FRONT PORCH LIFE
Live Better in Westport, Ontario
GROWING COMMUNITY THROUGH COLOUR AND TEXTURE
Look closely and you’ll see Ashley Cochrane’s fingerprints all over Watercolour.
For instance, notice how that homeowner’s garden has beautiful splashes of colour from spring through to autumn? Even in winter, the different heights and shapes in the winter garden provide an evergreen texture that catches the snow in shimmering sculptures. That’s because Ashley designed the garden this way.
Ashley says garden design is like conducting a symphony – the spring ephemerals like the bleeding hearts with their delicate flowers are like the flute solo. They fall back just as other flowers start to bloom, as if the brass section is warming up in anticipation of its featured part.
Beth and Steven Witney asked Ashley to design their garden. Ashley and her husband Mark Jolley own North 44 Land Design, a landscape design company based in Perth, Ontario, near Westport. Dylan Martin from Rural Roots Landscaping and his team installed the
hardscapeelements around Beth’s property, artfully positioning boulders and skillfully laying flagstone stone and interlock pavers.
Ashley is a native of Toronto but has fallen in love with Westport, part of zone 5b.
“One of the appeals of designing gardens at Watercolour is that the community is so close to nature.”
One of the appeals of designing gardens at Watercolour is that the community is so close to nature. In Toronto, homeowners would often say they wanted a pallet of white and green… no colour. Ashley found herself designing spaces around big pools surrounded by limestone
slabs with no diversity in the plant selection. Homeowners wanted straight lines and monochromatic design. She was losing her passion.
In Westport, Ashley found a place where it feels more appropriate to embrace curves and work with the beautiful boulders left behind after the last ice age. People who move here love nature. These people share Ashley’s heart for natural beauty.
Ashley strives to select as many native plants that are indigenous to the Westport area as possible in her designs. Native plants are more drought tolerant, better for pollinators, and provide better food for wildlife. Pollinators don’t recognize a pure white landscape. In Ashley’s garden designs you’ll see natives such as wild perennial geranium, carex species, and anemone canadensis – all plants that work well with irregular edges and pair well with natural boulders and flagstone.
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Ashley embraced irregular shapes and curves in her design of the Witney’s garden, mimicking the lines seen in the landscape all around Watercolour.
Dylan Martin from Rural Roots Landscaping has done many projects for Watercolour homeowners.
“I want to inspire people to get more comfortable with plants, to add them to their outdoor space without overwhelming them with work,” she says. “I want to give people an oasis in their backyard.”
To Ashley, the ultimate achievement is to design a yard that creates a natural habitat for birds, that uses less water and provides beauty in a small space. She wants homeowners to stop while walking their dog and feel their day brightened by a beautiful purple flower they see in a neighbour’s yard. She imagines neighbours sharing cuttings or digging up and dividing plants to multiply the beauty on the street.
Gardens grow community through colour and texture. What better way to see a neighbourhood flourish?
FINDING A BETTER LIFE EAST OF TORONTO
Finding community and tranquility in cottage country
By Beth Witney
It was time to move.
After 31 years in the same home in Toronto, we’d come to realize how much our neighbourhood had changed. Now there was never ending construction, disappearing greenspace, commutes through snarled traffic, the noise of the city, and neighbours who no longer seemed neighbourly.
We needed to find somewhere new.
We hadn’t even considered Eastern Ontario when we first heard about Westport. In Toronto, we always looked west when we thought of escaping the city. But at Watercolour we were blown away by design ideas and features that we hadn’t encountered anywhere else.
During our first visit, we spent the afternoon strolling around the village, past quaint shops, a grocery store, cafés and restaurants. People smiled and said hello. We chatted with a few villagers. Everyone made eye contact. It was certainly a different vibe than Toronto.
We moved to Westport last year and made connections with neighbours right away. There are always things to do here. Should I join the friends I see walking past with their yoga mats on their way to a class? Or is today the day I decide to finally join the local pickleball league? Maybe I’ll invite someone over for a coffee on the porch or a cocktail later in the day. There’s always live music at the Cove Inn in the village. That could be a fun evening.
