Sad to read...

Closing message

Thank you kindly

For Michael Heaton (ie. your correspondent here) time spent at Quetico has been a long-standing dream, partially fulfilled. Here's a brief reflection:
I envisioned an Independent School set amidst the Canadian wilderness where students, eager to learn and experience all that they could about the outdoors and the skills necessary to enrich their lives, would flock to become a part of this environment. I read Sigurd F Olson's Quetico books when I was a kid, and his outdoors mindset stayed with me forever. Unfortunately, times and aspirations have changed since my childhood days.
As many of you know, after 7 years at Quetico, the dream has gone unrealized. Most of those years were spent trying to conquer the biggest challenge I had not realized: finding teachers eager to join the new venture. In between extensive bouts of recruitment, days were spent fixing things. It took a great deal of effort to get the campus ready for the school's opening, but ready it was. The originator of Quetico Centre, Cliff MacIntosh, would have been proud of the manner in which the place was refurbished, updated and made functional again after over 10 years in a dormant state.
I had the distinct honour and privilege of meeting amazing people who came to Quetico for a canoe trip, a conference or workshop, or helping out with repairs. For all of those who came to Quetico and shared my space and adventures, I sincerely thank you so much. Time spent building new bike ramps, fixing water lines, moving felled trees, making beds, preparing delightful meals or sharing stories of the past or hopes of the future have all been appreciated so much. I do hope that our trails will cross again.
The property is now in the hands of new owners. What they intend to do will be most interesting to see evolve.
But for me, it's time to start a new chapter in life's book. Thank you so much for all that you did to be a part of the Quetico chapter.

B. Michael Heaton

Yep. I also got that e-mail this morning.

It was a wonderful place. Very sad to see it go. Michael was a very engaging dinner table companion (after having finished this "chief cook" responsibilities).

dd

Just got off the phone with Doug Chapman at CQO. Quetico Centre, it sounds like, has mostly just changed management (still mostly owned by Michael), and is still hosting paddlers. He said to contact Regan Hall and Cynthia at reservations@queticocentre.net, or rhall@queticocentre.net

ParkerMag: "Just got off the phone with Doug Chapman at CQO. Quetico Centre, it sounds like, has mostly just changed management (still mostly owned by Michael), and is still hosting paddlers. He said to contact Regan Hall and Cynthia at reservations@queticocentre.net, or rhall@queticocentre.net"

Yep. Already set up to use this combo (again) in June.

dd