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PHOTO BY CLAY DOLAN
View of the Escarpment
Cara Williams Editor-In-Chief cara@escarpmentmagazine.ca
Before winter began in earnest, I found myself in conversation after conversation about the weather—a favourite Canadian pastime, no doubt. More often than not, people would say, “I hope we get a real winter this year.” Beneath those words was more than just small talk—it was a shared yearning for snow-covered landscapes, brisk mornings, and the quiet beauty that winter brings. It was also a reminder that I’m far from alone in my love for winter.
Winter, in all its frostbitten glory, invites us to settle into rhythms that are quieter, yet somehow fuller. For some, it’s about savouring mornings wrapped in blankets, a book in hand, and tea or coffee steaming nearby, as snow settles like a hush. We tap into this serene side of winter with Turning Pages Together (pg. 63)—a foray into the vibrant literary culture of Simcoe, Grey, and Bruce counties, where book clubs and readers prove that stories can thaw even the coldest days.
For others, winter is a call to action, to suit up and dive headlong into adventure. In New Heights (pg. 26), we explore how the Escarpment’s modest hills have shaped world-class freestyle skiers, proving that passion and
talent transcend altitude. Blue Like a Local (pg. 40) uncovers insider knowledge to map out hidden trails and favourite runs at Blue Mountain, offering everyone— seasoned experts and first-timers alike—a perfect guide to finding joy in the snow. And, in Stories from Another Day (pg. 68), we delve into Collingwood’s rich hockey heritage, where the sound of cheers in packed arenas has long defined winters past and present.
Winter is a season of opposites—a time to slow down and reflect or to gear up and go. It reminds us to embrace the beauty in every snow-covered moment. Whether you’re chasing quietude or the thrill of fresh tracks, let this issue be your guide to embracing the delights that winter has to offer. Here’s to a season that’s ours to define. May this winter deliver the storms we dream of, the calm we cherish, and the adventures waiting to be discovered.
Candace Louise Donna Fritsch.
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Sam holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University (2016) and earned his CPA designation in 2019. With over eight years in public accounting, he specializes in supporting owner-managed businesses, providing strategic tax planning and accounting advice, as well as managing Estates and Trusts. His expertise has also led him to a teaching role as a facilitator with CPA Ontario, where since 2020 he has taught tax courses and graded case studies to prepare students for the CFE exam.
Sam's strong technical skills, local knowledge, and commitment to his clients make him an invaluable asset to the firm and the Collingwood community.
HEIGHTS
NEW
Megan Oldham in Laax, Switzerland.
Photo by Noah Wallace.
HEIGHTS
Fueled by passion, grit, and a tight-knit community, Ontario freestyle skiers are proving that even the smallest hills can launch big talent.
By Cara Williams
INthe wider skiing world, we might be viewed as lowlanders. While we lack towering mountain ranges, Escarpment clubs have proven that fostering ski talent goes beyond just the vertical. Forget the Rockies—with seven Ontario athletes on the Canadian National Freestyle Ski Team, one thing is clear: freestyle skiing has firmly taken root on the Escarpment, rivaling Canada’s top programs.
Despite our modest hills and unpredictable winters, a passionate community of skiers, coaches, and volunteers has built a strong foundation here, paving the way for local athletes to excel on the national stage. “We’re definitely seeing growth in membership, and our programs are getting stronger each year,” says Eli Budd, Executive Director of Freestyle Ontario.
It’s not hard to see why. With terrain parks and designated mogul runs popping up across the Escarpment, our clubs and resorts have become bona fide training grounds for future Olympians. “Freestyle is uniquely suited to our hills,” Eli adds. “You can have a great mogul course or big air jump on a smaller slope, and it’s that adaptability that’s helped us build such a strong program.”
One family that embodies this success is that of Bruce and Megan Oldham. “Growing up, I had to be creative to keep up with skiers from bigger mountain areas,” says Bruce, who has been on the national team since 2023 and already has a top-five finish in a World Cup slopestyle event. “Ontario’s freestyle scene may not have the big mountains or jumps, but it’s very effective for mastering the basics and putting in the hard miles.”
His sister Megan, now a seven-time X Games medalist, threetime World Championship medalist, and recent record-setter as the first woman to land a triple cork—accomplishing three off-axis flips and earning a perfect score of 50—fondly recalls those early days. “Even small things, like getting carpool rides to the ski hill, parents of another athlete letting me crash at their house on weekends, or families bringing potluck meals to the hill were impactful for me as an athlete,” she says. “I owe a lot of my success to the community that surrounded me through my rise in the sport.” Megan’s journey reflects this support—she placed fourth at the Beijing Olympics in 2022, adding yet another milestone to her impressive career.
Rachael Karker’s journey from Escarpment halfpipes to the Olympic podium is nothing short of remarkable. “My brothers and I all started in ski racing and I loved it,” says Rachael. “In my
Evan McEachran in Stubai, Austria.
Photo by FIS Freestyle.
Growing up, I had to be creative to keep up with skiers from bigger mountain areas. Ontario’s freestyle scene may not have the big mountains or jumps, but it’s very effective for mastering the basics and putting in the hard miles.”
– Bruce Oldham, Freestyle Canada Slopestyle Team.
Bruce Oldham in Kitzstienhorn, Austria. Photo by Dasha Nosova.
teens, park and pipe were becoming popular, and we had a bunch of [local] parks to choose from. I skied at Blue Mountain through these years, and their park setups were key in me developing the skills necessary to move onto bigger features at big mountains.” This foundation propelled her to international success, culminating in a bronze medal in Beijing, along with four X Games and two World Championship podium finishes.
Believe it or not, Ontario’s limited vertical comes with its own advantages. “The small hills allowed for short lap times and night skiing, where I could train after school,” says Rachael. This accessibility, combined with the flexible training schedules offered
by local clubs and resorts, has helped Ontario evolve into a freestyle powerhouse. Take Evan McEachran from Craigleith, who has six World Cup podiums, including a win last season, along with numerous X Games medals and two Winter Olympic appearances. Meanwhile, Caledon’s Max Moffatt continues to excel internationally, with three World Cup medals in slopestyle, an X Games silver, and a fourth-place finish at the 2023 World Championships.
Ontario’s legacy in moguls skiing is just as impressive as our park and pipe game, with athletes like Berkley Brown leading the charge. Now competing on the World Cup circuit, Berkley credits her roots at Beaver Valley Ski Club for laying the foundation of her career. “As a mogul skier, it was crucial to have access to a mogul course. Beaver Valley always had a passion for their mogul program and allowed us to have private training sessions on Fridays. It was a highlight of my time there,” she says.
Since making Team Canada in 2017, Berkley has taken her training to international venues, but her Ontario roots remain a cornerstone of her success. “Ontario’s freestyle community has that drive and passion like no other,” she reflects. After moving to Craigleith Ski Club in 2020, Berkley found further support for her World Cup journey, with the club sponsoring her travel and competition efforts. “I currently ski there when I’m home with my family, and I’m extremely grateful for their support,” she says.
Support from local businesses has been equally crucial for athletes chasing their dreams. “Corbetts Ski + Snowboard has been an incredible supporter of mine for many years, outfitting me from head to toe with everything I need—from equipment and base layers to soft goods,” says Charlie Beatty, a rising talent who recently clinched gold at the
Berkley Brown in Mont Tremblant, Quebec.
Photo by Gary Yee.
long love Aspen long love skiing
For more than 75 years, we’ve done it our way—inspiring mind, body, and spirit to preserve the magic that keeps our community connected and our impact positive.
I skied at Blue Mountain… The small hills allowed for short lap times and night skiing, where I could ski after school.”
2024 Youth Olympic Games and the FIS Park & Pipe Junior Worlds. “Beyond the gear, they’ve also been there to cheer me on and actively support local athletes like myself. Whether it’s attending fundraising events or just being part of the community, their commitment has played a huge role in helping me pursue my dreams.”
What distinguishes Ontario’s freestyle program is not just the calibre of its athletes, but the unique community framework that sustains it. Unlike some sports where training often shifts to elite, private academies, freestyle skiing thrives on its grassroots approach. With a combination of not-for-profit clubs, for-profit teams, and resort partnerships, Ontario’s freestyle programs are a testament to the balance of passion and structure. Some clubs focus on introducing young skiers to the sport, while others push competitive boundaries. “We’re here to provide the framework for clubs to grow at their own pace,” Eli explains. “The decision to focus on grassroots or competitive training is up to each club, and we’re here to support them.” One of these grassroots programs, Sapling Sessions, is Freestyle Ontario’s series of weekend clinics held at resorts across the province. Designed for intermediate skiers ages seven and up, these clinics introduce young athletes to the fundamentals of freestyle skiing, with training in terrain parks, half-pipes, and moguls. The aim here is to build skiing
skills while focusing on progression, creativity, fun, and athletic development—values that Freestyle Ontario champions for all its participants. Keep an eye out for the green jerseys on a slope near you; you might just witness a future Olympian in the making!
The Timber Tour is Ontario’s premier provincial freestyle ski competition series, featuring athletes of all ages, including some as young as eight. It provides a platform for participants to earn a spot in Freestyle Ontario’s RPA Ranking System, tracking their progress within the provincial freestyle landscape. This system tracks their progress and provides a platform to advance and sharpen their skills. This athlete-focused circuit kicks off with moguls at Camp Fortune from January 10-12, followed by slopestyle competitions at Beaver Valley Ski Club from January 17-19 and Mount St. Louis Moonstone from January 31-February 2. As the season continues, Calabogie Peaks Resort will host another moguls event from February 7-9. The tour culminates in a national-level mogul event at Horseshoe Valley Resort from February 21-23, bringing together the country’s top non-national team athletes for a high-stakes competition.
Once athletes reach the provincial team level, their opportunities for growth expand significantly. They participate in multiple training camps within Ontario and, when necessary, travel abroad to locations with larger features to further their
Rachael Karker in Kitzsteinhorn, Austria. Photo by Brendan Mackay.
development. This past summer, the team traveled to New Zealand to maximize training opportunities during Ontario’s off-season.
This spring, Horseshoe Valley Resort will debut a cutting-edge airbag training facility, which will allow athletes to safely practice tricks—even when the snow is gone. “It’s a game-changer,” says Eli. “Ontario athletes now have an off-season training option right here at home, reducing the need for costly trips out west.” The facility features a 50m x 22m Bagjump® airbag, jumps designed by Park Degree, a JF Dry ski slope, and trampolines for year-round practice, setting a new standard for freestyle training on the Escarpment.
Freestyle Ontario’s partnerships with brands like Corbetts Ski + Snowboard, Swany, and Line, along with unwavering community support, play a crucial role in keeping the sport accessible and vibrant. “It’s incredible to see our clubs, volunteers, and local communities come together to create an environment where athletes can thrive,” says Eli. And the athletes are taking this into their own hands too—in addition to competing for Canada, Bruce Oldham founded Slope Academy, a community-
driven program to help young athletes progress. “I wanted to create a way for athletes to learn from some of the best skiers, get 24/7 feedback, and gain insights into the industry,” he explains. “Everything from sponsorships and ski-specific workouts to brand building on social media.”
Ontario may lack high alpine terrain, but the province has produced a national roster of athletes who are redefining what it means to ski and train on smaller slopes. “Our winters may be shorter, our hills smaller, but freestyle skiing is perfectly suited to what we have,” says Eli. “With community support adaptability, we’re able to foster talent and consistently see Ontario athletes move on to the national stage.”
For those interested in joining the movement, Freestyle Ontario welcomes everyone—whether you’re a skier, parent, or spectator—through its website, where you can find information on membership, coaching, and upcoming events. Ontario’s freestyle community is proving that, with heart and dedication, even the smallest hills can send athletes soaring. E
Charlie Beatty in Gangwon, South Korea.
Photo by Dave Holland/COC.
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BLUE LIKE A LOCAL
BLUE LIKE A LOCAL
From after-school jibbers to retirees, these seasoned locals know the mountain’s rhythm—the best times, hidden stashes, and quiet trails at Blue Mountain.
By Cara Williams | Photography by Clay Dolan
There’s a shared knowledge among Blue Mountain regulars. They inherently know the best runs to ski, where the snow holds up just a little longer, and when the crowd recedes enough to give you a clean shot down. For those who carve the mountain week after week, year after year, Blue is more than a ski resort; it’s a ritual, a rhythm, a kind of second home where each turn on familiar runs offers a fresh thrill.
While locals at other resorts might be reluctant to share their best-kept secrets, Blue’s community has a certain generosity—a willingness to reveal favourite spots because this mountain holds a special place in each of their hearts. Ask the après crowd gathered at Jozo’s, or the retirees savouring every powder day they can get, and if you listen long enough, they’ll let slip a hidden gem or two. They know the art of timing, when the trails are at their best, and how to find quiet pockets amid the bustle.
