On The Bay Summer 2021

SUMMER 2021

Keeping Us Fed How restaurants & food purveyors are surviving & thriving

Our Watershed Moment Protecting “nature’s filter”

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Out! 5 things to do outdoors this summer

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IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES 26 A Watershed Moment Our wetlands are getting wetter – and in some cases, downright

48

disappearing – as we pave over paradise. We can’t afford to ignore “nature’s sponge” a moment longer.

BY MARK DOUGLAS WESSEL

48 Keeping Us Fed How local restaurants, food businesses and beverage purveyors have pivoted, survived and thrived through challenging times.

BY MARC HUMINILOWYCZ

67 Interior Views Lockdowns and Zoom calls have elevated the importance of art in beautifying our walls and interior spaces.

BY JUDY ROSS

82 Get Out! 5 fun things you can do outside safely this summer.

BY LAURIE STEPHENS

95 Trail Feathers Birds you might spot on your next hike.

BY ANTHONY JENKINS

26

COLUMNS Perspective

15 Never Too Old COVID sends 77-year-old back to school..

BY FRANK TILLEY Fenceposts

22 It’s the End of the World ... Again

DEPARTMENTS 12 13 18 110 114 117 118

From Our Publisher From Our President & CEO From Our Readers Introductions Gallery of Realtors Reader Buying Guide Looking Back

BY DAN NEEDLES SUMMER 2021

onthebaymagazine.com

Artist Spotlight

107 Living Vibrantly Owen Sound artist Kelly Maw brings colour and fun into focus.

Keeping Us Fed How restaurants & food purveyors are surviving & thriving

Our Watershed Moment Protecting “nature’s filter”

Get

Out! 5

ON THE COVER: Aimee Ross (back right), Ian MacLachlan and daughter Ella MacLachlan ride the Georgian Trail between Thornbury and Meaford.

67

PHOTO BY DOUG BURLOCK

things to do outdoors this summer

82

TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

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Published by On The Bay Magazine Inc. A subsidiary of ZoomerMedia Limited President & CEO Moses Znaimer On The Bay publishes 4 issues per year and is available, free, at 55+ locations in the following communities; Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Nottawa, Craigleith, Thornbury, Clarksburg, Ravenna, Kimberley, Markdale, Meaford, Creemore, Stayner, Glen Huron, Singhampton, Flesherton and Eugenia. The magazine is also distributed to hotels, resorts, developer showrooms, realtor offices, and to members of private ski and golf clubs in the area. For a complete list of the exact locations within each of the communities go to onthebaymagazine.com Subscriptions outside the distribution area are $29.95 per year for 4 issues (including HST), payable by cheque or credit card. No part of On The Bay may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent of On The Bay Magazine Inc. The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or staff of On The Bay Magazine.

Letters to the editor are welcome: readermail@onthebaymagazine.com On The Bay Magazine 115 Hurontario St., Suite 200, Collingwood, Ontario, L9Y 2L9 Tel: 705-444-9192 Toll-free: 1-888-282-2014 Printed in Canada by Dollco Print Solutions Group.

Jane Moysey Broker (705) 888-1982 jane@janemoysey.com

10

ON THE BAY

Lorraine McDonald Sales Representative (705) 444-4216 lorrainemcdonald@rogers.com

SUMMER 2021

onthebaymagazine.com

RELAX OUTSIDE. Need a break from the daily grind? When life gets hectic, professionals like you turn to the Georgian Bay for refuge. Out here, the the serenity of nature surrounds you — leaving you feeling relaxed. And with a meticulously crafted landscape from the Landmark Group, you’ll never want to go back.

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FOU N D IN G

PU BLIS H ER

So when Moses Znaimer came a-calling in 2017, with a brilliant idea of merging On The Bay with Zoomer Media’s classical radio station in Collingwood, it made perfect sense to me given that we share much the same sophisticated audience.

The merger provided an opportunity for our hundreds of advertisers to consider extending their reach into radio with The New Classical 102.9 FM radio station. And many have done just that.

Part and parcel of our agreement was that I agreed to stay for three years as Publisher and General Manager, but given the challenges of COVID, I agreed to stay one more year. Now is the time for me to move on and hand over the reins to a new publisher.

As many know, I have had the privilege of publishing many excellent Canadian magazines including Canadian Living, Harrowsmith, Equinox, Western Living and Saturday Night. My post as VP Marketing of The Toronto Star instilled in me the importance of local focus and community advocacy. But frankly, my favourite gig of all has been as the Founding Publisher of On The Bay. From the beginning, our focus has been to define, celebrate and advocate for our community. I believe we have achieved that lofty goal.

My plans after retirement? Time for me to play more tennis, ski more runs, boat more on the Bay, hang out with my grandchildren and spend a little more time at our cottage.

But beyond recreation, I will devote more time to the arts and culture prospects for our region. I am a proud member of CACE

Turning the

12

Page

“It has been a truly great ride for all of us who write, design, edit, market and sell On The Bay.”

After 17 years of publishing On The Bay, it’s time for me to slay new dragons.

When we launched On The Bay in 2004, our mission was to celebrate Southern Georgian Bay and become an authority on issues facing our rapidly growing community. We have never veered from that strategy of balancing the need to celebrate where we live and at the same time advocating for, or against, the big local issues that impact us.

Our every issue has focused on the beauty of our land and seascapes, our region’s stunning homes and architecture, local food and drink, our emerging arts and culture scene and our stories of the extraordinary people who live here. But we have never neglected the important local issues of the day.

Our writers have probed deeply into the impact of wind turbines on our community, water levels, health and palliative care, gravel pits, real estate development and the effects on our region from climate change. Our readers have been both entertained and enlightened by this unique editorial balance.

Result? In three separate surveys over 15 years, we demonstrated that we are the best-read and best-loved magazine in Southern Georgian Bay. Moreover, On The Bay has been recognized as our region’s most informative and authoritative voice in print.

In a nutshell, dear reader, it has been a truly great ride for all of us who write, design, edit, market and sell On The Bay. As you know, we are not a tourist magazine for the occasional visitor. We write for a well-educated audience of permanent residents and weekenders. We present long-form journalism in many of our features with strong design and arresting photography for our audience of 50,000 readers. And in doing so we have attracted a wide variety of businesses wanting to reach our readers in the pages of On The Bay.

(Collingwood Art, Culture and Entertainment) whose mission is to build Southern Georgian Bay’s premier performing arts and entertainment centre. In addition, I am a strong supporter and founding director of The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay and I will now have more time to get involved with our very first Think Tank.

As for who will succeed me as publisher, stay tuned as an announcement will be made shortly. The new publisher will have the exciting challenge of taking On The Bay to its next chapter.

I want to close by acknowledging the key people who have worked with me for so many years: our Founding Editor, Janet Lees; our Art Director, Holger Meiche; our Operations Manager, Cindy Caines. And more recently, our Sales Manager, Susan Holden, and our salespeople, Julie Brillinger and Rick Gordon. Thank you to our Distribution Coordinator, Peter Gibson; our Proofreader, Anita Hunter; our Advertising Designer, Tara McLellan; and our Listings Coordinator, Sheila Johnston.

Thanks also to our talented writers and photographers who have added both flair and substance to our magazine; to our readers who have elevated us; and to our hundreds of advertisers who believed in us from the very beginning.

Final thanks go to Moses Znaimer, who brought two strong voices together for the benefit of all of us who live in Southern Georgian Bay. Let the next chapter begin. ❧

ON THE BAY

SUMMER 2021

Jeffrey Shearer Founding Publisher, On the Bay Magazine & General Manager, The New Classical 102.9 FM

F OU N D ER,

PRES ID EN T

&

C EO

A New Chapter

Begins

“Invariably, over time, there will be changes, but nothing drastic. Jeff and his team have laid down a great foundation, and we will build on that.”

Jeff was already thinking of retirement when I bought On The Bay in 2017. In fact, that’s why he was selling: to slow down a bit, and to capture some of the value he and his partners had created in this successful magazine.

Having determined to sell, he agreed to stick around for a few years to weave On The Bay and 102.9 FM into a comfortable operational and commercial whole. Then came COVID, so we all just carried on for another year. But now, come August 31, Jeff’s tenure at this community mainstay really does come to an end!

Invariably, over time, there will be changes, but nothing drastic.

Jeff and his team have laid down a great foundation, and we will build on that.

A measure of Jeff’s class in this transition is a note he wrote me recently. In it, he says: “Moses, people don’t like change, and can be vocal about anybody tampering with a beloved product or institution. But I

do not expect you to be trapped in a cautious mindset and just be content with the status quo. In your hands, On The Bay will evolve to meet the exciting times ahead for our booming community.

That said, I trust that a new broom sweeps carefully, leaving the pearls intact.”

Thank you, Jeff! We’ll heed your words and take care of your “baby.” Best wishes for a busy, varied and satisfying retirement. ❧

Moses Znaimer Founder, President & CEO, ZoomerMedia Inc.

ON THE BAY

SUMMER 2021

13

SET A NEW COURSE

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PERSPECTIVE

Never Too Old COVID sends 77-year-old back to school

by FRANK TILLEY photography by JESSICA CRANDLEMIRE Like many of my friends in Southern Georgian Bay, the COVID-19 restrictions of summer 2020 were getting me down.

Before the pandemic struck, I had started a new project aimed at active Baby Boomers in this area. It had slowed to a crawl as I was unable to recruit volunteers face to face.

My wife and I were frustrated that our planned bicycle trip from Innsbruck, Austria to Verona, Italy had to be postponed. We had not been to the theatre, cinema or church since March. Most restaurants were closed. The house was closing in, I was drinking too much wine, my pants were getting too tight, and I was getting

used to sleeping in. Something had to be done. Pivoting is the new buzzword my children use. I had to find something new. But what?

My last class in university was in 1966. I enjoyed the experience but had stayed away from academics with the exception of a year’s sabbatical in Geneva, Switzerland as an executive in residence at the local MBA school. I had always said I would pursue my interest in theology when I had some free time. It looked like it was now or never.

How do you make a decision like this? First, I talked with people who know me. Of course, my wife/consultant/coach had to be

ON THE BAY

SUMMER 2021

15

Live life carefree!

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16

ON THE BAY

SUMMER 2021

siennaliving.ca

Online learning allows Frank Tilley to tune in to Zoom classes from anywhere, including a park bench or his desk at home (right).

involved. Then I talked with my children. Friends who know me well were also consulted. We reviewed my interests and what skills I had to offer.

My work had evolved into an entrepreneurial role in setting up a foundation, but I needed discipline and external accountability.

Volunteering was an option, but I knew as an employer of volunteers for many years, I need something more rigorous.

Going back to school, in the normal sense, was not an option. All the universities were shut down. It was difficult to find a live person in any institution to talk with, particularly in the middle of the summer. I was frustrated in trying to communicate only with an impersonal website.

By August, I realized time was getting short. Providentially, the brother of a friend had taken a Masters program at Tyndale University, a private Christian university in Toronto. He encouraged me and suggested I try Tyndale as well as Wycliffe College, a Christian evangelical seminary at the University of Toronto. Finally, in the last week of August, I found a very helpful voice on the phone who guided me through registration and course selection for a Masters of Theological Studies at Wycliffe. He also interceded for me, as registration had formally closed three months earlier.

Fifty-four years of absence from university left me totally unprepared for my first class. I knew nothing about the school, professors or students. Talk about being out of your depth! I was in the same class as students in their fourth year of a divinity program. As an occasional student, I did not even have a library card. Technology was challenging.

I commented to a fellow student, who was one-third my age, that the last time I had submitted an assignment, it was typed on a manual typewriter.

She responded, “A manual what?”

I learned that, like all industries, academics have their own jargon, which makes it difficult for the uninformed newcomer. The dictionary

PERSPECTIVE

on my phone was used more in the first two weeks than it had been in the prior 10 years.

As all courses were online-only, traffic getting to class was not a problem, but I did not really feel part of a university until I took the step of inviting a professor out for lunch. That one face-to-face contact in Toronto helped me feel connected to the university.

People are asking me what return I expect from such a large investment of time and resources at my age. Often these people are experiencing frustration and boredom with the COVID lockdown.

In contrast, I have rich new insights into a fascinating field of study. Boredom has not been an option. I am experiencing real excitement as I dig deeply into new research and learn new skills.

Initially, the work – two-and-a-half-hour Zoom classes and demanding assignments – was very challenging. As time moved on, I found my stride and I’m proud of my results in the first two semesters (an average above 80 per cent). I am now eagerly anticipating the third semester.

Today I reflect on the note I made for myself before I started this

Live life carefree!

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I had always said I would pursue my interest in theology when I had some free time. It looked like it was now or never. journey, titled, “Why do this?” I have found a disciplined method of experiencing God. The material covered has been helpful with the founding of a new ministry. Finally, I have discovered a whole new world that has renewed my energy and challenged my mind. Who knows what the future will bring? ❧ Frank Tilley is the former president and CEO of Tilley of Canada Ltd. and the founder and former board member of The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay. He is currently involved as founder and member of the South Georgian Bay Music Foundation; elder responsible for mission and outreach at First Presbyterian Church in Collingwood; founder and member of the South Georgian Bay Prayer Breakfast; member of Business as Mission, a local Christian business group; and executive director of Finishing Well, an organization working with “active agers.”

Enjoy retirement living and a carefree lifestyle when you move in with us. Delicious meals, innovative programs, and new friends are just a call away!

• Delicious meals served in our elegant dining room prepared by our Red Seal Chefs • Wine with dinner • Wellness spa & gym • Transportation • Frequent excursions • Pet friendly • Full-service hair salon • Library with large print and audio books • Craft kitchen

• Onsite exercise programs • 24/7 emergency response • Free parking • Virtual golf large screen • Pool table • Chapel Our Services • Independent living • Rest and restore stays • Assisted living • Ladies memory care

Suites are limited. Please call to reserve your spot!

705-792-2442

EDITOR’S NOTE: Perspective is an op-ed column featuring a guest writer’s personal perspective on a topic of interest to our readers. If you have suggestions for future topics or writers, or to comment on this article, please email janet.lees@me.com

132 Edgehill Drive, Barrie, ON L4N 1M1

siennaliving.ca ON THE BAY

SUMMER 2021

17

R E A D E R

M A I L

FROM OUR

READERS RE: SPRING 2021 Fabulous issue. I had to read it cover to cover. Every article well written and thoughtprovoking, providing insights to local concerns and changes, as well as eye candy with glorious artwork and beautiful photos of wonderful homes. I picked up a free copy in Collingwood yesterday, and live near Markdale.

Kathy (last name withheld)

RE: LET’S GET REAL, SPRING 2021 I was very moved by reading your opening letter to the Spring 2021 edition of On The

Bay. Your words really spoke to the heart of the issue of the current housing crisis, as I do believe it is, indeed, a crisis.

This whole issue resonates greatly as we have been seeing prices soar in this community, e s p e c i a l l y where we live at Lighthouse Point. We have witnessed the frustrations of first-time home buyers, namely the children in our own family.

The question remains as to how to attain affordability for all. It’s one thing to buy a house; it’s another to maintain it and not be house poor.

The debt that our younger generation is about to take on is staggering. To quote economist Mike Moffat from an article I read in the CBC this week, “We’re going to have a lot of both political and economic problems if we

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price an entire generation of young families from ever owning a home.”

It’s bad enough that we’ve left them a planet that is hurting. They face the challenges of climate change as well as the challenges of obtaining a basic necessity: affordable and safe shelter.

What’s more, it concerns me to see the effect that wealthy new homeowners are having on the local economic climate. Although I think it’s wonderful to see new businesses spring up downtown, I can’t help but wonder how many average Collingwood citizens can afford to patronize them. It seems to me that these new businesses are simply catering to Toronto money. I wish I had a solution. I do think the area has already become a “haven for the rich” and we need to see more affordable options, everywhere.

Sue Livingston

RE: NOTTAWASAGA ISLAND & LIGHTHOUSE The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and the Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society (NLPS) are pleased to announce an agreement to work together to preserve the natural and historical legacy of Nottawasaga Island. Nottawasaga Island is an important bird rookery for common and rare bird species, and is also the site for one of the oldest and historically significant lighthouses in Ontario.

“The Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society has worked with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation to find common ground to allow us to move forward with our restoration plans for the historic lighthouse,” said the NLPS. “We have done so by respecting that the Nottawasaga Island is part of SON’s traditional lands and the waters around it are their traditional fishing areas. The NLPS looks forward to our continued partnership to ensure the restoration of the lighthouse and island.”

Nottawasaga Island is a 5.26-hectare island located five kilometers northwest of Collingwood. Although the island is small, it is very important from a historical, cultural and ecological perspective. The island is currently owned by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The SON and the NLPS wish to see the island returned to the SON, as the lighthouse is no longer in use. Both parties have worked hard together over the last two years to create an agreement on how to protect the ecology and history of the island. We look forward to our collaborative partnership and to the restoration of the lighthouse and island to its former glory.

“We have had a very productive working relationship with the Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society and our agreement is a demonstration of what we can achieve by working together for the benefit of all,” said Ogimaa Lester Anoquot, Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation and Ogimaa Greg Nadjiwon, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation. “We eagerly await a commitment from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to remediate the soil contamination on the island and to see the island returned to our care.”

The island is part of the Mary Ward shoal, which is a valuable spawning ground for lake whitefish, a species of great cultural and commercial value to the SON. Staff from the SON sampled fish around the island, as part of the SON’s and NLPS’s work to protect the island.

Gentle sampling revealed tens of thousands of small fish, such as shiner and minnow species, demonstrating the high productivity of this site. The Nottawasaga Island is of strong importance to breeding birds including cormorants, great blue herons, great egrets, blackcrowned night herons, and various gull species. This island is one of only four great egret breeding colonies in Canada and contains

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three percent of Canada’s black-crowned night heron populations.

One of the key issues that needs to be addressed is the heavy metal soil contamination directly around the lighthouse, from years of use.

The parties are united in their desire for the DFO to clean up the site, preventing damage to the surrounding vulnerable ecology.

The lighthouse is one of six imperial towers built by John Brown of Thorold, Ontario in the 1850s. First lit November 30, 1858, it was in operation until 2003 when a lightning strike caused the outer wall to fail.

Unfortunately, the lighthouse is in serious need of rehabilitation and is in danger of collapsing if immediate intervention does not take place soon.

The SON and the NLPS are unified in their desire to preserve this historical lighthouse for future generations.

Ryan Lauzon, Fisheries Assessment Biologist, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation & Stephen Emo, Chair, Nottawasaga Lighthouse Preservation Society

RE: TIME TO RETHINK COUNTY ROAD 91 AND 26/27 SR In 2021 why would the Municipality of Clearview still be advancing a plan to close a major regional road and divert all that traffic onto the 26/27 Sideroad?

More than a decade ago, The County of Simcoe offloaded County Road 91 to Clearview for $1, who in turn promised it to Walker Aggregates. In the original Minutes of Settlement between Walker Aggregates and Clearview Township (February 10, 2010), Clearview committed to upgrade the 26/27 Sideroad as soon as possible. Upon completion, the upper portion of County Road 91 would be transferred to Walker Aggregates and Walker would commence extraction activities.

