Arowhon Pines, Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada.

 

Canada is incredible.

And this summer I had the privilege of expanding my Canadian roots. Some of my favourite places are found in the very province I feel lucky enough to call home, in British Columbia. From the coast of Tofino to the shores of Okanagan Lake in my very home town, I find B.C. truly beautiful. However, even with the explorations of this great province (mostly thanks to an incredible outdoor program called Earth Quest which took us all the way from skiing on a Blanket Glacier to ocean kayaking in Clayoquot Sound) I have come to the realization I haven't explored nearly enough of this great land we call home. So, in May, I accepted a job in Algonquin Park, a place before I got the job have never heard of. Not long after the commitment was made, however, I began to hear more and more of Ontario and this very well-known provincial park, sparking my curiosity even more. I wasn't expecting a lot, a summer job, cheap rent and with any luck earn enough money to continue my travelling into the winter. Looking back, I was given so much more. With only one computer connected to dial-up internet among the staff, a pay-phone at the rustic-style resort and the nearest town being a 1-hour drive away, contact to the outside world was somewhat limited. I found myself to enjoy the simplicity of no cell service, access to a car and the comfort of knowing every one of my neighbors. I think Arowhon Pines is one of few places like it, retaining much of the original charm I imagine it having when it was first built in the 1950's. I spent my many hours at work studying the art of fine dining service from a man with, at the very least, an impeccable eye for detail, and was fortunate enough to meet some of the most incredible people from all over the globe. I hope to be back sometime. If not to work, perhaps to paddle the many connecting lakes of Algonquin, spot some moose and maybe even enjoy some of the incredible cuisine at Arowhon!