From Muskoka Watershed Council
What does a smarter, more sustainable future look like for Muskoka?
This October, the Muskoka Summit on the Environment returns with a bold challenge: to rethink how we live, build, and thrive in a rapidly changing world. While rooted in Muskoka, the conversations and solutions emerging from this Summit will resonate far beyond. The challenges we face are shared, and so are the opportunities to act.
Hosted by the Muskoka Watershed Council, the 2025 Summit will take place on Friday, October 3, at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre in Bracebridge, Ontario. Join leaders, experts, and engaged citizens at Muskoka’s premier environmental conference—tickets are available now at www.muskokasummit.org.
With this year’s theme, “Living Smarter,” the event will bring together international leaders in climate resilience, sustainable development, and green innovation to explore solutions that are both environmentally responsible and economically viable.
Grounded in the realities of climate adaptation, the 2025 Summit will address urgent concerns such as our need to adapt to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like wildfires and floods, and our need to mitigate climate change by changing how we build, live and play here. Rather than viewing sustainability and prosperity as competing priorities, the Summit will explore how the two can work hand-in-hand.
This year’s speakers include:
- Dr. Anabela Bonada, Managing Director, Climate Science, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo
- Chris Magwood, Manager of Carbon-Free Buildings at RMI; Cofounder, Builders for Climate Action
- Jeff Lehman, Municipal Leader with experience in Barrie and Muskoka
- Angela Nagy, CEO, GreenStep Solutions, headquartered in Kelowna, BC
- Anita Krajnc, Global Campaigner, Plant-Based Treaty
The Summit is open to full-time and seasonal residents, policymakers, students, business owners, and anyone passionate about building a more sustainable future for their business, community, or home. It’s a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and engage in a solutions-focused dialogue.
This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of SLR Consulting, Lakeland Generation, Greenland Consulting Engineers, and the Town of Bracebridge. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available. Organizations interested in supporting this landmark event are encouraged to reach out.
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A more sustainable future includes conservation of water and our tax dollars.
Not in Muskoka.
“Smugly Wasting Taxpayer Money” is what a resident put on a giant sign on their front lawn protesting the massive amounts the District spends on sewers.
To see a picture of the giant sign, new logos and ways to save $1,000/year with extreme water conservation search “Oppose Bracebridge Sewers” for the website.
How much has been blown by the District?
Rapidly approaching a BILLION!!! dollars spent for only 12,000 connections.
There is no affordable housing in town due to the exorbitant cost of the District’s water and sewer.
$200/month or $2,400/year is typical. And rising.
Highest in Ontario.
After $45K!! to hook up to the District’s old, leaky system.
$100/month even if you are away and have zero usage.
Including the costs shown/hidden on our property taxes.
Many people are not aware that the District hides around $1,000 of the water and sewer cost on our property taxes.
The cost depends on our assessment.
No other municipality puts costs like that on property taxes so it looks like we are paying reasonable rates for water and sewer on the bills.
We are not.
Check your property tax bill and add up the costs under District Water A and District Sewer A.
Those charges only show up if the District happens to have their pipes in the road.
Whether you are hooked up or not.
Sometimes those charges are there even if the District doesn’t have pipes in the road. For 11 years!! As Gravenhurst residents found out. They were livid about that one.
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/scammers-are-everywhere-including-muskoka/
The only affordable housing in Muskoka is that built beyond the reach of extremely expensive District services.
All areas should have extensive rebates for water conservation like the City of Guelph has before they get a dime from the province or the feds for water and sewer projects.
Conservation makes the most of existing infrastructure and can delay/avoid building extremely expensive new capacity.
Conservation rebates in Muskoka?
Nada.
“Smugly Wasting Taxpayer Money” and exorbitant services costs is what the District of Muskoka is all about.
I can’t attend!
I used the funds needed to attend this conference to run my air conditioner for the last month.
It is probably a good idea however.