Be Well Magazine: Muskoka Edition [FALL + WINTER 2016] by Be Well Magazine

M U S KO K A E D ITI O N

EAT LOCAL ALL WINTER LONG pg 16

LAYING ROOTS Making lasting decisions to improve your personal wellness pg 4

FA L L + WI N T E R 2 0 1 6

D e s igne d

M usko ka.

M ade

C anad a.

• Po tent & A ro ma tic Natural Form ulatio ns • • No C hem ical P re se rvative s • • No C o lo urants or Fra grance • • Pa rabe n & SLS Fre e • • Glute n Fre e • • M ade in C anada •

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CONTENTS BE WELL MAGAZINE: MUSKOKA EDITION • FALL + WINTER 2016 • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

F E AT U R E S

O U R COVE R

7 TOUCHPOINT

To be in Muskoka is to be lucky. And you may not realize it, but you’re healthier for it, too. BY DIANNAH BENSON

10 HEARTBEAT

Everyone falls into a slump sometimes, but your community can help lift you out of it. BY DARLA STIPANOVICH

Photo: Brooke Cagle

L E T T E R F RO M T H E E D I TO R A note from our Editorin-Chief about Laying Roots – the theme of our FALL + WINTER 2016 issue

CO M M U N I T Y CO R N E R Local community events that are fun, family-friendly and free

R ECI PE Try this hearty and healthy ratatouille

16 EAT WELL

Did you know you can enjoy locally grown foods during the winter months? BY COLIN SÕBER-WILLIAMS

20 SHOWCASE

We chat with Rudi Stade about building with rocks and leaving his mark on Muskoka. BY TERESA FISICO

26 PERSONAL PRACTICE

How’s your financial health? Making small changes that make sense can pay off big down the road. BY ASHLI PHIPPEN

FALL + WINTER 2016 • 3

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR • NICOLE FISICO

LAYING ROOTS A

s I prepared myself to sit down and write this note, I took the time to make myself a cup of tea. It’s such a simple thing that can bring peace and joy – taking the time to choose the perfect mug and boil the water, deciding which tea would be a perfect accompaniment for this task. It doesn’t take very long, but it’s still something I have to consciously decide to take time to do. In our last issue, which was about Taking First Steps, I talked about making time for wellness in your life, whatever that is for you. Perhaps it means starting a new fitness regimen, new healthy eating plan or participating in your community. Our Fall + Winter issue theme is Laying Roots.

life, like enjoying a cup of tea. I am rarely successful at devoting time to all of these simultaneously. Sometimes I lose focus, or life in general can distract me from one or the other. What’s important to remember is this: do not get frustrated! Keep going! If what you are doing truly isn’t working for you after giving it a solid effort, try something else. It’s a process, and more importantly, it’s a learning opportunity. Some things you will love instantly, Laying Roots in your wellness journey is about becoming like perennial plants that grow deep roots solidifying your commitments and making lasting into your wellness path and endure year after year. decisions to improve your personal wellness. It’s Some will be more like annual flowers that you try about taking those first steps and making them out and then see them fade away after a few months. habits. It sounds a lot easier then it actually is. It may be the most challenging part about wellness The wonderful part of the Laying Roots process is and why so many of us ‘fall off’ the proverbial that you get endless chances and endless possibilities wellness wagon. We start off with great intentions for wellness. Some things will work for you, some and somehow we lose momentum. This could be won’t. It is a deeply personal journey. because of a lack of interest in the activity we have chosen, or perhaps it’s a lack of determination. The The importance lies in the time and commitment to good news is that every day is a new day to start your own personal wellness. If this remains a priority, the perennials will eventually reveal themselves and again or try something new. take root in your life. Personally, I have started, tried, committed to or ended several wellness ‘things’ in my life. Hot Yoga (love it), jogging (which is very new and challenging Nicole Fisico for me), eating healthy (has always been important Editor-in-Chief to me but I’ve tried some crazy fad diets along the way) and making time for the simple pleasures in 4 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

GET CONNECTED FALL + WINTER 2016 • VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nicole Fisico CREATIVE DIRECTOR Teresa Fisico CONTRIBUTORS Diannah Benson Darla Stipanovich

Be Well Magazine promotes an inclusive, community-directed approach to health and wellness for all. Never miss an issue or event!

