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What’s the deal with competition-themed cottage gatherings?

Heidi Berton

Why must lakeside gatherings involve chili cook-offs and karaoke contests? What happened to just, you know, gathering?

Q: “I host an annual party at my cottage every Victoria Day weekend—it’s sort of a ‘Welcome Back to the Lake’ kind of thing. My neighbours are encouraging me to give it a competition theme: you know, Best Potluck Dish or Best Costume Based on a TV Character. I feel like that’ll discourage people from attending. What’s the deal with this—isn’t it enough that we all just get together and have a barbecue?”

A: You should consider yourself fortunate to have avoided the irritating “competition entertaining” trend for so long because, like giant hogweed or mindful paddleboard yoga, it’s one of those things that infiltrated Cottage Land some time ago and simply refuses to die. I remember working at the meat counter of our little cottage-country store about 10 years ago and having to help customers who, as part of a cottage weekend invite, had to whip up an entry for a burger competition or a rib cook-off. It was a foreign concept to me at the time. Some guests took the clever approach of buying our house-made patties and passing them off as their own. Others were deadly serious, showing up with oddball Internet recipes that required special ingredients like ground hanger steak, bacon jam, or shiso leaves that would all but guarantee glorious victory at the now-annual Mud Lake Patty Smash. But many customers who weren’t very handy cooks were just stressed out by the whole thing. I had to walk a few through the Burger 101 crash course so they could create a patty that wouldn’t make them the butt of weekend jokes. Burger anxiety? What kind of host-monster would want to put their guests through that?

All fingers point to those pointless reality TV shows where competition gets made out of things that don’t usually require winners and losers in the normal universe. You know, singing, dancing, baking. That sort of thing. It’s no surprise that people are addicted to watching television. That’s part of the human condition. But how our love of gladiatorial entertainment got transmuted into a popular form of cottage entertaining is a mystery to me. Yes, competition has always been part of the cottage scene, from canoe races at the regatta to a fishing derby weekend. But these activities are intrinsically competitive in the first place. That’s the whole point of the exercise. The way I see it, the big difference between the fun competition of a badminton game and the angst-inducing rivalry of a Frozen-themed costume battle or a fish taco smackdown is that in badminton, and most other regular competitions, you measure out winners and losers by keeping score, or timing a race, or weighing a fish. But cottage food competitions must be judged, and like many of the very worst Olympic events—I’m looking right at you, figure skating—rely on a biased and often fraudulent way of awarding medals. That’s why figure skaters are always crying. And there’s no better way to ruin a cottage dinner party than to watch the losers of a Cold Soup Cook-Off hold hands as their tears wash stage makeup into a bowl of artisanal gazpacho.

So, just in case it is not perfectly clear, you are not alone in wondering what’s up with this weird competition theme thing. Yes, it will probably deter a few guests. And yes, it will be a colossal pain in the keister for those folks who play along. But because this is your annual party, you occupy the decision-making high ground. So tell your neighbours, in a nice way, to go pound salt. If they want to host a bake-off or a dress-up theme weekend, that’s their business. Case closed. But your final question distresses me: “Isn’t it enough that we all get together and have a barbecue?” Well, it should be, shouldn’t it? I mean, isn’t the point of getting together at the cottage, whether for a dinner party or a whole weekend, to get together? You know, fellowship, some good chat, maybe a few laughs? Have you noticed how often, in a social setting, people feel they must constantly show you stuff on their phones? Is it because we are collectively losing the power of conversation? Is it possible that a competition theme helps with that by giving us something to talk about?

So maybe you could argue that the structure of competition-type themes makes entertaining easier. Maybe. But I recently heard about a group of cottage couples who do a rotating Chopped theme dinner thing, where the host has to make a meal that includes four random ingredients that the other couples picked. I’m not sure I get it. Was regular socializing too boring for them, but this diabolical arrangement gives them a frisson of culinary excitement? Or was regular entertaining too easy? So they devised a way to stimulate their dopamine receptors by making meal prep exceptionally difficult and prone to epic failure? Here’s a test that tells me these guys are total whack jobs: head to a library, a bookstore, or the Internet and try to find cookbooks with “difficult”, “stressful”, and “time-consuming” in their titles. You will find none. Now perform the same search using “easy”, “fun”, and “delicious” and you will be deluged with suggestions, especially when the books are about entertaining guests.

