Muskoka is famous for a lot of things. From majestic forests, sparkling freshwater lakes, its phenomenal accommodations, the shopping, dining, outdoor adventures and so much more! There’s no denying that Ontario’s summer ‘cottage country’ capital is a lovely place worth visiting. In this regard, it’s not surprising that there are a lot of residents here who deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication. One of them is Mr. Stefan Ottenbrite, the founder of Muskoka 411 (Muskoka’s biggest news platform).
Stefan developed a strong affinity towards news at a very early age. When he was in 8th grade, he got his first camera. He took advantage and utilized this device and documented what he could at that time with the encouragement of his family and friends. He also became a videographer of mock trials and participated in a weekly discussion of news and events called “Speaker’s Corner” that same year.
One day, he attended an exclusive tour to learn about a day in the life of the kind of business he was interested in. After this pivotal tour at CHUM City Building on Queen Street West, he realized his passion and knew what he wanted to do.
In his career as a journalist, he has achieved quite a lot already. One of the highlights of his career was when he was awarded the Best Radio News Award from Peel Police for his Jewel 89.5 FM house fire coverage in 2007. Apart from that, he had impacted, inspired and motivated many lives as a spokesperson and guest speaker in various events.
Ferdinand Foch once said, “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”
Stefan is a great proof that no one can stop a person from fulfilling their purpose and passion in life if they follow what sets their soul on fire
His frequent trips to New York to visit his Uncle Phil who was in the art gallery business gave him a different perspective and showed him he could also take the big city breaking news model into cottage country. With this new found confidence along with his passion and love for journalism, Stefan eventually launched his own news platform – www.muskoka411.com in 2014.
Making A Difference
What truly sets Stefan apart from other journalists is his willingness to help. He is a firm believer of giving back and helping people as much as he can. From the very beginning, his efforts have helped the news industry in Muskoka in a major way to cater to the growing needs of the locals. It is therefore no wonder that his efforts have made his news platform a success.
Stefan is also a generous individual who donates to the community and has done his bit to improve the professional prospects of locals and students by giving them employment opportunities. And despite always being busy providing news coverage and impacting lives, he still makes time for family and the things he loves like riding the subway in New York to see the Blue Jays take on the Yankees, rollerblading through the busy streets, going for Häagen-Dazs ice cream and watching the movie Home Alone 2, among others.
Currently, the Canadian digital news platform led by Ottenbrite is widely recognized and has been the most followed news platform in Muskoka, covering local and international stories. Despite pandemic-related challenges, his team continues to provide news coverage be it traffic, weather or major events and incidents.
Leading brands including Canadian Tire, Sirius XM Radio, Boots, and Hearts, Muskoka Chrysler, Jones Soda, The Brick, All-State Insurance, Leon’s, Touchstone Resort, Domino’s Pizza
Cottage Life, Toronto Auto Show, Shaw, Franks Red Hot, Tim Hortons, Georgian College, Deerhurst Resort, and District of Muskoka have partnered with Muskoka 411 over the years and more brands will follow in years to come.
