RIP Mr. Boddy, Founder and Visionary of Muskoka Woods Sports Resort

On Saturday September 15, the world lost another great man to the heavens.
John Boddy was a successful businessman and some of you may even have lived in one of his homes (John Boddy Homes). But to me he was the visionary behind a place I spent many summers of my youth, Muskoka Woods.

As alumni we were asked to send notes to the Boddy family on how Muskoka Woods has shaped or impacted our lives. This is what I sent to the family...

Tiina, Alison & I "Tuck Shop Girls"

I first came to Muskoka Woods at age 11 after having tried other "traditional"camps. Obviously, after having to sleep in platform tents, washing your own dishes and sleeping in cabins without running water, Muskoka Woods was heaven! (Little did I know how close to heaven MWSR would take me!) I went home after my first week in reluctantly, and sang the praises of this amazing place. We would never look back and the next summer my brother would join me. 

Muskoka Woods wasn't just a place we'd spend a few weeks of our summer. To me, it WAS summer. I could not think of any place I'd rather be than in the sunshine with my friends, on the water, at the docks, learning new skills, playing crazy games, enjoying campfire, the list goes on and on. And once I "out grew" being a "guest", I joined summer staff...most notably working in the teeny tiny tuck shop, doling out GIGANTIC flurries/ice creams to the cutest boys! :)

Muskoka Woods did a lot to shape the person I am today; teaching me to take (calculated) risks, how to be a leader, and about my faith.

My "Muskoka Woods" life extended way past Lake Rosseau. Because of friends at MWSR, I went to Capernwray Hall and because of Capernwray I travelled the world and have wonderful friends all over the globe.

I am forever grateful to my parents who were able to send my brother and I to this playground every summer and thankful to the Boddy family for their vision to make Muskoka Woods the best place on earth to spend your youth!

 

The gorgeous boathouse

 

...and that's a wrap TIFF12!

Home before 10pm.
It’s the first time in 11 days.
TIFF12 had taken a hold of my life, as it had for the past 10 years or so...
Every year is the same.
For 11 days in September I live off Starbucks, get 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night, and eat absolutely horribly (popcorn, street meat, fast-food burgers...oh my!).
And every year it is absolutely worth it!

I love how full the streets of Toronto are.
I love the endless amounts of tourists in the city.
I love the amazing vibe Toronto gets.
TIFF is simply amazing for the city.

On Day 11 of TIFF12 I walked in the middle of Queen St West, just because I could. The streets are empty on Sunday mornings and I was out there early...due to the 9:15am screening of Disconnect.

Disconnect had a great story for our times. No matter how connected we are with our laptops, cellphones, text messages, facetime, and chat rooms, we are not emotionally connected. Jason Bateman and Alexander Skarsgard are awesome in this film!

And closing TIFF for me this year was Zaytoun. And anyone who knows me knows my connection to the middle east. So Zaytoun was going to be special to me no matter what! First of all Stephen Dorff aged quite well...he makes a perfectly handsome Israeli soldier. His Hebrew is okay...but I will overlook it! :) Zaytoun is about an Israeli soldier and how a very unlikely young Palestinian boy helps him to safety. Forget about politics. This is about the friendship that grows between the two. 
OH! And treat of all treats! Even on the last day of TIFF we were given the opportunity to have a Q&A session with Zaytoun’s Oscar winning producer Gareth Unwin! AWESOME!
Fun facts: Zaytoun means olives in Arabic. Zayteem means olives in Hebrew. Zaytoun won 2nd runner-up for the People's Choice Awards at TIFF12 (that means...GO SEE IT!!!)





Tomorrow life goes back to normal...I welcome it. Back to hot yoga, long walks and cuddles with my pup, dinner with friends and time with the fam... (OH and I should probably detox from all the horrible food and drinks I've consumed!)

Til next year TIFF! (And in the meantime, I will begin my search for all the amazing films I didn’t have time to see...Laurence Anyways, Silver Linings Playbooks, Bad25, Antiviral, etc. etc.)


And the final TIFF12 ranking according to me:

1. The Gatekeepers - documentary about Israel’s internal intelligence agency, just absolutely incredible
2. White Elephant (Elefante Blanco) – a very powerful film about two priests in the slums of Buenos Aires
3. Zaytoun - stop focusing on politics. This film is about the friendship that builds between an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian boy.
4. Imagine - a beautiful film set in Lisbon about a school for blind children and their very unconventional teacher
5. 7 Boxes (Siete Cajas) - a super fun film from Paraguay about a teen who must guard 7 boxes with his life!
6. Twice Born (Venuto Al Mundo) - Penelope Cruz relives her past in Sarajevo. Heavy and amazing.
7. The Paperboy - Deep south 1969 America. Murder and sexual tension, weird combo, but it works.
8. Disconnect - A “Crash” like film that reminds us even through our “connections” we aren’t really connected emotionally at all.
9. First Comes Love - documentary about a 41 year old woman who decides to have a child on her own
10. Bright Day – Finding yourself in India
11. Le Capital - an French “Hollywood” type film with a dramatic lead played by a stand up comic! (after finding that out, totally made it for me!)
12. Viola -  A masterful combination of 7 Shakespearean plays, all with the most beautiful Argentinian Spanish