But who knows? Maybe the times have changed, and the cookbooks haven’t caught up yet. For the record, I am not an enthusiastic cottage host. But if the modern way to entertain guests is to make the process a hardship and a competition, I am ready for the challenge. For starters, why not have guests compete to accomplish something useful, instead of producing six middling variations of Coquilles Saint-Jacques? Like a timed event to see who can split the most firewood in 30 minutes? Or a team contest to see who will reign supreme in cleaning measured sections of eavestrough? The competitive variations—and the potential for entertainment—are almost endless. You could set parents against children in a deck chair stain-off. Or separate married couples and pit them against each other in an inside versus outside window cleaning battle. The best part is that because everyone seems to have gone gaga for cottage theme competitions, your guests will actually thank you for hosting a wonderful weekend after they’ve knocked off all your spring opening chores. It’s enough to make me really embrace the idea of cottage entertaining.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2023 issue of Cottage Life.

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Common cottage water problems and how to tackle them

HENADZI KlLENT/Shutterstock

Getting ready to open your cottage for the season? Don’t forget to include an inspection of your cottage’s water systems. Spring is the perfect time to take stock of a cottage’s water supply and ensure that the water coming out of the taps is both tasty and safe to drink. Patricia Cook, the water purification product manager at Reliance Home Comfort, spoke to Cottage Life about common water issues that pop up in cottages and how to address them.

Bacteria

Property owners need to know where their cottage water supply is coming from. If the water is from a private well, it’s up to the owner to test their water to ensure it’s free of microbes that can make people sick. Cook suggests that cottagers test their well water once per year for bacteria. The property owner can collect the samples and send them to a local municipal lab for analysis. While samples can be taken throughout the year, Cook says that the spring thaw is a good time to sample.

Check out the Ontario Ground Water Association for more information and how to buy a test.

Hard water

Hard water has a high amount of dissolved minerals like calcium and manganese. These minerals can build up and play havoc on plumbing fixtures, dishwashers, and hot water tanks, says Cook. Aside from leaving unsightly stains, the build-up can damage pipes and appliances. To help combat hard water, a water softener can reduce scale build-up in pipes and appliances, which could give them a longer lifespan. Rental options are available for people who might not need one year-round.

Discolouration

While not a health risk, high iron levels can tint water an unappealing yellow and cause a funny taste. It can also leave brown stains on appliances, plumbing, and even human hair. “Most people, if they have iron in the water, will beg you for a solution,” says Cook. This issue can be addressed by installing an iron filter to remove the contaminant.

Off-tasting drinking water

Reverse osmosis filters are usually installed in the kitchen to tackle a host of water contamination issues. The filters only treat the water coming out of a particular faucet. While they won’t remove bacteria, reverse osmosis takes care of metals, organic materials, chlorine, phosphates, and even microplastics. “Reverse osmosis actually has zero taste to it, which for some customers is a little odd because they’re used to the taste of water with sodium and calcium in it,” says Cook. If you’re looking to appease the most discerning of tastes, this might be the filtration method for you.

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Cottage Q&A: Red squirrels under the cottage

By Pi-Lens/Shutterstock

Our cottage has no foundation. It sits on cement blocks. We have never had pests until squirrels moved in underneath us. We’ve seen them zipping in and out, but we can’t get under the cottage to see if they’re causing damage. Can we just leave them be?—Willa Stevenson, Fredericton, N.B.

That’s a kind-hearted notion, but heck no. You don’t want anything living under your cottage “as a general principle,” says Alan Vaudry of Professional Ecological Services in Victoria. (You also don’t want anything living in the wall, attic, cellar, barn, or sewer. Watch some horror movies.)

Just because the squirrels aren’t making noise or causing any obvious damage doesn’t mean that this isn’t happening. “Squirrels are some of the most destructive creatures out there,” says Brad Gates of Gates’ Wildlife Control in Scarborough, Ont. “They chew all the time. And they will chew on things that you really don’t want them chewing on.” This includes wires, waterlines, and support posts. They could start to nest in your insulation. “They could even penetrate the floorboards,” says Gates.