Last Sunday I met 30 women at a nearby restaurant. They call it the “underground stitch society.” They bring knitters, crocheters and embroiderers from all over Rideau Lakes together for an afternoon of fibre crafts together. And it’s always a good day to walk the trails that crisscross Watercolour or take a hike in nearby Foley Mountain Provincial Park.
The quiet serenity of a sustainable community tucked in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere felt freeing after living many years in a congested, impersonal city. By night, you look up at the canopy of stars and hear only loons, the occasional coyote and other nature calls.
Life is good here. I pick up my eggs every week from a nearby farmer who has free-range hens. There’s a new bakery opening in the village with the most delicious baguettes. For meats, the local butcher sources most items from neighbouring farms. The grocery store has pretty much everything needed to keep our family going and if we do need to visit a box store, we’re just 20 minutes from Perth by car. But those trips are few and far between. We walk almost everywhere.
We’ve found tranquility in Westport and the friendliness here is like no other place we’ve been. For now, my husband and I have found it to be a better place to just live.
A HOME AND COTTAGE UNDER ONE ROOF
The appeal and reality of cottage ownership
For many Ontarians, the idea of owning a cottage evokes images of tranquil lakes, sunny docks, and cherished family memories. This dream, deeply embedded in Canadian culture, represents a connection to nature and a retreat from the stresses of urban life.
The tradition of cottage life in Ontario is long-standing. Some families proudly recount stories of ancestors building cabins by hand. Historic properties often hold sentimental value, passed down through generations.
Yet the financial burden of owning a cottage can be significant, with rising property taxes and upkeep costs. Weekends can be consumed by maintenance and repairs, taking away from relaxation.
This is one of the inspirations behind Watercolour. You can have your home in cottage country and live surrounded by nature and with walkable access to two lakes. It’s easy to imagine the best of cottage life happening here in your cottage style home.
Every home in Watercolour has a generous front porch and a large rear porch that is often screened in for three-season use. The vibrant exterior colours of the homes are enchanting with textured James Hardie siding on all four sides. Charming rooflines make each home a unique architectural masterpiece. You won’t give up any of the cottage style, just the cottage maintenance.
If you’re looking to embrace a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle, a home in cottage country can significantly improve your quality of life. By owning less, you open the door to greater freedom, contentment, and generosity. With fewer possessions to manage, you can shift your focus towards creating meaningful experiences and lasting memories. You can have a home that is the gathering place and the cherished legacy to hand on to the next generation.
You can have your home in cottage country and live surrounded by nature with two lakes a short walk away.
SHINY CHROME, SHIMMERING LAKES
Westport is becoming a village of festivals
The Westport Car Show features row upon row of smooth lines, and big, gleaming engines.
Visitors might be drawn to a picturesque park in Westport in July to see the fancy cars. But once they arrive, visitors rave about the beauty of this historic village, the unique shops and boutiques, and the harbour and lakes wrapping around the downtown core.
For first-time visitors to Westport, the wonder actually starts on the drive in. Whether you’re driving west from Ottawa or Montreal or coming in from Toronto, the roads leading into Westport offer some of the prettiest scenery in Ontario –
past quaint homesteads with century barns beside shimmering lakes and thick forests.
Joe Aragona, a local town councillor and organizer of the event, pulled the Westport Car Show together after moving to Watercolour in 2022. He loves cars and wanted to share his new hometown area with friends in the car community.
Joe knew that Westport would embrace the car show and he wasn’t wrong. Over 250 cars – Japanese, North American, European, hot rods, custom cars – took over Lockwood Memorial Park and the Westport arena next door. Thousands of guests came to enjoy the show and explore the village.
Volunteers and village staff made sure the grounds were spotless after the event. The community spirit in Westport is very strong.
In addition to the car show, Westport is home to many events all year long. One of those events is the Westporch Fest in September, a free outdoor walking tour of Westport where front porches become a showcase for regional artists, musicians, activities, and treats.
