LOW Area News - Summer 2019 by wakemarketing

Volume 49

Number 3

Summer 2019

BLACK STURGEON LAKE IS HERE! This up and coming neighbourhood, once Kenora’s best kept secret, is gaining in popularity due to its large size, low traffic, proximity to Kenora and pristine water quality. Recreational buyers and year-round residents gravitate to this lake to escape the hussle and bustle of city living and the high traffic and noise pollution of other lakes such as Falcon Lake and Westhawk Lake. There are a variety of price points and building lot options to get into the Black Sturgeon real estate market. Contact us today to discuss the opportunities that await!

File 4365 | 580B James Road | Black Sturgeon | $929,000 Stunning almost new year round home or cottage on Black Sturgeon Lake. Offering 2,624 sq ft of premium living space on a perfectly landscaped 1.87 acre low profile lot with 270 feet of deep water frontage, sand beach, private boat launch, with north and west views that capture perfect sunsets. This lakefront home offers something for everyone. Total 5 beds (2 on main, 1 up, 2 down in mostly finished 1,842 sq ft walkout lower level), 5 baths throughout, main floor laundry, triple detached garage with upper level bonus room, tons of storage and quick and easy access via James Road off of the Redditt Highway – mere minutes off of the Kenora bypass highway. This like-new home is ready to be enjoyed for years to come!

LISTINGS

M A R K E T E VA L U AT I O N S

1.800.528.8848

B U Y E R R E P R E S E N TAT I O N

R E N TA L S

GRAHAM CHAZE

CHRISTOPHER CLARK

DUSTIN SHORE

BRYCE WITHERSPOON, BBA

broker of record

broker

807.407.5253 graham@cabincountry.com

807.466.8819 chris@cabincountry.com

807.407.3211 dustin@cabincountry.com

appraisal consultant aic candidate member

www.cabincountr y.com 138 MAIN ST S, KENORA, ONTARIO

807.468.3541 bryce@cabincountry.com

SOLD

file 3062

file 4150

file 4293

file 4295

JONES ROAD ACREAGE | BLACK STURGEON

1 LOST LAKE | MINAKI

DARLINGTON BAY | WINNIPEG RIVER

81C THUNDER RIDGE ROAD | LOTW

539,000

485,000

264,900

805,000

file 4320

file 4326

file 4327

file 4328

MCCALLUM POINT ROAD | CLEARWATER BAY

482B PETERSON ROAD | BLACK STURGEON

BEAU JESS ROAD | CLEARWATER BAY

LOT 6 ZIG ZAG ISLAND | LOTW

925,000

1,099,000

2,395,000

549,000

SOLD

file 4331

file 4335

file 4341

file 4347

1 OAK DRIVE | LOTW

2 SCOTTY’S ISLAND | LOTW

741 PETERSON ROAD | BLACK STURGEON

1 RUSH BAY ROAD | MOSS LAKE

410,000

399,000

525,000

979,000

SOLD

file 4350

file 4352

file 4355

file 4358

ENA LAKE

FIREROAD 40 MOTH LAKE

199 TRESOOR POINT ROAD | WINNIPEG RIVER

938 PETERSON ROAD | BLACK STURGEON

299,900

439,000

399,000

639,000

SOLD

file 4359

file 4361

file 4363

file 4367

LOT 31 RUSH BAY ROAD | CLEARWATER BAY

26 WORONA BAY | BLACK STURGEON

241 WOODLAND ROAD | SIOUX NARROWS

POPLAR BAY VIA NORPEN ROAD | LOTW

1,395,000

599,000

489,000

679,000

file 4366

file 8054

file 8056

file 8057

LOT 2-50 POPLAR BAY | LOTW

EAGLE SHORE ESTATES | BLACK STURGEON

11 GOLD CREEK TRAIL WESTVU DRIVE

452 CONEY ISLAND | LOTW

769,000

129,000

409,000

219,000

Beautiful Inside & Out Kenora’s Quality Builder

807 407 9983 | blackfoxconstruction.com

In this Issue 5 6 7

Executive Director’s Note

LOWDSA

President's Message

Cover photo by Tom Thomson.

Our Contributors

Letter to the Editor

Building Cedar Strip Kayaks: Part 1

New directors introduced at AGM Summer Meeting Invitation Government Notes

Get up, get out, and go fishing!

Be a good buoy

Age-defying Your Cottage

Cottage Show Recap & Thank you

78 80

Member Recipe: A Very Wild Rice

LakeSmart: Coming to a Shoreline Near You 20

Boating: Be aware of others

Mark Your Calendars

Home & Cottage

Notes from Razberry Lane: Cats, a dog, and the people they own 84

57th Annual General Meeting Recap 24 2018 Financial Report

An Economic Impact Survey

26 30

Poison Ivy by Pat Keena

Summer: The Seasonal Crescendo Kat the Nature Dog: Kat's Summer Parade

In The District

What’s happening at your lake?

Road association or roads board?

Matiowski Market set for another busy season 36 Harbourfest serving up improvements in 2019 37 2019 Powwows: Visitors Welcome Settling historic flooding claims

38 40

Kenora Writers Group hosting workshops for up-and-coming writers 43

The Crawford Family: A Lake Legacy by Jeff Polakoff

LOWDKids! 86

Environment

Jack Pine Budworm threatens area forests 57 Zebra Mussels found in Shoal Lake

Services

Home & Cottage Services

Pressure washers: environmental friend or foe 63

Real Estate Listings

FireSmart: Protect your home and cottage from wildfire 64

Advertisers’ Directory

Happy summer from the world’s freshwater laboratory! 65 Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation 66 What you should know about bluegreen algae 69 Choose non-invasive plants at your home and cottage 70

Classifieds

94 95

The Turnbull Island Guestbooks by Lori Nelson

President’s Message HARDY BOCK, LOWDSA PRESIDENT After what seemed to be a very long winter, spring has finally arrived! For a time I doubted I’d be able to open the cottage on the May long weekend, but a good friend of ours assured me that he had never missed start up on the May long weekend in over 60 years and, despite the snow on April 29, he expected this year to be no different. Well, he was correct. The ice and snow were gone by May 16 and everyone in our family were asking: “Will the water be on when we come down?” Of course! I am writing this several days after our Cottage Show and 57th AGM. Thanks to all the exhibitors, volunteers, and especially Diane, Shelley and Carol; the day was a great success. It was good to see so many of you at the show; we counted well over 800 visitors. We also had a good turnout at the AGM with approximately 80-90 members in attendance. Now we are taking some time to review your comments about the show. Of particular note were the varying comments we heard about the time of the show, both date and time of day. As a board, we will review the show in some detail with your comments in mind as we look to 2020. At the AGM we thanked Robert Bulman as he finished his term having served 10 years on the board. He will be missed for his insights and experience. We welcomed Garth Collier and Carly Fyke to the board. You can read more about our new board members on page 10. Those of you who attended the AGM heard about the funding cuts we have experienced, especially with regards to the LakeSmart program. LOWDSA received the Wilson Stewardship Award earlier this year, in large part as recognition of LakeSmart’s success in delivering our environmental stewardship message, with visits to over 800 docks last year alone. Unfortunately, due to the recent government funding cuts this program was on the verge of being cancelled for 2019. We have been very fortunate that our private sponsors continue to support this program with financial contributions and in-kind donations, including the distinctive LakeSmart boat. However, we relied on government funding for this year as we have in past years. Now we are actively looking for additional support from our members and looking at alternative sources of funding to cover the shortfall. Please consider donating to the Environmental Initiatives and Special Projects Fund this year to help meet our funding requirements for this effective program. At our most recent board meeting, a special task force was established to review funding alternatives for the coming years. We hope to engage our members and current sponsors in this review.

LOWDSA is known. The finance committee and board will be reviewing our sources of funding in the next year to see if we can decrease the impact of these financial challenges. Given the new Ontario budget, there is lots of activity to follow in government affairs. Please be sure to look at Government Notes on page 13—highway twinning, aggregate pits and forestry management remain active areas of concern. Plan to attend one, or both, of our two summer meetings on July 8 in Kenora and July 15 in Morson for updates. The Cottage Show gave us the opportunity to speak with many of you about your concerns and to answer questions. It was also great timing to renew memberships and to sign up new members, over 25. Membership numbers remain a concern. We have approximately 2,775 members, down 300 from last year, a trend we want to stop. We recognize several reasons for this loss, and the Membership and Communications Committee is working to address some of them with new technologies and programs. You, the members, remain the best resource for building our organization. Please speak with your families, neighbours and friends about the benefits of being a LOWDSA member, one of which is Area News. It is hard to give up your copies of Area News, but maybe one way to show people the importance of LOWDSA and the value of supporting it is by sharing a copy of Area News with a non-member. But first, settle into that favourite Adirondack by the water and read this issue—learn and enjoy.

Our finances are being well managed in a very challenging environment of funding cuts and devolution of programs. The finance committee has been diligent in containing the costs of operation while continuing to provide the programs for which

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Executive Director’s Note DIANE SCHWARTZ-WILLIAMS

I am so excited; summer is here! Well, maybe I am getting a little ahead of myself and the seasons. It’s a beautiful morning on the May long weekend, although perhaps a little cool and without the full green in the forest or colour in my gardens to feel quite like summer. But I know summer is just around the corner; my senses are on high alert for the daily changes around me that signal summer’s Photo by Tom Thomson arrival. The green haze of the forest deepens and trees will soon be in full leaf; my rhubarb is a foot high and my daffodils are in bloom with slower starting perennials beginning to emerge from the soil; days beginning with bird songs and chatter from the sky end with a symphony of frog choruses from our bog on the edge of Sandy Lake; and my pampered indoor cats are displaying a great curiosity about the outside world they reserve for this time of year.

With the Cottage Show, AGM and Seedling Day behind us, we are getting ready to launch the LakeSmart boat, and you’ll soon see the LakeSmart team out on the water, at our Summer Meetings or the Matiowski Farmers’ Market and at events around the district. Our calendar is filling up, but there are still many openings we’re hoping to fill. Let us know what’s happening on your lake, down your road, with your association or even at your cottage with a family event. If you would like to see the LakeSmart team or LOWDSA staff and/ or directors at your events or just for a visit, we’d love to be there and will do our best to make it work. Contact us at 807-468-8715 of info@lowdsa.com to set a plan in motion. As always, we encourage you to reach out with any questions or suggestions you have about something you see in Area News or something else that you are either concerned about or just interested in. Welcome back to summer lake time and lake life!

If that weren’t enough to convince me summer was upon us, the steady stream of boats being trailered to cottages, empty moorings at marina docks filling up, and a huge jump in highway, city and lake traffic would cinch it.

The official publication of the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

PUBLISHED BY

DISTRIBUTION & MEMBERSHIP

Wake Marketing Inc. 140 Main St. S., Kenora, ON P9N 1S9 Phone: (807) 407-7252

Lake of the Woods Area News is published five times per year and is mailed to LOWDSA members. To receive Area News visit lowdsa.com and become a member today.

Publisher: Mike Greaves, mike@areanewsmagazine.ca Editor: Elsie Neufeld, editor@areanewsmagazine.ca Art Director: Shayla Smith, design@areanewsmagazine.ca Design & Layout: Mike Newton, Ashley Pereira Advertising: Mike Greaves, Deb Polakoff

Publication mail agreement #43107013. Printed in Canada.

UPCOMING EDITORIAL DEADLINES: July 24, 2019 October 2, 2019

© 2019 LOWDSA. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent. Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibility of the author and may not represent the view of LOWDSA or Wake Marketing Inc.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Our Contributors Bonnie Baltessen Sumeep Bath Phil Burke Cecil Burns Leanne Fournier Ted Hawley Pat Keena John W. Hayes is tournament angler, guide and outdoor educator, and has spent almost his entire life on Lake of the Woods. Welcome Channel is his home during the summer with family and friends and, most importantly, grandchildren. In addition, John is an adventure traveller and escapes the cold every winter. He enjoys all sports, cooking, and trying new things.

Lucas King

Pat Keena is a life-long fan of Lake of the Woods. Growing up at the Patton-O’Grady family cottage on Keewatin Beach Road, she learned to swim, fish and sail. She and her husband, Gerry, built a cottage on Thompson Island, which they share with their children, grandson and two dogs.

Susan McLeod Drew Monkman Lori Nelson Elsie Neufeld Raymond Oakes

Jack McKenzie was a general insurance broker in Winnipeg for his entire working life. His involvement with lake country started at his family’s seasonal home before constructing his own summer home on Thompson Island. In 1980 he became a LOWDPOA director and acted as editor and publisher of the Area News for a number of years. At the same time, Jack became the association’s representative on the Lake of the Woods Water Control Board, a position he still holds to this day. In 1998, he became a full time resident on the lake except for the winter months which he spends at his Arizona winter home. Jack is now the president of the District of Kenora Unincorporated Areas Ratepayers Association, DoKURA.

Jeff Polakoff Henry & Anita Rasmussen Jacob Rodenburg Diane Schwartz-Williams Todd Sellers Bob Stewart John Waterer

LAKE OF THE WOODS DISTRICT STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATION Executive Committee

Board Members

Staff

Contact

PRESIDENT Hardy Bock, Black Sturgeon

Chris Boult, Mackies Island Dave Christie, Granite Lake Garth Collier, Ottermere/ Schnarr Lake Jason Coreau, Big Traverse Bay Carley Fyke, Welcome Channel Anneke Gillis, Paddy Lake Jean Anne Hallas, Lily Pad Bay Lucas King, Woodchuck Bay Trevor Templeton, Minaki John Waterer, Clearwater Bay

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Diane Schwartz-Williams (807) 543-4287 diane@lowdsa.com

P.O. Box 1160 Kenora, ON P9N 3X7

VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER Christine Semenchuk, Storm Bay PAST PRESIDENT Nancy Salmijarvi, Welcome Channel DIRECTOR Don Parfitt, Winnipeg River

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Shelley Bujold (807) 468-8715 shelley@lowdsa.com

EMAIL info@lowdsa.com

M LOWDistrictStewardshipAssoc N @lowdsaLakeTime TOLL-FREE 1-888-265-9784 PHONE (807) 468-8715

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Dedicated to Lakefront Property

Ian Carmichael Broker of Record Cell 807-466-2236

807-467-2323 1-888-954-2323

lakeofthewoods.net carmichaelrealestate@lakeofthewoods.net

For over 25 years the Carmichael name has been helping families buy and sell waterfront properties in the lake of the Woods Vacation area, also known as Sunset Country. Kenora and surrounding area is a very special place. The waters are calming, the views are stunning and the people who share this passion are exceptional. I have been advising clients on their Real Estate needs for over 20 years. I know the area and the market. Every client is unique and deserves personal, professional service. Call me directly for assistance and qualified experience at 807-466-2236.

5 POINT ISLAND SUBDIVISION LAKE OF THE WOODS

PRIVATE ISLAND, LAKE OF THE WOODS “AS SEEN ON HGTV ISLAND HUNTERS”

Varying profiles and views. Quiet private location. 14 Lots to choose from. New Prices! Starting at $159,000 + HST

TREATY ISLAND LAKE OF THE WOODS

Beautiful main cottage, guest cottage, double boathouse and beach; Picture perfect amazing views! - $2,150,000

KING LAKE

55 acres! The only site on a private lake!! Lovely 3000 sf leisure home & guest - $1,599,000

EAGLES NEST POPLAR BAY LAKE OF THE WOODS South facing private palace, 6000 deluxe sf - 3 levels $1,195,000

Landmark Estate! 6.5 acres, 16 total BR’s, Amazing grounds - $2,450,000

STORM BAY ROAD LAKE OF THE WOODS Absolute Perfection! Amazing leisure home, multiple structures & boathouse $2,350,000

WINNIPEG RIVER

1240 sf modern cottage & 2 guest cabins - $309,000

PRIVATE POINT LAKE OF THE WOODS

Incredible private point boasts over 4 acres of titled lands having 1152 ft of shoreline - INQUIRE

WINNIPEG RIVER

Southwest views, low profile, sand beach and 1044 sf. 3 bedroom cottage! - $295,000

ZIG ZAG ISLAND LAKE OF THE WOODS WOODCHUCK BAY LAKE OF THE WOODS $999,000

Private 2900 sf facing sunsets; Boathouse and sand beach $649,000

PIPESTONE POINT LOT LAKE OF THE WOODS

South facing, 7 ac, 577 ft low profile shoreline - $179,000

FRENCH NARROWS, LOT 2 LAKE OF THE WOODS $119,000

e at Lily Pad Bay The Hallas’ cottag

Letter to the Editor Dear LOWDSA, Thank you for offering to supply the White Pine Seedlings again this year. We would like to acquire 3 bundles of 15 to add to our Clearwater Bay property to enjoy for years to come. The older ones that we planted 15 years ago are a wonder to behold and they have added such colour year around to our activities at the lake. We promise to look after them.

We’d like to hear from you!

We would like to encourage others to join in. We love the trees like family. When we planted the originals we had the kids feed and water them for the first few years and they have not disappointed us. It is what brings our adult children back to the lake. These are theirs to enjoy with their families and they still remember how we asked them to join us in helping them grow. Great idea! Keep up the offer—it is and was well worth the effort and expense (nothing).

Help us continue making this magazine great. Send us your comments, suggestions, pictures and story ideas: editor@areanewsmagazine.ca. Construction at Re

dden’s Camp

— Bob Krul

Brown family ‘camp er’ on Big Traverse

Digital Editions Free with your LOWDSA membership

Read Area News wherever you are! Access this issue as well as all previous issues since 2016.

Visit lowdsa.com to view digital editions & login online! We always enjoy your phone calls, emails and letters, and now our member online community gives you one more way to stay informed, up-to-date and: Access your member profile Register for events Purchase a gift membership Renew your membership Contribute to the EISP Fund Sign up for eNews Email Shelley Bujold at shelley@lowdsa.com or call (807) 468-8715 or 1-888-265-9784

lowdsa.com

N @lowdsaLakeTime

M LOWDistrictStewardshipAssoc

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

New directors introduced at AGM After 10 years of dedicated service to the association, Director Robert Bulman retired from the board at the AGM. His contributions and commitment to LOWDSA, its programs and members have been very significant and valuable, and he will be missed for his insights and expertise. Thank you Robert!

Garth Collier Garth’s grandparents were cottagers with their families in the early 1930’s and he has been going to Ottermere all his life. His family is in their fourth generation at the lake now and continue to share the lake experience with their children. Additionally, Garth and his wife began building a cottage at Schnarr Lake in 2004. According to Garth, true to cottage “doit-yourself” fashion, they are almost finished.

Carley Fyke Carley is a third generation Lake of the Woods cottager and has been spending time at the lake before she even knew it! Her family’s cottage is in the Welcome channel area and Carley and her sister Jen have always been avid “Lake” girls. Both girls had boating licenses before they had drivers’ licences and weekends were spent on or in the lake. Carley will be the third “Fyke” to sit on the LOWDSA board with her Grandfather Leverne and her father Terry both having served as director and president of the board. Carley and her husband Dale welcomed a son, Hayden, to the family last July, the fourth generation to enjoy the lake.

Garth has been very active and involved in the well-established and vibrant Ottermere Cottage Association and was instrumental in coordinating their winter metal waste collection drop off. He is a boater, snowmobiler, fisher (catch and release only) and an advocate for the environment.

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Summer Meeting Invitation If you missed the AGM in May, this is your opportunity to catch up on LOWDSA business over the past year, meet your LakeSmart team and learn about plans going forward. Following a short LOWDSA presentation, Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (IAO) negotiators will be providing information on First Nation flooding claims on Lake of the Woods, Shoal Lake and the Winnipeg River, and how these relate to life on the lake. IAO’s negotiators will be delivering a brief presentation describing the claims and will be available to answer questions We missed having MNRF at the Cottage Show, but they’ll be on hand along with a few other exhibitors, ready to answer your questions and provide all sorts of info and resources.

Kenora

Morson

Summer Meeting

Monday, July 8 at 1:00 p.m. Clarion Lakeside Inn & Convention Centre

Monday, July 15 at 1:00 p.m. Morson Community Hall (with shuttle service from dock to hall)

IJC Watershed Board Wants Your Help! Session at 2:30p.m.

The IJC’s Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board launched a project this year to develop recommendations for water quality and aquatic ecosystem health Objectives and Alerts (advisory triggers) for the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed. They would like to hear from you on your perspectives and expectations for aquatic ecosystem health in this basin. For an explanation of how Objectives and Alerts are used in boundary waters, please go to: ijc.org/en/rlwwb/water-quality-objectives-and-alerts For those unable to attend the afternoon workshop, there will also be a Community Conversation on the evening of July 8, location TBD, in or near Kenora.

Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry (MNRF) Public Consultation on Turtle Portage Marine Railway Session at 2:30p.m.

MNRF intends to provide public access to the Turtle Portage Marine Railway system during the 2019 boating season. Fiscal constraints however remain unchanged, and the ministry advises that a long-term, cost-saving solution must be found. In the future, it is the ministry’s hope that a partnership can be established that allows for the continued operation of this facility. Ministry staff encourages LOWDSA members and others to consider potential opportunities, and are looking forward to hearing your ideas at this meeting.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

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Government Notes Your directors and staff communicate regularly with representatives of a number of ministries and departments at all levels of government. Whether communicating via email, talking on the phone or meeting in person, we enjoy positive working relationships. This makes it possible for us to access and share government bulletins in a timely manner, and open lines of communication often allow us to go directly to the source with questions on your behalf. BY DIANE SCHWARTZ-WILLIAMS

Federal and Provincial Four-laning Highway 17 update As of mid-May, there is no update to the information we published previously in Area News. Communication with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) confirmed that the plans and schedules as posted online at 4lanehighway17kenora.ca remain unchanged. The MTO’s intent is to tender a construction contract for Section 1, Manitoba border to Highway 673, in 2019 provided environmental approvals are received and no unforeseen design related issues arise. Future work includes reviewing and selecting a preferred route between Highway 673 and Kenora. A public information centre (PIC) for Section 2 from Highway 673 to Rush Bay Road is expected late summer or the fall 2019. A PIC for Section 3 from Rush Bay Road to Kenora is anticipated in winter or spring of 2020 with the start of construction work beyond 2022.

Furniture

If you have comments, suggestions or questions for the ministry and consultant, or simply want to be added to the study mailing list, email project-team@4LaneHighway17Kenora.ca. Full contact info including mailing addresses are available online.

Window Coverings

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

Provincial Funding Cuts with 2019 Budget As LOWDSA President Hardy Bock wrote in his message (page 5), recent government funding cuts included in the 2019 provincial budget had a direct impact on our LakeSmart program. This is not the only impact the budget will have on programs and services important, and in some cases necessary, to our members. Your Government Affairs Committee has begun a review of the budget’s potential impact, which we expect to publish in the next issue of Area News.

