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NATURE / CULTURE / RECREATION

Fall 2015 Issue #110 $2.65 plus tax

Joie de vivre in Lafontaine

Saw whet Owl: nomadic chouette

The gifts of aritist Audrey Tabobondung

Morning on the village, Deb Grisé, oil on canvas, 8” x 10” 2 TODAY Fall 2015 www.georgianbaytodaynews.com

Georgian Bay Dreaming

Georgian Bay Today By David Sweetnam Issue 110, study of the Protection Fall 2015 Network was in large measure due to the leadership of Georgian Bay For - Publisher ever, a grass roots charity focused on Bird Room Press protecting water in Georgian Bay and the Great Lakes. Manager/Editors Peter Wood & Sherry Giddings [email protected] The Great Lakes Protection Net - [email protected] work is a coordinated system of flow attenuating structures that use accu - Contributors rate predictive models to anticipate future Great Lakes water levels and Cathy Cooper provide enough flow modification in Aurora their connecting channels to com - pensate for climate impacts. This en - Olivia Hill sures that healthy historic water level Muskoka ranges are maintained throughout Photo by Gary Scott Breithrupt the entire system. This protects the Steven Duff I have a dream. The waters of cerns expressed a century ago be - environment and ensures that the Parry Sound Georgian Bay are once again teeming cause of historic poor air quality economic region’s inexpensive and with healthy fish. With the eradica - leading up to the last Olympics there non-carbon marine transportation Gary Cerantola tion of zebra and quagga mussels, in 2008. advantage is maintained protecting Wasaga Beach sea lamprey and other invasive the millions of jobs and families who species, our native flora and fauna Clean-up investments have now live in this prosperous region. Gary Scott Breithrupt have once again settled into their been completed throughout the Parry Sound niches and the ecosystem is thriving. Great Lakes repairing the damages After a 2012 study found that The fish, chasing prey into the bays, done by shortsighted generations Kate Harries structural intervention could address once again cause the water levels to and industries using archaic account - Elmvale all of the expected extreme water rise and we have all seen the Lake ing systems that ignored the harms level conditions anticipated from Anne Lewis Sturgeon eating the cranberries they inflicted on the environment early climate models, new research Six Mile Lake Conservation Club along the re-naturalized shoreline. and passed onto future generations. was completed to create an engineer - Industry driven best management ing model of what possible climate Monika Lukacena - Russo The fish are once again edible… practices and de-listing criteria for so resilient solutions might look like. Olea Health Wasaga Beach far from the bad old days when toxic called “Areas of Concern” under - This visionary engineering study air pollution from antiquated fossil taken early in the last century proved was the first of its kind in the Great Kim Newby fuel burning power plants across the insufficient to make real, lasting im - Lakes to incorporate climate change Wyevale ocean fouled the waters of Georgian provements. The outcry from the impacts as an integral component of Bay and kept pregnant and nursing public over recurring losses of drink - the design requirements. Until that David M Dupuis mothers from eating any fish. Nasty ing water due to toxic algae blooms time, previously engineered struc - Tiny Township chemicals from household and per - throughout the Great Lakes region tures were little more than speed sonal care products and industrial finally forced governments to re-ex - bumps of rocks in the river -- inade - Cindy Cartwright processes are no longer dumped into amine policies, enforce source treat - Hummingbird Project quate to address the volatility of the the water to pass through inadequate ment and remove and treat past century’s exceptional storms water treatment facilities. contaminated sediments in order to and droughts. Kristian Puhvel re-establish ecosystems that could ac - Friends of Killarney Park And then I wake up. The visual blight of wires strung tually improve water quality. Our David Sweetnam across thousands of miles of wilder - countries can now finally look to - Georgian Bay Forever is actually Georgian Bay Forever ness leaking significant percentages wards investing in the future to pro - funding this engineering study this of electromagnetic radiation is gone, mote a new sustainable economy. year, but will it lead to the world Patrice Dutil now replaced by efficient energy changing? I have a dream. Ryerson University storage capacity linked to clean en - ’s vision to procure the ergy sources located close to popula - world’s spent nuclear fuel supply has David Sweetnam is the Executive Pat Edwards tion centres. paid dividends reviving its world Director of Georgian Bay Forever Township of Georgian Bay leading status in radio-isotope man - Our mandatory zero-emission ufacturing and also in the Nadine Lalonde electric vehicles now scoot around burgeoning heavy element Presidente LaMeute culturelle the region autonomously logging synthesis markets. New el - de la Lafontaine more miles with fewer accidents. ements and alloys are Solar recharging networks energize being created for the first Penny Barr our automobiles with abundant effi - time in the history of the Cartoonist - Scarobrough Bluffs ciently captured light energy. known universe, trans - Pipeline deconstruction in North forming materials science Production America is now completed and all of in every manufacturing Web site administrator Colin Wood the environmental impairments they process and enabling the accumulated have been cleaned up. state of the art femto-elec - Assembly Editor tronics field. The deep ge - Andrew Smellie These new energy and trans - ologic repository is now Smellie’s Copy & Print Shop Bracebridge portation technologies have reversed almost empty and new the effects of climate change follow - sources of raw materials Printing ing two malodourous centuries of are being captured from McLaren Press Graphics Gravenhurst collective maleficence that proved near orbit asteroids at the costly in terms of lives, property, the Martian processing facility. ISSN 0849-5696 economy and the ecosystems. The air BN 121730009 RT0001 is once again clean and next sum - The foresight of the In - September 2015 mer’s 2116 Olympics are being held ternational Joint Commis - in Beijing without the health con - sion in its century old 2018 www.georgianbaytodaynews.com GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 3 Lafontaine: The village, the wolf and the festival

