Officially, summer arrives on June 20 this year… but in Muskoka, the kick-off for summer always seems to be Victoria Day in May. A long weekend for cottagers to open their summer homes, businesses to work through the inevitable changes or kinks of a new season and tourists to visit Muskoka in bloom.

Summers represent a mixture of relaxation and busyness. There are always reasons to keep working on something and there are just as many reasons to sit back and enjoy a more leisurely pace. Schedules and seizing the moment are equally important in a satisfying Muskoka summer.

When the first edition of Unique Muskoka was released in July 2016, it was the first time my name appeared in a byline. While, yes, my father was the publisher and gave me the opportunity, I relished the chance to write. Having grown up surrounded by publishing and remaining an avid reader for as long as I can recall, writing (and reading) has always played a big role in my life. Writing for the magazine gave me a chance to flex a creative muscle I hadn’t been using as much in adult life.

Now, with this issue, the roles are reversed. It’s my pleasure to have a feature in this issue of Unique Muskoka written by Don. He shared with me, as he often does, a person of interest for a potential feature a few months ago. This time, I asked if he wanted to write it. He said he’d think about it and here we are.

Don’s suggestion stemmed from his own keen interest in whisky from Scotland and a chance meeting at the Bracebridge LCBO with Todd McDonald. The feature in this issue of Unique Muskoka explores McDonald’s career in wine and spirits, his family connection to Scotland and his life’s work leading to a significant honour – his nomination and installation as a Keeper of the Quaich.

Our regular contributor and local historian Patrick Boyer takes us through Muskoka’s history by postcard. Though exemplifying eras back to the 1800s, postcards are still being printed and sold to send to family and friends or to keep as souvenirs of places visited. A culture that arose as a method of communication is now one that helps to show the rich and vibrant history of the region. It focuses on the many changes and iterations to its landscapes and industries.

In this edition’s Cottage Country Cuisine feature, we look at returning to traditions. Much like postcards, traditional recipes and family heirlooms as part of table settings connect to our past. K.M. Wehrstein shares several ways, and places, we can take a step back in time to our settler roots. 

Muskoka’s stone has been a source of wonder and frustration, depending on the viewer. Contributor Bronwyn Boyer shares how local artisan Rudi Stade creates furniture and game boards from ancient stones in the region. While brute strength is one element of hauling the materials for his works, Stade is also an expert and intuitive craftsman, chiseling and drilling with his self-developed techniques. His finished products are functional sculptures with exceptional longevity.

It would not be the start of summer without the mention of boating. But is there a way to experience the thrill of a race boat without having one? In this edition of Unique Muskoka, Tim Du Vernet explores the new addition to the Canadian Raceboat Hall of Fame – a race boat simulator. Using Xbox technology and a refurbished boat, among other things, a race boat simulator is an attraction and an opportunity to experience the legacy of Canadian race boats.

While it may not be summer officially just yet, there is undoubtedly time to sit on the porch, dock, veranda or picnic table and enjoy one or all of the people-driven stories in this issue of Unique Muskoka.

Happy reading!