part of the third annual
Cottage Country Comedy Festival. This year’s festival
will take place in Bracebridge on June 25 and 26, the
same weekend as the G8 Summit in Huntsville.
Tickets are available for people who wish to attend
the 2 p.m. Saturday matinee, which is when the special
live taping of The Debaters will take place. The
show is hosted by Steve Patterson, known internationally
as a comedic headliner. He was nominated in
2007 and 2008 for a Canadian Comedy Award as
Canada’s best stand-up comedian.
“Some of the best comedians in Canada will debate
hot issues and some lighter topics,” says comedian
Tyler Morrison, who organizes the Cottage Country
Comedy Festival. With the G8 taking place at the
same time, Morrison expects some international topics
will also come up.
The Cottage Country Comedy Festival opens on
Friday night with a Learn to Laugh event for local
high school students at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial
Theatre on Friday night.
“It is an interactive comedy performance and seminar
for secondary school students,” says Morrison.
On Saturday, June 26, at 8 p.m., the World Leaders
of Comedy gala takes the stage. Hosted by Steve Patterson,
it will feature eight of Canada’s top comedians,
including featured comedian Glenn Wool. It will
showcase diverse talent from across Canada and as far
away as Uganda.
Matt Billon, a writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes
and Jeff McEnery, the first winner of Yuk Yuk’s Great
Canadian Laugh Off, return this year, while French
Photograph: courtesy of Scott Turnbull Photography
Comedian Matt Billon will perform this year.
Canadian comedian Derek Seguin, Arthur Simeon
of Russell Peters’ Comedy Tour, and Canadian
Comedy Award nominee Allyson Smith will
all make their Cottage Country Comedy Festival
debuts.
The final performance of the Cottage Country
Comedy Festival, headlined by Morrison, will be
called Culture Shock. It will take place at Club One
in Bracebridge at 10:30 p.m. following the gala.
“It is an edgier show with a little more mature
content and subject matter,” he says.
440 Ecclestone Drive, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1Z6
(705) 645-9827 www.ywcamuskoka.com
COMING EVENTS
LUNCHEONS 12:00-1:00
Gravenhurst: Trinity United Church
Friday, May 7 th
Peter Rigby: Community Economic Development Officer Town of Gravenhurst
Bracebridge: YWCA Office
Friday, May 28 th
Mary Lodge: Long Term Care
Huntsville: Partners Hall, Algonquin Theatre
Friday, June 11 th
Melinda Zytaruk, Fourth Pig Worker Co-op: Renewable Energy
All Lunches start at noon and everyone is welcome!
Fee: $5 YWCA members, $10 non-members
($25 for a one year YWCA membership)
To ensure that we order enough food, please
RSVP to Lee Ann at office@ywcamuskoka.com
or by phone 705-645-9827
Girlz Unplugged Summer Day Camps
July 12 -16 at Bracebridge Public School
July 19 - 23 at Spruce Glen PS, Huntsville
July 26 - 30 at Gravenhurst Public School
Aug 3 - 6 at Spruce Glen PS, Huntsville
Aug 9 -13, at Bracebridge Public School
$150.00 per week
Register before May 31st and save 15%
HST Information Session
Wednesday, June 9th, 9:30 am -12:30 pm
YWCA Muskoka, 440 Ecclestone Dr.
Please call to register: 645-9827
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 27

WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA
MARKETPLACE
440 Ecclestone Drive
Bracebridge
HOT TUB WAREHOUSE
www.hottubwarehouse.ca
HOT TUBS/CHEMICALS
PARTS & SERVICE
POOL TABLES &
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705-645-8613
info@hottubwarehouse.ca
CASTING CALL
Sunday, May 16th, 1 p.m.
TREASURE ISLAND
THE MUSICAL
To play @ Algonquin Theatre in November
Men, Women & a Boy (9 -12 years of age)
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Robinson’s Independent Grocers /
Community Room - Huntsville
705.767.1177
info@templeknightsproductions.com
Sherry
ABR, SRES
RONDEAU
Sales Representative
705-645-5257 Ext. 231
800-606-2636
Fax: 705-645-1238
muskokarondeau@sympatico.ca
www.muskokarondeau.ca
100 West Mall Road,
Bracebridge, ON P1L 1Z1
Brokerage, Independently Owned and Operated
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CALL:
687-9143
24
Cell: 705-641-8898
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Muskoka Mobility
• Sales • Service
• Rentals • New & Used
687-4796
950 Muskoka Rd. S., Gravenhurst
*NEW BRACEBRIDGE LOCATION*
645-2177
230 Manitoba St., Bracebridge
(Beside Walk-In Clinic)
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Lawn and Garden Soil
• Our Soils are Analyzed
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Ask about our stump grinding service
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705.645.4630
Fax: 705.645.6310
Bracebridge
cbalarmsltd@sympatico.ca
www.cbalarmsltd.com
eco living store
products for building, decorating & living green
705.787.0326
www.sustainmuskoka.ca
info@sustainmuskoka.ca
Located in the Greystone Complex,
just off Muskoka Rd. 3
8 Cresent Rd. Unit B2, Huntsville
STEVENSON
PLUMBING & ELECTRIC
295 Margaret St., Gravenhurst, Ont
Your Total
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Fax 705-687-1048
www.stevensonplumbingandelectric.com
Muskoka and Parry Sound
705-646-4238
Fax: 705-646-1810
Pager: 1-866-767-5446
semkoj@td.com
Jacqui
Semkow
Muskoka
Mortgage
Specialist
STAY CONNECTED TO MUSKOKA
visit these websites...
www.northcountrybusinessnews.com
www.muskokacottagehomeproperty.com
www.whatsupmuskoka.com
www.muskokamagazine.com
28 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com

WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA
SOCIAL SCENE
1
2
4 5
3
6
7
8
1.Helping out at McHappy Day on May 5 at Bracebridge McDonalds were Christopher Rideout,
Derek Wickett, Chris Rainey, Bob Kobe and Lauren McVey.
2. Grade 2 French immersion students at Riverside Public School made a world map for Earth Day.
3. Mary Ray Ward unwraps the first prize of the evening during the Huntsville Hospital
Foundation’s spring gala fundraiser on April 10 at Deerhurst Resort.
4. Paul Brackley, of Brackley Boats in Gravenhurst, hosted visitors to his studio from the Antique
and Classic Boat Society of Toronto during their Spring Tour on April 24.
5. Huntsville Hospice had about 100 people take part in its first annual Hike for Hospice Palliative
Care held at Fairly Vista Trail in Huntsville. The event was held to recognize National Hospice
Palliative Care Week and raise funds and the profile of Hospice Huntsville.
6. YWCA Muskoka interns Erin Thomson and Katie Ungard sold balloons at the third annual
Muskoka Outstanding BusinessWomen’s Awards on May 4 to raise funds for programs at the Y.
7. Summit Management Office director general Sanjeev Chowdhury joined Huntsville Mayor
Claude Doughty, MP Tony Clement and students from Huntsville High School to plant the first of
500 red pines on Hoodstown Road in Huntsville on April 24, 2010.
8. Mike Varieur, Rob Horton and Steve Varieur rest after completing the Frontier Adventure
Challenge in Huntsville on May 5. They placed 9th out of 87 teams in the gruelling race.
Email photo submissions to editor@northcountrymedia.com
www.whatsupmuskoka.com May 2010 29

30 May 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
420 ECCLESTONE DRIVE,
BRACEBRIDGE
www.cavalcadeford.ca
1-800-463-8731 705-645-8731

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