Sign in Join now, it's FREE! The Bracebridge Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police charged one driver during afternoon patrols in Gravenhurst a Bracebridge officer was conducting general patrol in the town of Gravenhurst and observed a vehicle on Phillip Street commit a traffic infraction The officer followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop nearby and subsequently arrested and charged 62-year-old David Horton of Oakville with operation while impaired - over 80 and with careless driving He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on May 27 Bracebridge OPP has charged 37 drivers to date in 2025 as impaired driving continues to be a significant factor affecting the safety of Muskoka roads If you suspect someone is driving a vehicle of any kind while impaired, call 911 More Spotlight > Whitestone Ranch resort opened in the Municipality of Whitestone Ryan's Scrambled Eggs are your opportunity to eat breakfast just like a celebrity Visit our new Shopping and Services section Visit our new Shopping and Services section the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report It called the crisis what it is: a genocide April 30 is the deadline to file your 2024 income tax and benefit return Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: A Barrie woman was in court recently to answer for impaired driving-related charges Bracebridge OPP officers responded to a traffic complaint regarding a possible impaired driver The police found Pren in her vehicle on Southwood Road near Torrance Barrens in Muskoka Lakes Township Court heard Pren appeared “highly intoxicated” She was sentenced to a $1000 fine and 12 months’ probation during which time she is not permitted to drive with any drugs in her system Click here to support local news All comments are moderated. Please ensure you include both your first and last name and abide by our community guidelines Submissions that do not include the commenter's full name or that do not abide by our community guidelines will not be published Sign up for our free newsletter which is published three times per week Δdocument.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()) A man who was supposed to be under house arrest was pulled over on Highway 11 for impaired [...] From Elections Canada “I want to thank the some 230,000 people who helped deliver the election From the Town of Bracebridge: The Bracebridge Fire Department will be conducting live-fire [...] Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged another four drivers with impaired [...] – Scott Aitchison has been reelected as the MP for Parry Sound—Muskoka Established in 2015 by a bunch of local news hounds Doppler strives to be the go-to source for people wanting to know more about what is going on in Huntsville and the surrounding community We strive to provide local news that is relevant and timely We also look to tell local stories that inspire Notice the persistent use of the word local From features on local people doing extraordinary things all supplemented by provocative opinion pieces on topics near and far Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing For that much money we should be getting way more than a bandstand $385,000 plus project management fees plus cost overruns when we have one there already My grandparents immigrated to Bracebridge from Northern Ireland in 1904 Does anyone have pictures of downtown Bracebridge from 1904 For articles and video documenting the extremely poor mismanagement of our airport go to: https://johnwhitty3.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/snake-oil-salesmen-selling-to-the-gullible/ Just one example:… In fact Western Canada has received a great deal from the Trudeau liberals The Liberals delivered on expanding infrastructure to… The Bracebridge Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged one driver during afternoon patrols in Gravenhurst Bracebridge OPP was patrolling Gravenhurst when an officer witnessed a traffic infraction on Philip Sreet The officer trailed the vehicle and subsequently pulled the vehicle over That resulted in the arrest and charge of a 62-year-old Oakville He was charged with impaired driving and will appear in Bracebridge court May 27 Bracebridge OPP has already charged 37 drivers to date in 2025 with impaired driving saying it continues to be a significant factor affecting the safety of Muskoka roads If you suspect someone is driving a vehicle of any kind while impaired By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact 'We're celebrating life all the time': Hospice Simcoe's Hike for Hospice Big third period helps Generals complete sweep of Colts OPP urges caution as motorcycle-related deaths hit historic high in 2024 Cleanup expands to Barrie backyards in aftermath of historic ice storm Colts on brink of elimination after ‘painful’ double-overtime loss in Oshawa Fibre-Optic Vandalism Spree in Collingwood Leads to Arrest ©2025 Central Ontario Broadcasting Website by TALIS Creative This map indicates the location of the new Winners store (position #2) at the SmartCentres development in Bracebridge Huntsville had opened a Winners store over 10 years ago and Bracebridge was rumoured to be considered for a store around the same time The Bracebridge business community is growing by one The Town of Bracebridge and SmartCentres real estate development company have confirmed Winners will be opening a store near the Walmart location and construction is expected to begin shortly on a new building in the SmartCentres development which will be the future home of Winners,” said Jennifer Clancy the town’s manager of economic development Winners is a chain of Canadian department stores that offers discounted brand name clothing Huntsville opened a Winners store more than 10 years ago at the Huntsville Place Mall was part of a group of 64 stores that was targeted for redesignation or closure after they were excluded from a $1.83-billion sale of the 279 Zellers stores to Target Corp Bracebridge had been rumoured to be considered for a Winners store around the same time as Huntsville Visit muskokaregion.com for more details as they become available Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The Town of Bracebridge has confirmed that a Winners retail store will be opening near the Walmart location as part of the SmartCentres development.  A building permit has been issued and construction is expected to begin shortly.  This will be the second Winners location in Bracebridge following a long-standing presence in Huntsville with the store slated to open as a new location for the downtown store Veranda a Bracebridge OPP officer was conducting general patrol in the town on Gravenhurst and observed a vehicle on Phillip Street commit a traffic infraction The officer followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop nearby and subsequently arrested and charged 62-year-old David HORTON of Oakville ON with Operation While Impaired – Over 80 and Careless Driving For more information on impaired driving, please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged another four drivers with impaired driving Bracebridge OPP officers responded to a call from a member of the public about the condition of a driver on Muskoka Road 169 in Bala in Muskoka Lakes Township Police conducted an investigation and subsequently arrested and charged 35-year-old Adam Busch of Hannon He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on June 3 Bracebridge OPP officers received several traffic complaints from motorists driving on Highway 11 North in Gravenhurst about a vehicle that was described creating unsafe conditions Officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on Highway 11 just north of Bethune Drive The driver was soon arrested and police have charged 20-year-old Celine Laferrifre of Port Sydney with Impaired Operation above zero and Driving Motor Vehicle with Liquor Readily