Built on the belief that
later life deserves beauty.
muskokiqqs began as a family vision — a place where seniors could live surrounded by nature, genuine community, and dignified support. That vision shapes everything we do today.
Return to HomeWhere muskokiqqs began
muskokiqqs was founded in 2009 by the Harrington family, long-time residents of Bracebridge who had spent decades building a relationship with the land, the lakes, and the community of Muskoka. Margaret and David Harrington, both retired educators, had watched their own parents move through the final decades of life in settings that felt disconnected from everything they loved — nature, neighbours, and a sense of purpose. They believed something different was possible.
The original property on Manitoba Street had served as a summer camp in an earlier life. The Harringtons spent three years transforming it — carefully, slowly, with local craftspeople and materials wherever possible — into a place that felt less like a facility and more like a home that happened to have a community built in. The pine trees were never cleared. The dock was rebuilt. A vegetable garden went in the first spring.
What began with eight residents and a small staff has grown over the years into a residence that now accommodates up to 34 individuals in private suites, with a waiting list that speaks to how deeply the approach resonates. The Harrington family remains involved in daily operations, with their daughter Claire now serving as Residence Director.
Our mission has not changed since those early years: to offer a life in Muskoka that is shaped by the seasons, sustained by genuine community, and characterized by the kind of quiet dignity that everyone deserves.
"We didn't build this for a market. We built it for the kind of life our parents deserved."
— Margaret Harrington, Co-FounderThe team behind the daily experience
Small, consistent, and deeply committed — our staff are chosen as much for their character as their qualifications.
Claire Harrington
Residence DirectorClaire grew up spending summers at muskokiqqs and joined full-time in 2017 after completing her studies in gerontology at the University of Waterloo. She oversees day-to-day operations and remains the first point of contact for families considering residency.
Robert Lacasse
Programmes & Outdoor Activities LeadA naturalist and former parks guide, Robert designs and leads our seasonal programming. From snowshoe trails to canoe routes, he brings a calm enthusiasm for the outdoors that residents respond to genuinely.
Sylvie Bédard
Head of Dining & Community GatheringsSylvie trained in Montréal before returning to rural Ontario, where she has spent fifteen years cooking for communities that value local, seasonal food. Her meals have become something residents and families look forward to with genuine anticipation.
The standards that guide us every day
These are not policies we post on a wall — they are the expectations our staff hold each other to, and that our residents have come to rely on.
Privacy & Discretion
Personal information is handled with care and shared only as needed to support each resident's wellbeing. We are transparent about what we collect and why.
Dignity in Every Interaction
We train staff not just in tasks, but in tone. Respectful language, patient listening, and an unhurried approach are expectations, not exceptions.
Environmental Responsibility
We source food locally where possible, minimize waste in our kitchen and grounds operations, and maintain the natural landscape without chemicals or disruptive clearing.
Community Voice
Monthly resident gatherings are not optional events — they are a core part of how we make decisions about programming, meals, and communal spaces. Every voice is heard.
24/7 Non-Medical Support
Our support staff are available around the clock for transportation, mail, activity coordination, and everyday assistance — always calm and present, never rushed.
Safety of the Property
Trails are maintained and marked seasonally. Common areas are designed for accessibility. Fire safety protocols are reviewed annually and practiced regularly with all staff.
What makes a senior living residence different here
The Muskoka region has long drawn people who want to live closer to something real — the shoreline, the forest, the open sky that comes with distance from the city. At muskokiqqs, that relationship with place is not a backdrop. It is the organizing principle of daily life.
We serve seniors who do not wish to be managed, scheduled, or reduced to a care plan. Our residents come for the crafts studio in the morning light, the dock on a September afternoon, the smell of a fire in winter, and the company of neighbours who have chosen this life deliberately. They come for Sylvie's roasted squash in October and Robert's snowshoe loop through the east trail in January.
Families find relief here not because we take something off their hands, but because they can see their loved one genuinely living — not waiting. The Weekend Retreat service exists precisely because we believe that choice should be felt, not described. Come for a weekend. Sit by the fire. Walk the trail at your own pace. Then decide.
Located on Manitoba Street in Bracebridge, Ontario, muskokiqqs is within easy reach of the town's amenities, medical services, and the broader Muskoka Lakes area. We are, in every sense, part of the community around us.
We would be glad to show you around.
A conversation or a short visit is often the simplest way to understand whether muskokiqqs feels right.
Get in Touch