SHIFT CHANGE

Daybreak spreads across the eastern sky, relieving dawn of its shift, a parody of the day shift at The Rosseau taking over from myself and my colleague, Dawn, this morning. Working the night shift allows me to take advantage of any beautiful days or attend a special event, as well as be able to witness many of our beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

C-DAY

Looking like a nautical war scene, a flotilla of boats waiting to storm the shore after the barrage of firepower is over, in reality is another spectacular Canada Day fireworks celebration held at The Rosseau. I watched the show from the shore along with hundreds of guests and visiting cottagers, where we waged a real battle with the mosquitos.

A DAY AT MCCRAE

It was muggy hiking in and buggy on the way out, but worth the day spent at McCrae Lake with a couple of friends from The Rosseau, swimming, then lounging in the sun and lassitude afterwards. The scenery is spectacular but sadly the lake contains zebra mussels, an invasive species harmful to swimmers and the aquatic ecosystem.

MILESTONES

Today I joined several of my collegues from The Rosseau aboard the Wenonah II for a brief cruise to the Narrows, with its lighthouse the destination and highlight. This year marks the ten year anniversary for the Wenonah II and 125 years for the Segwun, with a number of special events planned during the season to celebrate this occasion.

THE FESTIVE DOZEN

A dozen staff from The Rosseau took part in the Bracebridge Santa Claus Parade today, after decorating the shuttle bus and oursElves for the occasion. We all had a festive time and was fortunate that the rain held off until we were finished. It also gave us the chance for the night shift to meet and mingle with some of the day staff.
[Photo taken by a passerby, used courtesy of my coworker Nicole.]

NIGHT AUDIT TEAM

I am fortunate to work with two lovely and talented colleagues on the Night Audit Team at The Rosseau. This morning we had the luxury of some extra time and decided to create Paint characters in lieu of our names, and this was the finished result, my colleagues having helped me put the last touches to mine, which we dubbed Lego Mal Kayaker.
[Thank you for the help and contributions done by Nicole and Leslie.]

HUGE HIT

Barb, one of my colleagues from The Rosseau, poses on top of the pumpkin she and her husband grew locally this year. Entered in the Port Elgin Pumpkinfest, it was weighed at 1,641 lbs, making it the third largest in Canada, and was a huge hit with our guests during the Thanksgiving weekend when it was displayed by the entrance.

M & M

It was sad saying goodbye to Meagan, my Amazing Race partner and colleague at work, who I have known since coming here and worked together with the past year, the other M from the Night Audit Team. I gave her a card I thought was appropriate, featuring the two ships with M on their stacks, side by side at the dock, like us at the desk.

MISTY MORNING

Last night was the first frost of the year, a harbinger of the seasons to come. In the meantime it made for a beautiful morning with mist rolling along the lake and the sun a welcome relief when it put in its appearance, dispersing the mist and melting the frost, the shadows providing only a temporary reprieve from the sun's rays and warmth.

TWO YEARS

It's been two years working at The Rosseau and living in Muskoka, and the start of my third autumn, the colours changing rapidly this year. I had a great summer exploring several lakes with my kayak, offering a different perspective from my first year discovering the area by road and trail, and I'm looking forward to the third ahead.

SPOOKY TRAIL

A pair of guests approached the front desk to comment on the trails, including one they thought was "spooky". "How do you mean spooky?" I probed further. "There's a couple of trees with a pole going across, with chains and meathooks attached!" I realized then this was where kettles of maple sap had been hung to boil, its apparatus still intact.

FOREST POND

I was attracted to this scene during a walk through the woods today, the ghostly image of trees reflected from the remote side of a pond, intertwined with the shadows of the trees on my side, captured on a canvas of green algae, several swathes of blue with a stroke of gold completing the impressionist quality of my photograph, Forest Pond.

REMEMBERED

Flags from both countries fly at half mast to honour the victims of 9/11. Unknown to many, including myself then, but when the twin towers collapsed they obliterated the Marriott that stood between them. Two associates never left before then and are remembered for helping people to safety, two heroes as tall as the towers were.

ESSENCE OF TEAMWORK

As recipient of Associate of the Month award, I wish to invite all my colleagues to share this honour with me, for it is our teamwork that deserves the recognition. The Rosseau is like a family to me and it is a pleasure and privilege to know and work with everyone, and I'm grateful for the opportunities that strengthen the bonds of our team.
[Picture taken by Alistair for the Associate Engagement Committee.]

KAYAK KIDS

We went kayaking this afternoon, my boys anxious to demonstrate their prowess honed at the camps they attended earlier, and were pleased when allowed a kayak each. We circled around Ouno Island where they saw the sailboathouse and the bear (statue) that I told them lived there, before returning to the resort where we started.
[Thanks to Dan Arcand and the MSR staff for use of their kayaks.]

SUNSETS

A beautiful sunset from my favourite viewpoint and final stop before getting prepared for work. At The Rosseau the sun is also setting on our receivership status after recently being sold to Canadian Niagara Hotels. With a new boat arriving, at the lower left, and replacing the incumbent, I hope it's a smooth trip after the bumps from the wake.

PAIGNTON HOUSE

After my boat tour was over and the farmers' market finished, I took a stroll through the village of Rosseau itself. I stopped at the antique store and when I browsed through a shoebox of mixed postcards was ecstatic to find a vintage one of Paignton House, the predecessor to The Rosseau, on Fish Rock, something I've never seen in any photos.
[Credit to Natural Colour Cards by A & M Workshop, Pickering, Ont.]

FINAL CUT

Our role in the Million Dollar Memo competition that began with my idea, was embraced by our team and supported by others has gone as far as it can, as we weren't accepted into the Final 20. We are proud of our accomplishment getting this far into the semi-finals and despite the outcome, are already a winning team and company.

CANADA NIGHT

I attended the fireworks display at The Rosseau, and during the day scouted out my prime location, a rock mound that extends out from Ouno Island. When dusk arrived I climbed atop and hauled my kayak up, activated glowsticks attached to it to announce my presence and this unmarked hazard to all the boats that came out to see the show.
[Click on this link to watch a one minute sample from the fireworks.]

FINAL ACT

As our final act of activation and appreciation regarding the Million Dollar Memo competition we submitted another video. It features a message by everyone involved in the first, the original cast and our executive team, the members of a future committee if we advance into the Final 20 and if not, we promise not to riot at The Rosseau.
[Click on this link to watch our video and meet the team behind it.]
[Photo by Sarah Ryeland, from her article in Sideroads of Muskoka.]