Visit us online and join the conversation bewellmagazine.ca bewellmagazine

Colin Sõber-Williams

bewellmag

Ashli Phippen

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25 Knotty Pine Trail HUNTSVILLE, ON P1H 1S7 editor@bewellmagazine.ca 705-380-4446

Be Well Magazine publishes twice per year and is available for free thanks to contributions from our community partners. Magazines can be found at businesses and information stands across Muskoka. The articles in Be Well Magazine are meant to inform, encourage and motivate our readers, and in no way does Be Well Magazine claim to replace the advice of a physician or certified wellness coach. © Be Well Magazine. October 2016. Permission is required to reproduce content found in this issue.

BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER! Advertising with Be Well Magazine is more than just a good investment – you’re contributing to a movement. Grow exposure for your business and be part of building an exciting community geared towards health, wellness and fulfillment. Contact us today to learn more about our competitive packages and rates. FALL + WINTER 2016 • 5

NATURE’S GIFT OF HEALING FI N D I N G PE ACE I N O U R SU R RO U N D I N GS BY DIANNAH BENSON

s young children, we have a deep sense of connection and a fascination with the natural world. I can easily imagine myself at the cottage on Lake of Bays where I spent my younger years. It is the spirit of the place that lingers in my mind the most. It is the pleasures of nature that stay with me: the sounds and smells, the beautiful vistas, the feel of the wind on my face, the lapping sound of the water against the shore, bird song and silence. These memories hold my lifelong love of Muskoka. Nature allows us to recognize that we are inextricably connected to the universe. We have been created to live in nature.

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear and stress, and increases pleasant feelings.

We are blessed to live or cottage in Muskoka, a place with many opportunities for engaging with the great outdoors. It’s a place where generation after generation of families have shared time together through camping, spending days at the water, and enjoying the many festivals. Some have even witnessed vows here. Being in Muskoka gives us the opportunity to be in touch with our families, ourselves and the earth, and we are healthier for it. Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear and stress, and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it also FALL + WINTER 2016 • 7

TOUCHPOINT • DIANNAH BENSON

contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones. Understanding the connection between spirituality, nature and health is essential for our overall wellbeing. Nature can put us in a positive mood and connects us in our environment. Our health benefits from paying attention to these aspects of our existence. Celebrating Muskoka when you are here and remembering joyful moments spent in this beautiful part of the world can bring a smile to your face. We are all one in this great universe and what we do to help ourselves also helps others. Community is so important and is a reflection of our spiritual connectedness. I have a picture on my wall of Earth seen from space and the word “HOME” underneath. That is my reminder that we are all one and whatever I do influences the whole. We are so different but part of the same family called Earth. It’s important for us to remember to focus on what we want in our lives. If we believe in a greater “Spirituality is not a religion. power that guides us, we can connect to that energy within us with gratitude for guiding us to what we Being spiritual just means you need to do to stay well or to heal. In addition to are in touch with your own western medical assistance, there are many ways to approach getting and staying healthy, such as divine self.” through Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Bruce Lipton Reiki, Reflexology, Ayurvedic Medicine, CranialSacral Therapy, and Aromatherapy (to name a few), as well as my specialty – the BodyTalk System. We ourselves and change the thoughts to gratitude are fortunate in Muskoka to have these and many for the body’s ability to heal. Then we can listen other different approaches available to us. to our inner guidance to understand what we can do to facilitate this healing. Our spiritual guidance We are all spiritual beings having a human experience. is always present, we just need to tune in to hear it. The inner journey is our true self but our mind often It is in the moment that we find our inner spirit and gets in the way. we are centered in our heart space that we hear this guidance. We need to learn to get out of our own way and allow our bodies to do the healing it knows how I have been guided in life to study and practice to do. Our judgments about ourselves inhibit this many things. It is this guidance that led me to the natural process. We are often running the ‘what’s BodyTalk System and to the other work that I do. wrong with me’ program. This creates anxiety and BodyTalk addresses the underlying causes of illness tension, taking energy away from healing and putting or disease in the body, whether it comes from a it into the brain programs of doubt and victimhood. specific organ or limb, unresolved emotions, or We need to recognize when we are in judgment of mental or environmental factors. It is the things 8 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

