Muskoka swimmer qualifies for 2024 Paris Paralympics

Years of hard work and sacrifice have paid off for Muskoka's newest paralympic athlete.

Mary Jibb of the Muskoka Aquatic Club was notified in May that she will be joining Team Canada for the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris.

The announcement is the culmination of a banner season representing the Muskoka Aquatic Club on the national and international stage. Her qualification for Team Canada came on the back of successes at the Eastern Canadian Championships and the Citi Para Swimming World Series, followed by racing at the European Para Championships in Madeira, Portugal.

As a competitive swimmer for nearly 10 years, Mary’s road to success has not been without challenges. In 2012 at the age of four, Mary suffered a left basal ganglia stroke with focal vasculitis, which left her with a myriad of physical impairments. Due to the impairments caused by her stroke, Mary was first officially classified as an S10 para swimmer. In an effort to create a fair and equal competitive field, all para swimmers are classed based on their level of ability and impairment, S1 being the most physically impaired, S10 the least physically impaired, S11-13 include visual impairments and S14 intellectual impairments.

Last season, Jibb earned top honours in Canada as a National Champion winning gold at Canadian World Trials and then gold again at Canadian Nationals last July. Following her success at nationals, she set her sights on earning a space on Canada’s paralympic team for Paris 2024.

Unfortunately, she experienced considerable setbacks in her training as she felt her physical condition progressively worsen. She experienced numbness and tingling on her right side from her hands down to her feet. In addition, her mild dystonia on her right side became more severe causing constant muscle clenching and cramping in her right foot and calf. Despite rigorous training and her best efforts, she was not able to set any new personal bests. After discussing her condition with coaches within Swim Ontario and Swimming Canada, she earned a spot to be re-classified.

Through months of extensive testing and travelling, Jibb continued to train to prepare for the Canadian Paralympic Trials. At the Eastern Canadian Championships in Quebec City, she earned her Canadian S9 classification. In Indianapolis at the Citi Paraswimming World Series, despite Mary’s arduous schedule, she was able to perform well at all key events that took her from Canada to the United States to Portugal.

At the Eastern Canadian Championships held in Quebec City in March 2024, Jibb earned a bronze medal in the 400-metre freestyle and silver medals in the 100-metre freestyle, 100-metre backstroke, and 200-metre individual medley. She put on quite a show adding to her considerable accolades by setting a new Canadian record in the S9 category, claiming bronze in the 50-metre freestyle, posting a time of 29.86 seconds.

New train shelters in Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Huntsville

The return of passenger rail travel to Muskoka took another step forward recently with a provincial announcement of new station shelters.

Representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Northland paid a visit to Bracebridge to make the announcement at the site of the new shelter, which is to be constructed next to the site of the former passenger station.

According to Vijay Thanigasalam, associate minister of transportation, the new passenger stations will be fully equipped with seating, lighting and heating and will be installed over the next two years.

In total, nine new shelters will be constructed along the route, including stations in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville.

The announcement was part of the awarding of three contracts for the design and manufacture of the new station shelters as well as enhanced rail safety and complete warning system upgrades. The contracts mark a significant milestone in reinstating train service between Timmins and Toronto.

Rick Maloney, mayor of the Town of Bracebridge said the Town is pleased to see the Ontario government investing in shelters along the Northlander route, including Bracebridge.

“These upgraded amenities will contribute to providing safe, accessible transportation options to residents and visitors while helping support the growth and development of our local economy through improved access to tourism and job opportunities,” said Maloney.

Peaches introduces Summers with Miss Elizabeth at book launch

 With a wink and a biting wit, Peaches – Muskoka’s best loved comedienne – was the mistress of ceremony at the May book launch of Summers with Miss Elizabeth by local author Lori Knowles.

Held in The Boathouse at Taboo Resort on May 11, 2024, the room was packed with Muskokans sharing martinis and laughs as the funny woman introduced the novel, a family story set in a classic lakeside cottage billed as “summer in a book.”

“Sorry I’m late,” Peaches said, “I’ve been in New York all week advising Stormy Daniels on her next move.”

Summers with Miss Elizabeth is the emotionally charged story of the Wynward family, Pittsburgh industrialists with a century-old cottage on a Muskoka lake. At the centre of the story is the marvelous “Miss Elizabeth,” a shrewd, champagne-swilling mistress of Pittsburgh’s Wynward Steel – a character Peaches joked was “a very dear friend.”

Behind the candy-coloured Muskoka chairs and glossy wooden watercraft lies a more shadowy side of cottage country. Written by Bracebridge author and journalist Lori Knowles, the novel is funny, sad, mysterious and a little tragic.

