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The Muskoka Heritage Trust
About Us
Mission Statement
The Muskoka Heritage Trust is a federally
incorporated charitable trust established by the Muskoka Heritage
Foundation specifically for the purpose of preserving Muskoka's
heritage assets, including significant natural lands and built heritage
artifacts and architecture, by means of acquisition or conservation
easements.
Objectives and Goals
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To promote the stewardship of Muskoka's
heritage resources.
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To develop policies, procedures, programs, and annual budgets
to support ongoing planning, management, and administration of Heritage
Trust assets.
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To establish priorities for Heritage Trust acquisitions.
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To examine alternate means of protection for candidate assets
such as easements, management agreements, covenants, etc.
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To develop and implement policies addressing acquisition and management
of assets bequeathed to the Heritage Trust.
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To develop and implement funding and management strategies required
to ensure long term practical and effective viability in management
of Heritage Trust assets.
Who Are We?
The Muskoka Heritage Trust is a founding member
of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance. We are a federally incorporated
charitable organization made up of a small group of staff members
who support eleven dedicated, knowledgeable, and experienced volunteer
board members.
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Standing:
Bill Dickinson, Don McVittie, Allyn Abbott, Cecil Hayhoe,
Ken Anthony
Sitting: John Finley, George Snider, Russ Black
Not
Present: Rob Purves, Andy Frame, Kathy Ristic
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The Board
Russ Black, President Ken Anthony, Vice President
John Finley, Secretary
Rob Purves, Treasurer Allyn Abbott
Bill Dickinson Andy Frame
Cecil Hayhoe Don McVittie Kathy Ristic
George Snider
Staff
Cathy Kuntz, Land Trust Coordinator
Pam Goulbourne
Barbara Maddock
Meet our Board…
Russ Black: President
Russ joined the MHF as a Director in 1998, after retiring from his
position as Mayor of the Town of Bracebridge. He has a B.Sc. in
Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto, and Bachelor of
Laws Degree from Queen's University. For the past 30 years Russ
has practiced municipal law in Muskoka, and is an active member
of the Eilean Gowan Cottager Association, and the Muskoka Field
Naturalists. Russ and his wife Audrey are long time residents of
Bracebridge and Eilean Gowan Island. They have two daughters Amy
and Susan.
Ken Anthony: Vice President
Since 1988, Ken has been the Crown Attorney for the District of
Muskoka. He was born and raised in Toronto but jumped at the chance
to live in Muskoka as he had summered in the area as a child, and
he and his wife owned a cottage on Lake of Bays. Ken holds Bachelor
of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Toronto.
He is a past Director of the Lake of Bays Association and presently
is a member of the Board of Directors of the Lake of Bays Heritage
Foundation. Ken, his wife, and his two teenagers live in Bracebridge
where he is a member of the Rotary Club of Bracebridge as well as
a member of the Board of Directors of the Family, Youth and Child
Services of Muskoka. Ken became involved with the Trust in order
to preserve the natural beauty of this area and to be able to pass
it on to future generations.
Allyn Abbott
After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University
of Toronto in 1978, Allyn worked for Environment Canada. She studied the effects of eutrophication (over-fertilization)
of the Great Lakes and smaller lakes in Ontario.
Returning to university in 1989, Allyn received
her Bachelor of Laws from University of Toronto, then subsequently
earned a Master of Laws from Osgoode in 2002. Prior to retiring, she
was a partner at
a law firm in Toronto, restricting her practice
to civil litigation, including environmental assessments
and other environmental litigation.
Allyn recently moved to
Muskoka, although she has been a cottager in Muskoka since
she was 2 weeks old.
Bill Dickinson
Bill has a keen interest in preserving the natural heritage of Muskoka.
After all, it was the striking beauty of this area and a love of
teaching that lured him here to live and work in the first place.
Upon completing a Master of Science in Biology at the University
of Toronto, Bill became a teacher and eventually science department
head at Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School. In addition
to sitting on the board of the Trust, Bill is a board member (and youth coordinator) for
the Parry Sound-Muskoka Stewardship Network. In his leisure, time
he enjoys canoeing, kayaking, camping and hiking with family and
friends.
John Finley
John is a lawyer by profession and has practised corporate and commercial
law in Toronto since being called to the bar in 1965. He and his
family have been seasonal residents of Muskoka since 1972 and have
been located at Whiteside Bay on Lake Muskoka since 1976. John has
been a member of the board of the Foundation for more than ten years,
and is currently Secretary of the Trust. He is also a member of
the Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club, served on the club's board
of directors for ten years, and was President of the club from 1996
to 1997. He has also been active in both the Canadian Bar Association
and The Canadian Red Cross Society, at one time holding the position
of Ontario President for each organization. John enjoys golf, cross-country
skiing and snowshoeing. But, most of all, he loves Muskoka and is
looking forward to spending even more time here. His wife Freda
is also active in Muskoka, currently serving as a director of the
Muskoka Lakes Association.
Andy Frame
Cecil Hayhoe
Don McVittie
Don was born and raised in Bracebridge. He now lives in Huntsville
where he had a very successful General Motors dealership for twenty-five
years. Don continues to enjoy his cottage on Lake Muskoka. As a
young teen, he started planting red pine trees and now continues
to plant and maintain red pine plantations. In addition to being
a director for both the Foundation and the Trust, Don has been very
active on the Parry Sound Muskoka Stewardship Council for the past
years, and now represents that Council as well as the Trust on the Muskoka Watershed
Council.
Rob Purves
Rob is one of the founding members of the Board of Directors for
the Foundation. He held the job of MHF President for a record nine
years, from 1988 to 1997. Rob also sits as a member of the Board
of Directors for The Muskoka Heritage Trust, is Past President and
Honorary Commodore for the Muskoka Lakes Association, and Past President
of the Ontario Sailing Association.
Rob has a B.A. in Economics and Political
Science from U of T, and a number of insurance diplomas and designations.
He has eight years experience in accounting and 20 years in the
insurance brokerage business. Currently, he is CEO of 3 insurance
firms. As a 45-year resident of Lake Rosseau, he has been an active
member of the Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club, Muskoka Lakes
Museum, Muskoka Steamship & Historical Society, and Muskoka
Lakes Association.
Kathy Ristic
Kathy is a Toronto resident, an equity financial analyst on Bay
St., and Mom to a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son.
She has been cottaging in Muskoka her entire life and her family
has been on Browning Island for almost a century. She particularly
loves to row her racing single around the island as the sun comes
up. It is to preserve the family tradition and the quiet beauty
of Muskoka's natural heritage that she volunteers for the Trust.
George Snider
George, his wife Carole, and their family have been seasonal residents
on Royal Muskoka Island, Lake Rosseau for over 20 years and have
been enjoying the Muskoka area for over 40 years. George is past
president of the Muskoka Heritage Foundation and has served as a
director for eight years.
George renovated a century old grain and feed
mill he purchased in downtown Bracebridge (The Granary). He maintained
its historical character and restored it as a vibrant home for many
businesses and residents in the downtown core. In his past career,
he served as vice-president of a corporation and president of international
operations. He holds a M.B.A. from Case Western University, Cleveland
Ohio and he has served on many boards and advisory committees.
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