However, it was not until four years later that the Joint Board (Municipal and Environmental) approved the quarry but not the road upgrades as they were outside their jurisdiction. Nevertheless, they acknowledged that public road works were essential to the successful and safe operation of the quarry and stipulated that they must be in place prior to the opening of the quarry.

By this time, major cold-water streams and wetlands along with steep Escarpment slopes had been identified beside the to-beupgraded 26/27 Sideroad, so the Niagara Escarpment Commission had to approve a development application for the sideroad. In 2015 the NEC turned down that application because alternative solutions had not been explored. In that same year, Clearview Council gave Walker permission to dig a tunnel under County Road 91 (a viable alternative to the 26/27 SR development) and Walker has been carrying on business ever since.

In 2021 these are the facts: • The expansion of the 26/27 Sideroad will at best be a narrow twolane road. It will devastate the sensitive ecology of the Escarpment and will not accommodate farm equipment, firetrucks and other emergency vehicles. Moreover, original projections in 2010 and 2015 were for “light traffic” (it was to be paved when 400 cars per day was reached). In 2021 an upgraded 26/27 SR will not accommodate the thousands of cars and trucks that now use County Road 91 daily.

• All surrounding municipalities are against the closing of Road 91.

The Town of The Blue Mountains, Grey County and the Town of Collingwood all actively oppose the closure of County Road 91. They

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say this road is critical for regional transportation and its closure is not necessary since Walker has a tunnel and is proceeding with its quarry business.

• The original Minutes of Settlement committed council to sell the top portion of County Road 91 to Walker only, if and when, the 26/27 sideroad was upgraded. Clearview still owns the road.

County Road 91 does not need to close and for the good of the region should not be closed.

• The Minutes of Settlement state that subsequent councils are free to make their own decisions.

There is nothing in the contract that requires council to continue to fight to implement an idea that may have made sense in 2008 but is actually harmful in 2021.

Walker has been accommodated by council, allowing it to build the tunnel and engage unhindered in its quarry operations. They have been accommodated in good faith. County Road 91 is critical regional infrastructure and must remain open.

It is a solution everyone can live with.

Lynn Eakin, Stayner Above right, the opening page of our article about quarries in the Fall 2007 issue of On The Bay.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THE ISSUES? Do you have any comments, suggestions or additional information in response to any of our stories? To submit your letter to the Editor, go to onthebaymagazine.com/write-a-letter-tothe-editor. Comments may be published in an upcoming issue of On The Bay. We reserve the right to edit for style, content and space considerations.

JOSH DOLAN

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IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD … AGAIN True confessions from the 9th Concession

by DAN NEEDLES

❧

illustration by SHELAGH ARMSTRONG-HODGSON

Last month, as my kids gathered at the dinner table using FaceTime to celebrate my youngest daughter’s 24th birthday, I heard them all agree there was no point trying to buy a house because the planet is going to shake off the human race like a bad cold over the next 40 years. They are unanimous in their view that our species is doomed.

This quiet acceptance of the end times coming from my own brood gave me a bit of a start. But then my wife observed that I have not had to sit through as many classes on disappearing species as they have. They have been fed such a steady diet of melting ice caps, vanishing forests, rising carbon levels and general climate gloom that you really can’t blame them for taking the dark view.

As a young man, I recall being quite anxious about the collapse of humankind.

I grew up with the atom bomb, acid rain and stagflation. My parents were also gloomy people but they probably did more to earn the right to be glum, having lived through the Great Depression and a world war. My mother’s father was the gloomiest of the lot. He graduated from Harvard medical school the year of the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1919 and then ruined every dinner party for the next 50 years with his lectures on the great pandemic to come.

Quite a few people in my school year went to extraordinary lengths to prepare for society’s collapse. One of them stockpiled copper pennies in pails in his parents’ basement in the 1970s, believing that copper would eventually be worth as much as gold. He collected nearly half a ton of pennies and watched copper rise from 50 cents to a dollar a pound. Then it went back down to 62 cents, barely budging from that over the next 30 years. His wife finally made him get the penny pails out of the garage and sell them all to a scrap dealer about an hour before the price began a steady climb to four dollars, where it sits today. In the meantime, we passed through several panics but no collapse.

Humans have always been tempted to think their own generation has

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plumbed a new depth in human experience. Perhaps the prize for bleak thinking should be handed to the Europeans of the 1300s when the continent moved into the Little Ice Age. The famine of 1315 - 1322 killed millions and the survivors were convinced the world must be coming to an end. Doomsday images appeared on the walls of every church in the land. Then the Black Death struck. People were so ground down physically and mentally at that point they barely had the energy to fight back against a plague. By 1360, Europe had lost a third of its population.

But the world did not end. Astonishingly, agricultural output recovered completely within a decade and Europe began an economic rocket ride that, in spite of several notable interruptions, continues to this day.

As a scribbler I have always walked down the sunny side of the concession roads. I found it was the side less travelled for my generation, so I had a lot less competition. Everybody else was writing dark stuff. I have always tried to help people feel a little better about the world by reminding them of the vigour and humour of the residents of these hills. I learned to be entertained by the voices of those who have struggled through hard times and learned to watch for breaks in the clouds. There is an old saying among sailors that the weather is a great bluffer, and human society is a lot like that. The world has always seemed about to be engulfed by the storm … until suddenly it isn’t.

At the online birthday party, I reminded my children it is never a good idea to put all your money on one square of the roulette wheel. There can only be one apocalypse, by definition, and our record of predicting that event has been very poor. Prediction is not the strong suit of our species. We just end up with pails of pennies in the basement. Our real skill is coping with setbacks when they occur, which is why there are now nearly eight billion of us on the planet.

So I encouraged the children to take the long view, which may not offer the thrill of apocalyptic thinking, but may in the end be more useful. Times are indeed tough … but will you be ready when they get better? ❧

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FEATURE

by MARK DOUGLAS WESSEL photography by DOUG BURLOCK

Watershed Moment

A

Our wetlands are getting wetter – and in some cases, downright disappearing – as we pave over paradise. We can’t afford to ignore “nature’s sponge” a moment longer.

W

e have a global water crisis and it’s getting worse. That’s the stark message of a United Nations news release distributed earlier this year, which proclaimed that “three-quarters of all natural disasters in the last 20 years were water related, including floods, landslides and other extreme weather events.”

The announcement goes on to observe that the knock-on effect of these events has included “water pollution, water scarcity, water-related disasters and damage to healthy freshwater ecosystems.” This in turn has negatively impacted on “our rights to life, health, water, sanitation, food, a healthy environment and an adequate standard of living.”

People like Owen Steele (left), head of conservation in Ontario for Ducks Unlimited, work hard to ensure that watersheds are doing their job not just for the wide variety of flora and fauna that inhabit them (above), but also for the hundreds of thousands of humans who rely on the fresh water they provide.

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FEATURE

Dave Featherstone, a senior ecologist with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, monitors the health of Collingwood’s Black Ash Creek, which runs from the top of the Niagara Escarpment through the town of Collingwood before reaching Georgian Bay via Collingwood Harbour.

Watersheds

What are they, anyway?

One might reasonably conclude that this ominous messaging is linked to such faraway places as Africa, Australia or even Southern California – parts of the world that consistently make headlines tied to serious water challenges.

But the reality is that this water crisis is just as relevant to what’s going on right here … where we eat, sleep, work and play.

Consistent with the real-world ebb and flow of our shoreline, eight years ago the education and scientific group Georgian Bay Forever announced the results of a NASA mapping study, which concluded that between 1987 and 2013, Southern Georgian Bay lost almost 11 per cent of its wetlands due to historic low water levels. Fast-forward to just last year and communities from one side of the Bay to the other were experiencing devastation brought on by historic high levels of water.

High water and violent waves led to the closure of waterfront paths in Owen Sound, threatened the survival of a shoreline pavilion in Meaford and caused major erosion in Collingwood’s Sunset Park. And as one television station described it, Wasaga Beach was “swallowed” by rising water levels.

In recent years our water quality has been threatened as well. A classic example is Stewart Lake in the Township of Georgian Bay, where just last year the Simcoe District Health Unit advised locals against swimming, fishing or using the water for drinking.

No one would blame you if you concluded that these storylines sound more like something out of a science fiction novel versus real-world news.

Because after all, we do live in a land of plenty, don’t we?

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A watershed is a land area that channels rainfall and snowmelt to marshes, creeks, streams, rivers and groundwater, and eventually to outflow points such as bays, lakes and the ocean. Homes, farms, cottages, forests, small towns, big cities and more can make up watersheds. Some cross municipal, provincial and even international borders. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes and can vary from millions of acres, like the land that drains into the Great Lakes, to a few acres that drain into a pond.

When rain falls on dry ground, it can soak into, or infiltrate, the ground. This groundwater remains in the soil, where it will eventually seep into the nearest stream. Some water infiltrates much deeper, into underground reservoirs called aquifers. In other areas, where the soil contains a lot of hard clay, very little water may infiltrate. Instead, it quickly runs off to lower ground.

As water runs over and through the watershed, it picks up and carries contaminants and soil. If untreated, these pollutants wash directly into waterways carried by runoff from rain and snowmelt.

These contaminants can infiltrate groundwater and concentrate in streams and rivers, ultimately being carried down the watershed and into the ocean.

During periods of heavy rain and snowfall, water may run onto and off of impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roads, buildings and other structures because it has nowhere else to go. These surfaces act as “fast lanes” that transport the water directly into storm drains. The excess water volume can quickly overwhelm streams and rivers, causing them to overflow and possibly result in floods. Flooding can also overwhelm sewer systems, causing them to overflow into nearby streams and rivers.

Lake Huron, which includes Georgian Bay, has the largest watershed area of all the Great Lakes.

Jayne's

L UXURY R ENTALS

FEATURE

Black Ash Creek is impacted by the increasing urbanization of Collingwood, running adjacent to several residential developments including Osler Bluff, Castle Glen, Georgian Meadows and Creekside (shown in the background of the photos above). At right, Dave Featherstone examines the health of aquatic life on a rock from the creek.

Canada is one of only two countries in the world (Russia being the other) bordered by three oceans. And from sea to sea to sea, our landscape is dotted with over two million lakes and rivers, equivalent to 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater supply. The Great Lakes alone, which of course includes Georgian Bay at our doorstep, is the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, accounting for 18 per cent of the global stock of fresh surface water.

When you contrast those numbers with other parts of the globe where water has become so scarce that some experts predict it could eclipse the value of gold, then on the surface, things are swimmingly good.

How do we mitigate such challenges as pollution and flooding in the first place? And are there better ways to promote the economic growth and vitality short of turning the entire region into a nature preserve?

To appreciate why this is happening, one needs to take a closer look at the source of the problem, which is essentially the source of our freshwater supply: our watersheds.

For many years now, our watersheds – the land areas from which freshwater flows to a stream, river or lake – have been subject to a growing number of external threats, from global warming to pollution to urban sprawl and mismanaged intensification. These threats in turn have given rise to a whole host of challenges that have negatively impacted our way of life, ranging from such short-term inconveniences as beach closures, to alarming shoreline erosion; threats that are just as relevant here in Southern Georgian Bay as they are in other parts of the country.

Our New Normal?

But back to reality, that’s when you can swim. Because every year local health authorities collect water samples from public beaches to test for levels of E. coli bacteria, which when deemed too high, can result in beach closures. And last year alone, a host of local beaches were closed due to unacceptably high levels of bacteria, including Sunset Point in Collingwood, Washago Centennial Park Beach in Severn and Mackenzie Park Beach in Tay. The reason why high levels of E. coli are occurring in the first place can be attributed to multiple sources. As explained on the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website, “bacteria levels can increase in recreational beach water due to heavy rainfall, cloudy water, a large number of swimmers, a large number of birds, shallow water, wet sand, wind and high waves. Beach water may also be unsafe due to excessive weed growth, oil, floating debris, turbidity and blue green algae blooms.”

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If you ask David Sweetnam, a biochemist and executive director of Georgian Bay Forever, to describe the current state of our watersheds, his unhesitating response is: “Everything is in a state of flux. There are a lot of changes going on (in terms of) impacts of invasive species, climate change, warmer water, warmer temperatures, less ice cover and the literal collapse of the food web out in the pelagic zone … the offshore zones of Georgian Bay.” He adds that as a consequence of all of this havoc, “one of the things we’re trying to figure out is what our ‘new normal’ is going to look like” moving forward.

This new normal will, of course, be influenced by global warming.

As NASA’s website explains, rising temperatures intensify the earth’s water cycle, increasing evaporation, which results in more frequent and intense storms and greater risk of flooding. Conversely, warming can also contribute to much less precipitation away from storm tracks, leading to increased risk of drought.

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FEATURE

George Powell (right), vice chair of the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust, checks out the animal and plant life in the wetland near the site of the proposed Castle Glen development (above).

In other words, it’s a pendulum swing of extreme weather conditions with which residents of Southern Georgian Bay are all too familiar. In sharp contrast to all-time low water levels until 2013, within the span of less than a decade, we’re now experiencing record high water marks.

Sweetnam notes that water levels have always ebbed and flowed over the years by as much as 1.9 metres. More alarming is the fact that “from that historic 2013 low, we got to an all-time high in just seven years … whereas before that (the swing) might have taken a couple of decades.”

One contributor to higher water levels are the increasingly severe storms we are witnessing. “New climate models are coming out which are showing a 35 per cent increase in storm sizes,” observes Sweetnam, adding that specific to Georgian Bay, “over the last three years, an alltime record amount of water has flooded into the watershed. That’s on top of a water table that was largely saturated through 2017, 18 and 19. So if you look at NASA’s gravimetric data (from space satellites) you can see the amount of ground water in the watershed was almost full and all of that rain couldn’t soak into the wetlands, so it ran into the Bay.” As a consequence, Sweetnam says the wastewater treatment plans of towns like Midland have been inundated in recent years by huge amounts of water, resulting in “three different discharges of over a million litres” of sewage into the bay. And in Collingwood, new development has ground to a halt after the town recently announced

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Despite the essential role they play in flood and pollution mitigation, according to Ducks Unlimited Canada, over 70 per cent of the country’s wetlands in settled areas have either been destroyed or degraded. that the water treatment plant is at 80 per cent of capacity or higher and must be expanded to keep up with demand. However, an expansion would not be completed until late 2025.

Eating Away at the Bay Arguably the most visible, disturbing consequences of having to cope with such increased volumes of water has been the erosion that has occurred on our shorelines and riverbanks. “Residents of Southern Georgian Bay are well aware of shoreline damage,” says Mary Muter, chair of the Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation. “The Town of Wasaga Beach was essentially shut down last year with higher water levels and rocks washing right up to the paved road that runs along the beach.” She adds that flooding in recent years has also overwhelmed the dock areas of Penetanguishene, Midland and Parry Sound, representing a serious hit to communities where summer traffic is the lifeblood of their economies.

Further to the west, Tim Granthier, chief administrative officer of the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, says that area is facing “very intense pockets of rainfall” that have been particularly hard on smaller streams, which often have less vegetation. “So you get a flash system where heavy rain hits, and a lot of water goes through [within a short period of time],

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Wetlands

5 reasons to love them Wetlands are areas where water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil.

Wetlands are often thought of as wastelands of stagnant, stinky water on the sides of highways and farmers’ fields. While wetlands are often pungent with decomposing organic matter, they are far from being wastelands.

In fact, wetlands are one of Earth’s more productive ecosystems, supporting an incredible amount of biodiversity, and considered a nature-based solution to climate change. In spite of their crucial role, we’ve lost over a third of our wetlands globally over the past 45 years. Here in Canada, wetlands including marshes, swamps, fens and bogs make up 14 per cent of our landmass. Here are five reasons to love our wetlands:

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They’re home to a diversity of species In the spring, wetlands are brimming with waterfowl and shorebirds as they nest and raise their young in the safety of reeds, grasses and stones. Wetlands are also home to a wide variety of fish species, frogs, turtles, muskrats, minks and beavers that are longterm residents. With deer mice and ground squirrels living in the grasses adjacent to wetlands and fish swimming in open water, this ecosystem is a favourite of osprey, eagles and hawks. Aquatic invertebrates such as dragonfly nymphs, tadpoles and snails form the base of the wetland food chain.

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They’re the kidneys of the planet Wetlands have the wonderful ability to remove pollutants from water, thanks to their luscious vegetation. Cattails, for example, aren’t just good for entertainment with seedy fluff that explodes in the wind. These iconic wetland plants are able to capture excess phosphorous and nitrogen, thereby preventing harmful algal blooms.

Even more amazingly, wetlands are able to get rid of 90 per cent of water-borne pathogens. This is crucial as wetlands recharge groundwater, which 26 per cent of Canadians rely on for drinking water.

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They regulate the climate Wetlands are masters at carbon sequestration – in layman’s terms, they suck in carbon and store it in the underlying soil. This ability to hog carbons helps to regulate the climate.

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Some wetlands (known as peatlands or peat bogs) collect partially decomposed plants and other organic matter (a.k.a. a wack tonne of carbon).

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When peatlands are drained for agriculture, forestry or peat harvesting, carbon and nitrogen are released as greenhouse gases in the form of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Approximately 25 per cent of the world’s peatlands are in Canada alone.

They act like giant sponges Another wetland superpower is their ability to act like a giant sponge. When the clouds open up and rain pours down, wetlands are able to absorb excess water, acting as a buffer against flooding.

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Now imagine the reverse situation. If it’s dry and the land is parched, wetlands are able to release water back into the environment. In addition to their spongy talents, wetlands act as a protective barrier from storm surges along coastlines.

They’re fun!

Protecting our wetlands means we get to enjoy all they have to offer! In the summer, they provide endless entertainment for recreational birders, photographers, canoists, kayakers and hikers with their diverse vegetation and parades of waterfowl, shore birds and wildlife.

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Wetlands are also perfect for family activities like pond-dipping to explore and learn about all the little creatures living in the marsh.

In the winter, the frozen waters of wetlands can provide a surface for skating, while the snow-covered grasses surrounding wetlands provide the perfect opportunity to snowshoe and cross-country ski.

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causing a lot of erosion and possibly causing flooding.” And then as quickly as the rain has come, it’s gone. “So it’s bad for the stream system.

And it’s bad for the people that live on the stream system.”

Some Hard Truths Exacerbating our new normal of increased precipitation and wild weather swings is the fact that in urban settings, we’re rapidly paving over the world we live in. Already more than half the world’s population lives in urban settings and the UN projects that figure will grow to 68 per cent by 2050. And going hand in hand with urban development is the fact that anywhere from 50 to 94 per cent of cities and towns are composed of hard, impermeable surfaces.

Rooftops, driveways, roads and parking lots, by virtue of their lack of porosity, quickly shunt water away, adding to flooding concerns during heavy rainfall. In urban settings, that flooding can carry with it everything from oil and gas spills to fertilizers and pesticides, flowing away from our driveways and lawns into our sewer drains and then out into Georgian Bay. Since 2001, communities north of the GTA – such as Simcoe and Muskoka – have grown by 26 per cent, outpacing Ontario’s overall growth rate of 18 per cent. In other words, this area’s population is increasing at a pace more than 40 per cent faster than the rest of the province. And that rate of growth is expected to accelerate, with communities like Collingwood projected to almost triple in size from its current population of 22,000 to 60,000 residents over the next 40 years.

