Latest and Greatest Cleves Crew Members

Are you ready to meet the final members of our 2013 Cleves Crew?  If you haven’t already please check out our meet and greet of other team members Dani and Ellie, Syd and Andrew and Jessica and Alex!  We are all looking forward to meeting you in person.  How many sleeps until your CH vacation?

 Name: Jeff Robinson

Position: Cook

I spent the last 6 months: Cook/private in home catering

If I could be one Muskoka animal, it would be: Moose

My favourite Muskoka pastime is: wake boarding

My favourite Cleveland’s house staff vs guest game is: Ball hockey

Muskoka in one word: Legendary 

Name: Katie Rylski

Position: Food and Beverage Supervisor

I spent the last 6 months: Completing the second year in a three year program

If I could be one Muskoka animal, it would be: Loon

My favourite Muskoka pastime is: sitting on the dock at sunset

My favourite Cleveland’s house staff vs guest game is: beach volleyball

Muskoka in one word: Paradise 

Name: Sam Eisen

Position: Adult Social Director

I spent the last 6 months: backpacking through NZ, Australia, and Southeast Asia.

If I could be one Muskoka animal, it would be: a friendly chipmunk!

My favourite Muskoka pastime is: hanging out on the dock enjoying the sunshine or boating

My favourite Cleveland’s house staff vs guest game is: volleyball

Muskoka in one word: escape

Meet More of our 2013 Cleves Crew!

We are getting excited for another summer to remember at Clevelands House.  Ready to meet more of our 2013 Cleves Crew….

Name: Ellie Craik

Position: Assistant Children’s Program Director

I spent the last 6 months: In Halifax studying at Dalhousie University

If I could be one Muskoka animal, it would be: Duck

My favourite Muskoka past time is: hanging out down at the dock

My favourite Clevelands House Staff vs. Guest game is: Volleyball

Muskoka in one world: Unforgettable

Name: Dani Piano

Position: Front Desk Agent

I spent the last 6 months: Studying (here and there), procrastinating (always), partying (not enough) and living the cheap student life!

If I could be one Muskoka animal, it would be: A fishy

My favourite Muskoka past time is: Swimming in beautiful Lake Rosseau (Being a fish and all)

My favourite Clevelands House Staff vs Guest game is: To be determined

Muskoka in one word: Freedom

Cleves Crew Round 2!

Introducing two more team members for our upcoming 2013 season…let’s get ready for a summer to remember!

Name: Andrew Brownlee
Position: Bellhop
I spent the last 6 months: in school at Western Uni
If I could be one Muskoka animal, it would be: bear…duh
My favourite Muskoka past time is: anything outdoors
My favourite Clevelands House Staff vs Guest game is: hockey, undefeated 2 years running
Muskoka in one word: utopia 

Name: Syd Hannah
Position: Sports Head Counselor
I spent the last 6 months: Daydreaming about Cleves!! … and trying to Graduate University!
If I could be one Muskoka animal, it would be: A chipmunk… Because everyone feeds chipmunks!!
My favourite Muskoka past time is: Buoy swims, Friday night Fishing Derby, and jamming out to Jamie Williams at Dukes!!
My favourite Clevelands House Staff vs. Guest game is: Beach Volleyball!!
Muskoka in one word: SUPERCALAFRAGALISTICEXPIALADOSHUS!!

We will be introducing other members of Cleves crew so check back SOON!

Your 2013 Cleves Crew!

Over the next few weeks, we will introduce you to some of the people responsible for making the summer of 2013 one to remember at Clevelands House.

Thank you to the greatest team of people in Muskoka … let’s get ready for a summer to remember!

Name: Alex Szabo-Day
Position: Adult Social Director
I spent the last 6 months: Harnessing my inner fisherman at Dalhousie University in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia.
If I could be one Muskoka animal it would be: Shakespeare the Porcupine
My favourite Muskoka past time is: Catching some rays in the green, yellow and red Muskoka chairs at Cleves.
My favourite Cleves staff vs. guest games is: Beach Volleyball!
Muskoka in one word: Memories

Name: Jessica Schiedel

Position: Food and Beverage Supervisor

I spent the last 6 months: Studying at the University of Guelph, in my third year of Hotel and Food Administration

If I could be one Muskoka animal, it would be: A bear

My favourite Muskoka past time is: Boating or sitting by the lake in a Muskoka chair catching some great sun
My favourite Clevelands House Staff vs Guest game is: …. not too sure but I’m excited to be involved this summer!
Muskoka in one word: Beautiful

 More staff profiles coming soon!

Number of Sleeps

When I was a kid, I counted things in terms of sleeps – Christmas was coming in three sleeps, school ended in 12 sleeps. It was an uncomplicated way of marking the time rather than staring at the slow moving hands on the clock.

Today, I find it very touching that the guests at the hotel I work at think in those same innocent terms as I seem to have unconsciously detached myself from, and it reminds me of how great it feels to be that excited about something. There are long time guests that I have become very good friends with that speak in the same measure of time, and every time I am in touch with them, the number of sleeps decreases and their looming vacation seems that much more palpable.

