Speaking From the Heart
by Larry Law CEO & Founder
It's about Sharing

Let's have hope, let's have faith,
let's have love!
Welcome to the 2021 Holiday issue of Serving With Caring Hearts.

Reflecting on this past year I continue to learn how important sharing is to balanced and healthy human behaviour. 

A year ago, we stood looking over the precipice facing an uninspiring 2021 particularly for all of us who look forward to sharing vacations and experiences with friends and family.

Sharing goes far beyond sharing gifts during the holiday season. 

I believe sharing is creating connections with people, our surroundings, nature, enriching experiences and openness. COVID has attempted to deny us these vital sharing components.

Sharing, therefore, is a lifelong need and commitment despite the challenges we may confront. 

We choose sharing and positivity

Our business model translates sharing into doing the right thing for our team members. This is centred on love, care, kindness and less self-seeking behaviours. We know from our experience that they in turn will serve our resort guests and members with caring hearts.

Living Water Leadership is based on caring for team members first and thereby retaining and attracting team members. Serving team members first – sharing - is a prerequisite for exceptional customer service. In other words, by serving our team members first, our team members will be inspired and enthused to serve our members and guests with caring hearts.

Two brief stories demonstrate the importance of sharing and serving our team members first.

Our terrific Living Shore Spa Team under the always positive leadership of Sandra Van Der Vechte recently completed a raffle in support of Hospice Georgian Triangle located in Collingwood.

Sandy and her team chose sharing and positivity. They recognized a community need – support for the wonderful work of the Hospice – and created a Christmas raffle. Spa team members donated their time for a couples massage as well as Spa and Cranberry Golf Course items.
A total of 468 tickets were sold raising $2,340 for the Hospice! An inspiring demonstration of sharing, caring and positivity.

The second demonstration of sharing, caring and positivity is the conversion of the former Cranberry Recreation Centre into the Living Water Resort Staff Community Hub providing a kid’s drop-in centre for youngsters 4 years old and up accompanied by parents or family members. The Hub will be a valuable and trusted platform with after school tutoring in proper life preparation, monetary management for adults and other skills to make a difference in their lives and the world. Our resort guests are welcome to participate.

Our resort’s leadership team shares a singular focus – serve our team members and our guests with caring hearts so that you, our valued guests, can share connections, experiences and nature through our resort and its amenities.

Sharing for us is a holistic well-being opportunity for our dear staff and their families; and beyond. Our focus is positivity, serving with caring hearts, doing the right thing and searching for ways to benefit each of you when you visit.

Let's have hope, let's have faith, let's have love. By God's grace, it is happening.

My best wishes for a joyous Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Larry Law
CEO and Founder
Living Water Resorts
Santa in a red canoe. Only in Canada.
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas.
Living Water Resorts News
A Communication Update to our Guests
  
We are writing to update you about the impact of the Ontario Government's December 20th COVID response regulations.
 
We wish to reassure you that the resort remains open for your enjoyment. We’ll continue to serve you with fresh open spaces as we always have done and continue to follow increased safety protocols across the resort.
 
The December 20th provincial restrictions do result in a reduced capacity at some of our resort amenities.
 
  • Lakeside Seafood & Grill and Memories Bar & Grill will have 50% reduced seating capacity
  • The resort health & fitness facilities, gyms, fitness classes, and change rooms are subject to 50% reduced capacity
  • Our swimming pools will continue to operate with reduced capacity limits
  • Living Shore Spa spa services, including Aquapath, will operate at 50% reduced capacity

Access to restaurants, spa, fitness rooms and pools require proof of double vaccinations and identity.
 
One thing that has not changed is the 700+ Acres of Fresh Experiences at Living Water Resorts! With miles of nearby snowshoe and cross country ski trails, nearby waterfront parks, and quaint downtown Collingwood shops offering curbside pick up. There is still so much to enjoy during your stay at Living Water Resorts!
 
We look forward to continuing to serve you and providing you with a healthy and safe vacation.

As always, our safety is your safety.

Caring For Our Team Members
Three generations of the Law family - Larry, his daughter Elaine and grandson - along with members of the resort leadership team, presented 200+ Living Water Team Members with Christmas gifts at the second Annual Team Christmas recognition.
 
In his letter to each team member, Larry recognized their immense contribution during a year unlike any other at the resort. Here is part of Larry's Christmas message to team members:
 
“Christmas is my favourite time of the year. A time when I can see all the Living Water team members’ smiles and hear your laughter as we celebrate together. Unfortunately, we will not be hosting our traditional Christmas Celebration dinner.

