- From farming to fishing
Rita and Walter Stoller came to Canada in 1979. In Switzerland, Walter worked as a train engineer on the Lötschberg Line and Rita was an architect. For a long time, they had a dream in the back of their mind: to emigrate to Canada and start farming. And in 1979 this dream became reality: Walter and Rita moved to Canada and bought a dairy farm which included everything: cows, farm equipment, machinery, etc. The Stoller Family farmed for exactly 20 years and loved every moment of it. However, because of health reasons, they had to sell their beloved property. What are we going to do now? – they asked themselves. One day they were travelling around in the area they had lived in for so long and by coincidence discovered a fishing resort which was for sale. They fell in love with the property and the surrounding area and decided to buy it. A lot of work was awaiting them as the property was a bit rundown. However, they saw the potential of this beautiful place called Sunny Acres which is located in Seeley’s Bay on Canada’s historic Rideau Canal System, a UNESCO world heritage site. All the hard work, money and love invested into Sunny Acres soon paid off: their first guests arrived.
Today, Sunny Acres has 14 simple and rustic housekeeping cottages and 5 winterized units. The resort was built around 1940. Their guests today include the Canadian Army, American and Canadian fishermen, musicians, families, First Nations people and other visitors from around the world. Everybody feels at home when Rita and Walter make their famous fish-fry every Wednesday evening during the summer months.
Before the first visitors of the season arrive at Sunny Acres every year, the Stoller’s are busy in the maple woods in March and April collecting maple sap and making syrup in their sugar shack which is available for purchase in their store all summer long.
Click here to access Sunny Acres’ website
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