Muskoka Heritage Foundation
Natural Heritage Stewardship 2006 Award Recipients

Trethewey Falls, South Muskoka River
Bracebridge
Carol and Jim Hartill

This property has been in Carol's family for over a century. During that time, it has been both farmed and logged. Ancient stacks of hemlock bark, originally destined for the tanneries are still evident in one part of the forested area.

The house stands next to the falls and was taken over by Ontario Hydro as the station operator's home in 1928. Hyrdro sold the house in 1967 when the station operation became automated. In 1994, the Hartills purchased the land when they retired to Muskoka. It has since been renovated and expanded, with careful attention to maintaining the original 1870s style.

Recently, the Hartills took a leading role in preventing the introduction of a road along the shore road allowance, east of Trethewey Falls bridge.

The property is now in the Ontario's Managed Forest Taxation Incentive Program. With the help of forester John Duncan, the Hartills are improving the forest, laying out trails, bridging a creek, reforesting old fields and collecting maple syrup.

Three Mile Lake
Township of Muskoka Lakes
Asha and Sudi Devanesen

The Devanesen property is situated on Three Mile Lake at the Dee Bank River, with water on two sides of their two acres. A small floating dock with a rowboat is the only intrusion on their shoreline.

The house is tucked out of sight at the top and back of the lot. Other than the septic bed and a short driveway, it is untouched forest with maple, hemlock, cedar, and pine. Throughout the property, dead trees and snags are left untouched unless they pose a hazard to people or the house. Natural granite stone steps lead from the house down to a picnic table under a beautiful canopy of hemlock.

During their ten years on the property, they have watched a broadwing hawk learn to fly and fox pups play in the driveway. Amongst their uninvited but welcome guests are muskrats, beavers, ducks, great blue herons, bears, deer, and hummingbirds.

Kahshe Lake
Gravenhurst
Carol Gulyas

Carol's cottage, perched on a rock high above Kahshe Lake, has a spectacular view. The original cottage burned down and was replaced by a small well-hidden building.

She acquired the cottage twelve years ago and is slowly bringing the site back to a natural state by planting native species in the rock crannies and nursing along small pines. The property has two floating docks at the end of narrow paths and a small, natural beach with a small, dry boathouse.

Carol also owns two other pristine properties on Kahshe Lake - one, the large point of land that forms the view from her cottage and the other, a shoreline that is/was in the process of being subdivided. If she can help it, her part of the lake will never be overdeveloped. Carol has her own land trust…she now cares for over 45 acres of land.

In the future, her children may put up a few small cottages, but it will always stay in a natural state - no lawns and no monster buildings.

Horse Logger
Bracebridge
Gerald Cook

Gerald Cook has worked in the bush most of his life. These days, he and his son, Mark, work the forest with their two Belgians, Silver & Scott. Horse logging is easier on the environment than more modern logging practices leaving the forest looking almost undisturbed. In his 60 odd years of working in Muskoka's forests, Gerald has gained a reputation as the best horse logger - best for the forest, best for the landowner and the best in Muskoka - because he cares.

Gerald has offered his farm to schools for outdoor education. He has shown other loggers how to work with horses and he has demonstrated the art to many groups for OMNR. Gerald's farm has about 200 acres of forest and wetlands, all looked after with his characteristic care.

Gerald conducts his (professional) life, with respect for the environment, his clients, his horses and himself. His true reward is knowing that he leaves the forest in better shape than when he started.