PaBIA's eBlast June 23, 2021

PaBIA's Vision: To Preserve This Unique Natural Habitat for Generations to Come

Volume 13 No. 16

Greetings!

The fire danger remains high even though the nights turned cooler as the week began. So do remember, as you move toward the July 1 holiday, please leave the fireworks at home!

Trudy's fun articles are back for a second season. Charlotte's new book ideas are intriguing and fun. PaBIA sailing is back - albeit a fun sail from the Ojibway to the Wreck! Plus, have you ever wondered how a birch bark canoe was made? This summer, sign up to hear about how the canoes are made by the Georgian Bay Anishinaabek Youth - who actually built the canoe on display!

FIRE

RATING

HIGH

In this eBlast:

Peromyscus Maniculatus (Deer Mouse) by Trudy Irvine, Education Committee
Correction: Calculating the Lot Coverage On Your Property? by Cam Richardson
Literally, on the Bay by Janet Irving, Education Committee
The Ojibway Club Rescheduling for Entre Amis to August 12th (seniors) and 13th
PaBIA EdCom brings you “Learning with Oshkinigig”
PaBIA's 'Tune-Up' Fun Sail - 2 p.m. Ojibway Bay
WHPHC PS RIDE Fundraiser for Vital Signs Machines: July 1 - August 31
GBB Septic System Health & You - TODAY June 23
GBB Lessons from an Ontario Biosphere in Phragmites Management July 14
ToA Large Item Pick Up Days 2021 - THIS SATURDAY
Lake Michigan-Huron Water Levels - June 21, 2021
Yearbook Update 2021 from June 20th!
In Memoriam - William (Bill) Donovan

Of Interest

Peromyscus Maniculatus (Deer Mouse)

by Trudy Irvine, PaBIA's Education Committee

Ah, the feeling of contentment that accompanies twilight in Pointe au Baril…a time of peace and reverie… interrupted by the staccato snapping of mousetraps from inside the cottage.

The summer of 2020 brought a bumper crop of mice. While the population cycles of rodents are influenced by many factors, an abundance of food the summer before and a milder winter preceding likely allowed the survival of more of the creatures to springtime. Given the species’ capacity for exponential reproduction, we had many of the “wee sleekit beasties” (see the poem dedicated to these little beasts!) for summer company. Cottagers tried to keep up but, considering that the gestation period for deer mice is about 22 days and that the pups reach sexual maturity at about five weeks old - with six to eight pups per litter and four to eight litters a year - well, 2 can become 2,500. Even more scampering this spring of 2021 was likely promoted by last fall’s record warm weather - right at the peak of food availability and prime breeding season.

There was plenty of “brown rice” on countertops and in the corners of upholstered furniture this spring, and in this cottage, a forgotten scented candle and a treasured (historical!) mounted snakeskin had been gnawed away over the winter. In the case of the snakeskin, only the outline of tacks was left on the board, leaving us disgruntled and anxiously scanning the property for the return of a now beloved resident Eastern Fox snake. Care was taken in cleaning up after the mice, as Hantavirus can be found in the urine, feces, and saliva of infected rodents, and its inhalation can lead to serious viral infections.

It seems that the mice have headed back outside, for now, seeking out their omnivorous diet of insects and other invertebrates, seeds, fruits, grains, fungi, flowers, and nuts. Hopefully, their increased numbers will lead to increases in their predators - hawks, owls, snakes, shrews, foxes, minks, weasels, and lynx, among others.

For more information about mice, visit Wildlife in Ontario and Premier Pest

How Do You Calculate the Lot Coverage

On Your Property - Corrected

by Cam Richardson, Director, Regulatory and Ratepayer Portfolio

As a follow-up to the Ratepayer and Regulatory Affairs blog from last week's eBlast, here is the CORRECTED version of the description of what you can do on your property.

Calculation of lot coverage is straightforward, and the TOA uses the formula below to find the sq. ft. or m²allowable coverage (listed in 6.1.3 of the CZBL).

Please note that PaBIA is proposing to use the shoreline as an additional guideline for those narrow but deep properties on the shore that could max out the coverage due to the lot size without taking into consideration the shoreline length.