Slash Pile burning on Rush Bay & Clytie Bay roads We relayed members’ questions to the MNRF about slash piles remaining this spring on Rush Bay and Clytie Bay roads from 2017 harvesting. What members in the area wanted to know was why the piles were not burned in the winter and remained after two winters had passed. MNRF says over 100 piles were burned during this past winter, but that about a dozen piles would not burn. They have been re-piled/fluffed up and are in the plan for burning next fall-winter.

Turtle Portage proposed decommissioning: public consultation July 15 in Morson Open public consultation on this matter will take place on July 15 at the Morson Community Hall. LOWDSA’s Summer Meeting in Morson will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the public consultation to follow immediately at 2:30 p.m. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the MNRF will provide public access to the Turtle Portage Marine Railway system during the 2019 boating season. Fiscal constraints however remain unchanged, and the ministry advises that a long-term, cost-saving solution must be found. MNRF hopes a partnership can be established that allows for the continued operation of this facility. MNRF encourages LOWDSA members and others to consider potential opportunities and wants to hear your ideas at this summer’s meeting.

Land Claims in the Lake of the Woods Area Representatives of the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs were on hand at the 2019 Cottage Show to share information and answer questions about land claims in the Lake of the Woods area currently in negotiation and public consultation. Information provided by the ministry is posted at lowdsa.com/news. To contact the ministry directly for information:

Your Project Is Our Passion FALCON LAKE, MB

204-349-2294 www.lumberone.ca

Animakee Wa Zhing #37 TLE Claim Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE): The First Nation did not receive the proper quantity of land according to the relevant treaty. Contact: AWZTLE@ontario.ca 416-326-4381 Obashkaandagaang Garden Islands Claim Boundary: The current boundaries of a reserve are incorrect. Contact: OFNGardenIslands@ontario.ca 416-327-9582 Lake of the Woods Flooding Claims Flooding: Reserve land was unlawfully taken or damaged from the construction of hydro-electric power facilities, dams, river diversions, etc. Contact: LOTWFloodingClaim@ontario.ca 416-326-4755

LOWDSA

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Access to MNRF forest management planning process To keep informed: efmp.lrc.gov.on.ca/eFMP/home.do To get involved: files.ontario.ca/ involvement_handbook_final_english “Useful tips on navigating the eFMP (electronic forest management plan) website” guide is available by contacting LOWDSA: info@lowdsa.com or (807) 468-8715

Whiskey Jack Forest & Kenora Forest Annual Work Schedule (2019-2020) available for review The approved April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020 Annual Work Schedule (AWS) for the Whiskey Jack Forest and the Kenora Forest is available at the MNRF Kenora District Office, Miisun Integrated Resource Management Company on behalf of the MNRF, and the Ontario government website at ontario.ca/forestplans and will remain so for the one-year duration of the AWS. The AWS describes forest operations such as road construction, maintenance and decommissioning, forestry aggregate pits, harvest, site preparation, tree planting and tending that are scheduled to occur during the year. The notices and maps are posted at lowdsa.com/articles and LOWDSA's Facebook.

Municipal & Unincorporated Proposed Aggregate Permit for Longpoint Road The application for the proposed aggregate permit (gravel pit & quarry) for Longpoint Road has been withdrawn.

Aggregate Permits on Ritchie Road & Pickerel Lake Road Details on applications for the proposed expansion of aggregate permit (gravel pit) on Ritchie Road and the aggregate permit applications (gravel pit & quarry) for Pickerel Lake Road were included in the last issue of Area News. As of early May, we were advised that consultations regarding these applications are ongoing. The project summaries and notices for both applications can be viewed online at lowdsa.com/articles or in person at the MNRF office in Kenora. Digital copies of the site plans and technical reports are available to landowners and stakeholders by contacting either Ron Simmons at simmons@kmts.ca or Sonya Zuber at Sonya.Zuber@ontario.ca. Other contact options and details available on line or by calling LOWDSA at 807-468-8715. Updates on both applications will be posted on line as soon as available.

Boat launches, landings, rollers, lifts, marine railways... What do you use? We really would like to hear from you! We are interested in learning more about docks, landings, and/or boat transfer systems are used by our members. To tell us about what you use on your lake email info@lowdsa.com and/or editor@areanewsmagazine.ca or call 807-543-4287.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

Mark Your Calendars LOWDSA’s summer calendar is filling up with more plans yet to be finalized. Watch for updates in eNews bulletins and follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. And let us know what’s happening on your lake!

26 AUG 28 JUN

— TO —

LakeSmart & LOWDSA at Matiowski Farmers’ Market Whitecap Pavilion, Kenora 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. every Wednesday.

We’ll be launching the LakeSmart boat at the beginning of July, and our LakeSmart team will be on the water for their 9th season. Please welcome them if they drop by your dock! Let us know if you would like to arrange a visit to your lake neighbourhood for a dock visit or presentation on living green at the lake, healthy shorelines, invasive species and more.

JUL

8 LakeSmart & LOWDSA at Matiowski Farmers’ Market Whitecap Pavilion, Kenora 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

JUL

1 JUL

LOWDSA joining Zig Zag Yacht Club for ZZYC Welcome Reception & Fireworks 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

LOWDSA Summer Meeting at the Lake – Kenora Clarion Lakeside Inn & Conference Centre 1:00 p.m.

Catch up on LOWDSA business, meet your LakeSmart team, learn about plans going forward and check in with MNRF staff (Forestry and Fire). There will also be a presentation on First Nation flooding claims on Lake of the Woods, Shoal Lake and the Winnipeg River by the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (IAO). Details on page 11. EMAIL info@lowdsa.com

Clarion Lakeside Inn & Conference Centre 2:30 p.m.

The IJC’s Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board is developing recommendations for water quality and aquatic ecosystem health Objectives and Alerts for the watershed. They would like to hear from you on your perspectives and expectations for aquatic ecosystem health in this basin. More details on pages 11 and 32.

JUL

IJC Watershed Board wants your help!

LOWDSA

JUL

LOWDSA Summer Meeting at the Lake – Morson Morson Community Hall 1:00 p.m.

We’re hoping to see members from Nestor Falls and Morson areas out for this. Catch up on LOWDSA business, meet your LakeSmart team, learn about plans going forward and check in with MNRF staff (Forestry and Fire). There will also be a presentation on First Nation flooding claims on Lake of the Woods, Shoal Lake and the Winnipeg River by the Ontario Ministry of Indigenous Affairs (IAO). Details on page 11.

JUL

Turtle Portage Public Consultation with MNRF Morson Community Hall 2:30 p.m.

Open public consultation to follow immediately after the Summer Meeting. The MNRF advises that a long-term, costsaving solution must be found and hopes a partnership can be established that allows for the continued operation of this facility. Ministry staff are looking forward to hearing your ideas.

M LOWDistrictStewardshipAssoc N @lowdsaLakeTime

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

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TOLL-FREE 1-888-265-9784

16 JUL 17 JUL

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LakeSmart team dock visits in Morson area

LOWDSA & LakeSmart at Laclu Regatta

AUG

Let us know if you would like to have the team drop by.

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

8 AUG 15 AUG

— AND —

IISD Experimental Lakes Area full day visit & tour Pre-registration required. Discounted rates for LOWDSA members. See registration form (page 19) for more details or contact LOWDSA office. (Note tour dates have changed since the spring issue of Area News.)

JUL

AUG

Free Metal Waste Collection Day 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. New location! Keewatin Public Dock Look for the bins next to the park on Bay St.

LOWDSA & LakeSmart at Sioux Narrows Arts Festival

Get the metal junk out of your yard, shed, garage and surrounding bush. Drop off by truck or boat. Volunteers will be on hand to help unload.

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Rotary Club of Kenora Charity BBQ

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

Shelley Torrie

Shelley Torrie Broker of Record

HOME and COTTAGE REALTY

807.468.1120 Joey Katz Broker

807.466.2770 Becky Doucette Salesperson

807.407.8607

R E A L

Many more properties available. Please call.

E S T A T E

B R O K E R A G E

Buying or Selling? We’ll go the extra mile!

807.547.4020 www.kenora-realestate.com

How many LOWDSA members in your family? Membership makes a great gift!

Easy to order! Login online at lowdsa.com or call 1-888-265-9784.

Whether a graduation, first home, or birthday celebration… give the gift of LOWDSA membership to your adult children and grandchildren and share the benefits of being informed and educated about lake life!

You can also order by mail. See page 29 for details, or contact info@lowdsa.com or (807) 468-8715.

IISD-ELA TOURS July 25 August 8 August 15 •

•

IISD Experimental Lakes Area is one of the world's most influential freshwater research facilities. Come take part in hands-on testing and learn about the importance of freshwater science for sustainable development. Cost: $30 for LOWDSA members; $35 for non-members Registration Details Below. Meet in Kenora at 8 a.m., return by approx. 5 p.m. Tour is on—rain or shine. Appropriate footwear and clothing recommended. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Your day tour of the IISD-ELA facility includes: • Transportation to IISD Experimental Lakes Area (details provided with registration confirmation) • A welcome presentation that gives an overview of the history of IISD-ELA and IISD-ELA science • A tour of the facilities and closest research lakes including: discussions of standard water flow, quality and fish sampling; tours of the chemistry and fish labs; a tour of the Environment Canada metrological station; a hands-on netting activity to collect small fish or zooplankton. • Lunch at the beach in the camp recreational area. Please pack your own lunch. We ask that you help to reduce waste by packing your lunch as waste-free as possible. • A visit to the ongoing whole-ecosystem experiment in which scientists have reduced water flowing into a lake to mimic drier conditions expected in the Canadian Boreal Shield due to climate change.

REGISTER BY MAIL, PHONE OR SCAN & EMAIL PO Box 1160, Kenora ON, P9N 3X7 | Toll Free: 1-888-265-9784 | Phone: 807-468-8715 | shelley@lowdsa.com

REGISTRATION DETAILS July 25

August 8

Member

Non-Member

Name: Mailing Address: City: Home Ph: Email:

August 15 # of Attendees

PAYMENT INFORMATION Total amount: Cheque (payable to LOWDSA) VISA/Mastercard

Prov/State:

PC/Zip: Cottage Ph:

Attendees under 18 will be accompanied by an adult.

Card number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Expiry date: _ _ / _ _

CVC: _ _ _ 3 OR 4 DIGITS ON BACK OF CARD—REQUIRED

Signature: Please email updates on LOWDKids events & registration

Please note: once booked and paid for we are unable to offer refunds.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

Coming to a Shoreline Near You BY DIANE SCHWARTZ-WILLIAMS

The LakeSmart team is gearing up for the program’s ninth season, launching June 24 and running until August 24. The team is looking forward to a busy summer travelling the lakes and roads of the area, sharing practical knowledge about what we can each do to contribute to a healthier lake ecosystem and spreading the word about being more sustainable in our stewardship of land and water. LakeSmart is an environmental outreach program unique to our area. It is delivered by a team of three university students, each with an environmental education focus, who spend the summer sharing information on ways that we can live and play green at the lake. They are equipped with knowledge and resources on a broad range of topics including creating and maintaining shoreline buffer zones, reducing run-off, septic systems, using eco-friendly cleaning products, preventing the spread of invasive species, safe boating and more. Although the LakeSmart boat may not go into smaller lakes, the LakeSmart team will drive to many of them and are always open to hitching a ride around your lake to stop at docks, talk to members of your lake community or to participate in your event. We have already booked visits to a few smaller lakes and are planning to go dock-to-dock in the Morson area; add your lake or association to the schedule and contact us to book a date! If you miss the LakeSmart team on the water, there are dozens of other opportunities to meet and talk with them. Look for them at local area events such as the Matiowski Farmers’ Market and Canada Day, at the Sioux Narrows Arts Festival, meet them at the Summer Meeting in Kenora or Morson, or join them on one of the IISD-ELA tours you can book with LOWDSA.

The LakeSmart boat, generously supplied by our lead sponsor, Woodlake Marine, is the key to the program and likely its most recognized feature. However, the LakeSmart program is only possible with the additional support of LOWDSA member donations to the Environmental Initiative & Special Projects (EISP) fund and other sponsors: Q104 KenoraOnline, Ontario Power Generation, World of Water, Nature Conservancy, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, Garriock Insurance, Lake of the Woods Mobile Marine, the City of Kenora, Cabin Country Realty, LOTW Septic Barge and Talbot Marketing Kenora. As LOWDSA President Hardy Bock wrote in his message, due to the recent government funding cuts our LakeSmart program was on the verge of being cancelled for 2019. We have been very fortunate that our private sponsors continue to support this program with financial contributions and in-kind donations, but we relied on government funding for this year as we have in past years. While funding alternatives for coming years are being explored, we are actively looking for additional support from our members and looking at alternative sources of funding to cover this year’s shortfall. Please consider donating to the Environmental Initiatives and Special Projects Fund this year to help meet our funding requirements for this effective program. For more information or to make a contribution contact Diane at 807-543-4287 or info@lowdsa.com. And, beginning June 24, watch for the LakeSmart boat on the water or the team at events and be sure to say hello.

Title photo: 2019 LakeSmart team, (L-R) Myles King, Reed Cupeiro and Krista Robertson, on board LakeSmart boat.

LOWDSA

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Welcome aboard & thank you to our 2019 LakeSmart sponsors

Book the LakeSmart team for a visit to your lake, property or event in July or August 2019 800 dock stops and events on 10 lakes in 2018 and we’re looking to top that record this summer Take advantage of the knowledge and resources available from the LakeSmart team, including healthy shorelines, buffer zones, reducing run-off, invasive species, safe boating, septic systems and so much more.

Thank you to LOWDSA members who support LakeSmart with contributions to the EISP (Environmental Initiatives & Special Projects) Fund.

For more information or to book a visit call 807-468-8715 or 1-888-265-9784 or email info@lowdsa.com Invitations and bookings accepted from LOWDSA members and friends of the association.

With appreciation for the support received through the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

Cottage Show Recap & Thank you Some say that the best way to kick off lake season is at the Lake of the Woods Cottage Show. It’s also the best ever team effort, and the exceptional collaboration of many is the secret to its success. It started with the time, energy and knowledge of over 65 exhibitors; was supported by dedicated directors, volunteers and staff who ran the show; and then topped off by the enthusiastic 1,000 or so member families and friends who came out to join us on May 6. Thank you to all involved for being part of another successful Cottage Show, for your positive feedback and thoughtful suggestions for next year.

Members comment on the Cottage Show Just some of what you told us you liked... Steady stream of LOWDSA members check in upon arrival with directors and staff to confirm their membership status, update their profile, order seedlings and gather information.

• The buzz; seeing lake people and businesses • Knowledgeable, engaged exhibitors— very informative and helpful • Opportunity to research and get up-todate on new rules and info • Variety of exhibitors • Great to see new products & exhibitors • Good leads and info on products and services • Friendly atmosphere • Really enjoyed the seminars • The new layout Lake of the Woods Control Board representative answer questions about spring water levels and expectations for summer.

More than one-third of those attending the Cottage Show took time to fill out an evaluation form, sharing valuable feedback on the show with the association.

Title photo: Approximately 1,000 LOWDSA members, family and friends filling the aisles and checking out over 65 exhibits at 2019 Lake of the Woods Cottage Show. All photos by Kim Pirie-Milko, Naturescape Photography

LOWDSA

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

At the LOWDSA Environment booth members of 2019 LakeSmart team answer questions and book visits while visitor perused a broad range of resources on

“Keep up the good work” was welcome feedback, but your suggestions for next year were equally welcome, although some beyond our control. Where suggestions were offered the most common one was the call for more exhibitors and/or a greater variety of products and services. That is something we always strive for and we will work hard to achieve just that next year as we do every year. Of course, the final outcome depends only in part on our persuasive powers and primarily on the decisions made by individual business owners. Left: LOWDSA members take a break for a coffee and to share plans for the summer before checking out more exhibits. Right: The Ministry of Indigenous Affairs booth staff kept busy answer many questions about land and historic flooding claims in the district.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

57th Annual General Meeting Recap Approximately 90 LOWDSA members attended the AGM immediately following the Cottage Show on May 6. The format of the AGM was a familiar one with President Hardy Bock highlighting the past year’s accomplishments and addressing membership development challenges and recent funding cuts. Reports presented by committee chairs for Environment, Government Affairs and Membership & President Hardy Bock addresses member Communications outlined questions from the floor following association programs and presentation of committee reports. initiatives for the past year and plans for 2019. The AGM wrapped up following the treasurer’s financial report and election of new directors. With the business portion of the AGM complete, the evening program continued with an update from the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, presented by LOWWSF executive director, Todd Sellers. Eyes and thoughts turned from the lake to the sky when our guest speaker, Jay Anderson stepped to the podium and captured everyone’s attention with his presentation, A morning smile from the sun: the upcoming Kenora eclipse (June 10, 2021). Jay is a meteorologist, retired from Environment Canada, but now working on occasional consulting jobs that strike his fancy. He helps teach students at the University of Manitoba (and their parents) how to chase tornadoes when he’s not doing that himself. Jay travels the world with his wife Judy to see solar eclipses (30 so far) and the occasional active volcano. Jay explained what people could expect during the annular solar eclipse which will visit Northwestern Ontario in June, 2021.

For those members who were unable to attend the LOWDSA AGM, here are some excerpts from LOWDSA President Hardy Bock’s report: For the last several years we have spoken about change at this association. Some changes, like our name change, were significant; others were minor but still important in positioning us as a leader and giving us a voice in many things that affect our lake lives. Even though we’ve made some changes, one thing remains consistent and that is our responsibility and responsiveness to our member’s concerns. The various committees continue to strive to stay on top of developing issues and ongoing concerns. This has become more challenging in the current era of fiscal restraint and devolving of government programs to the private sector. A short list of some of the activities the board took on in 2018: • Name change to LOWDSA (Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association); a significant change to further our goal of increasing membership and engaging the next generation of lake lovers. • Increasing involvement in informing members about multiple issues in the watershed. A recent example is the collaboration that developed between concerned members, your LOWDSA Government Affairs Committee and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to allow for further public consultation regarding the Turtle Portage marine railway in 2018. This led to the ministry’s decision to delay the decommissioning of the lift with a subsequent decision to maintain operation of the lift for 2019.

Title photo: LOWDSA members vote to accept Finance Committee report presented by Treasurer Chris Semenchuk. All photos by Kim Pirie-Milko, Naturescape Photography.

LOWDSA

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Our greatest challenge for the 2020s will be maintaining our membership numbers and encouraging new and younger members. We’re not alone. It seems all membership driven organizations face the same challenge. Our Membership and Communications Committee has been concentrating on this for the past year and it will remain their focus for the coming year.

Don Parfitt, LOWDSA director, presents Government Affairs Committee report.

• We held a ‘call centre’ evening in January 2019 with directors making about 250 calls that evening. The immediate response was very positive; 25 members confirmed their renewal that evening with over 50 members committing to renewing the next day. It was a great opportunity to connect with members and to hear their concerns and ideas. With some members moving to cell phones rather than fixed landlines we discovered that many phone numbers were out of service, and we need your help to update your current contact information. • Our pride and joy is the LakeSmart program, with over 800 dock visits on 10 lakes in 2018. The LakeSmart program was one of the factors responsible for LOWDSA being honoured with the Gerry Wilson Stewardship Award by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation on behalf of the 160 researchers, resource managers and water stewards from the United States and Canada attending the 2019 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum in International Falls, MN. • LakeSmart is only possible with the support of some amazing sponsors, many of them with exhibits at the Cottage Show this year. Reed and Myles, two of the three returning members of our LakeSmart team, were on hand at the show—at the LakeSmart boat of course. A special thanks to Woodlake Marine for providing the boat for the show today. Issues we face today and as we look ahead to the 2020s: Due to very recent and unforeseen provincial government funding cuts LakeSmart was in jeopardy of being cancelled for 2019. To avoid this the board has chosen to fund our anticipated shortfall from the Environmental Initiatives and Special Projects fund in order to continue the program for 2019. We continue to reach out to the various government agencies, although with little success thus far.

Of course, our most important means to grow continues to be the voice of current members. I encourage everyone to ‘share the love’ and give a gift of membership to a family member or friend. Please spread the message about the importance of becoming a member. Talk to your neighbours and family members about LOWDSA and the benefits of joining; we need to grow to remain a vibrant and robust organization. Today, we are welcoming two new directors, Carley Fyke and Garth Collier, to your board as another retires. On behalf of the board, I would like to extend a heartfelt farewell and thank you to Robert Bulman who is retiring from the board after 10 years of dedicated service. His contributions and commitment to LOWDSA, its programs and members have been very significant and valuable. We are hoping that he is agreeable to remain as a consultant to the board. He will be missed for his insights and expertise. We now have approximately 2,700 Nancy Salmijarvi, LOWDSA director, presents members as of May 1. Membership and Communication Committee Although we remain one report to LOWDSA members at AGM. of the largest associations in Ontario our numbers have continued to decrease over the last several years. Our name change is an important part of our effort to engage the next generation of property owners, campers, boaters, sailors and all those individuals and families that share our vision and love of the lake. With your help we are looking forward to keep the organization growing and alive as we enter the 2020s.

We greatly appreciate the continued and generous support of the local business community and our members to date, and we will need to seek support from our members going forward.

A digital recording of the 2019 AGM and PowerPoint presentation, as well as the 2018 AGM minutes, are available to members upon request via Shelley at (807) 468-8715 or info@lowdsa.com.

(807) 464-3587

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

2018 Financial Report We are pleased to present our 2018 year-end financial statements and 2019 budget as circulated to LOWDSA members prior to the AGM and subsequently presented and approved at the AGM on May 6.

Financial Summary

Expenses

We ended 2018 with a significant revenue-over-expenditure surplus of $24,186 and have a budgeted shortfall of $5,672 in 2019. In 2018, we exceeded budgeted revenue and did not incur a number of expenses related to the association name change and re-branding. As a result of these expenses being delayed, $7,200 of the 2018 surplus will be allocated to cover those expenses being carried forward into 2019.

We carefully managed all operations expenses throughout 2018. Overall, 2018 expenses largely met budget, other than the expense items we’re carrying over into 2019 related to the LOWDSA name change.

The operating reserve increased by $1,319 and the Environmental Initiative & Special Projects Fund (EISP), the combination of the Environment and Tax funds, was reduced by $1,093. In 2019, we combined the restricted Environment and Tax Funds into one fund—the restricted EISP Fund. Member contributions will be held in this fund, with board approval required to use the funds and reported annually at the AGM. The EISP Fund will be used for planned future environmental initiatives and special projects that would not otherwise be viable within the operating budget. In 2018, our members contributed $5,443 to these funds, with $4,350 transferred from the Environment Fund to support related initiatives.

