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FOCA Elert - late August 2019
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Advocacy & Policy Updates
Electricity Pricing
We are still awaiting the
Ontario Energy Board's decision about the elimination of the seasonal rate class. In the meantime, the media has been calling almost daily for quotes from FOCA, and
Hydro One has established a Customer Service line to answer your questions. Get important links and updates here:
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Boating Safety
News of recent tragedies on Ontario lakes is a stark reminder that we all need to be vigilant on the water, for everyone's sake. Nighttime boating has specific risks and requires extra caution, notably: reduced speeds and the use of running lights. For more safety information, visit:
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Federal Election
Canadians will vote for our federal government this October. In a federal election, even if you own property in more than one place, you may vote only once. FOCA recently asked Elections Canada to clarify if such property owners can
select to vote in their cottage riding. See their response, and get links to the major registered parties, here:
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FOCA's Gold-level Sponsors
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Sponsors
support our work!
Please, support them. |
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Asian Carps Awareness
Do you know a teacher looking for invasive species resources, or have a young, aspiring angler in the family?
Click the image to download a colouring sheet (PDF, 1 page) from FOCA about Asian carps, that you can share, so kids can learn more about invasive fishes.
Association Tip
: this would make a good addition to the "Kids' Corner" of your next newsletter or e-news!
Help FOCA to spread the word across the Great Lakes watershed about the risk of invasive Asian carps.
Find more information, here:
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FOCA Programs
Lake Partner Program - Photo Contest
Thanks to everyone who sent in photos of water sampling with young helpers this summer!
The winner of the
boating safety prize
is:
Marilyn K. of Big Basswood Lake
(municipality of Huron Shores)
Here are her twin three-year-old grandsons, helping with water clarity measurements earlier this month. "They both were quite interested in the proceedings," she reported.
Now that's what we call starting Lake Stewards early!
Find out more about the importance of the ongoing citizen science of the Lake Partner Program, here: https://foca.on.ca/lake-partner-program-overview/
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Upcoming Events
FOCA's Cottage Succession Seminar Series
Saturday, September 21, 2019 - Haliburton. Our final session of the season with estate lawyer Peter Lillico takes place at the Haliburton Campus of Fleming College, co-hosted by the Soyers Lake Ratepayers Association and the Lake Kashagawigamog Organization.
For event time, and how to save your spot, visit:
Can't attend in person, or want to review the seminar material with your family members in the off-season? Consider a DVD purchase of one of Peter's talks. Info about the DVDs is also available at the link above.
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2019 Lake Links
Saturday, October 26, 2019 - Perth. FOCA will once again be pleased to support and attend this annual stewardship event. The theme is "Enhancing, Restoring and Exploring: Applications for Citizen Science on your Lake." Click here to
download the event poster (PDF, 1 page).
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FOCA Fall Seminar for Lake Associations
Saturday, November 16, 2019 - Toronto. Mark your calendar and
plan to send a representative from your lake association to this gathering of lake association peers, subject experts, and the FOCA staff and Board of Directors, to receive environmental and policy updates and to discuss cottage country hot topics and emerging issues.
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FOCA's Silver-level Sponsors
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Waterfront Living
Short-Term Rentals
After gathering public input on the topic of short-term rentals last year, this summer the
City of Kawartha Lakes has dedicated a full webpage to the topic, including posters created to remind property owners and their visitors about by-law regulations and other important local information.
FOCA notes that some municipalities are implementing by-laws (and fines for those who do not comply) to encourage responsible rental. Others are regulating short-term rentals through zoning and licencing that includes safety inspections among other conditions. FOCA has posted lots of information for your review, here:
https://foca.on.ca/responsible-cottage-rental/.
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Recent Events Attended
Friends of Oak Lake Meeting
August 6, 2019 - Quinte. FOCA participated in a meeting of our member group, the
Friends of Oak Lake, on the topic of water quality and water level issues in kettle lakes.
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FOCA Outreach
FOCA's Outreach Assistant attended a meeting in Plevna on August 6th, organized by the
Malcolm Ardoch Lakes Landowners' Association, with university and municipal partners to discuss a Eurasian Water Milfoil pilot project.
Download an overview by clicking here (PDF, 2 pages)
She also attended the
Barrie Farmers Market on August 17th. Thanks again, and very good wishes to Olivia Huber, who has left to continue her education this fall.
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Environment Council Meeting
The meeting also addressed the identification of Starry Stonewort in Kawarthas area waterbodies.
Find out more about this invader in a presentation from the event. (download PDF, 16 pages)
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Birchcliff Property Owners Meeting
August 10, 2019 - FOCA participated in our member's Annual General Meeting, where road safety and building a strong membership were key topics.
All our members are welcomed to use association tools and tips found here:
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Severn Sound Environmental Meeting
August 23, 2019 - Port Severn. FOCA participated in an Open House about "Resilient & Thriving Great Lakes Watersheds" with partners in water quality monitoring, invasive species, source water protection and more. Find out more about SSEA, here:
https://www.severnsound.ca/about
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FOCA's Bronze-level Sponsors
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Regional Notices
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3rd Binational Lake Association Event - Rainy Lake Area
Associations in Northwest Ontario area encouraged to attend this great event for lake association representatives from both sides of the border. Meet fellow lake stewards to discuss common interests and concerns, to learn about ecosystem management in the Lake of the Woods watershed, and about citizen lake monitoring. Click here to download event details (PDF, 1 page).
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Kawartha Lakes WATER Fund
Members in the City of Kawartha Lakes may still be able to apply for 2019 funding for projects that demonstrate an action from your lake's management plan, and that have a positive impact on water quality.
Click here to download
(PDF, 3 pages)
a notice from Kawartha Conservation or visit:
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Mississippi Watershed Plan:
call for Advisory Committee Members
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority is developing a Watershed Plan, and is looking for representation from across the watershed to review, comment, and advise on issues facing the Mississippi River watershed. Applications are due September 6, 2019. Find more information here:
http://mvc.on.ca/watershedplan/
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Muskoka Watershed Advisory Group
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image: MPP Jeff Yurek on Twitter
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In early August, the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks announced the appointment of an advisory group that Minister Yurek described as: "a valuable resource for people and municipalities in the region that depend on effective watershed management as more development and flooding events occur."
Follow this issue, here:
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Stewardship Publication
The Lake Protection Workbook
Over the past year, the Lake Links Planning Committee developed a resource workbook for waterfront property owners. This is a self-assessment tool that acts as an excellent educational resource, helping property owners living along a shoreline to understand how their actions can affect the lake, and providing helping tips on improving natural environment at the shoreline. Our partners have invited everyone to download a free PDF copy of the 44-page Workbook from this webpage:
https://watersheds.ca/our-work/resources/publications/. Paper copies are also available for $1.50 each from
Watersheds Canada.
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Associations:
Help FOCA to spread the word to your members...
Have a 5 or 10 minute spot on your meeting agenda? Show one of FOCA's videos! Stream them on YouTube if you've got internet access, or contact us for tips on downloading to a laptop:
Got some extra space in your Newsletter? Please include this little FOCA ad (click the image at the side to download a PDF - reproduce at 4" width, maximum) to remind your members about our work and all the benefits they receive, as
FOCA members!
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FOCA is the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations,
the voice of the waterfront for over half a century
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