Escarpment Magazine Winter 2024 by Escarpment Magazine

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escarpment | in this issue

24 EDITOR’S NOTE 107 WELLNESS 168 MARKET WATCH 178 AFTERSHOT

PHOTO BY CLAY DOLAN

RECREATION

46 54

POWDERY PURSUITS ICE & EASY

HISTORY

TURNS OF THE CENTURY

NATURE

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EPICURE

THE WILD LIFE

RECREATION

AVANTAGE SUR LE TERRAIN

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OFF THE RAILS WINTER’S TABLE

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Autumn/Early Winter 2023

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View of the Escarpment

Cara Williams Editor-In-Chief cara@escarpmentmagazine.ca

On the cover: Tom Thomson, Northern Lights (detail), 1915, oil on paperboard, 16.4 x 25.2 cm Collection of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, gift of the Estate of Louise (Thomson) Henry, sister of Tom Thomson, 1971 Photo credit: Craig Boyko

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s the days shorten and the nights lengthen, winter prompts a reflective pause within me. Even before the snow fell in earnest, there was a subtle moment—a nearly imperceptible pause that preceded the diversions of skiing, skating, and snow days. With two kids in competitive winter sports, this season is busy in our house. It’s during this time that I remember and appreciate the solitude found between the whiteknuckle drives to the arena and ski club, and relish in the hours spent on hiking trails, our dog Molly romping through the snow ahead. Adventuring outdoors and enjoying peaceful moments often brings the realization that there’s never enough time to do it all. No regrets, just a call to action. I’ve charted a list of the things I still hope to do this season—the adventures I’d like to experience. That’s why, every year for our winter issue, our talented contributors showcase surprising winter exploits that extend the boundaries of fun.

In these pages, writer/ photographer Will Tam introduces us to the thrill of ice climbing in “Ice & Easy,” and local adventurer Kate MacLennan guides us through the best Nordic skiing in “Powdery Pursuits.” While these adrenaline seekers map out their next thrilling journey, there’s also a quieter side to our Escarpment. This serene aspect shines through in the historic profile tracing the history of railways and trains in “Off the Rails,” and our epicurean article highlighting Meaford’s family-owned restaurant, Sheardown’s. Our community’s heartbeat also thrives in the vibrant arts, theatre, and live music scene— these real-life stories form the heart of this magazine and serve as anchors for our communities. Winter is here, and it’s time to revel in its magic. May you find inspiration that encourages you to add new and memorable experiences to your Escarpment to-do list.

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POWDERY Haily Dolan at Kolapore Wilderness Trails. 28

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PURSUITS Amidst the hustle and bustle of the 21st century, Nordic skiing might be just what you need to keep on track. by Kate MacLennan | photography by Clay Dolan Winter 2024

escarpment | recreation

here are essentially two kinds of people in Southern Ontario: those who flee winter and those who wait impatiently throughout the other three seasons for its return. For the latter, the snow is as much an invitation as a tantalizing challenge. After all, it takes a certain amount of dedication—not to mention layers and equipment—to head willingly into a deep freeze with the intention of enjoying it. But, oh, the world of delicious adrenaline that’s unlocked is so worth it when we drop into that alpine bowl, blaze through those slalom gates, or trim the face of an icy freshwater wave. Nordic skiing, on the other hand… it’s not as instantly clear for some why one would go through the palaver of donning those skis, boots, and what appears to be a sorely under-insulated leotard just to head out in biting cold and travel across the snow at a relative snail’s pace. Until you realize that’s kind of the point. I remember reading the novel Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for the first time in high school, and being struck by the notion author Robert Pirsig presents. He posits that a way to pull more joy from life as we move through it is to discover that sweet spot where one can be both utterly rational and utterly present at the same time. In the story, the male narrator is on a motorcycle ride across the US, but he could have easily been Nordic skiing.

Malcolm McCulloch at Highlands Nordic.

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For the leisure Nordic skier, the experience is fifty percent a physical grind and fifty percent an intangible feeling of being completely in the moment. It’s about subjecting yourself to a methodical, determined, relentless, grit-your-teeth-and-pushand-glide-and-pump-those-arms slog (often in the name of a fantastic cardio workout that results in a butt you could bounce a loonie off!). Yet it’s also about losing yourself in the simple, unyielding sound of skis pushing against the snow, the rhythm of your breathing, and the little puff of water vapor that escapes with every warm exhale (often in the name of a fantastic way to clear your head of the myriad thoughts that typically clutter it). And that’s the magic. Out on the trail, there’s room—kilometre after kilometre of it—for one’s inner nature to be awakened, confronted, and explored, possibly even transcended in the pursuit of personal contentment. If that all sounds too heady, then let me convince you that Nordic skiing on and around the Niagara Escarpment is as much a rational pursuit as a romantic one. The sounds of the forest are a treat for ears regularly filled with the ubiquitous hum and drone of technology—that is, if there even are sounds. Snowflakes are six-sided crystals filled with open spaces, and every one of those tiny spaces traps air that absorbs sound waves, which then can’t bounce and make their way to our over-taxed oreille. Nordic skiers

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Monika Widjaja-Tam top-roping one of the main ice flows at Elora Gorge.

Haily Dolan and Jenna Mielzynski at Scenic Caves Nature Adventures. 32 escarpmentmagazine.ca

Want to go for a glide? Nordic skiing and cross-country skiing are essentially different names for the same thing, in which the ski boot is fixed to the binding in a way that lets the heel rise off the ski. The category is further divided into two techniques: classic and skate. (Telemark is a third subsection of Nordic skiing that combines alpine and classic on a slope.) In classic skiing, movement is forward (like walking), skis are parallel, and speed is often more leisurely. Classic skiers can use groomed track or cut their own track through deeper snow when required. In skate skiing the movement is a kick step to the side. It’s a more technical movement and also a greater workout that requires a wide, packed snow trail but doesn’t require a lot of snow. Skate skis are typically shorter than classic skis. Once you’ve decided which category interests you, there are several places, such as Scenic Caves and Sun Trail Outfitters in Hepworth, that rent the gear you’ll need for a test run. Here’s a few places to get out there and get started. BRUCE SKI CLUB A season pass at Bruce Ski Club is $65, which gets you access to its 13 kilometres of trail for all levels, daily grooming of the Hepworth skate track, night skiing, and social events, as well as exchange days to explore other private ski club terrain. It also runs a Jackrabbits ski program for children to learn to ski. COLPOYS SKI TRAIL Just north of Wiarton, this 11-kilometre trail network runs through sheltered woods and open fields and offers breathtaking views of the Niagara Escarpment and Colpoy’s Bay. bruceskiclub.ca GEORGIAN TRAIL The Town of Blue Mountains will be grooming the multiuse Georgian Trail from Christie Beach Sideroad to Grey Road 21 throughout the winter season. thebluemountains.ca GLENELG NORDIC SKI CLUB – Offering 25-kilometres of groomed track set trails for classic skiing, the Glenelg trails include moderately hilly terrain and travel through mature hardwood forest. glenelgnordicskiclub.org HIGHLANDS NORDIC With 25-kilometres of groomed classic and skate ski trails, Highlands Nordic provides the perfect training ground for beginners and competitive skiers. highlandsnordic.ca

KOLAPORE UPLANDS The 50-kilometre network of trails in Kolapore provides some of the best cross- country skiing in the region. Because the trail network is quite extensive I strongly recommended downloading or purchasing a trail map. kolaporetrails.org OWEN SOUND CROSS COUNTRY CLUB The OSCCC maintains the 10-kilometre trail network at Massie Hills located between Meaford and Owen Sound. Trails are groomed twice weekly for classic skiing only and provide a backcountry skiing experience. massiehills.com SAUBLE SKI CLUB The Sauble Beach Cross Country Ski Club offers some of the best classic Nordic ski trails in Ontario. The club has 18-kilometres of trail that is groomed and track set for classic skiing. skisauble.freehostia.com SAWMILL NORDIC CENTRE Located on Highway 6 between Shallow Lake and Hepworth, the Sawmill Nordic Centre offers 11-kilometres of groomed trail for both classic and skate ski. The “Jack Rabbit” trail is even lit for night skiing. bruceskiclub.ca SCENIC CAVES NATURE ADVENTURES Located at the very top of the Escarpment, Scenic Caves offers breath-taking views and 27-kilometres of professionally maintained trails for both classic and skate skiing. sceniccaves.com STONEY ISLAND CONSERVATION AREA The Kincardine Cross Country Ski Club grooms the 8-kilometre network for both classic and skate skiing. svca.on.ca TOMAHAWK RECREATIONAL COMPLEX The Town of Blue Mountains will again be grooming a hard-packed loop trail at the Tomahawk Recreational Complex throughout the winter season. thebluemountains.ca WASAGA BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK The Wasaga Breach Provincial Park offers over 30-kilometres of trails, with 22 km groomed and track set for classic skiing and 12 km groomed for skate skiing. wasagabeachpark.com Also check out: ontariotrails.on.ca, ontarioparks.com, brucecountytrails.com and southgeorgianbay.ca. Winter 2024

Malcolm McCulloch at Highlands Nordic.

can happily pull that blanket of silence over them. All the better to be out skiing when it starts to snow. I’ve read that a Japanese onomatopoeia to describe the sound of falling snow is shin shin—a word for a sound of no sound. How beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, the views that become accessible on Nordic skis seem almost too obvious to mention, and the trails of the Scenic Caves Nordic Centre at the highest point on the Escarpment boast unmatched panoramas over farmland and Georgian Bay. Now imagine turning from a lookout and heading back into the forest, the boreal needleleaf trees surrounding you with their boughs and their sharp but sweet reassuring scent. Between the trees you spot the purposeful tracks of white-tailed deer, rabbit, fox, and the telltale meandering lines left by shrews and mice. Among the branches and overhead, cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, forage and frolic amongst themselves. Pending where 34

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you’re skiing, you might even see a snowy owl or a bald eagle, though it likely saw you first. The Japanese believe so firmly in the health benefits of immersing oneself in a forest that they coined a name for it: Shinrin-yoku, which translates roughly to “forest bathing”, defined as a physiological and psychological exercise focusing on sensory engagement to connect with nature. I wonder how often Nordic skiers, devoid of distraction, physically spent and emotionally full, are tempted to untangle the question: what is a human if not also nature? Alas, every moment must pass. And when it does and feet start to cramp in ski boots, cold hands resist gripping poles, and the parallel tracks ahead start to wind back towards a parked car, one may wonder: why would you take up Nordic skiing? Only to realize the answer is also a question: why wouldn’t you? E

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sceniccaves.com Winter 2024

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As temperatures drop, climbers trade shoes for crampons and chalk bags for ice axes. Curious about ice climbing? Dive into the frozen world of Escarpment waterfalls this winter—discover the thrill and learn how to get started! Words and photography by Will Tam

From left: Jody Wilson, Robin Todd, Pryer Hollin, Hannah Rydlo and Neil Gold at Feversham’s Heritage General Store. 36

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ICE & EASY ICE & EASY Winter 2024

Derek Lanthier leading up Oynx (WI3) at Hidden Gems near Bancroft.

Ice climbing originated in the early 19th

century as an offshoot of mountaineering. High in the snowcovered mountains, climbers often navigated glaciers and crevasses using straight-shafted ice axes and crampons with spikes pointing downwards. These tools allowed climbers to traverse low-angle ice and snow safely. As technology advanced, so too did the tools used by climbers. Curved ice axes, now known as ice tools, allowed climbers to swing the axes into the ice more easily and without bashing their knuckles. Front-pointed crampons allow climbers to kick into the ice so that the climber can stand and balance on more vertical ice terrain. Ice climbing has evolved beyond scaling vertical frozen waterfalls to include climbing bare rock cliffs to reach overhanging ice daggers. If you’ve tried indoor gym climbing or rock climbing outdoors, then you already possess the basic skillset. If you’re new to climbing, don’t worry; it’s not as difficult as it appears. Physically, ice climbing movements are repetitive: kick, kick, and swing, swing. With each kick and swing higher than the last, you ascend the ice. With practice, you will find that you don’t need a lot of strength to swing an ice tool into the ice for a secure “stick”. Accurately swinging your sharp ice tools to the same point of contact will break off enough ice for the teeth of the ice tools to catch. Breaking off too much ice leaves you with nothing to hold onto. Managing the “pump” in your forearms is crucial. Lactic acid buildup from overworked muscles can make your arms feel stiff and heavy, especially when they are constantly raised above your head. 38

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By moving at a moderate pace and lowering your arms to shake out the lactic acid buildup, you can avoid the dreaded “screaming barfies”. This sensation occurs when cold and pumped hands and forearms experience a sudden rush of blood, causing a pins-andneedles feeling that might make you scream and occasionally feel nauseous. Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it sounds! The safest and most enjoyable way to get into ice climbing is through “top rope” climbing. In top rope climbing, the climber is safely tied to one end of the rope, which passes through an anchor at the top of the climb and descends to their belayer, eliminating the risk of significant falls. A belayer is someone who is attached to a belay device on the other end of the rope and is responsible for removing excess rope from the system as the climber ascends. Once the climber reaches the top of the climb, the belayer safely lowers the climber back to the ground. Climbing guides will typically set up a top rope for new ice climbers. However, top roping is not just meant for beginners—when conditions are rapidly changing, and the ice becomes brittle or thin, top roping might be the safest choice instead of lead climbing. Lead climbing involves the climber being tied to one end of the rope and placing protection to secure the rope as they ascend. The belayer’s role is to prevent the climber from falling to the ground. The type of protection that the climber puts in depends on where the protection is available. For instance, ice screws are specially designed screws that bite into hard ice. The effectiveness of this protection depends on the angle and placement of the ice screw and the soundness of the ice. After securing the ice screw, a quickdraw can be attached to it, and the rope can be

RIVER BARRY IMAGE BY NIKKI SMITH

SEEK WILDER PATHS

“

escarpment | recreation

Physically, ice climbing movements are repetitive: kick, kick, and swing, swing. With each kick and swing higher than the last, you ascend the ice.