TIFF Day 10

TIFF day 10 is now over...only one more day to go Toronto.
I have to say though, walking across King Street this afternoon to Lightbox it was clearly the end of TIFF. Gone are the crazy crowded and super excited streets. It is just a little subdued, and with the slightly overcast sky, even a little bit sad. Still, let me update you on the last two films I have enjoyed and tomorrow there are still two more to go!

Last night I saw the Opening of “The Paperboy” by Lee Daniels (Director of Precious) at the Elgin Theatre. Lee Daniels introduced us to his film by saying it was not a feel good type film but feel free to laugh, as they had many laughs filming it. It wasn’t really feel good, but yes it was really funny. This film will definitely come out in the mainstream theatres and stars Matthew Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron and John Cusack.

And let me make special note of Mr. Efron. Did he ever bring out all the teenaged girls in the city! WOW! I have never seen so many screaming girls!!!

Cameron Bailey on stage with Zac Efron, David Oyelowo and Director Lee Daniels

This afternoon I saw Twice Born (Venuto Al Mundo) staring Penelope Cruz. It was an incredibly heavy film about an Italian woman who goes back to Sarajevo and we relive her past. As heavy as it was, it was beautiful also. Who knew that Penelope spoke Italian? The whole war backdrop was hard to take at times but reminded me of another amazing film I saw at TIFF a few years ago  about a teacher during the Bosnian war. As If I’m Not There. Amazing.

Okay - time for bed as I’ve an early screening tomorrow morning at 9:15am...and by the way, how does the subway of a major city not start running until 9am?!

The perfect after film bubbly with friends...

The rundown to date:
1. The Gatekeepers - documentary about Israel’s internal intelligence agency, just absolutely incredible
2. White Elephant (Elefante Blanco) – a very powerful film about two priests in the slums of Buenos Aires
3. Imagine - a beautiful film set in Lisbon about a school for blind children and their very
unconventional teacher
4. 7 Boxes (Siete Cajas) - a super fun film from Paraguay about a teen who must guard 7 boxes with his life!
5. Twice Born (Venuto Al Mundo) - Penelope Cruz relives her past in Sarajevo. Heavy and amazing.
6. The Paperboy - Deep south 1969 America. Murder and sexual tension, weird combo, but it works.
7. First Comes Love - documentary about a 41 year old woman who decides to have a child on her own
8. Bright Day – Finding yourself in India
9. Le Capital - an French “Hollywood” type film with a dramatic lead played by a stand up comic! (after finding that out, totally made it for me!)
10. Viola -  A masterful combination of 7 Shakespearean plays, all with the most beautiful Argentinian Spanish

TIFF Day 8

When Cameron Bailey (Co-Director of TIFF) introduces your film, you KNOW it’s going to be awesome…and awesome it was. Last night I saw White Elephant (Elefante Blanco), a film about two priests trying to keep the peace in the slums Buenos Aires. Graphic and piercing, White Elephant showed the less glamorous side of Buenos Aires. Director Pablo Trapero has brought all his films to Toronto and was super cool and set the tone for the film. An excellent, excellent watch.

Cameron Bailey

Also last night I saw the first screening of Bright Day, a story of an Indian guy in his early twenties searching for “something.” He leaves his cushy home, parents, girlfriend and friends, and embarks on his own journey of self discovery. The film is gorgeous, set in beautiful cities and country sides of India and also on the banks of the Ganges River.

Today is Day 9 of TIFF, I will see another film tonight, one on Saturday and two on Sunday…and while I am pretty much exhausted, there is still so much to look forward to!

The rundown to date:
1. The Gatekeepers - documentary about Israel’s internal intelligence agency, just absolutely incredible
2. White Elephant (Elefante Blanco) – a very powerful film about two priests in the slums of Buenos Aires

3. Imagine - a beautiful film set in Lisbon about a school for blind children and their very unconventional teacher
4. 7 Boxes (Siete Cajas) - a super fun film from Paraguay about a teen who must guard 7 boxes with his life!
5. First Comes Love - documentary about a 41 year old woman who decides to have a child on her own
6. Bright Day – Finding yourself in India

7. Le Capital - an French “Hollywood” type film with a dramatic lead played by a stand up comic! (after finding that out, totally made it for me!)
8. Viola -  A masterful combination of 7 Shakespearean plays, all with the most beautiful Argentinian Spanish

Madge visits the TDot

When you think of Madonna, what comes to mind? For me it's pointy bras and torn lace gloves... Madonna of 2012 is somewhat more refined...and fabulously kept for a woman who is over 50, singing and dancing on stage, night after night with an obscene amount energy!