Available She will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on May 20 Bracebridge OPP officers were investigating a report of a person causing a disruption at a business in Mactier and were made aware that the suspect had left in a vehicle that she did not have permission to be driving The owner of the vehicle located it in Port Carling and the female party fled the scene Police have charged 52-year-old Paula Leponiemi of Barrie She will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on June 3 a Bracebridge OPP officer was conducting general patrol in the town of Bracebridge and observed a vehicle travelling on Manitoba Street commit a traffic infraction The officer conducted a traffic stop and subsequently arrested and charged 68-year-old Randall Hussey of Feversham If you suspect that someone is operating a vehicle of any kind while impaired please call 9-1-1 from your hands free device and website in this browser for the next time I comment Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Janice Hummel (nee Terry) on Friday Janice is survived by her sister Cheryl (Jim) and predeceased by brothers Gordon and Wayne She will be deeply missed by her extended family Janice was a proud and active member of the Bracebridge Legion’s Ladies’ Auxiliary where she held numerous executive positions over the years recognizing over 50 years of dedicated service and commitment giving generously of her time to support organizations such as the Manna Food Bank In recognition of her outstanding contributions she was awarded the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism in 2022 - a prestigious honour presented by the Province of Ontario to celebrate exceptional volunteer service Her spirit of service and kindness touched many lives throughout her community A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 9th, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Bracebridge Legion, 168 Muskoka Road, Bracebridge. Flowers may be sent to the Legion to be enjoyed at the service, and memorial donations in Janice’s honour can be made to Andy’s House Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors On the eve of the provincial election a line-up of hospital stretchers outside Bracebridge Hospital will symbolize the crisis in Ontario’s health care: “The crisis in health care affects almost every family,” says Michael Hurley president of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions “The entire health care sector is staggering There is no end to the staffing shortages; ER closures waits for surgeries or for long-term care beds or for a family doctor or for appropriate home care services We hope to help ensure that this election focuses on solutions to this crisis.” well above the 85% recommended maximum bed occupancy level MAHC must add 19 beds to achieve safe occupancy levels The latest data for MAHC shows that ER patients with only 23% of them admitted within the target time of eight hours The union warns that cutbacks are already happening at numerous hospitals as they buckle under the weight of growing patient volumes and insufficient funding Pointing out that per-person hospital funding in Ontario is the lowest in Canada and that we have the fewest beds and hospital staff to population Hurley says it is not surprising to witness a record increase in hospital overcrowding About 2,000 patients every day receive care on stretchers in unconventional spaces such as hallways and storage closets an increase of 125% since June 2018 when Ford got elected on the promise to end hallway health care Hurley says hospital overcrowding compromises patient and staff safety it robs patients of dignity as they are treated out in hallways without privacy “There were 250,000 people on wait lists for surgeries last year” Hurley says Palliative patients die at home without painkillers we must do so much better for our citizens.” “The next government must implement real solutions.” The union recommends the following solutions to address the health care crisis: Ontario K1G 0Z7 Tel: (613) 237-1590 Fax: (613) 237-5508  Toll free: (844) 237-1590 The Office of the Fire Marshal is investigating an April 18 blaze in Bracebridge which levelled a residence and sent one man to hospital with severe burns A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the affected couple Bracebridge Fire Chief Kevin Plested said the fire which caused an estimated $800,000 damage to one principal dwelling and damaged another one single family home was fully involved in fire,” Plested said “The occupants of both residences were evacuated Two occupants of the initial residences were in the care of Muskoka Paramedic Services They were transported to a local hospital with the one being airlifted to a Toronto area hospital with some serious injuries.” The fire department received the call at 8:20 a.m which occurred near Manitoba Street and Wellington Street North The chief said the fire was extinguished around 9:30 a.m “The damage to the (second) home did require the occupant not to return to the home but there was a lot of heat and smoke and fire damage on the inside,” he said “They won’t be returning home until it’s determined by insurance that it’s safe to return.” It could be months before the Office of the Fire Marshal releases its findings “They’re the ones who would determine the causes and the origin of the fire and left around 4:30 or 5 in the evening,” he added the couple has been identified as Jack and Nadine Bustard Ashlyn Fox said the couple made it out safely from their fiery home with the help “of amazing passersby.” She stated on the page the couple had lost everything and she was hoping to raise $35K to help them Fox said in her latest update her grandmother was doing good “My grandpa is at the Sunnybrook burn centre with 40 per cent of his body burnt (with) 2nd and 3rd degree burns,” she said all we can do is pray for him at this time “Thank you so much everyone for your generous donations.” Click here to go to the GoFundMe page for information or to donate. Bracebridge residents may notice smoke in the area next week but there’s no need for alarm — it’s all part of a training exercise The Bracebridge Fire Department will be conducting live-fire training from May 7 to 11 at Station 1 on Taylor Road Firefighters will use the Ontario Fire College’s Mobile Live Fire Training Unit designed to simulate real-life fire conditions with extreme heat Richard John Taylor passed away at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital on Wednesday son of the late Harvey and Reta (nee Kingshott) He leaves behind his brother Wayne (Jenni) and sister Norine Peacock Memorial Visitation will take place at St. Thomas Anglican Church, 4 Mary Street, Bracebridge, on Thursday April 10, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the memorial service on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 1 p.m. at St. Thomas Anglican Church. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to St. Thomas Anglican Church or The War Amps of Canada online or through Reynolds Funeral Home Continued resources for those still being affected by the ice storm While power has been restored to the majority of properties following the ice storm a small portion of the community remains affected The Town of Bracebridge continues to work with agency partners to provide ongoing support and neighbours who have stepped up in extraordinary ways to support one another Please continue to check in on vulnerable members of the community and provide clean-up support if able to do so The Town’s recreation facilities are available during regular business hours for visitors to charge devices and use the facilities Emergency food boxes continue to be available Residents are reminded that all Town of Bracebridge parks and cemeteries are closed and not maintained during the off season Excessive debris has made these locations unsafe Please use extreme caution and do not visit until further notice The Town of Bracebridge urges continued caution to seasonal property owners wanting to visit and many seasonal and private roads have incurred tree damage and remain unmaintained do so at your own risk and ensure you are fully self-sufficient District of Muskoka ResourcesIce Storm Assistance shrubs and twigs) up to the limits set in the Schedule “E” of their Waste Management By-law Storm Yard Waste Curbside CollectionStorm yard waste curbside collection will begin Monday This program is available to properties that currently receive curbside leaf and yard waste collection residents are encouraged to enter their address in the Muskoka Waste App or on the District’s website For those who are physically or financially unable to manage storm cleanup, support is available. If you or someone you know needs help with debris clean-up, please contact our Storm Assistance Line at 705-645-2100 ext. 4500 or email icestorm@muskoka.on.ca Town of Bracebridge ends significant weather event  The Town of Bracebridge has ended the Significant Weather Event effective Thursday Public Works crews worked tirelessly to clear roads and sidewalks as a result of the freezing rain event to ensure safe conditions for the community Debris clean-up will continue in an ongoing basis. Residents are reminded that all Town of Bracebridge parks trails and cemeteries are closed and not maintained during the off season Please use extreme caution and do not visit any Town parks or trails until further notice.  Surgical wait times down thanks to partnership between Barrie and Midland hospitals Bracebridge OPP hand impaired driving charge to driver in Gravenhurst A local family is looking for assistance after their home was destroyed by fire earlier this morning Bracebridge Fire and local first responders attended a fully engulfed structure fire on Manitoba Street The fire forced the closure of Mantioa Street from Liddard Street to Welling Road for several hours The victim’s granddaughter posted the following on a GoFundMe page Friday April 18th my sweet grandparents ( Jack and Nadine Bustard ) house caught on fire while they were sleeping They both made it out with the help of amazing passers by My grandpa has been flown to Sunnybrook but is in stable condition The next little while is going to be extremely difficult as they have lost almost everything they have I hope by doing this we can help make things just a little bit easier for them You can find the full post and donate at HERE Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing Bonvince Telmo and Aaron Hulland are cleaning up branches outside their shared home on March 31 Aaron Hulland cuts up and clears a fallen tree from his yard on March 31 Fallen tree limbs are seen outside the Gravenhurst Opera House Crews from Kodiak Tree Services are clearing downed trees Freezing rain and severe weather conditions swept across Ontario over the weekend causing widespread power outages and hazardous conditions Here’s how crews and residents are faring in the Muskoka region Southern areas of Muskoka were hit hardest Bracebridge and Gravenhurst also declared a significant weather event due to hazardous conditions denting his housemate’s car and leaving the area without electricity the building’s landlord worked on connecting their generator to the furnace to provide heat were out sawing the fallen tree into smaller chunks collecting branches and cleaning up the debris snapped limbs and scattered pine needles blanketed yards and driveways Although most of the downed power lines had been cleared and set aside Gravenhurst resident Norah Fountain captured a photo of a large split tree outside the Gravenhurst Opera House its branches sprawled out across the entryway and sidewalk “It’s just heartbreaking to see the damage spread across the entire area,” she said Fountain said she wants people to focus on those offering help and expressed gratitude to Sobeys in Gravenhurst for supporting the community She recognized the staff for making sandwiches and preparing food to go for people “A big thank you to Sobeys for opening and helping residents,” she said Huntsville resident Shelley Cotterchio said that apart from some downed branches and fallen trees she hasn’t noticed any intense destruction “We are very lucky compared to other towns,” she said owner of Caledonia-based Kodiak Tree Services has crews spread out across the affected areas like homeowners on their roofs trying to pull down broken branches,” Post said advising people to leave the dangerous work to professionals “We don’t need to see people die or have accidents because they’re clearing debris.” He mentioned while some trees may appear damaged and homeowners should give them time to bounce back as he warned about the dangers of broken branches still hanging in trees “Everyone should be making sure they’re looking up when they’re walking underneath those trees,” he said Every downed line should be treated as live unless Hydro One has tagged it and people should not assume it’s safe just because they’re not receiving power According to Elexicon Energy’s website: “The freezing rain caused significant damage to Elexicon’s infrastructure in these communities Damage is so severe in Gravenhurst that Elexicon prompted an emergency declaration Estimated time of restoration for Gravenhurst: We are hopeful to have the majority of customers restored by end of day tomorrow and remaining customers by Friday some island customers will be without power beyond Friday.” Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a youth with an impaired driving related offence during the early morning hours on Saturday a Bracebridge OPP officer was conducting proactive patrols in Bracebridge and stopped a vehicle on Highway 11 South near Cedar Lane The officer soon commenced an impaired driving investigation and subsequently arrested and charged the driver a 16-year-old Bracebridge youth with Failure or Refusal to Comply with Demand CC 320.15(1) He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice- Youth Court- in Bracebridge on April 3 was charged with a Liquor Licence and Control Act offence for consuming liquor under 19-years of age A criminal charge of refusal or failure to comply with a demand in relation to an impaired driving investigation carries the same consequences as an impaired driving/over 80 charge in the Province of Ontario The accused has had their drivers license suspended for 90-days and their vehicle impounded for 7 days If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol you may call 9-1-1 from your hands free device It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Evelyn Brown at her home with the love of her life by her side and a dedicated member of the community that brought warmth strength and endless energy to making our world a better place Evelyn grew up sharing many memorable moments with her sister Audrey as they could often be found picking blueberries in their backyard While in North Bay completing her teaching certificate the two of them would embark on a journey full of promise She leaves behind her loving husband Jim of 59 years her children Michael Brown and Tricia (Jason) Nikkari and her grandchildren While Evelyn’s priority remained with her family completing her Master’s in Education and embarking on a significant career in education her dedication and leadership led to becoming the principal of Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School Continuing to make her mark on the Board of Education she became Superintendent of Education and finished her career as the Director of Education she navigated the amalgamation of the Muskoka Board and Victoria County to become Trillium Lakelands School Board She was known for her unwavering commitment to students When Evelyn eventually decided to step away from education she quickly turned her attention to making her community a better place willingness to push boundaries