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“Our dance floor has actually floated upward,” Freeman said, noting he’s had to lay off some staff. “We’re hoping the stage will not float away. I think it’s going to be OK.”

Freeman, like many others who live on the island, has marvelled at the effect the rising water has had.

“Every day you walk the dog is a different experience cause the landscape is completely different,” he said. “There are carp swimming around all over the island and all the wildlife is much more … revitalized.”

A peacock from the Far Away Farm on the island has flown the coop and is in front of Freeman’s house, he said, more than three kilometres from its home.

“It’s bizarre, the whole thing. Just a surreal situation.”

Susan Roy, who has lived in the community for decades, echoed Freeman’s attitude.

“We’re islanders and we’re pretty resilient,” she said. “It is incredible to see nature taking back the island. You know, the island comes from nature and now it’s like it’s going back to nature.”

Roy, who is chair of a Toronto Island community group, noted that most homes haven’t been heavily damaged but a lot of uncertainty remains over when full access to the islands will resume.

“We’re not sure when the island will be open to the public again, so that’s hard to take,” she said. “But all things considered, it could be much worse.”

But Ralph McQuinn, who runs Toronto Harbour Water Taxi, is less optimistic, noting that his business is already suffering.

“I’m gonna take a big hit — I already have,” said McQuinn, who just bought two new boats for his operation. “If I would have known I wouldn’t have bought those boats. But how would I have known?”