Mark July 19, 2025 on your calendar and bring the whole family. They’ll love the show… and they might fall in love with the village too.
Japanese, North American, European, hot rods, custom cars, and more will take over Lockwood Memorial Park again this July.
BUILDING THE HIGHEST-PERFORMING HOMES IN CANADA
Land Ark Homes builds the most Net Zero Ready homes in Canada
The dream Stephen Rolston had while standing on the hill overlooking the field that would become Watercolour was big. And more than a few people told him it was impossible.
Even in the best conditions building homes is risky, especially in this age of rising land and trade costs, complicated approvals, and an intense land planning process. Planting a community where nothing existed before takes guts and vision, especially in a village where no new development had happened for 100 years.
But Rolston didn’t want to just build a community of “normal” homes that would be obsolete almost as soon as the new homeowners took possession. He had an even bigger plan. He’d heard about a relatively new standard for building homes from the National Research Council. The homes are called Net Zero Ready and are up to 80% more energy efficient than a typical home. With the addition of a renewable energy system sized to offset energy consumption, they are considered Net Zero and can produce as much clean energy as they use.
Very few builders in Canada were even attempting this cutting edge construction and virtually none were building more than a few homes a year. Rolston had an ambitious plan – to make Watercolour Westport the greenest community in Canada. He would accomplish this by making the community walkable and by building only Net Zero Ready homes.
Most home builders maximize efficiency by building the same home over and over again in basically the same way they always have. The subtrades they employ are used to working to the build ing code. But what Rolston was asking was huge. Rolston wanted everyone – from the Land Ark Homes architect to the framers to the electricians – to start building to a code that wouldn’t be enforced for another 10 years.
It was a bold and risky ask. In 2022, Rolston’s courage was recognized nationally by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association when Land Ark Homes was announced as having built the most all-electric, Net Zero Ready homes in Canada.
Homes being built at Watercolour Westport are at the forefront of the home construction industry worldwide and represent one way Canada will meet its climate change goals.
The Savant home energy management system is an example of the advanced building technology used in Watercolour homes.
An important part of Watercolour is its walkability–another thing that sets the community apart.
The benefits of building homes that qualify as Net Zero Ready go well beyond contributing to our climate change goals. The homes have super insulation, a super tight building envelope, and super ventilation (HVAC).
In practice, that means thicker than normal exterior walls that are heavily insulated and feature large, triple-paned windows that flood rooms with light but without solar heat gains in the summer or heat loss in winter. The lower-level living areas have insulation over and above code requirements in the walls and floor, creating a warm and inviting space.
A cold-climate air-source heat pump, smart duct system and energy recovery ventilator provide superior indoor air quality and fresh-air ventilation in homes that have up to 10 times fewer unwanted air leaks. A heat pump water heater and a sophisticated energy monitoring system that connects to the homeowner’s smartphone also work together to make these homes incredibly comfortable and extremely efficient to run.
The story of Land Ark Homes becoming the biggest builder of all-electric, Net Zero Ready homes in Canada is one of calculated risk, team work, and a vision for a better life.
SAFER LIVING THROUGH SOLAR
Solar panels and a Powerwall battery deliver peace of mind, no matter what’s happening outside
Soon, Lorne Jackson won’t even realize if the power goes out, even for a long stretch of time. The lights in his home won’t even flicker.
In an age where the weather is becoming more unpredictable, Lorne and his wife Doris installed solar panels on their roof for more than just altruistic, earth-friendly reasons. Lorne wants to be able to tap into his own source of energy, no matter what’s happening to the electrical grid.
Part of Lorne’s concern is that we’re not creating enough power to account for the coming demand. He says it’s good to be protected. The solar panels are already installed on Lorne’s roof. This spring, he will have a Tesla Powerwall 3 installed in his home. This will allow for 30 kW of peak power, more than enough to handle the needs of the home if the power goes out for an extended period of time. And once the sun starts shining again the solar panels will recharge the battery bank.
Bluewater Energy installed the solar panels, the energy management system, and they’ll install the Powerwall. The Savant home energy management system manages the electricity coming from the solar panels and the grid. It allows the homeowner to choose which areas and appliances get priority if there’s a long power outage with an app on their smartphone.
