In 1926, a rustic fishing lodge was erected on the banks of the Boyne River, outside of Flesherton.
For nearly five decades, it was a fly fishing club, exclusive to men.
Now, it is co-owned by two sisters, one of which is award-winning writer Alison Pick (Far to Go, Between Gods), who regularly uses the property to host coveted writing retreats.
But on the last weekend in May (24-26), the lodge will reunite with its original roots, becoming the base camp for a fly fishing retreat, this time for women.
Organized and hosted by Beaver Valley resident Chari Cohen, the three-day event is a fundraiser in support of My Friend’s House, an emergency shelter that serves over 600 women and children in the Georgian Triangle annually.
Cohen discovered the space last year and was immediately enamoured by the lodge’s storied history.
“I was the only fisherperson, and I was agog," she says. "Everyone was sitting by the fire having their wine, and I was ruffling through all the fishing books, looking at all the paraphernalia.”
Cohen grew up in Southern Alberta, and has been fishing for over 50 years. Her childhood summers were spent angling on the crystal-clear glacier lakes and streams that spilled down from the Rocky Mountains.
At age 17, she was introduced to fly fishing, which became a treasured pastime and an escape. She describes the repetitive act of casting a line as “meditative,” providing a calming rhythm that slows the heart rate.
“It takes your mind and focuses it elsewhere, so you can’t think of anything else,” Cohen says.
For Cohen, fly fishing has always provided a reprieve from the chaos and noise of everyday life. It became a form of self-care when she moved to Ontario and started a family.
“My in-laws had a place in Thornbury in the eighties, and we had three little kids, so I couldn’t just say 'I’m just going out now,' I seemed to think that I needed an excuse, so my out was 'I’m going fishing,'" she says. "But what it gave me was the peace, the quiet, the focus.”
Through fly-fishing, Cohen found herself immersed in nature.
“You’re standing in a river, you’re feeling that life force flowing past you. You have to be in tune with what’s happening in the aquatic life and the insect world, so you can match your fly to what’s happening," she explains. "That cluing in, on that level, unless you are a biologist or entomologist, wouldn’t really come into your life as a regular person.”
In the Boyne River, and many rivers around here, the aquatic life includes salmon, as well as steelhead and brown trout. But this fishing retreat is less about the fish, and more about bonding with other women, and the power of community.
“I've fished all my life, and I’ve never felt like it was a man’s world but I do understand from going into a fishing shop and talking to the guys that I’m an anomaly," says Cohen, who hopes to make the sport less intimidating.
"This event is a combination of wanting to bring women into this space and supporting women in need. It seemed like the perfect combination of empowering women to walk in the river, shoulder to shoulder with men, and at the same time support women, who’ve been harmed, at the hands of men."
According to the staff at My Friend's House, there are 3,500 calls a year to the crisis line, but the shelter has only 12 beds.
“Violence against women in the Georgian Triangle continues to be a widely spread issue,”shares Jodi Petitpas, senior development and communications manager at My Friend’s House. “As the cost of living increases, there are much more limited options for single women when it comes to housing. What was once an eight-week shelter program is now seeing women stay six to eight months because of the lack of affordable housing.“
Of the women who accessed services at My Friend's House in the 2022/23 year, 100 per cent suffered emotional or psychological abuse, 58 per cent reported physical and or sexual violence, 13 per cent were injured upon arrival, and 25 per cent feared for their life.
In Canada, one woman or girl is killed every 48 hours.
“As the federal government has declared domestic violence an epidemic, our numbers in our small region would align with that designation,” Pettipas confirms.
For this inaugural year, Cohen hopes to raise over $4,000. That amount could provide approximately 36 nights of safe shelter for women, including nutritious meals, as well as in-house programming like therapeutic counselling, support for mental health and addictions or legal support.
Funds raised could also be used for programs like violence prevention workshops in local schools, or help fund the operation of the crisis line, which receives several calls each day.
“Third-party fundraisers from our community contribute significantly to our funding gap and make a great difference for us in how we’re able to deliver our programming,” Pettipas says, adding that each event adds up. “Our community shows up for us in the biggest, most selfless ways and we are just so appreciative.”
Of all the community fundraisers that have taken place over the years in support of My Friend’s House, Cohen is the first to host a women’s fly fishing event.
Guests can expect to wade knee-deep into the river and learn “the dance” of fly fishing. The weekend will also include a Friday night lotion-making workshop, campfires, and those who’re eager to explore the region are free to come and go as they please.
Delicious meals will feature local hot spots, like Justin’s Oven, and The Cheese Gallery in Thornbury has donated a delectable cheeseboard for the occasion. Everyone will leave with a fly fishing starter kit, courtesy of Drift Outfitters & Fly Shop.
“There’s a camaraderie there that I hope to facilitate in this new venture, with women who may not have ever walked in a river before, or may not have even thought that they want to fly fish, Community is a major part of that and the generosity of the people that you play with in the water is quite remarkable.”
The retreat is $1,000 per person, which includes accommodation, meals and the fly-fishing starter kit. A donation of $700 per registration goes to My Friend's House.
For more information, contact Chari Cohen: [email protected] or 647-289-3001.
