Hospitals (Local)

Collingwood General & Marine Hospital – 72 beds, ER
West Parry Sound Health Centre – 90 beds, ER, long-term care
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare – Acute care in Huntsville, Bracebridge, and Burk’s Falls; long-term care facility in Huntsville
Haliburton Highlands Health Services – ERs in Haliburton and Minden, 14 beds and long-term care
Georgian Bay General Hospital – Sites in Midland and Penetanguishene
Grey Bruce Health Services – Hospital sites in Owen Sound, Lion’s Head, Wiarton, Southampton, Markdale and Meaford.
Quinte Health Care – Hospital sites in Belleville, Trenton, Bancroft and Picton.
Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
Ross Memorial Hospital (Lindsay)

Hospitals (Regional)

Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital
Peterborough Regional Health Centre
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (Barrie)
Southlake Regional Health Centre (Newmarket)
Kingston General Hospital
North Bay Regional Health Centre
Health Sciences North (Sudbury)
Pembroke Regional Hospital

Community Care Access Centres (home care and long-term care) & Local Health Integration Networks (regional health planning & aging-in-place services).

CCAC Locator
LHIN Locator
South West (Lake Huron/Tobermory)
North Simcoe Muskoka (Muskokas/southern Georgian Bay)
Central (south shore Lake Simcoe)
Central East (Haliburton/Kawartha/Trent Severn)
North East (North Georgian Bay, North Bay, Timmins)

Family Health Teams

Established by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care beginning in 2005, these multi-service sites include physicians’ offices, walk-in clinics, and allied health services (nurse practitioners, social workers, etc.). A complete listing, including phone numbers.

There are several now in cottage country, including Owen Sound, Lion’s Head, Sauble Beach, Haliburton, Fenelon Falls, Port Perry, Peterborough, Bancroft, Huntsville, Barrie, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Collingwood, Midland, New Liskeard, Haileybury, Temagami, Sturgeon Falls, and Parry Sound.

Distance Medicine

Ontario Telemedicine Network – Video-conferenced medical appointments
Telehealth Ontario (866) 797-0000 Phone access to Registered Nurses on 24/7 basis.
Health Care Connect – Ontario government family doctor locating service.

Miscellaneous

Northern Ontario School of Medicine (http://www.nosm.ca). Established 2005, with a mission to train physicians who want to practice in rural areas.
Meals on Wheels Locator
Hospice Ontario Locator
Ontario Physiotherapy Association Locator
Registered Massage Therapists Locator
Ontario Long Term Care Association
Dietitians of Canada Locator
Ontario Chiropractic Association Locator
Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors. Locator phone service: (877) NAT-PATH

These days, a dishwasher is not out of place at a cottage. Nor is a washing machine. (Nor Jacuzzi tub, large-screen TV and butter-soft leather sectional…but that’s another story.)

Many cottagers, though equipped with modern-day luxuries, are nonetheless also equipped with an environmental sensibility. We may not want to dip our hands in a suds-filled sink, but neither do we want to take a dip in a lake polluted by our grey water.

And incidentally, for those purists who insist that it’s impossible to be an environmentalist and own a dishwasher, according to a widely cited study from the University of Bonn in Germany, dishwashers use half the energy, one-sixth the water and less soap than hand washing an identical set of dirty dishes. So there.

The machines

It’s important at the cottage, as at home, to have appliances that aren’t energy hogs. Pay attention to those EnerGuide ratings or look for the Energy Star certification, which indicates that the appliance is among the most energy-efficient models available—up to 20% more efficient than models without the certification. Sending your out-dated appliances from home to the cottage might seem like a smart idea, but frequently what you spend in energy, which is often much more expensive at the lake, will outpace any cost-savings from avoiding another appliance purchase.

The suds

The detergent we use to wash our dishes (you know, the same dishes we eat off) is full of chemicals such as monoethanalomine (MEA), Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) and others that read like an eye chart and can induce asthma. What’s more, explains Lindsay Coulter, the David Suzuki Foundation’s “Queen of Green”, they mix with nitrites (which are present as preservatives in other products) to form cancer-causing nitrosamines. If that’s not enough to turn you off, they’re also toxic to fish and other wildlife.

Dishwasher detergent also contains phosphates, though under 2010 regulations, it has been restricted to 0.5 percent, which can promote algal bloom, increase weed growth, and kill fish. The phosphate restriction is an improvement, says Coulter, “but why not opt for phosphate-free brands?”

Thanks to consumer pressure, The past few years have seen a proliferation of “green” laundry detergents, all promising to whiten your whites and remove stains without harming the environment. The detergents boast about being “free” and “clear” but are generally neither.

Coulter is a strong advocate for labeling that truly is clear, with all ingredients listed right on the containers. Without transparent labeling, however, it’s a guessing game. What we do know is that most conventional laundry detergents contain such chemicals as alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), which can mimic estrogen and have reproductive effects on aquatic animals. They frequently contain fragrance (even those claiming to be fragrance-free, which often use chemicals to mask fragrance), synthetic musks and phthalates, which are suspected hormone disrupters. These can build up in the environment and be toxic to aquatic organisms. They can also trigger allergies, asthma and migraines. And, like in dishwasher detergents, they can contain MEA, DEA and TEA—a toxic trifecta.