I was speaking to a man today, a very well versed man, a Doctor.  I would have thought that an educated, analytical mind would naturally think in terms of a more scientific nature, but it was really heart-warming to hear him say “I’ll see you in 41 sleeps”. There are rare, unexpected moments that can stop you in the midst of a chaotic day and just make you smile. That was one of those moments for me.

Clevelands House Resort has always, and will always hold a very dear place in my heart. It is sometimes overwhelming to sit back and realize how much it holds that same special spot for so many families that choose to spend their family holiday letting us be their gracious hosts.

Every year, the kids get excited about coming back to Cleve’s and seeing all the friends they have met and stayed in touch with over the years. And so do the parents for that matter. The people that they randomly met 12 years ago on their first trip to Cleve’s are now taking winter holidays together – and I like to think that while they are lying on that beach in Jamaica in February, they are thinking to themselves, we’ll be back at Clevelands House in 107 sleeps!!

Go to our Facebook page and let us know how many sleeps until we see you again!!

Meet our new Executive Chef

Clevelands House is proud to introduce our new Executive Chef and Director of Food & Beverage, Jason MacArthur!  Jason is no stranger to Muskoka.  He has worked at ClubLink for more than 15 years, creating delicacies at The Lake Joe Club, Sherwood Inn, and Rocky Crest.

Jason has created brand new summer menus for resort guests at Cleves!  (We will be posting these menus soon… watch out for them).

In addition to the new menus, Jason has introduced a small patio restaurant that is going to focus on lighter a la carte cuisine.  This little restaurant will feature such foods as gourmet salads, sandwiches, and signature pizzas that use fresh local ingredients.

Welcome Jason!

We Resolve……

With the dawn of a New Year upon us, it is customary to stop and think about what changes we want to make for ourselves. What we resolve to do, or not do, is usually at the forefront of our brain for the first few weeks in January.

As part of our extended family, we are reaching out to you, our Clevelands House guests and staff to share the goals we have set for ourselves.

As Reservations Manager, I sit in front of a computer for upwards of 8 hours a day, entering data, but my resolution was to get back to writing. So I have started my own blog and continue to make entries to our Clevelands House blog. Jesse Hamilton, our Director of Operations, has vowed to quench his thirst with something other than Diet Pepsi!! I’m not saying he drinks a lot of it, but if any of you have shares in the company, you may want to sell!!

Sandy Cornell has undertaken the task to de-clutter her world and keep things clean. Make sure you visit her office in the summer and see how she’s doing!! Ted Carruthers is trying to make his new years wish come true by still lobbying to have our office moved to Scottsdale, Arizona for the winter!! (All golfer’s aboard!!)

Maria Hamilton and Bob Shaw are putting family first this year – Maria wants to visit her family in Denmark and Bob will be spending lots of time with his wife, daughters and new grandson.

Rob Wilson is committed to getting more Clevelands House guests playing golf at The Rock golf course!! (Keep your eyes open for more information or call our office for details.) And Brenda Smith has resolved to make no resolutions!!

Okay Cleve’s fans…..we’ve shared with you. Now it’s time for you to share with us. Tell us what you have resolved to do or not do in 2012!!

Our Muskoka Resort gears up for 2012

Happy New Year!! We are welcoming 2012 with mild weather and continually longer days, which always makes us think about summer. We had a great response in December to our tentatively booked family vacations for the upcoming season and we anticipate more family holidays to be booked by February 1st.

With a Muskoka resort as rich in history as Clevelands House, winters are spent tenderly caring for the property and developing new and great ideas for the rapidly approaching family vacation season. While maintaining the rituals that are steeped in tradition, we are always looking for new and fun ideas to help create new family memories.

Family traditions are as close to our hearts as they are to yours and we are eagerly awaiting the spring melt so we can start the process of opening the shutters on another season of memorable family holidays. We look forward to sharing your 2012 family vacation with you and being a part of YOUR family tradition!!

See you soon!!

Surprise Concert

We had such a fantastic time at Cleves last night, August 10.  Word was slowly getting out that we had a special guest performer coming, and when he finally stepped onto the stage, the room erupted in applause.  Mr. Steven Page himself, the lead singer of the Barenaked Ladies, played a set here for our guests, staff, and some VIP guests.  It was well received, there was dancing, laughing, and at points the whole room was singing along with him.  Can’t wait to do something like this again next summer!  HOW FUN :)

A Clive Update

Our smart little feline undoubtedly is more aware of what exactly is going on than we once anticipated.  Clive, who can ALWAYS be found in one of three locations around this Muskoka resort that we call home: 1) the couch, 2) his food bowl, 3) the parking lot, was no where to be seen earlier in the week.  On this particular day, Clive was to be heading to the vet for an appointment.  Similar to many other pets, Clive does not particularly enjoy going to the vet.  We searched around our Muskoka resort, and waited, and shook his treat bag, and searched some more, yet this clever little feline did not appear.  In fear of being tardy, we decided to cancel Clives veterinary appointment, and re-book it for another day.  Naturally, the minute past the designated hour of his now-cancelled appointment, Clive reappeared.

We have now learned from our mistakes, and are have decided to keep his next appointment a secret from everyone, including Sir Clive himself .

Clive the Clever