For shorter periods of time, the home can sustain itself when the sun is not shining by drawing from the battery. The length of time the battery can sustain the house alone depends on the occupants’ energy use.
Every Watercolour home is designed for the relatively easy addition of solar panels and a Powerwall. Even without solar panels the Powerwall becomes a cost-savings and resilience-building tool. When the power grid is functioning
properly (which is the vast majority of the time in Westport), homeowners can have their Powerwall recharging in the middle of the night, when timeof-use electricity charges are lowest. Then, during the day, they can draw down the battery. All of this is done automatically – set it up once on the Savant system and forget.
Not long ago it was crazy to even consider an all-electric home. A fully electric home wouldn’t have been possible in Canada without significant advances in home construction that substantially reduce the energy needed to heat and cool a house.
Every home at Watercolour has super insulation, super ventilation, and a super-tight building envelope. Watercolour homes have triple-paned windows, cold-climate air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, electric hot water heaters, and LED lights. Very few homes in Canada are built to this Net Zero Ready standard.
Watercolour has been certified as a Green Builder community by RBC. That means Watercolour homeowners qualify for an RBC Green Home Mortgage, which allows for longer amortization of a mortgage.
Considering electricity prices, Bluewater Energy estimates a return-oninvestment (ROI) of under 10 years for solar panels on a home in Watercolour.
Lorne likes those numbers but they don’t matter to him as much as the peace of mind he’ll have next time there’s a thunderstorm. His lights will never flicker again.
Every home at Watercolour is Net Zero Ready and 80% more efficient than a code-built home. That’s what makes a solarpowered home possible.
DAY TRIPS & GETAWAYS: MUST-VISIT DESTINATIONS NEAR WESTPORT
Westport is a hub for Eastern Ontario, sitting in the middle of beautiful landscape and fun activities. Incredible destinations are just a short drive away. Take a morning and visit an artist’s studio or bring the grandkids along to see the artillery demonstration at Old Fort Henry. Whatever you’re in the mood for, these nearby spots offer something special.
NEWBORO
Explore the enchanting Stone Manor Studios and immerse yourself in creativity while enjoying the beautiful venue and warm hospitality. Single and multi-day workshops available. You’ll also find Kilborns and enjoy a unique shopping experience with many Canadian made goods.
KINGSTON
Experience Kingston’s vibrant summer in 2025! Enjoy the YGK Craft Beer Fest on June 14 at Fort Henry, the thrilling Sunset Ceremonies on August 14 and 21 with fireworks, or take a scenic 1000 Islands helicopter tour.
PERTH
Explore Perth’s vibrant spring and summer with the Festival of the Maples (April 26), Stewart Park Festival (July 18-20), outdoor adventures, local markets, and charming year-round street strolls along Wilson, Foster, and Gore Streets.
GANANOQUE
Take County Road 32, offering a scenic route through the beautiful 1000 Islands region. You’ll find the 1000 Islands Playhouse situated right on the waterfront, providing stunning river views and a charming theatrical experience. Geat individual tickets or a whole season subscription, it’s just a short drive from home in Watercolour.
OPINICON
A historic 1870s resort offering farm-to-table dining, live music, and stunning Rideau Lakes views. Enjoy the pub or dining room, a charming 1950s ice cream shop, and exceptional lakeside hospitality. A venue for special events makes the Opinicon a great place to have near home in Westport.
SUMMER IN WESTPORT: EVENTS & ADVENTURES
Westport is the perfect place to soak up summer, whether you’re exploring the outdoors, enjoying local flavours, or connecting with the community. From scenic trails and waterfront views to lively gatherings and seasonal activities, there’s always something happening. Embrace the warm days with fresh air, great company, and unforgettable experiences in the heart of Rideau Lakes.
A NEW TRAILHEAD
At the top of Mountain Road, about 3/4 km from Westport, adding access to the Rideau Trail and Old Bob’s Lookout. Coming May 2025!