Monika Widjaja-Tam top-roping one of the main ice flows at Elora Gorge.

escarpmentmagazine.ca

The annual Southern Ontario Ice Climbing Festival in Maynooth, is an excellent opportunity for first-timers to learn ice climbing from professional climbing guides.

clipped to the other end of the quickdraw. Quickdraws consist of two carabiners connected by a sling and are commonly used in rock climbing. In some cases, the protection on an established route may be a bolt (previously drilled into rock), or the climber must place removable metal pieces (referred to as gear) into cracks and pockets in the rock. When an ice climbing route involves both ice and rock, it is known as mixed ice climbing. Typically, mixed routes are found on stepper rock faces with large icicles overhanging from above. Finally, the dark arts of ice climbing is known as “drytooling” where the climber only climbs a rock face with crampons and ice tools. Drytooling and mixed climbing routes typically have bolts in the rock for protection. All forms of ice climbing can be done on top rope, ensuring a safe experience for everyone. The other equipment required for ice climbing is similar to rock climbing: a harness, belay device, and helmet. Drytreated climbing ropes are more suitable for ice climbing than rock climbing because they are chemically treated to be waterresistant. Dry-treated ropes absorb less water, protecting the core of the rope and preventing the buildup of ice on the outer sheath. Ice climbing boots are specifically designed with a heel bail and toe welt to attach crampons; however, ski boots and mountaineering boots also work, although they are bulkier and heavier. A climbing guide can provide you with all the necessary equipment for ice climbing. Warm clothes and a thermos filled with hot beverages are also helpful! By adding or removing layers of clothing, you can better regulate your temperature while outside in the cold. You can certainly work up a sweat while ice climbing, so a base layer and a thin mid-layer might be all you need; sometimes, a waterproof shell jacket is useful on snowy or wet days. Snow or rain pants and gaiters will keep your lower half warm and dry. A puffy jacket and a warm beverage will keep you 42

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toasty while you are belaying or hanging out between climbs. So, where can you go ice climbing in Southern Ontario? Elora Gorge is a popular location on the Niagara Escarpment and not far from major hubs like Toronto. What makes Elora Gorge unique is its easy access to the top of the cliff, and the climbing area offers routes in all disciplines of ice climbing. In cottage country regions such as Algonquin, Muskoka, and Bancroft, you can find ice climbs along the cliffs of frozen lakes; some may require crossing frozen lakes to reach the climbing areas. Local guiding companies in each region provide half and full-day outings, offering beginner and advanced lessons. Additionally, the Alpine Club of Canada, a climbing and mountaineering club, organizes ice climbing days at Tiffany Falls in Hamilton for its members. Lastly, the Southern Ontario Ice Climbing Festival, held annually in Maynooth, brings together both new and experienced climbers for a weekend of workshops, fun, and community building. This winter, discover the vertical world of ice climbing! Southern Ontario offers numerous picturesque venues for ice climbing, accompanied by a welcoming community. Consider hiring a local guide to safely introduce you to the sport and, most importantly, to have fun. Who knows, you might get hooked! Just be sure to avoid the dreaded screaming barfies! Disclaimer: Please note that this article does not serve as an official guide or provide instructions on ice climbing. Ice climbing is inherently risky because ice conditions can change with temperature fluctuations, leading to melting or breaking off. Climbing is undertaken at your own risk. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, it’s crucial to learn how to assess ice conditions, take necessary safety precautions, and consider hiring a knowledgeable guide. E

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AVANTAGE SU Photo: René-Pierre Normandeau/Tremblant 46

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Mont Tremblant’s first FIS World Cup in 40 years drew spectacular crowds, marking a triumphant return to alpine ski racing glory. by Cara Williams | photography by Peter Craik

UR LE TERRAIN and René-Pierre Normandeau/Tremblant

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was March 1983 when Mont Tremblant, Quebec, hosted its inaugural, and until recently, its only FIS World Cup ski race. Inglewood Ontario’s Laurie Graham won the event, making her the first Canadian to ever win a World Cup downhill at home. Graham would go down in history as one of Canada’s best-ever downhill racers, and an unstoppable force on the World Cup for nearly a decade. Canada’s Britt Richardson gets ready to push out of the start gate. Photo: René-Pierre Normandeau/Tremblant Today, with its breathtaking slopes and a history deeply intertwined with ski racing, Tremblant following the popular Killington World Cup in Vermont. The two proudly stands as a symbol of Canada’s passion for the sport. Earlier resorts are just under five hours apart, giving North American ski this season, the Laurentians ski resort, located 130 kilometres racing fans the opportunity to travel from one World Cup event to northwest of Montreal, made history again by hosting its first the next, much like the Europeans do. And with close proximity to World Cup event in four decades. Featuring two women’s giant dozens of eastern Canadian race clubs, the region already has a large slalom races, the event marked a significant shift, with Tremblant and enthusiastic fan base. replacing Lake Louise, AB, as the sole Canadian stop on the World Like many Ontarians, I couldn’t resist the chance to see elite Cup circuit. Notably, what sets this event apart from other races athletes compete against Mont Tremblant’s stunning backdrop. My on the calendar is that the race finish is right in the heart of the husband and I took the kids out of school and embarked on an pedestrian village. eight-hour drive to the Laurentian mountains. We enjoyed prime The races showcased the biggest stars of alpine skiing, viewing, positioned near the action as athletes exited the venue including American Mikaela Shiffrin, Swiss Lara Gut-Behrami, right in front of us. It offered a fantastic view of the finish area and Slovakian Petra Vlhova and Italian Federica Brignone. While displays, creating a party-like vibe filled with incredible energy from spectators were captivated by their presence, many eyes were fixed the announcers, crowd, coaches and racers. on Canadian Valérie Grenier, of St. Isidore, Ontario. Following Laurent Praz, Head Coach of the Canadian Women’s Alpine, her World Cup win last January in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, publicly emphasized the significance of athletes competing in front Valérie shared that racing “at home in Tremblant” was a dream of large crowds to foster the sport’s growth in the country. Last come true. “The crowd is going to be so good,” she said ahead of spring, the Canadian team had the opportunity to train on the the event. “It’s going to be so bumping because [the race] is right Flying Mile race venue—a valuable advantage as the athletes were in the village.” able to ski the terrain and study the critical parts of the hill. The races took place on Dec. 2-3, 2023—the weekend Sarah Bennett of Stoneham, QC, has skied at Mont Tremblant every year since she was 12. The 22-year-old says she’s never seen a competition set up quite like it in her young career. “To compare it to something, I would say it’s kind of like Monaco for F1 racing. People are going to be in their condos just watching the race even if they didn’t even have to buy tickets.” She wasn’t wrong. By all accounts, the new location made a strong first impression. I heard rumours of one Escarpment family who left their home at 2 am, driving through the night to ensure they arrived in time for Saturday’s first run. In total, the races drew in more than 15,000 spectators, marking it as the second-largest attendance for a women’s World Cup event, trailing only behind Killington, VT, which can see crowds up to 40,000 over the course of the three-day event. Canadian Ski Hall of Famer, and Georgian Peaks member Valérie Grenier signs autographs for ski racing fans. Edi Podivinsky travelled with his wife Kim and several friends Photo: René-Pierre Normandeau/Tremblant

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Photo : ©Jacob Wester

A P R È S S K I

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Canada’s Cassidy Gray comes over the final knoll. Photo: René-Pierre Normandeau/Tremblant

Valérie Grenier with a 6th place finish, December 3, 2023. Photo: René-Pierre Normandeau/Tremblant

to Tremblant for the event. With a remarkable 13-year tenure on the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, Edi won a World Cup downhill in Saalbach, Austria—he’s also a three-time Olympian, clinching a bronze medal at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. “It’s so important for the kids that are around the sport to have some reference for what they are aspiring to,” said Edi. “I remember going to a World Cup race in Lake Louise—I remember some of the World Cup races that we used to have in Canada, like Whistler. It absolutely puts you on the path to seeing what’s possible, seeing how much fun it is and seeing what a celebration and festive event it is. And I think it draws more people to the sport.” Throughout the weekend I encountered several other familiar faces, including Hayden Copp from Craigleith Ski Club, who was proudly wearing his Ontario Development Ski Team jacket in the grandstands. “Its super cool that Mont Tremblant is hosting a World Cup,” said Copp. “I’ve raced here before at U16 Nationals so to see athletes on the World Cup, elite skiers here, it’s just super cool.” Over 60 athletes from around the globe raced down the Flying Mile race venue—in addition to Grenier and Bennett, Cassidy Gray of Panorama, BC, and Britt Richardson of Canmore, AB, rounded out the Canadian national team competitors, while Justine Clément of Stoneham, QC, and Justine Lamontagne of Mont Sainte-Anne, QC, both got their first World Cup starts of their careers. For these women, participating in a World Cup event on their home turf was a new experience, drawing a level of attention

they weren’t entirely accustomed to. “The energy is really great, also a little bit chaotic,” said Bennett. “The media is super interested, everyone wants to see us, families coming so everyone’s trying to have a little bit of our time.” Richardson added, “There’s definitely a lot more eyes of us instead of a typical race over in Europe where people don’t normally realize we exist.” The huge anticipated crowd that gathered in Tremblant for both Saturday and Sunday races provided the energy every World Cup host hopes for. Michaela Shiffrin, who earned a recordextending 90th World Cup win the weekend before in Killington, was impressed by how supportive the Tremblant fans were to athletes of all countries throughout the weekend. “I would say that it’s a really fair crowd, cheering for everybody coming down on the green light,” she said. “When you can hear the crowd from the start, you’re like, ‘well, there’s people down there and they’re really excited.’ It’s amazing to have these races here on this side of the world. Everybody is really excited to be here and it gives a little bit of a fresh vibe into the World Cup circuit.” Retired Canadian skier Kelly VanderBeek, hailing from Kitchener and currently working for the CBC, also found the event’s significance noteworthy. She noted, “The youth that are here have absolutely invigorated the athletes. A new stop on the circuit is really fun—it’s a fun vibe, a fresh vibe. And there is such a dedicated community here.” The Flying Mile run features a long flat with built-up terrain and rollers; any mistake entering or on the flat was severely punished with lost time. After the first fifteen women skied their

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first runs, the time spread was significant (+2.61) between the 13 finishers. By the time the first 30 had skied the time differential had grown to (+4.18) for the 28 finishers. Although she encountered some difficultly on the course, Valérie Grenier was the fastest Canadian with an eighth-place finish on Saturday. “I had trouble skiing how I wanted to, so I’m a little disappointed,” she said. “But the crowd was amazing, I could hear them from the very start.” She would go onto improve her performance on Sunday, finishing sixth. Britt Richardson achieved a careerbest 15th place in the first race. “To have a personal best right here in Canada was just insane,” she said. “It was just like a dream come true to have your best day right in Canada and have my friends Federica Brignone, center, celebrates her win at the women’s FIS World Cup giant slalom Dec. 2, 2023. Petra Vlhova, left, and Mikaela Shiffrin, right, placed second and third, respectively. and family here.” Photo: René-Pierre Normandeau/Tremblant Cassidy Gray, secured 24th place in both races, marking her first time placing within the top 30 on the World Cup stage since March 2021. I ran into one such person in the finish area and noticed the Blue Justine Clément and Justine Lamontagne fell a little short, missing Mountain Resort logo on his ski pants—originally from Wasaga the top 30 cuts for the next rounds. Unfortunately, Sarah Bennett Beach, Steve Dunphy spent more than 27 years at Blue Mountain didn’t finish either of her first runs. Ski School before moving to Mont Tremblant last season. Steve Italian skier Federica Brignone emerged as the standout winner was tasked with assisting the television camera crews throughout of the weekend, claiming back-to-back gold medals ahead of Petra the weekend. Vlhova, who secured second place on Saturday. On Sunday, Lara Volunteering for the Tremblant World Cup offered an Gut-Behrami clinched second place, while Mikaela Shiffrin secured opportunity to contribute to an unforgettable experience. With third position in both races. 300 volunteers, being part of this event meant more than just With her win, the 33-year-old Italian broke a 24-year-old giving time; it meant creating priceless memories at the heart of record as the most senior women’s World Cup giant slalom winner, the action. Volunteers enjoyed exclusive benefits, including a ski surpassing Austria’s Anita Wachter, who was 32 when she won a valet service for storing skis between shifts, and provided meals so World Cup giant slalom in December 1999. “I’m the oldest, right?” the staff could stay energized. Volunteers also had prime seats for Brignone laughed. “I’d never won in Canada, I’d never made the the Saturday night medal ceremony and bib draw, experiencing the podium in Canada. It’s a new course, a new place, there’s a lot magic of the event up close. Additionally, volunteers were invited of people. I’ve won a lot in my career; every additional victory is to an epic closing party with fellow volunteers and organizing something special. The atmosphere is really amazing.” committee members—and from what I hear, it was the perfect way On their first attempt in 40 years, Tremblant delivered a to celebrate their essential contribution. dramatic and extremely well-executed World Cup race. “We talk a In the inaugural year of a three-year pledge, the event was lot about producing events that excite Canadians and this is exactly estimated to have created an annual economic impact of $14.3 what that looks like,” said Therese Brisson, President and CEO of million, directing $12 million into Quebec’s economy and Alpine Canada. “An event that grows the sport and fanbase—an contributing $4.5 million in wages for Quebec residents. Alpine event that delivers an amazing experience for athletes and fans. It Canada revealed plans for two more giant slalom races scheduled leaves an amazing legacy in terms of volunteers, equipment, and for Dec. 6-8, 2024. While Tremblant is listed on the FIS long-term revenue that can be reinvested back in the sport development. Of calendar for the 2025-26 season, confirmation for this remains course, the home team advantage doesn’t hurt either.” pending until next year. “Who wouldn’t be happy about this?” said Undoubtedly Tremblant’s greatest asset is their committed Brisson. “Yeah, we’d love to make this a permanent venue for years volunteers who help organize and run events like the World Cup. and years to come.” E 52

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Marie-Eve Dolan and Mélissa Côté ski tour up The Grind, a multi-use trail at the south end of Blue Mountain Resort. Photo Clay Dolan 54

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Beyond the chairlifts is a world of winter activities and attractions waiting to be explored along the Escarpment.

Snow Much Fun

by Cara Williams

Photo Clay Dolan

Winter 2024

escarpment | recreation

Photo Clay Dolan

Woodview Mountaintop Skating Below: Ridgerunner Mountain Coaster

hile skiing and snowboarding usually steal the winter spotlight in these parts, there’s an abundance of skiingadjacent winter adventures to be enjoyed. Whether you’re a non-skier or simply seeking a different type of adrenaline rush, Blue Mountain’s Play All Day package grants unlimited access to snowshoe trails, the Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, Hike n’ Tube, Woodview Mountaintop Skating, and the Plunge! Aquatic Centre—all accessible with just one ticket. “Our goal is to maximize your winter experience, whether you’re hitting the slopes or not,” says Sarah Alexander, Recreation Marketing Manager at Blue Mountain Resort. “We are seeing a growing number of guests who are eager to get out and play off-hill. Blue is a family destination which means it’s important to have something for everyone to enjoy.” Trade your ski boots for the elegance of ice skates and glide over to Woodview Mountaintop Skating for a quintessential winter experience. Each year, the mountaintop trail through the Escarpment forest transforms into a natural skating paradise, with a 1.1-kilometre ice skating loop that offers breathtaking views of Georgian Bay and the twinkling lights of Collingwood. Snow tubing is a hilarious combination of tobogganing and tubing behind a boat, and Blue’s Hike N Tube provides the perfect slope for everyone to enjoy—from adults to kids. While you’ll have to haul the tube back up the hill, your exertion grunts will swiftly turn into excited cheers and belly laughs on the way back down.

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Photo by Richard Roth / Blue Mountain Resort

Ski touring, also known as skinning, stands out as one of winter’s rapidly growing sports. It combines uphill anaerobic climbing with the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing. The best part is that it is accessible to almost everyone—if you can manage a slow jog, you’re likely fit for touring, at least for the uphill stretch. And while Ontario might not be renowned for our backcountry, we do have ample rolling hills that offer more than enough terrain for ski touring and split-boarding.