By: Nadine Lalonde, with files from Marin Lalonde, Daniel Marchildon and Canada’s History Their determination and resourceful - fontaine” legend explains the devel - ness led to the creation of an agricul - opment of this Franco-Ontarian tural co-op, which has since evolved, community. Since publication, the into the village’s hardware store. story was dramatized by children, Later, a Credit Union was organized. youth and adults of the community Eventually, a Community Hall and as part of centennial celebrations. In Recreation Pavilion provided venues May 1977, students from École for social and sporting events and a Sainte-Croix, the only school in the team of volunteers formed a dedi - village of Lafontaine, adapted the cated and efficient fire department. text and presented a play, to the de - light of parents and public. Commercially, the land was well suited to the cultivation of seed po - Whether fact, fiction or part auto - tatoes. This became one of the thriv - biography, it is said the Rev. ing enterprises that can still be found Marchildon was prompted to write in the Lafontaine area today. When the wolf story in order to bring the travelling the concession roads dur - disparate and isolated groups of set - ing the spring and summer, one can’t tlers together to form a united com - help but notice the various grain munity. crops produced in the area. The checkerboards of hay, oat, barley, As the story goes, a wolf of epic canola, soy bean and alfalfa fields size and unusual cunning arrived in provide a rich and colourful texture the community one fine day near the to the countryside. They form the end of March. Capitalizing on the cash crops that feed dairy cattle, beef fact that these isolated settlers were cattle, goats and sheep on the larger so bent on ignoring one another, he farms. Hobby farms also dot the decided to stay… He indiscrimi - countryside and provide the perfect nately raided farms and slaughtered setting for budding equestrians and livestock. Each new sunset brought View of the village of Lafontaine (photographed from similar vantage point gardeners, as well as a new crop of forebodings of the wolf’s ravages as as cover painting by Deb Grisé – cover) food entrepreneurs. his blood-curdling howl pierced the Once upon a village, there was Soulanges) to till the lands of Huro - stillness of the countryside. The evil ....Lafontaine. nia and set down roots in the north - The area boasts a great number of beast did not distinguish between Located 160 km North of ern portion of Tiny Township. The builders and many artisans still prac - farmers with fertile lands and those , Lafontaine is a small rural first wave of immigrants claimed the tice the fine art of cabinet making in with poorer soil, nor did he prefer village bordered by Georgian Bay to most fertile tracts on the 16th and Lafontaine. In addition, we find spe - settlers who hailed from Batiscan to the North, Nottawasaga Bay to the 17th concessions, while others set - cialized woodworkers skilled in the those from Joliette. The settlers now West and Penetanguishene to the tled for whatever land remained. production of high quality musical had something in common: fear of East. In the early 17th century, this Those who arrived in the 1850s set - instruments such as guitars and vio - the wolf. The usually divided descen - was the land of the Wendat, a con - tled in the 18th and 19th concessions. lins. Perhaps this is one of the factors dants of Lafontaine's pioneer families federacy made up of five clans, estab - The third group arrived in the 1860s; contributing to the profusion of mu - came together to battle a common lished eighteen established villages some farmed while others became sical talent in the area. On another enemy: “Le Loup de Lafontaine.” with a population of approximately lumberjacks or fishermen. creative level, it is not uncommon to They even hired the best hunters and 30,000. In 1615, Father Joseph find very interesting specimens of trackers from Christian Island to LeCaron celebrated the first Mass in All of the pioneers from Lower crocheting and quilting as an art that hunt the wolf down, but to no avail. Ontario at Caraghoua, one of the Canada shared the French culture, has been handed down from genera - main Wendat villages, in the presence customs and language, and were de - tion to generation. Curiously enough, the wolf of Samuel de Champlain and Étienne vout Roman Catholics. The isolated seemed kind to the children. On Brûlé. The site was later donated to rural setting on the Penetanguishene Legend of the Wolf their way home from school, the chil - the diocese of Toronto by Theophile peninsula was conducive to maintain - dren sometimes unknowingly played Brunelle, the same Theophile who ing the language and culture that the Half legendary, half historic, the with the wolf as if he were a large killed a wily wolf that was to become settlers had brought with them. fantastic story of the Lafontaine lovable dog. Frightened parents the stuff of legend in the early 20th They knew the story of the Jesuits wolf was written by Reverend started keeping their children home century. who were martyred in the area cen - Thomas Marchildon and published from school and much of the turies before. In their honour, the set - by the Société historique du Nouvel- academic year was a loss. As early as 1829, the first settlers tlers named their parish "Exaltation Ontario in 1955. The “Le loup de La - came from Drummond Island (a U.S. de la Sainte-Croix" and built their island in ) to take up res - church in the centre of the village. idence in the Lafontaine area. They Later, the post office was named La - were Métis families, descendants of fontaine after Louis Hippolyte La - the Voyageurs. Many of the men be - fontaine, a respected Canadian came adept guides conducting parties politician, advocate of responsible of traveling military personnel and government in the Canadas of the dignitaries through the wilderness day. With time and popular usage, tracts in Tiny Township. the village assumed the name of La - fontaine. And yet, each group was It was not until the 1840s that wary of the others. three other groups of settlers began to arrive in Lafontaine from . Many years later, under the guid - They originated from four different ance of the parish priest, Rev. counties in the lower Saint-Lawrence Thomas Marchildon, the various (Champlain, Joliette, Vaudreuil and groups began to work in cooperation. Postcard depicting Theophile Brunelle and what is thought to be the Loup de Lafontaine, circa 1903 du loup 4 GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 www.georgianbaytodaynews.com Experience French Canadian Culture

Award in 2012. Les Contes, ’s storytelling chapter, is the newest project addition, presenting local and professional raconteurs for the first time four years ago at Pene - tanguishene’s Winterama. The sto - ries captured the public’s imagination and became the launch event for the Festival du loup in 2014.

La Meute has also been involved with important punctual projects such as the filming of the national Radio-Canada television show La pe - tite seduction in 2013, and the stag - ing of Écho de Champlain en Huronie in April 2015. With 200 per - formers from the local francophone community – many from local schools – the multimedia production revisited 400 years of Franco-Ontar - ian history in fourteen breathtaking Patricia Pommet in 17th century period costume at Festival du loup with ‘wolves’ created by local high school scenes. The two-hour show offered students and Quest Art (offered by silent auction ) local history, costumes, dance and an Fear of the wolf continued into Huronia – the legend lives on in the rary Living History Exhibit was cre - amazing soundtrack and talented the summer. One day, two-year-old spirit of a new gathering to unite and ated as part of the festival. Since its singers from the area. Volunteer Thomas wandered out of his yard. A celebrate community, friendship and inception, over twenty of La - working groups skillfully piloted search party was quickly organized. culture – The Festival du loup de La - fontaine’s pioneering families have both events. After combing the surrounding area, fontaine. been showcased in various editions the child was found sound asleep of the Musée vivant de Lafontaine. Every year, on the 3rd weekend in under a large tree on the banks of Festival du loup By putting the spotlight on these July, villagers, cottagers, and visitors, Hark Creek, just East of the village. families, through displays, photo ex - gather to experience French Cana - The search party concluded by the A century after the real-life wolf hibits, oral histories and other pre - dian culture first hand through trail of large prints on the muddy terrorized the countryside, the Festi - sentations, visitors discover the demonstrations, workshops, special bank that the wolf had saved the val du loup de Lafontaine was reasons that led the builders to settle activities and concerts featuring child by pulling him from the water. founded to celebrate the area’s unique at Lafontaine, as well as learn about home-grown talent with well-known heritage and culture, and French the daily life of these families at dif - local names: Robitaille, Lalonde, At the end of August, Théophile Canadian roots and joie de vivre. ferent times in history. Lefaive, Payment, Desroches, Forget, Brunelle announced “should I kill the Beausoleil, Gignac, Dorion, and wolf, I will host a Thanksgiving The festival was originally an am - These stories also allow for trac - Lafrenière. There are traditional mass and party for everyone”. The bitious project by a local senior citi - ing the evolution of the community French songs, dance, food and cama - following September, Théophile saw zen group, Club de l’âge d’or de in various fields, including: religion, raderie in an authentic village atmos - the great wolf in his field. He ran to Lafontaine. People were asked to education, technology, trades, agri - phere. Festival goers talk to artisans his farmhouse and returned with his drag their old ‘things’ from the attic, culture, wood industry, fishing and and join in the fun and games for dusty rifle. Blind in one eye, barn or cellar for an artifact display the fur trade. The project has come children and adults alike. Théophile raised his gun. Relying on at École St-Croix. The variety and to play an important role in offering his faith, he closed his good eye, fired quality of objects submitted and suc - locals and visitors an opportunity to The Festival takes place in the and killed the wolf. At the mass, Pas - cess of the mini-exhibit gave the club reconnect with their roots. heart of the village, at Lafontaine tor Beaudoin declared: “The menace the idea to open a museum to show - Park and the Robert Robitaille Pavil - of an evil wolf has brought all par - case the community’s cultural her - La Meute culturelle de Lafontaine, ion as well at Église Ste-Croix, the ties together and now Lafontaine itage and legacy as well as to or the “Cultural Wolf Pack”, was parish hall, and the Lafontaine Com - stands as one united community.” preserve their distinctive francoph - founded after the first Festival du munity Centre. It’s always a Howling one culture in a minority setting. At Loup in December 2002. La Meute is Good Time. Come Howl with Us! What happened that September af - the same time, the idea of hosting a the volunteer driven not-for-profit ternoon still unites the community to summer music festival came from the entity that oversees the administra - Nadine Lalonde is Presidente de La this day. As does the spirit of the need to raise funds for the creation of tive aspects of three local projects: Meute Culturelle de Lafontaine. She is a great party Théophile Brunelle held this museum. Festival du Loup, Musée vivant de professional English/French translator, to celebrate the momentous event. Lafontaine and Contes de Lafontaine. living in Penetang with a passion for The Loup de Lafontaine has staked a Festival du loup was presented for The Musée vivant received the pres - storytelling, music and culture. claim in the Francophone heritage of the first time in 2002 and a tempo - tigious Governor General's History

