Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler
A little more than a month ago, I commented briefly in one of my articles about seasonal residents coming to Muskoka during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a nutshell, I said that seasonal residents are not the enemy, that they contribute significantly to Muskoka, that under the proper conditions they have the right to be here, that permanent residents should treat them with understanding and respect and that, in turn, seasonal residents should exercise caution and common sense given the abnormal and difficult circumstances we presently encounter.
Recently, I have been asked by a number of people if, after six weeks of COVID-19 restrictions, I have changed my opinion. To a large extent I have not, but I have been watching and listening and have experienced many of the changes that have affected most of our lives. As a result, and especially as we face our first long weekend of the summer season, a few things come to mind.
First, it is important to recognize that there is a real difference between tourists and seasonal residents. Tourism is a large part of the economy for Huntsville and the rest of Muskoka. It is hard to ask tourists to stay away and doing so has serious consequences for many who live, work or have businesses or tourist operations here. But the time is not yet right for them to come.
In many ways, tourists are transients. They come, they play, they enjoy what Muskoka has to offer and they leave. COVID-19 has made this difficult, restrictive, and potentially dangerous. While Ontario has had some success in limiting the spread of COVID-19, it is too early to return to normal activity. While I understand that cabin fever is a reality for many these days, people who want to come here simply for a few days of rest, relaxation and diversity should really stay away for now and, hopefully, for not too long a time.
Seasonal residents, or cottagers, are different. They have an investment in Muskoka and a stake in its future and I do believe, under the proper conditions, they have a right to be here. One may well ask, what are those conditions?
Well first, unnecessary travelling can spread the coronavirus and so frequent commuting between home and cottage right now is a really bad idea. I know that many seasonal residents are itching to be here for the Victoria Day long weekend. But if they can only be here for a few days, for their own safety and the safety of others they should really think twice about that, and if they do come, they need to self-isolate.
However, especially with the summer season upon us and with some restrictions easing, we cannot expect seasonal residents to stay permanently away for the foreseeable future. In my view, when they come they should stay for an extended period of time. They should not commute and, like the rest of us, they should self-isolate when they first get here, respect physical distancing, and follow all other COVID-19 restrictions.
Seasonal residents are an important part of our community. They are not second-class citizens and should not be made to feel unwelcome here. In addition, having cottagers here this summer season, following the same rules and putting safety first, as we all must, will provide a measure of much-needed relief to local businesses, many of whom are struggling to stay alive. Having seasonal residents staying here will be healthier for them, should not be unhealthy for us, and will be helpful to our economy. Thanks to measures that have been put in place, hospital facilities are not currently stressed and food supplies remain stable.
As one seasonal resident put it to me, “My own feeling as a cottager is that I must respect the needs of permanent residents, and at this time that means not putting them at additional risk and not making their life more difficult. I think I can do that and still enjoy Lake (name deleted).” I agree with that.
Confucius has gotten his wish. We live in interesting times. But it is in these times that we should look to be strengthened in character, not weakened; to put safety first but to show compassion and respect to others and to be cautious, but realistic in understanding that life must go on.
I note that one health unit in another part of Ontario has ordered people to stay away from their cottages and that some activists have advocated that Hwy 11 be closed to all but essential travel over the long weekend. I do find this disturbing; it does feel like a police state. Perhaps it is necessary, and my guess is that it will happen here to some degree.
But the greatest service we can offer during this pandemic, one that will mitigate the need for authoritarian measures, is to use common sense, exercise caution, and follow reasonable rules.
For seasonal residents, that may mean that you don’t come to Muskoka for only a weekend. For those of us who live here year- round, it means we should be courteous and respect the right of seasonal residents who follow the rules that we all must follow to spend extended time here.
Surely that is what Muskoka and the people who love it are all about.
Hugh Mackenzie
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One bad apple spoils it for the rest, seasonal, or not. STAY AT HOME the government, nor the health field is asking people to stay at your cottage, or stay at home except, if you want to come to Huntsville.As you well know, or should know. You can carry the virus without any symptoms, and pass it off to others!!!
