Tag: Bracebridge

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Cottage Life

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare to build two new hospitals in south Muskoka

Photo courtesy Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, Facebook

Two new hospitals are coming to the south Muskoka region in an effort to enhance access to quality healthcare in Huntsville and Bracebridge. 

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare will provide necessary upgrades to the existing Huntsville District Memorial Hospital and the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge. Both current hospitals have been in operation for about fifty years and are in need of infrastructure improvements to meet modern community needs.

The planning process for the two new hospitals has been ongoing for years but is now in the developmental stages. The new hospital will be built upon the existing Memorial Hospital site in Huntsville. In Bracebridge, sites are being surveyed to build on new land, and planners have narrowed it down to three possible locations. Important factors in determining location are proximity to Highway 11, access to public transportation, availability of municipal services, and consideration of seasonal residents and cottage owners. 

The Ministry of Health for the province of Ontario is expected to cover up to 90 per cent of all construction and ancillary costs for the new hospitals. However, the communities themselves are expected to cover 100 per cent of all equipment and furnishing expenses. “This is a tremendous cost,” says Mayor Nancy Alcock of Huntsville. “But we can do it. And we already have two hospital foundations that have raised money from the community for the new sites.” The Huntsville branch of Scotiabank has even donated $100,000 to the hospital fund. You can find more information on becoming a donor here. 

Equipment costs for the new hospitals are estimated to reach $25 million. Mayor Alcock says that municipalities within south Muskoka will continue advocating to the province for more funding. “First and foremost, we are really thankful that the province recognized the need for two hospitals here,” says Mayor Alcock. “We worked hard to keep both hospitals in Huntsville and Bracebridge. Money can’t come before this.” 

MAHC President and CEO Cheryl Harrison also adds that “the existing hospitals will be transferring over as much of the equipment and furniture as they are able to in order to minimize the impact.” The new hospitals will bring needed jobs into these communities, with job growth expected in both construction and hospital staff. “There will be a large number of construction jobs for the 2-3 year construction period at each site,” says Harrison. “In addition, each hospital will be planned with more beds than we presently have, which means there will be expanded staffing.” 

This is good news for an ongoing shortage of doctors and nurses in Northern Ontario. There is a deficit of 350 doctors, nurses, specialists, pediatricians, and anesthesiologists in the region, up from 325 in 2022. A similar trend is taking place across Canada, highlighting the need for better access to healthcare and better recruitment strategies for healthcare professionals in rural and remote communities. 

MAHC hosted public information sessions for the two new hospitals at virtual and in-person meetings in January. More information sessions are scheduled for April 17-22 not only for Bracebridge and Huntsville residents, but also for people from Gravenhurst, Port Carling, and Burk’s Falls. “All communities in south Muskoka have a stake in this,” Mayor Alcock says. “People are excited. They’re nervous about the costs, but they are mostly excited and they want this to succeed.” 

“Nearly 500 people joined us at open houses in January, and generally, there is enthusiasm for new hospitals to become a reality in Muskoka,” says Harrison. “The new facilities will allow us to meet building codes and provide an environment that is better suited to staff to deliver care and to the patients who receive it. They will have a better design for efficient flow of services, including diagnostic and care delivery equipment.” 

Cottage owners in south Muskoka stand to benefit from this too. Since the start of the pandemic, cottage country populations have been booming, and there has been some lag between the growing demands of the community and infrastructure development. Investing in and building new facilities is fundamental to meeting the modern needs of residents and cottage owners and updating existing services. 

For cottagers concerned about what might happen if they ever experienced an emergency while alone at the cottage, the new hospitals come as welcomed news. Infrastructure improvements in the area could lead to better access to paramedics and other emergency response teams. This, in turn, will lead to faster and more effective healthcare for both local and seasonal residents alike.

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Cottage Life

Muskoka resort fined $225,000 for dredging local river

Photo by Shutterstock/pkajak201

Bracebridge’s Ontario Court of Justice has convicted a local Muskoka resort and its president of violating the province’s Public Lands Act, fining them a combined total of $225,000.

