2011 marks 50 years since my Grandfather, Harvey Cloutier, bought a piece of land just outside of Algonquin Park. In 1961 it was swampy, uncleared, and had no road access. He had to walk 1 km through the bush to see it. Today it's the hub of my family—the thing that keeps us together. Its ownership stays in the family through the generations, which isn't easy to do. I've been going up there my entire life. It's the only place that has been constant through my 36 years. It's a place more familiar than any other. Karyn, Maisy, and I just got back from 3 lovely days at the Cloutier Compound. Here's what my favourite place looks like.