A common sense approach always sounds reasonable, and in this case, common sense says to take the advice of medical professionals on a medical issue: for now, stay at your primary residence. (To be fair, Hugh’s opinion piece was written before Dr. Charles Gardiner’s May 4 briefing.).
Common sense tells us our little hospitals have not been overwhelmed, in part, because they have not had to deal with a huge influx of potential patients from the GTA, where the infection rate is three times that of Simcoe/Muskoka, per capita.
Common sense tells us that our limited number and size of pharmacies are stretched to the limit as it is, particularly with the current 30-day prescription restrictions, in addition to the ordering and delivery problems they already face.
Common sense should tell us our grocery store employees, and all the frontline employees working so hard to provide us with essential services, are coping with minimal staff, supplies and PPE.
Common sense tells us this is not just another May long weekend. But, if common sense confuses us, let’s rely on the advice of our experts.
It isn’t evil or selfish to want to visit the cottage when the weather warms up; neither is it evil or selfish to hope our small towns won’t be overwhelmed by an influx of people who are still transmitting this virus at epidemic rates.
We will get through this crisis—if we use common sense and listen to the experts!—and again be able to safely welcome everyone who wants to come. I hope, if we listen to reason, that time will be soon.
Meanwhile, please stay at home, where the food supplies, pharmacies and hospitals are scaled to your population. Thank you.
I disagree with your comments and approach during these times. These are unprecedented times. Not a time for me. It’s a time for we. Here are two experiences to explain why cottagers need to stay home at these times.
My mother is 100 years old. She lives in a long term care facility in Gravenhurst. They have not had an outbreak of Covid-19. Congratulations to them. The increase of cottagers to northern communities will greatly increase the risk of more Covid-19 in Muskoka. All it will take is for one healthcare worker to come in contact with a visitor from the GRA who may be asymptomatic and Covid will spread like wildfire in this long term care facility. I don’t want my mother or anyone else to become a victim of this virus.
Another recent example:
My husband broke his ankle on Sunday, a week ago in Huntsville where we live. He was referred to Soldiers Memorial Hospital for surgery to have the ankle repaired. We were given a surgery date on Saturday. We were on call all day Saturday to come in as soon as they had a time. The operating room was booked all day. The surgery did not happen. We were told to come in for 7:30am on Sunday morning for the surgery. We drove to Orillia, my husband was prepped for the surgery but it never happened to due more emergent surgeries. Finally on Monday the surgery was performed. The hospital like many in Ontario has reduced operating room services in preparation for Covid – 19 as it is necessary. The issue here was that the hospital has 4 operating rooms. One OR is open on the weekends and two during the week. The Saturday and Sunday operations included a number of non resident – cottagers requiring emergency surgery and local residents. Multiple surgeries were cancelled and it was extremely sad to see local residents waiting. If the cottagers had stayed home they may not have injured themselves or could have been serviced in their local communities and not taking up valuable operating room time from local residents. The surgeons tried to advocate to get a second OR open but were unsuccessful. The hospital care, doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals were excellent. Had the cottagers/nonresidents not been allowed to enter the Simcoe Muskoka area the hospital would have been barely able to manage the case load of patients. So Covid-19 does not just mean washing your hands and physical distancing – it means stay at home. If there is not a stronger, strict practice to stop cottagers from coming north a local resident is going to die due to lack of service during these times.
I agree, and appreciate the distinction being made between seasonal residents and tourists just passing through. People are more concerned for, and therefore more kind and considerate to, other people they know personally, and it’s the seasonal residents who’ve forged relationships with permanent residents, and in fact often become permanent residents on retirement.
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Interesting the imbalance of what businesses were allowed to stay open. Given the requirements public health has decreed, those places that were/are open should all have masks, and provide masks to those who didn’t have one in order to shop. Where is the commen sense and respect to carry on profitable commerce in a pandemic toward their loyal customers?
Hugh, really appreciate and like your balanced article, thank you. Moot point – the term “common sense” is a misnomer. What is sensible to one person is incomprehensible to another. All we have to do is look at some recent protests, above and below the 49th parallel, for evidence. My brief time as a public health nurse in Muskoka opened my eyes to “common sense” amongst the public many years ago. There is no such thing, whether local or visitor. I lean more in agreement with the sentiments of Mr. Jim Boyes. Thank you for listening and the good points in conversation.