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Blue Mountain has ski touring Once you’ve tackled a day of trails on the southernmost side of adventure (or before diving into the mountain on The Grind multione), Blue Mountain offers a variety use trail. Experience the exercise and of indoor dining options—bonus reward of skinning up the mountain points if the restaurant pays homage before descending on one of The to Blue’s rich history. A local Orchard ski trails. Please note, guests favorite since 1969, The Pottery must possess a valid lift ticket and is renowned for hearty meals are encouraged to be mindful of and family-friendly atmosphere. snowshoeing and hiking traffic while Recently revitalized and renovated, on The Grind trail. the restaurant now showcases a For those seeking tranquility fresh ski lodge aesthetic under its while keeping up with their daily new name: The Pottery Alpine steps, an idyllic journey awaits along Restaurant. Amidst the new décor, scenic snowshoe trails that showcase the menu shines with fresh seasonal extraordinary views of the Niagara dishes inspired by Blue’s founder, Escarpment. Rent a pair of snowshoes Josef “Jozo” Weider. The revamped Après ski at the Pottery Alpine Restaurant. Photo: Heather and hit up The Grind, ‘K Bye, and brunch menu features treats like Goldsworthy. 1940 snowshoe hiking trails. Belgian Waffles, Tyrolean Skillet, Looking for a winter thrill that doesn’t demand the physical and Kaiserschmarrn—a dish akin to scrambled sweet pancakes. effort of tubing, skinning, or snowshoeing? The Ridge Runner Don’t worry – classics like The Pottery’s famous eggs benedict threeMountain Coaster might be just the ticket—this gravity-driven ways and apple crumble French toast are still on offer. Whether you 1-kilometer ride weaves silently through a snowy forest. It’s like a drop by for lunch or dinner, explore both new and beloved favorites roller-coaster on tracks, providing an exhilarating adventure that’s such as Alpine cheese fondue, Bavarian pork belly salad, schnitzel, sure to leave a lasting impression. goulash, and Brettljause—an Austrian meat and cheese board. E

Photo by Kirsten Schollig / Blue Mountain Resort

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escarpment | history

Turns of the Century As the Toronto Ski Club turns 100, we take a schuss down memory lane. by Kate MacLennan | photos courtesy of the Toronto Ski Club

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Clockwise from top left: the clubhouse addition in 1986, the Doherty House Tavern circa 1945, TSC members at High Park 1924-25, Todd Brooker at Panorama, Bill Beck at Blue Mountain, and a 1968-69 Blue Mountain Winter Park Season Pass belonging to Marg Gooch.

Winter 2024

escarpment | history

t’s a chilly January Saturday night in the Blue Mountains. As the sun, still weak in the depth of winter, sinks behind the Escarpment, the temperature drops with it. A welcome cold front is making its presence known. Beside Toronto Ski Club’s clubhouse, children have doffed skis and snowboards to play on the hill, running up and sliding down beside the old rope tow, which has stopped turning for the day. Inside, a band takes to the stage and the atmosphere goes from post-ski endorphin-rushed to revelry. Outside, to everyone’s delight, the white stuff falls, and falls, and falls. It’s a scene that could have happened last year or 90 years ago—and did. Toronto Ski Club (TSC) celebrates 100 years in 2024, so the notion of ‘the good ole days’ is relative. Jaxson Lashambe has been a member of TSC since he was two years old, and he’s been racing since his U8 days. “I grew up on the hill, and when you do you know every little trail and recognize people when you go past them. I have lots of good friends there. It’s a big community and it’s awesome. We have this little tow rope beside our hill. It’s literally 20-feet long, not even as slanted as the floor in your house, but when we were little we’d ask the maintenance guy for shovels and build these little ramps on it. Even when it wasn’t running, we’d go up to hit these two-foot or threefoot jumps and have so much fun.” On the day we speak, Lashambe is a few weeks shy of his 13th birthday, which puts him at 12—the same age John Hethrington was in 1948 when he became a TSC member. He recounted to Escarpment Magazine in the Winter 2017 issue, “I remember two rope tows at the north end. You leapt off one, two-thirds of the way up the hill and grabbed onto the second moving tow. In the spring, when the rope was so slippery our mitts would slide, five of us at a time would hang on, and when they started up the tow we would be showered with water and slush if we let it slip. I can just imagine what the safety people would say today.” Lots has changed in the world since TSC since was incorporated in 1924, but its centennial is truly a celebration of what hasn’t: skiing and camaraderie. “We’re sometimes called a social Club that loves to ski,” says Mike King, co-chair of the 100th Anniversary Committee and a member of TSC since 1980. “It’s people passionate about living and enjoying winter and some are skiers, and some are not as much about the sport itself.” It’s a chicken-or-egg conversation as to why TSC began, but it doesn’t really matter if it was great friends who decided to ski together or skiers who were brought together by the sport and became great friends. What matters is that in 1908 (according to a 1912 Montreal publication called Ski Runner in Canada)

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escarpment | arts

TSC members enjoying a picnic at the top of V-Hill, April 1950. Left to right: Marg Gooch, Katie Forsyth, Bert Myers, Lee Jones, Chuck Gooch, Frank Whitehead, and Fred Gooch.

the first seeds of what would become the Toronto Ski Club were planted. During this time, Toronto’s population was less than a quarter million, the primary method of travel was still horse-andcarriage, and the Club would cut trails in Toronto’s High Park, and utilize the Reedow Pavilion as both clubhouse and locker room. If members could ski as far as The Old Mill on a given day, that’s where they’d lunch, and by 1924 that group had attracted 84 official members (about one-third of whom were women) and were identifying as the Telemark Ski Club. New members paid an initiation fee, an annual fee of $1, and received the Club crest—a single pole and crossed skis on an orange background, with a black shield with diagonal TSC letters—for free. The Club took skiing seriously. It presented small bronze medals to those who passed what was deemed a “first-class test”, its requirements as follows: 1. Correct and steady darting position. 2. Most efficient method of climbing on two different hills. 3. Kick-turn, right and left, on level and slope. 4. Right and left stemming. 5. Snow-plow. 6. Alpine S-turn. 7. Side-slipping. 8. Lifted stem. 66

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Early records show the Club was equally dedicated to its social element. This, from the January 14, 1924, meeting minutes: The question of having a regular Club Night on a definite night each week when members coming out can be assured of meeting others was discussed. Moved by Mr. Cliff, seconded by Mr. Binch, that Wednesday night be known as Ladies Night when weather permitting all skiers will try to get out. For the present the rendezvous by the Reedow Pavilion, High Park Boulevard Entrance, and the time 8:30 PM. During the same meeting, the question of changing the name “Telemark Ski Club” was raised. Also, from the minutes of January 14, 1924: It was felt that Toronto Ski Club would be a better name, and if the change was not made at once some other Club might start up under this name. The Club’s 24 board members passed a majority vote to be called the Toronto Ski Club. The aforementioned Mr. Binch was assigned to ascertain the steps required to register the name, and the meeting moved on to make plans and arrangements for Ladies Night. Anna Potvin has been a TSC member since 1980. “My oldest, longest friendships are from there. There’s a photo of a few of us on the chairlift a couple years ago that I posted on social and said, ‘Friends that ski together, stay together.’ And I think that’s true of friends you have a lot in common with,” she says. Her experience with TSC began when she was six years old

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escarpment | history

and her stepfather introduced her to skiing. “We lived in Cambridge, and I just remember those car rides up every Friday. We always seemed to be travelling in the worst weather, getting into little car accidents, and next thing you know we’d be spending the night in Shelburne because the roads were closed. Everything felt a bit more reckless back then, but we’d be coming up because I ski raced. So, Fridays we’d go to the chalet, turn on the heat, then head straight to the TSC for dinner. You’d see your ski coach and friends there and it started the weekend off the minute you got to the Club. It always felt like a home away from home.” Per King, TSC is the second oldest ski club in Canada—older than the Canadian Ski Instructors Jozo Weider Alliance itself. In 1926 TSC created its own publication, The Weekly Trumpet, renamed The Ski-Runner in 1927, which by mid-century was one of the most successful ski publications in Canada. The same year, TSC made its new home at Summit Golf Club in Richmond Hill where it secured a lease for wintertime use of the property that lasted 47 years until the 1974. It 1930 it also expanded its interests into Caledon, leasing farmland and purchasing a small property to establish a second clubhouse until the second World War. Come 1931 the Club numbered 2000 members, and by 1934 it was the largest ski club in Canada. It was also the first to host competitions. Members built the 150-foot Thorncliffe Ski Jump and practice jump where the Ontario Championships took place on February 10, 1934. (Downhill and cross-country events were held at the Caledon property.) By 1938, 3000 members were donning the Club’s uniform of a navy-blue cap, skirt and long, pleated trousers. The Club’s initial investment in the Blue Mountains was in 1934, when it partnered with some Collingwood residents to purchase a farm property at the north end of Blue Mountain for $3,200. By the 1940s, unable to secure a long-term lease agreement 68

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in Caledon, the club set its sights firmly on the Escarpment further north, spending an additional $3,200 to purchase a farm property at the south end of what is now Blue Mountain, and which includes the O Hill. It was when the TSC, Collingwood Ski Club and Jozo Weider put their heads together that the foundation for today’s TSC and Blue Mountain Resort was truly laid. Weider had been purchasing farms along the Escarpment to create his vision for what would become Blue Mountain Resort, and in 1945 TSC loaned him the funds to purchase and install the first real ski tow, a poma lift, located on the north end of Blue Mountain. Two years later, the Club loaned Weider an additional $3,000 to help develop Blue Mountain and, most critically, leased its Blue Mountain real estate interests to Weider for a term of 999 years, agreeing to cash, shares and special considerations in return for the lease. “We have a really unique relationship with Blue Mountain Resort,” explains TSC Past President Graydon Oldfield, a Canadian Ski Team alumni and TSC member since 1973. “Toronto Ski Club and Collingwood Ski Club in essence owned a ton of the Blue Mountain property but merged their properties

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with Jozo’s in a 999-year lease to create Blue Mountain Resort. Blue Mountain has the rights to the operation side, and TSC gets access to much more property than it could have otherwise. TSC is tucked away in the north of Blue Mountain so it’s pretty untouched by the rest of the public, but if you want that action, you can get it. We have the most skiable terrain of all the Escarpment Clubs but a small club culture, and it all flows into this incredible public environment of Blue Mountain Village, which is exceptional from my point of view.” Issues that plague other clubs don’t bother TSC members, King says. “Public clubs are often trying to scrounge for cash to pay for a new chairlift or snow guns et cetera, but we’re guaranteed the best from a facilities perspective. Blue has the best technology and infrastructure and resources. It’s a world class mountain.” Add to that TSC’s highly regarded ski racing program (Todd Brooker is one of its well-known alumni). “Our programs are smaller but powerful and I think that’s why they attract some of the best coaches on the Escarpment—there’s more attention to the athletes,” says Oldfield. The TSC, it should be becoming clear, runs like a well-oiled chairlift. The business of skiing is as key to its success as the joy of skiing, and as such it’s widely credited with growing skiing

Left to right; racers Kerri Lyn Houde, 1986 and Brad King, 1987. 70

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throughout Southern Ontario. In 1936 it leased a property in Uxbridge and created Dagmar Ski Resort, investing in the property until 1963. In 1949 it helped to found Beaver Valley Ski Club, loaning it money in return for stock. The Club invested in and sold—at a profit—a 50 per cent share in Hockley Valley near Orangeville. It invested in Edelweiss Park in Bolton. TSC members have spun off to create Osler Bluffs Ski Club, Georgian Peaks Ski Club and Craigleith Ski Club, which TSC sold seven acres to in 1991 in order for them to properly develop their V-Hill runs. Evolution continues to be one of TSC’s most admirable qualities. Its board now has a permanent position focused on diversity and inclusion, for example, and the Club warmly welcomed the arrival of the IKON pass, which TSC members must hold to ski on home turf and gives them instant access to world-class resorts around the globe. Nostalgia, though, will always have its place. “I’ve still got my first TSC pass. It has a fluorescent dot on it, which meant I could night ski. It has the old logo and there’s zero tech. I always wear that pass on retro ski days,” Potvin says. Events like retro ski day are what TSC is arguably most famous for. “Even more than other clubs, we’re known for the social thing in that we’re a really small club and throw the best parties,” says King. “Our mens’ and ladies’ days are really well attended, we have

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escarpment | history

Above; TSC’s 75th Anniversary, “1924 Day” March 6, 1999. Below: Al Wilson and Putty Putman at Summit 1930.

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après bands every Saturday and about five big parties a year.” Oldfield credits strong event attendance to the feeling of community. “The fact your kids are known and welcome and safe is extremely important. Every Saturday we have a kids’ program, like face painting or laser tag or animals from the zoo. The culture here is extremely important. I think what we’re really proud of at TSC is you can just be who you want to be. You don’t have to keep up with the Joneses. It’s more like walking into Cheers and everybody knows your name,” he says. Comedy—or at least good-natured fun—is also core to TSC. Potvin says, “I can’t hear Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll without thinking of March Breaks when I was a kid at TSC. There would be men wearing banana hammocks skiing around, and I was thinking, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’” Oldfield recalls a now-defunct annual event called The Horse’s Ass. “It was a massive costume party led by my mom and dad and their friends. We’d march down the highway and into the Club and do obstacle courses and events on the side of the hill. It was ridiculous and something I don’t think you’d get away with anymore.” Perhaps not, because most things do change, though at the Toronto Ski Club the joy of skiing, friendship, and winter in Ontario don’t number among them. E

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escarpment | nature

The Wild Life

With stunning natural landscapes all around us, the snowy season provides an excellent chance to observe the abundance of wildlife that remains here throughout the winter—while also offering a helping hand if needed. by Marc Huminilowycz photography by Clay Dolan

escarpmentmagazine.ca

Winter 2024

escarpment | nature

Ruffed Grouse

It’s another magical winter

on the Escarpment, and Mother Nature has once again blanketed our region in its snowy embrace. As we enjoy the season on the slopes, on skis and snowshoes in our many parks and wilderness areas, and in cozy gatherings by the fire with friends and family, winter is also a good time for some quiet time in nature – observing, watching, and listening to what’s around us. We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful part of Southern Ontario, which includes the Niagara Escarpment, home to over 300 species of birds, 55 mammals, 36 reptile and amphibian species, and 90 fish species. While some species of birds migrate and some animals hibernate or go into “torpor,” a state of lowered body temperature and metabolic activity, many are active here all winter long, foraging or hunting for food and sheltering from the elements. Winter is really the best time to observe wildlife. Trees and shrubs devoid of leaves and a snowy white background are perfect for spotting animals and birds in our forests, parks, and fields. Closer to home, maintaining a bird feeder allows you to enjoy a large variety of species, including Chickadees, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Cedar Waxwings, various species of woodpeckers, Mourning 76

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Doves, Juncos, songbirds, and the occasional flock of Snow Buntings. (If you’re feeding birds, it’s vitally important that you consistently fill your feeder. Birds will rely on you during harsh winter days and nights. Equally important is keeping your feeder clean to prevent the spread of diseases.) If you’re lucky, you might spot the occasional mammal, most likely white-tailed deer, but you don’t need to look far to observe evidence of wildlife activity. Hundreds of intersecting tracks in the snow, made by deer, coyotes, red foxes, cottontail rabbits, wild turkeys, porcupines, squirrels, birds, weasels, and occasionally bobcats and fishers, offer evidence of what’s going on out there. In the treetops, you might hear the tapping of a woodpecker. In areas of new forest growth, it’s not unusual to see soft bark stripped from the bottoms of young trees. This is likely the work of porcupines, deer, or rabbits looking for an easy source of food. Look up in the trees, across fields, and in the sky for a glimpse of a Snowy Owl, a Northern Harrier, and other birds of prey, including magnificent bald eagles, which are confirmed to be breeding, nesting, and hunting throughout our region. As you’re outside observing and listening, you might give some thought to how the wildlife with whom we share our environment are coping with the bitter cold and snow. Should you do something

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escarpment | nature

Who You Gonna Call?

