Dwight-based business, Wild Muskoka Botanicals, was recently chosen as the winner of the 2022 Muskoka Founders Circle Award.
At the Founders Choice Awards Presentation held on November 10, 2022, the Lake of Bays business was selected out of five finalists as the first-prize winner, receiving a cheque for $10,000.
Wild Muskoka Botanicals produces artisan wild food and cocktails made from locally sourced and sustainably foraged ingredients as well as offering educational workshops throughout Ontario. Laura Gilmour, founder, forager and self-proclaimed “kitchen witch,” has been teaching classes and leading foraging excursions for over nine years.
Gilmour says “After the holiday rush we will come up with a strategic plan to use the funds as wisely as possible. It will include leveraging these funds to apply for some marketing grants, some equipment upgrades to make our processes more efficient, and looking how to expand our team. For now, with a full heart, I feel motivated to keep going and keep bringing our wild goodies to your tables that are delicious, healthy and show that business can thrive while caring for the land.”
The Township of Lake of Bays congratulated Wild Muskoka Botanicals for its achievements. Their contribution to the area’s business ecology and culture demonstrates the unique, diverse, entrepreneurial-driven, forward-looking businesses that call Lake of Bays home, it noted.
Huntsville-based business Helping Buddy Muskoka received $5,000 for its business. The business offers non-medical home support services to help people live independently in their homes.
To learn more about the Muskoka Founders Circle and view all the finalists, click here.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!
Click here to support local news
Mardi Butts says
Congratulations Laura & Chris, this is such good news for a local, sustainable, environmentally aware company. Given your amazing history with Wild Muskoka Botanicals I know the money will be put to fantastic use in our own area. You have been working so hard Laura, putting Muskoka on the map since you started this journey, and you totally deserve this opportunity.