S2 | Rewind Design | E8 Julien on Isabel Island - Bonus Episode!
L’Islet Island to Isabel Island
Julien LeBourdais’s journey to re-discovering Georgian Bay
Welcome to Episode 8 of Rewind Design Season 2! If you are brand new to this podcast, welcome! My name is Katy McNabb and I am a registered Interior Designer working in Ontario’s Cottage Country. I am on a mission to share sustainable ways of building, promote green energy and document the history of the cottage country.
In this week’s bonus episode, I have a cottage story to share! I had the pleasure of meeting with Julien LeBourdais, his daughter Lisa and his son in law Matthew. As far as his cottage history goes, Julien is a multigenerational cottager spanning back to the late 1800s.
GO HOME BAY
His great grandparents were pioneers in Go-Home Bay landing in 1899 and building a large wrap around cottage that dates back to the early 1900’s which is still owned by one of Julien’s cousin. Founding the Madawaska club which was considered extremely remote.
L’ISLET ISLAND
In 1942, just before Julien was born, his parents took a serendipitous canoe trip from Go Home Bay 40km north to Sans Souci where they camped on an island they later named L’Islet. They named the island after a small village on the St. Lawrence River where Julien’s father’s parents were born. L’Islet was a seven-acre rocky island with magnificent windswept pine trees. The west side of the island was exposed to the open water of Georgian Bay so sunsets are breathtaking.
In July 1944, at three months old, baby Julien arrived on the steamboat “Midland City” with his mother at Sans Souci. His father rowed a small boat over a kilometre to the community dock to pick them up. He was in the process of building a one-room cottage.
The family sold the island in 1987, and Julien’s daughter Lisa, aged 16 at the time vowed to buy back the island one day.
ISABEL ISLAND
After 35 years away from Georgian Bay, Julien thought he may never be back. Then out of the blue in December 2020, just before Christmas, Julien and his wife were invited to a zoom call with his daughter Lisa. To mark his 75th birthday, Lisa told Julien they would like to name some part of their future island after him. Suddenly on the zoom call, Julien’s 11-yr-old grandson held up a wooden sign reading “Grandpa’s Grove”. Julien was somewhat confused, what did this sign mean? Could it mean what he thought it did? Then Lisa dropped the bombshell. She showed a slide presentation of a Georgian Bay island she announced they had just bought. Julien would be spending his summers in Georgian Bay once again.
Isabel Island is a rugged island in a chain of islands in Sans Souci with a main cottage, several guest cabins and a covered boat slip. From the main cottage, still original, you can see 360 degree views from the kitchen to the water surrounding it. The cottage is rustic with wood paneling and classic windows that flip up and allow for the classic Georgian Bay west wind. The island has a system of boardwalks linking the buildings together. The structures are all defined by their light blue metal roofs that blend into the sky, unimposing on the rocky shore.
In this emotional episode, we discover how each generation has enjoyed the wonder and solitude of Georgian Bay – through three different locations. He is now known in the community as the local historian, writing articles for the Sans Souci Copperhead association. We love to see his updates pop up online with a snippit from the past! Before his retirement he had an wonderful career as a photojournalist, photographing sports, celebrities and even royalty! He covered the Leaf’s '67 Stanley Cup (as a child) and John Lennon in '69. He freelanced for the Toronto Star, then the United Press International to the United Press Canada!
IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
What is a Georgian Bay Girl? - Will you pass Lisa’s grandmother’s test?
An island that was purchased for $25
Lisa remembers returning retuning to L’Islet island decades later and discovering something her cousin had left hidden in the cottage…
LISTEN TO OUR INTERVIEW BELOW!
L’Islet Island, Isabel Island + Go Home Bay proximity.
JULIEN ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS!
Where are you from, and how did you discover cottage country? (you can describe your arrival to sans souci on the Midland City)
I grew up in Toronto and arrived with my mother, Isabel LeBourdais, at Sans Souci on the steamer “Midland City” in 1944 when I was 3 months old. We were met by my father who was in the process of building a one-room cottage, with porch, on Ricketts Is. which they had bought in 1942.. I spent summers at L’Islet (my parents were able to have the name changed) until my mother sold the island in 1987 when I was 43 yrs old.
Where is your property located, is it land or water access and what body of water does it sit on?
L’Islet is in Sans Souci about 1 km west of Frying Pan Is. In 2022, my daughter Lisa and her husband Matt Bower bought Isabel Is. which is about 1 km east of Frying Pan Is. Both cottages are on Georgian Bay in the Sans Souci area and have water access.
Georgian bay is an archipelago of 30 000 unique islands
What township are you located in - how far to the closest town?
We are in the Archipelago about 25 km. from Parry Sound
Can you describe your property, and the buildings?
L’Islet is a 7 acre island with an exposure to open water to the west. It has large areas of very spectacular smooth rock but also has wooded areas. It is possible to walk almost anywhere on the island. I’ve never seen a more perfect Georgian Bay island. The cottage my father built still stands. In the ‘60s, we had a dry boathouse built along the natural harbour on the east (sheltered) side. The cottage is fairly basic and functional. Isabel Is. is under two acres with many variations in elevation. There are five buildings – the main cottage; a bunkie; a small cottage with 2 bedrooms, a porch and a bathroom (the kids’ cottage); a tool house; and a guest cabin which is called the GPC (grandparents’ cabin). The GPC has a 4-piece bathroom. There is a floating dock with a cover over the main slip.
Georgian bay is the largest freshwater archipelago in the world
Can you describe for the readers what your cottage looks like, the type of construction and the general feeling of the cottage?
Both cottages are mostly made of wood and I would say fairly basic design. In both cottages, one is very aware of the surrounding landscape – rock, trees, water. Both are functional and in their own way, comfortable, without being too much like a “city house”
How did you end up on Georgian Bay?
