The clean air and sunshine of the Muskokas are still attracting visitors to the Sanitarium. Initially, this was the only known treatment for tuberculosis (or TB), as we see from this advertisement from the early 1900's.More recently, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has been using this setting for a variety of training purposes including Emergency Response, Crime Scene Forensics, and the Canine Training Program. Canine training courses run throughout the summer and include basic handling, handler selection, explosives detection, and narcotics detection courses.
From personal experience, a winter-time exploration (see group photo to left) of the Muskoka Centre is a cold and somewhat dangerous affair (due to the thick rivers of ice throughout the halls and stairs of the Gage Building - see below).
This certainly did not stop Rick Mercer and David Suzuki who visited the former Muskoka Regional Centre in February. The Ontario Provincial Police Emergency Response Team showcase some high level resuce work at the Gage building complex as well as ice resuce. In order for Mr. Suzuki to get his 'Vote for the Environment' message out on the CBC, he had to submit to being dangled from a building and then thrown into the icy lake. Some highlights from the Rick Mercer Video.
Rick and members of the OPP Emergency Rescue Team head up to the roof on the Gage building.
Dr. Suzuki being 'lowered onto Rick' in preparation for the high level rescue exercise.
Here we see Rick's third attempt to swing into an open window. He is such a cowboy.
Rick is received through the window by this OPP Officer. Note the Officer's precarious balancing act on the stairwell railing.
Here Dr. Suzuki and Rick are getting pysched before hitting the drink.