White-tailed deer

Porcupine

Fox 78

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According to Ontario Wildlife Rescue, the first 24 to 48 hours after a wild animal is found is the most critical because they’ve usually been without food or water for a while and are confused and afraid. Connecting with a wildlife professional quickly can save their life. So, if you come across wildlife that is injured, sick, or in distress, who do you contact? Most local veterinary hospitals will not accept them, and local humane societies and animal control are not licensed to look after wildlife. Your best bet is to contact the nearest wildlife rescue centre. Even though our region is known for its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife, sadly there is not a single rescue centre in Grey or Bruce Counties. The nearest, Procyon Wildlife, is located in Beeton, Ontario, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours south of here. Their number is (905) 729-0033. (Website www.procyonwildlife.com) Further north in Muskoka is Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. They can be reached at (705) 732-6368. (Website www. aspenvalley.ca) So, you’ve found a wild animal or bird in distress. What do you do? First, make the call to your nearest wildlife rescue centre. It will be up to you to capture the creature, as these places are not equipped or staffed to do so. According to Crystal Fay, Animal Care Manager at Procyon Wildlife, you should wear protective gloves, as you may be bitten out of fear. As gently as possible, place the animal in a large Rubbermaid-style storage bin with holes in the lid for air. You can offer a bit of water to an injured creature, but no food or water for an animal that appears ill. Monitor the animal regularly until you can transport it to the wildlife rescue centre. Other than helping wildlife in distress, it’s best to leave wild animals and birds to deal with the winter weather. “Except for deer and birds, most mammals just sleep when it’s bitterly cold or stormy, waking up to feed when the weather warms up,” she says. There are other ways you can help local wildlife. Donate via Ontario Wildlife Rescue to keep rescue centres in the province operating. According to Sandy Donald, Ontario is “desperately short” of wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres, and there are none in Grey or Bruce Counties. If you have the means, the land, and the desire to help animals and birds, consider becoming a “wildlife rehabber”, which will involve taking a (free) Ministry of Natural Resources exam. You might also consider becoming a foster parent for a local wildlife rescue centre. To donate or learn more about how you can become involved, visit www.ontariowildliferescue or email Sandy@ontariowildliferescue.ca.

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escarpment | nature

to feed or shelter them? Alexander (Sandy) Donald is the Director of Ontario Wildlife Rescue (OWR), which connects people who have found injured or orphaned wildlife with those who can look after them and get them back into the wild through a network of wildlife rescue centres across Ontario. The organization also helps raise money for these wildlife rescue centres, which don’t receive any government funds and are completely dependent on donations and public support. (See www.ontariowildliferescue.ca) According to Sandy Donald, the best thing you can do for wildlife (other than maintaining bird feeders) is to leave them alone. “Animals and birds have a unique ability to adjust to their environment, and they know where to find food and shelter in the harshest weather,” he says. “Most wildlife doesn’t like being around humans, but if you feed them, they can lose their fear of people and become dependent on you. My advice is to leave them alone, and they will leave you alone.” That said, Donald is concerned about the effect that climate change is having on the behaviour of wildlife. As an example, he notes Eastern Grey Squirrels, which have typically given birth to only one litter per year, in the spring, but five years ago started having a second litter. Now, it’s not unusual for these squirrels to have three litters per year, as late as October. Raccoons have followed the trend with litters in January. “Young litters in late fall and the middle of winter have literally no chance of survival. We’re seeing a lot more of them in our wildlife rescue centres, where they will stay over the winter until next spring,” he says. Noting also that some birds aren’t migrating south anymore, Donald describes wildlife behaviour these days as “out of whack”. “Global warming, which has caused erratic weather with higher temperatures, longer summers and earlier warm/ cold springs, is disrupting the normal biological clocks of wild animals and birds, which are having to adapt to their changing environment,” he says. “The weather is becoming more unpredictable. What’s ‘normal’ doesn’t exist anymore, and exceptions are starting to become the

rule,” Donald adds. “There is now a higher chance of people encountering animals in the off-season as they stress to adapt to humans. Coyotes are becoming more commonplace, deer are more visible than ever, and raccoons are rampant in the cities.” An example of this is the erratic early spring behaviour of some animals, notably raccoons, which appear to be tamer than usual. “You can’t assume that they have rabies or distemper,” says Donald. “Leave them be. If they become a nuisance around your property, live trap them and release them in the wild at least a kilometre away.” What about wildlife that has established itself for the winter in your attic or garage, or on your property? “Squirrels and chipmunks store food for the winter. If they’ve taken up winter residence in or around your home, don’t live trap and release them. They won’t survive without their food source. Leave them be until spring,” says Donald. “And under no circumstances should you set out poison traps outside you home. It’s illegal. The poison will harm other animals in the food chain, especially predators and scavengers.” Wild animals and birds are a joy to have around us, and winter is a great time to observe them. Let’s all do our part to respect the wildlife that share our beautiful environment, and do whatever we can to help them. E

Snowy Owl

Winter 2024

escarpment | history

Off q Rails From its vibrant beginnings as a railway hub to the eventual silence of the tracks, this is the story of how a humble settlement became intertwined with the iron veins of the Canadian railway, leaving a legacy that still echoes through the trails of Collingwood today. Script by Ken Maher, Stories from Another Day, a Collingwood Museum Podcast. Photos courtesy of the Collingwood Museum.

Steam engine at Collingwood Station, looking north, 1937. Collingwood Museum Collection, X970.414.1

escarpmentmagazine.ca

Winter 2024

escarpment | history

The historic station property, looking south from Huron Street, between 1923 and 1932. Collingwood Museum Collection, X2009.125.1

A small crowd has gathered there on the platform. They are of continuous service. Although this day was undoubtedly difficult, listening intently to an older man by the name of Daniel Webster it was merely the start of a gradual and inevitable decline. Over the Watson. He had come from Beeton just for this day, even though next fifty years, the railway presence in Collingwood would steadily at his age, travel was not so easy anymore. “Let me tell you about diminish until it disappeared completely. the first time I rode this line,” he says. “It was 1877, and I was just But how had it come to this? Especially when this town was a young fella...” His voice trails literally built because of the railway. off into the noise of the crowds Local historian Isabel Griffin tells us as several families make their way that at the time of its construction, down the side of the train. It is the Collingwood Train Station not very hard to see that they are rivalled Toronto’s own train station, the wives and children of railway both in its size—being able to workers here to mark the day with accommodate up to five trains at any their husbands and fathers. one time—and in its architectural It is then that Conductor charm, being influenced by Spanish Jack Latimer, himself an old timer, designs. Indeed, there were more steps up on the train and calls out than a few who preferred our end of in his well-practised voice that the line to that in Toronto. pierces through the noise, “All Before the railway arrived, the Aboard!” For a short while, there is closest village in this area was called a cacophony of sights and sounds Hurontario Mills (roughly where the as some, but certainly not all, of waterworks stand on Raglan Street Canadian National Railway staff in front of Collingwood the people gathered make their today). The Collingwood downtown train station, October 1923. Collingwood Museum Collection, X972.142.1 way onto the train. And then, in all centre we know today was little more too short of a time, the passenger than a dense cedar swamp back train whistles and puffs away from the station... for the last time. then. There really wasn’t much going for it, except that by 1853 The silent crowd remains behind, standing on the platform and the powers that be had decided a train line was needed to connect watching until the train is out of sight. Toronto to Southern Georgian Bay. In actuality the idea had been It was July 2, 1960. The day that passenger trains ceased floating around since 1830. After years of surveying this area, operations in Collingwood, marking the end of a century-long era the railway workers had decided the gradient to Penetanguishene 84

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escarpment | history

was going to be a problem, as was end up doing just fine in the new the shifting sand at the mouth of economy when instead he... well, the Nottawasaga River. So, while that is a story for another day. Penetanguishene had the better Apart from the unusual natural harbour and Wasaga Beach structures, there were other changes had easier access, our town site necessary for our community to didn’t have their problems, and that welcome the arrival of the train. became the deciding factor. It also Alongside the surge in construction, didn’t hurt that starting from an a more dignified name for the town empty slate, anything needed could became imperative. Up until that be built to suit their purpose. point, the area was known as Hen But one of those things that and Chickens Harbour. An apt, if would have to be built was... not rustic, appellation. The story Skiers unloading at the Craigleith train station. Collingwood Museum Collection, 988.7.3 well... a town! If the railroad was retold in several sources suggests to come through this part of the that while the area was being country, then better infrastructure and a larger town to support surveyed for the terminus of the rail line, the name Collingwood it would be the first thing needed. So, when the news broke that was suggested by one of the four members of the team of surveyors. the terminus of the railway would arrive here, the building blitz The name was given in honour of Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, began in earnest. As detailed in Stories from Another Day Season victorious in the battle of Trafalgar after Lord Nelson died. The 1: Episode 11, “Fair Play”, land sales exploded, as did the prices. party of four, the story goes, christened the harbour with the new This led to price gouging and some dirty politics. Yet as all the new name right then and there, with a bottle from their lunch, and building came in, some of the old bits of the pre-existing settlement without asking anyone who lived nearby what they thought of the went away. One local character, Collingwood Harris, reluctantly idea. But somewhere along the way, the name stuck. closed his beloved cedar bark hotel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, as the But times changed, as they always do. Unlike the sudden town underwent transformative growth and change. But he would advent of the railway in Collingwood, its demise was a long and

Looking north towards the harbour from the wooden platform at Collingwood’s train station, c. 1874-1900. Photographer, James Asa Castor. Collingwood Museum Collection, 007.19.6

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Winter 2024

escarpment | history

Derry Day celebrations on the Collingwood station grounds, 1962. Photographer, Peter Coates. Collingwood Museum Collection, 998.23.3.1e

slow process of dwindling returns. With the coming of the car, roads opened up, and the highways took a more prominent role in transportation. As passengers dwindled, the railways began feeling the pinch. This can be seen in an article found in the Enterprise Bulletin in January 1950, stating that the CNR would be cutting the noon train three days each week. “The taking out of service of these trains is hoped to be a temporary curtailment only, and is said to be the result of a shortage of soft coal now being felt in Canada. When coal again becomes more plentiful, it is expected that these trains will be put back in service.” Cars, not coal, it seems, would be the lasting cause of the train’s curtailment. By the mid-20th Century, only the mail and freight service made the railway lines financially viable. This too changed when transport trucks travelling on the improved highways took over the mail and freight deliveries, and the railways across the country began to close down. The trains stopped running on October 29th, 1955, on the Creemore route (also known as the Hog Special), and the tracks were removed between Alliston and Creemore shortly thereafter. Freight service to Glen Huron and Creemore continued via 88

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Collingwood for another five years before the tracks laid down in 1877 were pulled up on September 30, 1960. The passenger service also continued between Allandale, Collingwood, and Meaford until that fateful Saturday in July of 1960. The Collingwood station remained in use up until that time. Once the station was no longer needed for passenger service, the building was closed, and its offices were moved to the north end of the Freight Shed at the corner of St. Paul and Simcoe Streets. In an interesting, if short-lived attempt to revitalize train traffic, a group of local residents concerned with the railway’s depreciating value to the Town of Collingwood convinced the Canadian National Railway to start passenger service on Sundays for skiing enthusiasts. From January 5 to March 8, 1963, trains left Toronto’s Union Station at 8:00 a.m. and arrived back at 8:00 p.m. Prices, including ski lift tickets to Georgian Peaks, Blue Mountain, Devil’s Glen, and Alpine Ski Club, were $7.75 for adults and $5.90 for children under 12. Although successful, the “Ski Special” was discontinued in 1964 due to inclement weather conditions and inflexible schedules. The railway office was still very busy with the daily way freight

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escarpment | history

between Allandale and Meaford, and the CNR continued running freight service to the Collingwood Shipyards right up to the build of the last ship in the mid-1980s. There was a rail siding into the steel stockyard where very heavy loads of steel were unloaded. Rail sidings also went into the Machine Shop on Huron Street and the Boiler Shop behind the Mountain View Hotel, but the steel stockyard was the critical one because of the heavy tonnage. As J.T. MacMurchy wrote in 1963, “One by one, the many services gradually passed away until we are now left with the skeleton of what was once a booming industry.” By the early 1960s, it was plain to see that most shipping was moving away from the Great Lakes to coastal ports and the St. Lawrence. Demand for Great Lakes ships was on a steady decline. The decision was made to diversify the industrial base of Collingwood, drawing new manufacturers into the area. This project was very successful, and by 1967, eight new industrial companies called Collingwood home, several of which made parts for the increasing automobile sector. These new factories located in the East End Industrial Park of Collingwood also needed a railway spur to take their products to market. This resulted in the development of the Pretty River Industrial Spur, which was officially opened on November 22, 1967. The need for the line was a testament to the industrial growth of the community. It serviced the industries of National Starch, Barton Distilling, and Libbey-Owens-Ford. A commemorative train trip was run in 1979 by the CNR and sponsored by the Upper Canada Railway Society, celebrating 125 years of passenger rail service. This was powered by the steam

The grain train at the Collingwood Terminals, c. 1930. Photograph by Hamilton Studio. Collingwood Museum Collection, 994.2.1o

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locomotive 6060, nicknamed “Bullet-Nose Betty,” for the shape of the front of the boiler where the headlight was mounted. But despite the nostalgic celebration, on December 31, 1985, the CNR abandoned the line, and the concept was formulated to take out the rails between Collingwood and Meaford and create cycling paths, as had been done already in Ottawa. By 1990, there were only two trains a week which served local industry. The freight trains through Utopia continued to provide service for Canadian Mist and NACAN in Collingwood. Beyond these many attempts to revitalize the dwindling railways, other less conventional schemes had been proposed through the years to keep the railway’s original importance as a part of Collingwood. As recorded in “The Story of Collingwood: 100 years 1858-1958” (published for the town’s centennial), some of the more interesting ideas floated included building a ship railway from here to Lake Ontario—think Lock 44 on the Trent-Severn Waterway, the Big Chute marine railway. Only this proposal would have seen one built that would be over 100 kilometres long. The proposal was for fully loaded vessels to be lifted out of the northern waters here, then placed on rail cars, and then finally dropped into Lake Ontario once again. Needless to say, this never got much beyond a wonderfully quirky dream. A full-fledged ship canal from Collingwood to Toronto was also proposed to take the place of the failing railway. Not even one shovel full of dirt was ever dug. Similarly proposed was a dedicated railway freight line to be built from Georgian Bay to the Bay of Quinte at the eastern point of Lake Ontario. These and many other wonderfully weird ideas were floated through the long years of the

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Winter 2024

escarpment | history

Engine No. 1, the Lady Elgin, was the first engine to arrive in Collingwood on January 1, 1855. Collingwood Museum Collection, X976.256.1

Members of ‘A’ Company, 157th Battalion, leaving Collingwood for Camp Borden by train on July 2, 1916. Collingwood Museum Collection, X2009.43.1

Ski train with Georgian Peaks in the background, 1962. Photographer, Peter Coates. Collingwood Museum Collection, 998.23.3.9d

Looking north towards the harbour from the wooden platform at Collingwood’s train station, c. 1874-1900. Photographer, James Asa Castor. Collingwood Museum Collection, 007.19.6

railway’s decline, all with the same goal in mind: to avoid the long round-about lake route with a bottleneck in the canal across the Niagara Peninsula. But in the end, it was the cars and trucks and roads and highways that won out. And so, it was that in 1996, Canadian National Railway abandoned a portion of its rail line, including service that ran from Barrie to Collingwood. Rather than have the tracks ripped up, the two municipalities purchased 100 kilometres of rail infrastructure. This would be the very last attempt at keeping the longstanding tradition of railway service alive in Collingwood. Between 1998 and 2011, the Barrie Collingwood Railway (BCRY), operating under Canadian Pacific Railway, serviced customers in Innisfil, Barrie, Coldwell, Angus, Stayner, and Collingwood. But once again, over time the number of customers who utilized the rail service dwindled, and the rail era finally came to a quiet and easily overlooked end when Collingwood’s Town Council authorized the termination of rail services between Utopia and Collingwood as of July 2011.

