Winhara

Tom Thomson's famous painting The Jack Pine. Oil on canvas. 1916.

It’s the stuff of Canadian legend.  Artist and avid outdoorsman, Tom Thomson, paddles out into Canoe Lake just as he has done countless times before.  This time he disappears.  After days of searching, his body – bloated and bruised – surfaces.  It doesn’t make any sense.

More on the extraordinary story after these extras we’ve put together for you.

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Official Version:

Download the full studio version of Tom Thomson at www.winhara.com.

Additional Blog:

After researching the painter’s mysterious death I had to see the locations for myself.  Click here to read about my solo trip on Canoe Lake along with pictures of Tom Thomson’s Algonquin park (including the cairn and totem pole that are now standing at his favourite camping spot).

Behind the scenes video:

Acoustic version:

Lyrics:

While the official coroner’s report claims that Thomson’s death was accidental there are many conspiracy theories – and for good reason.  Tom was a strong swimmer and experienced outdoorsman, he even had a license to guide in Algonquin.  It seems quite unlikely that he just fell out of his canoe and drowned on a clear day.  In addition he had a bruise on his temple and there was a piece of fishing line wrapped around his ankle no less than seventeen times!  There also wasn’t any water in his lungs, an indication that he died before he drowned.  These facts, and many others, have raised questions surrounding his death.

Tom was just entering his prime as a painter and was starting to get recognition for his work.  He grew up in Owen Sound but had moved to Toronto to pursue his career.  He spent his summers in Algonquin park doing small oil sketches that he would transfer into larger works at his studio in the section of Toronto now known as Rosedale.

The best site I found for research is Death On A Painted Lake if you’d like to do some of your own digging.  For a more entertaining read you can check out ‘Canoe Lake‘ by Roy MacGregor.

Go to winhara.com

Although I had done many trips in Algonquin Park I had never been to Canoe Lake.  When I started penning lyrics for this song I started feeling like I wouldn’t really be able to finish them until I had seen the places I was writing about – Joe Lake Dam, Winnie Trainor’s Cottage, where Mowat Lodge had been, where they found Thomson’s canoe, and also where they found his body.

So in late October (2009) I rented a canoe from The Portage Store and paddled north, much like Tom did 92 years previously.

I stopped for lunch at the site I wanted to see most – where Thomson’s favourite camp site had been (see 15 on the map).  After his death, a cairn and totem pole had been constructed there.  I ate my lunch while reading the commemorations and looking at the view of Canoe Lake (directly below).  I could see why Thomson loved this spot so much.

The southward view of Canoe Lake from Tom Thomson's favourite camp site.

Below are the cairn and totem pole erected on the site in memory of Thomson:

After lunch, I portaged past the Joe Lake Dam (13 on the map) where Thomson was going to do some fishing on the day he disappeared.

Canoe Lake was used for logging in that time and one of the theories is that a submerged log or stump overturned his canoe.  I got an eerie feeling after a barely submerged stump nearly ripped the bottom out of my own canoe.  I didn’t see it coming and passed it within inches.

I spent the night there on Joe Lake, made friends with a fox (below), and spent most of my night trying to stay as warm as possible.  (Being late in the fall, the temperature was dipping well below zero at night).

My fox friend named "Boots."

In the morning I had the most beautiful paddle back south. Thick mist hung just above the water’s surface while frost covered every little twig. Everything was white.

The sun was burning through the fog as I portaged back into Canoe Lake but there wasn’t a single ripple on the water as I passed by the spot where they found his body eight days after he disappeared (2 on the map) and the place where they found his canoe floating without its pilot (16 on the map).

Although it was only a quick overnight trip, I accomplished the main thing I set out to do: to make sure that my lyrics held authenticity.  Tracing Thomson’s steps and having seen first hand the lake he loved so much, lets me sing this story with confidence.

My campsite at sundown on Joe Lake.

Back to: extras.

Go to: winhara.com.

Winhara in mid Hugh-hazing about to hit up Toronto's Resevoir Lounge

Last weekend we took our best friend and bass player of over 5 years out for his exit hazing.

Hugh dropped the bomb on us as soon as we had all regrouped from New Years. He told us that while he loved making music, for many reasons (all of which make complete sense), he is moving on. I can’t say we weren’t shocked. The four of us sat around our kitchen table in complete silence until Steve said “I feel like you guys are listening to me chew.”

It is one of many massive changes that has happened in the last month, and while we’re sad to have Hugh leave, we are extremely excited for what is coming up.

So what is coming up?

• A new website is live right now.  Go to winhara.com to check it out.
• A new album that we’re going to give to you while we write it!  (More on that later, make sure you sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of this post to get updates).
• We’re putting the finishing touches on the first song, Tom Thomson, which will be available for download next week.  (Again see winhara.com).

Needless to say, Kent, Prevost and I are going to continue fighting the good fight.  We won’t be getting a new bass player – the dynamic wouldn’t be right and we don’t have money to hire someone.  So how are we going to play live?  We’ve done it once already and let’s just say we get pretty creative with samplers and trading instruments!

We’re about to head up to Kent’s cabin, nestled into the woods beside the Muskoka River, for a focused four day writing session.  One thing’s for sure… moving forward won’t be the same, but we absolutely wish Hugh all the best with his future endeavors.

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