Summer issue of the Muskoka Steward from Muskoka Conservancy | | |
SUMMER 2026 EDITION
- Happy Canada Day!
- Scott's Thoughts
- Native Plant Sale 2026 — Jan McDonnell Tribute
- AGM Report
- Volunteer Appreciation
- Out in the Field
- Michael Foster Photography Award
- Muskoka Conservancy Bursary Recipient
- Ripple Muskoka
- Bass Island — A Time Capsule on Lake Rosseau
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Happy Canada Day! The Conservancy will be closed Wed., July 1 & Fri., July 3.
Our official office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, but during the summer we’re frequently out in the field monitoring and maintaining nature reserves, clearing invasive species, counting snakes and just generally getting our hands dirty.
If we miss you, leave a message at 705-645-7393, or info@muskokaconservancy.org. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
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A Growing Opportunity for Conservation in Muskoka
By Scott Young, Executive Director
Muskoka Conservancy continues to build momentum. Over the past year, we protected five new properties totaling 1,565 acres, bringing our conserved lands to more than 6,700 acres across Muskoka.
What’s most exciting is that the demand for conservation is only growing. More and more landowners are reaching out to explore ways to permanently protect the forests, wetlands, shorelines, and wildlife habitats that make Muskoka so special. With several major projects already underway, the years ahead hold tremendous promise.
This growth also brings new challenges. As the number and scale of conservation projects increase, so does the need for stronger organizational capacity. To continue protecting land at this pace, Muskoka Conservancy are investing in the people, systems, and resources that make this work possible.
The opportunity before us is significant. Every contribution helps safeguard natural spaces, support healthy lakes and waterways, reduce the impacts of flooding, and preserve the landscapes that define Muskoka for future generations.
Now is the time to strengthen Muskoka Conservancy and expand our impact. With your support, we can protect more of Muskoka’s natural heritage for generations to come.
| | NATIVE PLANT SALE 2026 — TRIBUTE TO JAN McDONNELL | |
One of our most popular and enduring initiatives, the Native Plant Sale once again enjoyed a successful year, with a great turnout of those eager to add native species to their gardens, shorelines, and properties. The sale’s ongoing popularity demonstrates the growing interest in protecting and enhancing Muskoka's environment.
This year also marks an important transition. Since the sale began in the early 2000s, it has been spearheaded by longtime volunteer Jan McDonnell, whose dedication, energy, and organizational talent have been central to its success. After more than two decades of leadership, Jan has decided it is time to step back.
On behalf of Muskoka Conservancy, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Jan for everything she has done. Her commitment has helped thousands of native plants find homes across Muskoka and has left a lasting legacy for conservation in our region. Thanks also to the many volunteers who come out to lend a hand as well as the MNR in Bracebridge for the use of their warehouse these many years, the Town of Huntsville for the use of Avery Park and the Town of Gravenhurst for pickups at their municipal parking lot.
While Jan’s shoes are certainly big ones to fill, we are pleased to say that plans are falling into place for the Native Plant Sale to continue, carrying forward the tradition Jan helped build and ensuring that native plants remain a growing part of Muskoka's future. Stay tuned!
| MUSKOKA CONSERVANCY 2026 AGM REPORT | |
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Muskoka Conservancy 2026 Annual General Meeting, held in Windermere in early June.
In addition to the business of rounding up a banner year, presenting the Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements, and setting the board of directors for the year to come, (below), tribute was given to retiring directors Bob Weekes, Elspeth Wood and Samantha Hastings for their many (many, many) years of dedicated service.
Board of Directors for 2026-2027
Executive
- Peter Love - Chair
- Helle Tosine - Vice Chair
- Martine Brouillet - Treasurer
Directors
Anne Lindsay, Dana Richardson, Derrick Hammond, Laura Thomas, Marcie Anderson, Stephanie Grant, Sue Sedgwick, Stephen Fahner, Victor D’Souza
Guest Speaker Willamina Vandervecht
Guest speaker Willamina Vandervecht is an artist and social service provider whose engaging, informative and powerful presentation Nature and Art: Supporting Resilience in Youth, explored the integration of art, exercise and nature into mental health practice to support emotional regulation and well-being.
| | VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION 2026 | | |
Muskoka Conservancy is only able to do what we do with the help of our large and engaged network of volunteers. In April we held our Volunteer Appreciation and Field Season 2026 Kick-off in Bracebridge during Volunteer Appreciation Week.