And so, the town of Collingwood quietly went “off the rails.” What started with a literal explosion of optimism and opportunity, taking a little-known settlement by the name of Hen and Chickens Harbour and making it into an economic powerhouse overnight, disappeared with a whimper by a motion in council that simply reflected the sad reality everyone had seen coming since 1960. But even though trains no longer provide the lifeblood for our town, the veins of those heady days still lie at the heart of our town for those who know where to look. The Collingwood Museum and its grounds, the Terminals, and so many street names still bear the marks of that locomotive history. Now you can walk, jog, or bike those old train tracks all the way from Stayner to Meaford and through all parts of Collingwood. Many of our most popular trails are those old train lines, repurposed for human-powered travel. On some parts of them, you can still see portions of the tracks and reflect on the long history they carried. For our history as a town was built on those tracks. And it is a history full of so many stories that will have to wait for another day. E

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Winter 2024

escarpment | epicure

Winter’s

TABLE by Chef Christina Sheardown | photography by Clay Dolan

Braised Beef Shank (recipe on page 94)

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T S HE A R D OW N ’S I N M E A F O RD, Chef Christina Sheardown merges culinary excellence with a commitment to seasonal local cuisine. With a career that spans from prestigious banquet halls to intimate fine dining establishmaents, Christina’s dedication to crafting dishes from scratch ensures a menu that reads like an ode to the region’s flavours and farmers. “Sourcing local food is a great way to support local farmers,” says Christina. “And get higher quality product that will contain more nutrients than factory farming. It also helps us to stay seasonal which means you won’t see fresh berries on our winter menu and won’t see Brussel sprouts on our summer menu!” Escarpment is excited to share a selection of Christina’s wonderful winter recipes, each capturing the essence of sharing with loved ones and the artistry of culinary creation.

Winter 2024

escarpment | epicure

WARM MUSHROOM SALAD

This delightful warm salad embodies the simplicity and comforting flavours of the season. Featuring a harmonious blend of mushrooms and toasted walnuts, this dish is both and exquisitely satisfying and effortlessly quick, taking only 10 minutes to prepare and an additional 12 minutes to cook. 2 cups assorted mushrooms (we love mushrooms from Grandview Farms in Thornbury) 1 tsp garlic chopped 1 tsp chopped either sage or rosemary, whichever your preference is. 2 tbsp Freshwater Distillery Darkwater gin or substitute mushroom stock 2 cups baby arugula ½ cup goat cheese ½ white onion, sliced as thinly as possible 1 tbsp canola oil 3 tbsp chopped walnut, lightly toasted

METHOD 1. I f your mushrooms vary in size and you want to maintain their shape, start by sautéing the larger mushrooms first, adding the smaller ones later. 2. While sautéing, pre-toast the walnuts for garnishing. Simply preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly toast the walnuts for about 5 minutes. 3. H eat your pan and add oil. Sauté the onion for about two minutes until it softens, then add garlic. Let the garlic cook for a couple more minutes before adding the gin (be cautious with an open flame, as the gin might briefly ignite). 4. A dd the mushrooms and cook until they soften, then season the mixture evenly with salt and pepper. Turn off the heat. 5 . Lightly toss the arugula in the pan a couple of times. Add the goat cheese and give it a few more tosses. The key is to sauté the arugula gently, ensuring it doesn’t overcook. 6. Transfer to a plate and generously sprinkle with the toasted walnuts.

escarpmentmagazine.ca

Warm Mushroom Salad

BRAISED BEEF SHANK

This hearty winter entrée takes about 1-2 hours to cook, but most of that time is hands-off. In reality, you’ll spend only around 20 minutes prepping and actively cooking. This recipe serves 2 people generously—if you need more servings or leftovers, simply double or triple the ingredients. Just keep in mind scaling up might mean searing the meat in batches and adding an extra hour or so to cook thoroughly. 2 tbsp vegetable oil ½ onion, sliced 2 tbsp garlic clove, chopped ½ lb (250g) bone-in beef shanks (sourced from Good family Farm in Meaford) ½ cup crushed tomatoes 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp chopped rosemary and thyme

3 cups beef stock 1 tbsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 cup red wine (optional) 2 cups root vegetables chopped up into 1-inch cubes (such as sweet potato, parsnip, beet, carrot, celeriac root) 1 cup chopped potatoes (mini red, mini white or fingerling—simply cut larger potatoes in half and keep the smaller intact)

METHOD STEP 1: SEAR 1. Heat a deep pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add canola oil. 2. Once hot, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes until they turn transparent. Then, add the chopped garlic and cook for approximately 3 more minutes until caramelized. 3. Season the beef shank all over with salt

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and pepper (aiming for a 90% salt to 10% black pepper ratio). Add the beef shanks to the pot and brown them on both sides. 4. A dd the chopped root vegetables and potatoes. Stir until coated in the oil and onion-garlic mix; they don’t need to be fully cooked here as they’ll slow-cook with the dish. 5. P repare to add the wet ingredients: beef stock, tomato, Worcestershire sauce, and chopped herbs. Taste the broth and adjust seasoning if needed with an extra tablespoon of salt and pepper, depending on the broth used. STEP 2: BRAISE 1. C over the pot and simmer on low heat for 1 to 1.5 hours or until the meat is fork-tender. Vegetables will also be tender at this point. 2. Occasionally check for enough liquid to prevent sticking; if needed, add more beef stock and shift the beef shanks to prevent burning. Alternatively, you can use a slow cooker or Crockpot for this preparation.

APPLE WHISKEY BREAD PUDDING

This delectable dessert wwewencapsulates the warmth of home-baked goodness. With just a handful of ingredients, including fresh local apples, and a hint of cinnamon, this recipe promises a delightful fusion of textures and flavours. Topped with a luscious Whiskey Caramel Sauce, created by infusing butter, brown sugar, and a touch of whiskey, each spoonful offers a harmonious blend of softness and caramelized sweetness. 6 slices stale bread (equal to approximately 4-5 cups of broken bread pieces or cubes) 3 tbsp butter 4 eggs, beaten 1 cup milk ¾ cup white sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp cinnamon 1 cup chopped apple, (we prefer Cortland or gala from Meaford) ¼ cup raisins (optional) Pinch of salt if not using salted butter 98

escarpmentmagazine.ca

Apple Whiskey Bread Pudding

METHOD 1. P reheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with 1 tablespoon of butter. 2. P lace larger pieces of bread (avoid crumbling it) into the buttered baking dish. Add chopped apple and, if using, raisins to the bread. Gently mix to combine, then coat with the melted three tablespoons of butter. 3. I n a separate bowl, thoroughly mix the remaining ingredients (remember to beat the eggs first) until well combined. 4. P our this mixture over the bread, ensuring every piece is evenly coated. Bake for approximately 35 minutes, or until the top of the bread pudding springs back lightly when touched with a fork. WHISKEY CARAMEL SAUCE 4 tbsp butter salted (but unsalted is ok too, just add a pinch of salt)

3 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp whiskey

METHOD 1. Get a small saucepan and melt 3 tablespoons of salted butter over high heat. 2. Once melted, reduce the heat to medium and let the butter brown slightly. Add the brown sugar, ensuring it fully mixes into the melted butter. 3. If you’re flambéing or adding whiskey, do so now. If flames occur, let them burn out naturally; don’t worry, but avoid leaning in too close. 4. Stir the mixture well and remove it from the heat. Let it sit for about 1-2 minutes, then use a whisk to thoroughly blend the brown sugar and butter. Pour this over the cooked bread pudding. 5. The brown sugar will crystallize, adding a delightful crunch to complement the soft texture of the bread pudding perfectly. E

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escarpment | arts & culture

Any Dream Will Do The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

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Cultural Canvas

From theatre to music, dance, and everything in between, we’ve crafted a list of marquee productions and festivals lighting up the Escarpment this winter! Get ready for a season packed with sensational performances and unforgettable moments.

The Historic Roxy Theatre The Roxy Theatre, owned and operated by Owen Sound Little Theatre, stands as the primary regional hub for live theatre and music performances. The historic soft-seat opera house, which dates back to 1913, can host up to 400 patrons and sits within Owen Sound’s historic downtown area. For box office sales, events listings and more visit roxytheatre.ca

Mudmen in Concert Mudmen are a blast of Celtic energy known to be characters both on and off the stage. 100 escarpmentmagazine.ca

With 11 studio Albums, Mudmen have been featured on HBO’s Shameless, NBC’S The Black Donnelly’s, AE Sports games, and more! January 19

The Ladies Foursome The day after their friend Catherine’s funeral, four friends gather for a round of golf in honour of their recently departed friend. Over the course of eighteen holes, secrets and confessions unravel as the women discuss love, sex, children, and everything in between. February 8-10 and 14-17

The Owen Sound Reel Festival Owen Sound’s Reel Festival returns to the Roxy, featuring presentations from the Toronto International Film Festival’s Film Circuit. March 2

Something Rotten! This riotously funny theatrical production follows two brothers on a mission to craft the world’s first musical, blending 16th century Shakespeare with 21st century Broadway. Faced with the daunting shadow of the Renaissance icon “The Bard,” the brothers aim for a smash hit amid a

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backdrop of characters, lively song and dance. April 11-14, 18-20 and 24-27

Tom Thomson’s Wake - An Original Folk Musical Two years after renowned painter Tom Thomson’s mysterious death, his friend, his mentor and his lover gather to share their memories of Algonquin Park’s most famous resident. But did any of them really know the man? Through their diverging songs and stories, a new portrait of the iconic Canadian artist emerges. Featuring high-definition imagery of Tom Thomson and Group of Seven artworks, unforgettable characters and an original folk music score by Shipyard Kitchen Party (creators of the musical 100 Years from Now), this Canadian musical will entertain audiences of all ages. May 3

Classic Albums Live: Led Zeppelin II Founded by Craig Martin, this renowned ensemble meticulously recreates iconic albums live on stage, focusing on historical pieces that withstand time’s scrutiny. Distinctly eschewing costumes and impersonations, they channel all their energy into delivering authentic musical renditions. May 4

Marsh Street Centre The Marsh Street Centre in Clarksburg is a community-owned and volunteer-operated facility. With a 200-person capacity, the centre serves various organizations, as well as hosting intimate live music and theatre productions. After nearly 100 years of service to the community, it remains a vital cornerstone of culture. For box office sales, event listings, and further details, explore marshstreetcentre.com.

Classic Lightfoot Life The number one Gordon Lightfoot tribute show in Canada comes to Clarksburg! With over 30 years of entertaining crowds, John Stinson is praised for sounding just like Gord and faithfully recreating Gord’s songs. February 10 102 escarpmentmagazine.ca

Tom Thomson’s Wake. Photo: Glenn Hubbers.

Leash – A Tribute to Pearl Jam

J.S. Bach’s Long Walk in The Snow

A group of five friends and musicians celebrate Seattle’s Pearl Jam! Known as one of our generation’s greatest rock bands, they bring a vibrant, powerful performance featuring all the hits, B-sides, and cherished songs that made us adore Pearl Jam. January 20

CBC host Tom Allen’s “chamber musical” narrates the tale of a young Johann Sebastian Bach. Following a harrowing fight, he embarked on a 400 km journey north to a dazzling port city where a wise old teacher resided. During his stay, it’s entirely possible he fell in love. Upon his return, he swiftly evolved into the genius artist we continue to revere. January 20

The Sattalites The Sattalites blend various styles, ranging from classic rocksteady to lively dancehall beats, infusing a new essence into rhythm and blues and jazz. With a reggae base, their tight harmonies evoke a soulful vibe that resonates with audiences, getting everyone dancing. March 30

Theatre Collingwood As Collingwood’s foremost and enduring performance company, Theatre Collingwood is committed to enriching the artistic tapestry of our region through inclusive collaboration and through our participation in the creation of a Centre for Arts and Culture in Collingwood. For box office sales, events listings and more visit theatrecollingwood.ca

Any Dream Will Do - The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber This show offers a backstage view of the life and music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. With storytelling and songs, top musical theatre talents bring the show to life. It showcases a plethora of hits like Memory, Don’t Cry for Me Argentina and The Phantom of the Opera. February 13-14

Girls Nite Out Comedy Troupe featuring Elvira Kirt Featuring a cast of Canadian Comedy Award winners, Second City alum and CBC comedy darlings, Girls Nite Out with Elvira Kurt includes stand-up performances and improvisation that will have you in stitches. March 7-8

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escarpment | arts & culture

Meaford Hall Arts and Cultural Centre For more than a century, Meaford Hall has attracted year-round audiences with a wide range of live entertainment, gallery exhibitions, films, and community-driven social gatherings. The 330-seat theatre, characterized by high ceilings, retains its original ornate features while boasting state-of-the-art technology and exquisite acoustics. For box office sales, events listings and more visit meafordhall.ca

Carl Dixon As the front man for The Guess Who, April Wine, and Coney Hatch, Carl had reached the pinnacle of his career when a lifealtering car crash nearly took his life. Despite the odds, he’s here today to share his music and a powerful tale of resilience, positivity, and a life deeply entrenched in rock and roll. January 18

Tartan Terrors Armed with classic bagpipes, fiddles, vibrant drum tones, and distinct guitar styles, the Tartan Terrors captivate standing-roomonly audiences. Join us for Robbie Burns Day with a whisky tasting, great music and celebrate in true Celtic style! January 25

Classic Troubadours Live Award-winning singer-songwriter Jacob Moon brings you a dynamic ensemble of incredible singers and musicians paying homage to these four icons, including hits like Fire and Rain, Running on Empty, Big Yellow Taxi and You’ve Got a Friend and more! January 27

Oscar Peterson - Jazz Legend and The Man I Knew with Lance Anderson

Ballet Jörgen

but rather, a musical documentary about four boys who became the world’s greatest band, featuring musician, producer and music historian, Hailey Marie. Twenty live songs, over 300 images and one unforgettable story. February 22

with the incredibly talented, multi-awardwinning guitarist, singer and songwriter, Sue Foley, who shares the music and stories of a variety of female pioneers of the guitar. March 7

Eh! Celebration of Dance, Featuring Ballet Jörgen

Think back to a time in your life when you heard music that was so powerful and beautiful you were instantly engaged. That very well could have been an Irish Mythen show, an experience in the joy of everything. March 27

Award winning musician, composer and producer, Lance Anderson shares his compelling stories about his musical mentor and friend while also sharing some of Oscar’s incredible music. February 8

This lively performance presents excerpts from beloved classical ballets like Cinderella, The Nutcracker, and the acclaimed Anne of Green Gables – The Ballet. With its fast-paced, entertaining, and thought-provoking blend of classical and contemporary ballet, this program is perfect for the whole family. April 10

Becoming The Beatles

Sue Foley: One Guitar Woman

This show is definitely not a tribute show

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104 escarpmentmagazine.ca

Irish Mythen

Rogers, Richie and Robinson This incredible evening, featuring three world class singers, Luke McMaster, Kevin Pauls and Joel Parisien, will celebrate music legends Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson. April 18 E

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escarpment | wellness

Stress

It may be impacting your health more than you think.