$4,350 was transferred from the Environment Fund for several projects in 2018 including the Watershed Forum, the beetle release to address invasive species, and material for the LOWDSA Environment booth for the Cottage Show

$3,300 of this transfer is designated for LakeSmart. Given recent provincial government budget cutbacks impacting our LakeSmart program we may transfer an additional $7,700 from the EISP Fund to cover the projected shortfall. We continue to pursue government and private sector sponsorships for the program and plan to review LakeSmart in detail to ensure we have a sustainable program and funding going forward.

Our 2018 budget was based on expected revenues of $245,575. Actual 2018 revenue exceeded budget as we surpassed targets across multiple areas including membership revenues, the Lake of the Woods Area News royalty, cottage show revenues and LakeSmart sponsorships. In 2019, we’ve included a conservative increase in the number of members and continue to reach out to those members who have not renewed.

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Transfer from the Environment Fund

The 2019 budget includes a transfer of $10,300 from the EISP fund for several initiatives (Environment Booth, Water Quality Forum sponsorship, beetle release, “Living Green at the Lake” reprint and LakeSmart).

Revenue

ter for workshops: irene@inglenoo To regis k ar t s

The 2019 budget includes office expenses and related employment costs for the Assistant Executive Director position, as well as increased membership communication expenses, provision to purchase cyber insurance and monthly Silkstart fees—our database management access.

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Your board of directors and executive director are committed to working from a solid financial foundation to deliver the programs and initiates of the association as planned for 2019. We will continue to aggressively pursue revenues and closely manage expenses across all areas. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions. Thank you for your continued support, Christine Semenchuk, LOWDSA Treasurer

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Happy Little Summer Paintings DROP-IN PAINTING • JULY 9, 23, 30 & AUG 6, 13

Join us for step by step instruction as you paint a happy little keepsake of Kenora. $30 per session.

LOWDSA

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WORKSHOP • AUG 18 • $90 Explore the cyan, magenta, yellow colour wheel. Create with patterns and textures using stencils, collage and printing.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

2018 financial statements are available by email on request. Call 807-468-8715 or email info@lowdsa.com.

Summary of 2018 Financial Statements & 2019 Budget Budget 2019

2018

2017

Revenue Expenditures

$270,465 276,137

$261,823 241,987

$228,718 212,812

Excess of Revenue over Expenditures

$(5,672)

$19,836

$15,906

Budget 2019

2018

2017

$146,300 39,000 28,125 5,885 250 4,000 1,605

$142,756 5,443 37,048 24,925 8,599 1,137 4,038 2,893

$127,492 3,743 35,054 26,123 5,459 478 2,724 2,110

$225,165

$226,839

$203,183

7,500 27,500 10,300

7,478 27,506 4,350

5,290 20,245 -

$270,465

$266,173

$228,718

Budget 2019

2018

2017

$151,787 8,585 41,350 22,115 36,000 1,000 5,000 10,300

$145,104 2,537 38,316 9 11,221 33,961 245 647 5,597 4,350

$132,082 4,011 30,374 127 9,867 30,982 245 390 3,634 1,100

$276,137

$241,987

$212,812

$(5,672)

$24,186

$15,906

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES Revenues Membership fees Membership contributions Annual meeting and cottage show Royalties Seedlings Potted pines Other Interest Canada Summer Jobs Subsidy LakeSmart program sponsorships Federation of Ontario Cottagers Assoc. Transfer from Env./Special Projects Fund Expenditures Operations Communication and education Environment Government affairs Membership Annual meeting and cottage show Potted white pines Summer Meeting Seedlings Special Projects

Excess of Revenue over Expenditure

Assets

2018

2019

$168,873 159,232 437 3,925

$168,489 156,445 4,392

$332,467

$329,326

$5,674 131,728

$7,794 146,303

137,402

154,097

Operating Reserve

73,720

72,401

Environmental Initiative & Special Projects Fund—restricted

99,566

Environment Fund— restricted

51,016

Tax Fund—restricted

47,457

173,286

170,874

Cash Marketable securities Accounts receivable Prepaid expenses Liabilities and Net Assets Accounts payable Deferred revenue Net Assets

Unrestricted

21,779

4,355

195,065

175,229

$332,467

$329,326

LAKE SEASON = 9 WEEKENDS GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM BY HEARING YOUR BEST L I S A

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Make an appointment today

204.837.4327

412 Marion St • Winnipeg

204.482.3738

360 Eveline St • Selkirk

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

~A few~ Great Reasons to

Leave These

SEATS

this Summer!

Dingwall Water and Wheels June 13-16 Matiowski Farmers’ Market Every Wed from Jun 19-Oct 2 Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra June 29 Canada Day Celebrations July 1 at the Harbourfront Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation Golf Tournament July 4

The Walleye Open - Catch and Release Team Tournament July 6-7 Coney Island Music Festival July 28 Kenora Agricultural Fair August 1-3 Harbourfest August 2-4 LOWISA 54 August 3-10

Haven’t been to Kenora lately? Check out our amazing new restaurants, along with your old favourites – or do some shopping in our exceptional boutiques.

For a complete listing of events,please visit

kenora.ca

Sioux Narrows Arts Festival August 3-4 KBI Fishing Tournament August 8-10 Moose N’ Fiddle Music Festival August 15-17 Angler Young Angler National Championships August 22-23 Rotary Lobsterfest September 14

NEW

UR WHEN YO

ENEW ON

CONTACT INFORMATION

LINE

Name _________________________________________________________

AUTO-RENEW OPTION NOW AVAILABLE

Address _______________________________________________________

Please tell us a little about yourself for your confidential member profile.

City _______________________ State/Prov _________________________ Country _______________________ Postal/Zip ______________________ What you include here will help us better understand who our members are. This info will only be used by LOWDSA and will not be shared.

YES, email LOWDSA eNews (updates between issues of Area News) YES, send my renewal notice by email YES, email LOWDKids in the Wild notices and events

EMAIL ____________________________________________ Please do not print my name in the membership listing in the June issue of Lake of the Woods Area News. Please tell us how you enjoy the Lake of the Woods area. Check all that apply: Owned my own property in the Lake of the Woods area for ________ years. Part owner of a shared/family property for ________ years. Not a property owner; enjoyed Lake of the Woods area for ______ years as a  camper  sailor  renter  other: ______________________ When are you at the lake?  Summer Only  Permanent  Part-time year round

Home Phone ____________________________ Cottage Phone ___________________________ Mobile Phone ___________________________ Please indicate where you cottage or you spend most of your time in the Lake of the Woods area (please select one only): Clearwater Bay area Kenora area Minaki area Morson area Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls area Other_________________________________ What location would you like included with your name in the membership listing published annually in Area News? ___________________________________________

Your Age Range (check one):  under 21  21-30  31-40  41-60  61-70  over 70

2019/2020 MEMBERSHIP Full Membership (Magazine Mailed) One Year Two Year

$50 $ ________ $100 $ ________

Virtual Membership (Digital Magazine) One Year Two Year

$42 $ ________ $84 $ ________

Seedlings (see right) $ ________ Gift membership (see right) $ ________ Donation Environmental Initiatives & Special Projects Fund $ ________ I will not be renewing my membership because: ____________________________________________

GIFT MEMBERSHIP Full Membership ($50 ea.) Virtual Membership ($42 ea.) Name ______________________________________ Address ____________________________________ City ______________________ State/Prov. ______ Country _______________ Postal/Zip __________ Email ______________________________________ Phone _____________________________________ Please send recipient a gift card with message: _________________________________________ _________________________________________

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . $ ________

PAYMENT OPTIONS Online: LOGIN at lowdsa.com to renew. By Cheque: Please make payable to LOWDSA.  Visa

 Mastercard

Amount $ ________(Cdn.)

Card # _______________________________________ Name on card ___________________________________________ Expiry date (mm/yy) ______ / ______

CVC (3 or 4 digits on back of card ) ______ (REQUIRED)

Mail completed form to Box 1160, Kenora, Ontario, P9N 3X7 or scan and email completed form to shelley@lowdsa.com. Questions? (807) 468-8715 or 1-888-265-9784

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

An Economic Impact Survey of Seasonal and Year-Round Cottage Residents A partnership between Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association, Lake of the Woods Development Commission, Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation and the Township of Sioux Narrows – Nestor Falls In Spring 2018, members of Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association (LOWDSA) were asked to complete a survey that was jointly developed between LOWDSA and the Lake of the Woods Development Commission (LOWDC), Lake of the Woods Business Incentive Corporation and the Township of Sioux Narrows Nestor Falls.

Survey participants provide a snapshot into yearly contributions to the local economy:

Approximately 10 per cent of LOWDSA members responded to the survey. Of the nearly 3,000 member households there were 346 who completed the survey.

When LOWDSA members were asked to quantify what major purchases they had made in Lake of the Woods area over the past year,196 participants responded with a total of $19,167,307 spent on major purchases. Property and major cottage/home construction was at the top of the expenditure list (estimates totalled $14,065,955 spent on major construction and $2,856,504 on property purchases). The remaining purchases, over $5 million, were divided among recreational vehicles (Boats/ATVs, snowmobiles), furnishings, appliances, professional services and other large ticket items.

The information presented here, provides a general snapshot of how the member base of LOWDSA are impacting the economic environment of the district focusing on their visiting and spending patterns. In the Fall of 2018, the survey was opened up on social media and at the Matiowski Farmers Market to any seasonal and year-round residents interested in participating. At this time 262 non-LOWDSA members filled out the survey, adding additional snapshot of the number of visitors and spending habits in the Kenora area.

LOWDSA member responses show over $19 million spent on major purchases in one year.

LOWDSA Members Estimated Yearly Expenditures by Category ATV

Number of Surveys Completed 3,000

Boating/ Personal Watercraft Construction Contract Furnishings/ Major Appliances

2,000

Profressional Services Property Purchase

1,000 Snowmobile

Other 0

Survey Responses

LOWDSA

Total Membership

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

$ 5,000,000

$ 10,000,000

$ 15,000,000

Day to Day Spending is nothing to sneeze at either—respondents show they spend locally!

Lake residents and their visitors provide an important presence in the economy of the region:

A total of 240 members responded to questions regarding their average expenditures on day to day in the Lake of the Woods area. Categories ranged from transportation, including automotive/ boating equipment and maintenance to groceries, entertainment, recreation and household/property improvements/operations and maintenance. The figure below shows a breakdown of yearly estimated expenditures by general categories.

The response rate for household composition questions varied from 10 – 80 per cent completion. Accordingly, extreme caution is warranted when interpreting the results. In general, members responded with an average of 5.3 persons staying at their property during the year, although the properties were owned by approximately 2 primary owners of the cottage (1.93 persons listed as primary owners) it was noted that members had an average of 5.3 persons staying on a regular basis at their property.

LOWDSA Members Estimated Yearly Expenditures by General Category

The following figure shows how many days these households used their seasonal accommodations in the summer versus winter. Results suggest there is potential population increase to the service sector of Kenora up to 32 per cent of the year (80 to 119 days a year). As well, members indicated having at least one guest or visitor on a yearly basis with hosting an approximate average of 26 days during the summer and six days in the winter.

Automotive Boating Food Liquor/Beer

Days Spent at LOWDSA Member Seasonal Residences

Dining Out Events/ Concerts

Golf

Summer

Fishing/ Guides Rentals

Kenora Recreation Centre Building Maint. /Repair

Renovations Furnishings /Appliances /Equipment Other

Summer Winter Winter

$ 250,000

$ 500,000

$ 750,000

$ 1,000,000

Members

Guests

The cumulative result of estimated spending was greater than $3.2 million annually (240 responses resulted in a total estimate of $3,217,720/year). This is an average yearly spending of about $13,410 per member family).

LOWDSA members care about the region. 126 LOWDSA

Recognizing that the range and fluctuation in spending patterns is varied from one member household to another and that the responses were based on personal reflection with estimates potentially subject to being over or under inflated, extreme caution is warranted in interpreting these results. Even with taking into consideration that the average and range may vary greatly when considering all seasonal residents, the potential impact is great. We know the range and actual spending will vary, but the importance of our contributions are reflected in these results.

Woods. Of those listed, the most was donated to Lake of the

With a potential average of $13,410 per

members responded they donated approximately $250,000 to local charities and non-for profit organizations in Lake of the Woods Museum ($103,205) with a close second being the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation ($88,250) and the remaining to various other sector organizations/charities. In key person interviews and based on social media comments, these seasonal residents and visitors go beyond the use of their own seasonal residents and do come into Kenora and surrounding areas to make purchases and take part in activities that contribute to the local economy.

respondent. Imagine multiplying this to the total membership of LOWDSA—that is an annual spending of $40,230,000 per year locally—now that’s an economic impact!

Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls

Note: Caution is warranted when interpreting results presented in this summary, as not all respondents answered every question, with some questions having a response rate as low as 12 respondents.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDSA

What’s happening at your lake? If you and your lake community or association have an event this summer you would like us to promote, something you would like us to attend or an invitation for our LakeSmart team, please let us know. We’ll be ready when you are to swing into action and talk up your event(s) on our website, and on Facebook and Twitter too. Contact us at info@lowdsa.com or 807-468-8715. BY DIANE SCHWARTZ-WILLIAMS

LakeSmart en route to Morson mid July! The LakeSmart team will be in Morson for our second Summer Meeting on Monday July 15 and will be spending an extra day or two in the area. Look for them on the lake and at your dock. Watch for more details at lowdsa.com/lakesmart, facebook.com/LOWDistrictStewardshipAssoc, in an e-News bulletin or call us at 807-468-8715.

ZZYC Turns 65! The Zig Zag Yacht Club is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year. To celebrate they are planning to share members memories of the club over the years with other members in their club updates, newsletters and on their website. If you would like to contribute to this initiative, please send your submission to cd@zzyc.ca.

When you see a Blue Flag flying at a beach or marina, you know that it’s clean, safe and sustainably managed,” said Kelsey Scarfone, Water Programs Manager with Environmental Defence. “These world-class beaches and marinas have worked hard to achieve the standards set by this prestigious award, and we’re proud to recognize that accomplishment today.” The Blue Flag is administered in Canada by Environmental Defence and is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). More than 4,000 beaches and marinas in 45 countries fly the Blue Flag. More details about the Blue Flag program and the certified marinas and beaches can be found at www.BlueFlag.ca.

IJC Watershed Board wants your help!

• Welcome Back Reception - Saturday, June 29, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. (LOWDSA reps are looking forward to being there with the LakeSmart team)

• Fireworks - Sunday, June 30 at dusk in Deception Bay

Please consider attending one of these public sessions:

The club’s calendar for the summer one is a busy one, and some key dates for members to save are: • AGM - Sunday, June 23, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

• Dinner Dance - Saturday, July 20, 6:00 p.m. until late • 65th Anniversary Regatta & Family BBQ - Saturday, August 17, BBQ at 5:00 p.m.

Tall Pines Marina awarded the Blue Flag Tall Pines will fly the Blue Flag this summer for the first time, the first site in Ontario’s northwest to be awarded the flag. The marina will join a record 12 marinas and 28 beaches in Canada to be awarded the eco-certification this season. Tall Pines Marina staff proudly wear their new Blue Flag t-shirts: (L-R)Harrison Gilmore, Alec Borger, Zac Borger, Tristan Chambers, Leanne King and Remi

In the District

• Public workshop on Monday, July 8 at 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. at the Clarion Lakeside Inn (immediately following the LOWDSA Summer Meeting) • Community conversation on the evening of Monday, July 8 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Clarion Lakeside Inn for those who are unable to attend the workshop. For more information, please call or send an email to the Project Coordinator, Kelli Saunders at ksaunders@lowwsf.com or (807) 548-8002.

While it’s too late now to promote your summer activities, events and meetings in the Area News, if you would like to tell us about them and perhaps brag just a little, send us the details to include in the fall issue of the Area News by the end of July. Send to info@lowdsa.com or editor@areanewsmagazine.ca.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

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Road association or roads board? There are roads, and then there are roads... Many people assume a road to their lake property is a public road, funded by the taxpayers of the area, but that’s not the case in this area. BY JACK MCKENZIE, PRESIDENT OF DOKURA

Roads board In the unincorporated territory around Lake of the Woods and north to Minaki, many properties are serviced by local roads boards. The local portion of the funding to maintain such roads is part of the annual property tax bill for the properties. In the case of a roads board, such as the McCallum Point Roads Board or the Inglis Lake Roads Board, a few individuals are elected annually to work with Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) staff to decide what, if any, work is required on their road during the coming year. The funding for such work, including summer maintenance (grading) and winter snow removal, comes from several sources. One is a tax levied on all the properties served by the road. This money is deposited in an account with MTO and used to pay expenses related to that road. The provincial government matches this funding on a 70/30 basis— the province contributing $7 for each $3 contributed by the local property owners through their road tax. Roads boards also receive an annual grant, commonly called the Gas Tax Rebate program, from the federal government through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the MTO. In addition, some roads boards, such as the McKenzie Portage Roads Board, receive donations from individuals who use their road but do not own property on the road, hence are not taxed. These donated funds are not matched by the province.

In the District

In order to qualify as a roads board, a road must meet construction standards, connect to an existing public road and serve a minimum of 10 properties. Getting a road to meet provincial standards—the initial construction cost—is not something to which the province contributes. Local groups looking to have their road approved as a local roads board and qualified to receive ongoing funding, have to bring their road up to minimum government standards, as well as meet a number of other regulations. The cost is covered through voluntary contributions with no government assistance. Under the regulations, the local roads board’s elected trustees are not allowed to spend any of the board’s funds on anything but the road. Some have tried only to have their hands slapped by MTO.

Road association Road associations, on the other hand, do not enjoy any government funding. After having funded the initial construction cost they must continue to collect the funds they require to maintain their road—year round—from the property owners they serve. If a property owner refuses to contribute, a road association can do little to force the issue. They don’t have the authority to tax the properties served by the road. Some road associations have gated their road, restricting access to members who have contributed to the cost of building the road and continue to pay annual operating and maintenance expenses.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

The province protects roads boards and their elected directors from lawsuits. Directors of local road associations do not enjoy such protection and either operate without concern for legal action against themselves or purchase liability insurance. Some of the road associations we (DoKURA) have been able to identify in this area, have gone so far as to incorporate their association and purchase not only general liability insurance applicable to their road activities, but also directors and officers liability insurance to further protect the individuals who serve on their boards. Being an incorporated body—usually a non-profit corporation without shareholders—gives them legal status when drafting easement agreements with property owners through whose land their road may pass, as well as contracts for such activities as summer road maintenance and winter snow removal. As mentioned earlier, the province has minimum “rules” that must be met before an existing road, regardless of the fact that it may meet construction standards, can attain approval and the benefits of being a roads board. We know of instances where local roads appear to meet construction standards, but can’t be approved as they don’t attach to an existing public road. In such cases, they attach to existing First Nations’ roads, which don’t qualify as public roads. In another case, we understand that while the access road meets construction standards, and appears to serve the minimum of 10 properties, it does not qualify because the property was developed by the rail road into 31 lots under a single deed. The province counts this as a single property; hence, the road association does not qualify for approval as a roads board.

Other differences Sometimes, a road association has advantages over a roads board. In the case of a roads board, once the province accepts the road, all properties served by the road are automatically allowed use of the road even though they may not have contributed to the initial cost of building the road.

This is not the case for a road association. As they don’t receive any government funding, access can be restricted by means of a locked gate. They provide a key to just the property owners who have contributed to the cost of building the road and continue to contribute to their annual maintenance costs. Another difference is in the scope of operations. Some of the road associations operate as local community associations. They have elected, through approval at their annual meetings, to spend some of their funds on activities or projects other than their road that the property owners on their road consider of mutual benefit to their area. Roads boards are not allowed to take on such projects, rather are restricted to spending their funds, however collected, on their roads board road only. As an example, one road association, in consultation with the air ambulance authority constructed and maintains a helipad for the air ambulance helicopter, using the associations funds. The same road association realized that because of their location, the local volunteer fire department response time is about 45 minutes—perhaps longer. They decided to construct a small building and equip it with some portable fire pumps and lengths of fire hose. They don’t pretend to be firefighters, but in the event of a fire in the association’s area, they might be able to prevent a fire from spreading while they wait for the local volunteer fire department to arrive. Again, they were able to fund this project from their local road association budget, something a roads board cannot do. In total, from information that DoKURA has compiled, approximately 22 roads boards and 27 road associations operate in the unincorporated areas around Kenora. Accessing information on local road associations does pose a problem as they are not directly involved with any level of government, so no department has a record of who they are and the areas they serve.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

In the District

Matiowski Market set for another busy season BY BOB STEWART Organizers anticipate another full house of vendors and customers for the popular Matiowski Farmers Market at the Kenora Harbourfront this summer. Helena Devins, market co-ordinator, notes new provincial food safety regulations dealing with food preparation facilities and a requirement for food handlers to take a food safety course have made for a few changes in vendors selling or handling food at the market, but does not expect the new rules to have a big impact on the market. All 106 tables and outside spots are booked for July and August, and bookings for the June and September dates are growing, Devins reports. The 16-week Wednesday market schedule begins June 19 and continues through to October 2, with a special Canada Day market on Monday, July 1. Many of the market vendors will also be taking part in the street market planned for the Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3 of the Harbourfest weekend, hosted by that organization. The Matiowski Farmers Market, operated by the city through Tourism Kenora, began in 2005 and has grown substantially over the years with its Make It, Bake It, Grow It, focus. It has become a fixture of Kenora’s summer scene for residents and visitors alike with over 100 vendors from Kenora, Northwestern Ontario and southern Manitoba offering a wide range of handmade crafts, fresh baking and regionally grown produce. Busy summer market days attract up to 2,000 customers.

In the District

Photo courtesy of Helena Devins

Market hours remain unchanged – 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The bus shuttle service, started in 2017, will begin the first Wednesday in July and operate for eight weeks. The free shuttle service runs continuously from the Kenora Recreation Centre tennis court area to the loading zone in front of Whitecap Pavilion at the Harbourfront, giving vendors and customers access to ample free parking at the Recreation Centre. Paid parking is available at city lots and street meters. No formal entertainment is planned for market days, but Devins says independent buskers will be performing from time to time outside the Pavilion as in past years.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Harbourfest serving up improvements in 2019 BY LEANNE FOURNIER

Harbourfest has long been a rite of summer for many seasonal residents, visitors and locals. Billed as the largest volunteerrun musical festival in Northwestern Ontario, it’s shaping up to be even bigger and better in 2019. Heather MacMurphy, Harbourfest’s 2019 Chair, shares that this year’s event is going to offer up even more of the local flavour that makes Kenora and Lake of the Woods special to our summer residents and visitors as well as those who call Kenora home.

The Lake of the Woods Arts Community (LOWAC) will also be supporting Harbourfest in the Family Fest area on Saturday. Sunday’s Family Fest stage lineup is still being finalized.