Fabric softener

I’m an advocate of line-drying clothes. The scent is fresh-air and sunshine (“Field of Faux Daisies” can’t compete with that!), there’s less wear and tear on clothes, and the sun doesn’t bill you each month. Sunshine is also, of course, a great bleach. If your line-dried clothes come out a bit crunchy, add ¼ cup of white vinegar to your wash cycle.

Fabric sheets can release chloroform, benzyl acetate, and pentane—all of which have been individually linked to cancer. Liquid fabric softener is no better and includes quaternary ammonium compounds, which can irritate skin, cause allergies, trigger asthma and—here we go again—are toxic to fish.

What’s a truly greener cleaner?

So now that we know what we DON’T want in our cleaners, what DO we want? These recipes, courtesy again of David Suzuki Foundation’s Lindsay Coulter, promise to clean clothes and dishes without cleaning out your wallet, while protecting our air and water.

For those of us who prefer a company to do the dirty work of producing cleaners, there are plenty of options on the shelves. Look for products that fully disclose ingredients on the label and ensure that they don’t include fragrance, sodium laurel ether sulfate (SLES) or triclosan. I love castile soap (make sure it’s made from plant oils), which is the perfect all-purpose cottage cleaner for scrubbing hair, bodies, dishes, dogs, babies, floors, counters, and anything else.

Okay, so not everything that comes with the cottage is great, but with these articles, at least you’ll know what to expect when it comes to blackflies, mosquitoes, and more. Find out the patterns behind these cottage country bugs, what to watch out for, and how to protect yourself from the harmful ones in 2012.

Check out our previous Destinations series on cottage country waterfalls.

If you’re like us, the mild winter and the warm spell in March have had you thinking about opening up the cottage early this spring. And though the unseasonable weather may draw you to the lake sooner than normal, could it also mean a larger than normal horde will be there to meet you? We spoke with Doug Currie, curator of entomology at the Royal Ontario Museum, to find out.

Blackflies
Currie predicts that with warm temperatures in March, blackflies could be showing up in cottage country two weeks earlier than usual, settling in around mid-May. The cold snap that followed the warm spell won’t likely have killed off any significant number of blackflies, because they are still in their larval stage, and won’t have emerged yet.
But there’s good news too. With an advanced season, “they’re also going to be gone earlier.” While blackflies usually last until the end of June, an early onset would cause them to disappear before school’s out. Furthermore, they are very susceptible to drought and, Currie says, “Unless we see a huge amount of rain, I can say with confidence that there will be a huge die-off.”

Mosquitoes
Unfortunately, you still need to stock up on repellant. Though mosquito numbers are harder to predict than those of black flies, “mosquitoes will be with us until freeze up,” says Currie. “There’s no question about that.”
Even though he’s already heard of some early encounters with the bloodsuckers, because mosquitoes have multiple generations, it doesn’t mean they’re going to die off any sooner. The ones you’ll see waking up early are the overwintering adults. “If this first generation comes out too early, there might be mortality from a cold snap, but it won’t get all of them. Even if there are fewer eggs laid from the first generation due to some die-off, if the weather then turns wet, the population will probably go along tickety-boo.” The current dry climate may not be ideal for the later emerging populations, but they are not as susceptible as blackflies are. They will just wait until it gets wet enough, and, as Currie points out, conditions will inevitably change between now and late fall.

Horseflies and Deer Flies
Our mild winter may mean more overwintering larvae will have survived (we knew there would be a price to not having to shovel), but these guys generally show up later in the season, so the effects of an early spring aren’t likely to be as apparent. “That’s not to say there won’t be any impact,” says Currie, “but I don’t think it will be as marked as the insects that come out earlier.” This year, as always, you can expect those painful little bites left by these flies in July and August.

Of course, says Currie, all this speculation comes with a caution: “These predictions are all very weather and climate dependent.”

But if you’re not in one of these areas, don’t be complacent: The ticks are carried by small animals such as rodents and foxes, but also by birds and deer, so they have the potential to be found farther afield. We’ve even heard of someone being infected by a tick bite in Algonquin Park.

Why the fuss? Tick bites are usually painless but they may cause you to contract Lyme disease, a disease caused by a bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) carried by blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis, formerly called deer ticks). If the infection is caught within a few days of your tick bite, antibiotics usually produce a full recovery. When left longer, treatment may require months of antibiotics. If it’s left untreated too long, it may not be possible to cure the disease, only to manage the symptoms. As Peterson explains, “After too long, you can get rid of the bacteria, but the damage will likely already be done to joints, muscles, and the neurological system.” According to Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, in the long term, the disease can attack the central nervous system, brain, or heart. But, don’t worry; there are lots of ways you can keep yourself—as well as your friends and family—safe at the cottage.