Wild Profile: Meet the red squirrel

Not cool. The standard banishing strategy is to—when the squirrels are out—block access to the underside of the cottage with galvanized steel hardware cloth. Dig a trench, extend the cloth down six inches and out six inches at 90 degrees, and backfill with dirt.

This article was originally published in the May 2017 issue of Cottage Life.

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New owners plan to reopen Robinson’s General Store in Dorset, Ont. this week

Photo Courtesy of Robinsons General Store

After an abrupt closure on January 8, Robinson’s General Store in Dorset, Ont. is expected to reopen on Friday under new ownership.

In a Facebook post, former owner Joanne Robinson wrote: “After having been owned and operated by our family for 100 years (1921 to 2021), we were, like all of you, disappointed and devastated when we learned that our beloved Robinson’s General Store closed in January. Since then, we have been working hard in the background to find a solution to allow the business to reopen. We understand the inconvenience this closure has caused the community, and we thank you for your patience during this difficult time.

“Today, we are pleased to announce that a new family, led by brothers Ven Komina and Satya Jyesta, is taking over the operation of Robinson’s General Store.”

Over the last 100 years, four generations of Robinsons have worked at the store. It started as a 1,200 sq. ft. business serving the local logging industry and has grown into 14,000 sq. ft. of retail space, selling groceries, hardware supplies, branded apparel, cottage décor, and, of course, ice cream. In the summers, the store employs 65 workers, many of them students. But despite the store’s success, Joanne Robinson and her husband, Willie Hatton, decided it was time to retire. In April 2021, the Robinsons sold the store to Mike and Katie Hinbest from Orangeville, Ont.

After a year and a half of operating the store, the Hinbests ran into financial trouble and were forced to foreclose. Since the Robinson’s had bought the store’s mortgage from the bank, the property defaulted back to them, sending the family in search of new owners.

Brad Robinson, Joanne’s father, who operated the store from the mid-1950s until 1991, suspects that the Hinbests struggled because they purchased both the general store and the local marina. “That marina took so much of [Hinbest’s] time, and they spent so much money over there,” Robinson says. Financing the two businesses with inflation and rising interest rates made mortgage payments unaffordable.

When the store closed, locals were left stranded. “We didn’t realize that it would basically shut the town down. People had to go to Huntsville or Bracebridge to do their grocery and hardware shopping,” Robinson says. “Everybody in the area is happy to see that new owners will be taking over, and they’re going to run it similar to the way we ran it.”

When the store went back up for sale in January, Ven Komina and Satya Jyesta approached the Robinsons with an offer. The two brothers own and operate a number of convenience stores in the North Bay area and purchased the Baysville General Store last year. “It isn’t a complete change for them,” Robinson says, “but the stores they’ve run aren’t as big as the store we have, so it’s going to keep them busy.”

The two brothers take possession of the store on Friday and plan to open it the same day. “They’re just having a soft opening at first,” Robinson says. “There won’t be any major produce or stuff like that, but they’re going to have milk and bread, and there’s canned food that was left there on the shelves.”

Over the last two months, Robinson has been going to the store everyday, in part for insurance reasons, but also to maintain the property. The family purged any expired food and staged the store for potential buyers. “It’s ready to go,” he says. “All they’ll need is a good order of groceries, you know, meat and vegetables, and hardware supplies, and they’ll be in business.”

Robinson has one piece of advice for the new owners: be on-site as much as possible. “People are giving you thousands of dollars a year. You have to be there to show your appreciation,” he says. “That’s what small businesses are all about. That’s how small businesses survive.”

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Ontario real estate market forecast: cottage-country realtors predict more inventory this spring

Photo collage by Taylor Kristan

Ontario’s real estate market has been in a dizzying state since the start of the pandemic, especially in cottage country. Prices boomed over the last two years with some recreational properties jumping into the millions as buyers scrambled after cottages, looking for an escape from the city. But then travel reopened, events restarted, and the cottage market cooled.

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) reported that in February, 29 waterfront properties were sold in the province’s Lakeland region, which constitutes cottage-heavy areas such as Muskoka, Haliburton, Parry Sound, and Georgian Bay. That’s a 62.8 per cent drop from the same period last year, and 51 per cent below the five-year average.