Arguably one of the most telling indicators of this growth is that Collingwood’s council just passed an interim control bylaw suspending the issuing of new residential permits for at least a year. This due to the fact the town’s water treatment plant (which also serves the town of The Blue Mountains and New Tecumseth) can’t keep up with the local demand for potable water.

This type of growth shouldn’t come as a surprise, mind you. As those of us living in Southern Georgian Bay know full well, between the Niagara Escarpment and the Bay itself, the area is blessed with natural beauty. So

Benefits of a Healthy Watershed Healthy watersheds improve water quality, regulate water flow for drought and flood management, provide wildlife habitat, store carbon, contribute to climate change adaptation, and offer opportunities for recreational fishing and hunting.

HUMAN HEALTH A healthy watershed ensures safe drinking water, food, enables us to adapt to the impacts of climate change more easily by cooling the air and absorbing greenhouse gas emissions, and provides natural areas for people to enjoy and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

ECOLOGICAL HEALTH A healthy watershed conserves water; promotes streamflow; supports sustainable streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater sources; enables healthy soil for crops and livestock; and provides habitat for wildlife and plants.

ECONOMIC HEALTH A healthy watershed produces energy and supplies water for agriculture, industry and households. Forests and wetlands help to prevent or reduce costly climate change and flooding impacts, manage drought, and contribute to tourism, fisheries, forestry, agriculture and other industries.

FEATURE

why would someone from the 416 or 905 area codes not want to move here – especially since COVID hit, which on the one hand has accelerated the acceptance of working from home or telecommuting and on the other, has heightened our appreciation for access to parks and public space.

But in spite of this demand, some residents would like to see local leaders take a more balanced approach to growth, recognizing the serious impact urban sprawl can have on environmentally sensitive areas. As Paul Neate, resident and spokesperson for the Save Silver Creek Wetlands community group, sees it, “the development that’s coming out west of Collingwood is very much like Brampton,” in contrast to which he says his group “wants to maintain some of the natural beauty that has existed [here] and which is why people have come here in the past … without being so naive as to think that it’s always going to be woodlands and bears and deer. But we need to preserve some of it. We don’t have to develop every single inch of property.”

Neate’s group – with support from other local organizations such as the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust, have been embroiled in a David and Goliath struggle to stop development projects on land surrounded by the Silver Creek Wetland. One site – known as Bridgewater on Georgian Bay, has been around since the early 2000s. Initially, 328 units were proposed and in 2016 the application was modified to increase the density of the development to more than 600 homes. Another project, Huntington Trails, initially sought to build 437 homes on a 121-acre parcel, which was denied by the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly the Ontario Municipal Board). The builder now has draft plan approval for up to 179 residential units.

[Editor’s Note: Development adjacent to the Silver Creek Wetland is an evolving issue, with possibly two closed meetings held between researching this article and the time of its printing. We are aware of a change to the boundary and focus of the proposed development area.

Huntington Trails was to submit a revised development plan on June 14, 2021.] “From our perspective, there’s a lot of development going on

For many years now, our watersheds – the land areas from which freshwater flows to a stream, river or lake – have been subject to a growing number of external threats, from global warming to pollution to urban sprawl and mismanaged intensification. in the area already, so why do we have to build on this very sensitive land,” questions Neate, concerned that the development threatens to cut off Georgian Bay from the watersheds that extend all the way from Blue Mountain.

George Powell, vice chair of the Blue Mountain Watershed Trust, adds one of the most obvious dangers of development taking place in and around wetlands is the threat to natural heritage areas and the flora and fauna indigenous to those areas. “There are species at risk here, from eagles to turtles that are hanging on for dear life. And some of the amphibians, such as salamanders, are actually born inside what we call vertical wetlands that disappear during the summer. So they have to find their way out of the wetland, up into the forest where they actually lay their eggs.”

Groups like Powell’s and Neate’s really are the Davids in the face of immense development pressures, since the province is actively promoting urban growth in this region (as part of its “A Place to Grow” plan), coupled

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with the reality that local towns desperately need to grow their tax base.

But at the very least, says Powell, towns like Collingwood and The Blue Mountains should honour standing commitments to enforce a minimum buffer around wetlands. “A 30-metre buffer is in their official plans, but we rarely if ever get that. In fact, there are certain cases where a developer has had the buffer reduced to 3.5 metres, which is absolutely ridiculous.”

Nature’s Filter & Sponge Apart from preserving nature, wetlands are an essential part of any watershed in that they naturally filter out upstream pollutants before they hit downstream waterways. And yet, despite the essential role they play in flood and pollution mitigation, according to Ducks Unlimited Canada, over 70 per cent of the country’s wetlands in settled areas have either been destroyed or degraded. And not surprisingly in highly urbanized Ontario, the numbers are even worse. Much of this loss stems from converting wetlands to urban or agricultural areas going back to the times of our forefathers.

“We’ve lost about 80 per cent of wetland across Southern Ontario and in some places like Chatham Kent, it’s more like 98 per cent. So we’ve lost a tremendous number of our wetlands,” observes Wasaga Beach-based Owen Steele, who heads up Ducks Unlimited Canada’s conservation efforts here in Ontario.

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With the Nottawasaga Valley area expecting 100,000 new residents by 2031, that could translate into “huge increased runoff and sewage output” – all the more reason to redouble efforts to protect the Minesing and other wetlands in Southern Georgian Bay. Thankfully in our region, we’ve managed thus far to preserve many of our wetlands. A shining example is the Minesing Wetlands, which provides a much-needed safeguard for Georgian Bay. “It’s a huge reservoir that acts like a big sponge and really helps to hold and reduce flooding in the springtime,” notes Steele. “It takes all that water coming off the agricultural land to our south and absorbs it,” and in the process “it will take a bunch of nutrients and pollutants out of the water and help improve water quality before it hits the bay.”

The idea of nutrients flowing into the bay may not sound like a bad thing, especially along parts of the Georgian Bay shoreline where the water is crystal clear. This is because the water is oligotrophic – lacking in such essential nutrients as phosphorous or nitrogen, which are needed for plants and algae to grow.

Nutrients become a source of concern, however, when you have concentrations of phosphorous – from fertilizers used by farmers to help grow their crops – leaching into adjacent streams. In an imperfect storm, these nutrients – working alone or in concert with warmer temperatures and septic or sewage overflow – can cause algae blooms, which can in turn produce such deadly toxins as cyanobacteria, threatening wildlife and humans alike.

Focusing on the critical need for wetlands as part of their conservation efforts, Ducks Unlimited has a stewardship program in place to work with rural landowners, from commercial operations to hobby farms, says Steele. Stewardship activities include everything from tree and grass planting to help keep the water in place, to wetland restoration. Some farms, he notes, “are marginal and aren’t really economical to continue

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FEATURE

Brittany Hope (far left), local conservation coordinator for The Nature Conservancy of Canada and student assistant Samantha Mitchell (left) wade through Willow Creek in the Minesing Wetlands checking on the number and health of aquatic and animal life (below right). A signpost contains information and a map showing the extend of the wetland (below left).

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FEATURE

Members of the Save Silver Creek Wetlands community group (l-r) Duncan Bristow, Paul Neate and Chris Mifflin pose near a sign on Highway 26 marking the entrance to the wetland. The signage on both sides of the highway – erected with the support of the Town of Collingwood, Town of The Blue Mountains, Blue Mountain Watershed Trust and Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority – acknowledges the significance of the wetland. The group erected another sign in the wetland itself opposing a local development the group says would cut off Georgian Bay from the watersheds.

The guiding principle of Low Impact Development is to help maintain and restore a natural water balance in an urban setting by keeping water onsite through the use of such measures as green roofs; cisterns for collection of water runoff, permeable pavement; and the greater use of bioretention areas that include rain gardens, bioswales (vegetated channels designed to absorb water), and more extensive planting of trees and other vegetation. to farm. With those, we work cooperatively with the agricultural community to see if we can convert them back into wetlands.”

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is involved in these reclamation efforts as well. Brittany Hope, who is the conservation coordinator for Georgian Bay and Huronia, says that historically, 100acre properties were given away to prospective farmers in and around the Minesing Wetlands. “They were basically advertised as a place to come farm, but because the land flooded badly in the spring, they were not great places to farm. So now much of it is abandoned farmland, and [left untended] a lot of invasive species have grown in.”

Whether abandoned farmlands or current, marginal farming operations, the NCC, in partnership with such supporting groups as the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, has been actively acquiring or accepting land donations to the point that as of now, more than half of Minesing Wetland’s 11,000 acres are protected from further development.

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Despite this success, Hope remains wary of the twin threats of unchecked development and climate change. “What I have observed in my time here, which has been well-documented, is that the wetlands are getting wetter. And that’s due to development and impermeable surfaces upstream. So, generally the water flow is pretty fast off of those surfaces, whereas on a natural surface, it tends to slowly infiltrate into the ground.” With the Nottawasaga Valley area expecting 100,000 new residents by 2031, that could translate into “huge increased runoff and sewage output” – all the more reason to redouble efforts to protect the Minesing and other wetlands in Southern Georgian Bay. To get a clearer understanding of the absorption qualities of wetlands, Ducks Unlimited is now in the second year of a research project in Southwestern Ontario, where the high concentration of agricultural lands in close proximity to Lake Erie has resulted in increasing algae blooms over the years. “We’re looking at the nutrient capture of restored wetland,”

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Transpiration

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Graphic showing the hydrologic cycle of watersheds, which filter precipitation through to groundwater and eventually out to larger bodies of water such as lakes and oceans.

explains Steele. “How much nutrient is flowing into the wetlands off the farm fields and how much nutrient is flowing out of the wetlands downstream into Lake Erie.”

The findings, which Steele emphasizes are equally applicable to our area, show just what a crucial role wetlands play in soaking up nutrients before they reach major waterways. “We’ve found there’s 39 per cent less phosphorous leaving the wetlands than what came in. So that’s pretty significant.” As an added benefit, the wetland plants are using the nutrients to grow cattails, bulrushes and other species. So the wetlands are actually thriving because of the nutrients flowing in, whereas those same nutrients would be detrimental if they made their way past the wetland to downstream rivers, bays and lakes.

The Nature Conservancy’s Hope says a big reason wetlands capture so many nutrients is they slow down the flow of water from incoming streams, allowing sediment in the water to settle and be absorbed by the soil. “Without wetlands, that water would just completely go down the river and potentially cause flooding. In fact, studies have shown the wetlands cut peak flows during storm events in half.”

She says the Minesing Wetlands have a storm capacity of 66 million cubic metres of water. Putting that into perspective, “It’s like 26,000 Olympic swimming pools. Or, if you try and visualize it on the ground, it would cover about 58 square kilometers with one metre of water – the entire size of the town limits of Wasaga Beach.”

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Going from Grey to Green Despite the overwhelming body of evidence that wetlands are an essential asset for our watersheds, the question that is now top of mind with everyone from politicians to urban professionals to concerned citizens, is not just how do we create more resilient communities in the face of impending disasters, but how do we mitigate such challenges as pollution and flooding in the first place? And are there better ways to promote the economic growth and vitality short of turning the entire region into a nature preserve?

In terms of mitigating urban water runoff associated with new residential development, Mark Palmer, executive director of

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FEATURE

Paul Neate (above left) samples water at the Silver Creek Wetlands. Duncan Bristow (left) shows the location of the wetlands on GPS.

Collingwood-based Greenland International Consulting Engineers, says there’s an opportunity to significantly reduce residential runoff by implementing Low Impact Development (LID) practices more widely.

The guiding principle of LID is to help maintain and restore a natural water balance in an urban setting by keeping water onsite through the use of such measures as green roofs; cisterns for collection of water runoff, permeable pavement; and the greater use of bioretention areas that include rain gardens, bioswales (vegetated channels designed to absorb water), and more extensive planting of trees and other vegetation.

“From a conservation perspective, developers – at least the ones I work with – want to do the right thing [for the environment],” says Palmer. “They want to contribute. But they just also want to be able to buy a piece of land, go to the bank, get their financing and be able to build homes. So if we want them to cooperate and be involved in such

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things as LID, we need to update the design standards … but also work out timelines that are amicable to helping our economy.”

The need to stop doing the same thing and expecting different results shouldn’t fall solely on the shoulders of builders or new residential developments, either. Change needs to occur in existing neighbourhoods and public areas as well. Cognizant of this duty, municipalities from coast to coast are beginning to play an active role in embracing what has become known as the “sponge city” mindset.

For instance, the City of Vancouver has developed a comprehensive Rain Strategy document tied to promoting green rainwater infrastructure on both public and private land. Some cities like Mississauga are using a ‘stick’ approach by introducing stormwater charges, based on the hard surface area homeowners have on their properties. Others, like Kitchener – which also levies a fee tied to impermeable surfaces – have tried using a rebate program that provides a credit for homeowners who take on such tasks as installing a rain barrel or replacing their old asphalt driveways with permeable pavement.

And these communities are learning as they go along. For instance, Kitchener came to the conclusion that the credit program didn’t provide a strong enough incentive for homeowners to act. So they’re now looking at following in the footsteps of cities like Ottawa, which just launched a residential stormwater management program that targets more floodprone neighbourhoods. Ottawa’s program provides homeowners with a credit of up to $5,000 to cover the added cost of doing everything from creating rain gardens to installing permeable driveways.

Palmer describes this sort of rainwater harvesting as “low-hanging fruit,” which is why his firm pioneered a bioroof system on their main office building a few years ago. The system not only collects water but also helps to reduce the “heat island” effect by absorbing solar energy and gradually releasing water, which in turn helps cool the air.

FEATURE

Owen Steele, head of conservation in Ontario for Ducks Unlimited, samples soil from the bottom of the Minesing Wetland.

Engaging from the Ground Up From a much bigger-picture perspective, Palmer is also involved in discussions amongst mayors around the Great Lakes in Canada and the U.S. who are concerned about shoreline water levels and are actively seeking solutions to this daunting challenge. Palmer is just one of many professionals on the front lines of mitigating climate change advocating for the public to play a greater role in both finding and implementing solutions that can positively impact the community.

Palmer is convinced that communities everywhere need to actively manage shoreline lands so they’re more adaptive to environmental change. And he sees public engagement as an essential part of this process. “You’ve got to get them to be part of the solution and not have developers drive [the process].”

Dave Featherstone, a senior ecologist with the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA), says we can all do our bit on the home front through such measures as putting in rain barrels and growing natural gardens that promote biodiversity. “It seems like such a small thing to do, but the cumulative impact is pretty impressive.”

Equally important, he says, is for residents to have their voices heard in public forums instead of passively watching major plans unfold that will impact on the environment. “For instance, with initiatives such as natural heritage mapping (in which NVCA is actively involved), if people are concerned about our natural heritage or types of development, then

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Change needs to occur in existing neighbourhoods and public areas as well. Cognizant of this duty, municipalities from coast to coast are beginning to play an active role in embracing what has become known as the “sponge city” mindset. it’s a great opportunity for the public to become involved and make their views known. It’s really where the rubber hits the road.”

Getting the public to play a more active role in local decision making isn’t likely to be an overnight process. As with any transformative change, it could very well be a multigenerational or youth-up process. Which perhaps helps to explain that in contrast to boomers, millennials are more focused on driving the world away from eating meat than driving cars.

Responding to this citizen engagement challenge, groups such as the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority plan to ramp up their educational programs. “We really want to start moving forward with educational tools to educate people about what a watershed is,” says Granthier. “Right now, if you were to ask ‘what do you think people get about the watershed concept,’ I think the reality is that most people

How You Can Help 10 things you can do today

REDUCE ROOFTOP RUNOFF: Excess runoff can cause flooding and stream bank erosion during rainstorms.

Minimize runoff by redirecting downspouts into vegetated areas, installing rain barrels or planting a rain garden. Use the stored water for your garden and other landscaping.

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MINIMIZE FERTILIZER: Nutrients from fertilizer runoff can lead to excess plant and algae growth in waterways. Have your soil tested to determine fertilizer needs and only apply the recommended amount of each nutrient.

2

MAINTAIN YOUR SEPTIC SYSTEM: Septic system failures can be costly and can contaminate groundwater and nearby surface waters. Have your septic system inspected and pumped every three years.

SCOOP THE POOP: Pet waste left out in the yard, on sidewalks or on roadsides washes away when it rains and is a major contributor to bacteria problems in local waterways. Dispose of pet waste properly by flushing it down the toilet, burying it in your yard or putting it in a sealed bag in the trash.

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CONTRACTORS

PROPERLY DISPOSE OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE: Never pour chemicals, pharmaceuticals, oil or paint into the storm drain. Check with your county’s household hazardous waste program to properly dispose of or recycle chemicals and keep them out of your waterways.

5

GO NATIVE: Reduce your lawn by adding native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to your landscape. They require less water and fertilizer and are more resistant to pests and disease since they are already adapted to local conditions.

6

PLANT A STREAM BUFFER: If you have a stream on your property, provide a natural buffer of native trees and shrubs along its banks to help filter polluted runoff, control erosion, and provide essential fish and wildlife habitat.

7

USE COMMERCIAL CAR WASHES: The best place to wash your car is at a commercial car wash, many of which filter their water before directing it to treatment plants. If you wash your vehicle at home, park it on the grass first, so your lawn absorbs some of the detergent runoff and contaminants.

8

BE WATER WISE: Conserve water by using low-flow faucets, showers and toilets, repairing leaks, taking shorter showers, and turning off the tap when brushing your teeth. Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when full, and wash your car and water your lawn only when necessary. You will not only be conserving water but also saving money!

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GET INVOLVED: We all live in a watershed, and every drop counts. Do your part by joining your local watershed organization, participating in community clean-ups, and supporting environmental legislation.

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FEATURE

Owen Steele of Ducks Unlimited checks on the health of cattails in the Minesing Wetland. Cattails are essential to the filtration wetlands provide, preventing harmful algal blooms by capturing excess phosphorous and nitrogen.

don’t get it. If you take the time to educate people about watersheds, they will understand. But right now, when we talk about watersheds, most people don’t know what that means.”

As part of spreading the word, Georgian Bay Forever’s Sweetnam says it’s all about “connecting people with their shoreline and connecting people with the water,” in contrast to the current disconnect some of us seem to have. As if to underscore this argument, Sweetnam recalls something he recently witnessed: “I saw somebody smoking a cigarette, and then they stepped over the storm sewer and they threw it down the storm sewer thinking out of sight, out of mind, right? That it won’t be on the street at least.” Unbeknownst to that person, however, “that storm sewer doesn’t have any filter on it. So whatever goes (into the storm sewer) flows right out into Georgian Bay.” Clearly we have work to do, and it starts with educating residents of all ages (from pre-schoolers to senior citizens) as well as local governments, businesses and developers about the importance of watersheds and the numerous benefits they provide, from scrubbing our water clean to flood control and promoting biodiversity. Through education, increased awareness and action, we can all do our part to protect these natural wonders, ensuring an ample supply of clean, fresh water to drink and enjoy for centuries to come. ❧

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Find Out More To learn more about wetlands, watersheds and how you can help, visit these websites: Blue Mountain Watershed Trust watershedtrust.ca Ducks Unlimited Canada ducks.ca Georgian Bay Forever georgianbayforever.org Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation georgianbaygreatlakesfoundation.com Grey Sauble Conservation Authority greysauble.on.ca Nature Conservancy of Canada natureconservancy.ca Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority nvca.on.ca

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FOOD & DRINK

How local restaurants, food businesses and beverage purveyors have pivoted, survived and thrived through challenging times

by MARC HUMINILOWYCZ photography by JESSICA CRANDLEMIRE

S

ince the beginning of the pandemic, many of us have longed for the days when we could get together with family and friends to leisurely enjoy a delicious, well-prepared and amiably served dinner in one of our region’s wonderful dining establishments. At the very least, growing tired of cooking meals or relying on fast food takeout, we crave variety and good “comfort” food during these stressful times.