TRESS CAN INFLUENCE our health in both subtle and profound ways. Most commonly, people associate stress with high blood pressure or headaches, but did you know it can also impact sleep, energy, cognitive function, anxiety, digestion, menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and more? I ask each of my patients about their current stressors, as well as past stressors they may have been dealing with at the time of onset of their symptoms (even with chronic health issues) as I have found we can often find this to be playing a role in how they are feeling on a daily basis. Stress not only stems from financial and family worries—it can come from mental, emotional, physical, or environmental sources. Losing a job is a stressor, but so is being under-slept, under-hydrated, or living in a house containing mould. Although some stressors may be beyond your control, directing your focus toward those within your control enables your body to better manage the external stressors. Examples of stressors within your control include:

• Prioritizing restful sleep •E ating nourishing foods each day

Dr. Shelby Worts, BSc, ND

(ideally on a schedule) •M aking time to move your body, even if only 10 minutes daily •B eing well hydrated with water and herbal teas • Limiting caffeine intake • Taking a break from digital devices • Limiting your time on social media Incorporating the habit of deep breathing and practicing active relaxation techniques is easy, and has a calming effect on your nervous system: Deep breathing—right down into your abdomen. Inhale through your nose, drawing air deep into your belly, then exhale slowly. Repeat this process two more times. A great opportunity to practice this is when you’re in a state of waiting—waiting for the kettle to boil,

the traffic light to change, or in a store line-up. Ensure that you draw air deep into your belly. Breathing only into your chest or ribs keeps your body in “fight or flight” mode, while drawing air deeper has a more calming effect on your body. Active relaxation—such as meditation or yoga—differs from simply sitting and watching TV, which might feel like “unplugging” at the end of the day but doesn’t involve actively disengaging from external stimuli. The breathing exercise mentioned above serves as a form of relaxation, particularly if practiced for several minutes. While there are many supplements out there that can support the body’s stress response, seldom are they adequate to make a long-term difference. To truly prevent burnout during times of stress, and to recover sufficiently, you need to explore all aspects of your health, your habits, and create a plan for your whole body. Taking supplements without making lifestyle changes is tantamount to fixing a leaky pipe with a mop—you temporarily clean up the mess but don’t actually address the problem. To fully support your body, consider working with a naturopathic doctor (ND)—this is what we do every day! E Winter 2024 107

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escarpment | arts

Take Everything as It Comes

escarpment | arts

Among Canada’s artistic luminaries, Tom Thomson stands unparalleled. His extraordinary talent, profound bond with nature, and distinctive artistic approach, has left an enduring imprint on Canadian art, inspiring generations of artists. Words by Aidan Ware, Director and Chief Curator, Tom Thomson Art Gallery.

It’s impossible to think of Canadian art, or even Canada, without Tom Thomson. But who was he really – this mythic figure, this artistic iconoclast who completely defied and revised the artistic traditions and ideas of his time so fearlessly, so breathtakingly, so beautifully, and in such stunning fashion? Who was this man – standing like a Heathcliff in his plaid jacket, smoking his pipe, ceaselessly and passionately steering his canoe toward the farthest back wood, back bush, bush whack place where he could bear 112 escarpmentmagazine.ca

Previous spread: Tom Thomson, An Ice Covered Lake (detail), 1917, oil on wood panel, 13.3 x 19.0 cm. Collection of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, gift of George Thomson, brother of Tom Thomson, to the Grey County Historical and Art Society, 1964. Transferred to the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, 1967. Photo credit: Craig Boyko This page: Tom Thomson, Canoe Lake, circa 1914, oil on plywood, 21.5 x 26.6 cm. Collection of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, gift of Louise (Thomson) Henry, sister of Tom Thomson, 1967. Photo credit: Craig Boyko.

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escarpment | arts

Tom Thomson at Canoe Lake with catch, c. 1916. National Archives of Canada, Ottawa (PA 125106).

down his brushes to incarnate some magnificent thing he saw, some outrageously true moment in time, maybe just as the sun came up or set itself down, or as the light caught fire in the trees or as the shadows settled into napping forests? Just who was this guy? We may never truly know Tom. Who he loved, what his thoughts were, if he truly enjoyed too much butter on his mashed potatoes, or even how he died. The only true thing we will ever come to know of him is through his body of work which is an extraordinary legacy that he has left for us. Canada has given birth to numerous artistic luminaries who have captured the country’s essence through art, but none among these visionaries, is greater than Thomson. His remarkable talent, deep connection with nature, and unique artistic style, left an indelible mark on Canadian art, shaping a path for generations of artists to come. Tom Thomson’s story begins in the small town of Claremont, Ontario, where he was born on August 5, 1877. He was the sixth of 10 children born to John Thomson and Margaret Matheson. Within months of his birth the family moved to Leith, 11 kilometres northeast of Owen Sound. It was here, by the shores of Georgian Bay, that Thomson grew up. He displayed an early 114 escarpmentmagazine.ca

Tom Thomson, Morning, circa 1915, oil on composite wood-pulp board, 21.7 x 26.8 cm. Collection of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, bequest of D. I. McLeod, 1967. Photo credit: Craig Boyko.

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escarpment | arts

Thomson mysteriously drowned on Canoe Lake in 1917, at the too young age of 39, leaving behind a legacy shrouded in intrigue and controversy. affinity for nature and artistic expression. His innate curiosity about the world around him, coupled with an insatiable desire to capture its beauty, laid the foundation for his future artistic endeavors. Thomson had a rootless start to adulthood. He unsuccessfully enlisted for the Boer War in 1899 due to health reasons and then apprenticed as a machinist at Kennedy’s Foundry in Owen Sound for eight months. He briefly attended the Canada Business College in Chatham before relocating to Seattle, Washington, to join his brother George at his business college. This is where he became experienced in the craft of lettering and design, working as a commercial artist. By 1905 he returned Canada to work as a senior artist at Legg Brothers, a photo-engraving firm in Toronto. Throughout these years, as he sought his path in the world, Thomson continued to return home to visit his family which had moved to Owen Sound. In 1909, Thomson joined the staff of Grip Ltd. in Toronto which would prove to be a turning point in his life and career. The firm’s lead designer, J.E.H. MacDonald, would become a singular influence on Thomson’s artistic development, helping to refine his design and composition skills. Other employees included Arthur Lismer, Frederick Varley, Franklin Carmichael, and Franz Johnson—all dynamic, ambitious, and adventurous young painters who frequently organized weekend painting trips up north. After Thomson’s death, these men, together with Lawren Harris and A.Y. Jackson, would go on to form Canada’s first national school of painting, the Group of Seven. Throughout his time at the Grip, Thomson constantly lusted after the wilderness of Algonquin Park, with its sprawling expanse of pine forests and moody lakes where he would race to capture the mesmerizing seconds of dramatic dawn or dusk skies, or the moments when cumulus clouds would codify into a mass of white epiphany, or the seconds when the sun turned a thicket Tom Thomson, An Algonquin Lake (detail), 1915, oil on beaverboard, 21.5 x 26.9 cm. Collection of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, gift of an anonymous donor, in honour of the Thomson family, through the Ontario Heritage Trust, an agency of the Government of Ontario, 1988. Photo credit: Craig Boyko 116 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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escarpment | arts

Tom Thomson, Pine Country, circa 1916, oil on composite wood-pulp board, 21.4 x 26.5 cm. Collection of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, gift of The Lyceum Club and Women’s Art Association of Owen Sound, 1967. Photo credit: Craig Boyko.

of dogwood or sumac into the lead stars of some passionate and unknown drama. It was here where he truly found himself, and his artistic form, internalizing and extrapolating the lonesome landscapes, distilling them into icons of impossibly beautiful, saturate, climaxed incarnations of nature and emotion. By 1915, Thomson was living in Algonquin Park from spring to autumn acting as a fishing guide and fire ranger. It was here that he found the impetus and subject matter to create an unequivocal body of work that at its core, dominates Canadian art history. Tom Thomson’s legacy in Canadian art is multifaceted and profound. His bold use of color, innovative brushwork, and reverent connection with nature set a new standard for Canadian landscape art, one that would profoundly influence the style and philosophy of the Group of Seven after they officially formed in 1920. His paintings, characterized by their dynamic compositions and vivid colour palettes, continue to captivate people from all over 118 escarpmentmagazine.ca

the world. His paintings have become symbols of identity, gracing the walls of institutions, public spaces, and even currency notes. The powerful evocation of landscape through unconventional uses of colour and broad actionable brush movement, forged and articulated a new connection between people and the land. The story of Owen Sound’s Tom Thomson Art Gallery is not only the story of Tom, but the story of the community. Unlike any other public institution that holds Thomson’s work in their collections, the Gallery, or “the TOM” as it’s affectionately referred to, was established with the sole intention of honouring and preserving Thomson’s legacy and connection with this area, which he called home, and it was only realized through the generosity and dedication of Thomson’s friends, family, and supporters. Today, the TOM holds the fourth largest collection of Tom Thomson’s works at a public institution, and it is an important resource for scholars and researchers as well as a cultural anchor for the community and

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Tom Thomson, Algonquin Park 1915, oil on composite wood-pulp board, 21.7 x 26.7. Collection of the Tom Thomson Art Gallery, Owen Sound, gift of Louise (Thomson) Henry, sister of Tom Thomson, 1967. Photo credit: Craig Boyko

region, attracting thousands of people annually to explore not just Thomson’s work, but also his enduring influence on the work of contemporary artists. Beyond his artistic contributions, Thomson’s life and untimely death have become woven into the fabric of Canadian mythology. His mysterious drowning on Canoe Lake in 1917, at the too young age of 39, left behind a legacy shrouded in intrigue and controversy. The enigmatic aura surrounding Thomson’s life and death have only heightened the public fascination with his work, transforming him into a symbol of rugged and raw artistic passion as well as an allegory for the ephemeral nature of life. Thomson once famously said: “Take everything as it comes; the wave passes, deal with the next one.” As a steward of Thomson’s legacy, I think about Tom every day. Every morning when I unlock the Gallery door and every night when I lock it, I sense his presence. His paintings, once merely images, have transformed into a deeper resonance, creating 120 escarpmentmagazine.ca

a sense of unconditional belonging. I don’t just see them; I feel them. They are in this way, a part of us all—part of our identity fabric, our community and national consciousness. They are not pictures; they are talismans and teachers and touchstones. They are somehow spiritual and somehow worldly all at the same time and once experienced, they exert a metaphysical kind of power through which Tom’s abiding presence remains singular and clear. Just as it’s impossible to ever really know who Tom Thomson was, it’s equally impossible to quantify his artistic and cultural impact. It’s so far reaching, so vast and permeating, it’s impossible to articulate. I often think of his words—about the wave that passes. It feels to me that Tom Thomson’s impact on us was so utterly dramatic that it is a wave that is shoreless. And we deal with the next, but we continue to be carried by the currents of his fierce passion and fiercer art. He is, and always will remain – up there in the mixture of all mystery, starlight, and greatness – our bright northern light. E

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Style, Hearth & Soul

A couple builds a spacious and inviting chalet retreat designed for quality time with their growing family. by Marc Huminilowycz | photography by David Whittaker Winter 2024 125

escarpment | home & garden

Nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac amid a collection of neoclassical and contemporary homes at the foot of Alpine Ski Club stands what appears to be a stylish yet unassuming one-storey house with a sleek steel roof and a welcoming entranceway. A granite slab walkway leads up to a natural wood front door and a wall of artistically stacked firewood logs on the right, hinting at what’s inside. Entering the home reveals a much larger open-concept space with a sequence of pleasant surprises: floor-to-ceiling windows, a cozy living room with Douglas fir post-and-beam cathedral ceiling, and a wood-burning fireplace. A second-storey gallery overlooks the living room on one side and the ski slope on the other. The centerpiece of the design—a private outdoor courtyard with a heated granite floor, hot tub, fire pit, and outdoor kitchen—creates a home that looks inward, allowing natural light 126 escarpmentmagazine.ca

to penetrate the living spaces and enhancing transparency between the indoors and outdoors. The homeowners, who also own a century home in Toronto and a family cottage in Muskoka, purchased the modest eightyfoot lot at the base of Alpine for a reasonable cost in the early 2000s. Realizing that their children were getting older and starting families, they decided it would be nice to build a winter family retreat with skiing and other outdoor activities at their doorstep. Inspired by a home design featured in a magazine, the couple connected with architect Peter Berton of +VG Architects, an established Toronto-based architecture and design firm specializing in, according to its website, “sophisticated, technically complex work, and pioneering adaptive re-use projects.” “We met Peter in August of 2016 and spent three to four months planning our home, and we soon had different

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perspectives on the finished product,” said the homeowner. Coincidentally, at this time, the couple noticed the lot adjacent to the building site, which had been on sale for three years. They saw it as a great opportunity to purchase it for building a larger home. “We were ready to put an offer on the lot and, wouldn’t you know it, someone else bought it the day before,” laments the homeowner. “So, in consultation with Peter, we needed to find a way to build our home on our single lot. We decided that, rather than trying to match the grand houses on both sides of us, we would build a home with a simpler, lower-key appearance from the road, but enough space for weekends and holidays with our family. In the end, we came up with something that we were all happy with.” Construction of the home was completed in late 2018 and the couple was fully moved in by fall of the next year. The homeowners, both born, raised, and educated in Toronto, share a common European heritage. Their forebearers instilled in them a strong work ethic combined with a welcoming and unpretentious disposition, traits that have served them well in life and work. The husband, successful owner of a Bay Street 128 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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escarpment | home & garden

financial services company established in the late 1990s, embodies these qualities. Rather than building an ultra-modern and impersonal house, the couple chose to create a spacious, warm and inviting home that meshed with their style and sensibilities. “We didn’t build it for selling, for spec, or for anybody else,” they said. “We built it exactly for how we live, including our family, who are a big part of our lives. And we took our time designing and setting it up.” Touring the home, space, light and personal details are everywhere. In the magnificent living room overlooking the courtyard, a grand wood-burning fireplace blazes with warmth, cleverly surrounded on both sides with recessed lighting that imbues a warm glow. In the backyard outside the living room is a seating area where the family can gather in the snow around a fire pit after a day of skiing. The husband takes charge of the household fireplace, regularly splitting, stacking, lighting, and maintaining the wood supply (often accompanied by the family dog), ensuring it’s ready for the family’s enjoyment after a thrilling day on the nearby Alpine slopes. He claims that this work is far more rewarding than going to the gym. The custom-built fireplace boasts an efficient design that generates ample heat with minimal smoke, featuring a damper on top of the chimney that can be closed to keep out the cold when not in use. 130 escarpmentmagazine.ca

“We didn’t build it for selling, for spec, or for anybody else. We built it exactly for how we live, including our family, who are a big part of our lives.”

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Adjacent to the living room is a kitchen/dining room large enough to accommodate family and friends. “We spend about half our time in the kitchen, so we made it big enough, including lots of counter and storage space, a large island with seating, and a long table that we hope will soon fill up with grandkids,” said the homeowner. On the main floor of the home is the couple’s master wing, which includes a private den, a large bedroom with a fireplace and an ensuite, opening onto a private courtyard. There is a second bedroom on the main floor, two on the second floor, and two on the lower level, all with ensuites. The stairs leading down feature what architect Peter Berton describes as a “graduated treads—a forced perspective that visually stretches the stairway as it recedes into the distance.” Also on the lower level is a games room, a gym with ski storage and a maintenance shop, a laundry room, ample storage, and an impressive mechanical room. This room showcases a backup generator power supply, two hot water boilers (one 132 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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as backup), a hydronic heating system, sump pumps, and air exchange units. The couple actively participated in designing the home’s heating, hot water (gas and radiant floor), and cooling systems, as well as the mechanical components and technology. They collaborated closely with the architect and interior designers to seamlessly merge rooms and infuse stylish personal touches throughout the space. “Our home is designed to be not too symmetrical inside, with a lot of interesting features and views,” said the homeowner. “The feel of our home is what we call ‘inside-out’, with darkstained natural wood siding and granite floors merging the outdoors with the indoors. And there are built-ins in everywhere, like bedroom end tables, wall units, desks, and storage. We wanted to integrate all of the rooms. This gave us the added benefit of not needing to buy a lot of furniture.” 134 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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“The home is a living and breathing thing. When you enter, surprises reveal themselves as you walk through,” says architect Peter Berton, acknowledging the contribution of the architectural designers who worked on the project, Steve Rennie and Ty Murray. “Throughout the house, floor to ceiling windows accentuate air and light, flow, and a sense of being one with the outdoors.” “The interior doors are all simple, natural light wood veneer, recessed and free of standard door casings,” Berton elaborates. “Automatic roller blinds are virtually invisible, tucked into pockets above the window. Ambient lighting is concealed in coves at the base of rafters. And there is what I call symmetry within asymmetry in the home—geometry that’s complex but looks simple. These treatments create visual interest and a clean 136 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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escarpment | home & garden

The homeowners, architect and designers created a spacious, warm and inviting space with a soul, connected to the outdoors for a growing family to gather and create memories for many years to come.