I am a 4th generation Georgian Bayer and my daughter Lisa is 5th. Her children are 6th generation. My great grandparents, Bella and Fred McCurdy, bult a cottage on Treasure Is., Go Home Bay, Georgian Bay, in 1899. Each generation since has enjoyed the wonder and solitude of Georgian Bay – although in three different locations.
How long have you owned this property and what drew you or your family to the area?
My mother grew up on Georgian Bay (Go Home) so she had a love for the area which motivated her to buy L’Islet in 1942. I grew up with the same feelings, as did my daughter Lisa. I don’t think any of us ever considered going anywhere else. It’s in our blood. Circumstances dictated that I was away from G.B. from 1987 to 2022. Lisa last stayed at L’Islet when she was 16 but always wanted to “come back” to Georgian Bay. To the absolute delight of all of us, she and her husband Matt were able to do so in 2022. They spent a couple of years looking at properties but never considered any area other than Georgian Bay. They couldn’t have predicted thy would end up so close to L’Islet
Boardwalks on Isabel Island
If relevant, do you know who owned the property before you and what they used it for?
My parents bought L’Islet (called Ricketts Is.) in 1942, having discovered it while on a canoe trip starting at Go Home Bay where my grandparents had a cottage. They bought it from a woman who had owned it for years but apparently never used it and certainly had never built a building or a dock. Lisa and Matt bought Isabel Is. in 2022. Several owners have had it since 1947 when the first cottage was built. Other buildings have been added or expanded over the years.
What is a special tradition you do at your cottage?
As a child, we would periodically drive (by boat) south to Go Home Bay to visit my grandparents for the day. We would also go on short boat trips and picnics to destinations in the area around Sans Souci. Lisa and her family are still discovering what will be their traditions.
What kind of activities do you do at the cottage?
Water activities played a part when I was a child and now for my grandchildren. This includes swimming, paddle boarding & kayaking. As a child, we often visited families on nearby islands to spend time with kids our ages. As a child I did a lot of fishing although not with much success.
What year was your cottage built?
The cabin we had on L’Islet was built by my father in 1944. The building was expanded around 1954 when a bedroom, kitchen and small washroom were added, That work was done by the Welsh Bros. The original cottage on Isabel Is. was built in 1947. It was expanded and other smaller buildings were built in subsequent years (unknown) by various owners.
Is this the original cottage - have you done any updates to it? If relevant - what was the original cottage like? (Isabel).
The original cottage on Isabel Is. was smaller than it now is. The building was expanded at some point. Other buildings were added over the years.
A place for everyone
With a guest cabin with a view like this why stay for a short stay when you could stay for the season!
Have you had any design challenges at the cottage? (ex septic issues, no electricity, no dishwasher)
When first built, the cottage at L’Islet did not have running water or a toilet. Until about 1954, the cottage was one room plus a porch. My parents did most cooking, washing dishes, etc outdoors. We also had a tent for additional sleeping. This was very much one step above camping but we all enjoyed the experience. Part of the attraction for some of us in the early days was that our lifestyle was influenced by and depended upon the weather. The addition in 1954 added a kitchen, one bedroom and a bathroom/storage room that had a chemical toilet (basically a large pail with a seat, chemical inside). Around 1966, running water (pump) and a septic tank were added so we had running hot & cold water in both the kitchen and the bathroom. From 1954 onwards, the kitchen had a propane stove and refrigerator and some propane lights. By the time L’Islet was sold in 1987, neither electricity nor phone service was available due to the remoteness of the island. Since Lisa and Matt bought Isabel Is. in 2022, we have no knowledge of when various conveniences were added. Currently, there are three piece bathrooms in three buildings and a dishwasher in the main cottage.
What do you like most about your cottage, and what do you like least?
My personal experiences at L’Islet and Isabel Is. occurred at very different times in my life so my preferences and needs were different. L’islet was more of an outdoor experience than Isabel Is. Waves on L’Islet could be very large and, for many years, all boats were taken out of the water (on ramps or lifts) when the wind increased. Over the years, several docks were totally destroyed during the winter and repairs were always being done. Isabel Is. can experience some strong winds from the south and east but nothing like the large rollers from the west that can do a lot of damage at L’Islet. At some point after purchasing L’Islet in 1987, the new owners built a very long and sturdy (and expensive) breakwater of rocks parallel to the dock. As I approach 80 yrs of age, I must admit I enjoy the “modern conveniences” on Isabel Is. that I did not have and did not miss when I was at L’Islet. The times are different. Growing up, I never once felt disadvantaged.
What do you have at your cottage to make it feel like home + unique?
At both cottages, “home” was the feeling of the outdoors, the views of the lake and sunsets, wood construction and not looking like a city home (no drywall or wall to wall carpets). It’s a refuge, a place to get away, not competing with a city home. It is very important to have water access only. We have many comforts but the outdoors is very important. Weather, especially wind and rain, influence our daily activities – and that adds to the appeal.
Sunset viewing platform
Further Notes:
It was only 18 months ago that I returned to Sans Souci after an absence of 35 years. In the short time since then, I have become very interested in immersing myself in the activities of the Sans Souci & Copperhead Association by making regular FB posting of photographs and monthly stories as well as volunteering as a member of the Sans Souci Islands Stewards – a group that works to protect and preserve the natural environment, especially crown lands. I see my daughter and my grandchildren and I want their futures to be as rewarding as mine has been (and continues to be).
PS I won an Honorable Mention for my photo of Isabel Island for the Cottage Life Photo Contest!
LISTEN TO OUR CONVERSATION BELOW
Season 2 is generously funded by the Georgian Bay Land Trust
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