BY Mark McDade, Sales Representative

Some places shape your life in ways you don’t fully appreciate until years later.

For me, that place has always been Tobermory.

My family’s story on the Bruce Peninsula began three generations ago with my grandfather. Long before Highway 6 stretched all the way to Tobermory, he travelled north to hunt in the area. He was drawn here by the untouched wilderness, the quiet, and a way of life that felt worlds away from the pace of everyday life. His love for this place quickly became our family’s love for it too.

Some of my earliest memories are tied to the drive north. Every Thanksgiving, our family would pile into the trucks and make our way to my grandparents’ cottage. My siblings and I would ride in the back of my dad’s pickup as we turned down the cottage lane, breathing in the crisp northern air that somehow smelled like home before we had even unpacked the car. Even today, that scent instantly brings me back to childhood.

The cottage wasn’t just where we spent our weekends—it was where our family stayed connected. Every evening we gathered around the dining room table, sharing stories about our day, laughing together, and catching up on life. Those dinners weren’t anything elaborate, but they became one of the traditions I treasure most. They taught me that the best memories are often created simply by making time for one another.

Some of my favourite memories are of fishing with my grandfather on Lake Huron. Before we could even think about catching fish, we’d catch our own live bait with dry oatmeal and a homemade net. It was all part of the ritual. At the end of the day, we’d return to the cottage for a fish fry, enjoying a meal we had worked for together. Looking back, those days weren’t really about fishing at all. They were about patience, appreciation, and spending time with someone who quietly taught me the value of slowing down and enjoying life’s simple moments.

As I grew older, the Peninsula became much more than the place where my family gathered. It became where I felt most at peace. Whether I was boating along the rugged shoreline, hiking through the cedar forests, or simply sitting by the water, I found myself appreciating not just the scenery, but the feeling that comes with it. The sounds, the smells, the wildlife, and the quiet all have a way of reminding you how fortunate we are to have places that remain so beautifully untouched.

That appreciation is what eventually led me to make Tobermory my permanent home.

People often ask what it’s like to live here year-round, and my answer is always the same: it’s not just about the landscape, it’s about the lifestyle. It’s knowing your neighbours. It’s taking the long way home because the view never gets old. It’s understanding that some of the best days don’t involve a schedule at all.

I think that’s also what naturally led me into real estate.

For me, helping people buy or sell a home has never been just about the property itself. It’s about understanding what kind of life someone hopes to build there. I know firsthand that a home can become the backdrop for decades of family traditions, quiet mornings, holiday dinners, and memories that are passed from one generation to the next. My own family’s story is proof of that.

Whether someone is searching for a year-round home, a waterfront cottage, or a place where their children can experience the same connection to nature that I was fortunate enough to have, I enjoy helping them discover what makes this community so special. Not because of the attractions or the scenery—although those are extraordinary—but because of the life that unfolds here once you put down roots.

Looking back, I’m grateful that my grandfather chose to make that first trip north all those years ago. None of us could have imagined that what began as a hunting trip would grow into three generations of memories, traditions, and a place our family would always call home.

Some places become destinations. Others become part of who you are.

For me, Tobermory has always been both.