Between May 2018 and July 2019, Brian Coldin, president of High Falls Resort in Bracebridge, dredged a section of the Muskoka River fronting the resort property without a permit. He then filled the shoreline with several loads of sand, grading the sand to create a beach for guests.

The local authorities were alerted to the unauthorized shoreline work in 2018 and issued Coldin a stop-work order to prohibit further shoreland filling. But in the spring of 2019, high water levels washed away the deposited sand, and Coldin, in contravention to the stop-work order, re-filled the shoreline with sand.

The Public Lands Act has strict rules around shoreline maintenance to protect the province’s freshwater systems. Local municipalities may grant a work permit to maintain, repair, or replace erosion control structures, such as retaining walls to prevent run-off into the water. But the act prevents private individuals from shoreline dredging and filling, especially without a permit.

Coldin appeared in court on Sept. 27 in front of Justice of the Peace Carolyn Noordegraaf. The court convicted Coldin and the Muskoka resort of three counts of filling shorelands without a permit, one count of dredging shorelands without a permit, and one count of disobeying a stop-work order.

As part of the conviction, the court fined Coldin $40,000, plus a surcharge of $10,000, and it fined High Falls Resort $140,000, plus a surcharge of $35,000.

This isn’t the first time the High Falls Resort has been in trouble with the law. In 2011, the resort was convicted for unlawfully filling shorelands and was issued a probation order. The court took this into account when setting Coldin and the resort’s fine amounts.

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Cottage Life

Stolen trailer full of Muskoka chairs worth $110K, says OPP

Photo Courtesy of Muskoka Chair Company/Facebook

Keep your eyes peeled for Muskoka chairs that are suddenly on sale. It may warrant a call to the police.

The Ontario Provincial Police’s (OPP) Bracebridge detachment is investigating the theft of a 24-foot enclosed trailer stolen from the Muskoka Chair Company’s property on Henshaw Lake Road in Muskoka Lakes Township on Halloween night.

Inside the trailer were 180 Muskoka chairs, unassembled and packaged in boxes. Each chair is valued at approximately $500.

Muskoka Chair Company
Photo Courtesy of Bracebridge OPP

Between the trailer and the Muskoka chairs, the stolen goods are valued at $110,000.

“As a small business, we feel this invasion of our space deeply. It’s honestly infuriating. Please keep your eyes peeled, and if you see this trailer anywhere, please call the local police,” the Muskoka Chair Company wrote in a Facebook post.

A family-run business founded in 1995, the Muskoka Chair Company is well known for its colourful, reclining chairs crafted from cedar, recycled plastics, and other materials. The iconic chairs have become symbols of cottaging in Ontario, dotting docks across the province.

It’s unclear exactly when the theft occurred, but a white pick-up truck was caught on camera on the night of October 31, the night of the theft, driving away from the Muskoka Chair Company property with the trailer.

Stolen Trailer
Photo Courtesy of Bracebridge OPP

“Any information from the public is usually what helps us get some movement in an investigation,” says Provincial Constable Samantha Bigley. “Anyone in the area that may have video footage from their own private properties, some people have their own surveillance cameras or video doorbells, those sorts of things can give us more clues on how to identify the suspect vehicle. Information from the public is always key in helping solve these.”

The Bracebridge OPP asks anyone with information or video footage of the stolen trailer to contact (888)310-1122. If you want to remain anonymous, meaning you won’t have to testify in court, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com. Providing Crime Stoppers with information could lead to a $2,000 cash reward.

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Cottage Life

Muskoka Lakes man charged after excavator rampage at marina

Photo Courtesy of Declan Bondy/Twitter

Muskoka’s Pride of Rosseau marina received some unwanted renovations last week after a Muskoka Lakes man destroyed the marina’s buildings with an excavator.

On July 21, officers from the Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police detachment arrived on scene just after 9 p.m. The officers arrested the 59-year-old man operating the excavator and charged him with mischief over $5,000 under the Criminal Code of Canada.

A video of the incident posted online shows the excavator’s arm swinging back and forth through the marina’s dock store situated near the water’s edge. Splinters of wood fly through the air. In the video, it appears that at least a third of the building is destroyed. The OPP confirmed that there was significant damage to the building.

