Harriet T. Weaver Trust

At its Annual General Meeting in August 2013, the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation announced the formal establishment of the Harriet T. Weaver Memorial Trust. The establishment of the Trust was made possible through a generous initial endowment by Harriet's son, Brink Weaver, a former President of the Lake of Bays Association. 


The Trust funds the Harriet T. Weaver Bursaries of the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation that are awarded annually to students from Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and Huntsville High School who are accepted for post-secondary study, at a college or university, in a subject related to the work of the Foundation. The Fund has received additional gifts since its establishment and remains open for donations to the capital endowment.

  • More About The History of the Harriet T. Weaver Memorial Trust

    At the Annual Meeting in 2013, Brink Weaver provided the members with an introduction to the late Harriet T. Weaver, whom we are delighted to honour as a stalwart figure in the building of the community of the Lake of Bays. What follows is drawn from Brink’s remarks about his mother.


    “In the summer of 1922 the Thorne family arrived at “Cairncroft” on the Glenmount Road. They arrived by boat at the Old Glenmount dock. The gang plank was lowered and off stepped Stewart, Jonathan, Victoria and Harriet followed by Clare McCullough Thorne and Dr. Victor Thorne plus 2 or 3 staff. (They had travelled by train and boat from Stamford, Connecticut.)


    There were 7 summers of joy and laughter. Cairncroft was deceptively large. When pushed, it could sleep 20. Twelve full beds were normal. Up and down the shore were lots of cousins and friends for the young ones to play with. In about 1927 Harriet met Bill Weaver. Of course everyone was escorted in those days. In 1928 Mother Clare McCullough Thorne died of cancer. Dr. Victor Thorne never returned to the lake. The cottage was given to the 4 children.


    Harriet became Mother to Stewart, Jonathan and Victoria; often, when necessary, stepping between her brothers, sister and a newly-hired German governess. Harriet often told the story of some young person sitting at the dining table showing their bad manners with their elbows on the table. The Governess, on seeing this, would shout loudly with a thick German accent “Elbogins from Ninetesh” as she whacked the offending elbows with the back edge of a knife. Ice for the ice box was cut from the lake and placed in the ice house, the wood shed was filled with firewood, the cottage water system had to be closed and opened, there was the ongoing cottage maintenance, etc. All this fell to the local trades people.


    There was a lady in Baysville who did laundry including lots from all the Weaver cottages. She had a bright son. Harriet and Bill paid his tuition for an engineering degree. That fellow after graduation did well in business and has now retired. He never forgot his gratitude to his university sponsors.


    In the middle of December in the mid 1960’s Harriet and Bill received an evening telephone call from Lloyd Green – the builder and maintenance person of the Weaver cottages – to tell them that a home had burned to the ground and that family had lost everything. Harriet and Bill, without hesitation, told Lloyd they would pay for the materials if the community would supply the labour.  That small house was built in just a month. The owners of that house were proud of their home and annually gave 2 gallons of maple syrup to Harriet and Bill.


    Harriet’s generosity and kindness in Toronto was even more remarkable. Annually, there were many Christmas hampers to the unknown needy, another one or two students were helped through university and many, many people in need of help were given a hand-up.


    Harriet Weaver never wanted to be in the limelight. She always preferred to be behind the scenes. That is the way she was.


    As one of her children, it gives me great pleasure to initiate the establishment of this Trust Fund through the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation and thus acknowledge the many deeds of Harriet Weaver in a way that provides a lasting memory of her."

2025 Recipient

Harper Gibbs, Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School

For support of his studies in Education and History at Nipissing University.


Harper writes:

"I would like to sincerely thank the Lake of Bays Foundation for awarding me this generous bursary. Your support means so much to me and my family as I take the next step in my education. This assistance not only eases financial stress but also motivates me to continue striving toward my goals. I am truly grateful for your belief in my potential and investment in my future.”

2025 Recipient

Paige Johnson-Shirley, Huntsville High School

For support of her studies in Environmental & Earth Sciences at McMaster University.


Paige writes:

“I am very grateful to the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation for this bursary and opportunity. It supports my studies in wildlife conservation and helps me work toward protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. I hope to give back by contributing to the preservation of Muskoka’s environment, which has deeply influenced me to pursue this field of study."

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS OF THE HARRIET T. WEAVER BURSARY

Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School

2014: Natasha Benn, McMaster University, Life Sciences

2015: Christos Siokis, University of Waterloo, Environmental Engineering

2016: Rebecca Jackson, Sault College, Conservation

2017: Aditi Patel, Western University, Medical Sciences

2018: There was no recipient named in 2018

2019: Claire Standfield, University of Ottawa, History

2020: Sam Veitch, University of Guelph, Environmental Studies

2021: Evan Scholten, University of Ottawa, History and Political Science

2022: Owen Brasi, University of Ottawa, History and Geography

2023: Adanna Van Petegem Harkness, University of Guelph, Animal Biology, deferred to fall 2024

2024: Ella Follas, University of Ottawa, Environmental Science


Huntsville High School

2014: Mariah Smith, University of Waterloo, Environment and Resource Studies

2015: Jack Callaghan, McGill University, History

2016: Morgan McColl, Trent University, Biology

2017: Abby Peca, University of Guelph, Animal Biology

2018: Jennifer Takacs, University of Guelph, Animal Biology

2019: Justin Carr, University of Guelph, Physical Sciences

2020: Nolan Parsons, Trent University, Geography

2021: Jacob Gallagher, Trent University, Geography

2022: Jaylene Stewart, Carleton University, Geography

2023: Edyth (Edie) Clute, Carleton University, Environmental Sciences

2024: Foster Card, Sir Samford Fleming College, Fish&Wildlife Technician, Environmental Law Enforcement

CONTACT US ABOUT AWARDS & BURSARIES