“Harbourfest is our end-of-summer celebration, and we’re always looking for ways to enhance the event,” she says. “The fact that it sees attendance of over 13,000 over the three days shows that we know how to throw a good party!” She credits this to the hundreds of volunteers and sponsors who make it all possible.

MacMurphy says, “We expect about 2,500 people during the day on Saturday and 3,500 on Sunday. We are hoping to increase that number by partnering with other local groups, such as the Sunset Country Spotlight, Lake of the Woods Speedway, and LOWAC.”

Some of the changes this year are as a result of a survey conducted in 2018 where respondents were asking for expanded daytime fun for families including longer hours for the bouncers and interactive games, and more family entertainment. The organizers have complied, extending the Family Fest hours until 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The new Family Fest stage will feature a roundup of family friendly acts both days, beginning with Eric the Juggler and Ken the Magician on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Then, the six finalists from 89.5 the Lake’s Sunset Country Spotlight will take to the stage for the afternoon. “This will be put on by the same sound and light people that do the big stage in the evening so it’s giving these young performers exposure to how all of that works,” MacMurphy says.

The daytime market, themed “Make it, Bake it, or Grow it”, will showcase as many local crafters, cooks and creators to bring in more of the homegrown flavours and inspirations of life on Lake of the Woods.

Another big announcement is the return to three nights of mainstage performances under the Whitecap Pavilion. Coleman Hell opens for Grandson on Friday in the Pop/Alternative/Indie slot. Canadian Classic Rock legend Harlequin takes to the stage Saturday night with opener Sass Jordan. Country night on Sunday features Don Amero opening for Petric. Tickets are on sale now at Donny B’s and Harbourfest.ca. Some of the longstanding hallmarks of Harbourfest will continue, including the Kenora Legion Pancake Breakfast, food trucks, Car Fest and the Wooden Boat Parade. And of course, the unparalleled fireworks that rain a spectacular shower of lights and sound over Lake of the Woods will go on, weather permitting, when the clock strikes 10:45 p.m. on Sunday. More information is available at harbourfest.ca.

Title photo: Harbourfest classic car show along the greenbelt and classic boat show on the water.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

In the District

2019 Powwows: Visitors Welcome BY LEANNE FOURNIER

“Our Niimi’idiwin (known as Powwows) are ceremonial and social gatherings,” said Jan Hardy, Cultural Coordinator with Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig Health Access Centre (WNHAC). “They are open to everyone of all nations.” You want to arrive early to get a good view of the dancers, elders and honoured guests who will enter together during the Grand Entry that usually occurs at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Festivities go well into the evening both days. Most of the activities, including drumming, singing and dancing, run Saturday and Sunday. To get the most out of the experience, visitors should pay attention to the master of ceremonies (MC) who will share information about the dances, songs and provide guidance, including when pictures or videos are permitted.

Hardy said it’s especially important to listen to the MC for instructions because some of the dances are ceremonial or reserved for specific dancers, while others are open to everyone. “There are many songs and dance styles including social dances like the rabbit dance, or the couples dance and everyone can join in,” she said. There are also games such as musical chairs or the potato dance, which are conducted during breaks. In addition to the drums, singing and dancing, there are usually local crafters and artisans displaying their wares. While the regalia is spectacular, Hardy says spectators should never step on or over or pick up pieces of regalia or feathers on the ground. “Alert the arena director or another dancer,” she said. This is because there may be ceremonies around retrieving these items.

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Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

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Jan Hardy, Cultural Coordinator, WNHAC, in traditional jingle dress with the ceremonial drum.

Dancing is usually clockwise in a circle. While they may stand, women who are expecting or anyone holding a baby should refrain from dancing in the circle. This is for their protection. “The teaching is that when you carry or hold something up, you’re offering it to the creator,” Hardy said. Never throw anything other than tobacco into the sacred fire, which is a place where you can pray and reflect. There’s usually a supper break from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. where all guests are invited to a feast prepared by the Powwow committee. Near the end of the Powwow, there is also a community giveaway. “Be respectful and accept the gift that’s being offered to you,” Hardy said. “It’s the community’s way of saying thank-you for coming to join us.” Title photo and above (boy at a local powwow) by Dick Tolton Jr.

Guests are asked to dress respectfully and while women are encouraged to wear skirts, it’s not a necessity. Drugs and alcohol are absolutely not permitted. Pets are also not allowed in the Powwow area. There is no charge for admission. The words we often hear when we attend Indigenous ceremonies are “Welcome Home.” You are sure to be welcomed if you show respect for the rich traditions being shared.

2019 Lake of the Woods Area Powwows Information current at time of publication. Check for updates at northernontario.travel or visitsunsetcountry.com/events. Onigaming First Nation Powwow July 5-7 · Nestor Falls, ON · 807-484-2162 Naotkamegwanning (Whitefish Bay) First Nation Powwow July 12-14 · Sioux Narrows, ON · 807-226-5654 Wauzhushk Onigum (Rat Portage) First Nation Powwow July 19-21· Kenora, ON · 807-548-5663 Ochiichagwe’Babigo’Ining (Dalles) First Nation Powwow July 26-28, 2019 · Ochiichagwe’babigo’ining Dalles First Nation, Kenora, ON · visitsunsetcountry.com/ dalles-first-nation-pow-wow Migisi Sahgaigan (Eagle Lake) First Nation Annual Traditional Powwow August 2-4, 2019 · Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation · Eagle Lake, ON · 807-755-5526 Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) First Nation Powwow August 16-18, 2019 · Grassy Narrows, ON · 807-925-1149 Iskatewizaagegan (Shoal Lake 39) First Nation Summer Powwow August 23-25 · Iskatewizaagegan First Nation · Kejick, ON · 807-733-2560 Obashkaandagaang (Washagamis Bay) First Nation Powwow August 23-25 · Obashkaandagaang First Nation · Kenora, ON · 807-543-2532 Wabigoon Lake Annual Powwow August 30-September 1 · Wabigoon Lake Band Reserve · Dryden, ON · 807-938-6684 Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) First Nation Powwow August 31-September 1 · Whitedog, ON · 807-927-2000

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

In the District

Settling historic flooding claims BY DIANE SCHWARTZ-WILLIAMS

The governments of Canada and Ontario have entered negotiations with First Nations to resolve the First Nations’ claims that the Rollerway Dam and the Norman Dam, built respectively in 1887 and 1895 at Kenora, caused the flooding of their First Nation lands on Lake of the Woods, the Winnipeg River and Shoal Lake without proper authorization and without appropriate compensation. Negotiations began in September 2009.

What claims have been filed? Thirteen Treaty 3 First Nations on Lake of the Woods/Shoal Lake/ Winnipeg River, a total of 45 reserves, have filed flooding claims. One Lake of the Woods flooding claim has been settled (Rainy River First Nations). As of March 29, there were eight First Nations (with 26 parcels of reserve lands) whose lands would be implicated in the current public engagement. The eight First Nations are: Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation (formerly Ochiichagwe’Babigo’Ining Ojibway Nation), Naotkamegwanning (Whitefish Bay), Big Grassy River (Mishkosiminiziibiing), Ojibways of Onigaming, Animakee Wa Zhing 37 (Northwest Angle 37), Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation (Rat Portage), Obashkaandagaang (Washagamis Bay) and Northwest Angle 33 First Nations ('the Negotiating Partners'). The lands of four additional First Nations (with 14 parcels of reserve lands) have not yet been surveyed and when appropriate will be the subject of a future public engagement.

What is the background on these claims? Ontario’s assessment of these flooding claims determined that the First Nations did not consent to the flooding of their reserve lands nor did the First Nations receive compensation for the damages as a result of the construction of these hydro-electric dams.

The dams increased water levels to such an extent that reserve shorelines—originally surveyed to the pre-dam water’s edge— either became permanently inundated with water or became islands separated from reserve mainland. These reserve land islands have been administered as Ontario Crown land and include unpatented Crown land, islands that have been included in the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve, and a number of reserve land islands that were patented and sold to third parties.

Has progress been made on the negotiations? The Negotiating Partners (eight First Nations listed above) agree that the best way to resolve these claims is to work together to find common solutions. Negotiations are proceeding well, but much work remains to be done before discussions can be concluded. The goal of the negotiation process is to reach fair and final settlements that will bring closure to these longstanding issues and foster reconciliation.

What settlements are being considered? The settlements are expected to include financial compensation and the establishment of legal easements over the flooded First Nation lands, thereby regularizing the on-going flooding of First Nation lands. Surveys are currently being completed by the Government of Canada to describe the limits of the easements on the First Nation lands.

What about islands created from flooding? The Negotiating Partners agree that islands created from flooding, that were originally part of First Nation lands, should be repatriated to the respective First Nation. Private land is not being repatriated as part of the settlement. The process and decisions for repatriation vary according to the current status of these islands.

Title photo: Norman Dam under construction on November 2, 1984. Courtesy of Manitoba Hydrographic Survey.

In the District

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve (LOWCR) islands The Negotiating Partners agree that the islands originally part of the First Nation lands that are currently regulated as part of the LOWCR should be deregulated and returned to the respective First Nation as part of this claim. To achieve that objective, the Government of Ontario is proposing to amend the boundary of the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve to remove these islands. Once surveys of the easements have been completed by the Government of Canada, Ontario will finalize the list of islands to be removed and will proceed with the process of amending the boundary of the LOWCR which will include applicable requirements under the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves. As required by the Class EA, a formal public consultation process will be undertaken by Ontario. Following the boundary amendment, these islands will then follow the same disposition process as the Crown islands.

Stewardship and Facility Development Projects. As required by the Class EA, a formal public consultation process will be undertaken by the MNRF. Privately Owned Islands After flooding, the newly formed islands originally part of First Nation lands were administered as Ontario Crown land. Some of these islands were subsequently patented and sold to third parties. The Government of Ontario has a long-standing policy that it will not expropriate private property from third parties to settle land claims and will protect access to those properties.

Questions or looking for more information? Dianne Woods, Negotiator or Zachary Gutfreund, Assoc. Negotiator Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, 160 Bloor Street East, 9th Floor Toronto, Ontario M7A 2E6

Crown Islands

Email: LOTWFloodClaim@ontario.ca

The Negotiating Partners have agreed that any unpatented Crown islands (not part of the LOWCR) that were originally part of one of the First Nation lands, should be returned to the respective First Nation as part of this claim. To achieve this objective, Ontario will dispose of these lands through the Crown land disposition process, so the lands can be recognized as First Nation reserve land.

The Benefits of Settling Claims

Ontario will undertake the process of the disposition of these Crown lands, including meeting the applicable requirements under the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Resource

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Negotiated settlement agreements are one of the many steps toward achieving healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. They resolve longstanding disputes about land in a balanced way that respects the rights of Indigenous people and all Canadians. Settlements reflect the parties’ commitment to work in partnership and create a better future for everyone in the province.

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

In the District

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Todd Tanchak

The opinions expressed in this report are the opinions of the author and readers should not assume they reflect the opinions or recommendations of Richardson GMP Limited or its affiliates. Richardson GMP Limited, Member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Richardson is a trade-mark of James Richardson & Sons, Limited. GMP is a registered trade-mark of GMP Securities L.P. Both used under license by Richardson GMP Limited.

Kenora Writers Group hosting workshops for up-and-coming writers The Kenora Writers’ Group will be hosting two workshops to help writers in the community get inspired and sharpen their skills under the guidance of some outstanding published authors and teachers. Award-winning novelist, playwright and singer-lyricist Margaret Sweatman will be leading a two-part Writing Short Stories workshop in the morning and afternoon on July 16, at the Kenora Public Library. Participants will seek to discover their own inspirations and develop skills in writing short stories. The workshops will run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. The morning session will begin by engaging participants in exploring the ‘kernels’ of stories. A kernel might be in the form of an incident that has stayed with us over the years, or a significant change or alteration in our lives, or an aspect of life that mystifies and inspires us. In the afternoon, the focus will shift to experimenting on making the writing active, which Sweatman describes as “that quality that keeps our readers engaged.” An evening reading is also being planned. The cost of the Writing Short Stories workshop is $30 for the morning or $50 for the day. Then, on September 16, The Kenora Writer’s Group is partnering with Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW) to present Gary Barwin, a Canadian poet, writer, composer, multimedia artist, performer and educator. Gary’s workshop, Giving Voice to Voice, will focus on helping participants find their voices as writers. Both workshops are appropriate for writers at all levels. Watch the Kenora Writer’s Group Facebook (kenorawritersgroup) for registration details and information about the group.

Award-winning author says it all began at the Kenora Public Library Visits to the Kenora Public Library, during the family’s annual summer vacation on Lake of the Woods, conjure up some of the best childhood memories for author Margaret Sweatman. She, her mother and five siblings would then return to their secluded island cottage with a pile of books. “The luxury of all that peace and quiet with my family and books was enchanting,” Sweatman says, adding the library has always been her favourite building in Kenora. She credits “Mutiny on the Bounty”, which she happened upon in the library one summer, as an unforgettable book that inspired her to become a writer.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

In the District

 • THE CRAWFORD FAMILY • 

A Lake Legacy by Jeff Polakoff

During the early part of the 20th century, Alfred George (A.G. “Dad”) Crawford, his wife Lillian and their three boys Morris, Lloyd and Ed began the steady development of a Lake of the Woods fishing lodge and resort business that would evolve for over 6o years and has left a legacy that continues to this day. The Crawford family’s impact on Lake of the Woods began with A.G. Crawford’s employment on the construction of what was to become the “Heenan” highway that connected the Rainy River region with Kenora. As the highway progressed north into the beautiful lake country, A.G. became convinced that this area presented an opportunity and was where he would like to raise his family. In 1928, he sold their farm in Emo and bought a piece of property at Big Pine Lake near Nestor Falls where he and his family moved. At Big Pine the family needed more room and in the spring of 1929 it was decided to build a cabin for the three boys. This project proved to be the unlikely beginning of the Crawford family’s tourist business.

While the cabin was still under construction, a car arrived in the Crawford’s yard carrying a couple from Bartlesville, Oklahoma. This couple, the Pearson’s, was interested in vacationing in the area and Big Pine Lake was, at the time, as far as the road went. With the boys’ cabin close to completion, it was suggested that this cabin might be just what the Pearson’s were looking for. It was, and they stayed for two months that summer, using nine-year-old Ed as a guide. In fact, they continued to come back for over 30 summers, as annual guests at Crawford’s Camps. By 1931, the camp at Big Pine Lake was a modest tourist operation consisting of a lodge with accommodation for the Crawford family, as well as two housekeeping cabins for guests. A.G. recognized the potential that came with the growing number of tourists and decided to look north toward the new country being opened along the route of the “highway”. The road now went as far as Crow Lake and it was here he purchased Crow Lake Camp in 1932. This camp, although relatively small, was built up quickly to where it could accommodate 60 guests in American plan. The camp was popular as the trout fishing was excellent and the surrounding lakes also provided tremendous fishing and hunting. Building on a successful formula, A.G. once again looked north. This time, however, rather than waiting for the highway to progress, he wanted to establish an operation and be ready when it arrived. In order to do this, he had to determine where the highway would go and purchase land close to where it would pass. In 1933, he and his guide, Ed Rodegard, paddled from Nestor Falls to the Sioux Narrows area. Upon surveying the area and considering possible bridge crossing points for Long Point Island, it was determined that the highway would have to cross at Sioux Narrows and Reed Narrows as they seemed to be the only locations where bridges would be possible. Confident in his decision, A.G. paddled on to Kenora to the land office and purchased two mining claims to establish two tourist camps. These two parcels are where Crawford’s Sioux Narrows Camp is now located and the second, at Reed Narrows, became the location of Crawford’s Reed Narrows Camp.

Lily and A.G. “Dad” — Wedding Day, 1911.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Construction on the lodge at Sioux Narrows began in 1933 with required materials being brought in by water or over the ice. Before the first guests arrived in 1934, a lodge and five cabins were completed. The original guests at Crawford’s Sioux Narrows Camp had to come part way by boat as the highway had not reached that far north. Understandably, the road was at times difficult and it was not uncommon for vehicles to rely a friendly dragline operator to pull them over the swampy areas. Eventually, however, the highway reached Sioux Narrows and A.G.’s gamble in securing locations for his camps paid off, as both Sioux Narrows and Reed Narrows were sites for bridge construction. In 1935, the Crawford family moved from Crow Lake to Sioux Narrows with the oldest son, Morris, remaining at Crow Lake to run the camp. In 1936, on July 1, the new Sioux Narrows Bridge opened with much fanfare overlooking the already operating Crawford’s Sioux Narrows Camp. Life at a tourist camp, and in general, was much different in those days than today. Many a long hour was spent splitting wood to ensure there was an adequate supply for the big iron cook stove in the lodge. The initial source of light, both for the cabins as well as the lodge, was with coal oil lamps but these eventually were replaced by the luxury of a 32-volt gas powered light plant with lead batteries. Refrigeration was dependent upon the supply of ice that had been “put up” in the icehouse the previous winter and indoor plumbing was still many years off. When hydro power eventually did arrive in the area many of the workers installing the lines and facilities stayed at Crawford’s during the fall.

Morris, Ed and Lloyd, 1925

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Crawford’s Sioux Narrows Camp was an American plan operation with all meals served in the lodge and guests provided with boat, motor and guide. A long day’s fishing was an 11.5 km trip to Whitefish Narrows in a cedar strip boat, powered by a three-horse motor. Another feature of the early days at Crawford’s was the use of houseboats or “cruisers”. The cruisers provided tourists with a self-contained method of getting into areas where only minimal sport fishing had been possible such as Sunset Channel and Blueberry Bay. The cruisers were fully equipped for their day and included a captain/guide and cook who would provide for the guests’ needs and comfort.

Left: Crawford’s Lodge at Sioux Narrows Middle: Crawford’s log store, early 1940s. Right: Ed at Pine Lake Camp, 1931

Between 1935 and 1947, there were quite a few changes in the Sioux Narrows area. Crawford’s main camp at Sioux Narrows grew along with the increased tourist traffic and during this period the original five cabins expanded to seventeen. In addition to the Sioux Narrows Camp, construction was also well underway on the camp at Reed Narrows that opened in 1938. Eventually this camp was sold and it is now the site of Laughing Water Lodge and Lake of the Woods Houseboats. Another building erected during this period was Crawford’s General Store, which stood beside the highway on the north side of the Sioux Narrows Bridge adjacent to the entry to the camp. This octagonal log building was to go through several changes and two locations during its history as Crawford’s Store, Mathieu’s Store in 1946, and eventually Crawford’s Laundry and Hairdressing Salon. The log building was replaced by a modern laundry in 1978 however during its long and useful life the old log building was a familiar sight for many years welcoming people to Sioux Narrows as they approached town from the north. In 1953, A.G. Crawford passed away. Lillian lived on to her 100th birthday and witnessed many changes in Crawford’s Camps. The Sioux Narrows Camp was taken over by youngest son, Ed, with middle son, Lloyd, taking ownership of the Crow Lake Camp and eldest son, Morris, already established as the owner of the White Pine Inn at Fort Frances and later Bears Pass Resort on Rainy Lake.

ling houseboat

pul Crawford’s camp cruiser

While many of the Crawford camps and businesses have been sold over the years with resulting name changes, the name Crawford’s Camp can still be seen in Sioux Narrows. In 1954, Ed married Evelyn MacDonald from Rainy River, a girl whom he had met when she had worked at Crawford’s, Sioux Narrows Camp. Ed and Evelyn along with their three daughters operated the camp for almost 25 years to complete 45 years of Crawford ownership. During this time, the Camp continued to grow and change with an expansion to the lodge and other facilities, new cabins, as well as the arrival of electricity in 1957. As the camp changed however many of the long time guests continued to return to Crawford’s year after year many of which became like family. One family, the Ramische’s of Madison, Wisconsin,

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

returned to Crawford’s Camp fifty times over many years. Ed Crawford passed away in 1982 and the camp is now under different ownership. However, Ed and Evelyn’s three daughters—Maria Crawford, Debbie Polakoff, Kathy Meisner and their families—still call this area home during summers at their cottages beside Whitefish Bay on Crawford Road, just down the shore from “The Camp”.

Descendants of A.G., and Lillian Crawford still consider the Lake of the Woods and the Sioux Narrows area to be an important part of who they are and where they came from. The entire family, including Evelyn Crawford now 91, her and Ed’s children their husbands, grandchildren and great grandchildren continue the legacy and love of the lake passed down by family. No doubt future generations will continue this love of Lake of the Woods and proudly continue the Crawford family traditions and legacy while creating their own on this very special and historic lake.

Left to right: Maria, Debbie, Kathy; Evelyn (front) in summer 2018.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Sioux Narrows - Business The communities of Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls bring together northern charm and historic preservation with cultural tourism and entrepreneurial spirit. Over the past few years many long-standing, as well as new, businesses have blossomed or launched with a fresh wave of youthful and/or second-generation leadership. Entrepreneurism drives small communities such as Sioux Narrows. Plan a day trip or a getaway to meet and work with these local shops, services, resorts, contractors and all the businesses who live and work every day for guests, visitors and residents alike.

See you in Sioux Narrows ! | snnf.ca

poison

Ivy BY PAT KEENA

Ever since my kid cousin fell in a bush full of poison ivy at our family cottage on Keewatin’s Beach Road, I’ve been fascinated by the stuff. How could a plant do such damage? Cause such consternation among the adults? Turn a kid’s face and hands—wow!—into such an awful, oozy shade of pink. But it wasn’t until years later that my husband and I started clearing our own property for a cottage on the lake that I learned to identify the poison ivy plant. I did this out of necessity. After a springtime of clearing bush, my husband could only hold our newborn son with gloves on— his hands and forearms were a palette of raw and weeping sores. Most of our beautiful northwestern Ontario landscape is prime breeding ground for poison ivy (Rhus radicans L.). It thrives under a variety of conditions, from moist, marsh-like soil on Scotty’s Island to rocky, pebble-strewn beaches in Clearwater Bay. It grows in crevices of rock, your flower bed, and along the borders of woods. Like a wraith, when you see one plant you will see a hundred more growing alongside it.

Leaflets three – Let It Be! Learning to identify poison ivy is not tricky and it can save you a world of hurt. Poison ivy is a single-stem perennial plant with three shiny, waxy leaves. The stalk of the centre leaf is always slightly longer than the two companion leaves on either side.

Poison ivy can be small (under four inches) or quite large (I’ve seen plants two feet tall with leaves larger than my hand). Poison ivy can also be variable in terms of its habit of growth. It may form in dense patches close to the ground, as upright single plants, or as vinelike structures that attach to trees, shrubs and posts. In spring, poison ivy leaflets are reddish or bronzy green. They hang limply from the main stem and some will have clusters of small, greenish-white flowers. As the season progresses, the leaflets turn a deeper green and stand more stiffly from the stem. The upper face of the leaf takes on a waxy shine. The flowers develop small round, hard berries. While it can be said that all poison ivy leaves are essentially oval in shape, the leaf can have variations. In one cluster of poison ivy plants, you might notice that the outer edges of the leaves are finely toothed. Then you will find a plant in another part of your property that has leaves that are deeply or irregularly lobed. In the fall, poison ivy plants that are exposed to a lot of sunlight will turn vivid orange-red. Where sunlight is not as plentiful, the leaflets will turn dull, eventually turning brown and dropping to the ground.