Prentice Smith, retired for over 20 years, is a long-time skier and Georgian Peaks member who has his winter mornings at Blue Mountain down to a well-loved routine. He buys a 5X7™ pass every season, and on days when the Peaks are closed, he heads to Blue early, taking advantage of the quieter slopes and freshly groomed runs. By 8:30, he’s already skiing, starting at the south end and gradually working his way north, cruising down favourite trails like
Waterfall, Rinus Run, and Tranquility. He loves the way Blue feels in the early hours—untouched, almost as if it’s there just for him and a few other die-hards.
By mid-morning, Prentice is ready for a break, often stopping for a coffee at Grand Central. This is where he reconnects with other regulars, catching up with friends he’s known for years or meeting new faces who share his appreciation for Blue’s tempo. “I usually run into somebody I know,” he says, “and we’ll sit, chat, make a bit of a day out of it—well, half a day, anyway. If the conditions are good, I’ll ski until noon.” For Prentice, Blue isn’t just about the skiing; it’s the sense of community, the camaraderie. And the fresh air and snow.
Ask another local about the perfect early-morning run, and you’ll likely hear murmurs of Schuss. This intermediate-toadvanced trail on the north end is for skiers who crave a good challenge, especially in the crisp, early light before the sun fully rises. It’s a local favourite, offering just enough bite to keep you alert and wanting more. On the opposite side of the resort is Gord’s Groove—a smooth, scenic descent with forgiving turns and sweeping views that stretch all the way to Collingwood’s grain elevators and Georgian Bay. It’s a run where the novice and beginner crowd can take their time, perfecting their turns while
HE LOVES THE WAY BLUE FEELS IN THE EARLY HOURS— UNTOUCHED, ALMOST AS IF IT’S THERE JUST FOR HIM AND A FEW OTHER DIE-HARDS.
appreciating a green run’s slower pace.
Then, there’s Kandahar—a favourite run of mine for so long, I can hardly remember a season without it. As one of the original three runs cut at Blue Mountain in 1941, alongside Granny and Schuss, Kandahar holds a special place in the mountain’s history. This gentle, tree-lined slope isn’t about speed or sharp edges; it invites you to ease into every turn, to let go of urgency and simply glide. Its winding path is a quiet tribute to the founders of the Toronto Ski Club, who envisioned this place over a hundred years ago and laid the groundwork for Blue Mountain’s ski culture. Those who know Kandahar well often slip down it in the late afternoon, when shadows stretch across the snow and the sun dips behind the mountain, casting everything in a soft, fading glow. To me, this trail feels private in a way that’s increasingly rare, especially as Blue Mountain draws more skiers each season. It’s the kind of spot you don’t mind sharing with friends because once they discover it, they, too, understand its draw—a calmness that feels timeless, a quiet reminder of the mountain’s roots.
As dusk settles, the mountain transforms for the afterschool crowd, the post-work skiers, and the night owls. The glow of lights along the trails creates an entirely new landscape, usually with fewer people. If you’ve been here all day, you might spot a few familiar faces from the slopes—only now under a different sky, trading stories of the day.
For Ian Damsma, a senior at Georgian Bay Community School, Blue is a second home where he finds freedom and flow. “Badlands in the terrain park is my favourite,” he says, “but I love skiing at Central too.” Ian hits the slopes every day after school and on weekends, often meeting up with friends as he switches between his snowboard and skis. And when the day or evening winds down, he heads to the South Base Lodge, where a hot, loaded poutine waits—his idea of the perfect end to a day well spent.
Which reminds me, Blue isn’t just about skiing. After a day on the slopes, an easy camaraderie settles among those gathered at Jozo’s Original Après, slipping in for a pint at the Central Lodge, or unwinding with beer and nachos at the Bullwheel Pub at the south end. The conversation is often all shop: how the snow held up, who managed to find fresh corduroy, and whose kids braved their first black diamond. This is the après culture at Blue, where the lines between friends and strangers blur, bound by a shared love of winter and a desire to savour every minute before heading back down to reality—and to a good night’s sleep.
Ultimately, Blue Mountain is a place that belongs as much to the old-timers as to the newcomers. Those who know it’s quiet runs and hidden stashes form a welcoming community, eager to let you in on the magic if you ask kindly enough. Because at Blue, the bestkept secrets aren’t hidden—they’re shared from skier to skier, woven into the mountain’s snow-covered trails. E
Skier: Cole Drexler
Frosty Freedom
Stay warm, ride safely, and embrace the beauty of winter cycling with these expert tips and inspiring adventures.
By Robin Todd | Photography by Jody Wilson
A group Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club (SCMBC) riders enjoying a trail near Horseshoe Valley Resort.
When cycling in the fall, you relished each golden hour and the freedom you felt on your bicycle. You swore that this winter you would maintain that joyous feeling. You conjured an image of yourself out on your bike, with the autumnal backdrop replaced by a winter wonderland: the snow lying heavily on the trees and the icicles glittering in the morning sun. But as the days have grown shorter and the temperature has dropped, your resolve has wavered as you consider the challenges of winter riding. What will you wear to stay warm enough without feeling weighed down by endless layers? How will you cope with snowcovered roads? And where will you find the time to ride now that daylight has dwindled? Before you become overwhelmed by such concerns and resign yourself to cycling indoors—or to not cycling at all—consider the following strategies to make winter riding safe, enjoyable, and even uplifting.
Apparel for Winter Riding
When dressing for a winter ride, there is potential to underdress and freeze or to overdress, sweat, and then freeze, leading to the same outcome: misery. However, understanding the basic principles of layering and learning about the different materials available will help when choosing what to wear. Understanding how your body reacts to exertion in cold weather is also key. Cycling takes constant effort; your body is always moving, and as you create heat, you also produce sweat as a cooling mechanism.
Base Layer –
Many cyclists choose merino wool as a base layer because it wicks away moisture and actually creates heat as it dries. (As water gets trapped in the wool’s porous fibres, the hydrogen bonds in the water break down, in turn generating heat.) Another plus is that wool doesn›t feel wet against the skin even when it is soaked. However, if you produce a great deal of sweat, a blend of polyester and merino might prove more effective than 100% wool because polyester is a plastic fibre that breathes
Neil Gold braves the snowy trails on his eye-catching pink bike, a standout against the winter white. His cold weather riding gear helps him stay warm.
well but does not absorb moisture. Therefore, with a merino/ polyester blend, you get a base layer that breathes effectively, wicks away sweat, and dries more easily than pure wool.
Mid Layer –
The objective of the mid layer is to create a pocket of warm air, which can be achieved by choosing a range of materials depending on the weather conditions. Fleece, down, synthetic down, or synthetic fleece (e.g., Polartec®) are all porous enough to breathe yet fibrous enough to hold warm air. The warm air also helps to dry the base layer.
Outer Layer –
The outer layer should protect the base and mid layers from external elements. This shell layer can be made from materials like Polartec’s Power Shield Pro, eVent BIO, or GORETEX® ePE, all of which are PFA-free. The external layer keeps out the wind, rain, and snow while trapping in warm air. Depending on the weather and temperature, this outer layer might consist of a vest, jacket, or hooded jacket.
Accessories
To keep their feet warm, many riders use a combination of merino wool or merino/poly blend socks, cycling shoes, and shoe covers made from neoprene-like materials, or cycling boots (e.g., 45NRTH).
For winter gloves, there is a wide range of waterproof and wind-resistant options. When temperatures really dip, some riders opt for lobster gloves, such as Pearl Izumi’s AmFib, which pair the first two and the last two fingers together for added warmth while still allowing ample dexterity.
Riders who battle cold feet and hands often use chemical warmers, such as Hot Hands, which can be slipped into gloves, between socks and shoes, or between shoes and shoe covers. Others invest in gloves and socks heated by rechargeable lithium batteries. Keep in mind that if your core temperature begins to drop, blood flow is restricted to the extremities, such as the fingers and toes, so keeping your core warm is vital to keeping your hands and feet warm.
Johnny Yeaman grooms the trails at at Mansfield Outdoor Centre with his handy Snowdog® groomer.
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When first exploring winter riding, it is a good idea to keep a journal of what you wear in different conditions: what works and what doesn’t. Ultimately, your journal may save you time and energy in deciding what to wear for each ride.
Safety Tips
Neil Gold, a national sales manager for Cannondale, knows all about the challenges of cycling through the depths of winter and urges riders to focus on safety: “Drivers are not expecting cyclists on the road in the colder months, and daylight is limited, leading riders to start, finish, or potentially complete their entire ride in the dark if trying to fit rides in during the week. It’s imperative that riders use a quality set of front and rear lights and, ideally, a radar to warn of what is approaching from behind.” Gold also suggests avoiding the “all-black stealth outfit.” Instead, add some reflectivity and colour. Finally, Gold emphasizes the need to be prepared for the inevitable: “Bring an extra layer and spare set of gloves, along with your basic tools, pump, and tube. When you stop to fix even the simplest thing, the cold sets in quickly!” To combat the potential dangers of icy roads, you might consider studded tires, such as Schwalbe’s Marathon Winter Plus or Continental’s Contact Spike, both of which have carbide-tipped studs embedded in the tire for maximum traction on a mixture of snow and ice.
Fat Biking
If you are looking for a change from your riding routine, consider the adventures that await you on a fat bike. Imagine starting out early in the morning: the world is silent, and before you lies a perfectly groomed trail winding through kilometres of pristine forest. At Mansfield Outdoor Centre (MOC), there are 18 km of single-track trails specifically for fat bikes and another 18 km of trails in Dufferin County Forest. From midDecember until mid-March, MOC grooms all 36 kilometres of trails and uses its Instagram account (@moctrails) to provide riders with detailed updates on trail conditions. The centre also grooms 17 km of double-track trail, with a multi-use trail
One of my biggest joys is waking up to see snow falling and knowing that I can bundle up, hop on my fat bike, and go for a long adventure.”
Peter Glassford riding the George Christie trails in Collingwood on a rental bike from Kamikaze Bikes.
running alongside it that can be used for running, riding, or hiking. Johnny Yeaman, the trail manager at MOC, explained that at Mansfield, the focus is on building community as much as it is on building trails, and that the key objective is to make everyone feel welcome. The centre now boasts a café, open seven days a week, where riders and skiers can relax around a woodburning stove. It also has hot showers and heated cabins available, as well as several bikes for rent, making it a perfect destination for a midwinter adventure.
You might also consider venturing to Hardwood Hills or Horseshoe Resort, both of which offer bike rentals, or to one of Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club’s networks of trails. For example, the Oro Trail Network has approximately 30 km of groomed trails, including the very popular “Creeks” trail, which has a dozen bridges crossing over creeks and wetlands. The Severn and Midland trail networks also have sections groomed for fat biking. Blake Fick, the President of SCMBC, spoke of the incredible group of volunteers who groom the trails throughout the winter. They are passionate about their work and, in truth, they love flying along on the “snow dogs,” which create the trails. If you want to ride closer to home, consider renting or buying a fat bike from Kamikaze Bikes or Little Ed’s, and trying the Collingwood and Georgian trail systems, as well as the Blueberry Trail and Pretty River Provincial Park trails.
One rider who has explored many trails is Nancy Newman,
one of the first cyclists in Collingwood to own a fat bike. For Newman, fat bike riding is a way of connecting with the natural world: “One of my biggest joys is waking up to see snow falling on the weekend and knowing that I can bundle up, hop on my fat bike, and go for a long adventure. It brings me back to my childhood when I would play outside in my yard for hours, either during or after a big snowfall, stopping only to get a pair of dry mittens.” Fat biking also offers Newman ways of challenging herself in the winter: “I have great memories from one December when I rode 40 km to Thornbury and back every single Saturday on my fat bike. Each week the snow on the trail got deeper and deeper. My final Thornbury ride that December took me over five hours, but I did it. That incredible sense of accomplishment has always stuck with me.” When it comes to dressing for a ride, Newman keeps it simple: “I have a good base layer, and a jacket and pants that I can also wear when I am cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. I wear a cap under my helmet, a neck warmer, some toasty warm ski mitts, and winter boots. On days when it’s around -20C, I wear my downhill ski jacket and snow pants.” What inspires her to ride, even on the coldest days, is the chance to enjoy “the peaceful beauty that surrounds [her].”
We may rail against winter and its chilly demeanour, but if we challenge ourselves to get outside and ride—be it on trails or roads—we can all discover the “peaceful beauty” of which Nancy Newman speaks. E
Peter Glassford encounters Nordic skiers on the George Christie trails in Collingwood, riding a rental bike from Kamikaze Bikes.
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A Brighter Tomorrow:
A new Collingwood General & Marine Hospital rises to meet the demands of an evolving region.
By Cara Williams, Renderings by Parkin Architects Limited
“When I sit back and think about the community I want to live in, it naturally causes me to look forward and ask, what can my impact be? How can I make it better? Everyone in this community will need this hospital at some point. South Georgian Bay is truly an extension of larger healthcare systems, and it’s up to us to ensure we have world-class care here. We cannot sit back and assume it will happen. It’s our responsibility to make it happen.”
