Bonnie has been working with the Delawana Inn Resort family for over 10 years.  Bonnie has been keeping with the history of her family working at the Delawana Inn, as her very own Grandmother and mother worked here as well.  She is raising her own family here in Honey Harbour area, and her daughter is showing great interest in wanting to work at the Delawana Inn.  Bonnie has a great love for the water and has spent many hours fishing on Georgian Bay, and may share a few tips with you if you ask for her.  

My husband & I came here for our honey moon years ago not knowing that we would both end up working here years later, I have now been here for 10yrs.  I love gardening & the outdoors (summer only).  In the winter I like to stay inside by the fire.

Summer 2010 was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. That being said, I will be returning for my second summer as Childrens Program Director at The Delawana. Last year I had the oppurtunity to meet some wonderful guests and I look forward to meeting more this year for the 2011 summer. The camp program last year was a great success and I am anticipating a great program for this year with the addition of new staff who will make sure all the children have a summer to remember as well. I hope to see many familliar faces as well as some new ones. The camp staff and myself are looking forward to making sure that guests of all ages have a wonderful time on their vacation at the Delawana.

Gary comes from an extensive recreation background having worked at many camps and resorts over the years. Having spent 10 years as a disc jockey in Toronto, he has a passion for entertaining and loves
performing for people of all ages. 2009 marks Gary's 10th year with the Delawana. Returning guests look forward to his familiar greeting at the beginning and end of each day - "Howdy Folks". When he's not
'shmoozing' with Delawana guests, Gary enjoys spending time at his home in Barrie with his wife Christie and their two dogs Casey and Max. Gary and Christie actually met, got engaged and got married at the Delawana.

Jeff Cowan is the Operations Manager at the Delawana. Jeff has some family history in the area, his great grandfather used to own the Royal Hotel that stood on Royal Island which the Delawana now owns.
In 1968 Jeff’s grandfather built a cottage on Little Beausoleil Island and Jeff fell in love with the area spending most weekends here each summer as he grew up.  In 1989 Jeff spent a season in the kitchen at the Delawana and decided he wanted to be a chef. Ten years later he had made the transition to the front of the house and was able to come back to the Delawana and he is still here today.
In his spare time, mainly in the winter, Jeff likes to get his hands dirty doing small renovations on his house and he likes to work on cars and his snowmobile in his garage which he built himself.
Recently Jeff’s family has been growing with the birth of his son in late 2007 and his daughter in the spring of 2009. I don’t think Jeff will have much time to work on cars for a while.

This will be Karen’s 7th year with the Delawana Inn.  Karen moved to Honey Harbour in 2002 relocating from British Columbia where she had travelled and worked for 8 years at a small resort in the Gulf Islands. She started in the reservations office in 2003 and moved into the corporate office in the fall of that same year. Happily married with two wonderful daughters, the Karen and her family are eagerly awaiting the completion of their new house in Honey Harbour where they will be moving in May 2009.

After graduating from the George Brown Culinary program, I was fortunate enough to be offered an apprenticeship at the world-renowned King Edward Hotel. After 5 years of international training through the King Edward, I was awarded my Red Seal. From there I moved on to the famous Beacon Hall Golf Club while between seasons I enjoyed two years at the Valhalla Inn as the Sous-chef. In 2005 I began at the Delawana as the Sous-Chef under Executive Chef Kirk Weiss and then became Executive Chef in 2006. I have enjoyed 'The Del's' comforts ever since. I am excited to be in my sixth season here at the Delawana.

In 1997 I left the hustle and bustle of the big city lights and a career full of deadlines in advertising to follow a dream of living on the water in beautiful Muskoka.  It was the best decision I ever made.  I am excited to be celebrating my 12th year at the Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort as the Corporate Sales & Marketing Manager.   Outside of work, my interests include gourmet cooking & entertaining, boating & kayaking, gardening, travelling, car racing, architecture and design, art, wine tasting…..and of course hanging out with my German Shepherd, Mick.  

Mary Ellen is our longest standing employee at the Delawana Inn Spa & Conference Resort and although she won’t tell us, we think she started at “The Del” sometime in the early 60’s.  Mary Ellen started her career as a dishwasher, then moved to the dining room becoming a server, and then to laundry as a chamber maid. It wasn’t long after that Mary Ellen was running the Housekeeping and Laundry departments.  Today you’ll still her roaming the property checking in on her chamber maids and making guests feel comfortable in their rooms.  In her spare time Mary Ellen likes to play cards, listen to music, visit Casino Rama on occasion, and she really enjoys spending time with her Mom who turned 90 this March.

Originally from Newfoundland Vivian came to Ontario in 1984. Vivian first started at the Del as a Bookkeeper. Over the past 18 years Vivian has grown to be part of the Delawana family and is currently the Front Desk Manager.  Vivian loves decorating and is very family oriented.   She comes from a large family of sister and brothers, so family is very important to her and we are extremely lucky that she has included the Delawana as part of her family.

As a graduate of the Sheridan College Aesthetics Program, Melissa has had a rewarding career in the spa industry since 1997.  Her specialization in custom spa treatments along with her vast product knowledge provide guests a truly unique and relaxing experience.  Melissa is committed to evolving with spa trends and the needs of clientele providing exceptional customer service.  Throughout most of her life Toronto born Melissa has cottaged in Muskoka and in 2007 she and her husband have chosen to call beautiful Port Severn home, just a stones throw from The Delawana. 

This is Bill's 6th year at The Delewana Inn Spa and Conference Centre. Having completed a 33+ year career with the Ontario Provincial Police and 32 years with The Canadian Air Force Reserve he returned to the area where his father-in-law had built a home in Penetanguishene to retire. He is an avid golfer, enjoys gardening, making his own wine and helping everyone enjoy the game of golf. Happily married for 40 years with two grown sons he is the proud grandfather to three granddaughters.