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May 2010 Muskoka's Business Newspaper Since 1997

Social advocate honoured

By Allan Cook Bracebridge resident Ruth Bell- Towns, who has long worked to improve the quality of life for the less fortunate, was thrust into the spotlight last month when she received the prestigious June Callwood Award for outstanding achievement in volunteerism from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. Eric Hoskins, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, presented Bell-Towns with the award during a ceremony on April 23 at the Art Gallery of Ontario as part of National Volunteer Week. She was one of only 18 recipients selected from over a thousand nominations. The June Callwood Award is named in memory of the writer, activist, and champion of social justice for women, children and the disadvantaged. Despite her record of countless hours of volunteer service to the community, Bell-Towns felt humbled by the company of this year's recipients, which included a Grade 10 student who has amassed over 1,000 volunteer hours and started his own organization for students to help students in developing nations; a medical student who has founded a clinic with his colleagues for Toronto's homeless; a group of doctors who use their vacation days to provide free eye care in the Philippines; and a BELL-TOWNS - p. 12

New home for animal hospital

DESIGNED FOR MUSKOKA: Dr. Jason McLeod, owner of the Bracebridge Animal Hospital, welcomes a patient to his new veterinary clinic in Muskoka. See story on page 12.

Realtors purchase Re/Max offices

By Nancy Beal Realtors John and Ray Jarvis have purchased Re/Max Lake Country and Re/Max New Lifestyles, bringing many of the Re/Max offices in Muskoka and Almaguin under one banner. The deal closed a week after the expected mid-April date. The new company, Re/Max North Country Realty, replaces Re/Max Lake Country in south Muskoka, which was owned by Troy Middlebrooks and Re/Max New Lifestyles in Huntsville and Burk's Falls, which was owned by Lynne & Ted Winterfield. "It's a fantastic merger of two strong companies into one," says John Jarvis. "We've more than doubled our market share. It will mean increased service for all of our clients, including all of our future buyers and sellers." Agents in nine existing offices throughout Muskoka - Graven- hurst, Bracebridge, Bala, Huntsville, Port Sydney, Burk's Falls and Kilworthy - are now under the new company banner of Re/Max North Country Realty. Port Carling's Re/Max office is under separate ownership. The Jarvis brothers already had a well-established reputation in Muskoka. "We've been in business together since 1989," says Jarvis. "We RE/MAX - p. 11

northcountrybusinessnews.com

New art gallery

Artist follows her dreams in Huntsville.

See p. 20

Staples opens this summer

Bracebridge expects to see store operating in the months to come.

See p. 10

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Honouring women in business - see pg. 6-9

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