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Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

A Hardy Plant Poison ivy propagates by seed but also through underground roots. For this reason, it is a difficult plant to eradicate since the demise of the aboveground foliage doesn’t mean a new plant will not emerge later in the season or next year. Chris Martin, a biologist in the Kenora office of Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, says his outdoor experience has taught him to be less confident in his ability to predict where poison ivy might be growing. “It’s an interesting plant,” says Martin. “I first thought it showed primarily in disturbed areas, clearings and roadsides but poison ivy can be found even in undisturbed, full canopy forests. It seems to grow under all kinds of conditions.” Even prescribed burns seem to not have a large impact on the plant, according to Martin. Although the leaf and root may be charred, burning does not seem to eradicate poison ivy; neither does it cause it to flourish. However, Martin is quick to caution that burning poison ivy is risky. The poisonous oil that causes adverse skin reactions becomes vapourized in heat, causing severe respiratory reactions in sensitive or susceptible people who breathe in the smoke.

Poison Ivy Dermatitis All parts of the poison ivy plant contain a poisonous oil called urushiol. Tearing or bruising any part of the plant liberates the oil. When it comes into contact with skin, an intensely itchy rash will develop, usually within 48 hours. Fur-bearing animals are not affected but can transfer the oil to humans. Similarly, the oil remains present on clothing, boots, and digging implements long after they come into contact with poison ivy. Charles Burchill works for the Manitoba Center for Health Policy at the University of Manitoba. He has a Masters in Botany, specializing in plant identification. He’s also an avid outdoorsman and has had many encounters with poison ivy.

Poison ivy berries (left) and leaves in the fall (right).

“Poison ivy is what you might call an ‘edge species,’” says Burchill. “You’ll find it in that transition area from meadow to woodland and along the edges of walking trails. It grows in moist, fertile soil as a big-leafed plant or rocky areas where it’s small and low to the ground.” “Only 15 per cent of the population will not react to poison ivy,” says Burchill. “But sensitivity builds and while there may be no reaction initially, there is likely to be a reaction in future encounters.” Burchill has never had a reaction. But his wife is extremely sensitive to poison ivy so Burchill has a process after being in the woods that involves bagging his outer clothing, sluicing off his boots and removing gloves last before entering his house. If you have poison ivy on your property, do some research before tackling it. The patch in your yard might succumb to consistent cultivation with a lawn mower over the space of several years. Or, you might don long pants and gardening gloves and with the aid of a grub hoe, pull it out by its roots to bag and take to the dump on your next trip into town. The Province of Ontario allows some glyphosates designated as Class 7 pesticides to be used on poisonous plants. Read the instructions carefully and be aware that these treatments will also kill desirable plants. Mixing a small amount with a touch of dish soap in a spray bottle might help you target each plant more effectively. AN

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

BUILDING DREAM S

Jack Pine Budworm threatens area forests BY DIANE SCHWARTZ-WILLIAMS As reported in the February issue of Area News, jack pine budworm has infected several areas of forest in the region this past year. The 100,187 hectares infected in the region last year took a huge jump to 627,455 hectares this year. Jack pine budworm can kill or severely damage jack pine trees. Trees 40 years and older are particularly susceptible. If infestation lasts for three years, even young ones will die. Aside from the potential damage to our forests (and their beauty), one major concern is that dead trees are super fuel and vulnerable to lightning fires. Based on the rate of spread a detailed plan for action (looking at all alternatives) was developed. Approval of the Jack Pine Budworm 2019 Insect Pest Management Program was posted on the Environmental Registry on April 25, 2019, with public notices to be issued to provide notification of the approval of the final plan in newspapers.

Implementation of the program is scheduled for the end of May, and notice will be published in newspapers seven days in advance of the potential treatment date. The MNRF’s approved spray program is for the protection of Crown land resources only. Individuals or groups wishing to spray land other than Crown land may want to consult with a private contractor. The MNRF is using a variety of measures to control the jack pine budworm infestation including re-directed harvest and aerial spraying of insecticide in select areas as part of an overall integrated pest management strategy. The insecticide is formulated from a naturally occurring bacteria and does not affect humans or other vertebrate animals such as birds, fish and mammals. It poses no environmental concerns and is commonly used in gardens and organic farming. Visit ontario.ca/page/jack-pine-budworm for more information.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Environment

Zebra Mussels found in Shoal Lake BY JOHN WATERER & LUCAS KING

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are a highly visible and potentially serious invasive species that has been identified in Shoal Lake. Zebra mussels originated in the Baltic Sea and likely arrived in the Great Lakes in ship ballast water. It is believed that they spread through Ontario and Manitoba via downstream currents and as adults attached to boats and trailers. Zebra mussels spread in a number of ways including eggs and swimming larvae (veligers) that drift with the current and as adults attached to vegetation or hard surfaces including boats and commercial fishing equipment. Once established it is virtually impossible to control zebra mussels, especially in a body of water the size of Lake of the Woods. One of the factors that determine if an introduction becomes established is the concentration of calcium (Ca) in the water. The adults require dissolved calcium in the water for shell growth.

Environment

A 2012 Fisheries and Oceans Canada study divided the risk into four categories based on calcium concentration. RISK

DEFINITION

CALCIUM CONCENTRATION (MG/L)

Very Low

No adult survival

<12

Moderate

Adults can survive and reproduce at a low level

12-19

High

Significant populations are supported and reproduce

20-25

Very High

Optimal for growth and reproduction

>25

Data taken from: Therriault et. al 2012. Risk Assessment for Three Dreissenid Mussels in Canadian Freshwater Ecosystems. Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

The dataset of calcium concentrations from the Lake of the Woods watershed is inconsistent, however there is sufficient data to suggest that there is significant risk in some parts of the watershed. The table below has the average calcium concentrations from the Lake of the Woods area as gathered by the Lake Partner Program and compared to the Lake Winnipeg concentration of 26 mg/l. BODY OF WATER

APPROXIMATE CALCIUM CONCENTRATION MG/L

Black Sturgeon

Main body of Lake of the Woods

Shoal Lake

Lake Winnipeg

Potential Impacts to the Lake Zebra mussels pose a number of risks to the water quality and activities. Zebra mussels are filtered feeders, filtering water to the point where plankton and other small organisms are removed. This significantly alters the base of the food web for the aquatic ecosystem. The clear water increases the amount of solar radiation penetrating the lake promoting increased aquatic vegetation growth. Zebra mussels tend to develop large colonies, these large colonies can be on boats, ladders, water pumps, rocks and any other structure. These large colonies can impact the survival of fish eggs and pose risk to human safety and convenience of recreational activities. (Source: Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program)

What Can We Do?

It would appear that the Lake of the Woods watershed varies from low to moderate risk, with local factors likely determining if an introduction becomes established. Even though Shoal Lake is technically a separate body of water from the main body of Lake of the Woods it is connected through Ash Rapids. While Ash Rapids does normally flow from Lake of the Woods into Shoal Lake, it frequently changes direction depending on water levels and wind directions so if zebra mussels establish in Shoal Lake, they could spread naturally into Lake of the Woods.

By far the most important factor under our control is to limit the spread. Given that boats and trailers are thought to be one of the main vectors, it’s even more important to CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY. Boaters should drain all water from boats, including live wells, bilges, live wells, bait buckets and any other water holding receptacle BEFORE approaching any different body of water. By removing any plant material and carefully cleaning and drying all parts of the boat and trailer including bilge, live wells etc. we can greatly reduce the chance of new introductions and spread.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Environment

GOOD

CLEAN, DRAIN

Clean off all visible mud, vegetation and other debris Pull and store the drain plug, lower your outboard to drain standing water and drain livewells before leaving the launch

BETTER

CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY

In addition to cleaning and draining: Dry your boat and equipment in hot or sunny weather for 2-7 days before transporting them to another body of water

Join in the fight against invasive species and protect your great outdoors.

Learn more at Ontario.ca/InvasionON What is LOWDSA doing? LOWDSA’s primary role is distribution of information. Through the LakeSmart program, LOWDSA will develop a focus on informing cottagers and lake users about the risks and strategies surrounding zebra mussels and the importance of routinely practicing Clean-Drain-Dry. LOWDSA is currently developing a plan to source a portable AIS (aquatic invasive species) wash station for use across the Lake of the Woods area. This portable wash station would be trailered to LOWDSA events and would also be available to other lake associations and fishing tournaments for use at their events.

BEST

CLEAN, DRAIN, DISINFECT Use a pressure washer to spray off your boat and trailer (250psi) OR rinse off your boat and trailer with hot water (greater than 50°C) To prevent the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia, rinse live wells with 10% household bleach/water solution (i.e. 100ml of bleach to 1L water). Rinse well with water to remove any residual chlorine

The scope of a program to ensure all boats entering or leaving area lakes are clear of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species is optimum, but beyond the capacity of LOWDSA. However, in the process of cleaning several hundreds of boats each summer, the potential impact of the portable AIS wash station in terms of awareness and education is huge. With each boater whose eyes are opened to the need for Clean-Drain-Dry, practices it and advocates for it, and with each boat cleaned, LOWDSA members, partners and friends will make a significant contribution to the work to decrease the spread of all aquatic invasive species.

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Environment

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

fishing equipment

live-wells

bait bucket

motor

anchor

bilge

trolling motor

prop

wheel well axle

bunks trailer

rollers hull dock-lines

Help prevent the spread of invasive species, take a few simple steps to preserve Ontario’s waters and fisheries: CLEAN any plants, mud, mussels or debris from your boat and equipment DRAIN all standing water from your bilge, motor, and live well DRY your boat for 2-7 days or disinfect it with hot or pressurized water ZEBRA MUSSELS

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6 - 10 cm

DON’T LET THEM CATCH A RIDE TO REPORT INVASIVE SPECIES:

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Pressure washers: environmental friend or foe BY BONNIE BALTESSEN Years ago, in the spring, I noticed neighbours employing pressure washers, frantically cleaning absolutely everything outside; furniture, decks, walls, you name it, and it really worked. My husband and I didn’t immediately jump onto this new trend. It seemed costly, and what we couldn’t wipe with cloths, seemed like cleaning overkill. We finally did purchase one, but, being inexperienced and prone to clumsiness, my attempt to clean the walls of our cabin (wood), resulted in a bad artist’s etching. After retirement, we decided to try the trailer park in a warm place lifestyle for the winter. In that Texas trailer park, I observed many people pressure washing their driveways. It was the first time pressure washing really struck me as a very weird thing to do. Here we were, in a state known for lack of water, watching people pour water on their cement. What? I set about to investigate this phenomenon. According to Candi Bezte, water projects manager for Manitoba Eco Network, it is better to pressure wash than to use a regular garden hose. “You will tend to use 5 to 10 times less water using a pressure washer. Using hot water also cleans in less time and uses less water, so even though there is an environmental cost to heating the water, it is often more than made up for in cleaning speed and effectiveness,” she said. Adding detergents is an entirely different matter. Bezte encouraged the use of only biodegradable and phosphate free options. She did note that usually the water pressure is enough that detergents should not be necessary, or should be used sparingly. As well, people need to be aware of where their run-off is headed. If using detergent, it should not run directly into the lake or indirectly through storm drains. Or, if what you are

A great tool to stop invasive species like zebra mussels. Avoid washing near storm drains, ditches or waterways. If possible, use hot water (max. 60°C).

cleaning has a substantial amount of chemical residue, it is best to ensure there is a way to filter the run-off. You can reduce the use of chemicals by using hot water, which will reduce the time it takes to wash your surface down. But again, take care where the run off is headed. The information out there vastly supports pressure washing as a good way to clean, but I was still left wondering about the effect of so many people using pressure washers. I am on a smaller lake, well populated and these users would be drawing water directly from the lake. In wet years, it can be difficult to get all your cleaning done, with or without a pressure washer. But in dry years, it seems every other person, is pressure washing. Gary Wheeler, spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks said, “While the ministry does not regulate or track the effects of pressure washers on water conservation, we encourage all Ontarians to consider that water is a vital resource, essential to the health and integrity of our ecosystems and communities.” In general, I think I am just very lazy and clumsy, so my use of a pressure washer will be limited. As I relax on my less than clean chair, I can tell myself I am doing my part for the lake. If you know the facts, and take precautions, you can keep things clean and be a good steward for your lovely lake environment.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Environment

FireSmart: Protect your home and cottage from wildfire One day in May, a strong southwest wind blew smoke over this patch of northwestern Ontario. It was a disconcerting sight and smell. How close is that fire? Are we in its path? What will we do if we are? FireSmart provides resources for cottage and homeowners to protect their property from wild fires and what to do should you find yourself with an evacuation order. Read this checklist and ask yourself, “How prepared are we?” If you get an evacuate order, leave immediately. That is not the time to be looking at this list and trying tick off all these items. This checklist below (plus more FireSmart resources, including manual on FireSmart landscaping and construction) is available in PDF form at firesmart.ca. You can print it and have it handy. Always be aware of fire conditions and restriction. Check the MNRF website: ontario.ca/page/forest-fires for the most current information. To report a fire call 310-FIRE (310-3473).



Photo: Ariel Root

Last–Minute Checklist for Protecting Your Home and Property from Wildﬁre

Evacuation Tips

Quickly address outside surroundings

Monitor conditions and follow the advice of local authorities. If ordered to evacuate, do so immediately. Review your evacuation plan for your family and pets. • Visit www.getprepared.gc.ca for helpful tips and evacuation plan templates. Have your “ready to go kit” (emergency kit) ready and stocked with cash, portable radio, prescription medications, eye glasses, change of clothes, pet food, ﬂashlights and batteries, etc. Make sure your phone numbers, insurance information and other important documents for your go bag are current. • Visit www.getprepared.gc.ca for a more complete list of emergency supplies. Before evacuating: • Turn off air conditioning. • Turn off your home water, electricity and gas. • Close all doors, garage doors and windows. If weather seal or doors have gaps, seal with duct tape.

Complete a scan around your home and property and take steps to remove combustibles. Remove leaves, pine needles and other debris from your roof and gutters. Mow grass and weeds within 10 metres of the house to 10 centimetres in length, or less. Clear all dead plants, leaves, and weeds within 10 metres of your home. Maintain a 1.5 metre noncombustible zone around your home and deck by sweeping or raking down to mineral soil, rock or concrete. Move combustible items such as toys, patio furniture, cushions, decorative items, ﬁrewood, and potted plants, that are on and under your deck and within 10 metres of your home. Move all combustible items into your home or garage.

Environment

Check vents on roof, foundation and exterior walls to prevent embers from entering your home. Check your attic and foundation (crawl space) vents to see if they are screened and in good repair. Use duct or metal tape to temporarily cover damaged vents and those with 3 millimetres mesh screening. If you store cardboard boxes and other easily ignited materials near a vent in your attic or crawl space, move them as far away as possible from vent(s). • Another option is to place tape over vent(s) at these locations. Be sure to remove tape when you return home. Cover dryer vents and wall-mounted make-up air openings for furnaces with a plywood cover, metal tape or duct tape.

If you have a propane tank located on your property: • Propane tanks should be moved to 10 metres away from structures. • Remove weeds and other debris from area around large stationary propane tanks so there is no combustible material near tank. If you have a combustible fence that attaches to your home:

Visit www.ﬁresmartcanada.ca for additional resources and information.

Check around the house

• Secure gate in an open position. • Clear vegetation and debris along both sides of combustible fence lines.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Noncombustible Zone

Happy summer from the world’s freshwater laboratory BY SUMEEP BATH, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, IISD-ELA It felt for a while there as though we might never make it, but our lakes have fully melted, and we have settled into our 51st summer season of research. In our last article we detailed some of the new and existing research that will keep us busy this summer. Regular readers of this publication will likely know who we are and what makes our 58 freshwater lakes and their watersheds in northwestern Ontario so special, but for those who don’t, here’s a short overview. IISD-ELA (International Institute of Sustainable Development – Experimental Lakes Area) is the only place in the world where scientists can research on and manipulate real lakes to build a more accurate and complete picture of what human activity is doing to freshwater lakes. The findings from its 50 years of ground-breaking research have rewritten environmental policy around the world—from mitigating algal blooms to reducing how much mercury gets into our waterways—and aim to keep fresh water clean around the world for generations to come. And we have seen quite a few changes in our history. In 2014 we transferred to the operation of the International Institute of Sustainable Development, headquartered in Winnipeg. Ever since then, we have made the effort to open our doors to the world—literally and figuratively—and introduce everyone from local communities and schools to scientists and policymakers from across the globe to the site and learn about all that we do. This year promises to be one of our busiest in terms of inviting the world to discover the world’s freshwater laboratory. First up, we want to foster the next generation of freshwater guardians. And that means going into local schools whenever we can to teach them about basic freshwater science (or limnology) principles and explain our unique approach to field research. Nothing beats seeing the research for itself, however. That’s why students from many local schools (including St. Thomas Aquinas High School, St. Joseph’s School, Beaver Brae Secondary School) and many from Manitoba (including Nelson McIntyre Collegiate, St. Paul’s Collegiate, Murdoch McKay Collegiate and Westgate Mennonite Collegiate) will be coming out this summer to meet the scientists, ask questions, go out on the lakes and get their hands dirty.

Tour guide explains what the size, species and numbers of fish and other aquatic creatures found in the net say about the lake’s health. Photo by Elsie Neufeld.

We acknowledge that IISD-ELA is located on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe in Treaty 3 territory. This year, we are therefore continuing to collaborate with local First Nations communities and are greatly looking forward to Grand Council Treaty 3 visiting in July to learn some skills to sample and test their own water supplies. But what about the general public? This year, in collaboration with your association, we are hosting three day-long tours for LOWDSA members and friends July 25, August 8, and August 15 leaving from Kenora. You will leave Kenora at 8:00 a.m. and will return by 5:00 p.m. Visitors will tour the chemistry and fish labs, learn about lake hydrology and the Long-Term Ecological Research program, explore the meteorological site, and participate in hands-on freshwater activities such as seining and invertebrate sampling. Visitors will also have the chance to meet and speak with IISD-ELA scientists about new research happening in 2019. Further details and tour registration form is on page 19, or contact Shelley at 807-468-8715 or info@lowdsa.com. We will also be hosting three public presentations on our work on June 27, July 11, and August 6 at Anicinabe RV Park & Campground. The presentations will run from 7:30 - 8:15 p.m. and are free for anyone in the park. No need to register ahead of time—just turn up!

Over the last five years, thousands of students have driven up the Pine Road and visited the site and discovered whole-lake experimentation first hand. Catelyn Van Veen said of her time at IISD-ELA, “My experience so far has been nothing short of remarkable. I can confidently say that I have learned more at IISD-ELA this summer so far than in any single university course that I ever completed!”

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Environment

Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation Put a plan in place. Ensure there’s enough science and management expertise. Unite and coordinate actions binationally—communities, researchers and policy makers. That’s our vision. BY TODD SELLERS, LOWWSF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Update on Minnesota’s plan to cut phosphorus Minnesota’s plan to cut phosphorus entering Lake of the Woods was submitted to United States EPA for review last fall as the first step in the approval process. Unfortunately, the United States federal government shut down last winter caused a delay. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is currently responding to the federal review, prior to taking the plan forward through a formal public consultation period, anticipated for later this summer. At the time of this writing, the schedule has not been determined. We’ll keep you informed via Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation’s (LOWWSF’s) website and e-news about progress on the Minnesota plan and opportunities for public input. Watch for word coming out for public meetings in Minnesota (International Falls, Baudette and Warroad) and a WebEx online conference for folks in Canada and others who cannot attend in person.

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Watershed Forum report available – Get your copy The proceedings report of the 2019 International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum is available for download at the foundation’s website: lowwsf.com/forum-proceedings. Held March 13-14, in International Falls, Minnesota, 165 researchers, resource managers, policy makers and members of the public put Lake of the Woods and its watershed under the microscope. The report covers the wide range of research presented at the forum, including studies on blue-green algae blooms, Canadian federal science program, studies at the IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, projects translating science into action and much more. Please download a copy!

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Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Forum Report available at: lowwsf.com/forum-proceedings.

been set yet, so check LOWWSF’s website for updates later in the spring and early summer lowwsf.com. Science experts’ workshop in March provided guidance on development of water quality and ecosystem health objectives and alerts.

This first phase of the project will be completed by November. A second phase will follow next year to develop specific metrics, indicator values or assessment criteria for the objectives or alert needs that will be identified in this year’s first phase. For further information, contact Kelli Saunders at ksaunders@lowwsf.com.

Water Quality & Ecosystem Health Objectives Study – Update Last fall, the International Joint Commission (IJC) began a study to recommend new water quality and aquatic ecosystem health objectives and alert levels for our boundary waters like the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods. Objectives require international agreement (e.g., like the phosphorus objectives agreed to by Canada and the United States for the Great Lakes). Alert levels are trigger levels for the IJC to warn governments of potential problems, for substances or issues where there are no internationally agreed upon objectives. The study team has reviewed available research, conducted preliminary expert and public consultation workshops, and prepared an interim progress report to the IJC watershed board. The report identifies key priority issues for which objectives or alerts should be developed (such as nutrients, invasive species, contaminants, water levels and erosion etc.) and identifies areas of the watershed where they are needed. There will be additional consultation/workshop sessions this summer in Kenora (July 8) and other areas of the watershed. Not all dates and details have

ECCC Science Update: Measuring Algae Blooms from Space The satellite view from space is compelling of blue green algae blooms covering Lake of the Woods. Dr. Caren Binding of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is harnessing these images for near real-time tracking of algae blooms and to develop indices of bloom severity, intensity, extent and duration. These indices may prove to be very useful in monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of efforts to cutting phosphorus to reduce harmful algae blooms. The high resolution (both in time and space) of the imagery and the information that Dr. Binding is extracting from it is improving our understanding of how blooms develop and progress through the lake and may provide some near-real time early warning of risks of blooms and algae toxins. Her research is providing great insights into what factors (temperature, wind, rain, nutrients, etc.) drive algae blooms and contribute to year-to-year variability

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Environment

and even daily variability in bloom occurrences. The lake-wide perspective and high resolution of the satellite images will provide important insights for evaluating the lake’s health, developing objectives for different parts of the lake, and assessing response to potential nutrient reduction targets.

