Volume 51
Number 2
Spring 2021
L I S T I N G S • M A R K E T E VA L U A T I O N S B U Y E R R E P R E S E N TAT I O N • R E N TA L S
file 4384
road access
307 BEAUTY BAY RD | BLACK STURGEON $ 499,000
file 4388
water access
1635 PIPESTONE POINT | LOTW $ 299,000
file 1842
vacant land
LOT 6 HAY ISLAND | LOTW $ 250,000
file 8068
vacant land
file 4439
file 4460
road access
LOT 12 BR 14 STORM BAY RD | LOTW $ 459,000
LOT 1-86 LILY PAD BAY | LOTW $ 1,580,000
file 4416
file 4443
water access
7 HAY ISLAND | LOTW $ 2,495,000
file 1945
file 1949
vacant land
vacant land
file 8083
file 8074
vacant land
vacant land
43 LOTS SOUTH PARK ESTATES | KENORA 0 ANDERSON BRANCH RD | WINNIPEG RIVER $ $ 1,200,000 259,000
138 MAIN ST S, KENORA, ONTARIO |
toll free
vacant land
LOT 7 HAY ISLAND | LOTW $ 295,000
LOT 5 BELL’S POINT SUBDIV | BLACK STURGEON LOT 6 BELL’S POINT SUBDIV | BLACK STURGEON $ $ 219,000 219,000
file 8079
water access
LOT 5 BEAR PAW TRAIL | LOTW $ 1,695,000
LOT 3-7 MALACHI LAKE $ 99,000
file 8069
road access
vacant land
file 4461
road access
LOT 2 STURGEON RD | BLACK STURGEON $ 579,000
file 4455
water access
LOT 5 LOCKE BAY | CLEARWATER BAY $ 469,000
file 8048
vacant land
file 4380
water access
560 CONEY ISLAND | LOTW $ 750,000
file 4457
water access
PARCEL E MALACHI LAKE $ 215,000
file 8049
vacant land
LOT 7 BIRCHCLIFF ESTATES | BLACK STURGEON LOT 8 BIRCHCLIFF ESTATES | BLACK STURGEON $ $ 210,000 219,000
file 8075
vacant land
file 8078
vacant land
167 SAND LAKE | MINAKI $ 150,000
EB67 HWY 17 | KENORA $ 209,000
284 BEGGS RD | KENORA $ 199,000
file 8084
file 8086
file 8087
vacant land
1 PINE MEADOW DRIVE | LOTW $ 449,000
vacant land
LOT 2 ACHESON WAY | WINNIPEG RIVER $ 299,000
vacant land
LOT 7 ACHESON WAY | WINNIPEG RIVER $ 299,000
1.800.528.8848 | INFO@CABINCOUNTRY.COM | WWW.CABINCOUNTRY.COM
In this issue 3
Cover photo by Wanda Kabel
LOWDSA
President's Message 3 Executive Director's Note 4 Our Contributors 5 Letters to the Editor 6
57
Mark Your Calendars 9 Hello from LOWDSA’s new Environment Program Coordinator Intern 10
Member recipe: Some wow with Walleye Burgers 57
Annual General Meeting Recap 11
Treading wisely: Food for thought 58
Government Notes 17
HST/GST and cottage properties—it’s a minefield! 60
Introducing your LOWDSA Board of Directors 20
26
In the District
Water levels: A question of balance 26 You are responsible for fires you light 26 Emergency Management and Grand Count Treaty #3 28
Suit up! It’s tick season 62
36
Picture perfect in the early 20th century by Rob McInnes
41
The perfect predator by Barry Corbett
What's happening at your lake: Spring and summer at The Muse 30
47
What's happening at your lake: Sioux Narrows Arts Festival 60th anniversary celebrations 31
The not so common crow 47
What's happening at your lake: Minaki Lodge property sold to local group 31
33
Morson history, some early Minahico families by Nancy Miller
Living
Notes from Razberry Lane: Cool weather gardening 64 Choose non-invasive when gardening and landscaping 65
58
The magic of a spring night by Jacob Rodenburg & Drew Monkman
Environment
Tips to keep your septic system working 49 Antidepressants: What happens when they end up in our fresh water? 50 LOWWSF: Record Attendance at the Watershed Forum 53 LOWWSF: Apples and Oranges in Lake of the Woods 54
68
Services
Real Estate Listings 68 Classifieds 69 Home & Cottage Services 70 Advertisers’ Directory 71
72
Al G. Barnes circus by Lori Nelson
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
1
President's Message CHRIS SEMENCHUK
Chris Semenchuk