Spectacle les Moutons Jacqueline Asselin prepares for La Fête www.georgianbaytodaynews.com GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 5 The Northern Saw-whet Owl

By Cindy Cartwright Acadian Owl, the Saw-flier, seems to be no agreement on the Sparrow Owl, Little Nightbird, issue the Kirtland’s Owl does not and Kirkland’s Owl. exist in modern science.

Toot, toot, toot – the back-up In the late 1700s, the Georgian alarm of a large truck echoes Bay area was occupied by the Algo - through the night. But wait, there nquin people and French traders who are no roads nearby, and why would probably knew the tiny owl by its a truck be backing anywhere at this French-Canadian name “chouette” time of night? and this leads to a much more likely explanation for the Saw-whet’s name. In the late 1700s when this tiny French was widespread among the bird was given its common name, earliest traders and settlers in there were no motorized vehicles Canada. Many words were mispro - anywhere in , never nounced by non-French speakers. mind modern trucks with alarms to One theory is that over time English- warn that they were moving back - speaking Americans anglicized wards. However, this is the call most ‘chouette’ into ‘saw-whet’. And even - associated with this forest denizen. tually the Northern Saw-whet Owl became the accepted name used Most people believe the bird was today. named for its calls that reminded early settlers of the rasping sound of Melts the heart of everyone who a saw blade being sharpened on a has a chance to see one whetstone - hence the name North - ern Saw-whet Owl. Stories abound The Northern Saw-whet is the claiming that famous naturalists such smallest owl found in Ontario. At 7- as John James Audubon originally 8” tall, it weighs roughly the same chose the name, or that an unknown amount as two Kit Kat chocolate logger filing his saw came up with it bars. Males are smaller; usually Photo by: Mike McEvoy when he heard the whet-whet sound weighing 70-85 grams while females Saw-whets call less often during like Lake Huron and Georgian Bay being mimicked by a tiny owl can weigh up to 110 gms. The small fall migration than they do in the do not stop them and one even perched nearby. But even if these stature, large head and huge eyes spring but it’s not unusual to hear landed on a fishing boat 110 km out stories are true, there is still much give the Saw-whet a cute and cuddly them if you are outside on a cool fall in the Atlantic Ocean. disagreement over which of this look that melts the heart of everyone night or just before dawn. Occasion - owl’s nine distinct calls would actu - who has the chance to see one. ally they are even heard calling on The Owl Foundation near St. ally be responsible for its name. Christmas Bird Counts in December. Catharine’s reports that more Saw- Clearly the most common call that Occasionally confused with the Their single, repetitive high-pitched whets arrive there in the fall than any people hear, described above and slightly larger Boreal Owl, which has ‘toot’ can go on for up to an hour other time of year. Young owls mak - known as the advertising call, sounds a yellow bill, Saw-whets have white without stopping. ing their first migration make up the nothing like a whetstone sharpening streaks on the head while the Boreal majority having been hit by cars or anything. has more rounded white spots. All It would be almost 200 years after collided with buildings. Glass reflects the other owls in the Great Lakes re - scientific description and identifica - the sky back to birds and owls are Birds tended to have localized gion are too large to be mistaken for tion before people realized that the found injured on sidewalks in the names in the 18th and 19th centuries a Saw-whet except possibly the East - tiny Saw-whet was the most nomadic morning. Human activities and and the Northern Saw-whet was ern Screech Owl. The feather tufts of all owls in Canada. Every fall, structures are a danger to these tiny called many things depending on sticking up from the head and often thousands of these diminutive birds birds. where it was observed. These names called ‘ear tufts’ help to distinguish sweep southward through Ontario included Acadian Owl, the Saw-flier, this slightly larger owl from both the and into the northern , Northern Saw-whet Owls have Sparrow Owl, Little Nightbird, and Saw-whet’s smooth oval head shape. occasionally travelling as far south as been studied in Ontario through Kirkland’s Owl. The history behind the Carolinas and Kentucky. While banding research for over 40 years some of the names is fairly obvious – The tiny Saw-whets have a vari - Saw-whets breeding in the US are and more than 200,000 have been Acadian Owl because the species was able diet, eating many small mam - not always migratory, staying year banded in the province over the first observed and described in Nova mals like mice, moles and voles, bats, round in habitats where they can find years. Officially, the oldest Saw-whet Scotia. And what else would you call and even flying squirrels. They may food, those breeding in Ontario have on record was one banded in Ontario a petite owl but Sparrow Owl or Lit - catch as many as six mice in a row no choice but to move south in search and later recaptured in November tle Nightbird? and store them for later. Small birds of better food sources. 2007 in Minnesota. It was an adult in including kinglets, chickadees, and September 1999 when it was origi - Other names are harder to trace. sparrows are occasionally caught and Parry Sound is located on one of nally banded; making it at least 9 Where did the name Kirkland’s Owl eaten as well as some larger birds like the main migration routes for Saw- years and 5 months old the last time come from? Digging produced the cardinals or doves. When mammals whets, through central Ontario and it was seen. following information. American or birds are not available, they will down the Ohio River valley. While Naturalist Jared Kirtland used this also eat frogs or insects. many other bird species follow the Without a doubt, the Northern name for a species of owl in the late exact same migration route year Saw-whet Owl is one of the most 1700s. While some ornithologists Perching and waiting to pounce after year, it’s not uncommon for adorable frequent flyers in the Geor - believe he was actually describing on prey on the ground at dusk or Saw-whet owls in the Great Lakes gian Bay area. So the next time you young Saw-whet Owls, which look dawn is the most common hunting Basin to switch migratory routes think you hear a truck backing up in very different than the adults, others method, and when food is plentiful over their lifetime. Owls originally the night, listen carefully. You might believe he was describing an entirely they will often only eat the head. banded on the western side of Geor - be hearing the advertising call of the different species altogether. Argu - gian Bay near Oliphant have been re - Northern Saw-whet Owl. ments supporting either theory can The most nomadic of all owls in captured as far west as Minnesota be found in research documents. One Canada and east to Maine and the state of Cindy Cartwright is the founder of thing is certain – although there New York. Large bodies of water The Ontario Hummingbird Project. 6 GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 www.georgianbaytodaynews.com