that are hidden in the subconscious that continue to sabotage us. Once we are conscious of the false beliefs or perceptions, they will no longer have any power. In this way, the body-mind can be brought into balance and self-heal, doing the amazing job it was meant to do. By clearing away the limiting beliefs that are holding us back from knowing how amazing we truly are, we can become more fully present. We have it all here in nature’s bounty. We have such potential to live in the moment and enjoy all of life. It is the savouring of every moment spent in nature and sharing time with others that makes Muskoka a beautiful, healing place to be.

Diannah has lived and worked in Muskoka as a Health and Wellness Practitioner since 1995, practicing a variety of modalities that focus on helping to heal and balance the body. She is a Holistic Nutritional Consultant, Wellness Coach, Certified Reflexologist and Aromatherapist, Reiki Master and Certified BodyTalk Practitioner and Access Trainer.

ACTIVE & HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

FOR EVERY AGE AND STAGE

It’s all in your Leisure Activity Guide. Available at www.huntsville.ca

FALL + WINTER 2016 • 9

R AB BITS

FOR CLI M BI N G O U T O F A RU T, O N E RU N G AT A TI M E

O LE S A

TH I B B

BY DARLA STIPANOVICH

HEART BEAT • DARLA STIPANOVICH

won’t lie. I’ve been going through a stressful and difficult patch the last 8 months. If I was being drawn by Chuck Jones, I’d be Wile E. Coyote leaping off a cliff with a pair of red wings from the Acme Wing Co., and we know how that ended. Splat. If I was a character from The Simpsons, I’d be Marge on the bridge surrounded by the constabulary, guns drawn, as she stared into space muttering, “Just shove it all down, shove it all down.” Or the absolute opposite of my normally positive self, an Eeyore approach to every day observations: “It’s snowing still,” said Eeyore gloomily. “And freezing…However, we haven’t had an earthquake lately.”

no way meant to address the very real and difficult disease of depression. This is meant to address what all of us go through from time to time. RU N G # 1 : VO LU N T E E R It has always been my belief, and I use that word sparingly, that helping anyone else is the fastest way of feeling better about yourself. Sounds rather selfish when put that way, but I am taking it for granted that you can take real joy in volunteering in your community for non-selfish reasons. I have found it impossible to remain in even the deepest Rabbit Hole when working for a community initiative or event. In a number of articles from Harvard Health Publications, it has been shown that volunteering not only contributes to a strong feeling of connection to other people – lessening the burden of loneliness, especially in seniors – it also measurably reduces blood pressure, which is a strong indicator of wellness and longer life. In much fewer words than most anything coming out of Harvard University: Help others, help yourself.

Change. Life change. Huge life change. This, brought on entirely by myself and the affront of growing older in spite of my internal belief that I’m still a precocious twenty-something, has delivered me to a place of very real gloom. Like Eeyore’s Gloomy Place. I’ve decided to retire from a business I’ve built, loved and nurtured. And at times it has felt like I am saying goodbye to friends who have become family, and to my “self” who has identified so strongly with the work. RU N G # 2 : CR AF T Retirement can most certainly mean more time for So why am I laying this upon you, good readers, in this more crafts. And with a wide variety of hobbies and journal of Wellness? Could I not just slap a silly grin crafts comes the opportunity for shared experience. from ear to ear and anticipate a sunny tomorrow? Find a group that shares your desire to knit countless Not this time. More has been needed for this life- pairs of socks (you know who I’m talking about) changing event to restore my happy disposition and and meet them every week or so for yakking and here is why I’m sharing this with you: crafting. Again, you’ll find connection, support, and the opportunity to give support where it is needed 1. I bet I’m not the only person to occasionally by teaching and sharing. slide down the Rabbit Hole of Sadness when presented with a big change, RU N G # 3: S HAR I N G S KI L L S Woodworkers unite! Find that group of builders, 2. Getting older is not limited to just me, and restorers, sanders, chainsaw artists, or artists who may in fact happen to you someday, too – no celebrate their skill with the finest brush or pen. matter the baskets of kale eaten, and There are guilds throughout Muskoka that support furthering skilled craftsmanship in a wide array 3. There are ladders for climbing out of that of areas. This often gives one the opportunity to Rabbit Hole. They are built, rung by rung, with mentor a young person who wants to embrace a skill community. that you have. Again, it’s all in the giving. Given that sometimes when one is staring up from the bottom of said Rabbit Hole, one finds it difficult to think of ways to get out, I would like to devote this space to putting one foot at a time on the Community Ladder. And, just to be clear – this is in