These words from Craig Hayman, CGMH Foundation Campaign Ambassador, capture the heart of what’s at stake as Collingwood General and Marine Hospital embarks on its most transformative project yet.
Built largely in the 1950s, the existing hospital has served the community for decades, but its aging infrastructure can no longer
meet modern healthcare standards, therefore our healthcare system is at a crossroads. As the population of South Georgian Bay grows at an unprecedented rate, the demand for exceptional care has outpaced the capacity of our current facility. Crowded patient rooms, limited privacy, and outdated layouts create daily challenges for both patients and staff. Renovation isn’t an option—there’s simply no space to expand.
Now, a brighter future is within reach. In December, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones announced the approval of CGMH’s early planning submission for a new hospital to be built on Poplar Sideroad. This state-of-the-art facility will be almost four times larger than the current hospital, designed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community and to adapt to future demands.
Craig Hayman, CGMH Foundation Campaign Ambassador. Photo by Alison Smith.
Dr. Olivia Cheng. Photo by Kimberly Vincent.
The new hospital will include increased capacity with up to 132 beds, expanded access to emergency and surgical services, and a focus on innovation through a cutting-edge learning centre. This 32-acre site, generously donated by a member of our community, will provide room for growth for decades to come.
But hospitals aren’t just about buildings; they’re about people. CGMH’s staff, nurses, and physicians have worked tirelessly to deliver exceptional care in a facility stretched beyond its limits. They’ve embraced innovation and introduced new programs to meet growing needs, all while maintaining the highest standards of care.
Building a hospital of tomorrow requires more than
government funding. To bring this vision to life, CGMH will launch a $100 million campaign in 2025. This “local share” represents 10% of construction costs and all medical equipment and furnishings. It’s a commitment we make as a community—a promise that the healthcare we build today will serve generations to come.
Now is the time to act. Together, we can create a healthcare system that reflects the spirit, resilience, and generosity of South Georgian Bay. A future of exceptional care is within our reach, but it’s up to all of us to make it happen.
Visit cgmhf.com/tomorrowshospital/ to learn more and join this transformative journey. E
Artist rendering of the new Collingwood General & Marine Hospital.
Our Live Well At Home program helps older adults with aging in place. Through our drop-off services and providing community connections, specially trained volunteers assist older adults to access resources and provide companionship needed to enhance their quality of life, allowing them to remain in the comfort of their homes for longer. www.bphospice.ca (519) 534-1260 ext. 5612
Please contact Bruce Peninsula Hospice for more information, we are only a call away!
TURNING PAGES TOGETHER
The rise of book clubs in Simcoe, Grey and Bruce
By Elizabeth Rush Brooks
When Georgian Peaks member
Kathryn Champion saw the book club item in the silent auction catalogue for the Peaks Foundation fundraiser, she was intrigued. The host was offering an afternoon of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, sweet treats, and a fireside chat about a book agreed upon by the purchaser. Kathryn mentioned the book club opportunity to her ski buddies, who like to talk books while they ride the chairlifts. Over a morning coffee break, they decided to bid on the opportunity. Joanne Fallowfield, Laura Boland, and their friends had the same idea, and after a heated bidding war, the auction item was eventually sold to both groups, doubling the profit for the Peaks Foundation and providing a book club experience for women who usually spend their time together outdoors on the slopes.
Little did the women know that they were participating in a culture that pervades Escarpment winters even more than skiing, hiking, and snowmobiling. A microcosm of the literary culture that has been building and evolving throughout the region—and encompassing all four seasons—is evident at local Probus Clubs across Simcoe, Grey and Bruce. Owen Sound Probus has five book clubs. Grey Highlands has two book clubs: Book Club One is full, so a second club, intriguingly named Bookworms Reborn, has been started. The members of Probus on the Bay belong to 14 different book clubs. Quietly, alongside and among the sports enthusiasts and tourists who reside in and flock to this rugged landscape adjacent to the majestic and moody Georgian Bay, are legions of readers excited to share and discuss their literary discoveries.
Heather Coate Tawastjerna had never been involved in a book club, but when she moved to Collingwoodlands, she thought it would be a great way to make friends in her new community. Along with her friend Patti Gilbert, they spread the word around the neighbourhood. One friend told another, who told another, until they had a group of 25 women eager to meet and discuss books. Heather operates as the administrator. They get an average of about 10 women to the monthly meetings. Willing hosts are assigned a month, and it is up to the host to pick the date and the book to be discussed.
They usually meet after dinner and enjoy nibbles during lively discussions about the book and topics it inspires. A recent host, who had chosen The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyle, served an evening of Irish delicacies to partner with the novel. Their club is quite active; they have hosted two authors, including
Genevieve Graham (The Forgotten Home Child), and attended the book launch of Gwen Harvey (The Acquisition of Elizabeth Grace), who later visited their club. They’ve also had a movie night for Where the Crawdads Sing and hold a secret Santa book exchange for Christmas. Heather says one of her favourite things about the club is its sense of community—each time a new member joins, they often already know someone else in the group.
Avid reader Rachel Gosselin belongs to a different kind of book club. She joined The Gloss Book Club, formerly known as The Girly Book Club, in 2019 because some friends from work were members. The Gloss is an international book club that operates virtually. Founder Erin Woodward began the then Girly Book Club in 2008 in London, England, when she was living abroad and knew few people. It now has over 150,000 members in more than 15 countries.
Rachel belongs to the Collingwood chapter, which meets on the last Wednesday of each month at a cozy neighbourhood restaurant. Across the entire online club, members read the same book each month and gather in person in their respective cities or virtually, to discuss it. Rachel appreciated the opportunity to continue book club online during COVID. She loves that The Gloss exposes her to many genres she might not pick up on her own. While they mostly read female authors, the genres vary, including works by young authors, memoirs, romcoms, thrillers, and stories by authors of colour, Indigenous writers, and queer voices.
In Thornbury, Ann Clayton-Gordon belongs to a small group of six women that grew out of a friendship with a co-volunteer at Beaver Valley Outreach. Over ten years, the group has read 66 books. They meet over early dinners or afternoon tea since none of them like to drive at night. When they read Girl with a Pearl Earring, the host made a traditional Dutch dinner, and they all wore pearl earrings. Ann’s group has also hosted local author Dorris Heffron to discuss her latest novel, Bear with Me.
At Apple Jack in The Woods, Diane Marshall joined a fledgling book club with her neighbours when she moved from Mississauga eight years ago. They are all transplants from “down south” and held their first meeting at the Corner Café. They take turns choosing books while another member hosts. Inspired by this, Diane also started a podcast club, currently working through Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s “Wiser Than Me”.
Katie Zdybel, a writer and employee at Jessica’s Book Nook in Thornbury, believes book clubs are on the rise, thanks to celebrity-
led initiatives and platforms like BookTok, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and TikTok have all made reading trendy and fun, encouraging readers of all ages to pick up books.
Jessica’s hosts its own book club, offering treats and coffee from a local coffee shop, and there is always a lot of interest. The club is open to the first 12 people to sign up each month, with employees taking turns hosting. Attendees range in age from their twenties to their eighties, promoting an inviting space for deep, thoughtful, and diverse conversations. A recent title enjoyed by the club was The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, chosen from The New York Times list of 100 Best Books of the Century So Far.
Beyond their own club, Jessica’s Book Nook actively supports other book clubs that register with the store. They work to ensure the necessary number of copies are available and may even sell books at a discount. Katie notes that the sense of community surrounding these clubs has been growing steadily, aligning perfectly with the store’s welcoming ethos.
Local libraries, too, are integral to book club culture. Georgian Bay Reads has celebrated Canadian literature for 15 years, bringing together five libraries—Clearview, Collingwood, Meaford, Springwater, and Wasaga Beach. The annual event features spirited debates as each library’s defender promotes their chosen book. The competition, hosted at the Wasaga Beach Library this past October, featured spirited debates as defenders made their cases. The event is free but requires tickets to help gauge attendance, and the library that wins the competition gets to host the following year. According to Ashley Trusler, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Meaford Library, the event not only celebrates Canadian literature but also “builds bridges and creates connections throughout the area.” She adds that Georgian Bay Reads results in “an uptick in the number of people taking out the books that were presented.”
In addition to its involvement in Georgian Bay Reads, the Meaford Library hosts five book clubs: Meaford Reads, Brown Bag Book Club, The Travelling Book Club (meeting at different restaurants), Rainbow Reads (creating a safe reading space for the LGBTQ+ community), and Between the Pages (for readers aged 9–12).
Meanwhile, the Collingwood Library has established itself as a hub for book clubs. Ten years ago, Lori Crossan started the first library-run book club, which remains a vibrant and literary-minded group. Lori prepares discussion questions and assigns tasks related to the books, encouraging reflection and lively conversation. Many participants keep journals and notebooks while reading, dedicating time and thought to their discussions.
The Collingwood Library supports local book clubs by offering kits for 87 titles, most of which are contemporary. Each kit includes eight copies of the book, along with discussion questions and
In a region known for our outdoor allure, book clubs provide a warm, enduring counterpoint—proof that the love of literature and connection knows no season.
hosting ideas, helping to sustain 40 book clubs in the community. Many clubs contribute by donating funds to offset costs or by purchasing commemorative bookplates to honour past members.
As Lori notes, “It’s what goes on behind the scenes that makes these clubs so special.”
Interested in joining a book community or starting one of your own? Reach out to your local library or check in with a bookstore like Jessica’s Book Nook in Thornbury and learn about opportunities near you. If you prefer to connect on-line, visit TheGlossBookClub.com and read about the virtual book club world waiting to greet you there.
Through the diverse voices and vibrant gatherings that define the book club culture of Simcoe, Grey and Bruce, one thing is clear: these clubs are about more than just reading. They weave together communities, bridge generations, and create spaces where stories spark meaningful conversations. In a region known for our outdoor allure, book clubs provide a warm, enduring counterpoint—proof that the love of literature and connection knows no season. E
Blame
An early photograph of a men’s hockey team in Collingwood, c. 1900. Note the uniforms and the dog wearing a top hat. Collingwood Museum Collection, X973.458.1.
Mickey!
In 1915, the Collingwood Shipbuilders faced the Hamilton Tigers. After being “slipped a mickey” between periods, the Shipbuilders fought through bleary eyes and battered bodies to write one of the most storied chapters in Collingwood’s hockey history.
Script by Ken Maher, Stories from Another Day, a Collingwood Museum Podcast. Photos courtesy of the Collingwood Museum.
Agroan went up from the small crowd of Collingwood fans as bleary-eyed Buck “the Buckaroo” Walton’s shot went wide of the net once again. As the play stopped a moment later, Bert McLeod skated over to Buck and whispered, “Hey, man, three times now I’ve gotten the puck from one end of the ice to the other and over to you. Get it together. Listen, Buck, I’m going to get one more out in front of you, even if it kills me. If you don’t put that puck in the net, I’m going to kill you.” Harsh words, made all the harsher when you understood it wasn’t Buck’s fault he missed. It was Mickey’s. Bert knew all about Mickey, but he didn’t want to hear about it.
You see, it was the third period in the second and final game of a pivotal goals-to-count series between the Collingwood Shipbuilders and the Hamilton Tigers. It was the fledgling days of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) in the year 1915. The hometown Hamilton Tigers were the odds-on favourites to take the title that year. They were already up one game over the Shipbuilders, having defeated them 4–3 on Collingwood’s home ice.
And little wonder; the Tigers had a packed team, and through injury, trades, and loss of players to other leagues, the Shipbuilders were nowhere near the strength of even two years before when, led by their own Holy Man of Hockey, they had taken the championship... but that is a story for another day, and that team was now history. However, on this day, the underdog Collingwood Shipbuilders had a real chance—not just to win the game but also the series. If only they could hold on just a little longer. If only Mickey didn’t ruin it for everyone.
The problem with Mickey had begun after the first period
when the Collingwood team stood in the lead, three goals to one. That put them one goal up for the series. The handful of Collingwood supporters in the stands were on the edge of their seats. But then something happened between the periods. Mickey happened. And the Collingwood team that skated out for the second period was completely different. Impy Foulis never even made it out of the dressing room. Jack Dance and Howard Telfer were soon leaning over the boards, heaving their guts out. Buck Walton was reeling not even five minutes into the period, but he just refused to quit and kept on skating. Josh Belcher collapsed and had to be carried off the ice.
Only Bert McLeod on defence and Tommy Clark in goal seemed unaffected. By some miracle of individual heroics, including Belcher staggering back to the ice, the team managed to hold the Hamilton boys at bay, giving over no goals and even managing to put another one in off the stick of McLeod.
