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Frontenac Shores
by Mark Wessel
Finding Luxury
Amidst the Pines
Retired Ottawa Couple Looking to Rent Discover
Frontenac Fractional Offers Best of All Worlds
If you’ve always wanted to enjoy the cottage lifestyle
withouthavingtoemptythevault,you’renotalone.
JoeandElizabethHerdé,aretiredOttawacouplefrom
theBarhavenarearecentlybegancottagehuntinginearnest,
lookingforaplacetorentacoupleoftimesayear.
Theywantedanupscalecottageonaquietlakewithanice
sandybeachforwhenthegrandkidsvisited.Aplacethatfelt
like a cottage, but still had all of the modern luxuries they
wereusedtoahome.
Thenotionofbuyingacottageneverenteredtheirminds
becauseasJoeputsit“eventhoughwehadthemoney…we
felt that at our stage in life it was enough work to look after
onehomeletalonetwo.”
Butafterweeksofsearchingonlineandonsite,theycame
up empty handed. “The nicer places on the water came at a
hugepricetag…andyethadhardlyanybeach,”observedJoe.
Fractional cottage ownership was never a consideration
until the Herdés discovered Frontenac Shores’ website:
www.frontenacshores.com and subsequently visited the
resort,strategicallylocatedbetweenOttawaandTorontowith
easy access from both. “We were immediately struck by the
clearness of the lake and the stunning scenery. The views
from the cottages were spectacular,” recalls Elizabeth. And
the pristine forest (over 100 square kilometers of protected
crownland)seemedtogoonforever.
They also knew right away it was a great investment.
Comparedtorentingortimeshare,wheretheirmoneywould
just disappear, they would have an equity share of a cottage
that was far more luxurious than other fractionals on the
market.TheyalsolikedthefactthatFrontenacwassoenvironmentallyfriendly,fromtheenergyefficienthomestothe
activerecyclingprogram.
“Ithasbeenmoneywellspent,”observesJoe,whohas
spenttwoweeksatFrontenacsinceMarchofthisyear.“We’re
abitfussyintermsofaccommodation…buthere,youhave
alloftheluxuryconveniencesyoucouldeverwant–stainless
steel appliances, hi-speed internet, wide screen television,
your own personal dry sauna… yet just out your door,
you’resurroundedbynaturalbeauty.”
September 2008 • 88 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
TheHerdésboughtathree-bedroomloft-stylehome,built
by internationally recognized Confederation Log Homes,
builderofthefirstCanadianEnergyStarratedloghome,with
featuresthatincludehardwoodandceramicflooring,granite
counter tops, a fully equipped kitchen with island, Energy
Starappliances,solidwoodCanadianmadefurniturewith
anemphasisonqualityrightdowntotheHamiltonBeach
appliancesandthePadernopotsandpans.And yet the
cottageislessthanaminute’swalktothebeach,withaclear
viewofthelake.
“Itreallyispeaceful…it’saplaceyoucangoforlongwalks
orjustsitonthe deckandenjoytheview,”saysJoe.“Ona
typicaldayyoucanseetheheronsdivingonthelakeforfish,
youheartheloonscallingatnightandthewoodpeckersare
justoutsideyourdoor,tappingaway.Youreallyhavetocome
foravisittofullyappreciateit.”