My watermark is Whitestone Lake.

My earliest and most formative memories can be traced back to my family’s cabin, nestled on the rocky shores of Whitestone Lake. My grandparents immigrated to Canada from England when my mother was a child. They were never able to purchase their own home, but they dreamed of purchasing a forested plot of land in northern Ontario. Eventually this dream became a reality, and they would spend their summers sleeping in tents and eventually built a small cabin tucked away within the trees. They purchased the second plot sold on the entire lake.

Fast forward 60 years and our family has now raised two generations there. Spending summers on the lake has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the natural environment, so much so that it has inspired me to pursue a career that will allow me to protect freshwater ecosystems for future generations. Whitestone Lake has provided an outlet where I have been able to explore activities like camping, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, sailing, fishing, snorkelling, and so much more. It is a sanctuary for not only fish, birds, and wildlife, but also my family. When I think of home, I think of playing in the water at Whitestone Lake.