When the team lurched off the ice at the end of the second period, five of the seven Collingwood players were doubled up with cramps in the dressing room. And that’s when they discovered they had been “slipped a Mickey.” Their water bucket had been doped. The practice of lacing a drink with drugs or poison was named after the infamous Chicago bartender Mickey Finn, who did just that to his wealthy customers so he could rob them and dump them in the alley behind his bar, none the wiser. Well, it seems some Mickey Finn wannabe had tried to rob the Collingwood boys of any chance of victory. Yet, on the team, Bert and Tommy were fine because they had not taken any of the water from the bucket between periods. But here was the problem: there was still one more period to play, no matter what
The cornerstone for Collingwood’s second arena was laid in 1909. It served as the Great Northern Exhibition’s main building, an armoury, and a skating rink. The town’s third arena opened in 1948 on Hurontario Street, later renamed the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena. Collingwood Museum Collection, X970.550.1.
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kind of nightmare of bleary eyes and missed goals they found themselves in.
And so it was, on the very next play, after Bert and Buck’s whispered conversation, that McLeod streaked for the corner, and out came the promised pass. Twenty feet in front of the net and dead straight onto Walton’s stick. And then John “Buck” Walton, one of the toughest men ever to grace the Collingwood uniform, did the only thing he could. Instead of taking the shot he had already missed three times, he dropped his head, cradled the puck on the heel of his stick, and skated right through the Hamilton goalie and into the net.
In the aftermath of the Collingwood victory, there was a lot of furor over the doping scandal and threats of legal action. But ultimately, the OHA did nothing, and Collingwood let it drop. Collingwood would make it to the semifinals before losing to a great Orillia team that would end up taking the championship that year. And as for the Hamilton Tigers? Well, their season was much shorter. Having lost the goodwill of their backers, they ended up disbanding for good. And they had no one to blame but themselves.
Photographed by Albert S. Webb in June 1910, this is the only known interior shot of the Collingwood Skating Rink, a popular roller-skating venue. Collingwood Museum Collection, X973.607.1.
A composite photo of the 1910 Collingwood Shipbuilders championship team by Albert S. Webb. Collingwood Museum Collection, X971.728.1.
Twelve members of the Collingwood Ladies Hockey Club stand in front of the Collingwood Skating Rink on Pine Street, circa 1898-99. Collingwood Museum Collection, X969.745.1.
Corsets & Courage
The untold story of Collingwood’s pioneering women on the ice—how they carved out space for women in hockey while battling the constraints of their era.
By Melissa Shaw,
A photograph in the Collingwood Museum’s collection provides the first piece of evidence that women were playing hockey in Collingwood in the late 1890s. Women’s hockey didn’t join the Olympics until 1998—a century-long disparity! Men’s hockey, on the other hand, joined the Olympic arena in 1920, just 35 years after the first puck dropped in Collingwood.
The first time I saw the photograph of the Collingwood Ladies’ Hockey Club, I was immediately hooked. A group of twelve unnamed women in dresses, holding wooden hockey sticks, are pictured outside Collingwood’s Pine Street Arena between 1898 and 1899. But let’s back up for a second. Did you catch the key word here? Dresses... and not the loose-fitting
photos courtesy of the Collingwood Museum.
dresses of the 1920s, but Victorian-era, tight-fitting, corsetrequired, breathing-restricted dresses.
These women must have been superheroes of their time. And certainly, they retain this status in the eyes of museum staff, as they remain the only documented female hockey players in the Collingwood Museum’s extensive collection.
Through detailed notes, we know that men’s hockey started in Collingwood in 1895, and the museum’s collection has numerous professional photographs of these early teams. The men pose in formal studios, wearing hockey uniforms, and typically, there is a dog or two for good measure. In some cases, there are duplicates and even triplicates of the same photograph with carefully documented names.
The photograph of Collingwood’s women’s team stands in sharp contrast: no names, no uniforms, and certainly no professional photographer or studio. Oh, and no dogs to be found. The only indication of their purpose is the wooden hockey stick each player holds in her hand.
A recent study of the museum’s early records reveals that this photograph is not listed in the published catalogue of the museum’s collection, despite being donated over a decade before the historical catalogue’s publication in 1937. Was it merely an oversight? How could the only photograph of women’s hockey be missed?
Perhaps you’ll think the women’s team didn’t play against other communities. Perhaps they didn’t win. But they did! They absolutely did. There are a handful of newspaper articles available at the Collingwood Public Library from 1897 that prove this point. Unfortunately, no articles could be found for the years in which the women’s hockey photograph is recorded to have been taken. There were, however, multiple entries detailing the exploits of the men’s team.
Women’s history is rather difficult to unearth. In many cases, women and their activities went unreported, or the women themselves remained unnamed, often referenced only by their husband’s names—for example, Mrs. Donald McKay, whose name was Elsie Stephens, was a member of Collingwood’s Ladies’ Hockey Club.
But wait a minute, didn’t I say the women were unidentified? It turns out that the names of these early hockey players were recorded alongside the photograph in the original scrapbook where all photograph donations were placed by the early curator of Collingwood’s first museum. However, these names became disassociated from the photograph when the scrapbook was taken apart following the fire that struck the Carnegie Library in 1963.
Just a few years ago, staff happened upon the handwritten names on the back of a photograph from 1911, documenting the day that Wilfrid Laurier visited Collingwood on his reelection campaign. Unfortunately, it seems more attention was given to preserving the 1911 photograph than safeguarding the women’s names.
We’re still missing some first and last names, but we’re certainly on our way to reassembling the members of the
Women’s history is rather difficult to unearth. In many cases, women and their activities went unreported, or the women themselves remained unnamed, often referenced only by their husband’s names.
Collingwood Ladies’ Hockey Club.
The handwriting reveals: The Collingwood Ladies’ Hockey Club, about 1898–1899. Including: Flo Elworthy, Emma Elworthy, L. Carpenter, Hattie Copeland, Jennie Carpenter, Helena Elworthy, Elsie McKay, Emma, Jennie Rigg. And three women with the last names Robertson, Lewis, and Williams.
This photograph was donated to the Huron Institute by Helena Elworthy in 1925. Nearly 125 years later, we continue to be astounded and inspired by the obstacles these women overcame, including the chauvinist reporting of their games in local newspapers. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these women were likely the exception, not the rule, in Collingwood at that time. Their names may be familiar to you because their families were prominent business owners, politicians, and lawyers. Their involvement in hockey as a leisure sport was likely unavailable to many other local women, who had rivaling priorities.
Let’s take inspiration from these pioneering women and celebrate the courage it takes to push against norms. Their story reminds us that women have always made their mark, even when unrecorded. These trailblazers on the ice are proof that, with persistence, barriers can be overcome—stories like theirs are woven into the fabric of every community, waiting to be uncovered and told. E
Game On!
Building a shrine to Canada’s favourite game—the story behind one family’s “Arena of Dreams”.
By Marc Huminilowycz
Photography by Alan Shisko
“If you build it, he will come.”
This iconic line from the Academy Award-nominated film Field of Dreams (1989), written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson, resonates with many. The film stars Kevin Costner as Ray Kinsella, a farmer who constructs a baseball field in his cornfield, drawing the ghosts of baseball legends like “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and members of the infamous 1919 Chicago Black Sox. Nestled on a 24-acre property in The Blue Mountains near Gibraltar stands a building that pays homage to Canada’s national sports fantasy—a private indoor hockey arena. Aptly dubbed the “Arena of Dreams,” it was built several years ago by local resident Kevin Bambrough, a retired funds manager and aspiring writer. Unlike the film’s ethereal visitors, Bambrough’s arena attracts real people: his children, grandchildren, families, friends, neighbours, and hockey loving members of the local community.
Entering the arena’s dressing room feels like stepping into the hallowed halls of Maple Leaf Gardens or Madison Square Garden. Wooden benches and shelving display home and away jerseys, equipment, and hockey paraphernalia. The room also features a large sauna, a steam room, and shower facilities. A corridor leads to the arena itself—a scaled-down, 40-by-95-foot three-on-three
rink with a pine ceiling, digital scoreboard, players’ benches, and a cozy, glassed-in sports bar/lounge complete with a big-screen TV and fireplace overlooking the action. The arena was designed and built by Andrew Noxon of Upstream Construction.
During my initial visit, the rink was set up for pickleball—a sport that has rapidly gained popularity in these parts and is played on the surface from spring to fall. Soon, the surface will be flooded and frozen, and an Olympia ice resurfacer will roll in from the attached garage through a large doorway to prepare the ice for another exciting hockey season. “Our first Olympia resurfacer was a loaner that had been used in a Winter Olympics,” Bambrough explains. “We later bought this electric-powered version. Most people associate ice resurfacing with Zamboni, but Olympia is a Canadian-made product that actually outsells Zamboni today.”
What inspired Bambrough to build his very own “Arena of Dreams”? “I grew up with a love of hockey. As a kid, my friends and I would play at local rinks until we were so cold we couldn’t even undo our skate laces,” he recalls. “When I wasn’t playing, I was helping to build backyard rinks and maintain public outdoor ice surfaces. The next logical step in adulthood was to create my own indoor arena, sheltered from the elements—a place for my
A place for my family, old friends, and the community to come together, play hockey, and have fun anytime we wanted.”
family, old friends, and the community to come together, play hockey, and have fun anytime we wanted.”
Beyond hockey, the arena offers an array of activities for everyone: free skating with music, birthday celebrations, special events, lounging in the bar to watch games on TV (including OHL and junior tournaments), karaoke, ping pong tournaments, and even communal bonfires and hot tub gatherings outside. For kids, the arena features a spacious loft area perfect for hockey team parties, complete with a large sectional couch, an 80-inch TV for big games, and bunk beds for occasional sleepovers.
Described by friends as warm and generous, Kevin and Helen Bambrough frequently open their rink for charity events and fundraisers. Kevin, a long-time philanthropist and former president of Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada, hosted Rogers Sportsnet’s Hometown Hockey when the show visited
the area a few years ago. During the broadcast, Ron MacLean famously described the dressing room as “The Taj Mahal of dressing rooms.”
“It’s all about watching hockey, playing hockey, and living hockey,” says Bambrough. “When I planned the arena, I imagined myself as a grandfather playing hockey with my kids and grandkids. This space is about bringing people together, teaching discipline and teamwork—it’s really a metaphor for life. Plus, a game of hockey offers a great cardio workout. You get on the ice, have fun, and get your heart pumping!”
“This is everything I’ve always wanted. It’s all here,” Bambrough reflects. As he and his family prepare for another season of hockey, camaraderie, and celebrations, they cherish the memories they’ve built over the years. On the Bambrough estate, every day is game day. E
True Grit
Embers Of Hope, 25" x 49" sculpted limestone and acrylic.
Using acrylics and texture to disrupt the purity of the blank canvas, Candace Louise Donna Fritsch creates loosely interpreted landscapes and warm contemporary designs.
By Deena Dolan
As a kid, making snowballs was a task Candace Louise Donna Fritsch took seriously—but not for throwing. Oh no. Her snowy chunks were carefully carved and crafted into small works of art. Come spring, her artist’s eye scanned random sticks, stones, bits of driftwood, and various other textured ground materials that caught her interest. These would be collected, joined, and woven together into multifaceted sculptures. In other words, Candace has always been an imaginative creator.
“Art has always been my connection to the world and to myself—grounding me through the chapters of my life,” she reflects.
Candace describes herself as having been a somewhat solitary child. “I grew up as an introvert, often seeking peace and solace in the quiet, overlooked corners of life. Raised in the countryside, nature became a constant source of nourishment for my soul, its stillness offering a sense of comfort and belonging. In moments when I felt overwhelmed, I turned to the natural world, where I found both solace and strength. The trees, standing firm in their quiet endurance, became powerful symbols of my own inner resilience. Like
the windswept pine, which is bent but not broken, they remind me that strength doesn’t always roar; sometimes, it is silent, steadfast, and enduring. In the face of life’s challenges, these natural monuments offered me a profound sense of peace and a quiet reminder that, like them, I could weather the storms.”
And storms did indeed happen. At the age of 22, Candace found herself alone—a single mother of two baby boys—when her husband abandoned her. She made a conscious decision to not let the pain define her. With her world upended—hurt, embarrassed, and feeling like a failure—wallowing wasn’t an option. Victimhood has simply never been part of her outlook. Through hard work, long hours, and resolutely doing whatever needed to be done, she managed to purchase a small home for her little clan. For thirteen years, that was her world. Art was her outlet—always her escape at the end of her day.
Mini series collection Roots of Solitude, 5" x 12" soft sculpt and acrylic.
Candace Louise Donna Fritsch stands with, Haze of Clarity, 48" x 48" sculpted limestone.
“Painting was and still is my sanctuary—a way to express what I couldn’t put into words,” she shares.