Join a growing number of Pickballers in Westport
Lions Beach Volleyball Tournament
Westport Lions Club Rock the Beach Volleyball Tournament - July 12
Maple
Festival April 19-20
along the Rideau Lakes
Find picnic areas to explore at, rideaulakes.ca
ALL SUMMER
Delta
Syrup
Rideau Lakes Pickleball Club
Picnic
Opens May Long Weekend for the season
Winery
A winery, vineyard and restaurant tucked away in nearby Maberly
Golf
You can be on the links within minutes from Westport, as Rideau Lakes and Evergreen Golf Club are close by.
Westport
Antique & Classic Boat Show
Draws boats from up and down the Rideau Waterway - August
Nothing beats the wood-fired pizza served literally across the street from Watercolour
MUSICwestport
For one day in August, local artists take over Westport in celebration of music
WESTPORT MARKET BIKING CYCLING FISHING HIKING
River House
Westport Museum
Scheuermann Winery
OUR EXPERT TRADES SHOW OFF THEIR CRAFTSMANSHIP IN THE CROSBY + LOFT
The first time you see the stunning cathedral ceilings framed by rustic wood beams over the luxurious kitchen, you’ll think you’ve stepped into a magazine spread in Architectural Digest.
The Crosby + Loft model home is a real show-stopper. We packed it full of custom touches – from the coffered ceilings, cozy three-season porch, to the striking stone fireplace that soars two levels.
Some of the features in the home are custom options: There’s a wet bar in the basement, heated floors in the bathrooms, motion-activated lights under the stair treads, and a Tesla Powerwall that gets fed from the solar panels on the roof providing total peace of mind no matter what is happening outside.
We accommodate almost any custom finish you want to any of our models. The only stipulation is that the customization has to work with the Net Zero Ready design. We want every home to operate fossil fuel free and deliver the superior performance of a Net Zero Ready home.
Other features that visitors love come standard – like the ninefoot ceilings in the basement, the hardwood floors throughout, the rounded wall corners, or the triple-pane windows. As we like to say, our standard features are other builders’ upgrades.
Long before Watercolour, Land Ark Homes built awardwinning custom homes. We’ve brought this same commitment to complete customer satisfaction to Watercolour.
Come see the Crosby + Loft. With Phase 3 coming soon, bring your wish list. We will work hard to build the custom home of your dreams.
A soaring stone fireplace and kitchen with all the upgrades are just two things that make this model home so striking.
Floor Plan
GROWING FROM THE GROUND UP
It may appear that the monument welcoming people to Watercolour is just a pretty sign. Actually, the dry-stacked stone method used to build it represents thousands of years of craftsmanship passed down from generation to generation of stone masons. For many reasons, it’s the perfect emblem for Watercolour.
Dry-stacked stone walls have kept sheep on the Yorkshire Dales, provided temple walls at Machu Picchu in Peru, and serve as the immovable foundation for barns dotting the landscape across Eastern Ontario. Masons use local rock and work with the contour of the land. They choose and place each stone carefully.
The dry-stacked stone monument was built by people who love their craft. It will be long lasting, just like the homes at Watercolour.
The idea of harmonizing with the rise and fall of the landscape inspired Stephen Rolston, founder and owner of Land Ark Homes, to hire stone masons to build the monument that welcomes people to Watercolour. He loves the statement it makes: Watercolour is a community that will match the rhythm of the land around it.
When the Watercolour team started sketching out the community plan, they made it one of their key goals to respect the landscape and give prominence to key natural features. They wanted residents to engage with nature and feel like the community was joining the natural environment, not replacing it.
Rolston wants Watercolour to connect people to nature and each other. Elements such as the Harvest Creek Trail connect the residents of Westport with the land. Two footbridges cross Harvest Creek. Each bridge is 25 feet long and made of 3,000 lbs of wood and 2,000 lbs of steel. It is built for generations to enjoy.
At Watercolour, the land comes first. The street pattern and placement of the 7 kms of walking trails through linear parks follow stream corridors and other protected natural features. Everything is walkable. A modified grid design makes the whole community accessible and predictable.