I would like too know how many full time maskoka residents winter in Florida ! Just saying !!
Excellent write up Hugh. I agree with common sense.
Well said and I totally agree Hugh. Fear does strange things to people. We will get through this as long as we use common sense.
The bigger concern is the impact on our economy and what happens when a lot of the jobs don’t come back.
It’s a balance right now of the pandemic and the economy and there are risks in both areas.
Mr. Boyes, your comments are very insightful indeed. Scientists and medical experts are now predicting that one of three scenarios will eventuate regarding the pandemic:
1) we have seen the worst, and the global infection curve will flatten;
2) after a summer lull, Covid-19 will return with a vengeance; and
3) we will continue to see medium-sized waves of new infections.
As only one of these predictions is a positive one, I feel that we should expect the worst, and toast the best (if it comes). Obviously, 3) is, by far, the worst; as there will be insufficient time between waves for people to become immune; and the likelihood that successive waves are marginally different mutations of the original virus is always possible.
Hugh it sad to see the mentality of locals.i was up at the cottage on the weekend doing my spring cleaning my nabours nabour who got a permit to build a two story garage and uses it as a dweling had guests over that dont live there also noted when I went into town some business essential workers didnt have masks or gloves home depot was the same thing there was no precaution taken at all.
why are some local essential workers not taken any precaution the lcbo on the other hand lcbo has the right idea plastic shield,face shield and glove.
I agree.
Hugh,
Excellent, well reasoned and useful comentary.
If I were to add anything I’d say that regulations should stiffen the requirement for social distancing and add the requirement that all citizens out and about in the proximity of unrelated people MUST wear face masks. That shpuld include locals and cottagers. This threat is far from over.
We need a bit of a break and limited opening as Ford is proposing (reluctantly and under presure) is a good thing. And we need to be realistic about the possibility of a resurgence in infections.
Cottagers should come up for a week minimum and not travel around while here or stay home IMO.
We have been looking forward to opening our place on Georgian Bay but when we do go there it will be for a week or longer. We will do this in a week orso if it ever warms up!
Best wishes to all.
Your comments are so true Hugh, the people I know that have seasonal residents in our community are thoughtful, understanding and supportive residents of our community. I believe they love this town as much as we do and would not bring intentional harm to it in a irresponsible manner. Many of them are here for months at a time they have even given up in some cases their homes in the city for family or friends to self isolate during these unsettling times. That said the powers to the South that want to tell seasonal property owners they can’t come should maybe not charge property taxes during this period !!!!
I think your approach is reasonable and respectful Hugh. The fact is that lots of local people aren’t adhering strictly to the guidelines either. I know of a number who won’t wear masks when in public spaces, who trespass on closed trails and who socialize a fair bit at ‘maybe’ a 6 foot distance.
I’m a Liberal and I like big government – I guess we all do at the moment – but even I squirm at the idea of police barricades turning people back to their primary dwelling. Surely it won’t come to that.
All we can do is exactly what you’ve written: assume that for their own safety and the safety of others they’ll think twice about coming at all and if they decide to come to their cottage that they do so prepared with food and liquor and an intention to self-isolate.
We can only hope and trust that all of our neighbours – full-time and cottage owners – will use common sense, exercise caution, and follow some reasonable rules, which we have all heard countless times.
It is hugely frustrating to those who are trying to do everything ‘right’ to see others flouting the rules as they see it. But we aren’t a police state and neither are we the police!
So unless someone is actually breaking a law – and most of these ‘rules’ are suggestions and requests as opposed to laws – we have to leave it to their conscience to do the right thing and if laws are being broken then let the police handle it.
Would I prefer that people wait to come to the cottage? Absolutely. But if they choose to come for the next long weekend …so be it.
Thanks, Hugh. Well said, as usual.
It’s all about sensible give and take. Nevertheless, there will always be an portion of visitors that come with a devil may care attitude.
Let’s hope they stay away.