How You Can Help Your continued help will ensure that we maintain the momentum for our lake. Sign up at the foundation’s website to show your support and receive our email updates. Please consider making a donation to the foundation. Canadian donors: www.lowwsf.com/donate/Canada American donors: www.lowwsf.com/donate/USA Your gift will help make sure that Lake of the Woods is a priority with governments, that research is completed and a sustainability plan is developed and implemented to restore and protect the water quality of Lake of the Woods.

Our Board and Staff Satellite tools that assess algae bloom severity daily in near real-time have promise in early warning and monitoring effectiveness of phosphorus cuts.

Dr. Binding and her team are working on a web-based tool to display to the public near real-time updates, displaying a bloom map and the numerical indices of bloom severity. The plan is to roll out this online tool later this year. Profiles of this project and the other science projects underway by Environment and Climate Change Canada on Lake of the Woods are available at the foundation’s website: lowwsf.com/eccc-science.

Board of Directors

Executive Director

Tony Stephens – Toronto, ON

Todd Sellers – Minaki, ON

Richard Sjoberg – Thief River Falls, MN Jim Dagg – Thief River Falls, MN Joan Richardson – Winnipeg, MB Bruce Ormiston – Kenora, ON Don Konantz – Vancouver, BC

Kelli Saunders – Kenora, ON

Art McKenzie – Sioux Narrows, ON Polly Craik – Winnipeg, MB

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Environment

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

What you should know about blue-green algae Blue-green algae is a bacteria that may rapidly increase to form a large mass, called a bloom, during warm weather in water. It can be harmful to pets, wildlife, livestock and people. If you suspect a bloom, it is best to be cautious. Assume toxins are present, avoid using the water and call the Ministry of the Environment Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060. Algae blooms may be green, blue-green, yellowish brown, red or purple. • Blooms cover the water with a fluorescent paint-like scum

Algal bloom on Lake of the Woods near Kenora. Photo by LWWSF.

In the event of an algal bloom, reducing the health risks is easy:

• Fresh blooms may smell like a newly mown grass,

• Avoid recreational activities that might put you and your family and pets in contact with algae toxins.

• Older blooms smell like rotting garbage,

• Do not drink, bathe or shower in untreated water.

• Large blooms often occur during late summer and early fall.

• Do not allow children, pets and livestock to drink or swim in the water.

What causes blue-green algae to grow? Blue-green algae thrive where water is shallow, slow moving and warm, but they may also be present in deeper, cooler water. Nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, increase growth.

Help prevent growth of blue-green algae: • Make sure your septic system is appropriately sized and working properly. Have it pumped regularly. • Avoid bleaches and anti-bacterial soaps that disrupt septic system function. • Control the amount of nutrients that enter the water. Restrict the use of nutrient-rich fertilizers on your lawn or garden.

• Do not use herbicides, copper sulphate or other algaecides that may break open algae cells and release toxins. • Do not boil the water or treat the water with a disinfectant like chlorine (bleach) as these treatments may release more toxins into the water. • Do not cook with the water. • Do not eat the liver, kidneys and other organs of fish caught in the water body. Be cautious about eating fish caught in areas with high concentrations of visible blue-green algae. • Do not rely on home filtration systems. They do not fully protect against poisoning from toxins. • Use alternative water sources.

• Control soil erosion around the lake by maintaining natural vegetation along the shoreline and keeping your property well forested.

For more information: Ministry of the Environment: Public Information Centre at 1-800-565-4923 or Northwestern Health Unit at 1-800-830-5978.

• Use phosphate-free detergents and cleaners.

Information courtesy of Ministry of the Environment and Sudbury and District Health Unit, 2009

• Never use soap or shampoo in the lake itself.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Environment

Choose non-invasive plants at your home and cottage To avoid introducing potentially invasive plants when planting your cottage gardens and buffer zones, use this chart as a guide. The recommendations come from A Guide for Northern Ontario: Beautiful Non-invasive Plants for your Garden. The full brochure, which includes botanical names, is available at ontarioinvasiveplants.ca. Type

Potentially Invasive

Non-invasive

Ground Covers

Creeping Bellflower, Periwinkle, Goutweed

Wild Strawberry, Wild Ginger, Bearberry, Wintergreen, Foamflower, Wild Geranium, Mayapple, Bunch Berry, Running Euonymus

Ox-Eye Daisy

Black-Eyed Susan, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Pale Purple Coneflower

Grasses

Miscanthus, Reed Canary Grass

Big Bluestem, Indian Grass, Feather Reed Grass or Sweetgrass

Tree & Shrubs

Japanese Knot Weed

Saskatoon Berry, Red Osier Dogwood, Common Elderberry

Non-native honeysuckle shrubs, Siberian Pea-shrub

Nannyberry, Common Ninebark, fragrant Sumac, Alpine Currant, Wild Roses, Silver Buffaloberry

False Spirea

Common Elderberry, Bush Honeysuckle, Flowring Raspberry

Norway Maple

Sugar, Silver, freeman Maples, Basswood, Hackberry

Vines

Oriental Bittersweet, Bittersweet Nightshade

American Wisteria, Jackman Clematis, Virgin’s Bower, Virginia Creeper, Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle, Goldflame Honeysuckle

Ornamentals

Himalayan Balsam

Bleeding Heart, Meadow Rue, Spotted Jewelweed

Dame’s Rocket

Anise Hyssop, Fireweed, Wild Bergamot

Giant Hogweed

Wild Angelica, Ornamental Rhubarb, Rodgersia

Yellow Flag Iris, Flowering Rush, Purple Loosestrife

Northern Blue Flag Iris, Blue Vervain

European Common Reed, Narrow Leaf & White Cattail

Common Cattail, River Bulrush, Hardstem Bulrush

Eurasian Watermilfoil, Water Soldier

Coontail, Common Waterweed, Common Mare’s Tail, Yellow Pond Lily, Fragrant White Water Lily, Water Smartweed

Aquatics

Environment

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

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Building Cedar Strip Kayaks: Part 1 BY CECIL BURNS

You’ve seen them on roof racks; works of art masquerading as kayaks with their fine joinery, their impeccably fitted bright work and their gleaming, high gloss finish—cedar strip/epoxy kayaks. You’d think that it must take a master boat builder to achieve such a final product. In reality anyone with modest woodworking skills can build such a craft. I know, because my friends and I—all with little to no boat building experience—ended up building six of them over the course of five years. To be honest, I had some experience in boat building. Back in the dark ages—1972—I had a summer job at a small fibreglass factory that built canoes, boats and dune buggy bodies. Eons later—between 2002 and 2006—a small group of friends and I built five cedar strip/epoxy canoes. These tough 15 ft canoes did everything a canoe is supposed to do even though they looked like fragile sculptures weighing only 42 lbs.

In around 2012, a work colleague and I did a bad thing. We checked out a book called Kayak Craft – Fine Woodstrip Kayak Construction by Ted Moores from the Bear Mountain Boat Shop in Peterborough, Ontario, and we were hooked. The book provided detailed step-by-step instructions on how to build and finish one of these crafts. I would recommend this book to anyone contemplating building a woodstrip. On perusing this book we looked at various plans and after much discussion over a few drams, we decided on the single-seat 16.5 ft Resolute design. We chose this design for a number of reasons: • It had the widest beam, which would be more stable than some of the other designs; • It had a greater load capacity, which would come in handy on longer trips; • It had a wider cockpit to allow for easier access to accommodate that middle age spread, and • It had beautiful lines. Building cedar strip kayaks is a fairly straightforward process. Plywood forms are positioned on a strong back and then thin strips of cove-and-bead cedar are stapled to the forms and glued to each until the entire form is covered. Once the glue has dried, the staples are removed and the strips are planed and sanded to the final shape.

Title photo: Two of the six completed 16.5 ft Resolute cedar strip kayaks.

Home & Cottage

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

A layer of fibreglass cloth is then applied over the strips using three coats of epoxy resin. This process is repeated to complete the deck. The hull and deck are then removed from the forms and the inside surfaces are planed, sanded and another layer of fibreglass cloth and two coats of epoxy resin are applied. After the epoxied surfaces are sanded smooth the openings for the cockpit and hatches are then cut out. Coamings and hatch frames are installed, the inside is prepped and varnished, the bulkheads and any seats, foot-pegs and rudder controls are installed and then the two parts of the kayak are joined together. The final trim is installed and the kayak is finished using upwards of five to eight coats of UV resistant marine varnish. We enlisted the aid of a few more friends and colleagues and over time ended up with five members of the “Wednesday Night Kayak Club”. We set up a joint bank account to cover our costs, took stock of the tools we might need (and who had what), drank a few cold ones and decided on where we would set up shop for the next couple of years—which actually turned into five. We started in my shop but had to move after year two due to some insurance issues with woodstoves in garages.

online. A compete kit (not including the strong-back, forms and hardware) runs about Cdn $2,400 plus shipping. Optional items such as CNC (computer numerical control) cut forms, bulkheads and hardware are available for an additional charge.

“Kayak Craft – Fine Woodstrip Kayak Construction” by Ted Moores

Some of the hand tools used in the construction of the kayaks: speed square, low-angle block plane, large and small spokeshaves, C-clamps, level, Japanese combination saw, bench chisels.

If you want to save some time and hard work, you can order full-size plans, videos, pre-cut forms, pre-cut and shaped strips, fibreglass/epoxy supplies and various hardware options

Being purists we decided to go “oldschool” and prepare everything from scratch ourselves. Not as daunting a task as it may seem, but required a lot of additional time, many hours of head scratching and many more cold ones (after we finished using power tools). The first task was converting the “lines and offsets”—a chart that provides the basic information on the shape of the boat—into full size plans. Fortunately we had an AutoCAD expert in the group who had access to a large printer. Plans were produced in no time flat. The next step was to layout these plans on sheets of half-inch plywood—a process called lofting. We laid the paper plans on the plywood, drove closely–spaced finishing nails through the paper on the plan lines, removed the paper and then, using flexible battens, traced the lines onto the plywood. The forms were rough cut with a bandsaw and then sanded to the final shape using a disc sander. Accuracy in this process is critical to achieving a perfectly shaped kayak.

The next task on the agenda was to rip and shape the strips. We chose to use clear Western Red Cedar, since we had no source that could supply long lengths of clear Eastern White Cedar, which would be the preferred wood. I had used locally sourced

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Home & Cottage

Left: Table saw setup ready to rip strips from 18’ 2” x 6” clear Western Red Cedar Centre: Table saw with extended infeed and out feed tables for ripping strips. Right: Members of the “Wednesday Night Kayak Club” ripping strips on the table saw.

Eastern White Cedar (Burt’s sawmill near Sioux Narrows) for the 15 ft canoes, but for the kayaks we needed 18 ft pieces, which just weren’t available. We were able to source rough-cut 2 in by 6 in by 18 ft clear Western Red Cedar from Windsor Plywood in Winnipeg.

In the next instalment, I will outline the process of shaping the strips, building and setting up the strong-back and forms, steaming and laminating the stems and applying the strips to the forms.

In order to ensure that all strips were of consistent width and thickness, we first ripped 1 in sections from the 18 ft boards and then flipped those 90° and ripped the final strips to quarter-inch thickness. This required setting up extended infeed and outfeed tables and the use of fingerboards to hold the pieces tight against the rip-fence. Getting consistently sized strips is essential to the process. Since we were cutting all the strips for six kayaks, the process of ripping took several hours and produced a huge mountain of sawdust.

If you are thinking of building one of these kayaks and have any questions, please feel free to contact me, cecil.burns451@gmail.com.

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Home & Cottage

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Get up, get out, and go fishing! Tips to help you improve your success this season BY JOHN W. HAYES

According to Japanese folklore, water has a soothing influence, can have great stress reducing powers, and have a calming influence leading to a healthier lifestyle. Fishing of course, takes

However, it too can join the stress side of life if things go wrong. Here are a few tips to make your fishing stress-free and successful.

If you have a boat and motor, check everything! Tighten everything, clean, check fluid levels, lubricate moving parts, and make certain your battery is fully functional. Do the basics and always consult your manual and maintenance checklist.

Do not forget to check your trailer, especially tire condition and bearings. Lack of maintenance can have catastrophic results and land you on the side of the road a long way from a blissful afternoon on a lake.

you out of the office, forces the job list to be put on hold, and is an amazing relationship builder with family and friends. It is a great forum for outdoor fun and adventure. Memories are built and last a lifetime.

Title photo by Don Carswell

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Home & Cottage

Your fishing equipment needs attention as well. Rods, reels, and tackle need a little tender loving care. Anglers need to pay special attention to fishing line. Never assume it is OK. Check it carefully, and replace it if there is any question about the integrity of the line. Sharpen your hooks, get rid of unused or unwanted tackle. Research and invest in some new gear; some of the products these days are amazing!

Upgrade and improve your electronics if possible. This alone is the single most important aspect of my fishing success. We have GPS, side and down imaging, structure scan, and many other features on a unit. Many of our local lakes have underwater hazards, and a proper unit with mapping capabilities can save a tragic event on the water and make exploring a new lake a lot less stressful. For me, this is worth the investment from a fishing and safety perspective.

Home & Cottage

If you want to learn how to improve your fishing and perhaps local lake knowledge, hire a guide to show you the ropes. Hiring a guide will almost always help your catch and is generally a good investment going forward. The Internet has a wealth of information on local lakes. Use it, and visit tackle stores to gain some insight into your sought after species. Many anglers and guides have blogs that are helpful for fish location and presentation. Check out YouTube videos on the lake you are planning on fishing. Use the multitude of resources wisely, including local clubs and resource officers to help you save time on the water.

I recommend keeping a basic fishing journal on fish catches noting environmental conditions and presentation. It may help you when you return to a specific lake or at other similar lake locations. The notes are a permanent reminder of the knowledge you have obtained on that trip.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

We all have our trusted source(s) for tips and tools that have contributed to our success in the past for a specific species. Why not step outside the box and acquire a new skill for your favourite or new species? Perhaps, chase some feisty small mouth, learn to fish top-water baits or to fish with a bait caster if you have not done that before. You would be surprised how quickly your arsenal of techniques becomes more diverse when you look to new skills for angling. Fishing can be the most enjoyable pastime and a tremendous opportunity to reduce stress and foster relationship bonds that last forever. These tips should help you be safe on the water, catch a few more fish, and make for a most memorable adventure on the water.

Remember, be safe out there, take a kid fishing, and practice catch and release to preserve our treasured resource in Northwestern Ontario and elsewhere.

Be a good buoy BY RAYMOND P. OAKES, B.A., LL.B.

The lakes in the Canadian Shield are notoriously difficult to navigate, with a multitude of reefs rising up out of deep and shallow waters alike to claim propellers, lower end drives, and sometimes keels and bottoms of boats. It is unsurprising that on these reef-studded lakes, cottagers are tempted to try and mark these dangers with white plastic bottles and private buoys—especially given the ever-reducing resources of the coast guard and provincial entities. The liability for such “self-help” markings of navigational hazards, as well as other private buoys like mooring and swimming buoys, is examined in this article. Historically, the responsibility belongs to the Federal Crown under the jurisdiction for navigation and shipping. There is no lack of statutory authority and regulation—including the Canada Shipping Act (2001), the Canadian Navigable Waters Protection Act, the Private Buoy Regulations and others. As well, common law tort actions of trespass and negligence may give rise to an action for damages based upon the acts of the good Samaritan who hopes to warn others from the navigational hazard. It is the writer’s opinion that litigation against such a good Samaritan placing a warning buoy would not be successful if the private buoy has been placed in compliance with the Private Buoy Regulations. In fact, a search of existing case law does not indicate any Canadian court decisions finding such liability for compliant private buoys. Of course, even an unsuccessful court suit may result in considerable legal defence costs for all involved.

the navigation of the area—which might also pertain to speed limit buoys. These concerns are dealt with provincially under the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations. Restrictions include the minimum buoy sizes—at least 6 inches wide and 12 inches in height above water or larger depending on the amount of traffic and the potential for high waves in the area. The words “PRIV” must The full publication of "An Owner's Guide to Private be on two sides in Buoys" can be found via search on the government site at publications.gc.ca. contrasting colours and the owners name, address and phone number are required. Even after one has complied with the plethora of regulations, the writer would suggest you obtain an insurance rider for this potential liability. My inquiries indicated these were available relatively inexpensively, and are recommended.

In order to determine the necessary requirements, one should consult the Canadian Coast Guard’s Aids to Navigation, referenced as publication TP968. Additional guidance can be found on the Canadian Coast Guard’s website titled Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) at www.notmar.gc.ca or by calling 1-613-925-0666. Transport Canada is involved in the regulation and enforcement of private buoys as well, and given that the occupation and use of lakes touches on provincial jurisdiction PROPANE too, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Residential Resources and Forestry (MNRF) may also Commercial have an interest in private buoys. Industrial

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There are a number of considerations for these federal and provincial agencies. Buoys must consider the direction of the flow of water, resulting in a decision whether the buoy is red, green, cardinal or bifurcated. The buoy must not restrict

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Boating: Be aware of others BY SUSAN MCLEOD

A big part of what we love about cottaging is exploring by boat, the watersports; both slow or fast, or simply enjoying long sunny days on the lake, but sometimes it takes a true life experience to wake us up to both the good and the bad experiences that can occur. LOWDSA members Malcolm Dewar and Wes Hull shared their stories with LOWDSA in the hope we’ll be reminded that boating always deserves our close attention. Many who have been on the water for ages may take it for granted and get complacent: “We know what we’re doing—and have been doing it for years”. Newbies pass the required course to get their boaters’ card, then take to the water with their new equipment and minimal or virtually no experience: “How hard can it be?”

get me further up the ledge, but still in the lake. It was a long weekend with a number of boats going by, including a pontoon boat with several people on board. Despite my wife’s calling and arm waving, none stopped to offer assistance. To make matters worse, their wakes battered the detached leg, raising the pain level to the +10 category. Neighbours were finally located and got me out of the lake, up to the cottage. From there I was transferred by land and air ambulance to Lake of the Woods Hospital, then on to Winnipeg for surgery.” Malcom wrote his letter to LOWDSA to “bring readers’ attention to the value of vigilance and to always be aware of not only the area in front of your boat, but to the right, left, behind and on the shore.”

Ignoring the BE AWARE rule

“Not only will you be safer, you might also save a life,” he wrote.

In September 2017, Malcom Dewar fell off his dock, bounced off a rock, landing under the dock with a badly fractured hip.

The brotherhood is alive and well

“As I struggled to pull myself onto a ledge, my wife came down wondering why I hadn’t come up for lunch. We were able to

On the other side of the coin, Wes Hull tells us of not one miracle, but three that blessed his sons over the course of the Kenora Bass International (KBI) a couple of summers ago. First, while having great success fishing in Echo Bay, their engine quit—every boater’s nightmare. I came out to check, and decided they shouldn’t even attempt to start it again. While we figured out our next steps, another fisherman in the tournament was nearby and came over to help. They all agreed to keep fishing and that the Good Samaritan would take one of the boys and their catch in to the weigh-in at the end of the day. Unfortunately, we knew the boat would not be fixed for the next day, so figured the rest of the tournament was a bust. And that’s when the second miracle occurred. Our helpful fisherman then offered the use of his pickerel boat to the boys so they could stay in contention!

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Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

And as if that wasn’t enough… next day, as time was running out, the boys checked the gas gauge and decided they were good to go for a quick run to Welcome Channel then on to the final weigh-in. Not so. When they started the motor, it sputtered and coughed, out of gas. When asked, “What did you do?” they replied, “We prayed”! Moments later, they heard a fellow from his dock asking if there was anything he could do, then saying that if they could get the boat over, he’d fill up the tank! As Wes said, “I don’t know how many coincidences it takes to make a miracle,

BOATERS CODE RESPECTFUL BOATING GUIDELINES City of Kenora's Boaters Code ON OUR WATERWAYS

but it sure seemed that God was on their side”. With only 15 minutes to cross the finish line for the tournament, they arrived with barely a second to spare. “A special thank you to all those who were paying attention and helped my sons that day. They may not have won the KBI, but it’s a tournament they will never forget,” Wes concluded.

The City of Kenora's Boaters Code was launched in 2015 to raise awareness about boating safety on the lake, and to encourage boaters to be respectful on our waterways.

Each boater has the choice as to which role they want to play out on the lakes and rivers: the unaware boater of the first story, or the Good Samaritans in the second.

Emergency Be Aware tips

I will respect other vessels on our waterways.

I will be aware of and obey all laws and regulations governing operation of my boat.

I will remember that vessels come in all shapes, sizes and abilities. I will use courtesy when approaching others.

I will minimize my wake impact on shorelines, docks, structures and people by obeying the 10/30 regulation of a 10 km/hr speed when 30 meters from the shoreline.

I will always steer clear of other boats, swimmers and water activities including wildlife.

I will set a speed and heading that is safe and comfortable for my passengers and others on the water.

I will ensure I obey all laws and regulations regarding the operation of my boat including safety equipment, PFD’s and ensure I know the obligations when meeting other vessels on the waterways.

I will carry all equipment necessary to operate my boat safely and within the law.

I will never consume alcohol in my boat or allow my boat to be operated by anyone who is impaired.

I will not create excessive noise or operate my boat in a manner that disrupts the peaceful enjoyment of the lake by others.

SUBMITTED BY MALCOLM DEWAR

BE AWARE of what the GPS coordinates are for your cottage so land and air ambulances can find you. BE AWARE of how to contact emergency services. 911 might not work in your area. BE AWARE of what neighbours are available for help. BE AWARE of where the air ambulance can land. BE AWARE of what your insurance will cover. It may not cover either land or air ambulance or from Ontario to Manitoba.

From the City of Kenora's Boater's Code. More information at kenora.ca.

Be Prepared: Know your GPS coordinates

For more info on safe boating visit

www.kenora.ca

Have your GPS coordinates handy. Post them right beside your phone or some other very obvious and accessible place. With the coordinates note one or two distinguishing features to help the air ambulance identify your location from the air. There are many cottages with brown roofs. FOREST

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coordinates to the 911 dispatcher.

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Minutes and seconds format: 50°03’26.5”N 94°13’22.5”W

D MOVEOD FIREWO

One log can kill a million trees. Learn more at:

Manitoba.ca/stopthespread

• STOP ES T CI

Example

Invasive species threaten Manitoba’s trees. The emerald ash borer and other insects hide in firewood. When firewood is moved between locations, so are the insects.

• STOP ES T CI

SIVE SPE VA

Some GPS coordinates are given in minutes and seconds while others are in decimals of a minute. Confusing the two will send the helicopter to a different location and cause an unnecessary delay.

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Home & Cottage

• STOP ES T CI

Age-defying Your Cottage BY PAT KEENA

If you are like many Lake of the Woods property owners, you cannot foresee a time when you want to give up your cottage, camp or cabin and all the benefits it has to offer. You want to make it last and you want to get enjoyment out of it, for all the seasons of your life. Lynda and Doug Macdonald took a considered and practical approach to ageing at the cottage. Since cottage living is something that they both love, they made a few changes that enhance mobility and safety and reduce effort for their golden years. “The lake keeps you younger,” says Doug. “It keeps you younger because you have to do things, fix things, move things. If you can’t do chores around the cabin, lake life would lose something.”

