The Adam Brunelle Experience
Ep. 1 - Muskoka Fever
As the last three weeks have seen Covid-19 spread across Ontario, anxiety levels have reached unprecedented highs.
In Cottage Country, the number of confirmed cases has continued to grow exponentially by the day. During what would typically be thawing season, events of recent weeks have left a cooler-than-usual air over the community; one of tension, uncertainty, and unwelcomeness. In episode 1 of the ABE Podcast, we talk to individuals on both sides of this argument in order to shed new light on this ongoing conflict.
Listen Up!
So, What's the Deal? A Background on My Experiences of Huntsville/Muskoka
Anyone who has the pleasure of visiting the Muskoka's will generally walk away from the experience knowing two things damn well: 1) It houses an incredibly unique geography; home to over 1,600 freshwater lakes and droves of lush forests, and 2) It's got a laidback pace to life, touting a friendly vibe and neighbourly culture (perhaps one may also recognize a certain magnetism to extremely wealthy investment... but I digress).
The region has a year-round population of roughly 60,000, yet most estimates will place the seasonal population at anywhere between 80-100,00, not to mention well over 1 million visitors annually.
I tend to believe that most local residents have generally embraced this touristic identity. When I say generally, I'm referring to the fact that the cottage industry has allowed many of these small communities to thrive, providing jobs, business development opportunities, increased tax dollars and more. Those are indisputable facts, and most if not every Muskoka native I've had the pleasure of being around would agree with that.
However, while I believe in the validity of the aforementioned statement, this is not to say that I believe every Muskoka native respects their seasonal city-dweller population. When I asked close friend and Huntsville local Karina Leffler to describe the relationship, she laughed and said, "Yea we're willing to tolerate all you "cidiots", but most of you aren't bad. Just don't try to act country around me".
I believe she put it as perfectly as I, having spent 16 years cottaging and several summers working in the area, have come to understand this relationship myself. While we might come off as snobby or posers or flat-out "cidiots" (city-idiot) at times, we city folk are generally tolerated, sometimes even appreciated, by the local population. I have seen this relationship play out for as many summers as I can remember, and it has led me to understand that the people of Muskoka are good, kind, friendly, hardworking and helpful people. Summer after summer, these folks suck it up and welcome us city folk with open arms and we appreciate it.
Sadly, I haven't felt that things this year have been quite the same as any other.
With the spread of Covid-19 throughout Ontario in the last month, cottage season has gotten off to a rough start. As news about the virus' spread began ramping up in intensity, so too did the urges of city folk to 'self-isolate' in their summer homes; a comparably more remote and less panic-stricken environment than exists in the city.
This mass exodus has left cottagers bearing a brunt of the blame for many ongoing crises in the Muskoka area. Ranging from bringing the virus to the region in the first place, to emptying out the local grocery stores, and from complaining about the lack of available services and amenities, to putting a potentially critical strain on local healthcare. At the same time, cottagers, whom many of which feel they are entitled to their second homes as devout tax payers, are growing impatient as they continue to be told not to use their properties.
I set out to obtain an interview from a longtime friend of mine and Huntsville local, as well as with a Torontonian cottage-owner, in an attempt to gather perspectives on both sides of this argument and shed new light on the ongoing dilemma.
Don't believe it? Let's see what folks are saying...
Twitter has been running rampant with angry tweets on the subject in recent days, with arguments covering both sides of the debate...
Timeline of Events
March 21
After Ontario health officials announce 60 new cases of Covid-19 in the province, Southern Ontario cottage owners rush north to isolate in the rural townships of Muskoka. Mayor of neighbouring town Bracebridge, Gradon Smith, describes the problems this could bring to the community.
# of confirmed cases in Simcoe-Muskoka: 9
March 27
"Rural areas are not equipped to deal with an increased demand for supplies". Premier Doug Ford asks residents to avoid heading to their cottages, in response to the concerns he has heard from Muskoka Lakes governments over the influx of seasonal residents to the area.
# of confirmed cases in Simcoe-Muskoka: 35
March 30
Just three days after Premier Ford, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer echoes the same sentiments via Twitter.
# of confirmed cases in Simcoe-Muskoka: 50
April 7
The Simcoe-Muskoka health unit is reporting community-wide transmission.
# of confirmed cases in Simcoe-Muskoka: 105
What's the community look like?
Highway 11, typically one of Ontario's busiest and most dangerous spring / summer highways, looks nearly abandoned.
Picturesque downtown Huntsville. On any average sunny, warm, spring weekend-day, the streets and docks would be littered with pedestrians, perusing the local shops and cottagers pulling up on their boats. However, these days, the town is whisper quiet.
Normally a popular public park among both local and seasonal residents, the Port Sydney Falls are effectively abandoned.
Another few looks at the empty downtown core.
The new regular in town: Medical face-masks and empty grocery aisles.