December 2021
Thank you so much for making Arowhon Pines part of your lives. Welcome to all the new guests who discovered us during the pandemic, and those returning again this coming season. Thank you to all our wonderful, loyal veteran clientele who’ve kept us grounded and sane. As we write, it looks like another roller coaster ride of Covid-19 life this winter. We’re determined to stay strong, embrace those close to us and spend time outside – all the while dreaming of being back in Algonquin Park! 2022 is busy with private suites mostly all booked, and smaller cabins taken by family gatherings. If your dates are flexible, we’ll find space for you! Spring and early July are beautiful times of the season. In return for a few black flies (!), you’ll get an empty lake for canoeing and have the moose all to yourselves on the trails. Not to mention 100 shades of spring’s green new growth. The best to you and yours during the holiday season! We look forward to seeing you all again!
Love Theresa, David and Adam & the Team at Arowhon Pines
PS Stuck for a gift this season? Arowhon Pines gift certificates for a meal, a weekend or dreamy week are available.
ALGONQUIN PARK INSPIRES THE ARTIST IN EVERYONE
We’re so lucky to meet many artists at Arowhon Pines.
Bill Franks started his painting career as a boy rowing A.Y. Jackson around the Go-Home-Bay area of Georgian Bay. Jackson taught him how to make a sketch box and introduced him to the basics of color.
Bill has been painting for seventy years. His work hangs in private collections across Canada and internationally. He strives to present the rhythm, patterns, design and color of the changing landscapes of Canada.
Algonquin Park holds a special love.
Last week, we spent an afternoon with Bill in Algonquin and Oxtongue, watching as he scouted and sketched for new painting subjects.
His studio is in Collingwood in the historic Tremont building.
Bill will be at Arowhon Pines on September 26 for one week; he invites guests to come along while he sketches and paints ‘en plein air’. His paintings will be shown and for sale at Arowhon Pines throughout the season.
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Martha Johnson has worked as a visual artist for thirty years producing drawings, paintings, sculptures and installations. She has designed sets and costumes for theatre and dance companies. She also teaches painting at the Avenue Road Arts School in Toronto and Grand Manan New Brunswick in the summer.
This will be Martha’s third painting class at Arowhon Pines, from August 29, 2022 for 4 nights.
Martha has a special family connection to the mysterious circumstances surrounding Tom Thomson’s death a hundred years ago. Her class at Arowhon will visit and paint at historic locations around the Joe Lake Dam and Mowat cemetery. She also holds a nocturnal class.
Please visit www.marthajohnson.ca for more information and to join the class.
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You may have run into Scott McKowen around the grounds at Arowhon Pines, sketchbook, ink and pen in hand.
Amongst other things (art director, graphic designer and illustrator specializing in graphics for theatre and performing arts), Scott is a prolific scratchboard illustrator who has established an international career specializing in theatre posters and book covers.
Scott will be at Arowhon Pines on September 3rd for three nights. While he’s here, he would love to meet any artist, young and old, novice and experienced, give tips and get together in the evenings to share work.
Visit: www.punchandjudy.ca.
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Brian Henry is a book editor and creative writing instructor working for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops all over Canada and the US. His proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors.
His popular Algonquin Park Writing Retreat is back from June 3 – 6, 2022. The retreat will feature instruction, guided writing exercises plus one-on-one critiques and coaching from Brian. It’s a weekend of inspiration and creativity, writing in the most beautiful wilderness setting in Ontario. All writing levels welcome. For more information or to register, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca.
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RENOVATIONS Every season we tackle new projects around the grounds. The Dining Room cupola has new windows that look exactly like the originals. Some of the windows will open so that on summer days hot air can escape - a welcome relief for guests and staff alike. We’ve finally found a company to repair our tennis courts this spring. Fingers crossed that there will be no product and shipping delays. There will be one tennis court with permanent posts, one pickle ball court with removable posts and in true Canadian tradition, two nets and sticks for ball hockey! Staff vs guests - any time!!!! There are little things here and there happening in the guest cabins. We’ve built a new duplex staff cabin for our married (with children) couples! FAMILY The Arowhon Pines family continues to grow. Chef David and his wife Donna have a new daughter-in-law! Congratulations Jacob and Kayleigh on your wedding! Adam is now Uncle Adam! His brother Jody and wife Julia welcomed little Charlie, which warranted a lovely holiday on the west coast to meet her. … and Theresa’s partner Mike became a grandfather to his eldest son’s boy, Finley. Theresa remains “Grandpa’s girlfriend” (HA!!!) Eric worked at Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland for a month after our season and got a surprise visit from his wife Anne Marie, with Theresa and Terri in tow. The Contrucci’s travelled to France in December and are now enjoying the sun in New Zealand for their winter season. To be back in May! Many of our staff are working at ski resorts in Alberta and British Colombia; we’re hoping they too are back with us for the summer. Jenna and John welcomed their baby girl Juniper, who’ll you’ll meet next season. We’ve already penned her in for 2039! And of course, Bear, Lucy and Hank are all fine too and send lots of licks and kisses. Until we see you again, stay safe!