So, Lynda and Doug brought hydroelectricity to their summer home on a small island about 20 minutes south of Kenora. The larger electrical capacity enabled them to buy an electric fridge, which keeps more food longer and means fewer boat trips to town for provisions. They installed an in-lake pump to replace the water tank on the cottage roof. Electric heat allows them to stay comfortably at the lake in all weather. A power winch pulls their 16-foot runabout out of the water. “The lake has always been a special place. But we just couldn’t continue under the old model any longer – too rustic,’ says Doug. “We used to love doing chores in all weather, splitting wood, hauling water. I’m just not interested in doing that anymore.” “And, I get a beer fridge!” he laughs. Across the way from the Macdonald’s, Mike and Janet Riley have made many of the same changes while using solar power. Their solar system supports amenities like an in-lake pump, refrigerator and good lighting. An hydraulic log splitter provides some extra muscle to keep up with the needs of heating with a wood stove and it makes it possible for both Mike and Janet to cut wood. In a bid to accommodate favourite aging relatives visiting their cottage, Mike and Janet long ago installed sturdier stairs and a railing for the long climb from the

Home & Cottage

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

dock to the cabin, with resting platforms at regular intervals and even a couple of benches to sit and catch your breath.

You’ve certainly got slippery docks, or angles that change on ramps to floating docks,” he says.

Janet says she likes to leave a set of walking poles by the door to help negotiate uneven ground. Having proper footwear is also important to being surefooted and avoiding stumbles, she says.

Chisholm says that the identification and mitigation of these risk factors is a critical step to avoid preventable accidents, particularly as we age.

Boats make all the difference

“There are numerous contributing factors that challenge us as we age. Medication may cause impairments; poor nutrition causes weakness. Our vision might not be what it once was, which can cause you to trip. And our physical strength changes, which impacts balance.”

What separates lake people from the average Canadian boomer is our reliance upon boats. We use them for transportation and recreation. They are our workhorses, hauling people and materials in all weather. We are in and out of them all the time. And they are tippy, fast moving and unpredictable, characteristics that challenge balance and strength issues as we age. One of the ways that boat owners are fighting back is with assistance bars installed at key areas on the dock. These tall, curved bars bolted onto the edge of the dock give a person a hand while stepping in or out of the boat and can make the difference between safe arrival and landing in a heap on the deck with a broken hip.

“But,” he says, “it’s never too late and you’re never too old to improve” with rehabilitation, maintenance and prevention. Physiotherapist Karen Pries agrees. If you are proactive, take steps to prevent a fall and are aware of risks, you can increase the longevity of lake life. “There are typically different fall risks in comparing your home to your camp. Uneven terrain, sloping footpaths, steps to the lake and floating docks all increase the likelihood of a fall. Other contributing factors such as lake fog and morning dew can make things unexpectedly slippery,” she says. “Improve your lighting at the outhouse and at the dock. Install non-slip surfaces wherever possible. And especially remove clutter, not only area rugs inside the cabin and shoes at the door, but even your yard equipment—clean up and put rakes and other things away.”

An assistance bar, from canadadocks.ca.

Portable stepping stools are also useful to carry with you inside the boat, especially when you arrive at your destination and need the extra step up to get out of your boat onto an unfamiliar dock. Some stools have a built-in grab bar and non-slip rubberized feet, which makes stepping back into the boat less precarious.

Prevent falls Preventing a fall is important for everyone at the lake because our camps are usually isolated. Medical help can be hard to get, or a long time coming. Brock Chisholm, manager of rehabilitation at Lake of the Woods District Hospital, says that although the hospital does not retain data to show where falls occur, it’s clear that cottage properties carry a fair share of risk. “At the cottage, you might have old stone steps that grandpa built with no railing.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Home & Cottage

Physiologically, there are a lot of things going on as we age. A gradual decline in our vision, hearing and other senses directly influences balance. Wearing improper footwear like flip flops further increases our risk of falling.

Age-defying Checklist Wear good shoes with grip, not flip flops Keep a walking pole at the door for extra stability Remove light-weight mats at the door or replace them with non-slip mats

Enjoy life at the lake The World Health Organization (WHO) defines healthy ageing as “creating the environments and opportunities that enable people to be and do what they value throughout their lives.” WHO cautions that risk rises when physical, sensory and cognitive changes are combined with an environment that has not been adapted to an aging population. We have to approach age-related changes in a way that allows us to hang onto those things that give us the most joy—like life at the lake.

Home & Cottage

Make use of mechanical aids, like log splitters, chain saws and marine railways for your boat

Evaluate the lighting at the dock and on paths. Consider motion sensors to give you convenient lighting when you need it

Install railings or grab bars inside the cabin and around your property

Buy extra stepping stools and keep them handy in the shed, boathouse and cabin

Use all the devices at the lake that help you in your daily life like a walker, hearing aid or glasses

Install assistance bars on the dock

Get enough sleep, proper nutrition and make sure you drink plenty of water

Keep a handled stepping stool in the boat to assist boarding and disembarking Use ramps wherever possible to more easily carry items from dock to cottage Use dollies, wagons or other homemade wheeled conveyances to move things easily around your property

Declutter, especially your yard by not leaving rakes, lawn chairs and other obstacles in the way

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Install non-slip surfaces where ever possible

Use ingenuity—two people can carry a heavy item easily with a two-by-four and ropes Use humility—ask for help to carry large and awkward items Do strength training and balance exercises

Member Recipe

A Very Wild Rice Recipe BY TED HAWLEY The story of this recipe would not be complete unless I shared how we came to be on Lake of the Woods in Kendall Inlet and on our wee island paradise. It all started in 1951 when my grandparents, Florence and Ed Hawley, purchased a waterfront vacant building lot and constructed a 16 ft by 32 ft cottage on Kendall Inlet, at the east end of Clearwater Bay. Being the first cottage in the bay posed many difficulties including no road access and no power. Building materials were hauled from Winnipeg on the old TransCanada Highway, still partially visible at Falcon Lake where it is used as a service road. This was a trip of some three hours at best and then on to Kendall Inlet Road, a one lane, gravel and dirt road at the time. After that, the materials were loaded onto a canoe and handmade wooden boat and rowed to the building lot. No motors back then—just four sons with strong backs. Then in 1956-57 my grandparents, along with the help of their son Bob and wife Diane, utilizing axes and hand saws, cut down a path of trees that ran from the old highway to close to their building lots. Once the trees had been cut down, the Ministry of Natural Resources pushed the stumps away and installed gravel onto the new roadway. For many years following, we cut and installed a corduroy road to bridge the swamp areas. Aunt Diane reminded me that the road was so bad that we might spend one to two hours just getting into the cottage from the old highway, jacking the car up, putting wood under the tires and inching forward. Eventually a good road was constructed from Kendall Inlet and Patricia District and named Kenricia Road. As time passed and families grew, the cottage seemed to get smaller and smaller. Our mother and father, Bette and Bruce Hawley, decided it was time to go west. So, in 1964 they purchased a one-acre island in the east channel of Corkscrew Island. With the help of the brothers, a 16 ft by 32 ft cottage was completed in 1965 without the aid of power tools. For the last 54 years and counting, our little paradise dubbed “Hawley Haven” has been a glorious local retreat for our family and many friends. My sister Susan and husband Claude, of Courtenay, B.C., along with her daughter Denise and husband Ryan of Comox, B.C., make annual pilgrimages to the island to enjoy the sunsets, great fishing and natural beauty of the area. Susan discovered this wild rice salad recipe while visiting the Napa Valley. She chose this recipe for the association cookbook as we all know that the best wild rice grows in Northwestern Ontario. We always purchase our wild rice at the Matiowski Farmers Market in Kenora.

Above: Very Wild Rice photo by Susan Hawley. Left: Cabin in 1956; Right: My mom and dad, Bette and Bruce Hawley (left) and my sister Susan Hawley (right).

Very Wild Rice Salad 4 cups water 1 tsp salt 1 cup wild rice (about 6 oz.) 1/2 cup finely chopped dried Calimyma figs 1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans (about 1-1/2 oz.) 1/3 cup chopped toasted unsalted cashews (about 1-1/2 oz.) 1/4 cup finely chopped green onion tops 2 tbsp finely chopped celery 2 tbsp finely chopped red onion Combine 4 cups water and salt in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add rice. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until rice is tender, about 45 minutes. Drain well. Cool. Transfer rice to a large bowl. Mix in figs, pecans, cashews, green onion tops, celery and red onion. Can be prepared one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Dressing 2 tbsp 1 tbsp 1 clove 1 tsp 1 tsp 1/4 cup 1/4 cup

raspberry vinegar or red wine vinegar fresh lemon juice garlic, minced Dijon mustard sugar vegetable oil olive oil

Mix vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, mustard and sugar in blender. With blender running, gradually mix in both oils. Pour dressing over rice mixture and toss. Season salad with salt and pepper. Can also add one or all of these: golden raisins, curry powder, chopped almonds. Makes 6 servings.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Home & Cottage

Notes from Razberry Lane

Cats, a dog, and the people they own BY ANITA AND HENRY RASMUSSEN

There are two kinds of human beings: dog people and cat people. Dog people are believed to be friendly outdoorsy folks who thrive on long walks in all kinds of weather. Cat people on the other hand are regarded as more insular and less sociable, fond of their chairs, books, and fireside naps. As cats embrace a similar lifestyle and do not generally need to be walked, they are perfectly happy with these less garrulous types. The folks at Razberry Lane definitely fall into the cat family category, having given house room to a total of six cats and but one dog over the last sixty years. The dog was a mistake, foisted upon us by desperate friends encumbered with a large litter of

black Labrador puppies, all in need of a home. They got us at a weak moment following the untimely death of our beloved grey tabby, Min-Min the Second, a relentless and dedicated hunter, who fell victim to a suspected accidental poisoning. The original Min-Min (short for Minou) had shared a tiny studio apartment with us in the city until she got a better offer and moved in with a relative who had a roomier place in the country. In our defense, the puppy was free and cute as a button. She came with a human girl’s name, a fact which was to present unforeseen problems later on when the question of naming granddaughters came up. As puppies and kittens do, the adorable newcomer grew faster than Jack’s famous beanstalk and would certainly have benefited from early canine obedience classes had they been available to us in the small town to which we had moved. By the tender age of six months, Bridget had developed a strong aversion to anyone or anything wearing a uniform. Her hatred of the milkman and the mailman, in that order, was particularly virulent. The paperboy only lasted a week never to be seen again. The hitherto friendly mailman left an unnecessarily terse note in the mailbox to the effect that our mail could henceforth be picked up at the post office, as home delivery was no longer an option. Various ways and means were employed to train and restrain our growing dog with little or no effect. Keeping her indoors during strategic times of the day seemed

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Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

logical, except that one of the five children invariably let her out just in time to pursue a fleeing delivery person down the sidewalk. We tried pounding a metal peg deep into the backyard with a sturdy rope attached to Bridget’s collar. Predictably, at first sight of a uniform, she yanked the whole thing out of the ground and streaked off after her prey. The sight of a large growling black dog dragging a rope and a metal bar behind her while putting the run on a milkman is an image forever etched in our collective memory. The most striking thing about Bridget was her innate ability to switch in seconds from a drooling, tail- wagging, writhing bundle of doggy-ness to an unrecognizable growling menace with raised hackles and bared teeth. Something obviously had to be done. A family conclave resulted in a difficult decision: Bridget needed a new home. She was obviously not a town dog, particularly a town replete with delivery persons as unsuspecting bait. More unpleasant incidents would inevitably lead to legal proceedings or worse. Bridget might do better, we reasoned, in a rural setting with a dearth of uniformed persons, among cows and sheep and chickens. And so it happened. We put out the word and in a short time a nice farmer, taken in by Bridget’s endearing personality, took her off our hands. Alas, the ensuing peace in the household was short lived. The need for a new pet became increasingly evident as the children moped sadly about, missing the dog. In time, the void was filled when a diminutive white male kitten with a disproportionately large fluffy tail arrived on the scene. Min-Min the Third was the result of a mutually satisfactory transaction between famous local vet, Doc Smith, and our youngest child. We became the owners of what was arguably the most entertaining of all our pets, and all for the sum of 78 cents, which is what our David had in his pocket at the time. This cat was an unqualified success, gentle but with an unusual feline sense of humour. He had an endearing habit of hiding in doorways watching for an unsuspecting passersby leg, upon which he would pounce for a free ride down the hall. We can all attest to the fact that negotiating stairs with a cat wrapped around one’s ankle is a rare experience that requires unusual skill and agility. And at no time was there evidence of a claw in those velvet paws. Not all pet stories have a happy ending, and this one is no exception. Sadly, this amusing and lovable creature’s stay with us was all too brief. Just short of his second year, a kidney ailment, common to male cats, ended his life. A few years went by with a house free of animals until one summer day a close relative, taking unfair advantage of our weakness for pets, presented us with an irresistible kitten, one of a litter of six, all predictably on the verge of homelessness. Running true to form, we succumbed, and the fourth and what was to be the last white cat joined the household. A scant six months later, Min-Min the Fourth presented us with three kittens of her own. Homes were easily found for two of them, but the third, a calico specimen of uncertain if colourful parentage was harder to place. Called Joseph after his biblical namesake, he was to remain part

of the family for a record 23 years. Housemates for all of their lives, Joseph and his mother had an uneven relationship until Min-min became too old and frail to groom and Joseph took upon himself the role of caregiver. She died at the age of twentyone, and anyone who doesn’t believe animals grieve hasn’t watched a cat sitting for weeks before his mother’s favourite chair waiting for her to reappear. Our sixth and current cat is another calico called Lucy. If you have had the questionable pleasure of meeting Lucy, you probably enter our house cautiously. She has a number of good qualities, but tolerance of strangers is not one of them. At best, she will rifle through your purse, bags or other belongings, walk all over you in search of a pat, only to nip you if you are foolish enough to comply. She harbours a deep enmity towards socks of the woolly winter variety and will attempt to remove them by force using tooth and claw from anyone entering the house. She balances the traits that give felines a bad name with some endearing ones. For one thing, there has been no evidence of vermin taking up residence since Lucy’s arrival ten years or so ago, except for the single unfortunate incident when she deposited a startled mouse on the foot of an equally surprised dinner guest. To his credit he has been brave enough to dine at our house since then. She loves birds but leaves them strictly alone, obviously considering bird watching a spectator sport. Squirrels on the other hand are her natural enemies, but contact between them remains an exercise in nothing but frustration. The ultimate guard-cat, she is loyal to the family that feeds her, a quality carried to extremes. All visitors, animal or human, she regards as potential threats to be kept severely in check. Extremely decorative, Lucy’s greatest assets are her beautifully groomed coat, spotless white paws and emerald eyes. Conventional wisdom would have it that people who consort with, own—or are owned by—members of the cat family tend to be reclusive “B” personality types, while dog people, have “A” personalities and are gregarious, social and outgoing. If this is true, harbouring more cats than dogs over a lifetime may say more about us than we would like to reveal, Or perhaps being a cat family is simply the result of serendipity, chance, or of some sort of cosmic accident— much like life itself.

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

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SUMMER The Seasonal Crescendo by Jacob Rodenburg and Drew Monkman Summer is the crescendo of nature’s year. It is when the dizzying surge of spring matures into an abundance of life. Seeds become flowers, eggs become birds, and caterpillars become butterflies. Fields, roadsides, ponds and lake shores glow with summer’s colours—from the orange of hawkweed and the white of pond lilies to the pink of fireweed and the purple of pickerelweed. Smell the fresh scent of pine and spruce or the smell of the earth after a summer rain. Listen for the haunting call of the loon and the ethereal song of the thrush. Summer is a time to activate all of our senses and savour a season that is with us all too fleetingly. But even on these hot summer days, the telltale signs of fall arrive early. By late July, shorebirds are already heading south and the first splashes of colour change are apparent in the leaves. As Henry David Thoreau once observed, “how early in the year it begins to be late.” Here are a few summer time activities to help you connect to the wonder of this season.

Focused Hearing

The Insect Chorus

Squeeze your fingers together and then cup your hands behind your ears. If you can, push your ears forward. This simple gesture enhances your hearing up to 10 times. Try this: Listen to a natural sound in the distance without the aid of your hands. Then slip your hands behind your ears as described. You’ll hear a noticeable difference! In a way, your ears have become “deer ears”—large parabolic dishes that capture sound waves. With your “deer ears” on, listen to the wind through the trees, the gurgling of water along a stream, or the song of a distant bird or insect. Your hands have focused sound right into your ear. This is a perfect way to begin learning the language of summer.

There is something soothing about the steady, rhythmic chorus of cricket song. The sound conjures up starlit nights, the sound of waves lapping against the shore and the warmth of a crackling fire. Crickets and other insects sing for the same reason frogs and birds do—to attract a mate. Here is how crickets do it: the male rubs his wings together in a process called stridulation. The bottom of one wing has a hardened edge, or “scraper,” while the bottom of the other has a toothed ridge, or “file.” Each time the scraper hits a tooth, a click is produced. This causes the wings themselves to vibrate, creating the familiar cricket sound we all recognize. Because the rubbing occurs so fast, these individual clicks blend together into chirrups or trills. Female crickets don’t produce sound—but they do listen. In fact, they do so using their front legs, which is where their eardrum, or tympanum, is located. If you see a cricket, you can tell the difference between a male and female quite easily. Female crickets have three “tails”—the middle is her ovipositor used to inject eggs into the soil. Male crickets lack this structure and therefore have only two “tails”. Different species of crickets and other insects produce distinctive song patterns. Here are some common insect sounds of summer and early fall. How many different songs can you hear? Are you able to find and watch any of the musicians? To learn the calls yourself, go to songsofinsects.com.

LOWDKids

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Insect

Season

Time of Day

Broad-winged Bush Katydid

July to October

Night

Field cricket

July to October

Day and night

Clear, loud chirps given at one per second

July to November

Day and night

A regular series of high-pitched, metallic chirps; most common in damp, grassy areas

July to October

Day

A rapid, five second series of raspy “tttrech” notes that gains in volume

Carolina locust

Mid-July to October

Day

Crackling snaps or clicks made on take-off and during flight; common on roads and trails

Dog-day cicada

July to mid-September

Day and evening

Striped Ground cricket

Marsh meadow grasshopper

Call Description A katydid that “counts” in 5 groups of buzzy notes. Listen for 2-3 notes (pause), 4-5 notes (pause), 6-7 notes (pause), etc.

A high- pitched, sustained buzz or electric-sounding whine in the trees; starts soft but gets louder

Balsam Fir Motor Boat

Scratch and Sniff

Also known as the blister tree, balsam fir is a common conifer with relatively smooth bark. However, scattered along the bark at regular intervals are elongated “blisters,” which are tiny pockets full of sticky resin. It is thought that resin may be helpful in the tree’s system of defenses—especially against insects and diseases. Balsam fir sap was traditionally used as an antiseptic and spread over wounds and infections. Dried into a gum, the sap can also be used for chewing. Balsam sap contains a “hydrophobic” (water hating) chemical. When the sap makes contact with water, it repels the water molecules and moves anything it is attached to forward.

Did you know that some plants can be identified by smell alone? When you are out walking in the woods, try gently rubbing the leaves, buds, or twigs of different trees between your fingers. Then, smell your fingertips. Which species have the richest or most pleasant scents? Conifers, balsam poplar and yellow birch are especially distinctive. The act of rubbing releases chemicals that your nose will quickly register as a series of distinctive smells. Make sure an adult is monitoring which plants the children touch. You might also want to try dabbing a bit of water under each child’s nose, using a sponge. The wetness helps you to distinguish more odours.

Try this: Take a small, sharp balsam twig about 2 inches (5 centimetres) long and about as thick as a pencil lead. Burst a blister on the tree with your twig and attach a globule of sap. Carefully place the twig on a still body of water. Watch in amazement as the twig takes off like a motorboat, making twists and turns as it zooms along the surface!

A balsam fir blister and resin.

Create a Micro Trail! Imagination is a wonderful ability all of us have. So, using the power of your imagination—shrink yourself down to the size of an ant. What would the forest look like if you were only a fraction of an inch tall? What points of interest might capture your attention? Perhaps a funny coloured mushroom, a chewed leaf or an interesting groove on a fallen log? Try this: Get 10 to 20 popsicle sticks or twigs and about 30 feet (10 meters) of twine or string. Using these simple materials, create a micro trail. Find at least eight points of interest no more than a few steps from each other. Beside each one, press a stick into the ground. Connect all the points with the twine by wrapping it a couple of times around each stick. When you are finished, sit down and quietly watch the trail for a few minutes. Did anything happen like maybe an insect walking by? Then, get down on your hands and knees and take a trip along the trail, keeping your head close to the ground. Better still, use a hand lens. Take someone special to your micro-trail and give them a guided tour of your discoveries!

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDKids

Kat the Nature Dog Kat’s Summer Parade Kat was one happy dog and if she could whistle or sing a song with words, you would hear her all across the forest. She had waited so long for Summer and it was finally here. In fact, Kat was so happy she was willing to forget those terrible creatures that try to snack on her hide, like blackflies, woodticks and mosquitoes. But at this particular time of the day, the biters weren’t too bad. The secret was to keep moving and Kat always moved when she was happy. She bounced along her favourite forest trail like a fuzzy rubber ball. Wildflowers waved their pretty heads as she passed by. “Hey, Kat” a chattering voice called from a red pine tree. “What are you so happy about?” It was Kat’s friend, a red squirrel named Chatters. Kat stopped and looked up into the bright green needles on the white pine beside the path. Chatters was sitting on a branch holding a pine cone. Kat barked hello and said, “What’s not to be happy about? It’s the first day of Summer! How about coming on a Summer walk with me? In fact, let’s make it a Summer Parade. We’ll invite as many of our friends as we can and we can march to the forest pond from here.” She was so excited that she jumped three times. Chatters laughed. A chickadee stuck its head out of a hole in a nearby birch tree. “Can I join your parade?” the little bird asked. “It will be a few days before I am laying eggs, so I would love to come along.” “Of course!” said Kat and Chatters. They had hardly traveled very far at all when Sally the garter snake slithered across the path and saw Kat and the squirrel marching in a funny way with a chickadee flying above their heads. “Join the parade!” chirped the chickadee. Sally stuck out her forked

tongue in a strange happy smile and joined them. Then they all stopped when a black bear stepped onto the path. “Barry!” yelped Kat to his friend. “I haven’t seen you since last fall.” The other creatures were rather shy and didn’t want to come too close to the bear. “What’s with all the noise and dancing?” growled Barry in a friendly way. Sally the snake slithered forward and looked up at the bear. “We’re having a Summer Parade, Mr. Bear,” she hissed in her soft voice. “Everybody is dancing and singing as we march to the Forest Pond to celebrate the new season.” Then the little snake blushed and said, “Well, some of us don’t have a voice so we just dance.” She waved her slender body back and forth like a dancing rope. The bear joined in the march, grunting, and growling a wonderful tune and dancing on his toes with the other happy animals. Before they reached the Forest Pond, they were joined by Old Jake the raven, Robbie the robin, Thomasina the tree frog and Sly the red fox. When they finally came to the small pond there was a marvellous ruckus as all the animals danced and swayed and sang and laughed with all their friends. What a wonderful way to celebrate the first real day of this most favourite season.