Today, Candace is engaged to Wes Reick. “Wes and I crossed paths in the fall of 2018, and from that moment on, he has been my steady guiding light. His belief in me and my art has never wavered. He has been there every step of the way, offering not only emotional support but also practical encouragement that has helped me grow both personally and professionally. His constant presence in my life has been a source of inspiration, and I can’t
imagine where I would be without him. I want to emphasize just how much I owe to the unwavering love, support, and encouragement of my fiancé. Without him by my side, I truly wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Wearing several hats, Candace is a partner in a home construction business, helping with design choices and selections of finishing materials. She is also the bookkeeper, taking care of the business side of things, including accounts payable. She finds the two careers work beautifully together since, in between housing
In The Shadows, 24" x 24", sculpted limestone.
projects, there are abundant hours that can be used productively for her artistic ventures. While she and Wes were completing their own house, a bucket of leftover drywall presented itself. Frugal and with a visionary idea in her mind, she began experimenting. Initially, she simply placed portions of the material on canvas, shaping it and transforming it into interesting scenes. She absolutely loved the textured result—except for one small problem: the drywall wouldn’t stick to the canvas. Undaunted, she set about recreating the look. After much trial and error and many wasted canvases, she landed on a successful mixture of limestone ash combined with starch and water. Almost glue-like in consistency, this solved the sticking obstacle and became a turning point.
Once she applies multiple layers of the mixture onto her canvas and it has dried, Candace begins to shape and transform it using various tools and techniques she has developed—carving, sanding, and refining. During the process, subtle touches of colour
are introduced using acrylic paints, and often, the steps are repeated until the piece ultimately meets her vision.
There is an interesting family connection to a Canadian artistic legend: Candace’s great-great-grandmother, Louise Thomson Henry, was the elder sister of iconic Canadian artist Tom Thomson.
The hard-working farming family was greatly influenced by their mother’s interest in literature and music and had a varied library with books on archaeology, geology, astronomy, and poetry. Most family members played instruments, sang, or both—and almost all sketched. Born in 1873, Louise is remembered by the family as having been an incredibly talented painter in her own right. Of interest, history records a letter written by Louise to Blodwen Davis, where she recalled Tom Thomson as having been delicate, with several attacks of congestion and inflammation of the lungs. Because of this condition, Tom was encouraged to wander freely throughout the countryside, enjoying long, uninterrupted hours of
Layers of Summit, 17" x 42", sculpted limestone, acrylic and ink.
Art is not always about pretty things. It’s about who we are, what happened to us, and how our lives are affected. Living each day, surviving each disappointment, holding onto the belief that someday, somehow, you will be exactly where you belong.”
fishing and hunting—always accompanied by his sketchpad and pencils. How lovely that this much-loved family pastime has come full circle in Candace Louise’s life and especially in her art.
When Candace speaks of her work, her raw honesty is beautifully on display. Palpable emotion flows through her creations, intertwining past, present, and future. “Creating art is not merely about producing something visually pleasing; it is about cultivating a deep, personal connection—both with ourselves and with the world that surrounds us. Through the act of creation, I am reminded that, regardless of the burdens we bear, we all have an inner strength capable of carrying us through even the toughest times. Each piece I create serves as a reflection of resilience, a testament to the power within us to rise above. My hope is that
my work will not only inspire others but also remind them that, even in the darkest of moments, we are capable of profound transformation and growth. It goes beyond just an expression on a canvas; it is a declaration of strength and endurance—a reminder that, no matter what challenges life may present, we have the ability to overcome and thrive.”
Humble and charming in her demeanour, Candace Louise is only just beginning to accept the emerging notoriety her art is garnering. You will find her work on display and available for purchase at Studio Ciel in Collingwood and Kultiq Studio in Kitchener as part of the Paula White Diamond Gallery. E
For more information please visit: candacelouiseart.square.sit
Shredding Peaks, 17" x 17", sculpted limestone.
Alpine Elegance
Bring chalet chic to your winter retreat with the art of cozy, luxurious living.
By Gillian Crone
Special thanks to The Alphorn for charcuterie elements (and their excellent group dining), as well as to Mountain Blooms Floral Design for their arrangements, sculpted miniature trees, and fresh green alpine accents.
Photography by Clay Dolan
As winter approaches, I’m inspired by the warmth and simplicity of alpine chalets—spaces that blend luxury with nature. For the ski season, I often draw on Alsatian, alpine, and chalet chic elements, which evoke cozy firesides, fondue gatherings, and a deep appreciation for nature’s textures. Rooted in French, German, and Swiss traditions, these styles offer a timeless and sophisticated ambiance.
Chalet-inspired design is all about blending natural materials with thoughtful textures. Rather than excessive decoration, it focuses on creating a warm, inviting atmosphere through carefully selected pieces. Faux furs, rich linens, and earthy woods come together to create an alpine retreat, perfect for the winter season.
Create a Welcoming Entryway
Set the tone from the moment guests arrive. Place a cozy blanket near the door and light an Alps-scented candle to evoke the warmth of a mountain lodge. Consider offering small bags of roasted nuts or warm cups of mulled wine to welcome guests as they settle in.
Entertain in Cozy Style
For entertaining, think après-ski elegance. Set up a Swiss-inspired raclette station with artisanal breads for an interactive dining experience, and include a luxurious fondue setup paired with a classic German mule cocktail. Add faux shearling hides to dining chairs for a touch of alpine chic charm. On the kitchen island, arrange a rustic charcuterie spread with beers, ciders, German Riesling, or even French champagne. Add elegance with decorative accents such as sculptural greenery, copper pots, wooden boards, and antlers to enhance the après-ski ambiance.
building
Embrace Earthy Textures and Luxe Layers
Chalet chic brings the outdoors in through rich, layered fabrics. Incorporate French linens, faux furs, and plush shearlings with throws on chairs, textured pillows on sofas, and fur ottomans for warmth. Make a statement with your floral arrangements by being creative with their size and selection of materials. Add evergreen branches and moss for a natural scent that recalls alpine air.
Add a Touch of Nature
For an authentic alpine feel, bring in soft textures like alpaca blankets, linen bedding, and rustic floral arrangements. Use candles to create a warm, flickering glow. Choose soft light in the 2,700K to 3,000K range to mimic the warmth of a fire.
Focus on Small Details
In small spaces like the powder room, add thoughtful touches such as personalized towels, textured floor mats, and a softly glowing candle. These simple details transform even the smallest areas into cozy, alpine-inspired havens.
Complete the Entertaining Experience
Create a spa-like retreat for your guests with a hot tub, sauna, cold plunge, and shower. Infuse eucalyptus to enhance muscle recovery after a day of skiing, and provide luxury towels, body washes, and creams.
With these ideas, you can easily transform your home into an alpine winter wonderland. Focus on natural textures, layered fabrics, and an earthy palette that brings the outdoors inside. This winter, let the elegance of alpine and chalet chic design create a cozy, sophisticated retreat for your ski season. E
Maggie & Dave Dick, Sales Representatives
ESSENTIALS for your home
A tribute to traditional Irish craftsmanship, Foxford throws are woven at a historic mill on the banks of the River Moy in County Mayo, using luxurious lambswool, merino, mohair, and cashmere. Timeless quality crafted for over 130 years.
Katherine’s Château
Champagne Bistro
243 Ste Marie St | Collingwood
249.882.0159 | katherineschateau.com
This hand woven Can Arm Devi Pendant Light made of natural materials provides effortless style and warmth to your space. See it on display in our showroom at GDC.
Georgian Design Centre
84 High St | Collingwood 705.444.2100 ]georgiandesigncentre.ca
Artistry, fantasy and heavy duty craftsmanship converge in creating natural-looking Rock panels and faux rockscapes. Applications range from luxury homes, parks, restaurants, shops and hotels in between. No limit to the creative possibilities with this medium. ForÇa Inc.
Collingwood | 705.441.5778 forcainc.ca
Discover the perfect blend of comfort and style with our customizable sofas with refined silhouettes, featuring cushions that deliver exceptional comfort in both soft and firm options.
Barebirch
920 2nd Ave E | Owen Sound
226.664.2273 | barebirch.ca
Made with organic shea butter and coconut oil, this soap nourishes your skin with the purest ingredients. Experience the refreshing Bergamotto Di Calabria scent at the Gillian & Co Showroom.
Gillian & Co Interior Design Inc 10 Keith Ave Unit 201 | Collingwood 705.536.4447 | gillianco.com 5 6
This accent chair blends rich ash wood and burnished brass for a refined, modern look. Upholstered in textured fabric with a subtle linear pattern, it adds depth and sophistication to any space.
Van Allan Design Centre 150 First St | Collingwood 705.293.4663 | vanallandesign.com
The ICO Vasto’s modern profile and flamboyant charm will reinvigorate your bathroom style, all while bringing you warm towels every day.
LakeHouse Bath+Kitchen 603 Berford St | Wiarton 519.477.1900 | lakehousebath.ca
Coming off the slopes after a long day, what could be better than wrapping up in more skiing! Measuring 52"x70" these blankets are a perfect addition to a couch or for curling up in front of a crackling fire.
Maggie + Dix 210 Hurontario St | Collingwood maggieanddix.com
7 8 9
Our rechargeable table lamps create a warm, inviting atmosphere, and are perfect for dining tables, bookshelves, or entryways. Available in modern finishes, they feature a 3-step touch dimmer so you can easily adjust the lighting to suit your mood.
Hush Blankets help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up feeling refreshed. The even weight distribution provides a soothing, hug-like sensation throughout the night.
Tom the Dreamer Mattresses & Appliances
21 Arthur St W | Thornbury 519.379.8440 | dreamingtom.com
When there's no electricity, a generator is your best friend. Critical for off-grid jobs and emergency power, this trusted New Holland generator provides reliable power at home or on the job.
Robert’s Farm Equipment robertsfarm.com
Chesley 519.363.3192 | Walton 519.887.6365 Mount Forest 519.323.2755
Chilly Moose drinkware and cooler product line is available in a variety of styles and colours (including our dealer exclusive colour, forest green).
Water Depot
689 10th St W | Owen Sound 519.371.1111 | waterdepot.com
Island Swell, Tofino, by Lorne McDermott. 40"x84", oil on canvas.
Loft Gallery
18 Bruce St | Thornbury 647.296.9797 | loftgalleryart.com
Canadian manufactured Paradise Dock & Lift systems are built to withstand the Great Lakes. Perforated decking allows waves to blow through while providing a slip resistant surface. The modular system can easily reconfigure and expand to suit your needs.
A vibrant new townhome community where four-season living meets modern comfort. Surrounded by nature and just minutes from Wasaga Beach’s soon-to-be revitalized downtown, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a balanced lifestyle. Offering exceptional value and a welcoming sense of community, Wasaga Walk is where life comes together beautifully.
Coming spring 2025
REGISTER TODAY! wasagawalktowns.ca
IN HARMONY
HARMONY
A family of five creates a breathtaking 99-acre estate in the Blue Mountains, combining modern design, sustainable innovation, and the warmth of home.
By Marc Huminilowycz | Photography by Clay Dolan
At the end of a long and winding gravel driveway near the hamlet of Gibraltar stands an imposing steel, wood and glass structure that resembles a modern mountain inn surrounded by nature. This impressive 11,000 square foot home is the brainchild of selfdescribed serial entrepreneur, Daniel MacDonald and decorator Jovana MacDonald. Daniel and Jovana and their three children made this their permanent home early in 2024, with Daniel dividing his work time between the home and his company’s manufacturing facilities in Toronto and Dallas.
MacDonald, who is described online as a “technology and energy geek”, owns Kergons (kergons.com) a pioneering company that, according to its Linkedin profile, represents “the next wave of innovation and sustainable living by solving energy and creating value, continually working behind the scenes to create game-changing home sustainability products and techniques that will redefine building industry standards”.
The MacDonalds named their property “Pearson’s Pastures”
after the names of both Daniel’s late father and the couple’s first-born son. Upon entering their home, it becomes quickly apparent that there is more to it than meets the eye. Giant floor to ceiling thermal windows looking out over breathtaking views of fields and forests bring in abundant sunshine and the sensation of merging the indoors with the outdoors. Ceilings, accent walls, doors and cabinets throughout the home are made of raw two-inch pine sourced from a local saw mill, transformed on the premises into Shou Sugi Ban, a technique that preserves wood by charring it, creating a beautiful and durable finish.
“We thought of staining all the pine at first, but this tends to make the pine a bit yellow, so we decided on Shou Sugi Ban to get that nice dark finish,” said Daniel. “We set up a line outside and burned the pine through a propane-fired forge, which makes the wood hard and black, then scraped the wood by hand to give the surface a warm and natural feel and a uniform finish. And it’s virtually maintenance-free. If there’s ever a scrape or a stain, you just use a blow torch on the spot and scrape it again. Thermally
modified woods are really interesting. You’re giving softwood a hardwood functionality.”
Touring the home, the main residence is divided into three wings. In the east wing is an elegant primary kitchen complete with a long harvest table with seating for family and friends, and open pine cabinetry. Adjacent to this is a separate professional, prep kitchen equipped with commercial stainlesssteel appliances—a glass door fridge, a freezer, an eight-burner gas range and oven, a dishwasher, stainless work surfaces, and shelving. “I love cooking. This is where I do all my prep work,” says Daniel.