and ability to engage with people found her at leadership tables across the region Correctional Services (Beaver Creek and Fenbrook) and most recently the Patient and Family Advisory Council and the Bracebridge Public Library wisdom and energy Evelyn brought to our world will always be cherished and the positive impact she had on so many lives will continue to shine for many years ahead Please consider a donation to Hospice Muskoka in Evelyn's memory Friends are invited to visit the family for a visitation on Tuesday 2025 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Reynolds Funeral Home: 1 Mary Street  The Memorial Service for Evelyn Brown will take place on Wednesday 2025 at 11:00 am at Bracebridge United Church: 46 Dominion Street ON with a visitation an hour before the service A recording of Evelyn's Service can be viewed here: Memorial Service Add to Calendar Complete the form below to RSVP for the Visitation for Evelyn Ruth Brown Complete the form below to get directions for the Visitation for Evelyn Ruth Brown Add to Calendar Add to Calendar Complete the form below to RSVP for the Memorial Service for Evelyn Ruth Brown Complete the form below to get directions for the Memorial Service for Evelyn Ruth Brown Add to Calendar Complete the form below to RSVP for the Light Luncheon for Evelyn Ruth Brown Complete the form below to get directions for the Light Luncheon for Evelyn Ruth Brown Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged three drivers with impaired driving halfway through the Easter traffic safety campaign members of the Central Region Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (T.I.M.E.) team and Bracebridge OPP officers were conducting a RIDE program on Maple Street in Port Carling in Muskoka Lakes Township A vehicle entered the RIDE program and officers soon commenced an impaired driving investigation Police arrested and charged 63-year-old Karen SCHUH of Port Carling ON with Impaired Operation CC 320.14(1)(a) and Over 80 CC 320.14(1)(b) She will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on May 6 Bracebridge OPP officers along with members of the T.I.M.E team were conducting a RIDE program on Ecclestone Drive in the town of Bracebridge when officers stopped a nearby vehicle that appeared to be avoiding the RIDE checkpoint Police arrested and charged 24-year-old Jonah KILLINS-BEASLEY of Muskoka Lakes Township with Impaired Operation – Over 80 CC 320.14(1)(b) He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on May 20 team were conducting a RIDE program on Muskoka Road South in the town of Gravenhurst While investigating the conduct of a driver officers became concerned about the driving behaviour of another vehicle travelling on Bethune Drive A traffic stop was conducted and police subsequently arrested and charged 61-year-old Robert HAMANN of Barrie Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing  The Bracebridge Fire Department and Muskoka Paramedic Services are pleased to reschedule the door-to-door food drive in support of the Salvation Army South Muskoka Ministries food bank for Monday This event takes place annually in December for the holidays but was cancelled in 2024 due to a large weather event that effected Bracebridge Please do not include any expired items in your donation, and ensure all items are new and unused.Volunteers WantedHelp support the door-to-door food drive by volunteering to canvas the urban areas of Bracebridge. Individuals, community groups and sports teams interested in participating in the event can contact Michael Peake Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing Nature and environment news and inspiration for people who love to get outside Untangle the thorny process of cottage succession with expert advice from lawyer was closed indefinitely after a “shift” was discovered during a review of the structure While performing routine sidewalk maintenance operations staff from the Town of Bracebridge experienced difficulty clearing snow that had accumulated on the bridge and notified the District of Muskoka’s roads operations team The decision was made to close the bridge following the discovery of a shift that had not been there when the bridge was last inspected only a few months earlier has covered the Muskoka River—allowing vehicle and pedestrian traffic to pass over the waterway—since the mid-1930s the bridge has become somewhat of an iconic symbol for the township even featuring prominently in Bracebridge’s official town logo since 2015 the bridge will be closed for the foreseeable future “Safety is our top priority,” says Muskoka’s Director of Engineering and Transportation Mark Misko work is being completed to assess the structure and develop a repair plan to reopen the bridge Further updates will be provided as soon as possible.” the roughly 3,714 vehicles that traverse the bridge each day as of 2023 Motorists are encouraged to take Entrance Drive and Muskoka Road 118 instead “Electronic signs are in place to help direct traffic around the bridge,” says Misko “We’re also planning to add more signs in the area to give drivers extra notice as they approach Bracebridge.” Though the bridge has been known to take hits from the occasional car strike over the years Misko says this is the first time structural concerns have been raised but the town is in the process of getting answers “Our top priority is figuring out the safest way to access the bridge so we can begin to repair it,” says Misko “We’re also looking at options for long-term repair and rehabilitation which will be shared for consideration at a later date once we know it’s safe for crews to work on the bridge.” Canada’s premiere pro-wrestling company is pleased to announce their return to  Bracebridge on Saturday 2025 with their “Brace For Impact” event to be held at the Bracebridge &  Muskoka Lakes Secondary School.  which combines over the top characters and exciting action in a family friendly  presentation will include several bouts featuring talents such as Canadian Heavyweight Champion Jake O’Reilly  Canadian Tag Team Champions The Ring Truck Crew Tickets will be $25.00 each for floor seating and  $20.00 each for bleacher seating Tickets will be available for purchase online at rocksolidwrestling.tickit.ca and in  person at Muskoka General Store + Refillery.  with proceeds from ticket sales and 100% of concession sales being  donated to Big Country Muskoka in support of their Sponsor program which offers yearly memberships to youth  in need from the community.  Rock Solid Wrestling drew nearly 400 guests to the Bracebridge & Muskoka Lakes Secondary School  raising $1,621.20 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Muskoka the team hopes to top both of those  numbers for their chosen community partner.  A number of area businesses have once again generously sponsored this year’s event the Counted Out with Mike and Tyler podcast who will host the post show after party on March 29th.  Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing who owns the Bracebridge McDonald’s restaurant said the District of Muskoka’s plans to tackle safety concerns on this section of Hwy The District of Muskoka is proposing putting up barriers and signage to deal with the issue of left-hand turns on Highway 118 Investigation into section of roadway following fatal 2023 collision resulted in proposal to put in a barrier to stop left-hand turns and direct traffic to alternate routes off Muskoka Road 118 West The owner of a Bracebridge business is calling the District of Muskoka’s proposal to tackle safety issues on a portion of Highway 118 “extreme.” I just wanted to convey that an all or nothing approach felt extreme that controlling the flow of traffic on and off the road could be done safely without jeopardizing both McDonald’s and Home Hardware businesses which are the only two on this section that will lose significant access to their properties,” said Scott Simioni He made this statement following his presentation to the district’s Jan He said his business relies on drive-thru traffic which would be impacted by planned changes Proposals to deal with safety issues involving left-turning traffic on that section — also known by locals as The Flats — include barriers and directing traffic to alternate routes The district hired a transportation engineering consulting firm to review traffic flow and safety concerns along a stretch of Muskoka Road 118 West The largest concern involves the ability for vehicles to make safe left-hand turns on the stretch of busy roadway in the area that includes Canadian Tire District director of engineering and transportation Mark Misko said data indicates traffic volume through The Flats has increased significantly over the past decade making it one of the busiest sections the district oversees comparable with King William Street in Huntsville “The average annual daily traffic in 2012 was about 8,500 (vehicles) we’re seeing just over 14,000 vehicles going through here based on our accounts You’ve got 35 per cent more cars travelling this section on any given day All of those turning movements start to become more and more of a concern in higher volume situations,” he said the district’s commissioner of engineering and public works right-out only access at entrances on the north-side with Westmall Road and Balls Drive as a loop to access destinations along Muskoka Road 118 West There will also be a road barricade to limit left-turn movements and reduce high-conflict areas with simpler navigation and better traffic flow Steele said the barriers will not only prevent motorists from making left turns The section was the scene of a fatal accident in August 2023 involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle between Balls Drive and Westmall the Town of Bracebridge requested the district to “determine the feasibility of implementing traffic control and/or traffic calming measures” on The Flats Mayor Rick Maloney said the August fatality was the key reason the town asked for a district investigation “I think everyone probably has a story along the way of a close call (in that area) So that precipitated the request for (a study) from the district,” he said Bruce Kruger knows how dangerous driving that section can be first-hand The former Bracebridge Swiss Chalet/Harvey’s co-owner had called on municipal officials to install traffic lights in the area following the August 2023 fatality, adding he had witnessed other preventable accidents along the highway from his restaurant. He said he was advised a third set of lights along this strip would be inappropriate with the proposed lights too close to the other sets of lights to the east and west “It’s been a very long time coming,” he said referring to the district’s plans a person had to lose his life before it was acted upon I’m probably aware of at least five accidents there last year alone.” Simioni said there are options other than the district’s plan “Using Balls Drive is not the right solution funneling onto a residential street with schools nearby I feel is dangerous … (they should) lower the speed limit stop vehicles from crossing straight across and limit the number of lefts,” said Simioni He told the committee 70 per cent of his sales are derived from drive-thru traffic the district is “going to drive our business away into a competitor.” Simioni added he agrees safety is important for the community and he acknowledges the left-turning situation on the highway is a problem that needs to be addressed But he estimates he could see a 20 per cent-plus decline in sales if the plan is implemented and staff reductions or layoffs could result “The last thing we want to do is have this affect the staff These are people that live in the community and who are a valued part of our team,” he said “Some of them have been here for several years.” The district committee has sent the proposed plan for the highway section to Bracebridge council for comments Steele estimated it will take two weeks to schedule the work for the roadway and another week to install signage and the barriers Lee Bruckner passed away peacefully with family by her side at the age of 61 Loving daughter to Sandra and the late Frank Bruckner She will be remembered as a loving aunt by Austin (Hannah) and Ethan Friends are invited to join the family for a visitation at Reynolds Funeral Home on Monday March 24 from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm with the Funeral service taking place at Reynolds Funeral Home on Tuesday Register for the live streamed Funeral Service for Lee Bruckner  Please note that you must register ahead of time with your email that is linked to the device (laptop tablet)  in which you will be viewing the service before you will be able to view  Allow extra time before 2:00 pm on Tuesday to register Cremation will follow and an interment at a later date In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Children’s Foundation of Muskoka https://www.childrenofmuskoka.com/ in Lee’s memory Scott Granahan has left his position as the director of emergency services/fire chief for the Town of Bracebridge ending a short career that started in July 2023 Deputy Chief Michael Peake will oversee fire department operations in the interim The Town of Bracebridge is looking for a new fire chief Chief administrative officer Stephen Rettie has confirmed director of emergency services/fire chief Scott Granahan is no longer with the municipality “While the director of emergency services/fire chief position is vacant Deputy Chief Michael Peake will oversee the continued operations of the fire department supported by the dedicated staff and volunteers at Stations 1 and 2 We anticipate initiating recruitment efforts to fill the vacancy in the very short-term,” Rettie said in an email The chief administrative officer declined to answer when asked if Granahan resigned or was terminated “The corporation does not provide details regarding confidential human resources matters,” he answered Granahan brought more than 17 years of experience in fire services when he became chief in July 2023 He came to the post from the Township of Rideau Lakes where he had been the manager of emergency services/fire chief He began his career with the Brock Township Fire Department in 2006 and his career took him to stops with the Town of Georgina and Mississippi Mills prior to joining Rideau Lakes Rettie said Granahan’s last day with the town was Jan This publication has been unable to contact Granahan for comment One of the more controversial issues the chief had been involved in during his term was the relocation of Station 2 from 3448 Highway 118 East to the municipally-owned 1002 Uffington Rd three residents expressed concerns regarding the choice to move the station including differing opinions on response times created by the station’s move and uncertainty that the new location would have a positive impact on attracting new firefighters At the time, Granahan said while the firefighters at the affected station may not agree with the decision, he was confident “they will put the community first.” When asked if this controversy was related to the situation Rettie stated … “Council’s decisions regarding Station 2 have been informed by several years of progressive consulting and multi-departmental staff work Staff will continue to carry out activities related to Station 2 as directed by council.” BarrieNewsBracebridge Ont. porch collapses under heavy snowBy Julianna BalsamoUpdated: March 07, 2025 at 12:25PM EST Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged one driver after a dangerous situation in the town of Bracebridge along with Bracebridge Fire and Muskoka EMS responded to 9-1-1 calls about a single-vehicle-collision that occurred on Manitoba Street The involved vehicle was reportedly seen swerving on the road and left the roadway Emergency crews assisted in extricating the occupants and the female passenger was transported to hospital with serious The driver was also transported to hospital with minor injuries Police have charged 41-year-old Shane WEBB of Bracebridge ON with Dangerous Operation Causing Bodily Harm CC 320.13(2) Operation While Impaired Causing Bodily Harm CC 320.14(2) and Failure or Refusal To Comply with Demand-Bodily Harm CC 320.15(2) He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge Police are asking anyone who may have information, including video surveillance, to call Bracebridge OPP at 1-800-310-1122 or you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com if you wish to remain anonymous From the Township of Lake of Bays The Township of Lake of Bays is continuing its review of the [...] With Motorcycle Safety Awareness Week underway the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging [...] Ontario honoured 11 young people with the 2023 Ontario Medal for Young [...] From the Town of Huntsville Renovations to the Centennial Pool change rooms will begin on June [...] The Town of Huntsville will not have to cover interest rates in order to partner with Muskoka [...] Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing BarrieNewsBracebridge recovery efforts ongoing following ice storm as some remain without powerBy Kim PhillipsPublished: April 11, 2025 at 5:54PM EDT Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is asking the public for their assistance in identifying a suspect in an investigation Bracebridge OPP is investigating a series of incidents including mischief and theft that were committed at a number of addresses on February 1 There was similar activity on Barkway Road on February 5th and Bonnie Lake Road on February 7th the victim’s vehicles were entered during the early morning hours and items were stolen from within Police are asking anyone in the area who may have video surveillance to look at their footage and call police with any helpful information. If you have information on these events, please call Bracebridge OPP at 1-800-310-1122 or you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestopperssdm.com if you wish to remain anonymous Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing There is no access across Silver Bridge for vehicles or pedestrians until further notice The District Municipality of Muskoka has temporarily closed Silver Bridge on Ecclestone Drive in Bracebridge pending a detailed structural assessment It could be a long time before the iconic Silver Bridge in Bracebridge is back in use after the District of Muskoka closed the 100-year-old structure down due to structural issues Decision was prompted by a shift in the bridge observed in December It’s going to be a very long time before any motorists or pedestrians are able to traverse the iconic Silver Bridge in Bracebridge “We’ve got to level with everybody — this bridge is going to be closed for a long time,” said district chair Jeff Lehman We don’t know yet how long the construction that will be required to repair the bridge (will be).” Lehman made the comments at a Jan. 10 news conference at the District of Muskoka office building regarding the Jan. 6 closure of the bridge due to structural issues. The district is responsible for the bridge Town of Bracebridge operations staff identified unusual issues clearing the snow on the bridge and notified district staff the district’s roads operations team saw a shift in the bridge — built in the late 1920s — which was not present when it was last inspected in November 2024 it has led to a situation where a 100-year-old iconic piece of infrastructure has to be closed to traffic ” Lehman said but we may never know exactly what happened We can only suspect what could have happened,” added James Steele a senior structural engineer inspector confirmed issues with the truss system on Jan The bridge was then closed to both vehicles and pedestrians fencing and signage were installed in the area All district-owned bridges are inspected every two years following Ontario regulations and the Canadian Highway Bridge Code conducted under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer “They generally look at the structure and they do identify any things that may be become problematic,” Steele said The district also stated that based on regular inspections of the bridge a capital project and design work began in 2024 to rehabilitate it That initiative is budgeted at around $2 million Construction was scheduled to begin in 2025 following the construction work completed for the Taylor Road bridge The original scope included deck repair structural component rehabilitation and recording of steel members Additional money will need to be found for the bridge’s repair The bridge has undergone two significant rehabilitations over the past 40 years with major deck repair structural employment replacements and painting in 1985 followed by the replacement of approach spans replacement of the sidewalk on the west side and recoating of the steel members in 2001 Steele added the district expects to receive an initial analysis regarding the bridge from its consulting firm “They’ll have a recommendation on feasibility of solutions to address the damaged section and then those updates will certainly be at district council We have an update planned for engineering and public works committee in about two weeks.” The commissioner added the consultants are doing what they can to figure out how to how to make the bridge repair happen “as quickly as possible.” Mayor Rick Maloney said it is the town’s hope the bridge will be repaired and “continue to serve as that iconic recognizable picture frame of Town of Bracebridge.” A Penetanguishene man is one of six drivers charged with impaired-driving related offences by Bracebridge OPP so far this month officers responded to a concern from a member of the public about a motorist driving on Highway 11 north of Gravenhurst The caller reported that the vehicle had struck the concrete median and continued driving Officers eventually tracked down the suspect vehicle a little further up the highway of Penetanguishene faces impaired driving charges in connection with the incident He is scheduled to appear in Bracebridge court on April 15 to answer to the charges A Severn Township man faces impaired driving charges after officers stopped a vehicle the following day at 1:40 a.m while conducting “proactive patrols” in Bracebridge appears in Bracebridge court April 15 in connection with that incident was charged with impaired driving after officers responded to a report of a vehicle leaving the roadway and becoming lodged in a snowbank Also facing impaired charges in connection with other incidents in the detachment’s coverage area are: Gerald Tabachack 26-year-old Sean Despins of Gravenhurst and Shannon Sutey “Members of the public continue to be key partners in keeping Muskoka roads safe by taking the time to call and report their concerns to police,” the detachment noted in a release “If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol you may call 9-1-1 from your hands-free device.” Bracebridge Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged six drivers with impaired driving related offences during the first half of March Bracebridge OPP officers responded to a report of a collision that occurred on Germania Road near Gilbert Lane after the involved vehicle left the roadway and became lodged in a snowbank and police have charged 34-year-old David Reisman of Bracebridge with Operation while Impaired- Over 80 He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on April 1 Bracebridge OPP officers responded to a concern from a member of the public about a motorist driving on Highway 11 North in Gravenhurst The caller reported that the vehicle struck the concrete median and continued driving Officers conducted a traffic stop on Highway 11 North near Highway 118 and subsequently arrested