In part, the lack of sales is due to low inventory. There aren’t many waterfront properties on the market right now. This has kept cottage prices stable, sheltering them from the price correction happening in urban centres. But the market could change this spring as local realtors anticipate a flood of new listings to hit the scene.

If you’re a buyer looking to get into the cottage market, here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Ontario’s cottage regions.

Muskoka

Three hours north of Toronto, Muskoka’s known for its windswept pines, rocky shores, and luxurious cottages. But as the CREA reported, Muskoka is currently short on inventory. According to real estate broker Susan Benson, waterfront property listings in the region are at their third lowest in the last 10 years. This has caused a spike in prices.

“The median list price for January and February is up 27 per cent compared to last year at the same time,” Benson says. The median list price for a waterfront property in Muskoka currently sits at $1.7 million.

This median price, however, might see a dip in the next few months. Benson says that at the end of 2022, properties were sitting on the market for about 15 days. Now it’s closer to 47. “Buyers aren’t biting,” she says. With properties sitting for longer, sellers may have to lower their prices to make themselves more appealing.

“A property that is priced properly can end up looking like a bargain in a market with competing properties that are overpriced,” Benson says.

Plus, the spring season typically brings additional inventory, giving buyers more choice and control. “You should, as a buyer, be able to negotiate conditions that ensure a proper vetting of the property and confirm your ability to pay for it,” Benson says. “This was the piece that was missing at this time last year.”

The Kawarthas

Southeast of Muskoka is the Kawarthas, a chain of lakes that feed into the Trent River. Similar to its northern neighbour, the region is suffering from lack of inventory, which is keeping prices high. “I listed one last Wednesday and had four showings on it. I got two offers, and it still sold $30,000 over the asking,” says Greg Ball, a real estate broker from the area.

The average price of a waterfront property in the Kawarthas currently ranges from $700,000 to $1 million, depending on the size and location of the property.

Ball predicts that the rise of interest rates and the financial burden of variable mortgages might spur an injection of new inventory into the market in May, balancing out prices and reducing the chances of bidding wars.

“From past experience, when a recession-type market hits, you dispose of what you can,” he says. “Something like the cottage will come before the house.”

If you’re planning on shopping around in the region, Ball advises using a local realtor. “We went through three years of people buying from their Toronto agent, and I’m not knocking them, but we are now getting calls from those people that purchased in 2021 and 2022 that can’t get their money back because they bought in a poor area,” he says. “I just can’t stress how crucial it is to use a local realtor that knows the area.”

Bay of Quinte

A little west of Kingston, not far from Frontenac, is the Bay of Quinte, a long and narrow body of water that connects to Lake Ontario. Unlike the two previous regions, the Bay of Quinte is already seeing its inventory bounce back.

“We’re probably up 20 per cent since December, which is typical,” says local real estate agent Doug Peterson. “When you look at the waterfront market, it’s pretty predictable, seasonal up and down.”

He expects more properties to come on the market in the coming months. “I think a lot of sellers have been hesitating over the last six months just because of uncertainty, and now things are starting to firm up a little bit more in the economy,” Peterson says. “It’s still a little topsy turvy, but people can’t wait forever.”

The Bay of Quinte hasn’t seen any recent fluctuations in waterfront prices, with the average hovering around $800,000.

If you’re looking to buy in the region, Peterson says you should act quickly. “The market is pretty tight, and well-priced listings are starting to move fast. There is a little bit of urgency that’s come back into the market,” he says. “We went for a few months where buyers were able to wait and see, and now we have those people saying, ‘Oh geez, I guess I should have done something.’”

Grand Bend

A little north of London on the sandy shores of Lake Huron is Grand Bend. The region is home to an iconic beach, making nearby cottages a hot commodity. But compared to 2022, inventory is down. “Last year, being a pandemic year, the situation was a little bit different, a little bit of a frenzied market. So, we’re looking now at more of a return to normal,” says local real estate broker Emily Carcamo.

As of the end of March, Grand Bend had 39 waterfront listings available with an average price of around $1 million. “That’s actually quite good,” Carcamo says. “If we’re looking at waterfront from Port Franks up to Bayfield, we’re looking at about 11 properties for sale where the average price is over $2 million.”