Did you know? All the critters mentioned in the story are animals (members of the animal kingdom). That means that spiders, insects, snakes, furry critters (mammals), fish, frogs, birds and many more are all considered animals. 88

LOWDKids

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

My name is Kat The Dog and I am an eleven year-old labradoodle. My human parents are retired teachers who love kids and nature. My dad helps me write this column because it is impossible to type with paws, and he has been writing nature columns for grown-ups for more than twenty years. I love living in the Lake of the Woods area because it gives me a chance to meet the plants and animals that share our lives. And I am thrilled to have you accompany me on my nature adventures.

Forest Parade Word Search Find these words:

Storytelling is such fun because we can make the world any way we want. In real life, all the animals mentioned in the story would never join in a parade to celebrate summer. In fact, some of the animals would want to eat others. Kat the Nature Dog gets her meals at home from a bag of kibble, but all the other animals mentioned in the story have to find or catch their own food. Snakes like to eat frogs, ravens like to eat snakes and frogs, a fox would enjoy a nice meal of a raven if it could catch one, and a black bear would like to eat just about anything. But because this is a made-up story, we can tell it the way we want. And even though the animals in the story don’t really know it is called Summer, we are sure that they enjoy the Summer season as much as we do. By the way, the parade ended when it began to rain as the animals were celebrating around the pond. Then they all said goodbye and raced to find shelter… except for the tree frog. Thomasina loves rain.

Question:

What are your three favourite Summer animals found in the Lake of the Woods area? Let Kat know by emailing her at natacq2010@gmail.com. She will write you back and tell you what her favourite animals are.

BEAR BLACK CHICKADEE DOG EARTHWORM FROG GARTER SNAKE MOSQUITO MOUSE NATURE RAVEN

(There are at least four more words. How many can you find?}

O I

A H

E E

A A

Quiz:

Q R E

Below are things you meet on your nature hike. Check beside the word ‘YES’ if you think the thing is an animal. Put a check mark beside the word ‘NO’ if you don’t think it is an animal. a. mosquito

YES  NO 

c. turtle

YES  NO 

b. dandelion d. humming bird

e. drop of water f. yourself g. fish

h. earthworm

YES  NO  YES  NO  YES  NO  YES  NO  YES  NO  YES  NO 

i. snail

YES  NO 

k. bumble bee

YES  NO 

j. crab apple tree YES  NO  l. garter snake

YES  NO 

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

LOWDKids

O Y

G S

Answer: There are only 3 from the list that are NOT animals. They are b - e and j. A dandelion is a plant, a drop of water is not a living thing, and a crab apple tree is a plant.

Note from Kat’s dad:

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Looking for your LOWDSA membership renewal package?

2019-05-08 11:13 AM

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Real Estate Listings

82 Copper Head Road, Beauty Bay Park 3 bed, 1 bath trailer with workshop/bunky situated a stone's throw from Black Sturgeon, close to Beauty Bay Beach & Golf Course.

$69,900

Laurenson Lake – Access to LOTW

Brule Point, LOTW

Approx. 219' frontage, 1.5 acres, water main hook up on property & driveway in place. Affordable access to Lake of the Woods

Nice sheltered low profile building lot with a gradual slope to the water. Great westerly views and hydro near by. Get building on the lake today!

$99,500 ($73,919 US)

Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty

$129,000

Re/Max NorthWest Realty

Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty

807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com

5 Point Island

Brule Point, LOTW

Moore Bay, LOTW

14 vacant lots located ~1.5 km southwest of S Island accessible summer/winter. Range from 2.24 - 7.9 acres, lake frontages from 334-1043 ft. Well treed; choice to face all directions. Excellent fishing; surrounded by pristine Crown lands.

300' of west facing frontage to capture the beautiful sunsets. Deep water, multiple building sites, hydro at the lot line, approved for septic. This is an excellent location to build your dream cottage.

A beautiful and serene setting on Lake of the Woods. Low profile lot and 3.6 acres to enjoy. Open floor plan with 3 bedrooms. Only a short distance to town.

Starting at $159,000 +HST

$174,000

807-467-2323 / lakeofthewoods.net

807-468-0101 / remaxnorthwestrealty.com

807-468-3747 / century21kenora.com

5 & 9 Skyers Road – LOTW

Winnipeg River

Ptarmigan Bay, LOTW

2 bed, 1 bath, 4 season home/cottage/ investment property or business with docking on LOTW. Located in Sioux Narrows; walking distance to amenities and marinas.

New price! 1.17 acre lot with 310’ frontage. Sand beach. 1,140 sq/ft cottage, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. 12’x20’ guest cabin, 10’x10’ bunkhouse. Winter access via ice road.

$285,000 ($211,727 US)

$309,000

Two self-contained cottages on a beautiful property with Crown land neighbour. The older A-frame has one bedroom and sleeping loft. The newer cottage has a stunning view of center channel and 2 bedrooms with a sleeping loft.

807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com

807-467-2323 / lakeofthewoods.net

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Carmichael Real Estate Inc.

Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty

Re/Max NorthWest Realty

Carmichael Real Estate Inc.

$279,900

Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd Independently Owned & Operated – Brokerage

$330,000

Cabin Country Realty

807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com

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Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

Real Estate Listings

Sunnyside Road, Winnipeg River

Regina Bay, LOTW

North East Bay Road

Located on Winnipeg River. This property has been well maintained and has had many upgrades. It has an open concept living area, full basement and upgraded floating dock system.

Three bedrooms, two baths, 1,200 square foot year round lake home or cottage in Crystal Harbour.

Located on Black Sturgeon, this property offers 194 feet of frontage. 805 sqft cottage, 9x23 sqft gathering room, spacious sun deck and room to expand. Zoned unorganized.

$344,900

Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd Independently Owned & Operated – Brokerage

$369,000

Greg Kirby, Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd

$385,000

Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd

807-547-5555 / kenoracottagecountry.com

Independently Owned & Operated – Brokerage

Sioux Narrows

47 Snow Drive – Black Sturgeon

Brown Road, Winnipeg River

Water access cabin located just east of the Sioux Narrows bridge - Two story, four bedroom cabin in a protected bay with western exposure.

Approx. 2200 sq. ft. 4 bed, 2 1/2 bath year round back split home/cottage with built-in 2 car garage and many upgrades. Approx. 1900 sq. ft. of decks and docks. Meticulously maintained.

This south facing property has everything that you need. Ample parking, double garage, open concept living area, 4 bedrooms, and 1 1/2 baths. Many upgrades in recent years.

$469,500 ($348,792 US)

$499,900

807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com

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$395,000

Northwoods Realty

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Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty

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Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd 807-468-3747 / century21kenora.com

Long Bay, LOTW

Rockeries Road, Clearwater Bay

Andrew Bay – LOTW

Main lodge plus 10 cabins on 3.71 acres. Spectacular 300-foot white sand beach. Road access.

Year-round home/cottage. 4-bedroom, 2-bath A-frame cottage; 1,760 sq ft of living space. Open concept kitchen/dining/living area, large family room. Single stall boathouse with rooftop patio, jet-ski lift and single boat lift.

Own half an island - 1.6 acres, 4 level cottage, pagoda style gazebo & magnificent sand beach.

$699,000

Greg Kirby, Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd 807-547-5555 / kenoracottagecountry.com

$949,000

$1,450,000 ($1,077,205 US) Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com

Cabin Country Realty

807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

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Classifieds

Classified ads are a free service for LOWDSA members.

How to Submit Classifieds

Email: diane@lowdsa.com | Mail: LOWDSA, Box 1160, Kenora, ON P9N 3X7 Next submission deadline: August 2, 2019 Please try to keep your listing to 35 words or less.

FOR RENT Road access cottage for rent on Poplar Bay, LOTW. May to October. 3 bedrooms with screen porch. Yard and dock. Washer/ dryer/dishwasher (no A/C). $1400/week. Discount for monthly and seasonal rentals. For more info: info@lonestarfarm.ca or call (204) 745-7129. Road access lakefront cottage on LOW. Access via the Northern Peninsula Road, west of Kenora. Cottage is fully modern— septic system/washer/dryer/ dishwasher etc. Two bedrooms screened porch, very private setting. One week left available this summer—August 2nd thru August 9th—$835.00 for the week. Contact lowcottage@hotmail.com for information and pictures. Lakefront cottage on Lake of the Woods. Access off the Northern Peninsula Road (south down the McKenzie Portage Road). Cottage is fully modern - septic system/ washer/dryer/dishwasher etc. Two bedrooms, screened porch, very private setting. Some time still available during July and August 2019. Rate is $835 per week. Contact lowcottage@hotmail.com for pictures, detailed information and available dates. LOW Storm Bay Rd. 9 Large house with 9 bedrooms, hot tub, multi level decks, granite kitchen, boathouse, sauna, WiFi, fireplace, washer and dryer, dishwasher. Kayak and boat are a possibility. $2500-$7000 weekly. Available now and discounts available in the fall. Email mail@ markmcgregor.ch Island rental Storm Bay Rd. near the rollers, two log homes, new mattresses, one king, one king, a double and a single. Two kayaks, and a boat can be included. $200-$375 per night, email kaitlyn. mcgregor@gmail.com Private Cottage in Bulman Bay, LOTW minutes from the Yacht Club. Near Keewatin, 10 minutes down McKenzie Portage Rd. Lake front with large dock and great swimming. 4 bdrm, full bath with washer & dryer, good size kitchen with dishwasher, wood burning fireplace & satellite TV. Screened porch, large deck and firepit. Lots of parking; recently renovated. Available Jan - Dec. Min 2 wk stay. $2940/week. Email hklapman@ mwgapparel.com. Lake front 3 bedroom cottage for rent— road access. 30 mins from Kenora. On a beautiful quiet lake with lots of bays and, clear clean water—perfect for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddle-boarding, fishing, boating, blueberry picking, hiking & biking. The cottage is great—modern, comfortable, very clean and well equipped with a GREAT newly renovated kitchen, washer/dryer, 2 decks, floating dock. Good cell reception. It will appeal to those who enjoy the outdoors and the simple joys of lake life. Rented by the week or longer periods. Email: LakeforU@mymts.net. Phone 204 941-0475.

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Exceptional location on Coney Island. Minutes from Kenora / Keewatin with western exposure. Newer, open concept cottage with 4 large bdrms and 3 baths. Separate master suite with bath and private deck. Amenities include full kitchen (dishwasher, microwave, washer/ dryer, large island), separate dining area, wood burning fireplace, satellite TV. Screened porch with large wraparound deck, outdoor shower and built-in gas bbq. Waters edge has large main dock with two floaters that provide deep water docking and great swimming. Minimum 2 week stay. Email enquiries to bill.ralph@shaw.ca Lakefront Cabin on Trout Lake 20km North of Kenora. 2 or 3 bedroom cabin available for rent weekends or weekly in May & June. Full kitchen & bath, TV/DVD player, BBQ. Comes with a canoe, kayaks & 12 ft aluminum boat. Chairs on deck off front of cabin & on private deck at the water’s edge with your own sand beach. Trout Lake is a spring fed lake—clear water and beautiful natural sand beaches. For more details email huffgear@hotmail.com. Lakefront Island Property Brule Point. Boat access only, 16 miles from Kenora. Sand beach, dual docking facilities (with plugs), fully equipped and has full service hydro and water. 3 bedrooms—ideal for families and in ideal fishing area. Weekly rental rate: $1195 (Can extend your stay—add individual nights at $170/night). Contact Donna Bell by phone 204-7364555 or email taketwo@taketwoinc.com. Beautiful lakefront cottage on LOTW. Rush Bay Rd, west of Kenora. Large 2 storey cottage: 4 bdrms, 3 baths, bunk room that sleeps 6. Full kitchen with dishwasher, oven, microwave. Full washer and dryer, 2nd refrigerator. Dining room, living room, enclosed sun porch. No A/C but has attic fan. Furnished outside deck with grill overlooking lake. Great for fishing, swimming, water sports. Available June, early July, August. Cost $2500/wk. Call Alan at 214-629-6006 or e-mail at alanhull@sbcglobal.net. Lakefront Cottage on Lake of the Woods. Near Kenora, road access. Includes 3 bedrooms, full kitchen, bath. 2 acres, private bay, sandy beach, floating dock and good fishing! Available June, July, August. $5,000/month. Call (204) 951-5812.

FOR SALE Malachi Lake—Boat access cottage with easy 5-minute ride. Low profile, south facing lot with 230 ft. of lake frontage. 1,057 sq. ft. which includes a 160.sq. ft. recently renovated Wheatherwall. 3 season sunroom with wrap around deck. Beautifully finished open concept with two bedrooms, 4-piece bath w/Mirolintub & shower, SunMar flushing, composting toilet. Bunkie built in 2016. 100 amp. hydro, phone, satellite TV, electric baseboard heaters and wood stove. Taxes $227.85 in 2018. Priced at $298,900. For info or photos contact Esmeat escarlett@shaw.ca or (204) 896-3486.

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

All classified ads are posted online at lowdsa.com. Note that they are posted within a couple days of submission and not subject to magazine deadlines. Poplar Bay Cottage for sale. 1800 sq. ft, 3 bed rooms, master bedroom with ensuite, full second bathroom. 3 season sunroom and large deck. Oil heating with new oil tanks installed 2 years ago, central air. New metal roof in 2014. Built in 1996, low profile, road access, south east exposure. Contact doug@drls.ca. LONGBOW LAKE. 3 BDRM, 1100 sq. ft. Cottage with 2 BDRM guest Cabin for sale. Spectacular southern exposure with low sloped lot to the water’s edge. 2.4 acres with 186ft. lake frontage. Easy access to Lake of the Woods. Contact 133primmersroad@gmail.com. Golf Course Bay, Lake of the Woods. For sale by original owner, 3200 sq. ft. 2-storey A/C home, 2.5 stall garage with heated workshop, on 2 lots with sand beach, dock, covered boat lift, municipal water & sewer, natural gas heat, paved driveway, many other features. Phone (807) 468-8770.

WANT TO RENT Road access cottage for 2-3 weeks in July. Prefer west side of Kenora. No children, pets or houseguests. Just for 2 persons. elskevin@hotmail.com.

FOR SALE – MISC. Z-DOCK 15’X18’ floating dock. With integral small boat ramp $5000. 204-292-3970 BOAT RAIL SYSTEM. Morson area. Approx. 100 ft. long with carriage for 17’ to 20’ boat (more or less) complete with winch system powered by a solar panel with charging system not including battery. Asking $4750.00. Email jaslaw1@ shaw.ca. Boat trailer, for use on rails into the lake. Built for a boat of up to 18 foot. Trailer has adjustable bunks with rubber rollers. The solid wheels of the trailer fit into or onto the rails. Winch which will be sold separately if desired has a switch with approximately ten feet of cable. Price to be negotiated. Contact by phone at 204-2532145 or email jrcousin@hotmail.com Used Duracell 3000 watt Inverter. $150, ProStar30 Charge Controller prewired in the fusebox $100 & main battery cables $100. ($300 for set). Call Pam @ 204-4896337 or Simon 204-803-0609. 2 Shore station SS1053 manual lift personal water craft lifts. Dock mount, 800 lb capacity. Asking $1000 ea. Offers? Jneufeld13@shaw.ca for more info and pictures.

WANT TO BUY Building Lot. Our family has enjoyed LOTW for more than 40 years—my wife and I are looking for a building lot on the lake. Also open to older cabins that need some TLC—either mainland or island— within a 10 min boat ride to Kenora. Not in a hurry, waiting for the right opportunity. Please get in touch! Paul Christie, paulallanchristie@gmail.com.

Retired couple looking for building lot on LOTW. Contact Richard at kaletzke@ mymts.net

BOATS/MOTORS FOR SALE 2001 Scout 175 Dorado Dual Console. Near perfect condition. New components include: 2016 Evinrude Etec 115 HO, steering cables, shifter, instrumentation, remote oil tank, Rockford Fosgate head unit with Bluetooth, auxiliary input / USB, and 4 speakers, new complete canvas enclosure with bow and cockpit cover, and new snap in Seagrass woven flooring. Located at Lake of the Woods. Contact Dwight Nick at Dwight.nick@mtsmail.ca LAZY E SAILBOAT, Morson area. Approx. 16’ centerboard fiberglass sloop style dinghy with wood deck. With supplied sails this boat is fully equipped for daysailing. Calkins trailer included. Scupper area requires some repair. Asking $1450.00. Email jaslaw1@shaw.ca. Harkin MKIII Jib Reefing & Furling System Unit 0 never been used. With a reputation for being an excellent Furling system, this was originally purchased brand new for a 27’ C&C sailboat; but was never used and is still in the original boxes. The current equivalent system is the MKIV, which retails for approx. $2,600 - $3,000. Originally paid $1,800; now asking only $950. Contact Colleen at 204-885-5255, or by email at cgsmith@mymts.net. 1986 Doral 17.4 BowRider. 4.3L Cobra I/O, SunDeck Package, one owner, convertible top, travel cover, Calkin Trailer, stored near LOTW. Asking $6,500. Call 807-543-2393 or email dmbrueckner@ gmail.com Prindle 16 Catamarin Sailboat. Sioux Narrows, June-September. Hobie type dual hull fiberglas sailboat with main & jib sails.Older, fast sailing comes with many replacement lines and rigging. No trailer $1200.00 larry.yarham@gmail.com. Spindrift 13 sailboat. Centreboard dinghy built by Vandestadt & McGruer. Fully equipped with mast, boom, centreboard, rudder, tiller, mainsail and jib. Needs some fiberglass patching. Great fun for just $350.00. (Open to offers.) Call Bob at 204-474-0976. 1956 Lyman. 19ft, with 100 H.P. Gray Marine inboard. Boathouse/garage kept. Original condition, runs great. Call 807466-2578 or for pictures email burchwell@ sympatico.ca. $15,500 or best offer. C&C 24 1978. Sails main, jib100 150, Honda 7.5 4 cycle, galley (sink,alcohol stove folding table), head, VHF radio, depth finder, compass,diaphragm bilge pump. Well maintained. 807 543-2018 / gjwise10@gmail.com. Asking price $6500

MISCELLANEOUS LOVE DOGS? It’s A Dog’s Life needs foster and forever homes for their rescue dogs. Cottagers can help with short or long term fostering or adopting. Website: adogslife.cc or call 807-467-3647.

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807-407-7852 807-407-1170 204-255-5690

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The Turnbull Island Guestbooks BY LORI NELSON On May 14, 1934, construction began on a summer home on an island southwest of Keewatin. The occasion was captured in a photograph of Dr. Thomas, Gwen Turnbull and her brother Leslie Cumming raising their glasses: a toast to new beginnings. The caption on the photograph reads: “Drinking to the new house the day before work started.” The photo is one of the first entries in a navy blue, hardcover book called The Pilgrim’s Progress, which served as the guestbook and ostensibly a log book for the camp, from 1934-1936, on what became known as Turnbull Island. May 21, 1934 - The house grows. June 26, 1934 - The house finished. July 1, 1934 - The Turnbulls at home. Our first weekend at O-Tah-Omin. The guestbook, one of three that spanned the Turnbull years at the camp, from 1934-1965, provides a storied and whimsical history of a summer home that was enjoyed not only by the family but by their many friends and relatives. The first guest to write an entry in the third book was W. Arnot Craick, a Port Hope historian and author: May mine be but the first name in a long succession of signatures which will record happy visits to this delightful spot and may good luck and much happiness attend its gracious host and her beloved husband through the coming years. Craick’s written comment proved prophetic, for the pages of each of the three guest books are replete with similar expressions of gratitude and joy. Drawings, poetry, song lyrics, signatures and captioned photographs fill the pages. We had a most delightful time—how soon can we come again? was a sentiment that was expressed repeatedly in the pages of what later was titled “The Cottage Chronicles”. And they did come again and again, for many of the same names appear over and over. Sprinkled among the comments are photographs of those halcyon days. One in particular captures the perfection of summertime at camp. A stretch of dock is pictured. There is a cedar strip canoe on one side, a man and woman are relaxing in chairs with sun umbrellas and books, another woman is lying on an inflatable mattress, another is sitting on the edge of the dock with her feet dangling in the water and another is floating in an inner tube. It’s no wonder that More in love with this place than ever was inked in the guestbook pages. The enjoyment of O-Tah-Omin though was tempered by the realities of the most significant historical event of that period. September 10, 1939 - Another beautiful day but we came in from our peaceful swimming and paddling and playing of horseshoes

History

Lake of the Woods Area News Summer 2019

O-Tah-Omin, the Turnbull’s summer home. Photo courtesy of Lake of the Woods Museum.

to hear on the radio that Canada has declared war on Germany at 11:15 am this 10th day of September. June 4-7, 1940 - After 26 years, we who helped form a club to knit for the soldiers, a club planned here at Lake of the Woods, meet again to knit for the soldiers of this war. August 19, 1940 - A place of refreshment for mind and body. Almost a year of war. Great sacrifices have been made for us. May we be worthy of them, and ready cheerfully to do our share, wrote Marjorie Wilson. On occasion the lack of entries tells its own story. In 1943, it was noted that a nurse was called in to care for Dr. Turnbull who was ill. In the years following, while guests continued to come, they were fewer in number. Then in 1956, only Gwen was mentioned in the guestbook, for Thomas died that year. The last entry was made on September 7, 1965. In that year the camp and the boat (of the same name) were sold to the current owners who have made it their summer home for over 50 years. Gwen Turnbull passed away in 1967. O-Tah-Omin. In the first of the books, it’s noted that this name, a close approximation to the Ojibwe word “ode’imin”, means “strawberry”. The actual translation is “heart berry” because of its shape. How fitting a name for the Turnbull Camp, for if their guest books bear any testament it is that Gwen and Thomas Turnbull had wide open hearts and their camp had a wide open door to the people they called friends. On July 9, 1934, E. M. Hamilton wrote this poem entitled O-Tah-O-Min in the guestbook: It’s a corner of heaven you make Where it’s easy one’s cares to forsake For the hearts that abide Keep the doors open wide In their little grey home by the lake. Author’s Note: The Turnbull guest books were donated to the Lake of the Woods Museum in 1996 and are available for viewing upon request.

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