Catharsis in Collingwood

Readers of sufficient vintage will adrift tethered only by the religious no doubt remember that fateful Sun - beliefs that she had instilled in him. day night in 1956 when Elvis first He was a truck driver whose mete - appeared on the Ed Sullivan show oric rise to fame caused him to won - and changed our lives forever. That der why he was ‘chosen ‘ to be Elvis night, Elvis liberated us from the as if a higher power had burdened bondage of the establishment and re - him with the responsibility. leased the latent exuberance of youth in all of us. He was much maligned, rejected. Even Frank Sinatra who might have Elvis made young people feel like known better called him “brutal, a vital and distinct group connected ugly, degenerate, vicious” and, as if by raging hormones and a joy for life, that wasn’t enough, “a rancid undefined by the older generation smelling aphrodisiac”. He was used still languishing in the greatest war and abused by his manager of the world had ever seen. Elvis twenty years Colonel Sam Parker blurred the lines between races by and the infamous Memphis Mafia. By being a little too black for the white 1977 he had become a joke, but not a folk and a little too white for the very funny one. He was hopelessly blacks amidst a brewing civil rights overweight, incapacitated by pre - movement. There was no reference scription drugs and had become point in our culture for comparison – passed over by the counter culture he was new, he was fresh. He brought that he so opposed. If there was ever rock and roll to mainstream culture a death that we wish had never hap - that unleashed a sexual frenzy and pened, it was this one. If there was outraged at least one Catholic ever a life that we wished had not through generations. One Elvis fam - down genetically. The spirit of Elvis Church who pronounced that, “his played out in this tragic way, it was ily was represented by a grandfather, is in good hands and Collingwood actions and motions were such to his. We were and remain in disbelief his son and grandson, a delightful can look forward to many years of rouse the sexual passions of or more accurately, denial. nine-year-old Elvis carrying the celebration. teenaged youth” and we loved him torch as if the spirit had been passed for it. Every word, every gesture set There is also much more to the the kindling inside us ablaze with Elvis festival. It is of course a finan - fire. He was painfully beautiful with cial benefit to the town. Hotels, a voice to match and endless restaurants, bars, and grocery stores Champlain’s Dream: charisma. all benefit as the influx of money Still working on it trickles down through the local econ - A brief twenty-one years later, omy. A hundred ‘tribute artists’ per - Elvis lay dead in a pool of prescrip - forming for 30 000 fans is a powerful On August 1, 2015 the town of on the shores of Penetanguishene tion drugs. Who can forget where statement but you have to attend this Penetanguishene celebrated the Bay. On a business level, the event at - they were on that day August 16, cultural wonder to appreciate the 400th anniversary of the meeting tracted 30 000 visitors and generated 1977? I was in New York City, legacy of Elvis and the meaning of between the governor of New one million dollars for the local econ - Times Square in fact, where I first the event. There are people in walk - France, Samuel de Champlain and omy. A commemorative waterfront saw the news splattered on the garish ers and wheelchairs. Fans from age Chief Aenons of the Wendat Nation park called Rotary Champlain Wen - billboards. The city was gushing nine to ninety fill the vendor-lined who welcomed him in friendship on dat Park with walkways and monu - Elvis; his ubiquitous music and streets. People camp out overnight the shores of Penetanguishene Bay. ments was opened and will remain to image flooded the streets in obscene with their chairs to secure a The meeting was a turning point in inform future generations of our attempts to cash in once again on this favourable spot near the stage. There our history with profound implica - shared history. pure spirit known as Elvis. The is much singing, dancing and broad tions for two civilizations. mourning began that day but we smiles as each performer tries to cap - The event began on Friday July 31 have never quite gotten over Elvis. ture an aspect of the Elvis persona. The event, dubbed ‘Rendezvous with a Four Hundred Years of His - We share our disbelief every July in And there are tears. The tragedy that Champlain’ furthered the historic tory theme procession through the Collingwood as we marvel at the is Elvis is never far from our minds legacy of the town of Penetang by town followed by a black tie gala din - phenomenal and unlikely cultural for those of us who were there. recognizing four hundred years of ner aptly named the Feast of the event known as The Elvis Festival There are memories conjured up by Francophone presence in Ontario but Three Sisters after the Wendat staple where the joy and the sorrow leads our favourite Elvis tune, some sweet, it was much more than an exercise in foods: corn, squash and beans. us to catharsis. some bitter. The effect is cathartic. civic pride or a tourist attraction. It There is a collective change in emo - was a renewed plea for all of us to re - Saturday August 1st on the actual There is much more to Elvis than tion that overcomes the audience that alize Champlain’s dream. He envi - anniversary of Champlain’s arrival, his ‘pelvis’ a description that he aptly leads us to renewal, to healing. You sioned a new world, a new society visitors were treated to a dramatic called ‘childish’. His story is one that can sense the emotional release. It based on humanity and peace, a re-enactment of the momentous breaks our hearts each time it is told. was Aristotle who taught us about world where people of different cul - meeting between the French and the If Mark Twain is to be believed catharsis - the purging of our spirit tures could live in harmony. Cham - Wendat. History came alive with “truth is stranger than fiction be - by witnessing the playing out of plain’s star has risen once again on Wendat dancers and drummers and cause fiction is obliged to stick to ideas and emotions on stage. The this anniversary and we are all called French arquebusiers and voyageurs - possibilities”. The Elvis story is well Elvis festival may not be Euripides to realize his dream that we now call and of course the two leaders Chief documented but to this day remains or Sophocles but I can t help believe Canada. Aenons and Monsieur Champlain. impossible in our minds. . He was that if Aristotle came to Colling - born in poverty to a mother that he wood for the Elvis Festival, he would Rendezvous Champlain was a And then came the inevitable adored and an unremarkable father. dance, he would sing, and like the major achievement for the town of speeches by politicians… The death of his twin brother Aaron rest of us, he would shed a few tears. Penetang and by all accounts a major haunted him for the rest of his life as success. The event commemorated It is easy of course to listen to he carried his name as his middle There is no indication that the the arrival of Samuel de Champlain politicos at photo ops with a cynical name. The premature death of his Elvis fever will fade any time soon. on the waters of Georgian Bay and ear but at this event a careful listener mother who he worshipped set him The mythology is being passed on the meeting with the Wendat Nation could benefit with food for thought. www.georgianbaytodaynews.com GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 7 Champlain’s Dream: Still working on it - continued

To our minds, three points stood out. Champlain’s dream. It is not to late. but to complete the dream we need to Jean Siouin, Chief of the Wendat The groundwork has been laid, the achieve reconciliation with our First Jean Marc Fournier, (Minister of Nation reminded us of the epidemics objective is clear and it is up to us Nations. It will require understand - Intergovernmental Affairs for Que - brought to his people. These diseases now in partnership with First Na - ing, respect and friendship but it will bec) suggested that the Champlain were surely unforeseen but had a tions to make the dream a reality. fulfill the promise that began in 1615. came in understanding, respect and devastating effect on his people from friendship. That is what the Wendat which they never recovered. When Champlain arrived in 1615, offered him and expected in return. Canada was in its infancy. It was an Fournier pointed out that these three Kathleen Wynne’s message was idea with great possibilities. Four words apply to all of humanity, that one of encouragement. She chal - hundred years later, we have matured this is a goal for all of us. lenged us to continue the pursuit of into a model multicultural society