Spring has arrived and is evident with the sights and sounds of birds, geese, eagles and loons returning to the lake. However, Mother Nature continues to play tricks on us. Every time I looked out the window as I was writing this message (in late April) it was snowing! A rocky start to the spring season that is somewhat consistent with the events occurring around the world as we now move into year two of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I would like to express my gratitude and extend some special thanks to everyone that attended, participated, and helped with LOWDSA's 59th Annual General Meeting, which took place via Zoom on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. First, thanks go out to our featured guests and keynote speakers— Alex and Tyler Mifflin, aka The Water Brothers, who put on a fantastic show. Their presentation was educational, informative, and captivating, to say the least. A big thank you also goes out to LOWDSA's knowledgeable Board of Directors and our staff, who dedicate their hard work and time to plan and deliver our events. We hope you found the Committee Chair reports informative, including the updates on last year’s achievements and plans for the upcoming year. Last, and most certainly, not least, I would also like to extend a special thank you to you—our members—for continuing to support our Association by attending events like the AGM throughout the year. We always welcome your questions and input so feel free to reach out to the LOWDSA team anytime. It looks like we may still not be “out of the woods” this summer and have similar health restrictions as we experienced last year. It has been a long haul for our U.S. members who have been unable to travel to their summer homes in the region for over a year. And recent restrictions limiting travel across the Manitoba/Ontario border means these residents are also now unable to go to their
lake homes. I, along with most of the LOWDSA Board of Directors are affected by this latest development. We are all experiencing challenging times with these ever-changing policies. We recently met with Kenora’s mayor, Dan Reynard, several Kenora city councillors and staff officials. We appreciate the challenges members of the local business community are facing with the fluctuating travel restrictions, stay-at-home orders, and rules for operating their businesses. LOWDSA and the City of Kenora are aligned on finding ways to safely bring seasonal residents together with local Kenora businesses when we are all able to travel back into the region. Despite what is occurring around the world, we remain committed to providing leadership, education and communication on issues affecting the Lake of the Woods region. Currently, approximately 2,500 members have renewed for 2021 and beyond. Thanks to all who have renewed and to those who have encouraged other family members, friends and neighbours to join the Association. Maintaining and growing membership is a key objective for your Board of Directors. Here is an interesting statistic—over 65 per cent of our members are 61 years of age and older. As you can see, our most significant opportunity lies with attracting the next generation of members who enjoy Lake of the Woods, whether they be property owners, campers, boaters, and all of those individuals and families who share our vision and love of the lake. We appreciate you continuing to spread the word. Early spring has been quite the busy time for our Association. Our team and Board of Directors continue to respond to a multitude of phone calls, messages, and emails regarding COVID-19, forest management plans in the region, concerns about nuclear waste sites, and more. Our Government Affairs Committee has meetings with the government at all levels. We will continue to keep you informed of the updates we gather, share where we get our information, and do our best to help you stay on top of any relevant details as we adapt to the many changes that are brought forward. As the days continue to get longer and the temperatures warmer, many will start thinking of spring yard work, gardening and spending time outside after a long winter. Wherever you are, stay safe and healthy, and we look forward to everyone being able to travel back to their lake homes in the Lake of the Woods region soon!