RU N G # 4: CIVI C G RO U PS If your particular talent lies in expressing a political view, following through on a proposal, taking up a cause that is important to you, or standing up for FALL + WINTER 2016 • 11

HEART BEAT • DARLA STIPANOVICH

what you believe to be the best course of action for your town, there is always the opportunity to get involved. Your voice can make an enormous difference. Get out and be heard!

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

RU N G # 5: T H E GYM There has been a great deal written about the benefits of exercise for lifting one’s spirits so I don’t need to belabour that point. I want to focus, instead, on the subtle yet profoundly important images one can begin to see in those darn mirrors all over the fitness centres. See that energy, that tight-lipped smile of accomplishment when that barbell goes straight up? Look at those eyes! Look at what you’ve done for yourself! You can be forgiven if you bust out a joyous Rocky move after your workout.

Seneca

RU N G # 6: ART Did you know that you can access nearly all of the world’s amazing art museums on the Internet? Instead of spending a sad day in Eeyore’s Gloomy Place, key in the Uffizi Museum in Florence for a few minutes with Bottecelli, or wander the medieval

halls of the Metropolitan Museum in New York via your iPad. And if this presents technical challenges to you, see RUNG #8. I promise you that finding documentaries on the great art of the world is so easy (search BBC documentaries on anything and you’ll be thrilled) and the joy of seeing the masters up close and personal – with no line-ups – will leave you ecstatic. RU N G # 7: NAT U R E I suspect we all have our own version of the Garden of Eden in our minds. Find yours, or as close to it as you are able, and go there. Sit. Breathe in the clean air, the salty spray of an ocean front, the soothing sound of your paddle moving you through a serene lake. For me, it is the huge granite stone in my back forest. Just far enough away from my house to let me pretend I’ve run away. Sitting on that stone connects me instantly to the earth, to The Mother, to my breath, and to peace. RU N G # 8: C L ASS E S It has been shown that lifelong learning is effective in combating early onset dementia, which is good to know, but enrolling in a class is also wonderfully effective in lifting a person’s confidence and joie de vivre. Completing a degree, learning a language, diving into that novel you’ve always wanted to write – the list is long and endlessly varied. Friendships spring from classes and your brain continues to sparkle on. RU N G # 9 : F R I E N DS & FACE BOO K Friends. We know how much we need them, but some of us have moved a lot in our lives, and it may seem harder to keep connected to people we’ve not seen in years. Facebook makes that easy as pie (ask your 10-year-old nephew or niece to help you set it up). I’ve re-established friendships from high school, university, jobs from long ago, even relatives that I

12 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

haven’t seen since childhood. And one of the things I love about Facebook is that you can set up a private group that is closed to all except those you wish to commune with. You can create a family group, a craft group, a work group, a church group – any kind of group you want. It’s all at your fingertips.

Personally, I love the joined intention of a Yoga class. The union in breathing and movement with others restores my sore heart. It has changed my life. It has enhanced my spirit. And I can stand on my head which just makes me really happy for no logical reason.

RU N G # 1 0 : YO GA Whether you attend a class, find a YouTube Yoga channel or purchase a book on postures, establishing your Yoga practice cannot be over-emphasized as a way to lift your heart, literally and spiritually.

As each of us moves through our lives, there are bound to be Rabbit Holes and Gloomy Places. Reach out a hand in your community and I bet there will be another hand nearby, in so many ways, to help lift you up.

Darla is: an entrepreneur, a business owner, a dog owner, a Momma, a Nanna, a Wife, a closet writer, an out-of-thecloset dreamer, a constant smiler (for no obvious reasons) and a happy Muskoka chick.