On Twitter, Sharon, Ont. native Declan Bondy posted photos of the crime scene, claiming that the perpetrator first tried to set several boats on fire before damaging at least two of the marina’s buildings with the excavator.

Destroyed Marina
Photo Courtesy of Declan Bondy/Twitter

Community members online are speculating that the accused was a disgruntled employee of the marina. The Pride Marine Group did not respond to requests for comment.

The OPP wouldn’t confirm the accused’s identity, telling Cottage Life that it would not be releasing any further information at this time.

The Pride of Rosseau marina, which sits on the Joseph River between Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau, has been selling boats and serving gas to customers since 2005. The marina is owned by the Pride Marine Group, which operates nine other marinas throughout Ontario.

The accused will appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge at a later date to answer the charge.

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Cottage Life

Citizen accuses former Bracebridge mayor of violating Endangered Species Act

Photo by Agnieszka Bacal/Shutterstock

Ontario’s new Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry is being accused of violating the Endangered Species Act.

On June 21, Bracebridge citizen Michael Opara charged Graydon Smith, the MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, with allegedly playing a role in endangering one of Ontario’s at-risk species, the Blanding’s turtle. The incident in question occurred during Smith’s tenure as Bracebridge, Ont.’s mayor, a position he held from 2010 to 2022.

Opara laid the charges three days before Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Smith as one of his new cabinet ministers. Opara also brought charges against the town of Bracebridge, the town’s director of public works, Geoff Carleton, and the town’s chief administrative officer Stephen Rettie, all in relation to endangering Blanding’s turtles and their habitat.

Opara alleges that between June 8, and August 25, 2021, the town’s public works department disturbed a group of Blanding’s turtles, damaging their habitat by performing grading work on Peace Valley Road, where Opara lives. The site is a 15-minute drive northeast of Bracebridge.

Opara sent an email to the town on June 27, 2021, alerting Mayor Smith and a town councillor to the Blanding’s turtles in the area. Rather than putting a halt to the grading work, the public works department responded by changing the methodology, timing, and frequency of roadway operations where there was a risk of disturbing sensitive habitat, and erected turtle crossing signs in the area to advise equipment operators of the existing habitat, Bracebridge CAO Stephen Rettie wrote in a letter.

The charges have yet to be tested in court, but a Justice of the Peace did sign off on them, setting a court date for September 21 at the Bracebridge Courthouse.

In response to the allegations against the town of Bracebridge, Sarah Hahn, the town’s legal representative, wrote in an email that “these charging documents do not set out the details of any of the alleged offences and we are confident that they will be thrown out once a Justice of the Peace reviews the matter…The fact is, and the evidence will show, that the Town acted diligently and appropriately in completing required road works within the vicinity of the turtle habitat. It is unfortunate that town resources must now be used to respond to these baseless accusations.”

Despite repeated attempts to contact him, Graydon Smith did not respond to a request to comment on the allegations by the time of publishing this article.

David Donnelly, an environmental lawyer based in Toronto, says that the Justice of the Peace signing off on the charges and setting a court date proves that there is legitimacy to the charges. “The Justice of the Peace cannot and should not swear any information or issue process in cases that are lacking evidence,” Donnelly says.

Donnelly is not involved in the Bracebridge case but has participated in similar prosecutions, many of which have proved to be successful and resulted in changes to the law.

Once the accused appears in court on September 21, it is possible that charges could be dropped, if the individuals, such as Smith, can demonstrate that they weren’t involved in the decision-making relevant to the case, Donnelly says.

“But under the Endangered Species Act, it’s important that anyone who was responsible for the actual act or the decision making leading to the destruction of the endangered species be held accountable,” Donnelly says.

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Cottage Life

8 Canada Day events to celebrate your red and white spirit

Photo by downtownbracebridge.com

The pandemic may have made many Canada Day events virtual for the last couple of years, but cottage country is not holding back on the celebrations now. From children’s games and activities to musical performances, beer gardens, and community traditions, there is something everyone can enjoy on July 1. 