Needless to say, the on again-off again

pandemic restrictions and closures have caused havoc for most of our region’s businesses. But for restaurants and other providers of fresh and prepared food, struggling to maintain kitchen and server staff and juggling supplies of fresh food ingredients while complying with strict COVID protocols and capacity restrictions have been especially challenging. Some have closed permanently, while others have pivoted, survived and even thrived amid the COVID chaos.

Left: Shaun Edmonstone and Nicole Paara became the new owners of the Bruce Wine Bar during the pandemic and weathered the storm by offering a large selection of wines and prepared meals, along with pre-mixed cocktails and ‘grab and go’ lunches.

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49

“Diversifying can hurt, but it can also help. Having more than one opportunity for revenue is vital. We want to be known for more than just a dining experience, sharing food and wine with people in many ways.”

NICOLE PAARA, BRUCE WINE BAR

As the owner of mycollingwood.ca, a well-established online community portal to local businesses, news and events in Southern Georgian Bay, Julie Card is solidly plugged into the local restaurant scene. “Our restaurants have had to continually pivot to adapt to ever-changing rules in a number of ways,” Card observes, pointing to reservation systems that limit the number of people in reception areas, short time slots, online contact tracing, widening product lines, operating with skeleton staff, and organizing efficient delivery.

Sadly, says Card, some well-established restaurants closed permanently due to the enforcement of capacity limits. Others, when allowed to open, chose to restrict dining patrons to locals only, a move that irked weekenders from outside the region but gained tremendous local support.

“A lot of our restaurants had staff that has worked together for years. It’s been difficult for restaurant owners to lay off people they consider part of the family,” notes Card. “Moving forward, restaurants will need to adopt more streamlined online reservation

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and ordering systems, and expand their food/market offerings if they haven’t already done so. Hopefully, patios will remain open this summer. Full credit to Collingwood and The Blue Mountains, who moved quickly last year to allow for the expansion of patios and patio applications valid for an entire year. And, with any luck, Collingwood’s annual Patiolicious event will be open.”

Although their doors have been closed and they have been restricted to pick-up and delivery throughout much of the pandemic, many of our favourite restaurants and fresh food providers have come to our culinary rescue. Here is just a sampling of what they are doing to make it possible.

Restaurants The Curly Willow, which opened in Collingwood four years ago, is a family-owned neighbourhood eating establishment that

FOOD & DRINK

Far left, Cindy Cooper and Nicole Paara get meals ready for take-out at Bruce Wine Bar. Top left, Co-owner Shaun Edmonstone prepares pizzas for the oven (top right). Left, Cindy Cooper prepares cocktails.

Above, lunch items and baked goods prepared by the Bruce’s new pastry chef.

has not only survived but thrived during the pandemic thanks to a combination of a fiercely loyal base of local customers and a small staff of mostly family.

“We count our lucky stars every day,” says co-owner and chef Linda Sloat, attributing her restaurant’s success to its simple business model. “Last year, we cut our staff from six to four people: me in the kitchen, my husband at the front of the house, my daughter serving and one other part-time staff member. There’s a general feeling that small restaurants won’t survive during COVID. You can if you have loyal customers, not a lot of staff to pay, plus the support of landlords and the government.”

On Valentine’s Day, The Curly Willow gave away free dinners for people who needed them, nominated by clients who, in turn, received gift cards. The restaurant offered takeout service for dinners only during the lockdowns.

“Who would have thought that people are buying filet mignon and salmon right now, but they are!” says Sloat, noting that as volume has decreased, the juggling of fresh inventory (mitigated in part by using local suppliers) and keeping staff interested in returning when things open up pose ongoing challenges.

As to the future, Sloat is crossing her fingers that patio dining will continue throughout the summer. “There’s no COVID playbook,

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FOOD & DRINK

big investment,” says Edmonstone. “Today, things are on a different scale. Success now is a combination of strong online activity, dropoff catering, maintaining 10 full- and part-time staff, and keeping ahead of the price increases in our product supply chain, like vegetable oil that used to cost $19 per pail jumping to $32 per pail, and pizza boxes increasing from $15 to $21 per case.”

In order to adapt to the new lockdown reality, Bruce Wine Bar introduced a successful program of weekly pickup Meal Kits last January, with all preparation work done in their kitchen, leaving only one to two steps for patrons to cook and serve at home. “By offering a different meal every week, often with unexpected flavour profiles, our customers can bring a bit of Bruce home and enjoy a really good meal using Ontario products whenever possible,” says Edmonstone. One menu example featured Yellowfin tuna, ginger and tamari fried rice, carrot slaw, Ontario edamame, and Hawaiian wedding cake for dessert, with a wine pairing.

“We have to rely on the summer patio scene to take us to winter, but also offer takeout and delivery, an all-day lunch menu, fixedprice featured dinners Friday and Saturday, a takeout-specific menu and an expanded selection of frozen prepared meals.”

SIMON NEWBOLD, CHEZ GILLES

Gilles Haché, owner and executive chef of Chez Gilles Fine Dining & Catering in Meaford, donated more than 20,000 meals over the course of the pandemic.

and I don’t know anything we could have done better. You just have to go with it, look after yourself, and look after others.”

Bruce Wine Bar in Thornbury, opened in 2011, has enjoyed a loyal following and consistent business over the years among locals, weekenders and tourists, offering (prior to the pandemic) two dining rooms, an impressive selection of wines, Tuesday corkage, open mic nights, lunches, dinners and catering. Last November, ownership of the restaurant was taken over by chef Shaun Edmonstone and local entrepreneur Nicole Paara.

“When COVID-19 hit in March, 2020, we closed for a couple of weeks, then a small group of us offered curbside pickup three days a week, increasing to five days a week last summer,” says Edmonstone.

“We opened our Bodega bottle shop in the lower dining room, which helped us weather the storm by offering a large selection of wines and prepared meals, pre-mixed cocktails, and ‘grab and go’ lunches.

Six months ago, we brought on a pastry chef to add to our menus.”

When the pandemic hit, Bruce Wine Bar needed to transition quickly from zero per cent to 60 per cent of sales from online orders. “We needed to switch our POS (Point of Sale) provider – a

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“Moving forward, we will continue our takeout program and bodega, and open dining when the time is right, focusing as always on community and ‘farm to table’ local,” says co-owner Nicole Paara. “Diversifying can hurt, but it can also help. Having more than one opportunity for revenue is vital. We want to be known for more than just a dining experience, sharing food and wine with people in many ways.”

Gilles Haché, a renowned chef with a big heart, has not only managed to survive during the pandemic but has also fed thousands of families in need across Grey County. Haché is owner and executive chef of Chez Gilles Fine Dining and Catering in Meaford, which offers traditional Acadian cuisine with a modern twist, East Coast fare and classic French-influenced fine dining.

Haché, who also does charitable work in food education, began his community service efforts in the early stages of COVID by distributing free bread out of his Aubergilles B&B in Eugenia.

Seeing a greater need to feed people, he transitioned to preparing and delivering full meals – from 400 to 600 per week – to families in the region, supported by more than 40 volunteers who help with food preparation, packaging, administration and delivery (as of this writing, the donated meals were being offered bi-weekly).

According to Simon Newbold, Chez Gilles’ manager and maître d’, the costs for these meals – now in excess of 20,000 delivered, with a combined price tag of $100,000 – initially came out of Haché’s own pocket, but thanks to contributions from Grey County, local businesses, fundraising events and small donations at delivery points, the program is now breaking even.

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FOOD & DRINK

“Let’s be honest, the pandemic sucks. We’re grateful to have regular customers and fantastic local support, but we’ve lost a ton of business due to the closures as everyone has.”

GEOFF CONWAY, NORTHWINDS BREWHOUSE & KITCHEN

As to the restaurant business, hours have been reduced, staff has been cut down to two, and menu items have been simplified. “The amount of work Gilles is still willing to put in is admirable, often working from 5 am to 9 p.m. seven days a week,” says Newbold.

“Looking forward, Chez Gilles can normally seat up to 40 people.

When we re-open, capacity will be 18 at best. We have to rely on the summer patio scene to take us to winter, but also offer takeout and delivery, an all-day lunch menu, fixed-price featured dinners Friday and Saturday, a takeout-specific menu, and an expanded selection of frozen prepared meals.”

Beer, Cider & Food

Top, Kendra Robertson delivers a Moto Pizza from Northwinds Brewhouse & Kitchen. Among Northwinds’ other offerings during the pandemic were Beer to Go (above middle) along with a variety of takeout options.

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“Let’s be honest, the pandemic sucks,” says Geoff Conway, founder of Northwinds Brewhouse & Kitchen, with upscale, family-focused pubs in Collingwood and Blue Mountain Village serving quality craft beers alongside seasonal, local foods.

“We’re grateful to have regular customers and fantastic local support, but we’ve lost a ton of business due to the closures as everyone has,” Conway adds. “But I’m thankful that, given our location in the province, there have been more months than not when we’ve been able to open, offering safe, secure dining, which carried us through the past year.”

Asked what types of challenges Northwinds has faced during the

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Above, Thornbury Village Cider & Brew House opened a new and expanded patio this summer for distanced enjoyment. Top left, retail and hospitality manager Derek Hammond. Lower left, assistant manager Jaime Sirna serves customers at the take-out window.

“You make plans, but rules change. The pandemic has fine-tuned our ability to be adaptive. All you can do is make an educated guess, adjusting as you go along, and make it work safely for us and our guests.”

DEREK HAMMOND, THORNBURY VILLAGE CIDER & BREW HOUSE

pandemic, Conway admits the answer is not simple. “From ensuring staff and guests are safe to managing staffing, to inventory issues, to deciding what to sell in-house and what travels well as takeout, to planning beer packaging (kegs or cans) – it’s been really complicated,” he says. “You have to fight every day to stay above water, thinking day and night, searching for new ideas to promote offerings and engage customers, knowing that all you can offer is curbside.”

Thanks to Conway’s ingenuity, Northwinds launched a number of measures to pivot and adapt to the COVID reality: an online beer store; switching its menu to an online ordering system with curbside pickup; modifying its lunch menu with reduced prices; offering

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“family feast” one-stop, complete family dinners; and introducing a new pizza concept, “Moto Pizza” – signature and “build your own” Detroit-style pizzas – which has been very successful.

Driving through Thornbury over the past year, it was difficult to miss a collection of clear geodesic-shaped “igloos” on the patio of Thornbury Village Cider & Brew House. Over the past fall, patrons in the same “bubble” could gather to safely to enjoy refreshments and food, secure in the knowledge that staff were taking orders and serving them from outside each igloo and that each enclosed space was thoroughly sanitized and the air exchanged between customers – steps enacted in consultation with the Grey Bruce Health Unit.

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FOOD & DRINK

Left, Kyle Oakley, co-owner of Goldsmith’s Orchard Market in Thornbury. Above, Karen O’Donnell arranges some fresh local asparagus in the store. This spring saw the addition of an outdoor tent offering a variety of flowers and plants.

“The way people are shopping has changed. There’s no more shopping for small orders. People are stocking their freezers, and demand for frozen entrées is huge.”

DEBBY OAKLEY, GOLDSMITH’S ORCHARD MARKET

“Our service model completely changed with COVID,” says retail and hospitality manager Derek Hammond. “Before, we had two separate indoor seating spaces and a retail area, with no table service. You ordered at the bar and brought your drinks and food to your table. When the pandemic hit, we closed off our tables and tap rooms and switched completely to curbside.”

In mid-June of last year, outdoor patios were allowed. “It was short notice but appreciated, and the town was very helpful. For Canada Day, we were allowed to extend our seating into the parking lot, with a retail tent on the deck,” says Hammond. Table service, with social distancing, was introduced, and a small selection of “nibble” menu items was offered to patrons.

“People really liked our table service model. It was eye-opening.

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As our food sales tripled and tips more than doubled, we realized that this is a better model for us, but being mindful of not competing with local restaurants,” he adds.

While most patrons were cooperative, Hammond admits that there were a few issues with the model from a seating/distancing perspective. Some patrons, like a large group of male cyclists claiming to be in the same social “bubble” and insisting on sitting together, tried to bend the rules. And there were lineups, an inconvenience the cidery tried to minimize by giving out free bags of Kettle Chips and hiring live musical entertainment.

“It’s been a year of learning and a constant evolution of figuring out where things are going to go, but it’s a smooth process now,” says Hammond, who looks forward to offering patio service this

summer. “You make plans, but rules change. The pandemic has fine-tuned our ability to be adaptive. All you can do is make an educated guess, adjusting as you go along, and make it work safely for us and our guests.”

Fresh & Frozen Food Purveyors When Debby and Kyle Oakley took over Goldsmith’s Orchard Market on the western end of Thornbury in 2013, the business was a seasonal market. Today, it is a very successful year-round enterprise offering fresh, local fruit and vegetables, fresh baked goods, frozen meats and entrées, and more.

Like other food businesses, Goldsmith’s was impacted by the pandemic, although not in a completely adverse way. In the beginning, faced with overloaded phone lines and dozens of emails daily from hungry customers, with resulting inventory shortages, the market was forced to quickly adapt to online shopping – no easy task with over 4,000 products on offer, some subject to fluctuating market conditions.

“Thankfully, we’re now fulfilling 95 per cent of what our customers are asking for,” says Debby Oakley. “The way people are shopping has changed. There’s no more shopping for small orders.

People are stocking their freezers, and demand for frozen entrees is huge.” Where people used to shop often for a few items, they are now limiting their visits and buying more, she observes.

To ensure a comfortable in-store shopping experience for patrons, Goldsmith’s is keeping capacity lower than required under the rules – four to six people at a time. “We stand in line to experience what our customers are experiencing, and we’ve installed a wireless traffic light at the door, controlled by cashier staff, so they don’t need to keep an eye on the door,” Oakley adds.

Like Goldsmith’s, Black Angus Fine Meats & Game in Craigleith has continued to do well despite the pandemic. Drawing from a loyal client base of local residents and weekenders, it is a small, personalized butchery that specializes in made-to-order cuts of meat as well as frozen and prepared foods.

“Our philosophy is that people need to eat three times per day, so you want to make sure you have what they need,” says owner Sean Kelly. “You’re not fooling anyone. Many of the people here are from the city. They demand world-class product and prefer to

Sean Kelly, owner of Black Angus Fine Meats & Game in Craigleith, cuts meat to order and also offers a variety of frozen meats and prepared foods.

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FOOD & DRINK

Sam Howell (left) and Caesar Guinto shifted gears during the pandemic to open Nicky’s Donuts & Ice Cream in Collingwood, which quickly saw line-ups down the street.

“Early that first morning, our phones were going ding, ding, ding, but we were all sold out of donuts before opening. From that time on, it’s been strictly lineups and walk-in.”

CAESAR GUINTO, NICKY’S DONUTS & ICE CREAM

get it here instead of bringing it up with them. My customers have my cell number. They just call me and place their order for the cuts of meat they want.”

Kelly sees the COVID culture as more than just a short-term phenomenon. “People are home a lot more, and they’re learning to cook again,” he says. “If you’re living in a $2-million home, why not make the best of it?”

Takeout Treats Eating “healthy” food is important, especially in these stressful times. But some days we need a treat that lifts our spirits, and during the pandemic many of us increased our intake of everything sweet,

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creamy or doughy. Enter Nicky’s Donuts & Ice Cream in Collingwood, an enterprise that opened last January in the dark, wintry days of the pandemic with an enticing tagline: “Come on get happy!”

Founded by Caesar Guinto, executive chef, and Sam Howell, general manager of Black Bellows, who found themselves laid off when COVID-19 forced the shutdown of the eating establishment, Nicky’s was an inspiration born out of adversity.

“We did a lot of thinking about the food and beverage industry,” says Guinto. “We used to own Creemore Kitchen, where we worked long hours, and realized that, if we’re going to put in the effort, we should open our own thing. We had moved to Collingwood last October and liked the urban vibe. So we looked at what was missing here and realized that we could open a place selling handmade donuts and ice cream, which we perfected in Creemore.”

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FOOD & DRINK

Kasie Rutlege (left) loads a tray of fresh donuts onto a rack ready for customers. The dough (top) is made the day before and sits overnight for better flavour, before being formed into donuts, fried, glazed and iced.

After 10 months of planning how their shop would look and experimenting with different flavours, Guinto and Howell opened Nicky’s on Third Street near Hurontario. “At first, we had doubts and thought, ‘who the hell is going to buy this stuff?’ ” recalls Howell. “We had an online platform set up and promoted the shop via Instragram. Our donut doughs are made the day before and sit overnight for better flavour, and we fry them in the morning.”

Guinto picks up the story: “Early that first morning, our phones were going ding, ding, ding, but we were all sold out of donuts before opening. From that time on, it’s been strictly lineups and walk-in.”

Nicky’s best-selling ice cream is a Filipino favourite containing sweet corn, blueberry and cream cheese. Carrot Cake ice cream and Everything Banana Split are also popular. “We’re in awe and totally humbled seeing the lineups outside our door,” Howell adds.

The pandemic, now in its second year, has dramatically changed the way we live, work, play, and eat. Gone are the days, for now at least, of breaking bread with family and friends in a favourite

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restaurant, being served at our table with a friendly smile, with no clean-up afterwards. As we cook like never before, we look forward to an occasional respite with a dash of exotic flavour or a comforting treat. Fortunately for us, local restaurants and fresh food shops have responded to our culinary desires, and we are hungrily supporting them in return. ❧

VOICE YOUR APPRECIATION! Do you have a favourite restaurant, food or beverage business, owner or worker that you’d like to recognize for going “above and beyond” during the pandemic?

Email readermail@onthebaymagazine.com and we’ll include your shout-out in our next issue.

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Interior VIEWS

Lockdowns and Zoom calls have elevated the importance of art in beautifying our walls and interior spaces

by JUDY ROSS photography by JESSICA CRANDLEMIRE

I

t’s a dark day in late spring, still deep in the pandemic, and my computer screen is bright with the sun-splashed image of a summer lake. I have clicked on a painting, an original oil on canvas, and zoomed in to the thick brush strokes. Streaks of white capture sunlight shimmering across the water. For days I’ve been scrolling through websites and browsing digital platforms looking at this artist’s work.

