Living Smarter in My Community: A Personal Reflection
By Madison Menard | Published August 9, 2025
For me, living smarter means living in a way that respects the environment, honours community, and invests in the future. It’s about making intentional choices — not just for convenience today, but for sustainability tomorrow. It’s about listening to the land, working with others who care deeply about change, and protecting what matters most.
As chair of the upcoming Muskoka Summit on the Environment on October 3rd, I’ve been reflecting on what living smarter truly looks like and why it’s essential.
I grew up in Huntsville, a place where nature wasn’t just a backdrop — it was part of daily life. I learned early on how to read the land and weather, swim in clean lakes, and hike wooded trails. These experiences taught me to live in harmony with my surroundings. At the time, I didn’t realize how rare that connection to nature was. Only through travel did I come to appreciate how unique and formative those early lessons were.
Those early experiences forged in me a mindset of stewardship, curiosity, and responsibility. I still return to those trails, still swim those same waters, and still feel a deep duty to protect them. That connection is what drives me today.
But living smarter goes beyond personal habits. It’s about collective action. That’s why chairing the Summit feels like more than an opportunity — it’s a responsibility. Climate change is upon us, and it is bringing many environmental, economic and societal challenges. The 2025 Summit’s theme – Living Smarter in a Changing Climate – brings together individuals, organizations, and leaders who are committed to building a more resilient, sustainable, and vibrant Muskoka. It’s a space for learning, collaboration, and innovation around urgent issues like changing wildfire risk, sustainable building practices, regenerative tourism, and new ways to mitigate climate change by reducing our carbon footprints.
I believe our best hope in combating climate change lies in collaboration. No single policy or person can solve the climate crisis alone. But when people come together, sharing ideas, forging partnerships, and supporting one another, real change becomes possible. The Summit is designed to spark those conversations and generate realistic solutions for this special part of Ontario. It’s a reminder that we are not facing these challenges in isolation.
Living smarter means asking not just what can we take from our surroundings, but what can we give back. It means looking beyond convenience and short-term gain toward a healthier, more sustainable future. Whether that’s choosing active transportation, supporting local food systems, reducing waste, or simply spending more time outside, every choice adds up. And when we support each other in making smarter choices, sustainability does not feel like sacrifice. Instead it becomes a shared community value.
Personally, I see living smarter as an ongoing commitment to learn, contribute, and act. Whether through the example of my own lifestyle or through my work with the Muskoka Watershed Council, I’m focused on doing my part to ensure this region remains vibrant, livable, and resilient for generations to come.
I’m incredibly proud to call the Muskoka region home. Its natural beauty and the strong sense of community in our towns and villages are constant sources of inspiration. But pride must be matched with action. We must keep learning, adapting, and striving toward solutions that honor the land, sustain our economy, and protect our future.
Hope you can join me at the Muskoka Summit on the Environment on October 3rd and be part of our solution. Tickets are on sale now. Together, let’s move from conversation to action and build a smarter, greener future for Muskoka and beyond.
This is article No 9 in the current series from Muskoka Watershed Council edited by Peter Sale. Its author is Madison Menard, member of Muskoka Watershed Council, chair of the 2025 Muskoka Summit on the Environment, Fleming College Graduate, aquatic science nerd, awkwardly enthusiastic about the world around and passionate about making it a little better.
First published on muskokaregion.com