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JOHN CLEATOR, CFP Agent/Owner JOHN CLEATOR INSURANCE SERVICES LTD. 3B-295 Wellington Street Bracebridge ON P1L 1P3 Bus: (705) 645-8766 Fax: (705) 645-7655 Home l Auto l Life Investments l Group l Business AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS SEASONAL • RECREATIONAL Johnston & Assoc. Insurance Brokers Ltd. Your Insurance Broker Understands 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
Page 1 and 2: WHAT’S UP May 2010 MUSKOKA’S NE
Page 3 and 4: If you can’t get 8 hours of sleep
Page 5 and 6: Flying high above Muskoka Photograp
Page 7 and 8: Henny Brown, Lynda Hutt, Rosemary K
Page 9: Preserving Muskoka’s past By Kath
Page 13 and 14: Advertising Feature Owner Mike Warr
Page 15 and 16: Advertising Feature The Old Station
Page 17 and 18: The Muskoka Watershed REPORT CARD 2
Page 19 and 20: The Muskoka Watershed REPORT CARD 2
Page 21 and 22: Advertising Feature Enjoy quality f
Page 23 and 24: See the earth in a new way Geotherm
Page 25 and 26: Woodchester Villa to be closed for
Page 27 and 28: Advertising Feature GETTING TO KNOW
Page 29 and 30: Brandon Occhiuzzi, Kale Johncox and
Page 31 and 32: Spring into the art season with ann
Page 33 and 34: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA SOCIAL SCENE 1
Page 35 and 36: Define Your Space with... Superior

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