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
3
Executive Director's Note It has only been a few short months since the last edition of Area News, and the signs of spring are here, which always seems to remind me that brighter days lie ahead. Much like the changing of the seasons, the upcoming months bring growth and excitement to LOWDSA and our members—including plans for our Mobile Boat Patrick Paulo Wash, plans for LOWDSA's 60th Anniversary video, and the launching of the 11th season of our award-winning LakeSmart program. With summer right around the corner, you might have already seen some of the many summer plans starting to take place. As Chris mentioned, we appreciate the efforts of everyone who attended our Annual General Meeting in April. The comments we receive, your attendance at the AGM and our other events, and your support truly make the hours of effort and planning all worth it. None of this is possible without you. Looking towards spring and summer, it looks like we are in for another season of adapting to what is now the "new normal". We have received numerous emails and many phone calls regarding these latest updates and uncertainties. Understandably, some members have sent us supporting messages while others have expressed feelings of frustration. Our team is doing its very best to keep up with the changes and respond to our members' concerns via email, eNews, and social media. I would also like to take this opportunity to address our members who have been affected by the border restrictions. We can only imagine how tough it is. These unprecedented times are challenging and we are thinking of you. Since writing the previous
Executive Director's note, I've learned that the passion our members have for the Lake of the Woods area is something that is hard to put into words. I'm in awe of our members' collective efforts to help us preserve one of the most beautiful places on earth as a high quality environment for future generations to enjoy. Your passion for the lake does not go unnoticed, and we hope to see everyone at their summer homes soon. We are preparing for another year with the LakeSmart team to deliver our environmental stewardship message across the district. Similar to 2020, we will remain flexible in how we deliver our programs. Plans underway include submitting applications for government funding, as well as approaching our valued private sponsors to provide financial and in-kind contributions for LOWDSA’s award-winning program. We look forward to introducing our 2021 LakeSmart team to our members! In addition to LakeSmart, the Environment Committee is progressing with plans to work on invasive species initiatives including the mobile boat wash station and zebra mussel monitoring program. Cassidy Mazur, our new Environment Program Coordinator, will be actively involved in these and other environment related initiatives. We appreciate the support of those partners and donors of the mobile boat wash station to help us get underway. Watch for further updates and opportunities to participate in these two initiatives. Also watch for the summer edition of Kenora Stuff and the Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls Bridge and Falls publications in the mail. Just as quickly as the winter has gone, a new season has started. If 2020 was the year of change, the spring of 2021 will mark another season of continued adaptability for LOWDSA. We look toward this season with hopes of brighter days to come and wish you a safe and healthy spring.
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: Leanne Fournier, editor@areanewsmagazine.ca Art Director: Shayla Smith, shayla@wakemarketing.ca Design & Layout: Mike Newton, Ashley Pereira Advertising: Deb Polakoff, deb@areanewsmagazine.ca
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UPCOMING EDITORIAL DEADLINES July 30 September 24
© 2021 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.
4
LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Our Contributors
Mona Brown Bev Clark Barry Corbett Leanne Fournier
Jose Luis Rodriguez Gil is an ecotoxicologist and risk assessor with over a decade of experience conducting ecological-level studies with a variety of compounds that include pesticides, pharmaceuticals and oil. He is currently a Research Associate at the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of Manitoba and conducting research at IISD Experimental Lakes Area.
Marilyn and Terry Fyke Jose Luis Rodriguez Gil Heather Gropp Cassidy Mazur Monika Huminuk Rob McInnes Drew Monkman Nancy Miller The Minaki Conservancy
Rob McInnes was captivated by the Lake of the Woods early on—while spending the first twelve summers of his life at his grandfather’s cabin on Mackie’s Island, just outside of Keewatin. In later years, he enjoyed summers at his parents’ cabin on Echo Bay and, just over 30 years ago, Rob and his family acquired their own cabin on Shoal Lake. Whether exploring the waters or the woods, there is no place on earth Rob would rather be. An extensive collection of historic postcard images has developed from his keen interest in the area’s history.
