The Rideau Lakes, Ontario
Docks in and out, openings and closings, dump runs, the boat nobody wants, the branch hanging over the driveway. Whatever the cottage needs, send one text to a local father and son who answer, show up when we say, and follow up when it’s done.
Finding someone at the lake who calls you back shouldn’t be the hard part.
Everyone has the story: the contractor who said next week and never came, the voicemail nobody returned, the job half done with no word on the rest. We built this business on the opposite. We answer. We show up. We follow up.
How it works
Most of our customers never fill out a form. They text us a photo and a line about what they need, and we take it from there.
Tell us what you need. Send a photo if it helps. No forms, no phone tag.
You hear back fast, with a straight answer on when we can do it and what it will cost.
When we said we would. Then we do the job properly and take the mess with us.
Photos when it is done, and a check back to make sure you are happy with it.
What we do
Most of it we do ourselves. For plumbing, electrical or a tree down across the lane, we bring in a trusted local trade and stay on it until it’s done. Either way, it starts with one text.
Docks in and out, boat lifts, ladders and waterfront furniture. Done before ice-up and ready for the first warm weekend.
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Water on or drained, lines blown out, antifreeze in, the place buttoned up or made ready for the season.
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Old furniture, renovation debris, the shed clean-out, the boat nobody wants anymore. We load it, haul it and dispose of it properly.
Lawn cutting, brush and low branches, a driveway the propane truck can actually get down, small repairs.
Travel trailers and bunkie trailers winterized properly: air, antifreeze, battery, propane and roof.
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We can look in on your place after storms and through the freeze, with photos every visit.
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Not on the list? Text us anyway. If we can’t do it, we’ll tell you who can.
“The branch over my driveway had got so low I was scraping my car every time I came in, and the propane truck couldn’t get down at all. Eric and Torin had it trimmed, cut up and hauled away in a couple of hours. They took every bit of it with them. They did a follow-up as well to make sure I was satisfied with the results, which I definitely was. They do the type of work that isn’t included in your regular lawn care.”
“As a cottage owner on the Upper Rideau, having a service like this available gives me real peace of mind. Having Eric and Torin available to assess a problem or damage and quickly report back to a homeowner makes me feel much more at ease. I encourage anyone who wants to keep a close eye on their summer investment to meet with Eric.”
Why Dewhirst
Text us and you get a reply, not a voicemail box. Every cottage owner has a contractor who never called back. We are trying very hard not to be that.
If we say Tuesday morning, we are there Tuesday morning. If something changes, you hear it from us first.
Photos when the job is done, and a check back afterward. You never have to chase us for an update.
We keep notes and photos on every property we work on: where the shutoff is, how the dock goes in, what we did last time. You never have to explain it twice.
Every customer gets a Property Playbook, free with the work: your place documented and photographed, system by system. See a sample →
Meet the family
Dewhirst Cottage Care is a father-and-son business, run by Eric and Torin — who live right here in Newboro, full-time and year-round.
Eric has spent more than forty years with a family cottage — opening it each spring, closing it each fall, putting in the docks, and learning first-hand what it takes to care for a place on the water. Torin brings the work ethic and hands-on experience, with a background in lawn and property care, and is learning every corner of the trade alongside his dad.
Before this, Eric spent his career as an entrepreneur — starting, building, and selling companies. Dewhirst Cottage Care is a deliberate next chapter: a business rooted in being here, in person, and doing the work properly. The same discipline that built those companies now goes into the simple things that matter most — answering, showing up, and following through.
Eric is also a board member of the Newboro & Area Heritage Society — this community isn’t just where we work, it’s home. We started Dewhirst because we know how hard it is to find someone local you can count on. So we decided to be those people.
Get in touch
Text us a line and a photo, call, or fill in the form below. However you reach us, you’ll hear back fast.
Or send the details here. A phone number or an email is all we need.
Serving the Rideau Lakes, from Westport to Rideau Ferry to Chaffey’s Lock. See our area. Fully insured.