NATURAL HERITAGE STEWARDSHIP AWARDS 2003

PEARSALL PROPERTY, WALKER’S POINT

SHAWN & DEIRDRE PEARSALL

For five generations, the Pearsall family has enjoyed and cared for the property with 650 feet of frontage on Lake Muskoka. With the exception of a few small additions, the building footprints are as they were in the 20’s and 30’s. Changes have been minimal. However, the family has moved to an environmentally friendly composting toilet recently. From the cottage to the water are woodchip footpaths, bordered with downed birches. At the beautiful natural shoreline, there is only a small dock and the original old boathouse. With only a single outdoor light and the natural shoreline, the cottage can barely be seen from the water night or day.

KELLY PROPERTY, BROWNING ISLAND

DR. ROBERT & LEONA KELLY

Robert’s uncle originally built the boathouse sixty years ago and the log cottage five years later. That was and still is the only access to the 1500 feet of protected shoreline. The cottage and a small bunkie are tastefully nestled into the trees and the ground cover is preserved by keeping traffic on narrow footpaths around the property. Lights are manually operated in order to reduce light pollution and conserve energy. The property with its rocky granite point and natural beach in the bay stand out as a fine example of good stewardship by the Kelly family.

NICHOLS PROPERTY, LAKE JOSEPH

SHARON & HUGH NICHOLS

This property has been in the family for 65 years. While the footprint of the cottage has not changed much in that time, the shoreline has received some stresses. The Nichols family are endeavouring to restore the shoreline to a more natural state. This has involved infilling with white pine, allowing vegetation to grow over an old retaining wall and nurturing an area in the riparian zone. This area now supports frogs, bass beds, and a variety of aquatic plants. On the rest of the property, paths are being minimized and parking is being moved well away from the water.

MULLER-DAWE PROPERTY, KAHSHE LAKE

WENDY MULLER & GEOFFREY DAWE

In 1999, Wendy and Geoffrey fell in love with the rock and trees that grace this beautiful shoreline. Wanting to exercise good stewardship of the land and water, they took their time to decide on docking, building site and style of building.

Docking is a post dock and a floating dock with a single path up to the cottage. The cottage, built in 2000, sits well back from the water and is a tasteful "old Muskoka" style with an unobtrusive moss green colour. Any additions to the footprint have been carefully thought out to retain the natural beauty of the property. Shoreline preservation has always been a priority.

JAMES SOLECKI

INTEGRA WORKS CUSTOM LIGHTING SYSTEMS

After a number of years in the lighting business, James and his family moved to Muskoka in 1998 to focus on the design and installation of dark sky-friendly and non-polluting outdoor lighting systems. These low voltage systems not only eliminate light trespassing and glare on the water, but they are aesthetically pleasing to both clients and neighbours. James has volunteered time and expertise with the Muskoka Heritage Foundation Dark Sky presentation at the Cottage Life show, with Cottage Life magazine for its "Dimwit" article and with the District to produce the "Sensible Shoreline Lighting" guideline. James is an amateur astronomer and member of the International Dark-Sky Association. His business has been a welcome addition to Muskoka’s effort to help preserve our dark sky natural heritage.