It was a terrific get-together with trivia, delicious fare from Well Fed in Gravenhurst, lots of laughs and chatter, and Muskoka Conservancy goodie bags with MC baseball caps in six lovely colours.
A number of volunteers shared what their volunteer roles entail as well as their feelings about donating their time and skill to Muskoka Conservancy. Many of you said how satisfying it feels to do volunteering in which you can see the difference at the end of the day.
Thank you to
- Leah from the Invasive Species Squad
- Erica, a Snake Board Monitor
- Tom, who talked about the TAG Team
- Anne, a Hike/Webinar Leader
- Sue, who filled us in on Event Coordination/Support
- Allison, a Land Steward
- And to all the volunteers who came out on Saturday
- And to Cora! who was on a student placement with us during that time and was a huge help
- And to all of you who were not able to attend, but signed up to volunteer for Muskoka Conservancy in 2026!
Inspiring is an over-used word nowadays, but that is truly how it felt to hear the conviction of the presenters and attendees.
Interested in learning more about volunteering for Muskoka Conservancy? Check out our Volunteer Page (scroll down to see a description of each volunteer role), or contact Amanda at conservation@muskokaconservancy.org.
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During the summer, much of Muskoka Conservancy's work moves outdoors, making it the busiest field season of the year. We have for many years been blessed with the assistance of summer students whose job it is to help monitor protected properties, survey wildlife and habitats, maintain trails, support stewardship projects, and assist with community nature programs. The team will be on approximately 60 outings this summer, including Nature Quests, invasive species management, trail maintenance, and TAG assessments, where we complete a full species inventory and assess for species at risk.
Canada Summer Jobs
Our summer student positions are made possible through the Government of Canada's Canada Summer Jobs program, which helps provide meaningful employment opportunities for young people while supporting the work of community organizations like Muskoka Conservancy. This funding enables us to expand our conservation efforts while giving students valuable hands-on experience in environmental stewardship and the non-profit sector.
THIS YEAR'S TALENT
| Vanessa Smith, Conservation Technician | Born and raised in Newfoundland, now a Muskoka resident, Vanessa has a BSc from Trent and is graduate of Fleming College's Environmental Land Management program. She has a special interest in snakes and salamanders. We asked her how it's going so far and she sent this along: | |
Since starting my summer position as a Conservation Technician at Muskoka Conservancy, I have knocked a substantial number of species off my personal bucket list. This includes species which I have been yearning to see since I moved to Ontario from Newfoundland about six years ago. One of my first observations was the beautiful five-lined skink, with its signature stripes and glossy blue tail. Seeing the male in breeding condition a couple of weeks later, with its faded stripes and bright orange cheeks, was the icing on the cake.
Another incredible observation was my very first massasauga rattlesnake, where I unknowingly mistook the rattle for a dragonfly’s wings, thinking it was stuck in the grass. I crouched down to rescue it, about to stick my bare hand in the grass, when my coworker yelled RATTLESNAKE! No longer a hero and now the victim, I achieved a vertical take-off worthy of NASA. Their rattle is quite insect-like and often the first thing you hear, so if you’ve never seen or heard one before, don’t do what I did – become one with the local wildlife and flee like a startled deer.
All jokes aside, I’ve been having a phenomenal time working to conserve Muskoka’s reptiles. I’ve also seen some cool birds, and birds are technically reptiles, but for all our sakes, I’ll save that story for next time.
| Jade Walker, Community Animator | Muskoka born-and-raised, Jade is heading for her second year majoring in environmental studies and political studies at Queens University. As comfortable tackling invasives as she is crafting a compelling Instagram campaign, Jade is planning a career in environmental policy and legislation. Here are her thoughts so far: [alternative: we skip Jade's story | |
Muskoka has been my home my entire life, but my time with the Conservancy has shown me what "home" really means. People say that nature is healing or that it's the best medicine when we feel disconnected. I never fully understood why until now. As an environmental science student, I've been studying ecosystems from a detached, observational perspective. But the physical and mental demands of this job have broken down that textbook barrier.
Nothing made that clearer than an encounter the other day. After a long day in the field, Amanda, Reegan, and I were driving back to Bracebridge from the Conservancy's Silver Doe Nature Reserve in Gravenhurst when we spotted a Blanding's turtle. We pulled over, thrilled. Not only was it our first Blanding's sighting of the season, but it was my first time ever seeing this incredible species in the wild.