FALL + WINTER 2016 • 13

COMMUNITY CORNER

FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS THAT ARE FREE TO ENJOY IN AND AROUND MUSKOKA

G R AVE N H U R ST & AR E A

B R ACE B R I DG E & AR E A

PR E SC H O O L STO RY TI M E Gravenhurst Library • 180 Sharpe St. W Every Tuesday • 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

M US KO K A WR ITI N G CI RCL E Bracebridge Public Library • 94 Manitoba St. 3 rd Saturday of the month • 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

No registration required! Bring your little one to the Gravenhurst Library every Tuesday morning for storytime, sing-alongs and crafts!

The Muskoka Writing Circle is a vibrant and supportive group of amateur and professional writers. If you are experiencing Writer’s Block, or looking for inspiration, encouragement and positive support for your writing, you are invited to join us.

AN N UAL T R E E L I G H TI N G & CARO L S I N G Bala Community Centre • 1008 Maple Ave. November 25, 2016 • 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Welcome in the festive season with us. Bundle up and bring the family as the community gathers to usher in the season of giving. FA M I LY L EG O N I G H T Gravenhurst Library • 180 Sharpe St. W December 15, 2016 • 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM All ages are welcome. Drop in and complete challenges as a family, or just stay and play.

B R I N G -A- B U D DY – VAL E N TI N E ’ S CE L E B R ATI O N Bracebridge Sportsplex • 110 Clearbrook Trail February 14, 2017 • 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM Take a class, swim, walk, and participate in activities at the Bracebridge Sportsplex with a friend.

Have a free, family-friendly event you’d like us to promote in our next issue at no cost? Email us! editor@bewellmagazine.ca

14 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

OC TO B E R 201 6 - APR I L 201 7

H U N TSVI L L E , L AKE O F BAYS & AR E A H U N T SVI L L E O U T DOO R H I K E Huntsville Summit Centre • 20 Park Dr. Every Tuesday • 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

AR ROWH E AD PAR K WI N T E R AC TIVIT I E S Arrowhead Prov. Park • 451 Arrowhead Park Rd. December 2016 to March 2017 • ontarioparks.ca

This adventurous group meets weekly to do a vigourous walk or hike lasting about 60 minutes. Walks are scheduled for new and exploratory locations, but the group meets and starts out at the Active Living Centre parking lot each week.

In the winter, Arrowhead Park grooms and maintains more than 33 km of cross-country ski trails that are designed for classic skiing or skate skiing. The park also offers a variety of hiking and snowshoeing trails as well as a tubing hill, skating rink and worldfamous skating trail. Warm-up shelters and open fires are provided to keep you toasty while enjoying the beauty of Muskoka in the winter.

CO LO U R I N G FO R AD U LT S Dwight Public Library • 1014 Dwight Beach Rd. January 13, 2017 • 10:30 AM Colouring generates wellness, quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses and creativity. Colouring sheets and coloured pencils will be provided. This event is for adults only, but will show you that colouring isn’t just for the kids!

B E WE L L M AGA ZI N E – VAR I O US AC T IVIT I E S Various locations in Muskoka • bewellmagazine.ca Be Well Magazine will be sponsoring events during the winter months throughout Muskoka. Stay tuned to our website for details!

FALL + WINTER 2016 • 15

EATING LOCAL ALL SEASON LONG B E T T E R FO R T H E COM M U N IT Y, AN D M U CH B E T T E R FO R YO U BY COLIN SÕBER-WILLIAMS

nother summer has passed, and the rustling of the forest is slowly starting to fade away. Songbirds are heading south, critters are stocking up, and pollinators are slowing down. Our beautiful maples are putting energy back into their root systems, and there’s no better time of year to discuss how we can do this in our lives as well. Energy in its most basic form comes from the food that we choose to eat. Exploring the small changes we can make to our daily diet can be really helpful in shaping our lives, and the world that we live in. While the standard North American diet is well within acceptable ranges of carbohydrates, protein and fat for most people, the quality of these food sources has really changed. With the pursuit to offer the cheapest food possible, we’ve lost the nutrient density that our ancestors enjoyed, and the connection to where our food comes from (and how it is grown). Looking specifically at vegetables, industrial farming has mined our soils nutrients the past 50 years, pumping out vegetables that 16 • Beof Well Magazine •for Muskoka Edition

