The Point
“On a narrow point of land in Lake Simcoe, a long-held family place becomes home, and a new chapter begins to take shape.”
Reflections by Chef Adam Vandermey
9 minute read · Living and Working with Intention
Three weeks ago, Adam and Jeanette Vandermey moved into a small cabin tucked into one corner of a property that has been part of Jeanette's family for over ninety years.
To an outsider, it might look like a move.
To them, it feels more like an arrival.
The property sits on a narrow point of land extending into Lake Simcoe, with water surrounding it on three sides. Around the area, people simply know it as The Point.
For years, Adam and Jeanette dreamed about living here.
Not visiting.
Not spending weekends.
Living here.
Building a life here.
Building a future here.
Like many dreams, it remained an idea until the day it didn't.
"We bought bags and bags and bags of concrete," Adam laughs. "That was the moment it became real. Once we started building the foundation for the cabin, there was no backing out. We weren't talking about a different life anymore. We were building it."
What stands there today is more than a cabin.
Built by Adam and Jeanette with their own hands, it represents years of planning, work, and commitment. Every wall, every finish, and every customization tells part of their story.
But the cabin is only one chapter.
The story begins much earlier.
For Jeanette, The Point has never been a destination.
It's been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
When asked what the property means to her, she doesn't hesitate.
"Safety."
The answer comes immediately.
Long before discussions about businesses, cabins, or future plans, The Point was where family gathered. It was where life slowed down. It was where things felt steady.
"No matter what was happening, this was always the place we came back to," she says. "It's hard to explain unless you've experienced it, but there's always been something special about being here."
That connection runs deep.
The Point has been part of Jeanette's family for generations, and much of what exists today is the result of the dedication and stewardship of her uncle Bruce.
The property belongs to him.
Over the years, he has invested countless hours, resources, and energy into preserving and improving it. Buildings have been renovated. Infrastructure has been upgraded. Water systems, septic systems, internet connectivity, and countless other improvements have quietly transformed the property while protecting the character that makes it special.
None of it happened accidentally.
And none of it happened for recognition.
"We wouldn't be here without Bruce," says Adam. "The investments he's made, the care he's put into the property, and his commitment to family made this chapter possible. We're incredibly grateful for everything he's done."
The Point has also been shaped by people who are no longer here.
Jeanette's father, Jim, loved this property and wanted nothing more than to see his girls spend more time here.
Though he passed away before the move became reality, his influence remains woven throughout the family and the land itself.
"I know Dad would be proud," says Jeanette. "Not because of the cabin or the business, but because we're here. This place meant everything to him."
For Adam, the journey to The Point took a different path.
A chef for more than thirty years, he spent several years living in Nicaragua, an experience that permanently changed the way he viewed food, hospitality, and life.
Before moving there, he had access to virtually any ingredient imaginable. Specialty suppliers, imported products, and modern grocery stores made almost anything available.
Nicaragua was different.
The local markets offered simple ingredients grown, harvested, caught, or produced nearby. There were fewer options and fewer opportunities to hide behind expensive ingredients or elaborate techniques.
Instead, he learned a different lesson.
"I had to become a better cook with less," he says. "I learned to let the food speak for itself instead of relying on layers and layers of chef techniques. It changed the way I thought about cooking."
In many ways, it changed the way he thought about life.
Years later, inspired in part by the experience of a close friend facing cancer, Adam and Jeanette found themselves asking a different question.
How could people confidently access cannabinoids without inhalation, refined sugars, additives, or guesswork?
The goal was never novelty.
The goal was confidence.
"We wanted to create a system people could trust," says Jeanette. "Something that removed uncertainty and helped people feel comfortable exploring cannabis in a way that felt approachable and responsible."
That idea eventually became Your Canna Chef.
What began as a simple concept evolved into a hospitality company built around private dining, education, guest comfort, and trust.
While culinary cannabis remains the company's specialty, both Adam and Jeanette believe hospitality has always been the real focus.
"We want everyone to feel comfortable at our table," says Adam. "Whether someone has experience with cannabis, no experience at all, or no interest in it whatsoever, they should feel welcomed, included, and completely in control of their experience."
"At the end of the day, we're really in the people business," Jeanette adds. "The food matters. The education matters. But what people remember is how you made them feel."
Those values feel remarkably similar to the ones that shaped The Point long before they arrived.
Trust.
Comfort.
Family.
Stewardship.
Connection.
Today, when Adam and Jeanette look at the cabin, they don't just see a building.
They see movie nights with grandchildren.
Family dinners.
Conversations around a fire.
Future memories waiting to happen.
The business matters.
The cabin matters.
But neither are really the point.
The point is family.
The point is stewardship.
The point is building something meaningful and helping ensure it remains strong for generations to come.
Three weeks after arriving, there are still boxes to unpack and projects to finish.
There probably always will be.
But after years of planning, building, and dreaming, Adam and Jeanette are no longer working toward a life they hope to have someday.
They're living it.
For Jeanette, The Point has always meant safety.
For Adam, it took a little longer to understand what it meant.
After thirty years in kitchens, years spent living abroad, building a business, and helping create experiences for thousands of guests, he eventually discovered something much simpler.
Home.
Not because of the cabin.
Not because of the business.
Not even because of the view.
Because of the people.
The family who cared for the property long before he arrived.
The uncle whose stewardship made this chapter possible.
The father who wanted his girls close to the place he loved most.
And the woman who brought him there.
"Thanks to Jeanette, I found my home," Adam says with a smile. "It just happens to be a little piece of paradise jutting out into Lake Simcoe."
As evening settles over The Point and the water begins to calm, it's hard not to believe him.