This work by Bill Franks, an artist at the Tremont Studios in Collingwood, creates a welcoming tableau in the front foyer of his own home.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF BUTTER GALLERY

HOME IMPROVEMENT & STYLE

In normal times, I would have attended a gallery opening, met the artist in person, sipped a glass of wine or two, and watched red dots appear as paintings sold. But the traditional art market ground to a halt in March 2020 and with it the oldschool ways of buying art, which included gallery visits, trips to museums and art fairs, attending festivals and studio tours, and the chance to meet artists and art dealers in person.

Browsing online, I found my lake painting for sale at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, which was closed due to COVID. Not planning to purchase without a ‘live’ viewing, I contacted the gallery administrator. She arranged to ship the 3x4-foot painting to my home in Collingwood, on approval for 48 hours.

It arrived packed carefully in bubble wrap and cardboard and was more luminous than I expected, with more depth than the online version. I loved it. And thus I became one of thousands of art lovers who has discovered buying, or at least searching, for art online.

At Butter Gallery in Collingwood, despite the pandemic, the past year has been a very good one. “People have really been

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This large work by Butter Gallery artist Sherry Czekus, titled Queuing to Wait, is the perfect complement to a contemporary living room.

“Everyone became a décor critic and conscious of what was being seen in the background on Zoom meetings. People want something more interesting than a blank wall or a messy bookshelf.”

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A deep purple wall sets off this stunning painting, titled Evening Bell, by Butter Gallery artist Jerzy Werbel.

on a mission to buy art,” says Suzanne Steeves, co-owner of the gallery. “Part of the reason is Zoom calls. Everyone became a décor critic and conscious of what was being seen in the background on Zoom meetings. People want something more interesting than a blank wall or a messy bookshelf.”

Gallery owners say that many clients have become comfortable buying art online without having an in-person gallery visit. Millennials, who represent a growing sector of the art buying market, are more adept at using digital platforms.

Video calls are one way to present a painting to a prospective buyer, zeroing in for close-up details and then moving around to show the piece from different angles and in different light situations. According to gallery owners, buyers who are already familiar with an artist’s work are more inclined to make a purchase this way.

“Generally there are fewer online sales in the higher price ranges,” notes Steeves. “People want to see it in person if they’re spending five figures or more.” But, like other gallery owners, Steeves and her partner Andrea Rinaldo are constantly working on new ways to connect during these pandemic days.

“We sometimes get clients to send a photo of their room and wall space and then we can digitally superimpose the painting on the wall,” she explains. “It can give a pretty good idea. It’s never going to be the same pleasurable experience as being inside the gallery and seeing the painting up close, but we are doing everything to make it work.”

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Two of Bill Franks’ paintings are right at home against a rustic farmhouse wall.

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Heather Carroll, owner of the Loft Gallery in Thornbury, observes that, “rather than lamenting over what we have lost, artists have had to develop and adapt to a new way of doing business.” One ingenious example is her gallery’s ‘Art In A Box’ painting classes. In normal times, these popular painting workshops with artist Janet Liesemer were held onsite at the gallery. Now, through a joint effort of the gallery and the artist, these boxes are available through the gallery website and allow people to work with the artist and create at home.

Liesemer has put together a number of the art boxes, each with a different image. Included in the box is everything needed to complete the painting (paint, brushes, paper, etc.) along with a link to a YouTube video of the artist teaching step by step how to paint the image. “It is truly the next best thing to being with her live,” enthuses Carroll.

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During the pandemic, The Loft Gallery began offering ‘Art in a Box’ painting classes, including several by artist Janet Liesemer.

The kits include everything needed to complete a painting, and the artists present step-by-step workshops on YouTube.

Other Loft Gallery artists such as Jennifer Woodburn, Debra Lynn Carroll, Lorne McDermott and Brian Buckrell have also been finding new ways to connect now that the gallery is closed. Growing a social media platform is now essential for all artists. Woodburn has started her own online store, which allows buyers to scroll through her artwork and see photographic examples of it in situ.

“It’s been a challenge for them to stay motivated during this emotional rollercoaster,” says Carroll of the challenges artists have faced through the pandemic. “I am amazed at how they’re coping.”

The artists at the Tremont building in Collingwood suffered a double blow this past year. First the restaurant on the main floor closed and then COVID hit. “We all suffered when the restaurant closed,” says Bill Franks, one of the 12 artists who rent studio space on the second floor of the heritage building, “because a lot of our sales came from people coming upstairs before or after a meal and browsing through our studios.”

But then last fall, despite the pandemic and the shuttered restaurant, sales picked up. “We were seeing people by

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The Craig Gallery in Meaford is a family affair owned by artist Bridget Light and Jonathan Craig, a special effects makeup artist and sculptor.

During lockdown, they put together a 360-degree virtual tour of the gallery, which allows art lovers to peruse the gallery and click on a specific work for details.

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appointment only,” says Franks, “but there was suddenly a big demand for art. People were stuck at home, nobody was travelling, and they were tired of staring at their walls. They wanted to spend money on making their homes more appealing.

I sold 70 paintings between September and December.”

Online marketing allows artists to reach a broader audience.

Sites like Saatchi Art, Gallea and Singulart have enjoyed increasing traffic. Etsy, an online arts marketplace, reported a 95 per cent increase in searches for wall art (comparing March to December, 2020 with the same nine months in 2019.)

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“A lot of artists live in remote areas with poor internet.

They’ve been left with no way to reach the public.”

LORY MACDONALD

Nottawa-based artist and entrepreneur Lory MacDonald was running a successful business producing art festivals – live events that took place over long weekends in Toronto and Kingston. These festivals showcased everything from gourmet food to music to poetry readings and arts and crafts with up to 225 artists exhibiting their wares. And then COVID hit. “Everything got cancelled,” she laments. “My life imploded. I wasn’t prepared for this at all.”

MacDonald turned her energies to empowering artists to sell their work online. “A lot of artists live in remote areas with poor internet. They’ve been left with no way to reach the public.”

She has built a permanent online store (shop.artfestontario. com) featuring a range of artworks and has teamed up with local organizations like the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts (BMFA) to allow artists to showcase and sell their work.

Even multi-million-dollar purchases of art are taking place online. The venerable art auction house Sotheby’s held more than 100 online sales between March and June last year and sales totalled $200 million dollars. The same period (pre-Covid) in 2019 saw 40 online sales and brought in $23 million Dollars.

Some businesses benefit from people being cooped up at home, staring at walls and being sick of what they see. With real estate skyrocketing, it made sense to beautify our home investment, and make it more liveable. Buying art is a good way to do that.

In our area the influx of city escapees purchasing homes, or renovating existing ones, has boosted business for builders and anyone connected to homes and renovations. Some artists have teamed up with realtors, arranging to have their work on the walls of a home listed for sale so it can be viewed by potential buyers. Even when open houses got cancelled and home showings went virtual, the artist’s work could still be seen, which often led to a purchase.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT & STYLE

In addition to showing his works at his Clarksburg gallery, artist Don Kilby (lower right), is teaming up with designers to get his art seen by the public. Far right, Kilby’s official “greeter,” his dog, Brownie, was missing the attention from customers during lockdown.

“All artists are working on new ways to reach customers. Having an engaging, easily navigated website is more important than ever.”

DON KILBY Artists like Don Kilby have also benefitted by teaming up with designers to get their art seen by the public. “I have my work for sale at the Van Allen Design Centre in Collingwood and it is a good combination,” says Kilby. “A customer might choose a sofa and then see my painting hanging above it and end up buying the painting as well.”

Meanwhile, local galleries like the Craig Gallery in Meaford are proving how flexible they can be by “upping our online game,” as owner and artist Bridget Light says. She and her husband, Jonathan Craig, opened the gallery in August 2019 and, with the upheaval of openings and closings, have worked hard to establish an online presence. They put together a

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360-degree virtual tour of the gallery, which allows patrons to view the gallery interior and click on a specific work of art to get further details. “This has allowed us to broaden our reach to people outside the area,” says Light, “but generally the next step would be to come to the gallery and see the work in person.”

Last April the couple held a virtual “Artist Talk and Wine Tasting” with artist Philip Craig, Jonathan’s father. The original plan was for the elder Craig to teach a course in the gallery based on his travels and paintings of Tuscany and the wine tasting involved an Italian red from that region. “But that event got squashed,” says Light, “so we decided to hold it online. We sold tickets and donated the money ($900) to the

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOFT GALLERY

HOME IMPROVEMENT & STYLE

Lorne McDermott touches up his 60 x 96 seascape, “In Search of Serenity,” at the Loft Gallery in Thornbury. Left, “A Tranquil Spirit”

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PHOTO COURTESY OF BUTTER GALLERY

Meaford Food Bank. It was a lot of fun. But because the artist’s studio is in the countryside where internet is spotty, we had a lot of technical issues.”

Other artists and photographers are rising to the technical challenges and finding that they can reach audiences online that they never could have reached before. “It has been an up and down ride this past year,” says Kilby, who recently moved to a new gallery space in Clarksburg, “I think all artists are working on new ways to reach customers. Having an engaging, easily navigated website is more important than ever.”

One thing the pandemic has allowed is time to do things that have been on the back burner for ages. In Kilby’s case, he is launching a digital bi-monthly newsletter to keep in touch with existing customers. “I’m already active on Instagram and I find that once customers buy a painting there’s a good chance they’ll come back. The digital newsletter will keep them up to date on my latest work.”

As long as we have walls to fill, the art industry will find ways to reach us. As artists pivot to keep up with the everchanging situation, those of us stuck at home are finding that scrolling through online viewing rooms, and checking out artist websites, is a relaxing, absorbing way to pass time. It will never replace the visceral experience of being in an art gallery in person. But it may, as I found out, lead to a successful if totally unplanned purchase. ❧

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Celebrate Canada TURN YOUR GAZE TO THE NORTH – THE WILD IS CALLING! As the pandemic fog lifts across the Canadian landscape, our pristine northern lakes and rivers are coming into clear view. We encourage you to get outside, breath deep, experience nature and embrace your wild side. Looking ahead to 2022, consider joining one of our rejuvenating wilderness canoe trips in the Yukon or Northwest Territories. Imagine the sounds of laughter coming from the campfire during a multi-generational family canoe trip – the unfettered freedom away from devices and protocols - an awesome way to reconnect through a shared Canadian adventure! Canoe North Adventures is your Escape Hatch into feeling alive and free-spirited and creating treasured memories for life.

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AT CANOE NORTH ADVENTURES, we are proud to introduce five of our favourite canoe expeditions in Canada’s far north. These rivers are brimming with magic and mystery – they hold secrets that will reach deep into your soul and change you – forever. Our small groups are carefully selected for maximum enjoyment and river trips are matched with your appropriate level of skill and experience. Our timber-frame Lodge and Outfitting Centre, strategically located in Norman Wells, NWT, overflows with excitement as the floatplanes are loaded with gear and canoes as another epic adventure is launched into the northern wilderness. From the Mackenzie Mountains to the Arctic Coast, from the Klondike Gold Rush to the Legends of Nahanni, we are excited to share the secrets of these amazing rivers.

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The Keele River – classic and friendly whitewater with spectacular mountain scenery

FAST AND FRIENDLY whitewater carving a turquoise path through dramatic ranges of the Mackenzie Mountains. Ideal for intermediate paddlers and perfect for a multi-generational family adventure. World-class fly-fishing for arctic grayling or bull trout and epic hikes into the alpine with breathtaking panoramic views and a chance to spot woodland caribou or dahl sheep. This 12-day trip will enhance your canoeing skills and knowledge of river-running.

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The Horton River – a journey through a mysterious northern tundra landscape

THE MOST REMOTE and northerly flowing river in mainland Canada, a truly epic adventure on a grand scale perfect for vintage to intermediate paddlers. Smooth and fast current with crystal clear water offering world-class fishing for char, trout and grayling. Big game like muskoxen, caribou, wolves and grizzlies can be seen in full view on the open tundra. A birders’ paradise, from raptors to songbirds, this 12-day trip will dazzle your senses.

The Nahanni River – an epic river adventure, dramatic canyons and iconic Virginia Falls

ICONIC, MAJESTIC, haunting with jaw-dropping scenery the fabled Nahanni River. By raft, this is a perfect family-style trip for all-ages and skill levels. By canoe, the roller-coaster waves through the legendary canyons are fun and challenging for intermediate to advanced paddlers. Highlights include Virginia Falls, Pulpit Rock, Hells Gate, Kraus’s Hot Spring and Sunblood Mountain. Memories for life around every bend, 11day by raft, 13-day by canoe.

The Mountain River – an awesome whitewater experience

BOISTEROUS AND FROLICKING, with six stunning canyons, the Mountain River is considered the most coveted whitewater canoe trip in Canada by seasoned river-guides. The remote setting and frolicking whitewater with jaw-dropping mountain scenery will thrill you right to the confluence of the Mackenzie River.

The canyons are defined by vaulted sheer cliff walls guarded by mysterious “gates” and challenging whitewater suitable for intermediate or advanced canoeists. World-class hiking awaits as challenging peaks create numerous opportunities.

Clockwise from top left: Nikki Ide, Owain Hughes and Rob Burgess practise their golf swing at Tees Please; Susan Brindisi enjoys the view from the top of The Grind trail at Blue Mountain Resort; Eric West kayaks into Georgian Bay from Meaford Harbour, where he offers rentals to introduce others to the joys of kayaking; Aimee Ross, Ian MacLachlan and Ella MacLachlan ride the Georgian Trail between Meaford and Thornbury; Good Energy Coach Sarah Heipel takes a break from one of her general fitness outdoor boot camps at Sunset Point Park in Collingwood.

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e are more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and who would have thought we would still be wearing masks, practising physical distancing, working from home and avoiding indoor gatherings? It’s certainly been a challenging time, and it may continue to be so for some time as we collectively struggle to battle this virus into submission.

So, how can people cope with the isolation and still stay safe? According to infectious disease experts, the answer is: Get Outside!

Respiratory viruses like COVID spread through aerosol droplets that can go from person to person. If an area has poor ventilation – like many indoor spaces – the droplets can accumulate and the amount of virus in these droplets can then reach the point of infecting someone.

The outdoors provides perfect ventilation, said infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch in a recent news interview. If you can safely spread apart from others outside, “the risk of transmission of this infection would be exceedingly small.”

What’s more, just the simple act of heading outdoors and enjoying nature is tremendously beneficial for your mental health, especially if you are feeling anxious and depressed. This is all good news for those of us who live in or visit Southern Georgian Bay. After all, we have quite the outdoor playground.

There’s clean, clear Georgian Bay and the many rivers feeding it that wind their way through the countryside, and a long section of the Niagara Escarpment that hosts an intricate network of Bruce Trail hikes. We can cycle along a flat limestone trail that connects Meaford to Collingwood and every place in between.

With all of this natural beauty at our doorstep, it’s possible to enjoy a number of activities that are considered safe because we can maintain proper physical distancing.

Here are just five ways we can play safely outside this summer to nurture our physical and mental health.

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Out! 5 fun things you can do outside safely this summer

by LAURIE STEPHENS photography by DOUG BURLOCK

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Above right, Susan Brindisi (at left) and Cherie Wilson hike The Grind at Blue Mountain Resort, one of 21 hiking and multi-use trails of varying degrees of difficulty open for hikers who have purchased a day pass or have a 5x7 or Ikon season pass for the 2021 season.

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The name says it all.

The Grind is a 2.27-kilometre ascent that rises 231 metres up the mountain – one section has a pulse-racing 21-per-cent grade – flagged as “very difficult” on Blue Mountain Resort’s hiking trails map.

At one point, it hugs Scenic Caves Road. At others, you can pop out of the trees onto a ski slope and take in some breathtaking views.

“I like that it’s a challenge and you can stop at any point; you look around and the beauty is there,” says experienced hiker Susan Brindisi, 59, of Collingwood. “As you’re hiking, you can turn around and you can see, from any vantage point, the whole bay.”

Cherie Wilson, 52, who frequently hikes with Brindisi, says The Grind, besides being a physical challenge, is very peaceful. It gives her the opportunity to just stop to be in the moment, enjoy the sounds of the birds, and take in what’s around her. “I feel it’s a very safe place,” she adds.

“I’ve hiked it many times by myself and with my dog, and never felt unsafe or that it wasn’t something that a woman by themselves should be doing.”

The Grind is one of 21 hiking and multi-use trails of varying degrees of difficulty maintained across Blue Mountain Resort. They are open during the pandemic for hikers who have purchased a day pass or have a 5x7 or Ikon season pass for the 2021 season.

ACTIVITIES

The Grind is a 2.27-kilometre ascent that rises 231 metres up the mountain, flagged as “very difficult” on Blue Mountain Resort’s hiking trails map.

Becki Relihan, the resort’s director of programming and recreation, says Blue Mountain is following all protocols required by the Grey-Bruce Public Health Unit to ensure the safety of its visitors and staff.

She says hikers will encounter Blue Mountain staff from the moment they exit their cars to all the way through their experience on the hiking trails. There is updated signage that indicates starting and end points of trails, trail names, map images and information about trail etiquette.

“Our adapted plan is to have our team out and around the hiking trails,” she says. “Our mountain ambassadors and patrollers will be encouraging mask-wearing as much as possible, particularly where distancing can’t be maintained. “There are areas on the resort where masks are required, and there won’t be any exemptions. This is to help keep our guests and employees safe when our operations can’t accommodate physical distancing. For example, our team has to come within two metres of guests on the Ridge Runner so that they can check their seatbelts.”

Relihan encourages all hikers to keep their eyes on Blue Mountain’s

social media channels and website for pricing, operating hours, trail network maps and information about mask protocols.

Brindisi says getting outside and exploring nature puts life in perspective, especially when people feel the restrictions of the pandemic.

She often hikes in the morning before she goes to work, finding that it increases her productivity and helps her keep a positive perspective.

When she misses a hike for a couple of days, she can feel that her mental state suffers.

“I just feel really powerful when I get out on the trail; I feel like everything’s well with the world,” she says. “It pumps life and energy in me when I’m out there. It’s almost like being out there on the trail gives you life.”

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ACTIVITIES

Left, Owain Hughes takes a swing at Tees Please. Above, Rob Burgess and Nikki Ide take a break on the putting green.

2 PRACTISE YOUR SWING

Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to focus on just one part of your game – whether it’s your swing or your putting – and golf ranges are the perfect place to practise.

ON THE GOLF RANGE

Ever since the pandemic began, golf has exploded in popularity. With close to 20 golf courses in the Southern Georgian Bay region alone, there’s no shortage of choice and variety for avid golfers. Every once in a while, though, it’s a good idea to focus on just one part of your game – whether it’s your swing or your putting – and golf ranges are the perfect place to practise.

One of the most scenic golf ranges in our area is Tees Please, a popular destination for decades. With more than 40 tee spots near the base of Blue Mountain, golfers can practise their drives or work on other parts of their game while appreciating the view of the Escarpment.

“It has a separate sand trap so you can practise sand shots, it has a putting green, and an area for chipping onto the putting green,” says Rory Ring, 72, a long-time patron. “Most ranges don’t have that.”