Wasaga Beach a working model for Georgian Bay Where the Economy “is” the Environment

By Gary Cerantola Wasaga Beach has taken Quality Craik to experience its "Eco-Village." and manage our natural resources to in eco-management and sustainabil - of Life to a new level by creating a a much greater degree. ity technologies that the proposed Healthy Community Network. The Craik has a new schoolhouse centre of excellence could develop Healthy Community Network was called "The Praxis International In - To embrace this concept we may and support. formed in March 2006 and was man - stitute,” that has attracted students take a page out of the Craik Eco-Vil - dated to act as a link between town from Japan and around the world to lage book and consider creating a The timing is right for On - council and the citizens of Wasaga Craik to learn about the environ - “Sustainability & Eco-Management tario to step up to new solutions, new Beach while advising Council on ment, sustainab -ility, the English lan - Centre” for Georgian Bay that could technologies and create a new econ - matters relating to active and healthy guage and their community lifestyle. possibly be built on some prime On - omy that will generate new jobs that living, the environment - natural, tario Parks land in Wasaga Beach on will bring new prosperity and sustain physical, social, economic - and the The Challenge – Protecting the world’s longest fresh water new incentives to protect our envi - creation of a sustainable and healthy Georgian Bay beach. Wasaga Beach just also hap - ronment. It’s a win-win for just future for the town. Its vision is for - pens to be a Blue Flag eco-labeled being good ancestors. ward thinking: “Wasaga Beach is po - In 2013, the Georgian Bay Bios - beach (www.blueflag.org/). This sitioned as a community where phere Reserve and its partner organ - project could take on a transcending Gary Cerantola, Honours BSc. Chem - istry, P.Eng. MBA is a resident of people live in and contribute to a izations announced the launch of the effort for the Town of Wasaga Beach Wasaga Beach and is a management clean and sustainable environment State of the Bay ecosystem health re - in terms of it driving the town’s consultant for Critel Professional and value and strive for optimal port card. The report measures six healthy community network vision Services and chair for Wasaga Beach health and an active lifestyle.” main indicators of ecosystem health, and helping nurture a community Short Film Festival. including phosphorous content in the culture that could position the sus - www.garycerantola.com The community was given a chal - water, fish communities, coastal wet - tainability and eco-management cen - lenge by its committee chair, Peter land cover, coastal wetland plants, tre as a community integrated world Check out the parts at Willmott that its citizens consider natural cover and large natural areas. class “centre of excellence”. The Coldwater working towards a dream of sustain - The full report and tips on getting centre could also take on the role of ability. Mr. Wilmott identified a involved in Georgian Bay steward - managing the State of the Bay Auto Parts Ltd. small prairie town of Craik, ship actions can be sourced at ecosystem health report card. Saskatchewan that could be consid - www.stateofthebay.gbbr.ca . Georgian We could consider the cre - ered a model for Wasaga Beach. Bay remains a relatively healthy re - ation of a partnership with the Gov - gion of the Great Lakes, but this big, ernment of Ontario to build a world Craik is a vibrant, progressive and diverse body of water faces many class sustainability LEED Platinum friendly “small town” community lo - challenges and vigilance is key for centre in Wasaga Beach, populated Owner Laura Simpson has packed parts into every corner of her parts store. cated in the heart of the prairie grain the future of the bay. The Not - with experts and thought leaders in We offer a complete line of automotive belt in south central Saskatchewan, tawasaga River is part of the Great eco-management and sustainability accessories and performance parts. MARINE & GARDEN TRACTOR BATTERIES ON SALE. an hour’s drive from its provincial Lakes basin and is one of many trib - that could impact the environment New Hours Mon. Fri. 8:00 - 6:00 Sat. 8:00 - 5:00 capital of Regina. Craik was incor - utaries of Lake Huron, Georgian and all communities along Georgian We have- been serving the Coldwater & Southern Georgian Bay area for 30 years! porated as a town well over 100 years Bay. Poor water quality and up - Bay. This eco-management and sus - 6 Sturgeon Bay Rd. Coldwater (just off hwy. 12) ago as settlers were drawn to the stream development could have dire tainability research and teaching fa - Email [email protected] area because of the opportunities consequences for the recreational cility could guide our local efforts Phone 705 686-7425 available to farm the land. fishery in the lower end of the Not - and also invite business people, sci - tawasaga River. Surface water qual - entists, environmentalists students, Over the past 10 years Craik has ity and stream habitat in the Lower trainers, etc. from all over Canada grown in population after many Nottawasaga River sub-watershed and the world to visit, collaborate years of declining numbers making ranges from “below potential” to “im - and learn how to embrace sustain - it an exciting place to live, work and paired.” ability to change lives, build success - raise a family. The community of ful enterprises and create successful Craik adopted an environmental and The Opportunity sustainable projects and practices sustainability attitude and made a de - that will benefit their environments, liberate effort to bring new and like- The timing is right to start find - organizations and their communities. minded residents to the community ing ways to grow and influence the Ontario could feature a world-class to join a driving force to create the creative and green sustainable center of excellence, fuel ecotourism "Craik Eco-Village". They have re- economies of Ontario that will moti - and the green and creative (knowl - invented themselves to follow an en - vate people to protect the environ - edge) economies of Georgian Bay vironmentally friendly lifestyle and ment and our heritage for future and the province. Given environ - managed to create interest far be - generations. Building our Georgian mental and climate change impacts yond the community drawing people Bay economy on ecotourism will re - throughout the world the opportu - from around the world to come to inforce our requirements to protect nity is ripe and growing for expertise 8 GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 www.georgianbaytodaynews.com Rendezvous in Penetanguishene

Photo Eassy By Peter Wood

Les Voyageurs with statue of John Graves Simcoe

Wendat Bear Chief Aenons anticipates Champlain’s arrival Artisans and vendors walkway in new Rotary Champlain Wendat Park

Artist Tyler Fauvelle with commemorative ‘Gathering Circle’ Wendat and French in celebration Voyageur family bronze sculpture

Replica of Champlain’s Astrolabe created by Mike Bilyk of LaFontaine Themed procession: 400 years of history Iron Werks www.georgianbaytodaynews.com GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 9 Historic 400 th Anniversary

Champlain lands in Penetanguishene Bay

Salute of the Arquebusiers Wendat Chief Aenons welcomes Champlain

Flags of: Canada, Ontario, Quebec, Receiving the words of Mme Meilleur Franco-Ontario and France (17th C) Wendat and French procession downtown Penetanguishene

Dignitaries at re-enactment: (L to R) Madeleine Meilleur (Min of Francophone Affairs, Ont.), Kathleen Wynne (Pre - Re-enactment, music, speeches mier of Ontario), Jean Siouin (Wendat Chief), Jean-Marc Fornier (Minister of Inter-governmental Affairs, Que.), Gerry blessed with beautiful weather Marshal (Mayor Penetanguishene), Bruce Stanton (M.P. Simcoe County) 10 GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 www.georgianbaytodaynews.com Audrey Tabobondung: Elder and Artisan

By Peter Wood finish grade 10, which was the least that would afford her some opportu - nities in trades. To her credit, she eventually finished grade 11.