The Muse/Douglas Family Art Centre Lori Nelson Patrick Paulo Jeff Polakoff Henry & Anita Rasmussen Rosemary Robertson Jacob Rodenburg Dave Schwartz Todd Sellers
LAKE OF THE WOODS DISTRICT STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Christine Semenchuk, Bigstone Bay
CHAIR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Don Parfitt, Winnipeg River
VICE PRESIDENT Garth Collier, Schnarr Lake
CO-CHAIRS, ENVIRONMENT Lucas King, Woodchuck Bay Chelsea Lobson, Kendall Inlet
PAST PRESIDENT, CHAIR, MEMBERSHIP Hardy Bock, Black Sturgeon TREASURERS Carley Fyke, Welcome Channel Jeff Rempel, Pine Portage Bay
DIRECTORS AT LARGE Dave Christie, Granite Lake Jackie Lowe, Gun Club Island Trevor Templeton, Minaki Adam Blake, Corkscrew Island
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Patrick Paulo 807-407-9182 patrick@lowdsa.com ASSIST. EXEC. DIRECTOR Shelley Bujold (807) 468-8715 shelley@lowdsa.com ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM COORDINATOR INTERN Cassidy Mazur 807-444-5176 cassidy@lowdsa.com
P.O. Box 1160 Kenora, ON P9N 3X7 EMAIL info@lowdsa.com
M LOWDSAssoc N @LOWDSAssoc P lowdsa V lowdsa S company/lowdsa TOLL-FREE 1-888-265-9784 PHONE (807) 468-8715
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
5
Letters to the Editor Dear LOWDSA, Here’s a memory from last summer. This fish was caught at the end of the day on an annual camping trip to a small lake that requires a quick portage off of Lake of the Woods. It was a team effort by Henry and Teddy to land this fish.
We’d like to hear from you! Help us continue making this magazine great. Send us your comments, suggestions, pictures and story ideas: editor@areanewsmagazine.ca.
We can’t wait to get back on the water in 2021! Ty Wirvin, Kenora, Ontario
FUELLING YOUR
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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
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Mark Your Calendars LOWDSA’s spring and summer calendar has been laid out below, but it is of course subject to change dependent the status of COVID-19. We will notify members of any changes and final decisions on events with as much advance notice as is possible. Any changes and updates will be posted on our website and social media platforms, but we will also send out eNews updates. Make sure we have your email address so that we can provide you with those updates.
JUL
1 JUL
13 JUN
5
JUN
17
LakeSmart Team & LOWDSA at Matiowski Farmers’ Market Whitecap Pavilion, Kenora Subject to change; Look for us in the Pavilion or close by on the harbourfront 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Virtual Programming with IISD-ELA 4:00 p.m. Stay tuned for this year's topics
Seedling pick-up day 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at 2 locations, Clearwater Bay & Longbow Lake firehalls
Virtual Programming with IISD-ELA 4:00 p.m. Stay tuned for this year's topics
AUG
7
Free Metal Waste Collection Day Pye's Landing, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Get all 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.
23 AUG 25
Plans in the works & dates pending
JUN
— TO —
• LakeSmart Team visits—let us know if you would like the LakeSmart team to visit your lake community.
LakeSmart Team & LOWDSA at Matiowski Farmers’ Market
• LOWDKids activities including Storm Drain Painting to spread the message “A healthy lake starts here!”
Whitecap Pavilion, Kenora Subject to change; look for us in the Pavilion or close by on the harbourfront 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. every Wednesday.