EAT WELL • COLIN SÕBER-WILLIAMS

FALL + WINTER 2016 • 17

EAT WELL • COLIN SÕBER-WILLIAMS

are less nutrient-dense, yet beautiful looking. A lot of the micronutrients that we need are missing from these mass-produced vegetables, which leaves our bodies craving more food to get the right nutrients we need. A simple way to determine the quality of your vegetables is taste. If a carrot tastes really good, that usually means it’s packed with nutrients – and it will leave you feeling much more satisfied, too. This difference in taste makes all the difference when preparing high-quality meals. Cooking with foods that are rich in micronutrients add a whole extra dimension of taste to a dish. The delectable flavour can also be seen in the unparalleled freshness that comes from locally sourced food. Less time spent in transport means a closer connection between the farm and the table! Taking this one step further, locally grown food can have an even larger impact through our community. Learning how food is grown through a backyard or community garden allows everyone the chance to

eat seasonally and provides a deep appreciation of just how all our food is grown. Shopping at your local farmer’s market, or committing to support your farmers through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program can help to promote the local economy by keeping your food dollars close to home – all while getting the freshest, most nutrient dense food available. Locally grown options are now available all year round with plenty of vegetables, including carrots, beets, spinach, microgreens, lettuce, and sweet potato squash. Believe it or not, these vegetables are available right through the winter months! Building a healthy diet into our already busy lives is never an easy task. However, putting the time and energy into creating healthy, delicious meals can have a huge impact on your personal health – both mentally and physically. While it may be hard to see on a day to day level, this investment in your health does have huge benefits over time. Once it is part of your weekly routine, you might even start craving a salad!

Colin works cooperatively with other organic farmers in the Muskoka region to offer spring, summer, and fall local food boxes, working to support vibrant local economies and healthy community. More information can be found at: www.eatlocalmuskoka.ca 18 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

INGREDIENTS 2

tbsp of olive oil

small onions, diced

cloves of garlic, minced

medium eggplant, trimmed, quartered, with bulk of the seeds removed and cut into bite-sized pieces (skin on)

medium zucchini, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces (skin on)

medium tomatoes, peeled and diced

tbsp of oregano

tbsp of basil

tsp of salt

HEARTY & HEALTHY RATATOUILLE D I R EC TI O N S In a medium to large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and sautĂŠ the onion and garlic with the oregano and basil. Add the zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes and salt. Stir well. Cover and simmer on low, stirring occasionally, for 45-60 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve as a side or as a stew with crusty bread.

Original recipe contributed by Gloria Fisico

FALL + WINTER 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ 19

SHOWCASE • TERESA FISICO

CARVING OUT A LEGACY T H E L ASTI N G M AR K T HAT RU D I STAD E I S L E AVI N G O N M US KO K A BY TERESA FISICO

country trips out west to live and work with his brother. But that autumn trip to Algonquin led him to trade his house and construction job in the city for a slower, quieter life up north. “It’s more of a human scale here,” says Rudi – and I’d have to agree. It wasn’t long after he made the move that Rudi began finding inspiration in his surroundings. “About a week or two after we moved up here I started exploring the trails all around town. As I did, I discovered that the forest was completely littered with these rocks that were quite thin and flat. As the bedrock erodes and separates, it comes apart layer by layer, so you get…all shapes and sizes. I started thinking, ‘I could make this one into a little coffee table, and that could be a base for it…I also started picturing stools and benches. One of the first things I built was a love seat. The whole thing weighed about 400 pounds…the backrest alone weighed 175 pounds – that was tough to drag out of the forest!”