There was a town on Parry Island during those years; it was called Depot Harbor and it was an industri - ous and dynamic place. It began in the late 1900s as a port. They had the deepest water, good flat land for building and it was well protected from the Bay. Goods came to the port and were distributed by train. It was a vibrant port with a population of 1600 that blossomed to 3000 in the summer. Audrey s’ mother felt that the town was unsafe for her chil - dren and forbade them from going there. The depression slowed the shipping down. Gradually, people moved away as the ships stopped coming. The town ended in a spec - tacular explosion and fire in 1945. Today the town is a ghost town; the remnants are gradually being re - claimed by wilderness. Audrey Tabobondung in her garden on Parry Island – a tranquil place, close to nature and family “I was born gifted as an artist and coming. And they did. The words north by the American army. They After high school, Audrey contin - as a caregiver.” Those are the self - were prophetic. Audrey has spent her now form the Wasauksing First Na - ued to grow as a caregiver. She went assured words from First Nation ar - life honouring her gifts, nurturing tion on Parry Island. The reserve in - to live with an aunt in Ottawa where tisan Audrey Tabobondung of Parry them and sharing them. Today she is cludes 19 000 acres and 126 km of she became a nurse practitioner. Her Island. “My mother always told me a celebrated artist and elder in her shoreline on Georgian Bay. next move was to Toronto where she when I was young, that I was born community. ‘Elder’ in this sense continued her nursing at the mental with these two gifts. You have to means an earned position of respect. Born and raised on Parry Island, health facility on Queen St. known carry them, to take care of them.” Audrey was always just one bridge simply as ‘999’. She lived in the quiet She was told that she wouldn’t have Audrey’s Ojibway ancestors came away from the town of Parry Sound, neighbourhood of Parkdale and to look for these gifts, that they were to Canada in the early 1800s driven although it was strictly a railroad worked two jobs. It was her father bridge that connected the town and who urged her to leave that service the island. Only the occasional car because he felt that she didn’t belong made it across - that by virtue of the there. It was difficult dealing with work of one Harry Graham who had suffering, so, after six years of men - a ferry and a scow that could accom - tal health service and life in the big modate one vehicle at a time. city, she returned to her home to raise her own family Audrey began ‘creating’ as a child with her mother. Her mother was a Ten years later, Audrey moved to strong and resourceful woman, who, Kenora, where she worked as a Na - with six children, struggled to sur - tive Child Welfare Worker. It was her vive the depression by taking in laun - most important and demanding role dry and doing housework. She also yet. She was there to bring native made things with Audrey: objects children back to their homes. She ad - that were useful to their lives. Audrey mits that she “wasn’t very popular up never thought of these as ‘art works’, there,” but felt that she was doing the that was an unfamiliar concept to her. right thing for the children and her “ I never heard the term ‘works of people. The work was necessary and art’ until I was an adult.” They saw she was once again, answering her this work not as ‘art’ but as a job, nec - calling, responding to her gifts. In essary to support the family. retrospect, she now realizes just how serious the work was. She was away She attended school on the island from family in those days in Kenora, in a one-room schoolhouse with two but that all changed when she re - separate grades and two teachers. ceived a call from her son that would The island school provided education place her in the most important role to grade eight, so, off to the town she of her life. went for high school. The culture shock was severe; the ringing bells In 1997, Audrey’s son called her were disturbing. The regimens of and asked her to come home to be a high school were overwhelming to grandmother to his three sons. “It her. The transition from reserve was the way he said it. I knew that I schoolhouse to town high school was had to leave Kenora. He told me that not easy and she frequently found I had two boys who needed me and a herself at odds with the system. third one on the way and asked me to Audrey’s blend of original and traditional art forms embodies her personal Nonetheless, she was determined to vision of beauty share myself. After a sleepless night www.georgianbaytodaynews.com GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 11 Caring and creating on Parry Island

Audrey’s home studio an open door “for anyone who wants Her next series of work promises to know something,” because she be - to be extraordinary. She has for years lieves that it is her responsibility as been collecting ‘odds ‘n ends’ that an elder to pass on her gifts. She she finds in the forest and in the Raku pottery “a Japanese technique with a Native flair” freely offers advice, tools or materi - dump at Depot Harbour: bits of I knew that I had to leave Kenora and tranquil place where she can be close als, confident that, “My rewards will glass, wire, old buckets: artifacts from return home.” to nature and her family. come back to me.” a ghost town. She plans to rekindle the spirits of those long gone by in - Since that time, Audrey’s ’two Audrey’s art studio is a wonder. Audrey has come full circle, back corporating these ‘findings’ into a gifts have come together. Her art - Clearly a place of creativity - home to her home, honouring her gifts, new series of art works. She has not work has blossomed and she has be - to a prolific artist. She does tradi - close to her son and grandchildren, yet thought of a name for this work come ‘Hey-Hey’ as her three tional beadwork, leatherwork, jew - being 'Hey-Hey' and pursuing her but is confident that it will come to grandsons (Anthony, Andrew and elry - making and pottery. She art. She “doesn’t breathe without her. Her caregiving continues, her Adam) like to like to call her. She creates things as they “come to her” those kids,” particularly the youngest artwork is flourishing and she is back lives near them on a six-acre prop - and sells them as she makes them. one with whom she is “joined at the in her in her home, feeling fortunate erty where she also “takes care of the She is generous with her skill and hip.” to “live in such a beautiful place.” birds, the earth and the water.” It’s a will teach anyone who asks. She has Artist Spotlight: Cathy Boyd

By Karen Mealing

Concentrating on a painting makes time slip by and cares melt away for Cathy Boyd Made in Canada 2, oil, 16 x 20" Victoria Harbour artist Cathy proximately 20 years. It all started Cathy, who will be having a solo Cathy currently facilitates the mem - Boyd can be found painting each day when her first job at an elementary exhibition, "Universal Skies," in the bers' TGIF Painting Parties at Quest in her studio located in a beautiful school in Orillia asked her to teach members' gallery at Quest Art Art on the last Friday afternoon of heritage building overlooking Geor - art to the senior students. While tak - School + Gallery in Midland from each month. The opening reception gian Bay. ing classes that summer, she discov - Nov. 6 to for Cathy's exhibition is Nov. 20 from ered an interest in art, along with Jan. 9, has shown her paintings in 7 to 9 p.m. For more information "When I am painting I am com - some ability. She finds inspiration in galleries throughout Ontario and has about her exhibition or the TGIF pletely immersed in the process," she nature and everyday experiences. exhibited twice in New York City. Painting Parties, contact Quest Art says. Time slips by and cares melt Last year she participated in a resi - at 705-526-ARTS (2787) or visit away. Some days, when the painting "The way that strong sunlight dency in Romania and painted en www.questart.ca. I am working on goes really well, a transforms simple things into things plein air in a Romanian medieval sense of euphoria washes over me." that glow never fails to capture my town for three weeks. Karen Mealing is the Director of the attention," she says. Quest Art School located at the Midland Cathy has been painting for ap - Cultural Centre in Midland 12 GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 www.georgianbaytodaynews.com Gary’s Georgian Bay Gallery

Gary Scott Breithrupt is a TV cameraman, a photographer and fourth generation Georgian Bay cottager. He has been coming to Honey Harbour for 59 years: since he was one month old and has never missed a summer. He searches Honey Harbour and Twelve Mile Bay for his imagery from his boat or from his remote control helicopters. He promotes respect for trees, water and wildlife through his camera lens.