I want to share a special gift from my loving heart. I know this Living Water toque and scarf will keep you warm on cold days and that warmth will bring a smile to your face, just as you bring a smile to the face of each other and our guests. The food baskets are for your whole family and you may invite your beloved neighbours who may be lonely. Let's share our love, let's share our joy with others. 

I am so proud of how each of you responded to the ever-changing rules, regulations, safety zone colours and uncertainty as we navigated our way forward. 

I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and good health in 2022. I thank you, again, for making Living Water Resorts a very special place. 

By God's grace together, let's take our high road to show our love and compassion through our works and lives to the people around us and beyond.”
Toronto Sun Writer Visits
Living Shore Spa Aquapath
Toronto Sun writer Jane Stevenson was a recent visitor to Living Water Resorts on a mission to sample our Living Shore Spa’s Aquapath. 

The 5,000-square-foot, multi-station Aquapath experience is the only one of its kind in Ontario.

Jane wrote about her visit to Living Water Resorts, the Spa and her Lakeside Seafood & Grill dinner:

“The entire surroundings promote peace, too, with terra cotta walls, hanging green vines and driftwood on the ceiling with soft music playing. By the end of it, your head doesn’t feel attached to your body and your body feels like it’s floating.

Visitors can either visit for the day spa or stay overnight at the resort — as I was lucky enough to do, being put up in a massive, one-bedroom condo in the newest wing.

A family of four could have easily enjoyed the large dining room table that seats eight, a kitchen that includes a dishwasher, fireplace with cosy green velvet chairs and a neutral-coloured, pull-out couch, king-sized bed with a light blue velvet backboard, chaise lounge, walkout balcony with two Adirondack chairs, and even a washer and dryer.

The surroundings were so pretty, I ordered room service from the property’s Lakeside Seafood and Grill (the only waterfront restaurant in the Blue Mountain/Collingwood area) and was thrilled with my shrimp Thai curry bowl for dinner (it’s also available at lunch.

That’s why, ideally, you’d just float back to your room and gaze at your fireplace instead of getting in your car and driving home, breaking the spell.”

Thank you Jane for your wonderful comments and we were pleased to serve you with caring hearts.
Donation to
Breaking Down Barriers
More than $8,000 was raised for Breaking Down Barriers at the 2nd annual Sticks and Stones golf and curling tournament hosted by Cranberry Golf Course and the 2021 Cranberry Business League.

Breaking down Barriers is a Collingwood charity that provides supports, services and programs to enhance opportunities for people with diverse disabilities to live independently in communities they call home. 
 
Warren Smith, Executive Vice President for Living Water Resorts presented a cheque to Teresa Gal, Executive Director of the charity along with its Board Chair Jim Ironside and Board Member Alex Ballah
 
In presenting the cheque, Warren Smith noted: “ Living Water Resorts believes in giving back and by organizing a unique Sticks and Stones weekend tournament adhering to proper COVID protocols, we allowed individuals to safely participate in the tournament and their regular league to support an important community charity. We are thrilled to present this donation that will provide individuals with disabilities in our community support and services they rely on”.
 
Teresa Gal, Executive Director for Breaking Down Barriers expressed appreciation for Living Water Resort’s continued commitment to the local community.
 
“We are very appreciative of this donation resulting from the generosity of participants and Living Water Resorts’ continued commitment to our community. This generous donation will go a long way in helping us ensure that all programs, services and supports those individuals with diverse disabilities need are available to them.”
 
For more information about Breaking Down Barriers, please visit www.breakingdownbarriers.ca or call 705-445-1643 ext. 301.

December 19th On-Site Dining Changes
Consistent with the Ontario Government's December 19th requirement for reduced capacities for restaurant dining, Lakeside Seafood & Grill and Memories Restaurant & Bar have reduced seating capacity by 50% until we receive further guidance.

Lakeside is offering a Christmas Weekend Dinner from December 24 to 26, Brunch on the Bay each Saturday and Sunday, and a New Year’s Eve fondue dinner. Call 705-446-3274 for details and reservations. 
 
Memories Restaurant & Bar is also serving a Christmas Weekend dinner special. Call 705-445-9683 to reserve. Please reserve in advance to ensure seating. 

Access to Lakeside and Memories restaurants require proof of double vaccinations and identity.
 