It isn’t a fluke that people feel connected to nature at Watercolour. It’s built into the plan.
A significant portion of the Phase 3 development has been given over to parkland. And there will be new walking trails within the community and up to the new hill top park.
It’s not just the land plan that respects the natural surroundings. Every home at Watercolour is Net Zero Ready with materials that are superior in quality, burn no fossil fuels for heating and cooling, and create a better living environment. Sustainability and longevity are what make dry stack stone structures last. The homes in Watercolour are the same - built to last.
In the summer, Matthew and Heidi’s sheep “mow the grass” under local solar farms, saving the owners hours of work. Matthew tends the flock daily, moving them to new grass and feeding the dog that protects the sheep.
the land Regenerating
Mattand Heidi aren’t pioneers, but if the first settlers to Westport could visit their farm, they would feel at home.
When the first settlers arrived in Westport around 1810, farms were small. Some people say an acre of land was what a person could clear in a year. The hills and rocky ground and deep lakes didn’t surrender easily to the plow.
Matt and Heidi moved east from B.C. Then from the GTA they began looking for a homestead in Eastern Ontario. At first they were hoping to try their hand growing their own food and selling the excess to feed their neighbours. Now it has become much more. They call their property Stealing the Bloom Farm.
“Because of the Rideau Canal, which was the highway here before the automobile, you have all these towns in the area with a different type of community and lifestyle and culture,” says Matt.
“Between the history and the topography of the land, there’s the place for this beautiful reconciliation between natural farming and community.”
Ducks came to the farm first, then ram lambs that they raised up for meat. Soon their 7-acre farm wrapped around their 1800s-era house was buzzing with life. The food coming out of Heidi’s garden was plentiful and rich in nutrients.
Now they have three ducks, a pregnant cow, 30 sheep who are all bred, three pigs, a bunch of rabbits and 100 birds including chickens, turkeys, geese and peacocks. Somewhere along the line they got the idea to start a mobile petting zoo, perfect for birthday parties, farmer markets, or as the entertainment to the trendy farm wedding.
“Regenerative agriculture focuses on soil health to produce healthy food. Regenerative real estate focuses on built environments that contribute to the health of people and the planet.”
But Matt and Heidi aren’t trying to create a caricature of a pioneer village or a fake farm for the amusement of summer tourists. One of the reasons they are farming is to share knowledge and show people what traditional farming looks like. They talk passionately about regenerative farming, where the garden and livestock exist in tandem with one another. Helping preserve traditional farming methods is why they offer tours in addition to the sales of their farming goods.
and Stealing the Bloom Farm find its roots in restoration and regeneration.
Regenerative real estate, like regenerative agriculture, fosters a thriving ecosystem where human and environmental well-being are intertwined. Just as regenerative agriculture focuses on soil health to produce healthy food, regenerative real estate focuses on built environments that contribute to the health of people and the planet.
Stealing the Bloom farm offers a wonderful and inspiring outing for anyone in Eastern Ontario.
The plan was to keep the livestock small. They weren’t going to get anything bigger than what Matt could wrestle if he needed to. “Then we got a goat,” says Heidi. “The goat happened to be pregnant and someone said, ‘I’ll trade you a cow for a goat.”
It’s simple and a way of farming that would be familiar to the first pioneers to the area: Poop makes good soil. Good soil grows healthy plants. Animals then eat the plants.
“This symbiotic relationship is essentially the fundamental of small-scale farming which is the antithesis to industrial agriculture where cattle are crammed into a feedlot or the whole farm is a cash crop,” says Matt.
A lot of the principles behind Watercolour
Stealing the Bloom farm has become a must-stop for those visiting Westport. Locals have known about it for a while now, choosing their rich, free-range eggs with the dark yolks over the thin, white grocery store eggs you find in the city, or their impossibly fresh in-season vegetables.
Just be careful when you talk with Matt and Heidi. They might just convince you to move to this historic part of the province and join in this giant experiment to find new life in the built form. It may just be the best decision you’ll ever make.