Sun sets on another Georgian Bay Summer

KILLARNEY, NORTH CHANNEL & MANITOULIN A newspaper is the center of a community, it's one of the tent poles of the community and that's not going to be replaced by web sites and blogs Michael Connelly, American author Cottage Farm Resort Recreation Retirement 24 Water Street, Little Current, ON (800) 368-6855 or (705) 368-2271 FAX: (705) 368-1096 web: www.manitoulinproperty.com email: [email protected]

This is our entrance with plenty of free parking on Fourth Street, Our associates will welcome you inside! Midland Tim-Br Mart 200 Third Street, Midland, Ont. L4R 3R9 705-526-2264, toll free: 1-800-265-2211 fax: 526-5801 web site: midlandtimbrmart.on.ca www.georgianbaytodaynews.com GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 13 Township of Georgian Bay - Council Update

By Pat Edwards As you read this, we will be into The second issue is that of the There is long history to the devel - of 180 trailers in a small space is fall and approaching the quiet season proposed 180-unit trailer park on opment of the Macey Bay trailer very concerning to the community. for most who spend time on the Bay. Macey Bay. At the end of July, the park. It came into existence almost In addition, trailer parks have had developer (part of the Talisker 100 years ago as a site for fishermen very low assessment and thus the At Georgian Bay Township Coun - group) filed a motion with the OMB to set up tents. It expanded to ap - taxes collected may be quite low- a cil two issues have attracted signifi - (Ontario Municipal Board) asking proximately 30 trailers in 1980 and concern for all of us in the Town - cant attention this summer: that a 1996 OMB decision be en - then to as many as 182 in the 1990's. ship. The community also has serious 1. the proposed logging just east forced even though 19 years had There have been concerns about concerns regarding safety and traffic of the Bay and north of Six passed and the supporting documen - sewage and septics as the park ex - flow, all of which may not be heard Mile Lake tation could not be found. It appears panded and many were relieved when if the recent decision is upheld. The 2. the proposed 180 unit trailer that the impact of the motion (which the trailer park closed and the trail - 1991 Official Plan for the Township park development on Macey was granted by a recent appointee to ers were gradually removed by 2010. prohibited the establishment of new Bay (south of Honey Harbour) the Board, Blair Taylor) effectively To further complicate the matter, trailer parks or the enlargement of grants the developer the right to de - ownership of the property has existing ones. The logging proposal has given velop these trailer units without any changed several times during the last rise to a number of concerns: the ef - requirement to hold a public hearing. 20 yrs. In mid August, I attended fect on local cottagers and environ - the two-day OMB hearing in mental impact. For cottagers, road The Planning Act requires that In March 2011, Council visited Toronto. I think I have a better un - access and potential destruction of OMB decisions, (such as the 1996 de - the site to view the new development derstanding, my hope being that the mature forest as well as the im - cision for which all supporting docu - that I understood was to be a collec - there will be full public process and pact of logging equipment on road - ments can't be found) be carried out tion of smaller ‘cottages’ with some an ability for the Macey Bay commu - ways have been put forward to within a ‘reasonable’ period of time. form of organized rental system. nity to work in concert with the legal council as points of concern. Fur - In spite of there being no precedents That project did not proceed (under - Counsel for the Township. thermore, damage to wetlands that to rely on, it appeared that Blair Tay - stood due to low sales and environ - support endangered species (turtles, lor was in essence making new law as mental concerns) and subsequently, This will be an interesting jour - snakes) needs to be further examined. to what constitutes ‘reasonable’ time- the property was sold to Talisker in ney - both with respect to the log - without any reference to supporting 2012. They came to Council in 2013 ging and the trailer park Council held a special public meet - decisions. A group of Macey Bay res - seeking approval of a development development. ing on August 4th regarding the log - idents may be appealing this decision with 180 trailers, each much smaller ging. Provincial forestry officials to the Courts and presumably more (560 sq. ft.) than is required of a cot - Pat Edwards councilor Costal Ward and the logging company will appear thought will be given to this aspect tage in the Township. North - Township of Georgian before Council in September to en - which could have application to many sure that all aspects are understood municipalities in Ontario. Given the problems experienced and all rules are followed. in the past with sewage, the thought

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By Cathy Cooper On July 30th, the GBLT spon - the east at the sedimentary limestone dough. The is called ‘Gneiss’, learned that this planet is at its ‘half- sored one of 3 “Rock Walks” on the formations of the Niagara Escarp - a metamorphic end-product that re - life’ mark because it’s hot radioactive shores of Georgian Bay, all featuring ment.. A collision of plates occurred sembles a marbleized light and dark core is slowly cooling. Nick joked media darling, geologist, Dr. Nick when Rodinia drifted into another cake mix batter. that the human species is only” Eyles, author of award-winning continent (one that now contains Earth’s half time show.” books and CBC documentary mini- Peru). The massive forces that re - We learned that all of Earth’s series fame. One walk was held in sulted heaved the intersecting land modern day continents are still mov - It was an amazing ‘Rock Walk’; it southeastern Georgian Bay, just out - masses upwards, forming a mountain ing a few centimeters each year and is highly recommended that you and side Beausoleil Island, at the light - range called the ‘Grenville Orogeny’, geologists believe they will eventu - your family catch one of them next house on Brebeuf Island, which the which was as high as today’s Hi - ally congregate in Asia,( in a few bil - summer in order to fully understand GBLT shares with the Coast Guard. malayas. lion years). We learned that during how very lucky we are to live and Another was on the Painted Rocks in the Japanese Earthquake in 2011, the play in such a wondrous area. GBLT Nares Inlet, west of Parry Sound, You can catch Nick on YouTube island of Japan actually moved about Rock Walk and a final one took place on the Um - explaining why the ‘Land In Be - 40 metres in just a few minutes! We brella Islands outside of San Souci. tween’ (where the 2 continents col - lided) is so unique. The epicenter of Earlier this year, Nick was this ‘land in between’ is where mod - awarded the E. R. Ward Neale Medal ern-day eastern Georgian Bay meets by the Geological Association of western Georgian Bay. Canada for his sustained and out - standing efforts in sharing earth sci - Looking at this Grenville ence with Canadians and his Orogeny, Nick had us fast –forward a outstanding efforts to communicate few billion years later, after the forces and explain geoscience to the public. of nature had worn down the His series of ‘Rock’ books; Canada Grenville mountains to their bases Rocks, Ontario Rocks, Canadian and then the last Ice Age scoured Shield: The Rocks that Made Canada, whatever mantle remained.. What is Road Rocks of Ontario etc. are best - now left behind, the exposed Cana - sellers which both entertain and in - dian Shield, is a world-renowned ge - form readers about the geologic ologic wonder. It is one of the only forces that have shaped our country spots on Earth where geologists can for four billion years. Geologic Jour - study the ‘roots’ of mountains, where ney II was nominated for 3 Gemini the semi-molten mountain core was Awards and it has enjoyed an audi - about 800 degrees. Toffee-like as it ence of 20,000,000 globally, and is cooled, this material was injected still growing. with bubbling hot ‘plumes’ of mate - It was a beautiful warm and windy rial that were forced up from below day on Brebeuf Island as the audi - the Earth’s crust. Then the combina - ence learned about ‘Rodinia’, a conti - tion of granitite and earth-core ma - nent which, billions of years ago, terial were sheared and twisted, bent ended in the west at Calgary and in back upon themselves, like bread