s you drive toward Muskoka from the south, the small, scattered outcroppings of bedrock gradually turn into towering roadside cliffs that signal that you’ve arrived. These natural gateways to the north have long inspired visitors to the area. And while you may find tourist-built inuksuit atop the bedrock, nothing quite compares to the functional, solid structures built of the stuff that can be found as you stroll through downtown Huntsville. If you’ve ever been to Kent Park, Huntsville Town Hall or River Mill Park, the unique public benches are hard to miss. And they are quite comfortable, considering what they’re made of. As I sipped tea and talked rocks with Rudi Stade, the soft-spoken artisan shared how he serendipitously found himself leaving his construction job in Toronto to make his home in Muskoka, constructing furniture out of stone. Like so many travellers inspired by stories of the fall colours, Rudi found one of the last available vacancies at Blue Spruce Resort one fall in the early ‘80s to spend a week exploring Algonquin. Until then, Muskoka had always been an area he would bypass on his cross20 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

Rudi Stade on one of his stone benches in Kent Park, downtown Huntsville. Rudinian Rockworks rudistade.com 705-789-3331

You read that right. The majority of the rocks that Rudi uses to build his furniture are found, dug out and dragged or carried out of the forest by Rudi himself – sometimes with only the use of a backpack. “I figured out that the most I could carry on my back in a backpack was 160 pounds. I kept finding bigger and bigger rocks and testing my limits.” So, not only are his pieces feats of engineering, they’re feats of strength, too. He describes each of his creations as being like a puzzle, and he meticulously labels (that is, carves roman numerals) into each piece to ensure proper assembly on-site. And knowing how much work goes into each and every piece makes me appreciate his donations that much more. “Just before the G8, during 2009 when River Mill Park was being planned and built, I offered to donate a chess table with a pair of stools and a chess board inlaid into the table top, so [the town was] quite enthusiastic about that. Then, in early 2010, they commissioned me to work on a pair of benches for the River Mill Park feature area.” Soon, it won’t just be Huntsville where you can see his work. Massassauga Provincial Park, just outside of Parry Sound, has commissioned a set of stone markers for their hiking trails. And, of course, as many before have done, you can always commission your own Rudi Stade original. When asked about what drives him to donate his work to the town, Rudi says, “I’ve always felt a great sense of community and a wonderful sense of support back and forth. People help the community in many ways and there’s a great sense of comaraderie. I’m involved in a lot of different groups and there’s a lot of overlap.” If you’ve yet to try out one of Rudi’s public benches, you’ve got lots of time – considering what they’re made of, they likely won’t be going anywhere for the next 3000 years. Talk about leaving a legacy.

Teresa currently works as a medical copywriter and serves as Creative Director for Be Well Magazine. FALL + WINTER 2016 • 21

PERSONAL PRACTICE • ASHLI PHIPPEN

LAYING FINANCIAL ROOTS H OW A LIT T L E PL AN N I N G CAN GO A LO N G WAY BY ASHLI PHIPPEN, CPA, CA

years. The additional knowledge and experience could even provide for further opportunity and even more earnings growth.

WATCH YO U R F E E S Paying an annual fee for your credit card? Sure, they have many features that sound great on the glossy pamphlet, but when is the last time you used that concierge service you’re paying for? In some cases, credit card fees make sense – when you travel frequently, for instance. Most of us, however, may be paying too much for what we’re getting. Instead of paying an annual fee for your credit card, get your credit card to pay you. Cash back credit cards pay you actual cash for your purchases (not points or rewards that can expire). Another good way to save money is by minimizing bank charges. All of the big banks offer to waive the monthly fee if you keep a balance over $3,500 or so in your chequing account. Though saving that $14.95 per month might not seem like a great concern, it does add up to almost $180 per year. Think there’s something better you could be doing with that $3,500? Perhaps there is. If invested in the stock market, you could be making investment income on it, absolutely. However, saving $180 per year by holding $3,500 is equivalent to a rate of return of 5.12%, which is much better than any guaranteed investment in today’s market.