and charged 32-year-old Joel Lizotte of Penetanguishene ON with Operation while Impaired and Over 80 He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on April 15 Bracebridge OPP officers were conducting proactive patrols in the town of Bracebridge and stopped a vehicle on Wellington Street Police subsequently arrested and charged 38-year-old Bradley Williams of Severn officers in Gravenhurst were looking for a vehicle that had been reportedly driving erratically on Bay Street and located it in a parking lot near the Gravenhurst Wharf police have charged 35-year-old Gerald Tabachack of Wikwemikong ON with Operation while Impaired- Alcohol and Drug He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on April 22 Bracebridge OPP officers were conducting a RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) program on Ecclestone Drive in Bracebridge and observed a vehicle turn in a possible attempt to avoid traveling through the RIDE check Police conducted a traffic stop and subsequently arrested and charged 26-year-old Sean Despins of Gravenhurst He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on April 8 Bracebridge OPP officers responded to concerns from a member of the public about a possibly impaired driver on Bethune Drive in Gravenhurst Officers located the vehicle on Pine Street in Bracebridge and subsequently arrested and charged 30-year-old Shannon Sutey of Bracebridge She will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Bracebridge on April 8 Members of the public continue to be key partners in keeping Muskoka roads safe by taking the time to call and report their concerns to police the Bracebridge Fire Department was dispatched to a structure fire at 6 Monica Lane Initial reports were of a boat on fire in one of the units The fire quickly extended to multiple units in the building Approximately 25 firefighters from Station 1 and 2 attended the scene with five fire apparatus Mutual aid from the Gravenhurst Fire Department was also present sending one ladder truck and four firefighters to assist and crews remained on scene to monitor for hot spots Monica Lane from Cedar Lane to Gray Road was closed for several hours to accommodate suppression operations but was re-opened Friday evening once the fire was contained The Ontario Fire Marshal was notified about the incident on Friday and arrived at the scene on Saturday February 1 to begin an investigation into the cause of the fire due to the significant dollar loss Heavy equipment is now on scene to aid in the investigation the public is asked to stay away from the scene until further notice Thank you to the Ontario Provincial Police Gravenhurst Fire Department and Town of Bracebridge Public Works crews for assistance at the scene The Fire and Ice Festival will ignite downtown Bracebridge on Saturday and features a thrilling lineup of activities for all ages The festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of winter magic and community spirit Tickets are now available online Admission is $10 for ages 13 years of age and older $5 for children between the ages of six to 12 and free for children under five years of age This year’s festival is made possible thanks to the support of the Town of Bracebridge’s Event Tourism Grant and Bracebridge 150 Event Grant Volunteers are the heart of the Fire and Ice Festival Join a dedicated team who helps bring this special event to life Several volunteer positions are available on Saturday Volunteers do not need to be available for the entire day — every shift helps Every volunteer will participate in a mandatory training session (available in person or virtually) and will receive a Fire and Ice tuque free event admission and a tube run fast pass to skip the line Volunteers will also be invited to participate in a volunteer appreciation night event following the festival to celebrate their hard work and achievements High-school-aged volunteers will be eligible to receive documentation towards their 40 hours of community service Parking near the festival is limited and fills up fast Event attendees and volunteers are encouraged to use the free shuttle service that runs continuously from 8:30 a.m from the following four locations: Stevens’ Your Independent Grocer and Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary School For a full list of activities, parking and shuttle information and to sign up as a volunteer, visit fireandicebracebridge.com. More information can also be found at facebook.com/fireandicebracebridge More Spotlight > The District of Muskoka is moving ahead with repairs to the Silver Bridge in Bracebridge first by determining what the current loading capacity is on the bridge Closure prompted investigations into the loading capacity and necessary stabilization efforts Work on repairing the iconic Silver Bridge in Bracebridge has started albeit baby steps are being taken right now The District of Muskoka’s director of engineering and transportation Mark Misko told the Jan 22 engineering and public works staff is working with its consulting firm Wills Associates Limited of Peterborough to determine what the current loading capacity is on the bridge “This is a mandatory step in the process to determine how we can safely access this bridge to either begin further stabilization or rehab efforts … this is to make sure that we can safely get out on this bridge to start doing any work we need to,” he said The district, which is responsible for the bridge’s management, closed the structure on Jan. 6 due to structural issues. Town of Bracebridge operations staff identified unusual issues clearing the snow on the bridge during routine sidewalk maintenance in early January and notified district staff The district’s roads operations team discovered a shift in the bridge — built in the late 1920s — which was not present when it was last inspected in November 2024 fencing and signage have since been installed in the area District chair Jeff Lehman speculated it could be months or even years before the bridge could be reopened to traffic All District-owned bridges are inspected every two years following Ontario regulations and the Canadian Highway Bridge Code Misko said staff have been working with D.M Wills Associates Limited for the past two weeks to expedite the bridge’s recovery “They’re reaching out to contractors in the industry as well as some of the industry experts to bring in a bigger pool of knowledge to see what type of options are available for this (project) We do recognize the importance and priority on getting this bridge back in service for the public again we want to make sure that we can access this with any equipment or staff in a safe manner,” he added DPB Delivery Bracebridge is offering customers the chance to pick up parcels from their facility as staff battles against “the perfect storm” of slowdowns Owner-operator Darren Budd said they typically use five drivers the piles in their facility continue to grow They cover five routes for Canpar Express in the Bracebridge and Port Carling area so their team is delivering and picking up about 1,500 parcels a day Their Amazon deliveries are also running behind with about 1,000 packages waiting to be delivered to customers in Bracebridge and Gravenhurst “Parcel service has quadrupled this holiday season,” Budd said “Most shippers that used Canada Post have moved to us as a courier for both delivery and pick-up.” While there may be Amazon packages for Gravenhurst residents the company will only have packages from the other carriers for people with Bracebridge or Port Carling postal codes Budd said he would avoid calling the carriers directly since people will most likely talk to a customer service rep in Toronto who can’t help them locals should check their tracking and see where their items were last scanned His team hasn’t been able to scan and status many of the parcels they’ve received so the status should show no updates after reaching the