A veteran Bracebridge journalist is marking over five decades of local environmental advocacy as the community deals with significant spring flooding. Don Smith, who currently serves as the chair of the Muskoka Watershed Council and as a district councillor, recently published a reflection on his 55-year journey of working to protect the natural health of the region.
Smith’s career in the area began as a cub reporter and photographer at The Herald-Gazette in Bracebridge. Over the years, his professional path evolved from journalism, which included founding Muskoka Magazine in 2000, to a dedicated focus on environmental stewardship. His interest in local waterways dates back to his teenage years when he first began conducting water sampling experiments on his family lake.
This reflection arrives during a challenging time for local residents as the community manages the aftermath of severe spring flooding. Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney has described the April 2026 event as the second-worst flooding the region has faced, noting it is nearing the intensity of the 2019 flood. To date, the emergency has resulted in four households being displaced and sheltered in motels through local homelessness programs.
The Muskoka Watershed Council, which was established in 2001 as a collaboration between the Muskoka Heritage Foundation and the District Municipality of Muskoka, has become a central voice in these environmental conversations. Smith previously served as vice-chair of a provincially appointed advisory group that recommended the adoption of Integrated Watershed Management to address regional environmental challenges. In April 2021, the provincial government announced an investment of over $4 million to fund projects aimed at examining conditions in the watershed and finding ways to reduce the impacts of future flooding.