“I grew up in wonder of iconic Muskoka hotspots like Beaumaris, Rosseau, Bala, Port Carling and Millionaire’s Row,” says Knowles. “Muskoka is a storied place filled with beautiful blue vistas, lacquered boats, Muskoka chairs and summer heat but there’s darkness there, too – family struggles, tragedy and loss, secrets swept behind wicker settees. I was raised in Muskoka and I’m a storyteller. I’ve always known there are terrific tales to be told.”

Summers with Miss Elizabeth is sold at Unique Muskoka's Bracebridge store and online at loriknowles.com.

Music on the Barge returns to Gravenhurst

The ever-popular Music on the Barge concert series at Gull Lake Park in Gravenhurst is set for a July return. Music on the Barge is the largest outdoor concert series north of Toronto and it draws thousands of guests to the shores of Gull Lake Park every year.

The Town of Gravenhurst recently announced the lineup for this year's concert series:

July 7 – Motown Mania

July 14 – Doobie Brothers Tribute

July 18 – Tall Pines Music & Arts Festival presents… Music on the Barge

August 4 – Tom Jones Show

August 11 – Joplin meets Hendrix

August 18 – Sound of Sting

August 25 – Foreigner: Jukebox Heroes

NEW THIS YEAR: Battle for the Barge Winner Nights

July 23 – Baytowne Big Band

July 30 – VanHillert

August 22 – Swingin’ Blackjacks

August 29 – Southern Rock Tribute

September 1 – Shout! The British Invasion

The shows take place on Sunday nights starting at 7:30 pm and admission is a free will offering.

Muskoka Discovery Centre wins national award

 The considerable amount of time, money and hard work poured into the latest Muskoka Discovery Centre exhibition is paying off with recognition at the highest levels.

The Discovery Centre’s Misko-Aski: Confluence of Cultures exhibit recently received an award for outstanding achievement in exhibitions from the Canadian Museums Association.

The exhibit opened last year and conveys the presence of Indigenous Peoples extending back millennia including the histories and experiences of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabek, Métis and Haudenosaunee peoples.

“It is very satisfying for our team to compete successfully with some of the biggest museums in Canada,” said John Miller, president of the Muskoka Discovery Centre.

On behalf of the Muskoka Discovery Centre, Chippewas of Rama Chief Ted Williams and project director Tim Johnson accepted the award.

“The building of relationships is the foundation of our culture, our nature, our people and all living beings,” said Chief Williams. “Working with the Muskoka Discovery Centre we have supported the development of this exhibit to make a difference in our region and across Canada. As a result, the Centre is now able to present components of the real Indigenous history in an educational and enlightened manner.”

The guiding principle of the project was to feature Indigenous stories as told by Indigenous people under Indigenous project management. The strategic goal was to weave Indigenous culture and sustainability values into the fabric and identity of the Muskoka region. Misko Aki: Confluence of Cultures represents the assembling of knowledge and information as determined by Indigenous knowledge holders and elders whose peoples traversed and inhabited the Muskoka region throughout history up to the present day.

“This kind of project is a game changer because it rounds out the long established historical narrative of a very important region of the country by adding back the Indigenous stories that were missing,” said project director Tim Johnson. “The curatorial approach of taking visitors on a canoe journey through time and to landing areas where events and issues are revealed becomes a transformative learning experience.”

Giant hornet sightings have Muskokans on edge

Are there murder hornets in Muskoka?

According to the experts, the answer is likely no but it appears another exceptionally large breed of hornet is on the rise this year across the region.

Social media has been awash this spring with pictures of huge hornets which seem to be proliferating in the area.

Murder hornets, or giant Asian hornets as they are more formally known, have only ever been spotted on the west coast of North America.

On the other hand, European hornets (smaller than the Asian hornet but larger than the typical North American hornet) have lived in North America for nearly two centuries.

Nonetheless, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is asking the public to report any irregularly sized wasps to them so they can confirm the species.

While the European hornet might look intimidating experts say the risk is relatively minimal and no greater than that posed by a typical hornet.

 Red Canoe Gallery moves to a new home

The Red Canoe Gallery has officially opened the doors of its new location in Bala.

“We are so excited to finally be located here and to celebrate our 31st year in business in Muskoka,” said gallery owner Carola Grimm. “The building is so well suited for our business with its large windows, high ceilings, easy level loading area and tons of onsite parking. Bala has so many great new shops and restaurants, with the handmade chocolate shop. Now the renovation of the Bala Bay is almost complete, so we plan to be open year round.”

Red Canoe Gallery features the original paintings of some of Muskoka’s and Ontario’s best artists and carries a wide range of sizes and styles. The gallery has also added five new artists this year, along with all the favourites such as Paul Garbett, Peter Reid and Carola Grimm. Red Canoe Gallery will also continue to offer a large selection of handmade Canadian wood bowls and wood accessories.