This impression that the environment is static, even dependable, underlies our belief that we can live in and make use of our environment, mostly with impunity. It is the place where we live out our lives. Some of us believe our environment, and the resources it holds, is there in order to be available for us to use.

In 2026, Muskoka Watershed Council will continue to explore bold, thoughtful, and sometimes unconventional ways to nurture our watersheds. Not because they are “weird,” but because the challenges we face demand creativity, courage and a willingness to be different. We invite you to stay curious and join us on this next step toward a healthier, more resilient Muskoka.

For some of us, the winter holidays force a pause; even if we try to keep running, workplaces shut down, families hijack our schedules, and we’re compelled to sit down.

I made a living doing technical work in the ecological sciences, but one of my, and my colleagues’ toughest challenges has always been explaining to people, including business owners or community leaders, why they should care what an ecosystem is and why every action they take becomes a part of it. Understanding this reality is among society’s greatest imperatives.

Nature has a right to thrive, and all of humanity deserves a stable climate and healthy environment that Canada can help restore and preserve, writes Bet Smith of the Muskoka Watershed Council.

Jared Jylhä reframes nature as one of the most reliable investment portfolios we have. From reducing flood costs to supporting our health and well-being, these natural systems provide passive savings and passive income that compound over time.

We must consider ecological factors as we plan for the needed new housing over the next couple of decades, writes Peter Sale of the Muskoka Watershed Council.

As our climate warms to temperatures not experienced in all of recorded history, more green plants offer a chance to accomplish two critical goals, writes Geoff Ross of the Muskoka Watershed Council.

If we fail to act boldly on climate change over the next decade, Muskoka could lose the essence of what makes it special — clean waters, quiet forests and stable shorelines, writes Peter Johnston of the Muskoka Watershed Council.

As the world prepares for COP30 in Brazil, the urgency of the climate crisis is no longer a distant concern—it’s unfolding right here in Muskoka. The shifts in temperature, rainfall, and extreme weather that dominate global headlines are already reshaping our forests, lakes, and communities. If we don’t think globally and act locally, Muskoka’s future will look very different.

Present methods of construction in Ontario produce substantial quantities of greenhouse gases, and of construction waste. We could use the same raw materials, manufactured into different products that would mean less waste, less energy use in construction (all the way from harvesting materials to final delivery of the building), and more carbon stored long-term in the building products used. Innovative timber products do an excellent job of sequestering carbon for the life of the building.

Here in Muskoka, it is still possible to feel sheltered from the world’s turmoil. A quiet paddle across a misty lake or the call of loons on a moonlit evening still feels timeless. But Muskoka is not immune to climate change. Our winters are becoming more erratic and violent, as last year’s heavy snowfalls and devastating ice storm showed us. Extreme events are no longer rare—they are the new normal.