he story usually goes like this: we save through our working years to build a nest egg that we’ll benefit from in retirement. As a thirtysomething mother of a growing family, I find myself wondering – how we get from here to there? How do we put down our financial roots early in life so that we can reach the very coveted stage of financial freedom? What about even larger future goals: travel in retirement, an investment property, philanthropy or a cottage to pass on to our children? There are many seemingly small choices we can make along the way that can have large impacts over time. If we are conscious and aware of these choices, they become smart decisions that we will enjoy the benefits of K N OW YO U R M ANAG E M E N T E XPE N S E down the road. R ATI O (M E R ) The MER is the fee you pay on your mutual fund, M A XI M IZE YO U R F U T U R E and in Canada it is notoriously high. This cost E AR N I N G POT E N TIAL could be eating away at your investments and have Although we often think of our home as our largest a significant impact on your earning potential over investment, we should also think of our investment time. For instance, if you invest $10,000 in a mutual in our future earning potential. This means taking fund paying a MER of 2.5% and the fund returns 6% extra courses or training to move up the pay grid, annually, you will actually only earn 3.5% on that taking the new higher paying job, or asking for the investment (6% return less 2.5% MER = 3.5% net promotion or raise that you deserve. Though the return). If we look at the impact of that compounded annual increases in your salary may seem modest at over 20 years, you just lost out on over $12,000 in the time, they can really add up over the years. For investment income. While most of us need the safety instance, an increase in your annual salary of $2,500 net of managed funds like mutual funds, you do have invested at an average rate of return of 5% over the options. Index funds directly mimic specific stock next 20 years will be $89,000 at the end of those 20 market indexes and therefore come with a much 22 • Be Well Magazine • Muskoka Edition

more if you’re paying a high MER). The investment gurus say to invest that refund to realize the full benefit RRSPs have to offer.

lower cost because you’re not paying someone to actively manage the funds. Research has shown that over time index funds outperform expensive actively managed mutual funds. Additionally, by paying an MER of under 1% (a common rate on index funds) rather than 2.5% or higher, you are saving money. If this self-directed option doesn’t interest you, roboadvisors might. Companies such as WealthSimple are becoming increasingly popular by offering simple, low-cost algorithm-based managed investing. M I N I M IZE YO U R TA X B U R D E N If you think your mortgage is your largest expense, take a look at line 435 of your tax return. Add this to your spouse’s line 435 (if applicable) and this is how much your household paid to live in our wonderful country. One effective way to reduce your tax burden while helping to meet savings goal is to invest in your RRSP. In recent years, the RRSP has become the not-so-cool sibling to the seemingly more attractive TFSA. Though TFSAs have become very popular, they lack the money back in your pocket incentive that RRSPs offer. TFSAs are attractive because we don’t have to pay tax on any investment income earned in them (though it should be noted that there is no tax benefit for losses in a TFSA). However, most of us are paying a much higher tax rate in our working years than we will in retirement. It might be a good idea to not forget about the advantages of RRSPs and perhaps split your eggs between both baskets. RRSPs offer the appeal of a direct return by way of a reduction of our current tax burden. So if your average tax rate is 25% and you make a $5,000 RRSP contribution, you just reduced your tax bill by $1,250. This is equivalent to a rate of return of 25% on your $5,000 investment, which is five times what we can expect from the stock market (or make that 10 times

PAY YO U R S E L F FI R ST While it is the most loved (and likely most irritating) cliché of the personal finance world, there are many benefits to paying yourself first that compound over time. Paying yourself first ensures you are living within (or below) your means. Another benefit to paying yourself first is taking advantage of the time value of money. If you invest $300/month rather than $3,600 at the end of the year, you will have been earning investment income on each monthly investment. By the end of the year, a person who makes monthly investments would be up almost $100 in investment income (using an average rate of return of 5%) over the person holding off to invest the lump sum at the end of the year. Finally, by making smaller investments throughout the year instead of one large annual investment, you are smoothing your exposure to risk over time. What if, when you go to make your annual investment in December, the stock market is the highest it’s been all year? Not only is your purchasing power lower than it could have been, but you’ve also lost out on that investment income you could have earned as the market climbed all year. By paying yourself first you are taking advantage of the time value of money, maximizing returns and reducing your overall risk. Though saving for lofty future goals isn’t as easy as a few small choices, it is those small choices that can add up and may contribute to a considerable difference in your overall nest egg. With an eye on our financial future and our busy lives playing out in the present, we can feel secure that we’re laying down strong financial roots.

Ashli is a Muskoka-based Chartered Professional Accountant and mom with a keen interest in personal finance. FALL + WINTER 2016 • 23

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