When I think back to my childhood, cottaging was all about community. Neighbours knew not just your name, but your favourite cocktail. Kids learned to swim together, paddled side by side, and built friendships that lasted generations. Somewhere along the way, we lost that, and we think it’s time to bring it back.

This summer, we’re trying something new, and we’d love for you to be part of it. We’re opening up our home on eight Sunday afternoons (8am–3pm, from June through August) to host a few dozen families for swimming, paddling, shared meals, and a bit of lakeside magic. We’re calling it Sunday House.

As I started building Sunday House, I kept wondering: Were those summers I remember really as good as they felt? I asked my dad to dig up some old photos—just to see. He sent me these.

Turns out, they weren’t as good as I remembered. They were better. So here they are: the dock dives, the towel piles, the sunburnt grins. This was the dream. This is what we’re trying to bring back—with a little more structure, a little more sunscreen, and a lot more community.

Now it’s our turn.

Scenic view of a river flowing through green forested hills under a partly cloudy sky.
A woman in a blue and green floral swimsuit smiling and laughing while climbing out of a body of water using a ladder.
People boating and performing stunts on the water with a forested hillside in the background.
Two girls in a canoe paddling on a lake with another small sailboat in the background.
A large group of people gathered on a dock preparing to jump into a body of water, with a tall diving platform and people sitting on top, against a clear blue sky.
An elderly man sitting on a folding chair in a garden, watering a young girl in a white dress with a yellow watering can, with green foliage and yellow flowers in the background.
Children playing tug-of-war outdoors on grass with trees in the background.
Two people swimming in a body of water near a red and black boat.
Three people swimming and smiling in a body of water, possibly a lake or ocean, during daytime.
Four children and one adult on a wooden dock by a lake, the children are gathered around, with one girl holding a fishing pole, seemingly preparing to fish, and the adult appears to be preparing bait or fishing gear.
A man and four children standing outdoors among trees and greenery, with a large teepee-like structure made of branches and leaves.
Two young girls in swimsuits standing by a dock near a lake with boats and trees in the background.
A young girl with short brown hair wearing a purple t-shirt, purple shorts, and black shoes running on grassy field.
Group of people, including children, by a lake near a green building, with trees in the background on a sunny day.
A woman helping a young child into water of a lake or river, with the child's face visible and looking toward the camera.
Children playing a sack race outdoors on a grassy field with adults watching, some wearing sunglasses and casual clothing.
Young child with blonde hair wearing a yellow sweater and red pants walking on a wooden bridge at a park on a sunny day, with green trees and a few adults in the background.
A group of people, mostly children in swimsuits, standing on a dock by the water, raising their hands, as a lifeguard stands on a raised platform overseeing the scene.
A young woman with short brown hair sitting on a wooden dock by a lake, smiling, wearing a black tank top and shorts, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
Group of children and one adult on a dock by a lake, with boats and sailboats in the background on a sunny day.
A young boy is sitting on a park bench wrapped in a blue towel, smiling and hugging an older person, also smiling, on a grassy area in a backyard or park with children playing in the background.
Four young girls lying on a wooden dock in swimsuits, smiling and enjoying the sun, with comic books nearby.
Children and adults gathered outdoors near a lake, participating in an event with a table displaying a trophy and a megaphone, surrounded by trees and a stone fireplace.
A young girl wearing a life jacket water skiing on a lake, waving and smiling with a wooded shoreline in the background.
Two women in a small boat on a lake, one wearing sunglasses and a red swimsuit and the other wearing an orange life jacket and blue swimsuit, with a scenic backdrop of trees and houses.
A group of children and adults decorating cookies on a wooden table in a room with wood-paneled walls.
Two children swimming in a body of water, wearing life jackets and holding pool noodles.
A group of people, including children and adults, preparing to paddle a canoe by a wooden dock on a river surrounded by trees.
Group of children and two adults at a lakeside dock on a sunny day, with a metal diving tower structure in the background and trees across the water.
A family by a lake, with a man and a woman helping a child into a small boat, surrounded by calm water and distant hills.
A woman sitting on a wooden dock by the water, with a young girl in the water holding onto the dock, surrounded by trees in the background.
Children in swimsuits standing and sitting on a wooden dock by a lake, with a woman in a blue jacket and red shorts nearby, surrounded by boats and trees.
A group of children and an adult woman are gathered outdoors around a table with food and drinks, smiling and enjoying each other's company.
A man standing in a body of water holding a toddler on his shoulder, both smiling, with trees and houses in the background on a sunny day.
Group of six people, including children and an older man, standing outdoors near a lake, holding MANITOBA scarves with a scenic green forested area and blue sky in the background.
A person in dark clothing swimming in a body of water near a partially submerged upside-down canoe close to a wooden dock.
Two young women relaxing outdoors on a wooden dock, one standing in a yellow bikini holding a drink and the other sitting in a chair talking on the phone, with a boat and lush greenery in the background.
Two girls sitting outdoors on a bench or table, with a grassy area and trees in the background, during sunny weather.
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