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appearance, eliminating visual clutter that would distract from the views outside.” Berton enjoyed his symbiotic collaboration with the homeowners. “It’s nice to have parameters versus a blank slate. Without a problem, there’s no solution,” he says. Working closely together, the homeowners, architect and designers created a spacious, warm and inviting space with a soul, connected to the outdoors for a growing family to gather and create memories for many years to come. E SOURCE GUIDE

Architect - Peter Berton, +VG Architects Architectural Designers - Steve Rennie, Ty Murray Builder - McNabb Construction Structural Engineer - Tacoma Engineers Landscaping - Zeng Landscaping Concrete Site Finishings - Ed’s Concrete Products Garage Interior - Garage Living Hot Tubs - Georgian Hot Tubs Masonry Stone - Mason’s Masonry Supply Flagstone - Owen Sound Ledgerock Windows & Doors - Statements Windows and Doors, Synergy Windows and Doors Marble & Granite, Porcelain Tile - Stone Tile 140 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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WINTER

ESSENTIALS

for your home

1 “Island Trees” by Shannon Craig Morphew. Oil on canvas, 20″ x 28″. Craig Gallery 4 North Sykes St Unit 1 | Meaford 519.538.3671 craiggallery.ca

2 Elevate your dining experience with this 9-foot Black Sea table. It features an ornate triple pedestal base and includes two end extensions, perfect for those unforgettable gatherings. Shown here with the Kirkland upholstered chair.

The Rusty Star 408065 Grey Rd 4 | Maxwell 519.922.2010 | therustystar.ca

Deep Cove Rope doormats, handcrafted in Canada from UV-grade marine rope, are durable, weather-resistant, and lowmaintenance. They effectively trap snow and dirt, resist salt, fading, and mould and come in various patterns and sizes. Backed by a 5-year warranty for peace of mind.

The Nest – Furniture & Design 311 Hurontario St | Collingwood 705.293.6378 thenestfurniture.com

4 Elegance meets rustic charm in this beautifully crafted piece. Made from high-quality distressed white-finished wood, this clear mirror adds a touch of vintage allure to any space. Aspen & Ivy 322 King St Unit 5 | Barrie 705.721.8585 | aspenandivy.ca

5 These stylish reusable razors are easy to use and eco-friendly. Simply swap the blade every five to seven shaves for the smoothest shaving experience you've ever had. Happy Earth 791 2nd Ave E | Owen Sound 647.269.9869 | happyearthshop.ca

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Our Coral & Tusk throw pillows capture the essence of the season with stitched illustrations depicting snow days, skiing, gondolas and furry friends. Infuse your home with winter cheer by embracing these whimsical woodland scenes. Farrow Arcaro Design (FAD) 51 Hurontario St | Collingwood 705.444.8330 farrowarcarodesign.ca

This KAIA pendant light features an earthy appearance, with intricate handwoven details. Its wicker waves create a warm, bohemian or coastal-inspired look with a hint of rustic appeal, delivering a relaxed and comfortable feeling. Georgian Design Centre 84 High St | Collingwood 705.444.2100 georgiandesigncentre.ca

8 Curate your library with the finest collection of contemporary books on culture, travel, fashion and luxury goods from ASSOULINE. Exclusively available. Grey Bruce Design Studio #5 Main St W | Markdale 519.369.8890 gbds.ca

Meet the donkeys. Hand embellished canvas art in a white floating frame, 30″ x 45″. Arthur Cash & Carry 101 Smith St | Arthur 519.848.6320 arthurcashandcarry.com

10 Strong and contemporary. Sculptural. Archilog firewood holders are handcrafted in Elmira, Ontario. Each log holder is made to match your modern home or cottage and is available in slate grey or black powder-coated finishes. Archilog 519.400.6633 | Elmira archilog.ca

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WINTER

ESSENTIALS

for your home

11 Snuggle up in bed this winter with this 100% linen duvet set, offering breathability for year-round comfort. Available in king and queen sizes, it comes in a range of neutral colours. Barebirch 920 2nd Ave E | Owen Sound 226.664.2273 | barebirch.ca

12 Smooth Talking Wine: Smooth Red boasts juice-ripe blackberries and blueberries, while Smooth White offers aromatic, sweet pear with herbal notes. Crafting 30 bottles takes four weeks, all delivered with the best price and top-notch customer service. Through the Grapevine 1339 2nd Ave E | Owen Sound 519.372.3340 thruthegrapevine1@gmail.com

13 "Tranquility" by Margarethe Vanderpas. Oil on Canvas, 2' x 2'. Margarethe Vanderpas Studio 24 Chetwynd Ln | Lion's Head 519.433.2840 margarethevanderpas.com

14 Sustainably sourced and locally reclaimed wood shiplap: perfect for walls, ceilings, barn doors, and countless other wood projects! The Timeless Material Co. 305 Northfield Dr E | Waterloo 601 Aspen St | Durham 519.883.8683 timelessmaterials.com

15 Chilly Moose stainless steel drinkware and cooler product line. Available in a variety of styles, sizes and colours. Water Depot 10th St W | Owen Sound 519.371.1111 | waterdepot.com

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Winter 2024 147

WINTER

ESSENTIALS 16

for your home

The Kubota KX033 series represents a powerful lineup of compact excavators designed to deliver exceptional performance and versatility. These machines are renowned for their efficiency in various construction and landscaping tasks, boasting a balance of power and agility.

Robert’s Farm Equipment robertsfarm.com Chesley 519.363.3192 | Lucknow 519.529.7995 Meaford 519.538.1660 | Mount Forest 519.323.2755 Owen Sound 519.376.5880

17 Discover your best sleep with an organic latex mattress. From memory foam to traditional, we have your perfect match—and if you’re not completely satisfied after two weeks, simply come back and pick another style. Tom The Dreamer Mattresses & Appliances 21 Arthur St W | Thornbury 519.379.8440 | dreamingtom.com

Sized at 18″ x 26.5″, this map of the Great Lakes features layers of laser cut and engraved birch wood. A custom map of any location makes the perfect statement piece in your home. Arbello Creative Colpoys Bay | 905.719.9865 arbellocreative.ca

19 “Evening Reflection” by Lorne McDermott. Oil on canvas, 48″ x 24″. Loft Gallery 18 Bruce St | Thornbury 647.296.9797 | loftgalleryart.com

20 Enhance your kitchen instantly by upgrading your countertops and hardware. Choose from a diverse selection of finishes and designs tailored to match your personal style. Visit our showroom, where our expert designers are ready to assist you in finding the perfect fit. Exquisite Wood Designs 1980 20th St E | Owen Sound 519.370.0808 | ewdesigns.ca

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Inspired by Nature In the pursuit of crafting spaces that resonate with nature’s harmony and sustainability, a combination of organic elements and sustainable design principles forms the backbone of modern interior sanctuaries. Concept by Catherine Staples wording by Cara Williams photography by Clay Dolan

In this era of conscious living, interiors inspired by nature and the landscape not only embody aesthetic elegance but serve as sanctuaries, nurturing a sustainable relationship with our surroundings.

The Overlooked Cocoon Bedrooms, often relegated to the sidelines as the lesspublic space in our homes, wield immense power in shaping our daily narratives. The integration of vintage pieces and curated finds creates harmony within spaces. A four-poster bed with a chiselled metal frame and leather-wrapped posts epitomizes the fusion of old-world allure and contemporary luxury. Adding vibrant greenery to vintage clay pots introduces an earthy aesthetic and keeps one connected to the natural world beyond. Plush organic bedding, woven from linen, cotton, and bamboo, ensures comfort above all and echoes tranquillity. To add dimension, original contemporary or traditional landscape art pieces add interest while thoughtfully positioned chairs and dressers using natural textures, orchestrate an escape-like ambiance. 152 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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Lighting: Setting the Mood Lighting goes beyond function; it’s an art form shaping ambiance. Imagine a forged iron floor lamp or a table lamp with an abaca woven base. These pieces don’t just illuminate; they sculpt the mood, infusing the space with an artistic allure that elevates the ambiance.

Aesthetic & Productive Revamp your work-from-home setup for a burst of inspiration! Transform your desk into a cozy library or chic office, fuelling motivation within your space. Opt for leather sling accent chairs, blending genuine leather and mohair for a touch of cinema luxury. These chairs add dimension and timeless style. A sleek wood and iron desk combines function and elegance, accommodating your work needs stylishly and a petite marble side table adds intrigue through material fusion.

Luxurious Rusticity This shearling-lined chair is a captivating focal point. In this realm, texture reigns supreme and rustic becomes luxurious. In the same vein, a chest of drawers unveils a touch of opulence with leather-wrapped drawer faces. The cabinet hardware, resembling branches, ingeniously integrates the surrounding landscape with the interior, adding a clever and natural aesthetic touch that bridges the gap between external beauty and internal serenity. 154 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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escarpment | home and garden

Bringing Nature Inside An art deco-style table undergoes a transformation, adopting a more casual vibe. Here, the fusion of chic white décor and oldworld charm epitomizes contemporary design. This modern piece showcases meticulous furniture craftsmanship. Natural elements like the bird’s-eye maple console and rattan bench seating, along with a lamp featuring leather, brass, and rattan, seamlessly infuse the indoor space with elements of nature.

Modern Dimension Functional pieces do more than serve their purpose; they sculpt spaces. Embrace creativity in arrangement. Oversized mirrors and a variety of lighting not only provide light but also add depth to interiors, embodying the essence of modern design trends. The departure from traditional living room sets introduces an eclectic mix of genres, allowing individual creativity to shine. Artwork with neutral hues and textured dimensions, elevates plain walls, creating captivating visual stories. Investing in quality, timeless pieces ensures a sustainable design ethos. Repurposing existing furnishings, like slipcovered sofas refreshed seasonally, minimizes landfill contributions while staying trendy.

Catherine Staples is the principal designer at Aspen & Ivy. Catherine’s talented team specializes in luxury interior design for complex construction projects across Ontario and Beyond. Aspen & Ivy is a luxury shop boasting a collection of unique furnishings, artwork, and decor. E 156 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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escarpment | fashion

Chic Retreat Clothing, shoes and handbag from Tigs, Thornbury. K E L LY JO H N STON

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Photographed at The Dorchester Hotel in Collingwood, a modern take on a historic treasure. thedorchestercollingwood.com Hair and makeup by Katie Ballantyne photography by Clay Dolan

Ski suit, clothing, boots and toque from Red Devil Sports, Blue Mountain Village. L I Z B U RT

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KELLY JOHNSTON

When Kelly isn’t busy modeling or creating content for brands, you’ll likely find her at a concert, admiring sunsets or exploring great restaurants. Outside of work, she enjoys bundling up for brisk park walks, sipping hot chocolate by a cozy fireplace and is always in search of adventure.

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Clothing and boots from Furbelows, Downtown Thornbury.

LIZ BURT

Liz is the marketing expert behind Collingwood’s new Dorchester Hotel. When she isn’t thinking up the next project to showcase the beautifully renovated hotel, she loves immersing herself in the community and soaking in the various seasons in Georgian Bay.

Clothing, belt, gloves, shoes and necklace from Cora Couture, Downtown Collingwood.

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Clothing and handbag from Elaine Dickinson’s, Downtown Collingwood.

SARAH SMETANA

A mother to a bright and beautiful teenage daughter, Sarah has been in healthcare for nearly two decades, initially as an executive assistant and now in communications and public affairs. In her spare time, she’s training to become a hatha yoga instructor.

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The Marco Bicego Marrakech Onde collection features an 18kt yellow gold bracelet Laryssa Furlan and necklace with Laryssa is a natureadorned enthusiast diamonds, complemented who loves to travel. Her dream:by a London blue topaz pendant skiing in Japan, inspired by her and matching earrings. D.C Taylor Collingwood upbringing. Jewellers Collingwood.

Sweater and jeans from Red Devil Sports, Blue Mountain Village. With Genesis Flight Collage.

KEL LY JO HNSTO N

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Dress, boots and handbag from Lac Boutique, Southampton. KELLY JO HNSTO N

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Clothing from Cherchez la Femme, Thornbury. With Big Swimwear Blue Air. and sarong from

K AT H RY N E P E T RO V Cherchez la Femme, Thornbury.

Emma Dahlgren

Emma moved to Collingwood a year and a half ago. Her passion for the area’s culture and cuisine, prompted her to establish the Instagram account @ whatsupcollingwood – her captivating posts and insider recommendations have transformed her page into an indispensable guide for uncovering Collingwood’s finest offerings. Chemise, robe and tights from Brabary, Downtown Collingwood. S ARA H SMETANA

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escarpment | market watch

Change, Choice, Time & Place South Georgian Bay Rental Market Update

Words by Eva Landreth Realtor at Seasonal Properties

o live in South Georgian Bay is to embrace change and choice. The beauty of the lifestyle here is that we can often choose how and where to spend our time. In this column, I’m choosing to share my knowledge and insights about our evolving local real estate markets throughout our changing seasons. My hope is that you will use this to make informed choices about where, when, and how much

168 escarpmentmagazine.ca

to spend of your energy, resources, and time. If you think about it, rental real estate basically comes down to time and place: Where would you like to stay, and for how long? Local rules and regulations (otherwise known as “by-laws”) also change depending on the duration and location of the rental unit. In South Georgian Bay, visiting renters and investors have two main rental categories to choose from, and

they each have their own particularities when it comes to experience, cost, management, and laws. Back in the day, the term “seasonal property” often referred to the ski chalet of a “snowbird” who would rent out their property for a song to a lucky family friend to stay and enjoy over the whole winter. The owner could thus stay warm down south in Florida while earning extra income, while a family was skiing and making use of the otherwise empty chalet—a win/win for all involved! Today, we use the term “seasonal” to denote rentals for durations exceeding 30 days, during any season. The majority of seasonal renting families now look for a property that fits their family’s needs so that they can high tail it up here from The Big City on Thursday nights, enjoy a long weekend of activities and then endure the inevitable moan and groan about the trek home on Sunday afternoons. Of course, 30-plus day rentals appeal to more than just ski families and those looking for recreation. Seasonal rentals are

“We have worked with Janet through buying and selling several properties in the Collingwood area. She’s so knowledgeable and professional and has been amazing with advice for which we are so grateful. She’s extremely well connected both in Collingwood and in Toronto . All of our home sales and purchases have been successful in such a short time because of Janet’s exemplary marketing and customer first skills.” Wayne & Roxanne

705.445.5520 | 705.994.5858 | JANET@COLLINGWOODLIVING.CA

ELLEN JARMAN SELLS Recreational Real Estate in Four Prime Locations Put your real estate future in trusted hands...