Grand Bend prices aren’t expected to see any drastic changes, but property on Lake Huron is a niche market meaning there’s always interest. In fact, the average sale price for waterfront properties in 2023 is 14 per cent higher than it was at this time last year. While days on market remains similar. In March 2022, properties sat for approximately 13 days. In March 2023, it increased to 15 days. This means properties are still turning over quickly.

The area has traditionally seen a lot of attention from baby boomers moving to Grand Bend post-retirement, but COVID has pushed an increasing number of young families out of urban centres in search of rural retreats. In many cases, they’re buying older, more affordable properties and renovating them.

“We are seeing more families leaving urban centres where prices were more expensive,” Carcamo says. “They’re re-evaluating their priorities in life and their goals, wanting to live in more of a rural setting by the beach where life is a little bit slower, a little bit more enjoyable—living that vacation lifestyle.”

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3 “last forever” qualities to embrace in cottage decor

Even though we’re watching the clock until the first long weekend of spring, the whole point of spending time at a cottage is that it’s a timeless experience. You turn off the paved road and onto the winding gravel path to the lake, and once you finally exhale, you forget how long the weekend rush was. You put away your phone when you arrive, and you can ignore your alarms and calendar alerts for the rest of the weekend.

When you’re at the cottage, your only clocks are the sunrises and sunsets, and your only “push notifications” are the pop of the toaster, the gurgling crescendo of the coffee maker, and the time it takes for steak to sizzle on the grill.

But the cottage is timeless for another reason. Because being at the lake lets us step back in time to our parents’ and grandparents’ world—and it lets us preserve that experience for our kids and beyond. So if you’re looking for new furnishings for your cottage, it’s best to keep those timeless qualities in mind. Particularly the following three characteristics, which inspire every piece produced by Inland Fine Furnishings.

Canadian-made quality

With 20 per cent of the world’s fresh water and endless expanses of forests, Canada is brimming with natural resources. But one resource that’s too often overlooked in an era of fast fashion and disposable items is the home-grown craftsmanship that shapes those resources into products worth passing down through generations.

That dedication to craftsmanship has underpinned every piece of furniture at Inland, from stunning dining tables to solid wood beds. And it’s as evident in their decades-old history as a boutique furniture builder in Winnipeg as it is in their current team of designers, who specialize in creating spaces inspired by classic Canadian artistry.

Sustainably sourced materials

An oak tree takes several decades to reach maturity, and it hasn’t reached “old age” until its seventh century. With a lifespan like that, anything built from it should honour those roots by lasting even longer—and by using sustainable wood. All of Inland’s pieces are made from sustainable North American sources, including alder, pine, birch, walnut, cherry, brown maple, wormy maple, oak, and quarter-sawn oak, which not only adds new textures to the gorgeous grain, but also resists cupping and warping as the wood ages.

That means you won’t just be able to choose from a variety of grains and appearances in your cottage’s wooden furniture; you’ll also be passing down a piece that respects the resources that made it possible.

Timeless cottage design

For more than three decades, we’ve had the privilege of visiting, photographing, and featuring Canada’s most gorgeous cottages. And while many have stood out from the crowd, our favourites are always the ones that blend into their surroundings, letting the dappled lake, the towering conifers, and the jagged edges of the Canadian Shield take centre stage. And the same goes for the way those cottages are furnished. We all love the timeless look of an A-frame by the lake. But just like the cottages that we hand down from generation to generation, the decor we choose should strive for the same timeless appeal. Because in a world of replaceable things, the cottage is a place for furnishings that are designed to last.

Ready to furnish your cottage with hand-crafted wooden furniture that respects its roots? Visit inlandmade.com to discover more.

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Man, 28, dies in ice fishing accident lake near Barry’s Bay

Photo by Shutterstock/Lester Balajadia

Around 9:30 a.m. on March 25, officers from the Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Bancroft detachment received a report that a 28-year-old man from the Hastings Highlands area had not returned home after going ice fishing on Bark Lake, Ont., the night before.

After arriving at the lake, the OPP called in assistance from its Underwater Search and Recovery Unit. Divers searched the lake, locating the man’s body on Sunday morning just after 11 a.m. He was pronounced dead on the scene. The OPP’s investigation into the incident is ongoing and a post-mortem examination has yet to be conducted.

The local community has set up a GoFundMe page to provide financial support to the deceased’s family, which includes his wife, his one-and-a-half-year-old son, and a second baby expected in October.

