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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