Owner Josef Pfurtscheller, 73, says his business has been very busy throughout the pandemic, even with the periodic lockdowns. Last year, Tees Please got about three days’ notice that the range could open on May 20 with the proper protocols in place.

That meant quickly making some changes to how the range operates: creating a pass-through window to distribute baskets of balls, washing the balls before every use, installing a “tap” capacity for credit cards, and prohibiting customers from using their own balls on the putting green.

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No changes were required to the tees themselves because the grass tees are already five steps apart and the mat tees are six feet apart, making mask-wearing optional. Despite the rush and the uncertainty, Pfurtscheller says Tees Please had one of its busiest years ever and hopes this year will be the same. All of the same safety protocols are in place.

“People are very restricted in what they can do, and we already have lots of distance,” he says. “People can go out there and be safe.”

Ring say that getting out on the range has been a way for him to exercise and work his muscles while combatting the isolating effects of the pandemic.

“I don’t want to sit in the house and watch TV all day,” says the Collingwood resident. “From a mental health point of view and from a physical exercise point of view, those things are very important for me.”

Pfurtscheller says it’s rewarding to be able to provide an outdoor activity that is not only safe but also a good workout. He compares “whacking a bucket of balls” to a visit to a gym because 120 swings really work the body.

Just as importantly, he says, it puts smiles on people’s faces during a time when the pandemic can take a toll on someone’s mental health.

“Many of them I would talk to would say, ‘It’s just so amazing that we can come out here and at least do something, get out of the house, and laugh about something or just get some activity going.’ That’s the beauty of this kind of business. People love it.”

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Elizabeth de Groot RBC Dominion Securities with her beloved dog Daisy

NINE, WINE & DINE: A GOLF TOURNAMENT in support of the Georgian Triangle Humane Society September 16th, 2021 – Duntroon Highlands Golf

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“This past year has proven to be isolating and lonely for so many members of our community.

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KAYAK

IN MEAFORD HARBOUR Seat yourself in a kayak on the water and you’ve already accomplished a couple of goals: you’re about to get some exercise and you’re following physical distancing guidelines. Make Meaford Harbour the setting and now you’ve added the element of nautical beauty.

Ringed with massive boulders and shoreline parkland, the harbour is a go-to playground for those who love to hop in a boat and enjoy some time on gorgeous Georgian Bay. And what if you don’t have your own kayak?

That’s where Eric West of Meaford comes in. The 62-year-old entrepreneur and lifelong water enthusiast is establishing a kayak rental business operating out of the Harbour this summer and hopes to pass along his joy of kayaking to others.

“The number one thing for me in terms of the experience is the majesty of Georgian Bay,” he says. “It’s so crystal clear, I just feel it adds something to the experience because what’s underwater is sometimes as interesting as what’s above water. So, it adds this whole other dimension to paddling.”

West began his love affair with kayaking in his teens when he raced K-4 kayaks for the Mississauga Canoe Club. When he moved up from the GTA in 2013, he discovered he could paddle year-round – even in the winter, when he uses collapsed hiking poles to advance his boat across any ice he comes across. “It is amazing to paddle on the banks of a river that are laden with snow. There’s deer all along and they don’t even think about us because we’re out of the ordinary. And it’s super quiet anyway – we often paddle in peace – to let the wildlife do their thing.”

West’s rental business – fittingly called Aquaphilic (“It means waterloving, which literally describes me,” he says) – is located right in the harbour on a renovated houseboat that holds about 25 kayaks of differing kinds that will accommodate everyone from recreational to experienced paddlers.

Meaford Harbour provides the perfect place for kayakers because it has something for everyone, he says. You can hug the shallow shoreline

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Above, Eric West (at right) takes Doug Miller for a paddle on Georgian Bay. Customers of West’s kayak rental business in Meaford Harbour can also paddle the Big Head River (left).

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all the way to Thornbury, venture out into the Bay, or paddle up the Big Head River up to a set of rapids just below Baker’s Bridge.

Doug Miller and his spouse Margot, both in their early 70s, have done all these paddles and more. The Meaford couple originally were avid canoeists – their wedding gift to each other 42 years ago was a cedar strip canoe – but in recent years they have converted to kayaking because the boats handle both the rivers and the Bay well and they can be totally comfortable in a wider range of weather conditions.

“The way I speak of this area, it’s a magical spot where it gives you 10 months of hiking and eight months of paddling a year,” says Miller. “It’s connecting with nature; it’s connecting with humanity, too. I think what we miss most of all are connections. Nature always works that way.”

West says he feels a greater intimacy with the water when in a kayak than in other types of boats; because you’re sitting below the water line, there’s an instant connection with nature. When West heads out for a paddle, he performs a little ritual: he puts his open palms on the surface for a few moments to feel the communion with the water.

“And then you’re getting exercise – you can paddle like a demon for as far as you want, or you can lily-dip along and just enjoy the gentle movement,” he says. “It’s social, but it’s inherently distant. And you’re just creating this incredible affinity with nature.”

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ACTIVITIES

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Above and left, Aimee Ross (at left), Ian MacLachlan and Ella MacLachlan enjoy a ride along the Georgian Trail between Meaford and Thornbury. Right, the McDonald Family – Jen, Kent, Cooper and Mason – have some well-deserved treats from the Thornbury Bakery Café after a ride along the wooden bridge that crosses the Beaver River in Thornbury.

The Georgian Trail is a 34-kilometre-long sliver of nature stretching from Meaford Harbour to Harbourview Park in Collingwood.

CYCLE

THE GEORGIAN TRAIL Bike shorts do not have enough padding. There, I said it.

I am half-way into a 25-kilometre ride along the Georgian Trail – from Meaford to Thornbury and back – with my partner, Rick Floether, and my behind is starting to get a bit sore. Fortunately, we have scheduled a rest stop at the ever-popular Thornbury Bakery, where we can hop off our bikes and enjoy a treat: a pumpkin-cranberry muffin that gives us some energy for the ride back to Meaford.

There’s plenty of action on the trail today: joggers and walkers, some with their dogs, as well as other cyclists, including a middle-aged woman who zooms by us while we are passing through the Lora Bay community.

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“She’s on an e-bike,” says Rick, instantly making me feel better about our own slower pace. “They are such a great idea here with so many hills.”

We see lots of critters on our ride, too. Chipmunks hold their tails high as they scurry across in front of us, blue jays swoop from tree to tree, a fat toad watches us go by. The green canopy on either side of the narrow path hides so many different kinds of birds, the chirping and singing sounds like a symphony. It’s all very soothing.

The Georgian Trail is a 34-kilometre-long sliver of nature stretching from Meaford Harbour to Harbourview Park in Collingwood. A former Canadian National Railway line, it officially opened on October 31, 1989 after the Town of Collingwood purchased the land from CN in 1984.

Now, the maintenance of the trail is shared by the three municipalities through which it travels: Meaford, The Blue Mountains and Collingwood.

Tracing the southern shore of Georgian Bay, it attracts thousands

of walkers, runners, cyclists, snowshoers and cross-country skiers each month. This “linear park” has more than 30 access points, regular markers to track your distance, small bridges over waterways, and rest benches sprinkled all along its length.

This past winter, for the first time ever, the Town of The Blue Mountains groomed the trail from Christie Beach Sideroad to Grey Road 21, providing a flat-packed trail that made it easier for winter use by walkers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers.

Our ride this day into Thornbury was leisurely, but as we head back, we decide to pick up the pace. Still, we’re able to eyeball the scenery.

Rick, an avid golfer, marvels at the lush greens of the Lora Bay golf course. We pass by the bluffs across from Christie Beach, then swing south to where the trail hugs Highway 26 and we ride through a small apple orchard just before we see Grandma Lambe’s, the famous market where you can buy the best apple pie around.

Soon after that, we are back at our access point in Meaford, the backside a little sore, the legs a bit tired, but the soul refreshed from our workout in nature.

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Good Energy Coach Sarah Heipel (above) takes her client Clare Naumovski (far right) through a bootcamp workout session at Sunset Point Park in Collingwood.

TAKE AN OUTDOOR YOGA OR FITNESS CLASS

Outdoor yoga and fitness classes aren’t a new phenomenon in this area, but they’ve taken on a whole new look and feel since the pandemic struck.

Shirlee Williams, owner of Buddha Rider Yoga and Cycling Studio in Collingwood, has been holding yoga sessions outdoors for about 10 years at picturesque Sunset Point. Normally, she would see up to 25 people attend those evening classes as the sun sets over Georgian Bay. But the spring of 2020 saw restrictions in numbers and even a complete shutdown at one point – similar to this year – as the Ontario government and public health officials tried to stem the rise of cases. When Sunset Point re-opened again, Collingwood staff had painted large circles on the grass in the park as a guide for keeping a safe distance apart.

Williams, 51, used the circles for her classes once they resumed and is doing the same this summer. “They are more than far enough apart, and I think people are just so appreciative to be with people,” she says. “I remember the first class (last summer), riding my bike down and seeing people for the first time – because we had only been seeing them on Zoom – I may have actually cried. There was something pretty magical about that.”

Williams won’t be the only fitness professional to use Sunset Point as a studio this summer.

Sarah Heipel, owner of Good Energy Coach, has been leading outdoor general fitness “boot camps” since 2007. Her clients – mostly business professionals – use equipment such as resistance bands, body bars, free weights, body weight, and medicine balls in a 45-minute workout first thing in the morning or after work. The circuit can be modified to accommodate all fitness levels.

About 10 to 15 people typically attend the sessions. To keep the activity safe, each person is given certain pieces of equipment for the first part of

ACTIVITIES

Outdoor yoga and fitness classes aren’t a new phenomenon in this area, but they’ve taken on a whole new look and feel since the pandemic struck. the session and then, half-way through, that equipment is sanitized and given to someone who hasn’t used it yet.

“Having it at Sunset Point, it’s just a beautiful destination,” says Heipel, 43, of Collingwood. “We’re so lucky to be able to use that park to show up before work or after work and just decompress in that space, do something really good for your body and be with like-minded people.”

Claire Naumovski, 62, a resident of The Blue Mountains, has been doing the bootcamp sessions for about eight years, from May to October, rain or shine. The safety precautions in place – the circles on the grass and the cleaning protocols for the equipment – have eased any safety concerns she had.

She’s excited to be part of the close-knit group again this summer.

“I have to say, just being outside with other people is the most amazing feeling,” she says. “It’s social, we are working out, but it feels like it is very normal. It’s just been such a nice way to meet other people in a totally safe way.”

In Thornbury, Shelagh McKee uses the grounds behind Winifred’s Restaurant, by the millpond, for the outdoor yoga sessions she started last year as owner of Mantra Yoga Studio.

The 52-year-old former teacher, who lives in Craigleith, approached the restaurant’s vice president of operations, Neal Lewis, to hold morning yoga sessions there last year after her classes on the Thornbury Pier were shut down due to COVID-19. Lewis also happens to be a client of one of her popular men-only classes.

“It’s so beautiful back there and it’s private, so we wouldn’t have to worry about competing with other people, and he was great with it,” says McKee, adding she is expanding the number of evening sessions she offers, during which she takes her clients on a hike through Loree Forest and then takes them through a yoga practice at the top of The Georgian Peaks Club.

Participants can easily hike six feet apart and the grassy area at the top is more than large enough for a safe yoga session.

“Being outside in the fresh air is what our bodies need right now,” she says. “It’s good for your mental health and your physical health. You’ve got that group capacity, that group mentality where you’re together as a family.”

These are just a handful of the many outdoor options we’re blessed to have in Southern Georgian Bay, which allow us to enjoy nature, stay active, get fit and connect with people while maintaining a safe distance and adhering to current health protocols. How will you get outside this summer? ❧

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BIRD WATCHING

Trail

F E AT H E R S Birds you might spot on your next hike story & illustrations by ANTHONY JENKINS

T

he sun is out, the skies are clear, the Bay is smooth and the temperature balmy. The outdoors beckons!

The exercise, invigoration and inspiration of putting one foot in front of the other across an eye-pleasing swath of nature is irresistible. And the soundtrack to any local hike, if you leave ear buds and iTunes behind, will be birdsong.

We live in a birder’s paradise. Southern Georgian Bay may be our home, but it’s home to more than 100 species of birds as well, and a good half of those cohabit with us year-round.

Some you’ll see and know, some you’ll spot and not have a clue, and some shy species remain seldom seen, inhabiting wet, out-of-the-way nooks and brambled crannies.

Pileated woodpeckers are much larger than their cousins, downy and hairy woodpeckers, and can be found ‘drilling’ for bugs on dead or fallen trees.

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You might spot a house wren (a chatty and cheerful songbird), a brown thrasher (a gifted mimic with a thousand-song repertoire), a wood thrush (spotty-bellied and seldom spotted), red-capped chipper sparrows (inept but avid nest-builders), barn swallows (who could just as easily be called boathouse swallows), pine warblers (who like pines ... and warbling), or others from among a local avian cavalcade of nuthatches, thrushes, owls, orioles, creepers, jays, juncos, robins, or even the odd misdirected emperor penguin (okay, we made that one up).

Birds provide hours of fun, free entertainment, and they’re all around us.

So get out, look around and listen up. You may not be, or become, a birder, but enjoying a hike, spotting a pretty little magnolia warbler in its natural habitat, and hearing it serenading you from a beautiful bower, will be very much its own reward.

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NORTHERN YELLOWSHAFTED FLICKER

Sales Representative

Even for a woodpecker, the northern flicker sports plumage that is complex and beautiful.

Northern Yellow-Shafted Flicker The northern flicker is a woodpecker that didn’t get the memo.

It’s a medium-sized woodpecker that doesn’t peck wood. It’s more of a groundpecker, its preferred diet being ants – particularly succulent ant larvae, which it spears with the hardened tip of its two-inch-long tongue.

It will also eat butterflies, flies, and bugs it uncovers from prised-open cow patties. Look for flickers on the ground in open areas, fields, parks and yards. But not in winter. Unlike other woodpeckers, they head south.

Even for a woodpecker, the northern flicker (also known as a yellowhammer, yarrup or gawker bird) sports plumage that is complex and beautiful: brown face (males wear a black ‘moustache’), grey crown, red nape crescent, black ‘necklace’ at its breast, upper belly and wings barred and black-spotted.

The yellow-shafted flight feathers, just visible from the side, distinguish the yellow-shafted flicker from its red-shafted cousins who are not seen around Georgian Bay, or anywhere in eastern North America.

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Cedar Waxwing These plump, pretty birds are decorated in an eye-pleasing blend of cinnamon, grey and yellow, with a black bandit mask, slim yellow tail band and distinctive and telling (more and more prominent with age) red ‘fingertips’ to the wings. The ‘wax’ in the name is said to come from a long-ago fancy that those ‘fingers’ appear to be dipped in red sealing wax.

The ‘cedar’ comes, maybe, from a winter staple of their diet, cedar berries. For waxwings it is berries, more berries, and fruit year-round, with an occasional side of insects in summer.

Spotting a solo waxwing is rare. Social birds, they are happiest in flocks. You’d never call flocks of waxwings ‘choirs,’ however. Poor songbirds, they emit thin, tuneless whistles.

Waxwing flocks may be seen locally. Or not. They’re unpredictable nomads with no fixed address. Try looking in the margins of forests, along shrubby riverbanks or in especially berry-bearing suburban gardens. But if you spot a waxwing and his good-time buddies staggering around your yard, be kind and leave them be. Berries ferment; they’re drunk!

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Red-winged Blackbird The male red-winged blackbird is just that, when he chooses: a medium-sized glossy black bird with a sharp, pointy beak and vivid red shoulder flashes (called epaulettes) bordered in yellow.

In spring breeding season when claiming and defending a reedy wetland territory – from swanky swamp to low-rent drainage ditch – his red wing flashes are noisily displayed as both allure to mates and warning to rivals.

His females (Monogamy? No thanks!) sport the dull mottled browns of their nesting turf. Both sexes aggressively defend their territory, attacking much larger birds and harassing intruding humans. Bring binoculars – or a hardhat!

Outside breeding season, males mellow and appear to be mere blackbirds, coyly concealing those provocative red epaulettes. At those times, red-winged blackbirds can form in huge concentrations over croplands, meadows and open areas in woodlands, where they will ground forage on a smorgasbord of grains and seeds, often to the consternation of farmers.

His females (Monogamy? No thanks!) sport the dull mottled browns of their nesting turf. Both sexes aggressively defend their territory, attacking much larger birds and harassing intruding humans.

Bring binoculars – or a hardhat!

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Pileated Woodpecker Much, much bigger than their petite cousins, downy or hairy woodpeckers, at up to 18 inches pileated woodpeckers are bigger than almost anything winged in local forests.

They are striking birds. Literally. They’re often heard rat-tat-tatting on dead or fallen trees before their big black body with jagged white neck stripe is spotted. Males add a red ‘moustache’ stripe.

With all that dedicated drilling, they’re seeking bugs – carpenter ants in particular – but will call anything creepy and crawly ‘lunch.’

Amid all the holes they leave seeking a meal, an oval hole betrays a one-season-only nest site. Abandoned pileated woodpecker cavities are favourites with other nesting birds, or even wildlife such as flying squirrels or martens.

Find, or hear, a pileated woodpecker hammering at your house and you don’t live in a hollow tree? Festoon the site with tin foil. They don’t like shiny. Want to attract them? Leave decaying trees standing and paint the bark about three metres up with a tasty home-made mix of lard, oatmeal, peanut butter and chopped dried fruit. No snacking!

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COMMON YELLOWTHROAT

Common Yellowthroat SUMMER 2021

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Yes, this small, quick warbler does have an attractive yellow throat.

It also has a plump, pale-yellow belly, long tail and short, rounded wings.

Males wear a black mask bordered above with white.

Common and widespread, these pretty, furtive creatures are difficult to spot. They like a tangled, soggy habitat, prowling reed beds, the low dense vegetation around ponds and thickets, or the untidy tangles on the margins of marshes and streams where they seek out small insects and spiders.

In a switch, yellowthroat males are the monogamous ones. Females have a roving eye, a preference for bigger-masked males, and polyamorous intent. If, by the way, you spot a social grouping of warblers, you’re seeing a ‘bouquet’ of warblers, a ‘confusion’ or a ‘wrench.’

American Bittern Think you’re going to spot an American bittern? Wanna bet?

The bittern is a common but rarely glimpsed heron, a stubby and solitary bird about half the size of a Great Blue Heron. It is the unlovely Where’s Waldo of wading birds, with mud-coloured plumage striped with white, and a devious disposition.

It can be found (good luck!) almost impossibly camouflaged against the shoreline reeds and rushes of large marshes and wetlands, which it slowly stalks preying on fish, frogs, crayfish and almost anything that swims, jumps or wriggles.

Making it even more challenging to spot, when startled, the bittern will extend its long, slim neck skyward and freeze, to better blend into its bullrush backdrop and virtually disappear. On a windy day, just for kicks, it may even sway with the grasses!

You are much more likely to hear an American bittern than see one.

That odd, booming, pumping throb overheard at dusk? It’s the bittern you never saw. And from late September to early May, you won’t even hear one. When the wetlands begin to freeze, bitterns migrate south. Laughing.