Maximum Lot Coverage (1 m² = 10.8 sq. ft., 1 acre = 4046 m² or 43,560 sq. ft.)

1.Lots with an area of 1,800 m² (.0445 acres) or less cannot be built on.

The minimum lot size to be eligible for a dwelling on an existing vacant residential lot is 1800 square metres (0.44 ac). See Section 5.22 a) iii) of the Zoning By-law.
If an existing residential lot zoned (i.e. CR) is already developed, then Section 6.1.3 c of the Zoning By-law would be applicable.
Lots zoned Natural State (NS) are not permitted to be developed, regardless of the lot area.
In addition, per the Ontario Building Code, there are septic requirements that also need to be satisfied (ie. setback from water, loading area, etc.).

2.Lots with an area greater than 1,801 m² up to 16,187 m²: 140 m² + 3% of lot area.

3.Lots with an area greater than 16,188 m² up to 32,374 m²: 625 m² + 1% of lot area that is over

16,187 m².

4.Lots with an area of greater than 32,375 m² up to 34,400: 787 m² + ½% of the lot area over 32,374 m²

5.Lots with an area greater than 34,401 m²: 800 m².

6.Main dwelling

maximum ground floor area: 80% of the total lot coverage (for properties greater than 1800 m²);
maximum total floor area: 300 m²;
minimum ground floor area: Wards 1,2,3 and 4: 50 m²

7.Minimum Front Yard Setback 7.5 m

8.Minimum Side Yard Setback 6 m

9.Minimum Rear Yard Setback 6 m

10.Maximum Height for Wards 2, 3, 4 includes those lands fronting Sturgeon Bay outside of Pointe au Baril Station: 6 m.

Literally, on the Bay

Book recommendations by Charlotte Stein, owner of Parry Sound Books

Edited by Janet Irving, Education Committee. There is nothing – absolutely nothing - like reading a book on a summer’s day on Georgian Bay! This summer we suggest some books that are literally set on the Bay – or feel so much so that we just had to include them.

Prisoners of Hope

by Barbara Fradkin

is the third of the Amanda Doucette Mystery series, this one set on Georgian Bay. A day spent exploring Franklin Island soon finds Amanda involved in other people’s serious problems. You’ll definitely recognize some of the scenery – and maybe even some of the characters.

Lichens of the North Woods by Joe Walewski

is a wonderful little field guide about the importance of lichens to all facets of nature – and all the information you need to identify them.

This Is How I Know,

illustrations by

Joshua Mangeshig

Pawis-Steckly and

words by Brittany Luby,

in both Anishinaabemowin and English, describes how we know that summer, and the changing seasons throughout the year, come to shores of Georgian Bay.

June 2021

Tune-up Fun Sail - Saturday, June 26 at 2 p.m.

In anticipation of our sailing season starting soon, use this Saturday as a day to get your boat on the water and the rigging running! Boats will gather in Ojibway Bay at 2 p.m. Please look out for our safety boat that may have an inflatable mark set nearby. Whoever is out, can sail to The Wreck and back. No prizes, just bragging rights that you got out for an early season sail! Enjoy.

Life in the Biosphere Webinar Series

The Georgian Bay Biosphere is pleased to launch the Life in the Biosphere Webinar Series! Along with our partners, we'll explore many different aspects of living in a UNESCO biosphere, from cultural teachings to gardening to invasive species and more!

Septic System Health & You

TODAY, June 23 @ 10:00 am EST

In this free webinar, we're joined by Danielle Ward from Adams Brothers Construction as she shares information on greywater pits, composting toilets, septic inspections, and more! Learn how important and simple it can be to keep your septic in tip-top shape. Short-term care can mean long-term savings and peace of mind! Click here to register! This webinar is offered in partnership with the Township of the Archipelago.

ToA Large Item Pick Up Days 2021 - THIS SATURDAY

Saturdays, June 26th and August 7th

Due to Covid-19, social distancing needs to be respected and no assistance can be provided. Please make sure you bring helpers with you if you have exceptionally heavy or large items to drop off. Further information such as what can/cannot be dropped off is posted on the Township website.