As always, we remain committed to ensuring a safe and healthy resort for our Lakeside Seafood & Grill and Memories Restaurant & Bar guests. We will not compromise on that commitment. 
Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Drive
227 shoeboxes filled with joy!

Once again team members at Living Water Resorts team members responded to the challenge of supporting Operation Christmas Child, a project of the international relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse. 

Operation Christmas Child provides children around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items, and school supplies.
 
Living Water Resorts team members filled 227 shoeboxes surpassing last year’s total of 107 shoeboxes. That means we will be making Christmas Day a very special day for 227 young people. 
 
Don Buckle, Vice President, Resort Operations & General Manager of Living Water Resorts commented: “For many children in a different country, this will mean the first time they have ever received a Christmas gift. Thank you for the joy that you will bring a little one and your caring hearts.”

Congratulations Living Water Team Members for extending your caring hearts to provide many young people with perhaps their first gift ever.
 
Living Water Experiences
OFF SITE ADVENTURES
Start off your day with a wellness run on the 34 km long Georgian Trail. Enjoy discovery walks and hikes in the woods of the nearby Bruce Trail.
This rustic and country village is known for fine dining, great shopping, wonderful galleries and a great little beach and pier.
Clarksburg is a bustling village with interesting places to visit and shop such as the old fashioned hardware store, the honey store that is shaped like a bee hive, art galleries and more!
Great getaways into nature within a 45 minutes drive. Discover Eugenia Falls and Hoggs Falls and indulge in the spectacular views.

We are 5 minutes to the Blue Mountains Ski Slopes

ON SITE ACTIVITIES
Fat Bikes, Snowshoes and Cross Country Skiing

New this winter season … Fat Bikes for exploring the nearby trails.
 
Take your family on a snowshoe or cross country skiing adventure while enjoying the beautiful outdoors.
 
Weather permitting, the trails will be open 9 AM - 3 PM from December 26 until January 3. After January 3, the trails will be available 9 AM – 3 PM every Saturday and Sunday.
 
We are offering complimentary Snow Shoe and Cross Country Ski usage for our hotel guests.
 
Please make your rental reservation with the Cranberry Golf Club Pro Shop 705-445-6600 EXT #691 then press 1 to speak to an attendant. 

Introducing ...
B2Be 2022 Business Symposium
April 27-28, 2022

The B2Be Business Symposium is not a business school mini-seminar, or a hospitality industry conference.

It is a two-day learning experience featuring six real-world leadership and business experts leading seven Roundtables.

Enrollment is limited to 50 senior executives, entrepreneurs, business development leaders and organizational leaders who share a passion for business and personal transformation.

Our Roundtable leaders operate integrated businesses focused on real estate development, construction, golf, spa, and food & beverage operations. Each leader has different but transferrable experiences and skills. They will share their Living Water Leadership learnings, experiences and practical use.

For 30 years, we have grown our business while surviving economic storms.
During those years, we’ve discovered the “secret sauce” for organizational growth, transformation, human asset management and profitability.

Each B2Be Roundtable will unlock key insights into our “secret sauce” for transformational leadership 30 years in the making. Caring for and supporting team members first and doing the right thing are the core principles of Living Water Leadership. Attendees will learn that caring for team members first and being profitable are not mutually exclusive. We know.

The B2Be Business Symposium will share our “secret sauce” with you.

We’ll prove that business can be kind and profitable.
 
Revisiting a Holiday Favorite
From Our Lakeside Seafood & Grill Kitchen
Pecan Brie Bake

Ingredients:

1 (12-oz.) wheel of brie
2 tbsp. butter
1/4 c. packed brown sugar 
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 tbsp. heavy cream
1 c. whole or chopped pecans
Pinch salt

Ingredients:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place brie in a small oven-safe skillet or baking dish.
  2. In a nonstick skillet over low heat, melt butter and brown sugar until bubbly. Stir in cinnamon, heavy cream, pecans, and salt until completely coated, then remove from heat.
  3. Pour pecan mixture over brie and bake until brie is melty, 10 minutes.

*Special note -The secret to this delicious baked brie is the caramelized topping! Make sure you're cooking your butter and sugar at a low temperature so the butter does not burn. Once the sugar has dissolved into the butter, pour in your cinnamon and heavy cream – be aware, it'll bubble and spit a little! Work quickly to whisk the cream into the sugar mixture, and add the nuts as soon as it comes together.
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