There were moments when I could not understand where dear Madge was coming from with her potty mouth, new obsession with guns and violence, but then she'd launch into a fun rendition of Papa Don't Preach and all was well again.

She was fun and energetic and crazy and political...those searching for the material girl of the late 80's, early 90's would have been disappointed, but I had a party! :) And hey, it was a great little diversion from TIFF12!

TIFF Day 6

It is Tuesday, Day 6 of the Toronto International Film Festival.
I am exhausted...someone please remind me to take the week off work next year!

Some more amazing films seen in the last two days, Imagine and Viola.
Imagine was gorgeous in many ways. It is the story of an unconventional blind teacher at a school for the blind set in Lisbon, Portugal. The white washed buildings and sunshine of Lisbon kept the film light and bright. The children in the film were incredible and inspiring.

Viola is a film from Argentina that just brings together a combination of 7 Shakespearean plays. The dialogue was rather mesmerizing and the beautiful Argentinian Spanish with their perfect rolling “r’s” was just incredible!


Imagine star Edward Hogg

Mom and I bustled across the streets of Toronto this evening, spotting, Canadian film director/writer Deepta Mehta (Water and my personal fave, Hollywood/Bollywood) and James Earl Jones (the man with the voice!) at Lightbox and the cast of Disconnect outside the Princess of Wales theatre! (Can’t wait to see Disconnect this weekend!)

Tomorrow I have the day off TIFF...going to see Madonna!!!

The rundown to date:
1. The Gatekeepers - documentary about Israel’s internal intelligence agency, just absolutely incredible
2. Imagine - a beautiful film set in Lisbon about a school for blind children and their very unconventional teacher
3. 7 Boxes (Siete Cajas) - a super fun film from Paraguay about a teen who must guard 7 boxes with his life!
4. First Comes Love - documentary about a 41 year old woman who decides to have a child on her own
5. Le Capital - an french “hollywood” type film with a dramatic lead played by a stand up comic! (after finding that out, totally made it for me!)
6. Viola -  A masterful combination of 7 Shakespearean plays, all with the most beautiful Argentinian spanish

TIFF12...and I'm back!!!

SO much has happened over the last year that has not been blogged about - but it’s TIFF time again, my most favourite time of year, so let’s focus on that first!

Today (Sunday September 9) was Day 4 for TIFF.
And after a rainy Day 3, the sun came back out to shine on Toronto!
People packed patios and I saw two films.

Yes, brunch on the patio of Le Select Bistro was incredible -
who really can dispute the power of great coffee and smoked salmon benedict on a croissant...DECADENT!

But this afternoon’s documentary, The Gatekeepers was incredible.
It is about Shin Bet, Israel’s internal intelligence agency.
Dror Moreh, the film’s director was at the packed screening and as he introduced the film, told us he hoped we would enjoy, then changed his mind and said, “Enjoy is not the right word for this film, but I hope you like it.”

Dror was right, how do you “enjoy” a film that makes you re-think your beliefs and opens your eyes. In this documentary, Dror interviews 6 heads of Shin Bet. No one in Shin Bet is known to the public, only the heads. These men, of whom the oldest he interviewed was born in 1930, shared their expertise, their experiences and what they think of peace in the Middle East. It was incredibly powerful.

It also reminded me of what a great man Prime Minister Rabin was and I got to put my Hebrew to work!

Speaking of Hebrew, the rest of the films I saw this weekend, allowed me to practice my other languages! Le Capital was en Francais, Siete Cajas (7 Boxes) was en espanol, and First Comes Love was in English.

TIFF, while wonderful, was sandwiched between work this weekend. I have entered the world of management consulting recently and found myself lugging my laptop to screenings today and finishing a report between screenings...UGH...hopefully the next 8 films will only be accompanied by great friends and MORE good food!

Happy TIFF!

The rundown so far:

1. The Gatekeepers - documentary about Israel’s internal intelligence agency, just absolutely incredible!
2. 7 Boxes (Siete Cajas) - a super fun film from Paraguay about a teen who must guard 7 boxes with his life!
3. First Comes Love - documentary about a 41 year old woman who decides to have a child on her own
4. Le Capital - an french “hollywood” type film with a dramatic lead played by a stand up comic! (after finding that out, totally made it for me!)

 

Director Dror Moreh of The Gatekeepers