GREAT LIFESTYLE/INVESTMENT PROPERTY #110-184 SNOWBRIDGE WAY, BLUE MOUNTAIN LISTED AT $749,000 | MLS® #40464620 STA approved location! This 2 bedroom, 2 bath, ground floor town home in the Historic Snowbridge community has spectacular views of the golf course from the open concept living, dining & kitchen area. This fully furnished cozy resort home is a welcoming getaway. It offers a quiet and private sanctuary from the back yard patio where you can enjoy the serenity overlooking green space. Amenities include a beautiful outdoor seasonal pool, paved trails into the Blue Mountain Village. Enjoy dining, shopping, entertainment and lifestyle choices. Use your vacation home for personal stays and generate revenue when you are not personally using it!

ELLEN JARMAN

SALES REPRESENTATIVE

C: 705.441.2630 O: 705.445.5454 E: ellenjarman@rogers.com Consistent Performer With Over 35 Years Experience Informed * Connected * Trusted

www.EllenJarmanRealEstate.com Chestnut Park® Real Estate Limited, Brokerage This is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract with a brokerage.

Winter 2024 169

escarpment | market watch

ideal for people who are renovating their homes, or who have sold their place down in the city and need a place to stay until they find “The One”. There is a plethora of reasons a seasonal rental property could be needed. Seasonal rentals are not heavily regulated or zoned and do not require specific licensing. As such, seasonal rentals are a growing category of interest for people who wish to travel for longer periods and rent out their homes. We are also seeing an influx because of market conditions: interest rates are up, and so is the cost of running a property. So, instead of selling, it makes sense to try and rent and recapture some funds before trying to sell in a buyers’ market at depressed values. Astute investors have seen our fourseason, 12 months of the year playground and invested in a seasonal property... and it is working! Thanks to our community and the exciting activities that happen on a weekly basis. The hiking trails are magnificent, the roads are perfect for running and cycling, the bay is perfect for cold plunges, and spending a day at the local spa is heaven on earth! Why not spend next October or November in our beautiful haven? I know I will be here! Short-Term Accommodations (STAs) are great options for visitors coming for a night or a weekend at any time of year. Though we weren’t always a 12-month destination (in the past, tourism essentially shut down postski season from April through July), our area now attracts visitors year-round with skiing, golf, hiking, fishing, concerts, restaurants, main streets, cycling, the Apple Pie Trail, Georgian Bay itself, shopping, galleries, museums—the list goes on and on! The proliferation of online vacation rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO created a boom in the STA market, leading to the creation of specific zoning, by-laws, and licensing requirements that stipulated where STAs were permitted. Specialized vacation rental management companies now exist in order to advise on, source, and manage units for investors and handle cleaning, turnovers, and guest experiences. 170 escarpmentmagazine.ca

These vacation rental management companies are regulated by the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO). TICO is essentially the travel regulator for our province. They also must follow the municipal bylaws. The Town of Blue Mountains has a mature, robust, and well-followed STA by-law developed and refined over the last decade. It includes designated commercial resort units (CRUs), which are a sub-type of STAs found in and around the Blue Mountain Village in specialized developments such as Cachet Crossing, Mountain Walk, Chateau Ridge, Wintergreen, Rivergrass, Sierra Lane, North Creek, etc. A professional management company can manage a CRU provided they manage 10 or more. If not, the owner must go the STA Licensing route with the Town of Blue Mountains. CRUs are an attractive investment as they are very close to the lively Blue Mountain Village and ski hills and are very attractive to visitors. Over the last two years or so, our neighbours in Collingwood have begun

the journey of developing and refining their STA by-laws and are currently in the advanced stages of implementing their own STA licensing. Stay tuned for updates in upcoming columns. Purchase prices and average nightly rates for seasonal and shortterm investment properties have cooled by roughly 18-23% from the peak of post-covid pent-up demand as seen in summer of 2022. Today, we are seeing more reasonably priced properties suited to seasonal rentals and a lower-priced, increased selection of legal vacation rentals on the market. Bookings for both seasonal properties and licensed STAs are continuing to pick up pace after strong occupancy rates in the summer and fall, presenting a strong opportunity for investors with cash in hand. As markets evolve, they open up fresh opportunities and choices for investors, renters, tourists, and visitors—this season is set to introduce new changes and choices to our region here in South Georgian Bay, so stay tuned! E

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MLS®40508532 | $1,049,000 627 Johnston Park Ave, Collingwood

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#1 TEAM

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LISTIN GS VISIT US Hilltop Escape At the end of a long, winding drive, surrounded by mature trees and at the top of a majestic hill sits the perfect family get-away. Fabulous 4 bed, 4 bath main house finished to a remarkably high standard with private (and legal) one bedroom apartment with separate entrance. All sitting on 27 acres of views and privacy.

40 Acres of Farmland Corner farm on a quiet dead-end road. Highly valued sandy loam, workable farmland with softly rolling hills with the house overlooking a spring fed pond. House, barn, and outbuildings are “as is”. Fantastic location with the Bruce Trail at your doorstep, Creemore minutes away, and Devil’s Glen Ski Club, Mad River Golf Club and Mansfield all within 15 minutes.

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163 YELLOW BIRCH CRESCENT, THE BLUE MOUNTAINS Totally finished Bedford Model, offering 3.5 baths and 3 bedrooms. The home has a large family room with 3 pc. bath in the lower level. 3 large, spacious bedrooms with the primary having its own 5 piece en suite. Professionally painted (October 2023) throughout. Fenced backyard, hardwood flooring throughout the main level with a chefs kitchen and beautiful open entertaining area. Enjoy the amenities that this highly sought after porch community has to offer; social activities, walking trails, walking distance to ski hills, pool, sauna, gym, conference party room and more offered at The Shed. MLS #40504021

$899,000 Shannon Deckers Sales Representative

LET MY EXPERIENCE GUIDE YOU. Shannon Deckers Sales Representative

shannon@shannondeckers.com 519.375.5120

172 escarpmentmagazine.ca

shannon@shannondeckers.com

519.375.5120

837 2ND AVE E, OWEN SOUND

136884 Grey Road 12, Grey Highlands $1,095,000. MLS®#40513857

804 30th St. West, Georgian Bluffs $1,195,000. MLS®#40511287

681456 Sideroad 6, Chatsworth $799,000. MLS®#40509138

84470 Sideroad 6, Meaford $639,000. MLS®#40507393

319390 Grey Road 1, Georgian Bluffs $524,900. MLS®#40514881

315716 Highway 6, Chatsworth $1,500,000. MLS®#40505602

34 Lamson Crescent E., Owen Sound $369,000. MLS®#40499422

345 Main Street, Georgian Bluffs $459,000. MLS®#40496382

105620 Sideroad 10, Meaford $999,900. MLS®#40483423

350297 Conc. A, Meaford $1,200,000. MLS®#40481538

596525 Conc. 10, Chatsworth $950,000. MLS®#40480255

319045 Grey Road 1, Kemble $899,000. MLS®40463850

Buying or Selling? Connect with our team for all your real estate needs. To view all our listings scan here.

Office: 519.963.7746 250 10th Street West, Owen Sound N4K 3R3

*REALTOR®

Dan Cross* 519.378.4733

Lisa Dren* 289.689.0801

Scott Crowther* 519.379.7192

Laura Cross* Wanda Westover* 519.317.9686 519.270.5956

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Where Every Season Is A Masterpiece Your Southern Georgian Bay Experts LocationsNorth.com

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COLLINGWOOD, ON: 705-445-5520 | THORNBURY, ON: 519-599-2136 MEAFORD, ON: 519- 538-5755 | CREEMORE, ON: 705.881.9005 WASAGA BEACH, ON: 705-429-4800 | STAYNER, ON: 705.428.2800 NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT LISTINGS CURRENTLY LISTED FOR SALE

*Based on sales reported to Lakelands Association of Realtors from January 2023 to November 2023.

1.2 Acre Ranch

Water Views

Duplex Option

Custom Bungalow

13 Huron Street W., Thornbury

587285 9th Side Road, The Blue Mountains

19 Gordon Crescent, Meaford

20 Trails End, Collingwood

Thornbury red brick, 5 bed 6 bath with every detail thought of. Set on a double wide lot. $2,850,000 • MLS® 40502724

4 season family retreat. 5 Bed and 3 Bath with finished basement and a 2.5 car garage. $1,799,000 • MLS® 40481038

Spacious 5 bed, 3 bath home with a spacious finished lower level. Quality workmanship. 2,867 sq ft. $1,198,000 • MLS® 40518633

You can’t get more neat & tidy than this! 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3,970 sq ft. Loads of recent updates. $2,398,000 • MLS® 40518638

Dave Dick davedick@royallepage.ca

Ed Parkes edparkes100@gmail.com

Karen E Willison kwillison@royallepage.ca

Immaculate Home

Walk to Chair Lift

Central Location

Osler Bluff

125 Tyrol Avenue, Ravenna

120 Carmichael Crescent, The Blue Mountains

4 Evergreen Road, Collingwood

163 Poplar Sideroad, The Blue Mountains

Enjoy vaulted ceilings and pretty views in this 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with wrap around deck. $1,175,000 • MLS® 40518638

Walk to chair lift at Blue. Prime mtn view. 3800 sq ft with 6+ bdrms. pool, sauna, hot tub! $1,995,000 • MLS® 40516758

Bungalow with 6 beds, stone fp, estate lot. Lower level games/rec room. Close to Blue and Scandinave. $2,275,000 • MLS® 40516758

Wonderful log cabin with spacious addition in a ski in/ski out location.

Karen E Willison kwillison@royallepage.ca

Martha Whitton martha@marthawhitton.com

Abbey Westlake awestlake@royallepage.ca

Luxurious Monaco

Country Living

Luxurious Haven

McKean Subdivision

$1,549,000 • MLS® 40515616

524-1 Hume St., Collingwood

726010 Sideroad 22B, Grey Highlands

18 Green Briar Drive Unit #18, Collingwood

38 McKean Boulevard, Nottawa

2 Bdrm + Den, 2 Bath, 10ft Ceilings,

Enjoy country living on 1/2 an acre 3 bed 2 bath and have your very own barn/shop!

4 bed, 3 bath raised bungalow with 2,400+ sqft. Located in a quiet picturesque community. $1,250,000 • MLS® 40503852

Christine Smith christinesmith@royallepage.ca

$949,900 • MLS® 40517484

$679,000 • MLS® 40520572

Stunning semi-detached property offers the ideal blend of comfort and sophistication. 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2,300sq ft. $999,999 • MLS® 40511174

Mardy Van Beest mardyvanbeest@gmail.com

Virginia Dawn vdawn@royallepage.ca

Christine Smith christinesmith@royallepage.ca

Views of Goegian Bay

Vacation home or Full time living.

30ft Balcony, Indoor Parking.

214 Hidden Lake Road, The Blue Mountains

6 Brandy Lane Drive Unit #201, Collingwood

This exceptional 6-bed, 6-bath, 5000+ sq ft, boasts exquisite features, including a main floor primary with ensuite. $3,100,000 • MLS® 40478450

This beautifully upgraded 3 bed, 2 full bath, end unit provides 1-floor living with elevator access and wide entry ways. $650,000 • MLS® 40455746

Christine Smith christinesmith@royallepage.ca

We have too many listings to display on this page Visit LocationsNorth.com to view more NOT INTENDED TO SOLICIT PROPERTIES CURRENTLY LISTED FOR SALE

TOP 1% INDIVIDUALLY

150ft Pristine Georgian Bay Waterfront. Stunning Custom Built Normerica Post & Beam. 5 Bed, 3.5 Bath, 3-Season Room, Gym, 2-Car Garage, Finished Lower Level, Landscaped, Chipping Green & Sport Court.

39 Acres of Paradise - Located above Osler Bluﬀ Ski Club & next to 3-Stage in Pretty River Provincial Park. NEC Conditional Development has been approved for the property. Enjoy privacy & only minutes to town.

Blue Fairway – Gorgeous Upgraded End Unit steps to the Cranberry Golf Course. 5 beds, 3.5 baths, main ﬂoor laundry, single car attached garage w/ driveway. Visitor parking, Rec Centre & Pool all nearby.

Waterfront - Gorgeous home located in the private Blue Water enclave. Spectacular Georgian Bay views. 4 Bedrms, 3.5 Bathrms, Main ﬂoor primary suite w/ walk out to deck that overlooks the Bay.

Georgian Peaks - Renovated 4 Bed, 3 Bath Chalet on the Peaks property. Gorgeous open concept kitchen/living/dining. Hot tub Room w/ Walkout to South Facing Deck. Garage, Gym & Fenced Backyard.

Georgian Peaks Ski In Ski Out - Stunning 5 Bed, 5.5 Bath home backing into the Escarpment near Minute Mile Chair. Fully renovated 2020, 4 bedrms have ensuites & dedicated ski tuning room in lower level.

24 Acres near Loree – Gorgeous Acreage, very private and peaceful located at the corner of the 6th Line and 18th SR surrounded by large estate properties. Rolling hill views, sunsets and potential Georgian Bay Views.

Cranberry/Living Stone Resort - Fantastic 2-bed, 1.5bath townhouse located in a quiet pocket. Very well maintained, electrical panel updated in 2020, newer appliances and freshly painted throughout.

SOLD

In-Town Clarksburg - Cute 3 Bed, 2 Bath Bungalow on Quiet Street. Perfect for contractors/ﬁrst-time buyers. Separate Art Studio/Family room. Beautiful Gardens & outdoor space. Estate sale, being sold As-Is.

Christie Beach – Beautiful 3-bed 1-bath Chalet on a large Gorgeous Private Lot. Open Concept Kit/Din/Living Room with Lrg Picture Windows, views of Georgian Bay w/ oversized deck facing the Bay.

escarpment | images

Aftershot

A B O U T T H E P H OTO G RA P H E R Tania Wood, a photographer from Collingwood, found her love for photography

“I set up my camera and patiently waited for the show to begin. This wasn’t just

with her first DSLR camera a decade ago. Her fascination with astrophotography

a chance to capture a robust geomagnetic storm; it also coincided with a rare

began six years back, when she captured the northern lights while backcountry

alignment between the waxing crescent moon and Venus. As these celestial

camping in Parry Sound.

bodies descended, the auroras emerged, dancing across the sky. It was an indescribable gift, a once-in-a-lifetime experience frozen forever in the pictures I

A B O U T T H E P H OTO

captured that night.”

“It had been some time since I had the opportunity to see the aurora borealis—a rarity at this latitude. I received a notification on a clear evening: a mere one percent chance of spotting the northern lights from my location. So, I ran out the door gear in hand and headed out to the darkest point in Collingwood.”

178 escarpmentmagazine.ca

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This is what ‘loving what you do’ looks like. The way to do great work with great results – is to love what you do. Loving who you work with also makes for seamless and successful transactions that feel more like child’s play. Dyed-in-the-wool locals, Max and James have decades of experience, and lifetimes spent rambling around Grey Bruce and Georgian Bay. If you’re looking to make a successful move in 2024, trust this team of real estate advisors. As members of the Toronto Real Estate Board, they also have a Georgian Bay area ‘wish list’ from prospective buyers from the GTA. Your property could be a perfect fit! Let’s chat at your convenience – over the phone, or at our shops in Collingwood and Owen Sound. Learn more at: georgianbaylife.com or scan the QR code below. Max Hahne +705-441-5800 max.hahne@evrealestate.com James McGregor Sales Representative, CIPS* Max Hahne Broker, IRES**, RSPS†

James McGregor +226-974-2144 james.mcgregor@evrealestate.com

TORONTO • BLUE MOUNTAINS • MUSKOKA • GREY BRUCE Engel & Völkers Toronto Central, Brokerage. Each Brokerage independently owned and operated. *Certified International Property Specialist. **International Real Estate Specialist †Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist.

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