Bark Lake is approximately 15 kilometres east of Barry’s Bay and is a popular ice fishing spot in the winter. The lake, which stretches 14 kilometres in length and six kilometres in width, is known for its lake trout.

While stable throughout colder months, Bark Lake operates on a dam system and is fed by the Madawaska River, which can cause more rapid changes in water depth and ice thickness. This, combined with March’s warm weather, can cause the ice to be less predictable.

“Be familiar with the lake you’re on,” says Joel Devenish, a Constable with the OPP’s Bancroft detachment.

Before heading out on a frozen lake, you should be aware of its changing conditions. Measure the ice in several locations to ensure it’s thick enough to be on. The Red Cross says that ice should be 15 centimetres thick for walking and 25 centimetres thick for snowmobiling.

Each winter, approximately 25 to 30 Canadians die in ice-related activities, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. If you are heading out on a frozen lake, safety is the first priority. The bureau advises that you avoid going out at night. Reduced visibility can cause you to wander into an area of weak ice or open water.

Looking for a few more ice safety tips? Always travel with a companion. That way, if you fall through the ice, they may be able to rescue you or at least call for help. Wear a lifejacket or some type of buoyant suit. If you go through the ice, this will increase your chances of surviving. Finally, stay off ice where there are fast-moving currents or narrows. The fast-moving water can cause the ice in those areas to be much thinner.

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5 jobs you can get with Ontario Parks this summer

Photo by Ontario Parks, Facebook

A summer job doesn’t have to mean being cooped up indoors or missing out on the best warm-weather activities. If you love to spend time in nature, consider applying for a role at one of Ontario’s provincial parks, which hire many students in the summer months—plus, there’s full-time and part-time positions too.

You can select up to 10 parks to apply to, as each park needs people to fill each position. If you’re living at home, select local parks. But for an adventure this summer, select parks with staff accommodations. You’ll get access to shared living spaces and get to immerse yourself in park life.

Here are some cool Ontario Parks jobs to check out if you’re on the hunt for the upcoming season. The deadline to apply is May 16, 2023.

Student jobs

Discovery ranger

If you have memories of camping as a kid and attending an interactive talk or guided hike, the person leading it was likely a discovery ranger. Described as park storytellers, a discovery ranger runs programs that help visitors explore the nature around them and get to know the unique ecological environment. There’s also a conservation aspect to this role, where rangers help identify species that are at risk and develop programs to address them.

Interior ranger

If you’re an experienced outdoors explorer, this job is definitely one to check out. Some aspects are similar to a discovery ranger, but you’ll mainly be in the backcountry on multi-day expeditions, making sure trails are clear by removing garbage, trees and brush, and so on. It’s a physically demanding job but certainly rewarding for those who love the untouched backcountry. This job is more common at parks with a wide swath of available backcountry trips and portaging, such as Algonquin, French River, Frontenac, and Murphy’s Point.

Trail maintenance

Another physically demanding but great job for avid hikers, this role involves the upkeep of a park’s trail network, including beginner, advanced, and portage routes. You’ll get to know beautiful hiking routes, and help prevent environmental degradation by ensuring visitors can stay on a clear route, so they don’t disturb the surrounding area.

View all student jobs here

Full-time roles

Park Warden

One of the most vital roles at Ontario Parks, a Park Warden helps with everything from everyday maintenance to park safety, visitor experience, and more. The Park Warden is the public-facing representative of the park, who helps strike a balance between protecting the natural environment and ensuring visitors enjoy their time to the fullest.

Park Interpreter

Similar to the summer student role of discovery ranger, a park interpreter is a more permanent fixture in Ontario’s Parks, with wide-ranging duties that include providing guided hikes, interactive sessions, historical re-enactments, special events, and children’s programming. It’s also great for people looking for a creative outlet, as it may involve acting and musical skills to create engaging programs for all ages.

View all full-time roles here

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Why this iconic Canadian clothing brand has us excited for cottage season

We all have favourite memories from the lake. For some, it’s seeing our kids’ first cannonball off the dock. For others, it’s the outdoor dinners with friends that last until the sky fills with stars.

For many of us, those nostalgic moments were wrapped in a treasured sweatshirt that kept us cozy around the campfire. And if you grew up cottaging anywhere in Canada, it just might have featured the iconic Northern Reflections loon.