facility “Weather has put us behind at least a week,” he said. “[We’re] currently sitting on about 30k parcels just in our warehouse. The combination of Canada Post strike weather and Christmas has been the perfect storm.” If customers are in the correct service area and their package is in Bracebridge, they can reach out to DPB Delivery with their address tracking number and carrier details to confirm the company has the package locals can stop by the Canpar Express depot at 581 Ecclestone Drive in Bracebridge Shortly after posting about the pick-up option on Facebook the company received more than 50 messages with names alone so Budd is asking customers to read the requirements carefully and be sure they take the necessary steps Drivers are working 12- to 14-hour shifts seven days a week just to stay afloat and they still have boxes piled everywhere throughout their 5,000-square-foot facility “Everyone is starting to burn out and feel defeated,” Budd said “In my 25 years of working for UPS/Canpar here in Muskoka this is by far the craziest Christmas rush yet but we all know there will likely be thousands of packages sitting in our warehouse come Christmas Eve.” Read current news from our community Kawartha Lakes – The Ministry of Natural Resources – Bracebridge Minden Parry Sound District is advising area residents that a Watershed Conditions Statement - Flood Outlook is in effect in the district until Friday March 21 This message will affected residents within the MNR Bracebridge Minden Parry Sound District for portions of the District of Parry Sound Residents and those visiting the area are advised to be aware of current watershed conditions Higher than normal water levels and flow conditions may develop throughout the area and residents are reminded to keep a close watch on weather conditions and exercise caution near fast-moving rivers and streams MNR advises residents to exercise extreme caution concerning ice conditions Residents that have been affected by high water and flow conditions in the past should continue take necessary action to protect/secure any vulnerable property in proximity to rivers and lakes and closely monitor developing conditions and regularly check for updated messages MNR also advises extreme caution when using forest access roads for outdoor activities as they may become seasonally inundated with water are prone to washouts and may become impassible due to localized flooding The ministry is closely monitoring the weather and developing watershed conditions Further updates will be issued as appropriate Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement Significant rainfall is possible the weekend of March 15 to 16 The frozen ground has a reduced ability to absorb this rainfall What: Total rainfall amounts of 20 to 40 mm with locally higher amounts possible When: Saturday evening through Sunday night local rainfall amounts in excess of 40 mm are possible over some areas Water Management Team, Bracebridge Minden Parry Sound District OfficePhone: 705-645-8747Email: watermanagement.psdistrict@ontario.ca Website: www.ontario.ca/mnr © 2017 - 2023 Kawartha Lakes P.O. Box 9000, 26 Francis Street Lindsay, ON, K9V 5R8 Telephone: 705-324-9411 Toll free at 1-888-822-2225After-hours emergencies: 1-877-885-7337Email Us With the support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario On the heels of the unexpected and indefinite closure of the Silver Bridge Bracebridge is receiving a report on the condition of all bridges and large culverts in the municipality The Town has 17 bridges and nine large culverts bridge engineers from Planmac conducted element-by-element visual inspections of the 26 structures Their report indicates four bridges and three culverts in “poor” condition That does not include the Silver Bridge on Entrance Drive which was closed in January following an unexpected structural “shift” The extent of the problem and potential timeline and cost of remediation remain unknown The bridges listed as “poor” are Stoneleigh Road Bridge Goltz Lane Bridge on Ball’s Drive and Purbrook Road Bridge Based on the results of the inspections and Planmac’s engineering judgement the report recommends that 14 of the Town’s 26 structures undergo some form of repair rehabilitation or replacement over the next five years Those replacements and repairs are expected to cost $6.2 million The estimated current value and replacement cost of all the Town’s bridge and culvert structures is estimated at approximately $26.3 million and $35.6 million For instance the bridge on Goltz Lane has been closed to vehicle traffic for a very long time I can’t see why any money would be spent on it This was a due diligence study/survey probably because some higher level of government mandated it and the Town doesn’t want to be sued if something ever happens Every now and then the Town does the right thing…….now the gazebo that’s different This is why the District wanted to hand over the ownership of the bridge a couple of years ago Well obvious been ignored for far to long!! $100 million blown on the new arena (plus interest payments for 25 years) We can’t even use the main bridge into the downtown Inspected in November and dangerous in January such that it’s shut Other bridges and culverts in decrepit condition!! The town needs a revamping of management who have allowed this mess to occur Feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] and tell us how we are doing passed away suddenly at his home on Woodlake in Bracebridge and is now reunited with his beloved wife Joan who went to be with the Lord on September 5th and lived on a dairy/potato farm with his parents Joseph and Therese and 8 siblings serving 3 years of basic infantry training and light anti aircraft gunnery He was stationed at bases in Val Cartier Quebec then in Mining Exploration in Uranium City Joe then moved out west to Edmonton Alberta where he did seismic drilling He also moved oil rigs to camps in the Artic Islands Then Joe worked at a floating logging camp in British Columbia and was a loader operator for log trucks in Nanaimo He worked on the James Bay Project from 1975-1981 as a heavy machine operator In the 80’s Joe worked on various pipeline projects in Quebec He shared plenty of his work adventures including being airlifted out of a wetland only hanging on to a helicopter landing rail In the mid 80’s Joe worked on constructing a log home in Port Carling did tree removal all over Muskoka and most importantly started his passion project of building his own log home on Wood Lake He used the boom logs he got from Temiscaming all of which he shaped and planed himself in local sawmills Joe and his wife Joan worked on designing and building their beloved home which stands as a testament of their love with all the hand carved hearts adorning their house outside and in Joe was a consummate outdoors man who loved to hunt Joe enjoyed woodworking and was very artistic in his creations as is clearly seen in the incredible woodworking projects he has done for others and his own home He loved his Quebecois culture and history He was always willing to lend a helping hand to friends and strangers alike antiques and adventures brought together Joe and Joan who he met on a ski trip after Joe had moved to Toronto in the 60’s Their love of the outdoors and northern native culture saw them travel to the high Artic to visit with Eskimos Before their new log home was built Joe and Joan could be found snowshoeing or cross-country skiing from the main highway to get to “Snoopy’s Haven” at Transfiguration Catholic Church in Etobicoke Their complimentary gifts that they willingly shared gave the best bear hugs and vice grip handshakes Visitation will be held at the Reynold’s Funeral Home from 10:30am-12:30pm; followed by a Funeral Mass at St Reception in the Church Hall from 2:00pm-3:30pm In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or South Muskoka Hospital Foundation