On the other side of the primary kitchen is a formal dining room with floor to ceiling glass overlooking a courtyard with a large concrete planter containing a live evergreen tree surrounded by living holly as the centrepiece. “So, I’m a big Christmas guy. I love that time of year,” says Daniel. “We can
“Because our intent was to bring nature inside, the house really grew from the ground up.”
sit down for a feast with friends and family and really get into the Holiday spirit as we overlook a live tree and holly decorated for the season, dusted with snow. For me, it’s Christmas all year round. The view of the tree and holly from the dining room is really magical any time of year!”
Being a very sociable couple, the home’s outdoor spaces are made for al fresco dining and entertaining, offering 360-degree views over fields and forests, a cozy fireplace, comfy seating areas, a pool and hot tub, and a high-end outdoor kitchen with an Argentinian BBQ and a pizza oven. In the west wing of the home are the family’s private quarters. Three bedrooms include king-size beds, Juliet balconies, and ensuite baths.
The couple’s master bedroom is open concept with a 270-degree view, soaking tub, large walk-in shower, and open change area with Shou Sugi Ban wardrobe units. “We chose not to closet things off in separate rooms. It’s a practical arrangement. You get out of bed and get into the tub, or you can immediately put on a robe or change into the right clothes for the day,” says Daniel.
“We thought of staining all the pine at first, but this tends to make the pine a bit yellow, so we decided on Shou Sugi Ban to get that nice dark finish.”
The lower level of the home contains four guest bedrooms situated along a hallway that resembles a high-end hotel with solid, three-inch-thick pine entranceways. Each of these bedrooms is identical, with a simple and clean design, built-in concrete furniture, and ensuites, which include custom concrete sink/counter/storage.
“There’s no distinction between the upstairs and downstairs bedrooms. Our guests have a private, cozy, and utilitarian space for private time. We don’t want people to be hibernating in their rooms. We want them to get out and socialize. They can come and go as they please without being on top of each other,” says Daniel, adding that he often hosts engineers, sometimes for weeks at a time, sharing ideas and the latest in-home technologies and techniques. “In theory, we could house nine families.”
While Daniel was responsible for the home’s overall construction design and sustainability features, Jovana took care of the décor details. “Our inspiration for the overall look and feel was definitely Aman Hotels. We tried to create a home that is as neutral, calm and serene as possible to soothe the nervous system,” she says.
“Because our intent was to bring nature inside, the house really grew from the ground up,” Jovana adds. “We were looking for ‘less is more,’ uncluttered, and nothing-in-your-face feel, so we created a sturdy home with lots of room for lots of people, that’s easy to keep
clean. Everything is functional and durable and blends in with the overall design of the house. Our home speaks to nature. Inside, you can enjoy a bite to eat at a comfy table with an exotic, tropical ambience—overlooking the outdoors, surrounded by specially chosen aromatic plants like herbs, grapes, orange and grapefruit trees. In the wintertime, the indoor greenery fills the air with oxygen and helps relieve depression. Looking outside makes you feel like you’re in a reverse snow globe. It’s all about staying true to your surroundings.”
One of the most striking features of the home’s interior is the generous use of concrete—for all the floors, most of the furniture, the bathroom sinks, and planter boxes that contain the greenery. “Really, there’s almost no furniture in here. It’s all pine and concrete,” says Daniel. While the Shou Sugi Ban pine adds warmth to the home, the off-white Italian micro concrete everywhere offers a clean look and easy maintenance, with a huge sustainability benefit— “thermal mass.” This can be described as the attribute of a solid material (like concrete, stone, tile, drywall) to absorb heat and cold from nearby sources, store it, and gradually release it into its surroundings.
Thermal mass is evident everywhere in the home, from the floors to the concrete planters lining corridors along south-facing windows. Nowhere is it more evident than in the lofted indoor garden above the tropical seating area. In addition to southfacing triple-pane windows, there is a row of 45-degree glass above that captures maximum sunlight year-round to nourish plants and warm the soil in their concrete planters, which is kept at optimum moisture via an automated irrigation system.
“We’ve got some grapes that we’re trying out here, as well as tomatoes and cucumbers. The passion fruit is doing great. It may be a challenge because plants grow by the season, but we’ll see,” says Daniel. “The angle of the glass on top is called the azimuth, the horizontal angle from north, which optimizes winter sunlight. And the white floor and white planters reflect the light even more.”
All very well for the plants, but one might ask if it doesn’t get extremely hot in this area in the summertime. The answer appears in the ceiling of the lofted garden—a row of four-inch black plastic pipe with holes in it. “That’s for heat exchange from the basement,” Daniel explains. “It’s a natural cooling effect. The way it works is the holes in the pipe, combined with fans, cool the area by pushing warm air down into a typically colder basement, as well as the hot water tank and the pool.”
In addition to benefitting from this heat exchange system, the pool stays warm because of a relatively low-tech innovation. Instead of a typical light-coloured pool liner, the pool walls are coated with ultra-black epoxy paint, which absorbs light from the sun and converts it to thermal energy to heat the water. Clever and simple.
The home’s basement is where the nuts and bolts of the sustainable technology are evident. Geothermal energy (ground source heat pump) warms and cools the home. Heating and cooling are operated, monitored, and automated via an assortment of heat exchange plenums, pipes, and valves, most of which were designed by Daniel in his workshop/lab building on the premises (not unlike his commercial prep kitchen for cooking).
“Looking outside makes you feel like you’re in a reverse snow globe. It’s all about staying true to your surroundings.”
“Typically, engineers overdesign home heating/cooling components so they’re unnecessarily expensive,” says Daniel. “My company’s valves and other equipment replace this complexity with more elegant designs that are simpler to build and cost less. That’s what we do.”
On a wall in the master bedroom of the home hangs a picture frame containing a photo of Thomas Edison, inventor of the incandescent light bulb. Beside it is a letter written in the 1880s by the inventor to an employee in New Jersey suggesting a way to solve a technical problem. There is nothing philosophical or profound about it—just a day-to-day nineteenth-century version of an email.
“I admire Edison for inventing a revolutionary technology that brightens the lives of average people,” says Daniel. “My goal is to keep developing products and technologies that are ahead of the curve to help people save energy and live more sustainably. We stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Designed for style, form, and functionality, the MacDonald’s home in the Blue Mountains merges unique skills and sensibilities to create a magnificent and spacious retreat for family and friends, and a showcase of sustainability to stand the test of time. E
Shou Sugi Ban Pine: Custom-made: Residential Construction
Doors & Trim: Custom-made: Residential Construction
Windows: Neuffer Windows & Doors, Blackwater Glazing, Midland
Geothermal: Design by Daniel MacDonald; Installation by Kergons
Kitchen & Bathroom Fixtures: Saralai, Vigo, Demana, Rbrohant, Swiss Madison, AKDY, Proox, Love My Bath
Antique Mirrors, Shower Glass: North Shore Ltd., Collingwood
Plumbing: W&B Plumbing, Barrie
Electrical: Journey Electric, Collingwood
HVAC: Boyce Heating & Air Conditioning, Collingwood, Dansel Contracting
Appliances: Zline, Forno, Nella, Omega, Jura
Furniture & Accessories: Restoration Hardware, Elte, Elte Market, Dala Décor
Argentinian BBQ and Outdoor Pizza Oven: Grillworks
Senior Vice President, Sales Sales Representative
Joie de Vivre
Recipes by Katherine's Château
Photography by Clay Dolan
Rack of Lamb with Mint Dressing and Candied Apricot Puree. pg 136
Winter on the Escarpment is a season of serene beauty, and Katherine’s Château is the perfect place to savour it in style. This champagne bistro and home décor boutique, the vision of entrepreneur Katherine Gregory, blends refined elegance with a welcoming spirit. At the heart of the Château’s culinary magic is Chef Andrew, whose inventive creations balance a modern flair with timeless French classics. Each dish invites you to slow down, gather close, and relish time together. In this feature, Chef Andrew shares two of his favourite recipes, offering a glimpse into the artistry and passion behind the menu at Katherine’s Château.
MONKFISH WITH SAFFRON BROTH
This elegant dish highlights the delicate flavour of monkfish, enhanced by a fragrant saffron broth that adds a touch of luxury. The marinade brings out the natural sweetness of the fish while ensuring it stays tender and moist. Paired with the aromatic broth, this recipe is perfect for a sophisticated solo dinner or as part of a multi-course meal. We recommend serving it with crusty bread to soak up the delicious broth or alongside roasted vegetables for a well-rounded plate. Serves 1.
Plan on approximately 150g per person of Monkfish. The first step is to remove the membrane from the monkfish. Most seafood retailers will do this for you.
Monkfish is very lean so it needs to be placed in a marinade for approximately 2 hours.
MARINADE
Combine:
2 cloves of garlic, crushed ½ lemon, sliced
½ bunch tarragon
¼ cup olive oil
TO
FRY FISH
¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp butter
salt and pepper
Remove the fish from the marinade and pat it dry thoroughly to avoid excess moisture in the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter on high heat. Place the fish in the oil and butter and fry until crispy on the outside and firm on the inside (Use a thermometer to ensure an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
SAFFRON BROTH
1 litre fish stock
4 shallots, minced
2 carrots, minced
1 tsp herbes de Provence
3 oz dry white wine
1 to 2 oz lemon juice
salt
potato starch or 1 potato
Lightly sauté minced shallots and minced carrots to make a mirepoix. Add the mirepoix and herbes de Provence to the
fish stock and reduce for 10 minutes.
Add white wine and continue reducing for 5 minutes. Strain. Add lemon juice and salt to taste.
Combine potato starch with water to make a slurry and add to fish stock. Stir until thickened. Note: if you don’t have potato starch, peel and grate a potato and add to broth. Sir until the potato is dissolved and the broth has thickened.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
FENNEL POTATO SLAW WITH CHIVE BALSAMIC DRESSING
1 fennel bulb (or substitute with jicama)
350 gr mini potatoes
1 bunch of chives
250 ml olive oil
125 ml white balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
pinch of garlic powder pinch of herbes de Provence
Remove the core of the fennel and slice thinly.
Couscous with Mint Dressing and Candied Apricot Puree. pg 136
Boil the potatoes whole to keep the flavour in. Once cooked, drain and let cool.
To make the dressing, combine chives, olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic powder and herbes de Provence.
To serve, toss the thinly sliced fennel and cooled halved potatoes in the dressing.
RACK OF LAMB WITH MINT DRESSING AND CANDIED APRICOT PUREE
A show-stopping centrepiece, this rack of lamb is elevated with a honey glaze, a crispy panko crust, and the bright, herbaceous notes of mint dressing. The candied apricot purée adds a subtle sweetness, perfectly complementing the lamb’s rich flavour. This dish pairs beautifully with couscous for a complete and satisfying meal. Ideal for special occasions or an intimate winter dinner party. Serves 4.
1 rack of lamb
4 tbsp grape seed oil
salt and pepper
glaze (see recipe below)
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
GLAZE FOR LAMB
4 tbsp honey
1 tsp garlic, minced
1 tsp shallots, minced
Prepare lamb rack by patting dry. Brush lightly with grape seed oil and season with salt and pepper. Sear lamb quickly in hot pan until golden brown. Remove from pan and let cool to room temperature.
Combine honey, garlic and shallots to make the glaze. Brush the lamb with the glaze and pat the bread crumb mixture onto lamb. Place in roasting pan and roast at 450 degrees approximately 13 to
15 minutes on the lowest oven rack until medium (internal temperature should be 130 to 135 degrees).
COUSCOUS WITH MINT DRESSING AND CANDIED APRICOT PUREE
COUSCOUS
chicken stock
2 chopped tomatoes
2 shallots
mint dressing (see recipe below) parsley for garnish
Measure a 1:1 ratio of couscous and chicken stock. Bring the chicken stock to a boil. When the chicken stock is boiling, add the couscous, cover the pot, and remove from the heat.
Chop 2 ripe tomatoes and 2 shallots. Chop parsley for garnish. When couscous is room temperature, gently fold in vegetables and mint dressing.
MINT DRESSING
2 bundles of mint, finely chopped
1 small shallot
250 ml of champagne vinegar
2 tbsp white sugar
Dissolve sugar in champagne vinegar. Add shallots and mix. Once the sugar is dissolved, add in the mint mixing gently so as to not bruise the mint. This dressing is best made the day before.
CANDIED APRICOT PUREE
1 cup of dried apricots
1 cup white wine
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt to taste
On very low setting, heat apricots and wine with a pinch of salt until apricots are fully hydrated and soft. Blend until smooth. Add 1 tbsp lemon juice.
To plate, spread the apricot puree on a plate with a scoop of couscous. Slice lamb rack and place on couscous. Drizzle any leftover mint dressing around the lamb. E
Monkfish with Saffron Broth. pg 134
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MAGIC, MYSTERIOUS, MUSHROOMS
From culinary delights to mystical lore, mushrooms walk the line between delicious and dangerous.
By Marcia Masino
Photography by Clay Dolan
A frosty winter evening:
the doorbell rings, and you eagerly open it. The aroma of hot pizza wafts toward you, carried by the cold air, enveloping you in a special northern climes olfactory Canadian winter experience. You can taste and smell it even before you open the box. There’s only one question to ask: “Does it have the mushroom topping I ordered?”