No matter what you love most about the lake, you’ll find a perfect outfit in the iconic Canadian brand’s line of easy-to-care-for, durable, nature-inspired essentials. So we partnered with Northern Reflections to pick out our favourite pairings for everything we love doing at the cottage.

Sipping early-morning coffee

If you’re stealthy enough to wake before your guests, savouring coffee on the dock as the mist ambles off the lake is the perfect start to a cottage day. But even if you’re sipping solo, the Cable Knit Pullover combines comfy with stylish.

Embracing a campfire’s glow

Nothing says “cottage” like a crackling campfire. And there’s no better fit for embracing the cozy glow than the Iconic Loon Logo Sweatshirt—except maybe the ultra-comfy matching sweatpants.

Adventuring on the lake

Whether you’re island hopping for a picnic or just cruising with friends, the Comfort Crop Pants go from helm to harbour in style, with super-soft fabric and ample stretch.

Entertaining on deck

We dine outdoors to immerse ourselves in nature, so it’s fitting that many of Northern Reflections’ patterns, including the floral flow of the Capped-Sleeve Button Front Top, are inspired by the landscape we love.

Stargazing on a chilly night

Opening weekend can’t come soon enough in cottage country, and even the chilliest of springs won’t stop us from escaping the city lights and building the season’s first campfire under the stars. Luckily, the stretchy, soft comfort of the Microsand Jean Jacket helps us embrace those crisp evenings.

Braving the Friday-evening scramble

We love to arrive, but we dread the drive. Get the jump on Friday’s highway hustle with the Faux Leather Barn Jacket, which glides from your office to opening weekend without any extra stops along the way.

Heading out for ice cream

Driving into town for peach sorbet and a new book for the dock? A pair of Comfort Bermuda Shorts are a pull-on essential, and they fit flawlessly with any breezy top.

Tackling DIY projects

The hammock is calling, but we all nap a little easier once we’ve bitten off a chunk of our chore list. Roll up the super-soft French terry sleeves of the Basic Perfect Hoodie, and earn the perfect afternoon snooze.

Ready for spring? Find your next cottage essentials at northernreflections.com.

 

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Would these 6 tricks deter nuisance wildlife?

By PrairieEyes/Shutterstock

Deterring nuisance wildlife and cottage pests can take a lot of patience and persistence. But who has time for that? So, would these six moves of trickery work? Would they successfully outsmart or out-annoy cottage critters, or are they likely to fail? We asked the experts.

1. Ultrasonic sound generators

Goal To annoy cottage critters so much that they move out of your attic (or walls or shed or boathouse).

Likelihood of failure = High

At least according to every wildlife control expert that we’ve ever talked to. “It’ll drive dogs, cats, and people nuts,” says Mike Webb, the owner of West Coast Problem Wildlife Management on Vancouver Island. But in most cases, “wildlife won’t give a rip.”

2. Imitation wasps’ nest

Goal To dissuade wasps from building their own nest nearby.

Likelihood of failure = Medium

It can work, but not always—it’s a myth that wasps will never build nests close to each other.

3. Owl decoy

Goal To frighten geese (or other waterfowl) from gathering on your dock.

Likelihood of failure = High

They’ll quickly figure out that there are no consequences to a bird of prey that does absolutely nothing except sway in the breeze.

4. Non-stop loud music

Goal To evict nuisance mammals.

Likelihood of failure = Medium

It’s worth trying—we’d move if, say, our neighbour played “Edamame” 24/7. But lots of denning mammals probably won’t.

5. Fake “attacking” predators that move up and down on a string

Goal To discourage woodpeckers from drumming on the cottage.

Likelihood of failure = Low

The Birds-Away Attack Spider and similar products get our experts’ stamp of approval. Birds aren’t arachnophobic, but “something that mimics a sit-and-wait predator would be more effective than any motionless decoy,” says Doug Tozer of Birds Canada.

6. Pet dog or cat

Goal To keep mice or other rodents from even considering moving in.

Likelihood of failure = Medium-Low

The very presence of a cat or dog can help deter mice (and hey, you’d get a pet out of the deal)! But a loose snake would probably work better.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2022 issue of Cottage Life.

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