Huntsville 

If you’re in Huntsville, celebrate Canada Day at Muskoka Heritage Place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets range from $13.15-$19.40, but admission is free from 9 to 11 a.m. The day will start with dignitary speeches, followed by live music and activities for all ages, including pioneer demonstrations and costumed narrators. The Steam Museum will also reopen, and trains will run every hour from noon to 3 p.m. Make sure to stop by the Lions Club for a peameal sandwich and cupcakes. For more details, visit Muskoka Heritage Place. 

For more fun, make your way to River Mill Park between noon and 6 p.m. You can cool down with a cold one at the Lake of Bays Beer Garden while listening to free musical performances from Sean Cotton & The New Locals, Gina Horswood, The Waterhouse Band, Postman Dan & The Love Letters, and Brickz & Taktikz. Support charity and have a hot dog at the barbecue. Keep up-to-date on all the events with the Downtown Huntsville BIA. 

Collingwood

Bring the family to Collingwood’s three-day Canada Weekend event from July 1-3. Start the celebrations off with a pancake breakfast on Friday, followed by a bike parade starting at Trott’s Sports Excellence Parking Lot and ending at the Collingwood Library. Stay in the downtown core to enjoy the Citizenship Reaffirmation Ceremony, the cutting of Canada’s birthday cake, and the 10th annual rubber duck race. Make sure you secure an early spot at Millennium Park or along the Waterfront Promenade for the best firework views at 10 p.m.

The rest of the weekend is full of events such as the Collingwood Downtown Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning at the Pine St. Parking Lot; the Collingwood Arts Market all day Saturday on Simcoe Street; and the Wild Card Street Circus from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheffer Court.

You’ll also want to visit the Georgian Life photo booth and the Porchside Festival on Friday and Saturday. Lastly, don’t forget to take a selfie with Candid Canuck—a Collingwood icon! The Town of Collingwood has all the details you need to know. 

Parry Sound

Canada Day meets Ribfest this year in Parry Sound at the Stockey Centre. Starting at 11 a.m. on Friday, kids can have fun with inflatables, face painting, balloon artists, and even play Midway games. Adults can enjoy the beer garden from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. all weekend. There will also be musical performances during the three-day event, featuring The OneTimers, Jessica Sevier, and The Sun Harmonic. Fireworks will commence at dusk on Friday.

And as you work up an appetite celebrating the long weekend, you can eat your way through Ribfest from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 1-3. More details on Canada Day and Ribfest can be found on The Stockey Centre website. 

Check out these Canada Day essentials you can use all summer long!

Westport

Westport is the place to be for a jam-packed day of fun and endless events. Get an early start with breakfast at the Westport Welcome Centre starting at 8 a.m., and then take the family to enjoy children’s and music by Tom Gard and Elvis at Westport Lions Beach from noon to 4 p.m. The Annual Bicycle Parade will start at 2 p.m. at St. Edward Catholic School. If you’re looking for a little more, you can take a helicopter ride at the Rideau Lakes Airfield. Reserve your spot at Circle K. You can also visit the Rideau Museum from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or see the carriage display on Rideau Street from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Is all that fun making you hungry? Well, it’s Legion Hamburger Friday from noon to 2 p.m. Live music will fill the Legion 542 patio from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and take you right to the firework display. (Hint: bring your lawn chairs for a more comfortable experience.) Event details can be found on the Westport website.

Gravenhurst

Gravenhurst is hosting an all-ages afternoon of fun from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gull Lake Rotary Park. Start the day off by visiting interactive tents set up by the Gravenhurst Public Library. Make sure to check out the Scales Nature Park display and the Junior Firefighter Challenge. Hotdogs will be served by Mayor Paul Kelly and the council at 11:30 a.m. and cupcakes will be handed out at 12 p.m. (yum!). The afternoon will end on a musical note with local ukulele band performances. Visit the Town of Gravenhurst for more information. 