Because Blanding's turtles are threatened, sightings like this are rare. That moment reminded me that, despite living here my whole life, there's an extraordinary world of fragile biodiversity I've only just begun to experience. More importantly, it reinforced that protecting species like the Blanding's turtle isn't an external responsibility—it's caring for a landscape that we're deeply connected to. Moments like that make every physical and mental challenge of the field season worthwhile.
It's easy to lose sight of that connection, especially when my role at the Muskoka Conservancy balances fieldwork with plenty of time in the office. But more than anything, this experience has confirmed that I'm exactly where I need to be, and it has strengthened my excitement for pursuing my studies in Environmental Science and Political Studies. I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer brings.
| Delia Bugada, Conservation Technician | Delia just completed her second year at University of Guelph where she is pursuing her Masters of Environmental Science. She has a love of research, academia and the outdoors. She starts her work with the Conservancy the first week of July. We wish her a fun and educational summer with Muskoka Conservancy! | | MICHAEL FOSTER 2026 PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD — HENRY GAGE'S 'FUELLING UP' | | |
Congratulations to Henry Gage, recipient of the 2026 Michael Foster Photography Award, for his incredible photograph “Fuelling UP”, a hummingbird clearwing moth in mid-flight, taken in Gravenhurst last August.
“I am absolutely thrilled and honored to be the winner of the Michael Foster photography contest,” Henry told us. “It is so meaningful to have my work recognized by an organization dedicated to protecting the natural beauty of Muskoka, and I am excited to be able to celebrate Muskoka's unique landscape and wildlife through the competition."
Here’s how he described capturing the image: “My family had planted some native plant species on our property, and so I knew that they would attract a number of interesting pollinators, like the hummingbird clearwing moth pictured in the winning image. I set up a position in front of a flower, and waited until the moth entered my frame, using a high shutter speed to freeze the motion but slow enough to give the wings a glossy look."
He added, "I hope these images and the competition overall will help encourage us to appreciate and protect Muskoka's wildlife, and I'm incredibly grateful to the Conservancy for the recognition and opportunity to share my work.”
| | MUSKOKA CONSERVANCY 2026 BURSARY RECIPIENT — JONAH GONTHIER | | | | |
Meet Jonah Gonthier, the 2026 Muskoka Conservancy Bursary recipient!
Growing up in Lake of Bays, Jonah developed a deep passion for the natural world. Next year, he’s heading to Nipissing University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with the ultimate goal of becoming a field biologist. Jonah was inspired to take this path after an incredible research trip to Peru last year.
We couldn’t be prouder to support the next generation of conservation scientists. Join us in wishing Jonah the absolute best of luck in his studies! 👏
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Earlier this month, we came together for our 4th annual Ripple Muskoka fundraising event, an inspiring evening celebrating conservation, community, and the incredible support that makes Muskoka Conservancy's work possible.
A heartfelt thank you to C.B. Ross for bringing this wonderful event together, with the support of Muskoka Fashion Week , whose partnership helped make the evening such a success.
We’re especially grateful to VIP Hosting & Event Services and the incredible team at Turtle Jack's Muskoka Grill for hosting us in such a beautiful venue and providing exceptional service throughout the evening. We’d also like to extend our sincere thanks to Stephens Butcher Shop for their generous partnership and support.
A special shout-out also to Kenesha Creative for beautifully capturing the evening and preserving so many memorable moments.
To everyone who attended, donated, sponsored, and supported the Ripple Fundraiser—thank you.
Finally, thank you to sponsors Karen & Don Lang, Edward Rogers, and everyone who generously donated to our silent auction. The incredible variety of prizes showcased the strength and generosity of our community, and your contributions helped make the evening even more impactful. Together, we’re creating lasting ripples of positive change.
| | BASS ISLAND — A TIME CAPSULE ON LAKE ROSSEAU | | |
On Lake Rosseau within the District of Muskoka lies tiny Bass Island. On it stands a cottage dating back to 1882 that is a rare time capsule.
Viktor Arzethauser of That First Sip produced this charming documentary, an ode to the way things were over a century ago, featuring the reminiscences of Bill Van Iterson. 10m:43s.
At 7m:30s, Bill proudly recalls receiving Muskoka Conservancy's Built Heritage Award in 2020. Well deserved. Enjoy! (Click image to view).
| | | Muskoka Conservancy | Box 482 | Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T8 CA | | | | |