Mushrooms play a starring role in many memorable coldseason meal experiences. Romantic fireside mushroom soup— steamy, creamy, and herbaceous—is a lunchtime favourite. The wait for tempura-battered mushrooms to cool so you can eat them like popcorn at your favourite Asian café. Sophisticated dinners where they have a supporting role, perched on top of your steak, or swimming in gravy slathered on a hearty jägerschnitzel (hunter’s schnitzel).
Popular for breakfast, mushrooms are a key ingredient in special quiches and impressive guest-worthy omelettes. Mushrooms on toast can be served for any meal. They are best friends with risotto and tomato sauce, bringing out the best in ragùs and stews. Invited to fancy parties as warm appetizers, chefs dress them up with savoury breadcrumbs and aromatics.
Their popularity extends into the agricultural world. Fifty percent of mushroom farms in Canada are located in Ontario, where they’re grown year-round. Supermarkets, grocers, and farmers’ markets source them from local growers in the Collingwood region as well as other parts of the province. Chances are, if there’s a mushroom on your plate, it’s from Ontario.
According to Statistics Canada’s Mushroom Growers’ Survey 2023 (released in 2024), Canadian mushroom growers sold 155,191 short tons of mushrooms in 2023—up 1.2% compared with 2022 and marking the eighth consecutive annual increase. Total production in Canada’s top mushroom-producing province, Ontario, increased by 3.7% to 81,510 short tons.
While harvested and cultivated areas remained stable from 2022, the total value of mushrooms grew by 2.2% to $710.0 million in 2023. The increase in value was attributable to higher production and an increased average price for fresh market sales.
Common button and field mushrooms typically represent approximately 98% of Canada’s total annual production, while specialty mushrooms such as shiitake, oyster, and other varieties make up the remainder.
Delicious yet duplicitous, Agaricus is a genus of mushroomforming fungi that includes both edible and poisonous species. With over 400 known members, experts claim scientists are discovering new types every day! Innocently classified as fungi since they lack leaves, roots, or seeds (relying on spores instead) and don’t require light to grow, mushrooms are nutritionally considered a vegetable. With their similar nutritional value, what’s good for the body is also good for the mind. But this is where the duplicitous nature of fungi goes rogue—straight out to lunch.
Poisonous mushrooms are the absinthe of edible fungi. Like the fabled green fairy liquor, some have hallucinogenic properties, conjuring duplicitous fairies and gnomes for those who consume them. Fanciful folklore features their fantastical appearances and magical qualities, as they provide transportation to wild, fungifuelled mindscapes.
The iconic red-and-white polka-dotted muscaria mushrooms often appear in children’s stories, with elves perched upon them. That seemingly charming mushroom is the infamous fly agaric, or hallucinogenic psilocybin. There’s a reason the hookah-smoking caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland sits atop a big, fat mushroom.
What could be more innocent than Christmas tales? Yet even here, the deceptive fly agaric hides in plain sight. Some historians believe Father Christmas—aka Santa Claus—wears his red-andwhite suit in homage to the fly agaric mushroom. This “lucky mushroom” often appears alongside Yule logs, symbols of the forest and blessings from its mysterious gnome-like inhabitants.
And if that’s not trippy enough, mushrooms were once worshipped in an actual religion. Hallucinogenic varieties were consumed as part of rituals to access the spirit world, the realms of gods, and other fantastical locations. Ancient statues from over 7,000 years ago depict mushrooms with stems carved into deitylike figures.
I doubt the Ritual Relish recipe I discovered in Rosetta Reitz’s Mushroom Cookery (a vintage 1965 publication) dates back to that era. However, the author describes it as containing ancient religious symbolism. Reitz wrote that mushrooms were used in some of the world’s most exotic ceremonies, stating, “All the ingredients for this recipe had a spiritual allegory.”
Her “Ritual Mushroom Relish” recipe directs the cook to combine dry red wine, sliced raw mushrooms, apple, hardcooked egg, wheat germ, lemon juice, salt, and oil. According to Reitz, the apple symbolized Eve, the red wine represented blood, and the anointing oil, germinating wheat, and salt were steeped in esoteric symbolism. The hard-cooked egg represented the past, present, and future. Lemon was used to cleanse magical implements, and placing it on a stranger’s plate was believed to foster friendship and loyalty. Suddenly, the ubiquitous lemon wedge garnish takes on a new significance.
Reitz concluded, “Try the relish with... pot... roast.” It was the 1960s, after all. Living in Greenwich Village, maybe she was tricked by a fairy—or simply ate the wrong mushroom.
Now, in the 21st century, mushrooms are cultivated using agricultural science and robotics, ensuring everything is under control. Or is it?
The elusive edible morel, for instance, refuses to be tamed, growing only in the wild. Morel hunters are thrust back into ancient practices to forage this highly prized, expensive mushroom. But beware—the morel has an evil twin: the poisonous false morel. True to its duplicitous nature, some wild mushrooms remain bad spores. E
Enjoy the aroma of our fresh, handmade pies or crunch and munch on one of our award winning apples. Browse our extensive collection of Ontario and Canadian made goodies and preserves. Your one stop shop for everything local. Our own apples, maple syrup, honey, jams, cheese, local beef, health tonics and more. Looking for a special gift? Browse our giftware section.
Improve Your Sleep
Tips for a Better Night’s Rest
Why does good sleep matter?
Aside from simply having low energy the next day, lack of sleep has also been associated with obesity, depression, irritability, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, injuries, and a reduced sense of well-being.
If you’re struggling to get the sleep you need, here’s a friendly guide to help you understand what might be affecting your rest, along with a simple routine that works for me.
Common sleep disruptors include:
Stress: An overactive mind, often driven by stress, can keep you awake at night, making it difficult to unwind or resume sleep.
Screen Time: Exposure to screens before bed not only interferes with melatonin production, which is key for falling asleep, but also significantly impacts sleep quality.
Alcohol: While alcohol may help you fall asleep, it can disrupt your sleep cycle, causing you to wake during the night.
Hormones: For women, hormonal fluctuations during fertile years or menopause can interfere with sleep.
Evening Habits: Activities that are too stimulating (like intense exercise or engaging in heavy discussions) can spike your stress hormone cortisol and prevent relaxation.
Blood Sugar: Highs or lows in blood sugar can wake you during the night, often accompanied by sweating.
Eating Late: Eating within three hours of bedtime can interfere with sleep quality and how you feel upon waking.
Bedroom Conditions: Temperature, light, and noise all play a role in creating a
sleep-friendly environment.
Bedding: Opt for breathable, natural fibres in your bedding to stay cool throughout the night.
What You Wear to Bed: Choose lightweight, natural fabrics to avoid overheating during sleep. For optimal temperature control, sleep naked.
Activity Level: A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to poor sleep.
Lack of Routine: A regular sleep schedule is key—the ideal sleep time for most people is 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Additionally, caffeine, pain, shift work, and sleep conditions like sleep apnea or snoring can also cause sleep disturbances.
My Sleep Routine:
9:00 p.m.: Disengage from electronics. I prepare my lunch for the next day, do any quick tidying up, then read a book in the living room. On Sunday evenings, I will also take a natural sleep aid.
9:30 p.m.: Get ready for bed. I climb into bed no later than 9:45 p.m. with a book I’ve read before (new books can be too engaging for the mind). I also set my Philips Wake-up Light to gradually dim over 30 minutes, which helps me fall asleep while my Kindle automatically shuts off. The room is kept cool (ideally 18°C/65°F) and dark for the best sleep environment.
6:00 a.m.: Exercise for 20–40 minutes.
Natural sleep aids that may help include: Melatonin, GABA, magnesium, chamomile, valerian, hops, passionflower, vitamin B6 (if sleep changes throughout the month), medical cannabis, 5-HTP, L-theanine. These each have specific uses—depending on whether your issue is falling asleep or staying asleep, and whether you are kept awake by your body or your mind. For a comprehensive evaluation of what may be interfering with your sleep quality, and for personalized solutions, consult with your licensed Naturopathic Doctor.
Sleep is the ultimate foundation of health—you need to sleep in order to heal! E
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in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for Men & Women
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POWER UP
Plant-based diets in sports: balancing wellness and performance
The rise of plant-based diets in sports and fitness highlights a shift toward holistic well-being, emphasizing both personal health and environmental sustainability. While peak performance remains a priority, many athletes are exploring plant-based eating as part of a balanced approach to health, prompting questions about its impact on training and performance.
Traditionally, animal-based proteins like meat, dairy, and whey powders have been central to sports nutrition due to their ideal amino acid profile and high leucine content, which is a key trigger for muscle protein synthesis (MPS). However, numerous studies over recent years have tested the viability of plantbased diets for sports performance and training—whether building strength and endurance or optimizing muscle repair and recovery—and yes, plants can do the job. Plant foods provide the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity essential for recovery that animal foods lack. Additionally, the fiber in plant foods promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in our microbiome, benefiting health, body composition, and performance.
PhD, RD, CSCS
So why do plant proteins get such a bad rap? This likely stems from the terminology we use in food chemistry and nutrient analysis. “Protein quality” is an index of how well a protein meets the requirements for essential amino acids and our physiological needs. Indeed, when we classify proteins based on their “quality”, animal proteins typically score higher for optimal ratios for MPS, i.e., muscle growth and repair. Meat, poultry and fish are also more protein dense and easier to digest because they lack the fiber and carbohydrate content that we find in beans, lentils and tofu. However, these measurements typically focus on isolated protein sources rather than the varied, mixed meals people consume
daily. A chicken breast for dinner or a bowl of beans? Why measure isolated protein sources, when we eat meals that include a variety of several foods. The research community has addressed such issues by developing new ways to evaluate the quality and quantity of protein in meals, especially given the global shift in dietary guidelines toward increased plant-based protein consumption. The Meal Protein Quality Score (MPQS) is a new and practical tool that is used to guide dietary transitions toward plantrich diets, ensuring that such shifts do not compromise diet quality.
Rather than comparing single foods like steak with tofu or eggs with lentils, consider mixed meals such as a bean burrito packed with tomatoes, leafy greens, avocado and corn salsa or a tofu stir-fry with a rainbow of veggies and a flavor-filled peanut-sauce. Many are also surprised to learn that extra firm pressed tofu ounce for ounce has a similar protein content to a serving of fish or beef. And yes, soy is safe and disease-fighting for both men and women. Who knew a peanut butter and fresh berries (nature’s jam) sandwich on whole grain bread packs a whopping
20 g of protein for an easy post-workout mini meal. Add a cup of soy milk for an additional 8 grams of protein, the same as a cup of cow’s milk. In my 20 years of experience working with world class vegetarian and vegan athletes consuming a variety of plant foods at meals is a hallmark of plant-focused dietary approach and a well-established habit for most.
Finally, while protein intake is essential, it is a distant second to resistance training, the primary driver of MPS and, ultimately, muscle growth. No matter how well an athlete’s diet is optimized, without the mechanical stimulus provided by resistance training, muscle-building and strengthening processes will not be activated. For athletes on a plant-based diet or otherwise, the key lies in pairing consistent resistance or power training with a diet that supports muscle recovery. This includes consuming adequate protein throughout the day to enhance MPS (which occurs over 24-48 hours posttraining, skiing, lifting) and ensure an ongoing supply of amino acids for repair and adaptation.
Here are a few strategies for athletes aiming to build or maintain muscle on a plant-based diet:
1. Diversifying Protein Sources: Remember those mixed meals and snacks—variety is key. By combining different types of plant proteins (e.g., legumes, grains, nuts, seeds and plant milks) throughout the day, athletes can achieve a complete amino acid profile.
2. Increasing Protein Intake: Due to lower digestibility and bioavailability, athletes on plant-based diets may benefit from consuming a slightly higher protein intake than those on omnivorous diets. For example, aiming for around 1.2-2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, depending on training intensity, can help ensure muscle maintenance and growth.
3. Leucine Supplementation: Leucine is a critical amino acid for MPS, and plant-based diets tend to have lower leucine levels than animal-based diets. Supplementing with vegan BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) or leucine can enhance muscle synthesis post-training.
4. Fortified Plant Proteins: Plant-based protein powders (e.g., pea, soy, hemp) with added aminos can offer convenient, high-quality concentrated protein sources that are comparable to whey protein in promoting MPS. Combine your fav protein powder with fruit, kale or spinach leaves, nut butter or avocado and plant milk for a smooth, rich nutrientpacked shake.
5. Strategic Meal Timing: Eating higherprotein meals at regular intervals (every 3-4 hours) helps maintain a steady stream of amino acids, supporting ongoing MPS, especially beneficial during heavy training
phases when repairing damaged tissue and building strength are primary goals. E
Dr. Nanci Guest is a registered dietitian, researcher in nutritional sciences and strength coach with over two decades of experience. She holds degrees from UBC in agricultural science, dietetics, and kinesiology, along with a
in nutritional
and genetics from the University of Toronto. Dr. Guest teaches plant-based sport nutrition and sustainable agriculture and was a co-author on the 2024 Position Paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on Vegetarian Dietary Patterns. Her current research focuses on regenerative, plant-based farming in Collingwood.