Festivities in Gravenhurst extend to July 2 at Walker’s Point Marina. Catch live music all afternoon and play carnival games to win prizes. You can also attend the free wake surf clinics sponsored by Muskoka Extreme or a ski show at 7 p.m. The night will end with a fireworks display at 10 p.m. 

Port Carling 

Canada Day in Port Carling is paired with the Lock Street Kick-Off, a pilot project converting Lock Street into a pedestrian-only area starting July 1. The festivities will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. While you enjoy the barbecue lunch, you can listen to live music or play a life-sized board game. More details on the Canada Day event and pilot project can be found on the Muskoka Lakes website. 

Bracebridge

The Rotary Club is hosting Canada Day in Bracebridge this year at Birds Mill Mew. Kids can have fun playing games and making crafts starting at 3 p.m. The day will continue at Bracebridge Bay in the evening, where there will be musical performances, a duck derby, a beer garden, food vendors, and a floaty race. Stick around until 10 p.m. for the fireworks and laser show. Entrance is free, but a $5 donation is recommended to help fund the event. More details to follow on the Downtown Bracebridge website. 

Lindsay

Canada Day in the Kawartha Lakes area is going to be full of excitement—just check out the lineup in Lindsay. Starting at 3 p.m. at Wilson Fields, kids can join in on making balloon animals, face painting, and obstacle courses, plus there will be a petting zoo, ponies, and carriage rides. There’s live entertainment throughout the day and vendors to browse for the adults. If you’re feeling hungry, grab a bite at the many food trucks or the barbecue hosted by the Lions Club. Fireworks will start at 10 p.m. Keep up-to-date with all the events on the Kawartha Lakes page.

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Cottage Life

Bracebridge Town Council votes against short-term rental freeze

Photo by Shutterstock/John Fader

After a lengthy discussion on April 27, Bracebridge’s town council voted against implementing an interim control bylaw for short-term rentals.

The interim control bylaw, which was debated back and forth by council over the last two months, would have frozen all short-term rentals for a period of one year with the ability to extend the freeze to a second year. During this time, owners would not have been allowed to operate a rental. If an owner refused to comply with this bylaw, they would have been charged under the town’s Planning Act, requiring them to appear in court with the possibility of receiving a maximum fine of $25,000.

During its deliberation, council heard from several stakeholders, including local short-term rental owners. Catharine Thompson, owner of Cozy Cottages of Muskoka, was first to address council. She explained how these rentals were used for more than just parties, describing a woman abused by her husband who was now using one of Thompson’s rentals as a refuge. She also described a family who had to vacate their home because of mould, but couldn’t stay in a hotel because of their two large dogs. Freezing short-term rentals would leave these individuals with nowhere to stay, she said.

Cheryl MacMillan, another local owner, pointed out that if council chose to license the rentals rather than freeze them, the town could collect a Municipal Accommodation Tax from owners, which would go towards issues such as affordable housing or further enforcing short-term rental compliance.

“We have made a commitment to the public that there will be increased enforcement. I think enforcement is the way to go, and I think a bylaw that suggests that short-term rentals have to be registered, as we heard from pretty much all of the delegations tonight, and licensed and bring some teeth to that is an absolute must,” said Deputy Mayor Rick Maloney during the April 27 town council meeting. “A full stop to short-term rentals will have a detrimental effect on many people.”

Instead of a freeze, council amended the motion, voting to create a mandatory registry for all short-term rentals. Town staff will use the registry to collect data on these current rentals, which will inform future changes to the town’s official plan, zoning bylaws, and a short-term rental licensing program.

To assist town staff, council voted to hire a consultant tasked with creating a short-term rental program by the end of 2022.

During a planning and development committee meeting on March 30, Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith also pointed out that bylaw received a budget increase this year to extend the department’s coverage to evenings and weekends, when most of the rental complaints are lodged. Noise complaint fines, which range between $250 and $300, will be in effect.

“At the end of the day, this is about behaviour,” Maloney said during the April 27 meeting. Out of the approximate 300 short-term rentals in Bracebridge, only a small portion are causing problems, which is why it isn’t fair to punish everyone with a freeze, he said. It’s time to “put some of the responsibility back on the people causing…the challenges.”