Know what ticks look like. In the summer, ticks are in their nymph stage, and they can be as small as a pepper flake, says Peterson. Once they’ve reached adulthood, “you should have no trouble identifying them.” Adult ticks—before a meal—look like small, thin beetles that are brown and black in colour. Once they start feeding they will balloon up and be more rounded in shape. Not surprisingly, because they can go undetected so easily in the nymph phase, it is the stage when most people are infected with Lyme disease, according to the Ontario Public Health Division.

Do a “full-body check.” Peterson recommends that you check your whole body for ticks “as soon as you come in from the outdoors.” These relatives of spiders generally like warm, moist areas, such as your groin, the armpits and the insides of your arms, and behind your ears, but they can be found almost anywhere, including in your hair. She also suggests a buddy system, since ticks could be hiding on your back. If you’re alone, try using a mirror. Another tip from Peterson: Shower when you get in from a walk outside. It takes some time for ticks to move from, say, a pant leg, to a warm spot on your body. If they haven’t attached yet, they will fall off and go down the drain.

Move quickly. If you do spot a tick on your body, “The sooner you get it off, the better,” says Peterson. It takes at least 24 hours for the disease to be transmitted from the tick into your body, making early detection key.

Try tweezers. While some people may try to remove the tick by burning it off, pulling it out with tweezers is considered the safest, most effective way to do it. Without squeezing, grasp the tick close to the skin and pull it straight out. It’s okay if the head stays in—“It should work its way out like a sliver,” Peterson says—but do keep an eye on it. Clean the bite area with soap and water, antiseptic, or alcohol. Also, be sure to keep the tick, in a sealed container with a bit of moist paper towel, so your doctor or health unit can identify it. If it turns out to be a blacklegged tick, you can have it tested for Lyme disease and other infectious diseases.

Look for the bull’s eye. Lyme disease symptoms can appear any time from three days to one month after being bitten (most often they occur within one to two weeks). The disease can be difficult to diagnose, as most symptoms are easily confused with those of the flu: muscle and joint pain, fever, headache, and fatigue. But a rash that appears like a bull’s eye (a red bite lined with a white and red band) is the most obvious symptom to be aware of.

Take a photo. If you’ve been bitten or are showing symptoms of Lyme disease, get medical advice as soon as possible. Since it may take time to reach a doctor from the cottage, Peterson suggests taking a picture of the rash in the meantime. “The rash often disappears pretty quickly,” she says, “and the photo may make it easier to diagnose the disease.” Be sure to let your doctor know where and when you were bitten, and hand over the collected tick (in a screw-top container) to your local health unit.

More resources:
• Public Health Agency of Canada, on tick bites
• Public Health Agency of Canada, on Lyme disease
• Ontario Ministry of Health information page
• Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation page, including a map of reported infections from 1993-2002
• Public Health Ontario information on Lyme disease
• Lyme Disease Association of Ontario page
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention page

Starting mid-April, ruby-throated hummingbirds will start reappearing in Ontario. Each spring these little birds that weigh less than a nickel make an amazing journey from Florida and Central America, including an 800-km jaunt across the Gulf of Mexico on their way up to Ontario and most of Eastern Canada.

Hummingbirds are a delight to watch. Add a hummingbird feeder to your porch, then just need sit quietly and wait for the telltale hum as the birds come to feed. You can also make your yard an attractive feeding ground by planting certain flowers, such as azaleas, columbine, morning glory, and trumpet creeper. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are most attracted to red flowers, which is why most hummingbirds feeders you find are red. The colour of the nectar doesn’t matter, but make sure you use a formula or recipe specifically for hummingbirds. The little guys burn through a lot of calories flapping their wings 50-60 times a second, so it’s important that they have a high-energy food source.

Photographing hummingbirds

Capturing that perfect hummingbird shot is a challenge for most photographers. The wings move so fast that most shots are just a blur of wings with bird body in the middle. It’s nearly impossible to get a completely clear shot of the wings, but here are a few tips for getting the best shot of your buzzing buddies.

• Set your camera to its fastest shutter speed. Most digital cameras, even some low-end point-and-shoots, give you some control over the settings. Try to set the shutter speed to 1/1000 seconds or faster. If you have a DSLR and haven’t played around with the manual settings, see how changing the shutter speed and aperture affects your shot.
• Try using an external flash if you have one. If you can get a hummingbird in a dark setting, such as in a dark, shady area or after dusk, you may be able to freeze the wings in your shot by using an external flash on its fastest setting. Unfortunately, you’re less likely to see a hummingbird after dark, which makes getting these shots even more difficult.
• If you’ve planted flowers to attract hummingbirds, see which ones the birds go to the most and set up your gear nearby.
• Get comfortable. Your best tactic is to take a lot of photos, and since hummingbirds can be, well, flighty, it might take some time. A tripod and poised shutter-finger might be a good idea so you don’t spook the birds when you lift your camera up to snap your photo.

Also, check with a local native-plant nursery. Karen Landman, an associate professor of landscape architecture at the University of Guelph, suggests Grand Moraine Growers in Alma, Ont., which has an online catalogue that lists plants suitable for many types of soil conditions, habitats, or purposes.

Unfortunately, ground cover isn’t great to walk on, says Johnson, so also consider installing a boardwalk or a path with concrete pads or flagstones.