July 2021

PaBIA EdCom brings you

“Learning with Oshkinigig”

Wednesday, July 14th, Rain date July 15th.

Oshkinigig is a birch bark canoe (wiigwaas jiimaan) handcrafted in Parry Sound in 2019 by the Georgian Bay Anishinaabek Youth (GBAY), with support from the Georgian Bay Biosphere.

The Learning with Oshkinigig event will combine Indigenous science and western science within an environmental context. In a small group setting, participants will have the opportunity to visit and experience the story of Oshkinigig: from harvesting materials to construction, cultural significance, and future opportunities. Groups will experience local stories and knowledge of Anishinaabe culture and practices. Learning with Oshkinigig is one of a kind!

This event will be led by the Georgian Bay Biosphere (GBB) and GBAY, an Indigenous youth-led initiative that works to support Indigenous youth along the rivers and eastern shore of Mnidoo Gamii (Georgian Bay).

Participation in this cross-cultural learning opportunity is

BY REGISTRATION ONLY as explained below.

Please contact Helen by clicking on her name with:

your preferred time slot and
the number of attendees.

Pick one 30-minute time slot from these options:

10:00 a.m.,
10:30 a.m.,
11:00 a.m.,
11:30 a.m.,
12:00 p.m., or
12:30 p. m.

The event ends at 1:00 pm with each time slot is restricted to 10 people.

This event is offered in partnership with the Township of the Archipelago.

Donations to GBB will be welcome at the time of the event.

Learn more about Oshikinigig, GBAY, and the Biosphere at gbbr.ca.

Text

Ride to help buy 12 new Vital Signs Machines at our hospital. For $3,500 each, the machines are essential equipment for front-line staff. Vital Signs Machines provide a quick measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels in a patient’s blood. Your ride gets us closer to buying the 12 urgently needed!

Our 2nd Annual Ride

in Honour of co-founder, John Offutt

July 1 – August 30th, 2021

John Offutt was an avid supporter of the Parry Sound Hospital. When cycling enthusiast Dr. Harold Fisher sent an email to fellow cyclists proposing a fundraiser, John jumped in with both feet. Aleesha Clark at Parry Sound Bikes joined them and the fundraising team was formed. Despite the pandemic, the first fundraiser peddled ahead in 2020.

In August of 2018, while completing a ride around Lake Joseph, John suffered a cardiac arrest. Thankfully, his cycling friend Connor Mangan was able to perform CPR breathing life back into John. Life saved; John was ambulanced to the Parry Sound Health Centre where medical teams stabilized him. Ever grateful for the care he received, John began expending some of his considerable energy fundraising for the worthy cause of hospital care close to the cottage.

Though John beat death in 2018, the second time he lost. Tragically, on November 20, 2020, while John was out for a bike ride in Toronto, he was struck and killed by a cement truck driver.

This year’s fundraiser is in John’s honour.

Rescheduling of Entre Amis Events to August

Due to restrictions in Step 1 of the Province’s reopening protocols for large gatherings, we sadly advise that our traditional Entre Amis and "Senior" Entre Amis events have been moved to August! So change up your calendars for Thursday, August 12th (senior event) and Friday, August 13th when we welcome all Ojibway Club and PaBIA members!

Lessons from an Ontario Biosphere in Phragmites Management

Wednesday, July 14 @ 10:00 am EST

In this exciting webinar, we’re joined by Heather Braun from Environment and Climate Change Canada as she shares her work on the management of Phragmites and the recovery of native species in the Long Point region of Ontario. Phragmites is an invasive aquatic plant that spreads very quickly and has damaged Ontario’s shoreline ecosystems for decades. Learn how to spot phragmites and what you can do to control the spread. Register here for this webinar!

Lakes Michigan/Huron Water Levels June 21, 2021 To better read the charts, please click on the chart for the Daily or Six Month Forecast Water level chart and the corresponding websites

Yearbook Update! (as of June 20th)

With each eBlast, we will provide you a list of names for those members who have provided updated contact information. The details of all the changes since the 2021 yearbook came out in late April are provided in THIS printable format for you to print out and insert into your own Yearbook!