Table 1. Select plant and animal foods and their protein, essential amino acid, and leucine content.
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Après SkiAcademy
Special thanks to the National Ski Academy
Makeup by Katie Ballantyne
Photography by Kelsey Chernes
Leah Van Dolder
Leah is an award-winning dietitian and mindset mentor, who empowers women to take charge of their health with confidence. Specializing in weight loss, mindfulness, and sustainable lifestyle changes, Leah helps women reconnect with their bodies, create balance, and embrace self-care rooted in self-love. Follow her on Instagram @leahvandolder
Clothing and hat from Red Devil Sports, Blue Mountain Village.
Clothing, scarf and boots from Tigs, Thornbury.
CHRISTENE ANACLETO KRAUSE
Maddy McCowen
Maddy was born and raised in Owen Sound, is studying entrepreneurial business and channelling her passion for innovation and leadership into building a bright future. With a competitive spirit and entrepreneurial mindset, she’s forging her own path, inspired by the skills she’s honed as a high-level rugby player.
Clothing, hat and boots from Furbelows, Downtown Thornbury.
and
Clothing, hat
jewellery from Elaine Dickinson’s Fashions, Downtown Collingwood.
LEAH VAN DOLDER
Christene Anacleto Krause
A former fashion model, Christene moved to Collingwood over two decades ago with her husband to start their family and their business, the Espresso Post Café and Bake Shop— Collingwood’s original espresso bar. A mother of two, she’s often called the best-dressed baker in Georgian Bay. Follow @espressopost
Clothing, hat, gloves, jewellery and boots from Cora Couture, Downtown Collingwood.
Clothing, shoes and bag from Lac Boutique, Southampton.
MADDY MCCOWEN
Pyjamas and robe from Brabary, Downtown Collingwood.
LEAH VAN DOLDER
Is change in the air?
Real estate cycles: reflections, irony, and change
By Desmond Von Teichman
For those of you who have followed this real estate space in Escarpment Magazine, you may recognize the byline. I used to be a regular contributor here but stepped back to broaden the horizon of opinions and topics. The fact that Clay Dolan, Publisher of Escarpment Magazine, asked me to write this piece at this time carries an element of irony, which I will demonstrate as we look in the rearview mirror.
The last piece I wrote was in March 2022. When I reread the last sentence of that article, I wonder why Clay asked me to write again at all! I concluded that article: “Demand remains strong, and supply remains short. Indicators are that we will see continued price appreciation as we make our way through 2022.”
Oops...
While the data suggested I was likely on the right track, there was something I had not factored in. Every market trend—good or bad, up or down—has an end. April 2022 marked the end of the upward seller’s market trend, and the numbers swung around... fast... as they tend to do in markets. Inflation became the word of the day. The Bank of Canada, seeing that low interest rates coupled with other stimulus were making
everything, including housing, much more expensive, started to raise interest rates—quickly. Volume plummeted, the list-to-sale price ratio fell, days on market skyrocketed, and a strong seller’s market became a buyer’s market.
Fortunately, others had to write about that, and the local real estate market saw a slowdown that we haven’t experienced since 2008.
Now, the ironic part: I think we are on the cusp of a change again, and I have a second chance to get it right!
If I had been writing this in September 2024, at the end of the third quarter, I would have told you that most key factors were lagging behind 2023. Average sale price, dollar volume, unit volume—the works. And if you look at the running totals for the year, the endof-November numbers (the most recent available at the time of writing) still bear that out. Year-to-date dollar volume is off by over 5% compared to last year. The sales-to-listing ratio is down 11%, average sale price is down 1.5%, and average days on market are up 17%.
I expected the first couple of Bank of Canada interest rate cuts would spur buyers into action. However, this did not come to pass. I had a hard time rationalizing this until an economist I follow pointed out that if the public anticipates further rate cuts (as we all did), the average consumer would likely take a “wait-and-see” approach until gaining greater confidence. It seems that is exactly what happened.
Then came the start of the fourth quarter, and we began to see numbers trend in a way we hadn’t in a while. Volume started to increase in October compared to the same period in 2023—
cautious optimism. But one point on a chart is just a moment in time, not a trend. Then November came and went, and we saw the trend continue and expand. Monthly dollar volume of sales was up a whopping 56% compared to November 2023. Unit sales were up 18%, and the monthly average sale price rose 13%. While we don’t yet have final data for the year, we expect the fourth quarter of 2024 will be very encouraging compared to the previous year.
Bank of Canada rates have come down significantly, and it looks like consumer confidence in the real estate sector may be proportionally on the rise. Following two significant half-point cuts, the Bank of Canada is signaling that future decreases will be more modest. Will this be the push that gets buyers off the fence? I don’t have a crystal ball, but the numbers suggest it might.
Some other interesting factors to consider: Year-to-date sales of properties priced over $2 million in Southern Georgian Bay stood at 69 when the brokerage published its September stats. By the end of November, just two months later, that number had ballooned to 114—a 40% increase in two months! One cornerstone of our marketing at Royal LePage Locations North is our online presence, and the data we see online tells an interesting story. We’ve observed a significant rise in incoming buyer lead volume through our electronic marketing and website leads. This is normally a precursor to increased transaction volume. In April 2022, we saw a significant decrease in such volume as the market turned, and lead volume has remained flat for the last two years. An increase is usually a good indicator of buyer interest.
So, as we close out 2024 and look at the market compared to 2023, we saw a
Dollar Volume Sales
Yearly Totals 2023 vs. 2024
Month vs. Month 2023 vs. 2024
market that continued a slow decline. It favoured buyers over sellers, with reduced dollar volume and unit sales from the previous year.
But I don’t think that’s the story. I think the story is a strong fourth quarter that could be the harbinger of a changing market in 2025 for Southern Georgian Bay. It has started in the higher end of the market, and anecdotal buyer interest is on the rise.
Last year, a friend bought a house, and I bet him a bottle of good scotch that by the end of 2024, the market would reflect the strength of his purchase. Over the holidays, I had to admit he’d be
enjoying a nice bottle on me in January. However, I did offer him a double or nothing for 2025. He declined (coward).
I’ll conclude by borrowing from the ending of my March 2022 article, with a few key changes:
It was: “Demand remains strong, and supply remains short. Indicators are that we will see continued price appreciation as we make our way through 2022.” It shall now be: “In my opinion, demand in 2025 will be on the rise and start to absorb existing supply. Indicators are that we will see continued price appreciation as we make our way through 2025.”
Fingers crossed! E
“Janet did an outstanding job helping us find a home to buy in Thornbury and in selling our Collingwood townhouse. She is very thorough and always follows up quickly and accurately to any request. Her understanding of the local market is second to none. The job she did marketing our home allowed us to sell it at the right price in record time. We have bought and sold many homes over the years and can truly say that Janet is one of the best realtors we have ever dealt with! Thanks Janet!”
4th Line, The Blue Mountains
4
3
44 Parker St W, Meaford
Fully renovated in 2023, high-end finishes and a trendy design throughout. Ultimate backyard retreat with a private pool, just steps from the shores of Georgian Bay!
$739,000
3
225 St. Arnaud Street, Eugenia
Stunning log home on 3 acres near Lake Eugenia & BV Ski Club, with a cozy fireplace, soaring ceilings, renovated kitchen, and heated 30x30 garage!
$1,295,000
Luxury Living at Lora Bay
110 Landry Lane
Experience the perfect blend of elegance and nature in this stunning Pebble Beach Model backing onto Lora Bay’s award-winning golf course. Built in 2015, this home features rich hardwood floors, a striking gas fireplace, and a chef’s kitchen with a spacious island and walk-in pantry.
Relax in the primary suite with a beautifully appointed ensuite or unwind in the professionally landscaped backyard, complete with a pergola, swim spa, and seating areas bathed in all-day sun. With exclusive amenities like a private beach, gym and clubhouse, Lora Bay offers the ultimate Georgian Bay Lifestyle
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4
515 4th Ave W, Owen Sound
In Owen Sound’s most sought after area, this renovated mid-century modern 5-bedroom, 4-bath home is a luxury masterpiece.
$1,499,900
“ My goal is to redefine what it means to be a Realtorfocusing on building genuine, trusting relationships over transactions. I prioritize earning and keeping your trust by educating you on market trends, offering honest advice, and always acting with integrity.
Combining knowledge, passion and skills to exceed each client’s expectations.
B u y i n g o r S e l l i n g ? C o n n e c t w i t h
o u r t e a m f o r a l l y o u n e e d s
T o v i e w a l l o u r
l i s t i n g s s c a n h e r e
7-102
Georgian Peaks Chalet - $995,000
3 Bed, 2 Bath Rustic charm chalet only steps to the West Lodge. This is your opportunity to park the car & ski right to your door.
525-1 HUME ST, COLLINGWOOD
Monaco – $975,000
The Franck Suite - 5th Floor 1 Bed+Den, 2 Bath, Open Concept Kitchen/Living/Dining. Private balcony, Underground Parking
LT 17-18 6th LINE, BLUE MOUNTAINS
PH 603-1 HUME ST, COLLINGWOOD
Monaco - $1,149,000 Penthouse Suite w/ Spectacular views of Georgian Bay. 2 Beds + Den, 2 Baths, Large Balcony. 1 Underground Parking Space.
Gorgeous Log Cabin - $959,000
3 bed, 3 bath Chalet on a large deep lot perched up high for views of Georgian Bay This is the perfect get away
24 Acres near Loree - $597,000 Gorgeous Acreage, very private and peaceful. Rolling hill views, sunsets and potential Georgian Bay Views.
In-Town Collingwood - $785,000
Lovely raised bungalow in quiet neighbourhood of “Lockhart Meadows”. 3 Beds, 2.5 Baths, Lower level in-law suite.
Seasons at Blue - $598,000
Fantastic newly renovated 2 Bedrm, 2 Bathrm Suite in Blue Mountain Village. Located on main floor. Outdoor pool/hottub
520-1 HUME ST, COLLINGWOOD
Monaco - $629,000
East facing 5th Floor suite. 1 Bed+Den, 1 Bath, 2 Underground Parking Spaces, 1 Large exclusive locker, Private balcony
Westin Trillium House - $449,000
Luxurious One Bedroom Ground Floor suite fronting the Mill Pond in the Blue Mountain Village. Fully Furnished & In Rental Program
47 WILLIAMS ST, COLLINGWOOD
WENSLEY DR, GEORGIAN PEAKS
146-170 JOZO WEIDER BLVD, BLUE MTN
112 STARLIGHT LN, MEAFORD
164-220 GORD CANNING DR, BLUE MTN
Aftershot
ABOUT THE PHOTO
“It has been said that wildlife photography takes planning, patience, persistence, and luck. Well, luck played a big part of getting this photo,” recalls photographer Pat Gillies. “I was driving backroads looking for interesting subjects when I spotted the eagle perched in a tree ahead. To avoid spooking it, I drove past, turned around, and set up my camera in my lap with settings ready—wide-open aperture, 1/3200 shutter speed, and auto ISO.” Carefully edging closer, Pat parked at a safe distance and prepared to shoot with a 400mm telephoAto lens. But before everything was in place, the eagle took off—flying directly toward the car and parallel to the road. “I barely had time to stick the camera out the window and hit the shutter, hoping for
the best. The term we use for this is ‘spray and pray.’” Out of 20 rapid-fire shots, only one captured the moment perfectly: the eagle, centred in full flight.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Pat Gillies specializes in wildlife, landscape, and nightscape photography. His work, showcased on his website (patgillies.myportfolio.com) and Facebook page, features stunning images of foxes, waterfalls, birds, northern lights, moonsets, wild orchids, and more. Since retiring to the Grey/Bruce area in 2010 and pursuing photography more seriously, he has found the Bruce Peninsula to be an exceptional haven for his craft.
Après... the good ol’ Blue Mountain way.
In 1941, Jozo Weider envisioned a Blue Mountain lifestyle that included skiing, barn dances, gluhwein, and family fun. Live Jozo’s dream at 125 Pioneer Lane – a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, classic chalet within walking distance to the Weider Express chairlift and Jozo’s bar – the original après experience. Imagine relaxing by your fireplace while the kids catch first tracks, cheese fondue lunches on the dance-floor-sized deck, and après ski shenanigans that will very likely involve a shotski. The backyard is fenced in, but you can be as free as a bird – all year round! Ski. Golf. Bike. Play tennis and pickleball. Settle in to a four-season lifestyle in the heart of Georgian Bay by calling James, or popping into our shops in Collingwood or Owen Sound. Better yet, let’s meet at Jozo’s! For more information, scan the QR code or visit greybrucehomeselling.ca.
James “Onesie” McGregor Sales Representative, CIPS*
