August 27, 2021

GREAT MUSKOKA LAKES BUSINESSES MARKED MISSED MILESTONES LAST NIGHT

BALA — Business may not have been great the past 20 months, but it’s great businesses that know how to survive if not thrive.

And celebrate.

More than 80 business people and community members from around the lakes were able to finally gather last night for the first in-person Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce event since the pandemic began.

They rallied around each other as they have since COVID consumed them, coming together on the grounds of Trinity All Saints Church for the first time in a long time.

Making the evening extra special was a celebration of all the milestone anniversaries in Muskoka Lakes missed because of restrictions.

Fittingly they met outside Trinity All Saints Anglican Church, on Bala Falls Road.

The church originally planned to mark its centenary church service on a Sunday in July — 100 years after the sermon on overlooking the Bala Falls.

A month later it changed when restrictions were loosened.

“When we were allowed to have 100 people outside, I called up Reverend Heather Manuel and the Church council to say a community celebration of the church and more was needed,” chamber executive director Norah Fountain said.

“The church, being a chamber member, means so much to many in the community, whether people are Anglican or not.

“At the same time, I asked them if they would consider honouring everyone who couldn’t mark milestones during the pandemic. The church loved the idea, and we all went to work.”

**Rev. Heather Manuel and members of the Trinity All Saints Anglican Church are celebrating their centenary year in Bala and agreed to host the community gathering and celebrations last night.**

With just four weeks of planning, more than 30 organizations were identified as having significant anniversaries, and the maximum 100 attendance limit was reached almost immediately.

Business owners and other organization representatives that were there in person were presented with provincial certificates from MPP Norm Miller recognizing their vision and years of success in the community. Certificates were presented to organizations with 20 to 150 years of operations. (See list below.)

Among them Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery for 20 years in 2021, Muskoka Brewery with 25 years in 2021; Brent Quarries and Stan Hunter Boat Builder with 30 years in 2020: 40 years of Bush’s Watersports and Shamrock Lodge; 50 years since the amalgamation of the Township of Muskoka Lakes; 60 years of the Chamber itself and of CNIB: and onward to 75 years of the Port Carling Lions; 100 years for the church, Muskoka Chautauqua, and Windermere Golf and Country Club; 115 years for Weismiller Timber Mart; and ending with 150 years of Windermere House.

A high point of the evening, says Fountain, was recognizing 145 years of Brooklands Farms, and honouring Ken and Katya Riley, who are the fifth generation of Rileys.

The farm has never changed ownership.

She said it was also touching to present the 75-year honours to Ryan and Chris Church of The Smithy, as Cathy (Church) Foreman had passed away in December of 2020 in her family company’s 75th year.

Before the evening wrapped up, the group gathered for a photo with a sign thanking Harry and Mary Ann Debes of the Harry Debes Family Foundation for their many generous contributions to help families in Muskoka Lakes (Andy’s House, West Muskoka Food Bank, Bala Santa Claus Parade, Meals on Wheels. Port Carling Health Hub, and grants to cover full university tuitions for local students).

Fountain says the evening couldn’t have come together without the support of church volunteers and generous donations from Clear Lake Brewing Co, Muskoka Brewery, Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery, Mary and Nick Grady of Gradmatic, the Chamber, and music by Shari Lundy of the Classic String Quartet.