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Behind this cheery “storefront” . . . Boat or drive to the central Bay’s best marine store The Honey Harbour Boat Club’s Marina backs up cheery dockside fill-ups Curt Sallows appears in with this adjacent, parts-loaded marine chandlery. Manager Curtis sledding gear to remind the Sallows reminds all, that winter storage is available for up to 30 ft. boats, neighbourhood that the & a skilled shop team on site for all types of work all winter, buffing & club’s well-equipped waxing, engine repowers, fibreglass, & any mechanical boat repairs, maintenance shop and snowmobile maintenance & repair. He specially invites you & your secure indoor storage areas family to drop in, year-round, by boat, car or snowsled to have a look at are ready to handle more the Club’s neat & complete facilities. snowmobiles winter and PLUS WE STOCK AND SELL EVINRUDE E-TEC summer! OUTBOARD MOTORS. Our full service marina is immediately south of Mermaid Island, nearest to the main channel, at 2709 Honey Harbour Road, Box 38 P0E 1E0 Richard Wolfe of Hamilton Ontario performs at the 2015 Elvis Festival in 756-2411 Fax 756-1126 [email protected] Collingwood in the "Early Years' category www.georgianbaytodaynews.com GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 15 Step back in time on the Keewatin: Three years after coming home the “Kee” tells her story

By Olivia Hill

The rich history of the S.S. Kee - enter the country that commissioned half day journey from Owen Sound the Keewatin should be proud of her watin continues to attract visitors her. The solution? In 1907, the Kee to brought passengers contribution. to Port McNichol. was severed in half, making its way to , where they could into Canada in two pieces. She ar - catch a train and continue their jour - She has been recently relocated After a long journey that liter - rived safely and was reassembled in ney to Western Canada. back to her home in Port McNicoll, ally tore her to pieces, the S.S. Kee - anticipation for her work in Canada. Ontario to be restored and placed on watin found a permanent home in Regulations changed following permanent display. The initiation to Port McNichol. Since her construc - The Keewatin and her twin sis - the S.S. Noronic fire in Toronto, restore the ship was conducted by a tion across the Atlantic over one ter, The Assiniboia, were two of five which claimed over one hundred non-profit foundation, the Diane and hundred years ago, this ship has ships owned by Canadian Pacific. lives. Wooden cabin steamships on RJ Peterson Great Lakes Foundation served Canada in more ways than This family of ships played a princi - the Great Lakes were subject to new and Keewatin Museum. Some of the one. Although she was built origi - ple role in bringing Alberta and fire codes and regulations. This led to original woodwork remains in the nally for transporting freight and Saskatchewan into confederation in the Kee’s retirement on November dining room and staircases. passengers, her role has been adapted 1905 by developing their economies 28, 1965, as she sat patiently at Port over her sixty years of service for through the transportation of immi - McNicoll awaiting the scrap yard. A star among us, the S.S. Kee - Canada. She encouraged tourism and grants, equipment, and millions of watin has appeared in multiple films, trade, and in her later years was ad - tons of grain. Although the Kee and Just before her parts could be including . Most recently, she mired for her looks as a monument her twin joined the team slightly melted or made into antiques, the has appeared in Canada's own T.V. se - and movie star. later, their influence on the Canadian Kee was salvaged by R.J. Peterson to ries, Murdoch Mysteries. economy was significant for almost serve as the focal point of Peterson’s She is currently the last of the sixty years. Tower Marina in Saugatuck, Michi - From freight and passenger Great Lakes passenger steamships gan. She received the attention and ship to movie star, the Keewatin has still afloat. Built in Scotland in the As shipping technology im - care she deserved after sixty years of helped to shape Canada’s history. Her early 1900s, she was commissioned proved throughout the 1950s, trans - serving Canada. Not too far from contributions to Canada’s economy by the to porting goods by boat fell to the home, the Kee spent the next fifty in the early 1900s strengthened our transport both people and freight be - background as more favourable op - years in before her repatri - newly formed confederation. Provid - tween Georgian Bay and Lake Supe - tions began to surface; trains, planes, ation in 2012. Needing only moder - ing transportation services to thou - rior. For over 60 years, she and trucks became a faster and more ate renovations, the Kee was invited sands of immigrants and tourists has connected Georgian Bay to the Great reliable means of transportation. with open arms back into Canada. allowed Canadians to see more of Lakes and served to complete the The Kee and Assiniboia were the Awaiting her arrival were thousands their own country and has invited link in the Canadian Pacific Railway's only two out of the original five of cheering people, some of who newcomers to become a part of our continental route. Canadian Pacific ships to remain in worked as crewmembers on the ship glorious and free nation. service. Their focus shifted towards during her glory years. One hundred feet longer than tourist passenger transport, while Although she no longer the locks on the old St. Lawrence still managing to carry 1600 tons of Older than the Titanic, the steams, she sits comfortably at Port Canal, the “Kee” was too large to grain with every trip. The two and a Keewatin tells a story that is rich in McNicoll awaiting anyone who history and Canadian wishes to explore her decks. culture. At a time when the transporta - Step back in time and come aboard tion of people and the S.S. Keewatin until October. goods across the Visit www.sskeewatin.com or call country was vital to 855-533-9284 (toll free) for more Canadian progress, information. 16 GEORGIAN BAY TODAY Fall 2015 www.georgianbaytodaynews.com Still time this year to experience the Kee

Three years after its’ historic “What people really want-to know, homecoming the S.S. Keewatin con - first and foremost, is why I should tinues to attract 30 – 50 000 visitors visit... that is, what will my experi - a year to the scenic town of Port Mc - ence be, rather than what I will learn. Nichol. The Keewatin has been The history only becomes REALLY named an Ontario Signature Experi - meaningful AFTER a visit.” ence by Tourism Ontario. She is the last known surviving Edwardian-era According to Mr. Coombes the passenger steamship in existence, experience extends beyond the Kee - anywhere in the world. watin.

The remarkable saga of the ‘Kee’ “We've learned that most people continues to inspire visitors. For decide to come for the first time be - sixty years she played an important cause they want-to EXPERIENCE: role in confederation carrying fin - ished goods and tourists west and 1. What it was like on TITANIC: grain to the east. The last fifty years Keewatin is similar both in appoint - of the Keewatin have been equally ments and power plant, only smaller remarkable. She lived in exile, was 2. What it was like in the Edwar - salvaged from the scrap heap and dian era: Keewatin has been de - made a triumphant return to be re - scribed as DOWNTON ABBEY on stored by an army of volunteers. the water

Wayne Coombes (Marketing and 3. What it was like in Edwardian Communications for Experience the Toronto: Keewatin was the set for Keewatin) points out that a visit to MURDOCH MYSTERIES Series 7 the ‘Kee’ is more than a history les - Episode 1” son; it is an experience. Vintage amateur photograph of the Keewatin found in Victoria Harbour. date unknown