BIRD WATCHING

It can be found (good luck!) almost impossibly camouflaged against the shoreline reeds and rushes of large marshes and wetlands, which it slowly stalks preying on fish, frogs, crayfish and almost anything that swims, jumps or wriggles.

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Those blue-looking males warble complex songs with gusto and perseverance all day long from high perches such as wires and poles.

Their songs vary slightly by locale, much like regional accents, eh.

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Indigo Bunting Semantics and optics.

Like the sky or the sea, male indigo buntings – stocky, sparrow-sized birds – are not really blue, let alone indigo. They just look that way.

Reflecting and refracting the blue light spectrum, they appear cerulean blue in the body, reaching indigo only about the head. The female’s plumage is a simple brown, with only hints of blue on the wings.

Those blue-looking males warble complex songs with gusto and perseverance all day long from high perches such as wires and poles.

Their songs vary slightly by locale, much like regional accents, eh.

Farmers’ friends, indigo buntings’ summer diet consists largely of insects. In winter, they eat grains and seeds.

They can be spotted foraging in areas that haven’t been mowed, plowed, tended or groomed. Think untidy: scrubby roadside verges, overgrown fields bordering forests, thickets, ill-kept rail and hydro right-of-ways, the brush beside water courses. Don’t look on the fifteenth fairway.

And in winter, look south to Mexico, Costa Rica or the West Indies.

Great Crested Flycatcher Look up. Way up. The great crested flycatcher lives and forages high up in the treetops. It is rarely, if ever, seen on the ground. These birds don’t walk. They don’t hop. They fly from place to place.

Observe them on high perches on the margins of deciduous forests, atop copses in parks, or on golf courses. They prefer unobstructed views over flatlands for seeking insect prey of leaf-crawling lunch taken on the wing in plunging attacks into the foliage. In less energetic moments, they will dine on fruits and berries.

These stout, largish (eight inches tall) birds have a thick black beak, dark grey plumage above and bright yellow below. However, you’ll need a ‘cherry-picker’ style hydraulic hoist – or binoculars – to get a really good look.

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BIRD WATCHING

Downies are ubiquitous in any open woodland, park, orchard or garden. They do great environmental service devouring destructive bug infestations, and mix cordially with other small birds and each other. What’s not to like?

Downy Woodpecker If you’ve seen a woodpecker in your back yard or at your feeder, it was probably a downy. If you didn’t fall in love with the sight of these pretty, amiable little acrobats in spotted pyjama plumage, you’re probably dead.

The smallest of the woodpeckers, downies seem comfortable at any angle on a tree trunk, balancing back against their stiffened tail. They’re ubiquitous in any open woodland, park, orchard or garden. They do great environmental service devouring destructive bug infestations, and mix cordially with other small birds and each other. What’s not to like?

The frequently heard rapid rat-a-tat-tat a woodpecker makes pecking at a tree is called ‘drumming.’ It’s a territorial claim and mating signal sent by either sex. When they’re drilling for a meal, they do so more slowly and quietly.

Downies are easily mistaken for their much larger cousin, the hairy woodpecker. Apart from size, they are almost identical. Look to the beak. The downy’s is relatively short; the hairy’s beak is as long again as its head. ❧

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DOWNY WOODPECKER

Income for life.

A pension fund for everyone

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The Longevity Pension Fund is managed by Purpose Investments Inc. This advertisement is not investment advice, nor is it tailored to the needs or circumstances of any investor. Talk to your investment advisor to determine if the Longevity Pension Fund is suitable for you and always read the prospectus before investing. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with the Fund. Investments in the Fund are not guaranteed, and the Fund’s value may change frequently. Past performance may not be repeated. Income in the form of Fund distributions is not guaranteed, and the frequency and amount of distributions may increase or decrease. The Fund has a unique mutual fund structure.

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ARTIS T

S POTLIGH T

Living

VIBRANTLY Owen Sound artist Kelly Maw brings colour and fun into focus Above, Yellow Dahlia & The Bumbler, 24 x 30 inches.

Right, Grey County Percheron, 24 x 30 inches.

Both acrylic on canvas.

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Clockwise from above: Beauty and the Beast, 30 x 40 inches; Glowing Blooms, 24 x 36 inches; Lower Buckhorn Lake, 30 x 40 inches; She Wore Blue Velvet, 30 x 40 inches; Luscious Pansies, 24 x 48 inches.

All acrylic on canvas.

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ARTI ST

SP OTL I GHT

KELLY MAW Combining art and play is the name of the game for this Owen Sound artist and teacher, who calls herself a “Mawvelous Creativepreneur.”

“When I land behind the easel all I want to do is paint with bright, bold, beautiful colours,” she says, adding she loves to paint on everything from canvas to doors to clothes. “There’s no question that florals lead me down a joyful, cheerful path to help me express this infatuation, but it certainly does not stop there. I am a detailer by nature and in nature I love the details.

My eye instinctively searches out shadows and shapes.”

Through her home-based and online business, The Mat & The Easel, Maw offers her artwork as well as art classes and yoga classes.

“I am certainly blessed to be a paint teacher and I get incredible pleasure within my Art Mawb community of students as I encourage and support others on their creative journeys.”

Maw’s work is available at The Owen Sound Artist Co-op, The Southampton Arts Centre and at kellymaw.com ❧

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SPECIAL INFORMATION SECTION

Business openings, transformations & businesses new to On The Bay ABODA DÉCOR This family-run independent furniture store is celebrating its 21st anniversary in Barrie, offering a wide range of mostly Canadian-made furniture in a variety of styles from contemporary and modern to transitional and traditional.

The 10,000-square-foot showroom allows shoppers to see, touch and feel the quality of the furniture on display.

Susan and Colin Springgay, owners of Aboda Décor.

“We have built a reputation for providing Canadian-made furniture with many creative choices in wood, fabric, leather, glass or metal,” said co-owner Colin Springgay. “Most of our business is in custom ordering in the perfect style and design for your room. We offer solid wood furniture and top full-grain leather. We are a full-service furniture store where we fully assemble, deliver and service what we sell in Simcoe County and neighbouring areas.” Aboda also provides professional interior decorating services. “From furniture arranging and colour schemes to lighting and accessories, let our professional interior decorator take away some unnecessary stress by doing the legwork for you.”

Area Rug Shop is a retailer specializing in area rugs, with five showrooms across Ontario and an online shop. “Whether it’s round or rectangular, modern or traditional, bright or neutral, we are here to serve our diverse clientele with their rug needs,” said co-owner Trisha Pharwaha. “We want to give our clients a positive experience Barinder and Trisha Pharwaha, not only while shopping with owners of Area Rug Shop. us, but even when they use our rugs. All of our clients will be happy to know that our manufacturers source all materials ethically and provide a safe workplace with zero-tolerance for child labour. Our rugs are Oeko-Tex Certified to ensure they have been produced without the use of any harmful substances or chemicals. We stand strong behind the quality of our products.”

The showroom features area rugs in an assortment of designs, sizes and materials. All of the rugs are hanging and displayed so clients can conveniently look through them without having to maneuver heavy rugs. For clients who cannot visit the showroom, Area Rug Shop offers video calls to showcase the rugs and give pointers on quality, thickness and texture.

31 Commerce Park Dr., Barrie 705-735-1825, abodadecor.com

1033 Edgeley Blvd, Unit 5, Concord 905-660-3434, arearugshop.ca

GREEN PEAK SECURITIES This full-service investment advice firm offers securities, mutual funds, bonds, and a full range of syndication offerings such as IPOs, trust units, bought deals and preferred shares.

“I am a client-facing portfolio manager who positions myself to be the go-to guy for all your financial questions, no matter how complex,” said Glen Izzard, Chartered Investment Glen Izzard, owner of Green Peak Manager. “My business has Securities. grown by partnering with clients who are financially responsible, open to taking professional advice and the willingness to staying the course. I am committed to guiding you toward your destination as comfortably as possible by taking the time to truly understand you, your situation and your lifestyle to develop a personalized strategy.” Services include traditional commission-based investment accounts, fee-based investment accounts, and managed discretionary accounts.

“At Green Peak Securities, we thrive by encouraging clients through professional and ethical investment guidance to foster a rewarding life journey,” said Izzard. “With my unique qualifications, I will help you do what is necessary to protect and simplify often complex wealth – with daily orchestrated financial care.”

152 Captains Court, Meaford 905-407-4500, greenpeaksecurities.ca

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JAGUAR LAND ROVER BRAMPTON Located a short, scenic drive south of Collingwood, this new 75,000-square-foot facility features “a beautifully designed 16-vehicle showroom, a luxurious customer lounge, a state-of-the-art vehicle charging station and a service facility that’s sure to turn heads,” according to owner Joe Zanchin, owner of Jaguar Land Joe Zanchin. “Our inventory Rover Brampton. is one of the largest in the GTA, making it easy to find the exact vehicle you’re looking for.” Customers can browse the online inventory or visit the showroom and get behind the wheel of one of the Jaguar Land Rover models, including the Jaguar XE, XF and XJ luxury sedans along with the Range Rover, Discovery and Defender luxury SUVs. The dealership also offers same-day service appointments. “Our customer care doesn’t end once you drive off the lot,” said Zanchin. “Our friendly service and repair staff are ready to deliver the same level of customer service that you’ve come to expect from any Zanchin Automotive dealership.”

50 Coachworks Cres., Brampton 905-500-2005 or 1-844-293-2831 landroverbrampton.com , jaguarbrampton.com

FRESHWATER DISTILLERY Inspired by Georgian Bay, this new Collingwood business is committed to producing the most delicious spirits. “We raise the bar (and glass) by carefully experimenting with the highest quality ingredients in order to create a drinking experience to brag about,” said Shelley Johnston, partner and lead distiller. Freshwater Distillery Craig Wagner and Shelley Johnston of Freshwater Distillery. makes premium gin and vodka in small craft batches, including Clearwater Gin and Darkwater Gin. Clearwater and Darkwater are both available through the company’s online shop, and Clearwater Gin is also available at the LCBO. The company offers free same-day local delivery and free shipping for orders of two bottles or more elsewhere in Ontario.

“Using the highest quality ingredients, the spirits produced at Freshwater Distillery are held to the highest standard,” said Johnston. “Organic grains are the base of our spirits and we are consistently consulting with local farmers, which gives our products a unique and ‘homegrown’ taste that is smooth and delicious. The limestone in the Georgian Bay creates a water with an excellent PH for distilling the finest spirits.” freshwaterdistillery.com

JANSSEN DESIGN Since Paul Janssen founded this Orangeville design firm more than 30 years ago, the company has grown into a one-stop shop for all your design needs, from concept design, construction design and 3D design to managing the entire project. The company also offers interior selections consultations. “Our passion has The Janssen Design team (l-r): Karan always been to create unique Gandhi, Leah Brouwer, Natasha designs for our clients,” said Jonker, Paul and Margaret Janssen.

Janssen. “Our design process is one of working together with the client to create spaces that work for their needs. We let them tell us what they are looking for and will construct a plan from those ideas. Our mission is to create a smooth journey for all parties involved.” The design service begins with preliminary concepts, including a basic exterior 3D design, through to the completion of construction drawings that are ready for permits. “It is our goal to create a home that reflects your style and needs. We strive to design a space that is both aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.”

23 Commerce Road, Unit #3, Orangeville 519-925-0663 janssendesign.ca

Go for great taste!

Visit mycollingwood.ca when you connect and find a fabulous selection of amazing restaurants, wineries, specialty food shops, take-out & home delivery, grocery delivery service and so much more. Sign up to receive notifications about our famous Double Dollars Marketplace where you can purchase gift certificates for ½ price.

Photo: Fig & Feta Greek Eatery & Market

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SPECIAL INFORMATION SECTION

Business openings, transformations & businesses new to On The Bay THE SCP CENTRE The SCP Centre is a family owned and operated factory that offers versatile commercial, warehouse, office and retail space for lease.

“Our 174,400-square-foot building is unique in that it offers a variety of leasable, customizable space for businesses in the Georgian Bay area,” said owner Terry Scott.

SCP Properties owner Terry Scott (left) “With friendly and flexible with son Craig. local owners who have lived in Meaford for 40 years, the SCP Centre appeals to business owners looking to live and work in a relaxed location, close enough to the GTA, but far enough away to reduce costs and stress and grow their businesses. Customization of the spaces is available to suit the needs of each business.” The Centre offers leasable space ranging from 3,500 to 25,000 square feet, with ceilings up to 23 feet high, drive-in and loading doors, retail frontage and ample parking. “The building is currently undergoing a massive regeneration and modernization to appeal to a variety of businesses,” said Scott. A 14,400-square-foot office building is also available, with high-speed fibre-optic Wi-Fi. 278 Cook Street, Meaford 519-538-4769 scpcentre.ca

Collingwood now has its first and only bike café. Its mission: “to serve insanely good coffee and provide a first-class bike service experience,” according to owner Bruce Zigman. “We created a place where you can explore what coffee has to offer beyond its caffeine – the flavours of what’s in your cup and being able to enjoy them Bruce Zigman, owner of Summit in some of the same ways Social House. that wine has been enjoyed for centuries.” Whether you need a flat tire changed, seasonal tune-up, custom parts ordered and installed, shocks rebuilt or a full winter maintenance overhaul, this full-service bike café has the tools, experience and staff to get the job done. The coffee bar offers a full menu of hot and cold coffees from two roasters along with tea, hot chocolate and seasonal items like freshly squeezed lemonade and gelato. Baked goods are delivered daily from local businesses. “Our fridge is always stocked with cold beverages and beer. We have the snacks and meals to get you through all your outdoor activities,” said Zigman.

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The only full-service marina in the Southern Georgian Bay area, Southwinds Marine offers mooring, storage, service, new and used boat sales, and brokerage.

“Southwinds Marine only has certified technicians with a minimum of 10 years’ experience for Mercury and Volvo, and a sales staff with Mike Leblanc, owner of over 30 years in the industry,” Southwinds Marine. said owner Mike Leblanc.

In business since 1998, Southwinds services include boat and engine sales including Boston Whaler, Lund, Mercury Marine, and Volvo; brokerage boat sales; service and warranty work on all Mercury and Volvo engines; and a custom boat works including electronics, inverters, solar, generators, thrusters, etc. Indoor heated and outdoor shrink wrap storage are also available, plus detailing and a chandlery with nautical items for all your boating needs.

Southwinds has been an Ontario Boating Association Founding member for more than 20 years, has a Clean Marine 5 Diamond rating, and employs ABYC Certified technicians.

2-200 Mountain Rd., Collingwood 705-445-7638, southwindsmarine.com

SUMMIT SOCIAL HOUSE

246-A Hurontario Street, Collingwood 705-888-0707 summitsocialhouse.com

SOUTHWINDS MARINE

MARGARETHE VANDERPAS STUDIO This artist’s studio is located just outside the village of Lion’s Head on the Bruce Peninsula and features the bold vibrant work of award-winning Canadian Artist Margarethe Vanderpas. Vanderpas finds inspiration for her work on hiking and kayaking trips along the shores of Georgian Bay and Lake Superior. She is “fascinated Margarethe Vanderpas in her Lion’s by the powerful forces that have Head studio. shaped the landscape and the effects that time and weather have had upon the earth’s surface.”

The studio features original oil paintings as well as archival limited editions on canvas and paper. “My product is original; each painting I create has my signature style,” said Vanderpas. “I also create custom commissioned paintings for private and corporate clients looking for unique pieces for their homes, home offices and businesses. Commissioning a painting provides the client with a more personal experience as they get to be involved in the various stages of the creative process.” This summer the studio will also carry the work of a few other artists, including a sculptor and a glass artist.

24 Chetwynd Lane, Lion’s Head 519-433-2840, margarethevanderpas.com

On The Bay Magazine is pleased to donate this space to a deserving charity or non-profit in our community.

For more information, please contact us by emailing admin@onthebaymagazine.com.

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY CANADA, BROKERAGE This luxury real estate brokerage has offices in Collingwood and Creemore, bringing its network to more than 30 locations nationwide.

“Combining a prestigious and internationally recognized real estate brand with local market knowledge and specialized Dianne Usher, Managing Broker of Sotheby’s International Realty Canada. marketing expertise, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada is the leading real estate sales and marketing company for Canada’s most exceptional properties,” said Dianne Usher, Managing Broker. “We welcome clients locally and from around the world. We have agents specialized in assisting international real estate clients, whether they are moving to Canada or investing from abroad.” Founded in 2005, with a marketing and referral program for luxury listings, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada continues to expand its real estate network locally across Ontario, Canada and worldwide, with offices in luxury markets, metropolitan areas and destination communities. “At Sotheby’s International Realty Canada our commitment is unwavering: we deliver exemplary marketing and service to every client, regardless of a home’s neighbourhood or price range,” said Usher.

243 Hurontario St, Collingwood 705-416-1499, sothebysrealty.ca

The Picnic Project ORDER NOW UNTIL september 30 www.roadrunnerfoods.ca/shop

TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF YOUTH AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS ONE LIFE AT A TIME

IN SUPPORT OF

ORDER YOUR CHOICE OF PICNIC FROM WWW.ROADRUNNERFOODS.CA/SHOP AND HAVE IT DELIVERED TO YOU! A DONATION TO HOME HORIZON IS INCLUDED IN EACH ORDER THANK YOU!

WANT YOUR BUSINESS FEATURED HERE?

Home Horizon Barbara Weider House is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing transitional housing, support and counselling to youth at risk of homelessness in South Georgian Bay. The direct benefit to the community is helping youth rebuild their lives and integrate back into society in a meaningful way. In addition to providing safe, stable and affordable housing, we provide health and life skills education, mentorship, and individualized support plans for local, at-risk youth that helps them to set realistic goals and teaches them skills that last a lifetime. With your support we can drive real change and help these youth move forward with their hopes, dreams and life opportunities.

More Information: Deb Piggott, Fund Development Manager 705-888-3636 - debpiggott@homehorizon.ca www.homehorizon.ca - @home.horizon A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT PARTNERS

The fall issue deadline is August 20th Email us today at admin@onthebaymagazine.com Some conditions apply.

www.thepopupevent.co

www.craigleithmanor.com

www.theprintshops.ca

www.roadrunnerfoods.ca

The Pop-Up Event Company Luxury Picnic experience is a unique and incredible way to gather with friends & family in the great outdoors this season and we are proud to partner with The Picnic Project to take your picnic to luxury status. Book your Pop-Up picnic and we will donate 10% of each picnic to Home Horizon Barbara Weider House.

To learn more visit us at www.thepopupevent.co/picnics

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INVEST IN ( life) STYLE

Visit investinstyle.ca to check out our new issue of INVEST IN STYLE magazine and our featured properties.

CHESTNUT PARK REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BROKERAGE | CHESTNUTPARK.COM COLLINGWOOD/BARRIE/CRAIGHURST 705.445.5454

WIARTON 519.534.5757

$ 3,995,000

$5,975,000

MOUNTAIN MASTERPIECE IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

Sought-after ravine lot in Nipissing Ridge. Walk to Alpine and Craigleith Ski Clubs and the Village at Blue Mountain.

Nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac backing onto 247’ of ravine area. Numerous outdoor entertaining areas, 7 Bedrooms, 6 full Baths and 3 half-Baths. Indoor sauna, inground Gunite pool with water wall and Games Room. The perfect blend of beauty, art and prevenance, exactly what discerning clients are seeking in a legacy property. MLS®40096595 Barb Picot* 705.444.3452 Ron Picot* 705.446.8580

$1,799,000

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

Collingwood and Blue Mountain at your doorstep, minutes to Bay, golf courses, ski hills, shoppes and restaurants. Enjoy one level living in this spacious 4 bedroom, 3 bath, sun-filled bungalow.

Call today for your virtual and in person viewing.

Fran Webster* 705.444.9081

$899,900

SPECTACULAR HOME & LOCATION!

Most everything is brand new in this immaculate 2-storey home on established landscaped lot.

Dream kitchen and baths, finest quality appliances, fixtures, heating, cooling, lighting, and flooring.

Beauty, class, comfort and neighbourhood, all in one!

Cynthia Razum** 519.377.9134

$699,000

BUILDING LOT IN LORA BAY

Oversized, reverse pie-shaped lot with 147 ft. frontage with room for a 3-car garage, walk-out and rear views to Georgian Bay. Minutes to Thornbury’s shops, restaurants, LCBO and more. Hard Development fees paid.

HST Included.

MLS®40085837 Barb Picot* 705.444.3452 Ron Picot* 705.446.8580

OWEN SOUND/ TOBERMORY 519.371.5455

$1,299,000

OVERSIZED RAVINE LOT

Nipissing Ridge - Escarpment and Ravine Views with 171.61’ (frontage) x 367.15’ (on ravine side). Walk to Alpine and Craigleith Ski Clubs and Georgian Bay. Minutes to the Village and Blue Mountain. HST included. Full services at lot line. MLS®40095197 Barb Picot* 705.444.3452 Ron Picot* 705.446.8580

$849,000

BUILDING LOT - BLUE MOUNTAIN

Backing onto the Georgian Trail with a sunny south facing treed backyard for privacy. Walk to Peasemarsh Beach. 10 mins to the Village at Blue Mountain and Collingwood for all your needs. Hard (sewer/ water) development charges paid. MLS®40109206 Barb Picot* 705.444.3452 Ron Picot* 705.446.8580

$679,000

RIVER DISTRICT – OWEN SOUND

A WORK OF ART! Beautifully modernized 4 bed Victorian.

Pillared front porch, high ceilings, stunning woodwork, family room with fireplace to backyard oasis. Paint, read, sip lemonade or entertain. Steps to shops, cafes, parks. Centrally located to Georgian Bay Recreation!

Cynthia Razum** 519.377.9134

TURN-KEY WATERFRONT RESORT

Very unique opportunity to own a waterfront resort (21 RM MOTEL+ 5 cottages). Proven track record On beautiful Georgian Bay. 4 acres with approx. 254’ frontage on Colpoy’s Bay with a developed shoreline large dock, boat ramp and swimming area. MLS® 40082051 Gary Taylor** 519.378.4663

$1,290,000

GEORGIAN BAY VISTAS

255’ frontage on beautiful Barrow Bay. Water frontage owned to highwater mark and extensive supporting wall work has been completed along shoreline.Rustic 4-season cottage + bunkie - boathouse and detached garage await your future plans. MLS®20082204 Gary Taylor** 519.378.4663

$799,000

ACCESS TO A SANDY BEACH

Design and build your Dream Home. Shore Acres - where you can relax by the water’s edge with 400 ft of private deeded beach access. (80’ x 195’) building lot offers an impressive opportunity for a full time home or weekend getaway! MLS®40088136 Barb Picot* 705.444.3452 Ron Picot* 705.446.8580

$479,000

BUILDING LOT IN COLLINGWOOD

Situated on a quiet private treed lot- 75ft X 176ft between Downtown Collingwood and Blue Mountain Village. HST in addition to the purchase price.

Don’t miss this chance to design and custom-build your home on this beautiful lot! MLS®40122151 Eva Dalton* 416.399.6721 Barb Picot* 705.444.3452

$1,995,000

HISTORIC BUILDING-THORNBURY

Landmark building/property well known in Thornbury, Blue Mountains. 100ft x 200ft. zoned C2 “General Commercial” Built in 1875 and has undergone extensive renovations to accommodate licensed pub & restaurant.

Excellent access and parking. MLS®40067919 Gary Taylor** 519.378.4663

$1,000,000

ONE OF A KIND CUSTOM SUITE!

Located in boutique inspired Mosaic at Blue, a spectacular sun filled custom 3 bed, 2 bath, top floor suite offers fabulous panoramic views of courtyard, Millpond & mountains. One of the largest 3 bedrooms and top revenue performers of the Village!

Ellen Jarman* 705.441.2630

$749,900

PRIVACY AND CHARACTER!

This 4 season Frontier log home beams with its red roof and 3 sided covered porch. Situated on nearly 6 acres of land. Open concept design, 3 bedrms, 2 baths, lots of bonus space on 2nd level, and a large outbuilding. Take a tour at www.MarkMcDade.com Mark McDade* 519.387.7650

$469,000

COTTAGE BY THE BAY

Enjoy your summer steps away from Georgian Bay! This 3 bedroom 3 season rustic cottage is a gem to enjoy and create summer memories. Walk to the waterfront, shoppes, and LCBO outlet. Short drive to Wasaga Beach. Call today for more details.

Michelle Kingbsury * 705.888.8177

FOR ALL OF OUR LISTINGS PLEASE VISIT CHESTNUTPARK.COM

Nick Alfano*

Kim Archer**

Dave Armstrong*

Vince Artuso*

Chris Assaff*

Michael Biggins**

Vanessa Burgess-Mason*

Gail Crawford*

Judy Crompton**

Eva Dalton*

Office Manager

Rob Holroyd**

Keith Hull**

Ellen Jarman*

Blane Johnson*

Rob McAleer*

Melanie McBride*

Cathie Mustard*

Jennifer O’Brien*

Morgan Ornstein*

Ralph Schwengers*

Karie Steinberg*

Gary Taylor**

Diana Berdini**

Maria Elensky**

Michelle Exner*

Debra Gibbon*

Sophia Giancola*

Adair Guerin*

Read Hilton*

Kate Hobson*

Kim Johnson*

Alyson Jones*

John M. Kacmar**

Stefanie Kilby*

Michelle Kingsbury*

Cheryl MacLaurin*

Joan Malbeuf*

Linda McClean*

Mark McDade*

Taylor McFadyen*

Gerry McIntyre*

Lane McMeekin**

Jane Mehlenbacher *

Cheryl J Morrison**

Barbara Picot*

Ron Picot*

Cynthia Razum**

Jennifer Ridsdale**

David Rowlands**

June Russell** Deb SaundersLori Schwengers** Chatwin**

Mike Taylor*

Neil Thain**

Brendan Thomson*

Jodi Ward*

Fran Webster*

Rick Wiles**

Mike Kris McAleer* Masongsong*

Dave Moyer*

Leah Wilkins*

Paige Young* Larisa Yurkiw*

CHESTNUT PARK REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BROKERAGE TORONTO (YONGE ST) TORONTO (FOREST HILL) SOUTHERN GEORGIAN BAY / COLLINGWOOD GREY BRUCE / OWEN SOUND GREY BRUCE / WIARTON GREY BRUCE / TOBERMORY

SIMCOE COUNTY / BARRIE / INNISFIL

LAKE SIMCOE / NORTH OF MARKHAM

HUNTSVILLE / LAKE OF BAYS / ALMAGUIN (MAIN ST.)

SIMCOE COUNTY / BARRIE / CRAIGHURST / ORILLIA

AURORA

BAYSVILLE / LAKE OF BAYS

MUSKOKA / PORT CARLING

GRAVENHURST

MUSKOKA / FOOT’S BAY

PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY / PICTON

HUNTSVILLE / LAKE OF BAYS (FLORENCE ST.)

KINGSTON

KITCHENER/WATERLOO*** ***Affiliate Office

ERIN / CALEDON / MONO / KING

*Sales Representative **Broker

HALIBURTON PETERBOROUGH & THE KAWARTHAS HURON-PERTH / STRATFORD

1000 ISLANDS NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY UXBRIDGE UNIONVILLE / NORTH OF MARKHAM

LET OUR EXPERIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE STUNNING OAKVILLE FAMILY HOME

Timeless Gren Weis designed 6 bedroom, 10 bath home steps to lake, downtown, and excellent public & private schools. Authentic old world materials inside and out. Future proof geothermal heating & cooling. Salt water pool, hot tub, gym, spa. Built to entertain for generations. MLS® 40075309

5+1 |

8+2 |

Just under 14 acres, fully renovated home on the escarpment south of Creemore with a 6-stall horse barn, paddock and heated garage/workshop.

MLS® 40126607

3 |

2 |

2,836 ft2 tol.fin.

10,765 ft2 tol.fin.

STEPS TO CRAIGLEITH SKI CLUB

Extraordinary custom-built round log chalet, steps to Craigleith Ski Club. From the gourmet kitchen to the impressive log wet bar; from the large steam room to the large private terrace, this home is a must see to appreciate its very special attributes.

MLS®40110192

4+2 |

3+1 |

5,554 ft2 tol.fin.

$10,900,000

$1,430,000

$2,850,000

Karen Poulsen* 905-399-2181

Janet Piotrowski** 705-994-5858

Mark Veer** 705-443-7911 Mary Riopelle* 705-446-5466

BACKS CRAIGLEITH & ALPINE SKI CLUBS

Impressive, custom-built mountain-side home in a prestigious neighbourhood, designed by renowned Toronto architect Joe Brennan. Nestled in the heart of Ontario’s ski country, enjoy expansive views across Georgian Bay from this feature-packed palatial home. A must see. MLS® 40130829

7 |

SOUTH OF CREEMORE HORSE FARM

5+1 |

THORNBURY ORCHARD/VIEW PROPERTY

45 acre view property just 5 km S. of Hwy 26 incl’g 20 acres of established, immaculately maintained orchard. Elevated property w/ views to Georgian Peaks, Georgian Bay & across Beaver Valley. 3 steel bldgs w/ storage, retail bldg, refrigerated apple storage, shop, offices. MLS®40118449

6,932 ft2 tol.fin.

ELEGANT COLLINGWOOD HOME

Quality built of natural stone on a quiet cul-de-sac.

Sep entrance to fin lower level (c/w temp-controlled wine cellar); det insulated grg w/ bonus area - & att’d potting shed. This private, elegant home is surrounded by lush landscaping, in a popular Collingwood neighbourhood. MLS® 40127648

4+1 |

4 |

3,801 ft2 tol.fin.

$3,499,900

$3,500,000

$2,150,000

Mark Veer** 705-443-7911 Mary Riopelle* 705-446-5466

Brent Gazarek* 705-445-0589

Judith Traynor** 705-446-8977

Four Seasons Realty Limited, Brokerage Independently Owned and Operated 67 First St., Collingwood 705-445-8500 47 Bruce St., Thornbury 519-599-2600 202 Montreal St., Stayner 705-428-4500 *sales representative **broker ***broker of record

Are you thinking of selling?

Scan this code for your home evaluation at no charge.

(Valid for properties in Southern Georgian Bay Association of Realtors® coverage areas only)

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READER BUYING GUIDE For more information, link directly to advertisers at onthebaymagazine.com

ACCOMMODATIONS

FLOORING

Jayne’s Luxury Rentals

PAGE 29

Area Rug Shop Dean’s Carpet One

Royal LePage Locations North Rentals

PAGE 60, 61 PAGE 73

PAGE 57

FOOD/DRINK ANIMAL PET SERVICES Georgian Triangle Humane Society

PAGE 18, 87

ARTS/MUSEUMS/ PHOTOGRAPHY PAGE 77

Loft Gallery Inc.

PAGE 77

Margarethe Vanderpas Studio

PAGE 94

Sweetwater Writers Workshop

PAGE 88

AUTO Buff-It Detailing

PAGE 20

Jaguar/Landrover Brampton

PAGE 43

Blake Farrow Project

PAGE 47

JDC Custom Homes Inc.

PAGE 74

L. Patten & Sons Ltd.

PAGE 71

Yanch Homes

PAGE 66

BUSINESS/COMMUNITY SERVICES

mycollingwood.ca

PAGE 53 PAGE 113 PAGE 111

CLEANING Perfect Clean Professional Cleaning Services

PAGE 74

Freshwater Distillery

PAGE 89

Dr. Robert McCoppen Family Dentistry

PAGE 98

Erie Street Dental

PAGE 96

Georgian Bay Spirit Co.

PAGE 55

Summit Social House

PAGE 92

PAGE 103

FURNITURE Aboda Decor

PAGE 31

Orangeville Furniture

PAGE 79

HEALTH/BEAUTY/FITNESS Good Health Mart Collingwood

PAGE 37

Scandinave Spa

PAGE 84

PAGE 60, 61

FAD Farrow Arcaro Design

PAGE 77

JDC Janssen Design

PAGE 38

Jill Maxwell Design

PAGE 70 PAGE 119

HOME IMPROVEMENT & SUPPLY Aeon Kitchens & Design

PAGE 69

Court Contractors

PAGE 45

Headwaters Windows & Doors

PAGE 73

Huronia Steel, Container Rentals, Recycling

PAGE 35

Northern Stable Supply

Baker Tilly SBG LLP, Chartered Accountants

PAGE 92

Barriston Law LLP

PAGE 34

BlueRock Wealth Management Inc.

PAGE 14

Brian Renken Professional Corporation, Barristers & Solicitors

HOME DÉCOR/DESIGN

LFI Design

PROFESSIONAL/FINANCIAL/ LEGAL

PAGE 103

Cathie Hunt, CPA Professional Corporation

PAGE 34

Grant Thornton LLP, Chartered Accountants

PAGE 53

Greenpeak Securities, Glen Izzard, CIM

PAGE 35

Purpose Investments

PAGE 105

RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Elizabeth de Groot

PAGE 8

RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Paul Chapman

PAGE 2

Scotiabank Investment Specialist & Financial Planner, Steph Fitzgerald

PAGE 41

TD Wealth Management, Darryn Stroud

Edwards Insurance

PAGE 99

Travel Insurance Office Inc.

PAGE 89

Xplornet

PAGE 47

PAGE 106

Collingwood Summer Music Festival

PAGE 87

LANDSCAPE/GARDEN & SUPPLIES

Nine, Wine & Dine Golf Tournament

PAGE 18

13 Forty Landscape Supplies

PAGE 35

Environmental Pest Control

PAGE 35

Green Earth Landscapes

PAGE 41

Mulch-It

PAGE 38

The Landmark Group

PAGE 11

PAGE 113

FASHION/JEWELRY Brabary Fine Lingerie

PAGE 100

D.C. Taylor Jewellers

PAGE 120

Elaine Dickinson’s Fashions

PAGE 101

MARINAS

Vaiya

PAGE 101

Southwinds Marine

PAGE 63

Royal LePage Locations North Realty Inc., Brokerage Josh Dolan PAGE 21 Royal LePage Locations North Realty Inc., Brokerage Karen Willison PAGE 97 Royal LePage Locations North Realty Inc., Brokerage The Chris Keleher Team PAGE 3 Royal LePage RCR Realty, Brokerage Basia Regan

PAGE 96

Royal LePage RCR Realty, Brokerage Suzanne Lawrence

PAGE 88 PAGE 7

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada

PAGE 23

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada Brind Group

PAGE 33

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENTS Windfall Blue Mountain (Georgian Communities)

PAGE 5

RESTAURANTS Chez Gilles Fine Dining & Catering

PAGE 65

SENIOR SERVICES

PAGE 71

INSURANCE

Royal LePage Locations North Realty Inc., Brokerage Jane Moysey & Lorraine McDonald PAGE 10

Sea & Ski Realty Ltd. Brokerage

PAGE 4

RADIO The New Classical 102.9 FM

PAGE 6

PAGE 72

EVENTS

The Picnic Project

PAGE 84

Culford Family Hearing

INTERNET Collingwood Fashion Week

Collingwood Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre PAGE 84

PAGE 92

BUILDERS/CONTRACTORS

Home Horizon

PAGE 103

Collingwood Olive Oil Co.

Area Rug Shop

BIKE REPAIRS

Biz Link

Collingwood Optometry

Georgian Bay Dental Hygiene

Craig Gallery

Summit Social House

MEDICAL/DENTAL PROFESSIONALS

Ailsa Craig at the Village of Arbour Trails

PAGE 98

CARP

PAGE 102

Kingsmere Retirement Residence

PAGE 16

On My List Senior Assist

PAGE 70

Waterford Barrie Retirement Residence

PAGE 17

REAL ESTATE Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage

TRAVEL/TOURISM PAGE 114, 115

Re/Max Four Seasons Realty Ltd., Brokerage

PAGE 116

Re/Max Four Seasons Realty Ltd., Brokerage Darice Lush

PAGE 99

Royal LePage Locations North Realty Inc., PAGE 24, 25, 57 Brokerage Royal LePage Locations North Realty Inc., Brokerage PAGE 69 Christine Smith

Canoe North Adventures

PAGE 80, 81

Parry Sound Cruise Lines

PAGE 88

Travel Insurance Office Inc.

PAGE 89

WINDOW FASHIONS Ashton’s Blinds, Draperies & Shutters

PAGE 71

Salnek’s Custom Window Treatments

PAGE 19

Shades & Shutters

PAGE 72

ON THE BAY

SUMMER 2021

117

B A C K

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE CRAIGLEITH HERITAGE DEPOT

L O O K I N G

T

The Flume

his photo, taken circa 1918, shows Clara Short, Agnes Collins and Agnes’ sons Gordon and Aubrey at “the flume,” which stretched from the Kolapore Dam on Kolapore Creek to the sawmill owned by Agnes’ husband, Charlie Collins. This was likely a regular outing for the group – Clara Short, a teacher at the local Kolapore school, boarded with the Collins family, and young Gordon Collins became one of her favourite pupils.

The wooden flume carried water from the dam to a water wheel that powered the mill. Charlie Collins had purchased the property, dam, flume, water wheel and shingle mill from his father, James, in 1914.

He later sold the mill and dam to Ed McKean in 1924, but continued to be successful in the lumber business, putting his three children through university and remaining a pillar of the community. Sons Gordon and Aubrey became a dentist and a pharmacist respectively, and daughter Marion (not pictured) had a career as a dental nurse.

118

ON THE BAY

SUMMER 2021

Settlement of the area had begun in the 1870s. Originally called Paradise, the name was changed to Kolapore in 1884 and before long, the community boasted a school, post office, general store, stone quarry, lime kiln, and several sawmills thanks to the area’s vast hardwood forests. By the early 1900s there were more than 10 mills operating in the Kolapore area, cutting trees into shingles, lumber and squared timbers to be used in building locally and in the rapidly growing towns of Thornbury and Collingwood nearby.

Few remnants of the original village and industry have survived, and today Kolapore is known mainly as a popular spot for backcountry hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing. ❧ Sources: The Blue Mountains Public Library; Kolapore Remembered,

by Bill Milne, 2004; Town of The Blue Mountains Then & Now History Project.

DETAILS MATTER

| Gene Sofa | brentwoodclassics.com

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