• IISD Experimental Lakes Area—virtual tours and webinars
EMAIL info@lowdsa.com N M LOWDSAssoc P V lowdsa S company/lowdsa TOLL-FREE 1-888-265-9784
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
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Hello from LOWDSA’s new Environment Program Coordinator Intern BY CASSIDY MAZUR
The Lake of the Woods region has always been very special for me. I spent my summers at my family cabin in Nestor Falls and it couldn't have been a better way to grow up. I always wanted to work at the lake for the summer and I think my younger self would be impressed that I found such a neat way to do that all these years later.
As much as I am hopeful for in-person events this year, I see huge potential for our virtual programming. Webinars, online resources, and Cassidy Mazur, Environment Program Coordinator Intern. our social media platforms will be the focus of a lot of LakeSmart’s outreach this year. I encourage you to follow along with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and our new LinkedIn page to stay in touch and get the latest updates, educational content, and to get to know our team a little better. I would love to hear from you on any topics you’d like to see on those platforms.
I attribute a lot of my enthusiasm for the environment to the time I spent at the lake. Throughout my Bachelor of Environmental Studies, I analyzed what allowed me and others to build that connection with nature. It is a privilege to have access to spaces that encourage developing an emotional connection to the environment, which I hope future generations can access too. I am passionate about experiential outdoor learning that allows people to care about the spaces they use. The more people in our world that build that relationship with the environment, the more people we have to protect it.
The community that LOWDSA is a part of is one I am very enthusiastic about working with. Our members, volunteers, committee members, directors, partners, and fellow community groups all have a shared passion for preserving the Lake of the Woods region. It is pretty neat to know that there are so many people with similar shared experiences and connections to the area, and similar goals of ensuring those places are protected from degradation. Each person brings unique experiences, knowledge, and resources that I am looking forward to hearing about.
LOWDSA's vision, "To preserve one of the most beautiful places on earth as a high-quality environment for future generations to enjoy" resonates with me. As an environmentalist and a Lake of the Woods region patron, what gets me really excited is anticipating all the new things we will accomplish with the unique capacity of my position. For the duration of 2021, I will be coordinating LOWDSA's environmental events, supervising our LakeSmart program, and enhancing our education and outreach efforts.
This spring and summer, you can expect to see me at LOWDSA's events, out on the lake in my yellow kayak, and biking around Kenora on my green cruiser. You can also expect me to answer any inquiries related to the health of our lakes, education opportunities, and any other environmental topics you'd like to explore.
Much has been changing for everyone, and LOWDSA is no exception. In addition to adapting to the "new normal," there is a brand-new position—LOWDSA’s first ever Environment Program Coordinator Intern. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, tell you a little about the journey that led me to LOWDSA, and share what I hope to accomplish during this year.
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My position is partially shared with the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation; I will be helping with their environmental initiatives as well as acting as a liaison between our organizations. I'm excited to take part in the events that LOWDSA and LOWWSF regularly present.
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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Annual General Meeting Recap Annual General Meeting For 59 years, the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association (LOWDSA) has continued to be a voice and leader for the many things that affect our lake lives. This year marks the second consecutive year where the attendance and format of LOWDSA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was delivered online. On April 7, more than 100 members logged on to learn more about the successes, developing issues, and ongoing concerns we face as an organization. The AGM started with a special presentation by the creators and hosts of the award-winning television series, The Water Brothers. Alex and Tyler Mifflin (aka Water Brothers) delivered an entertaining and informative keynote speech on climate change, invasive species, plastics, toxic algae blooms, and other forms of pollution that affect lake life. After their presentation, they responded to some of our members' questions. LOWDSA’S flagship LakeSmart program and other environmental initiatives deliver on the Association’s stewardship focus.
added that "LOWDSA will continue to prioritize finding new ways to expand and fund the LakeSmart program to ensure we can carry on sharing information across the watershed and provide leadership in environmental stewardship.
LOWDSA’S mission was at the centre of the Association’s work throughout 2020.
The official AGM followed, highlighting the past year's activities, accomplishments, and ongoing initiatives. Although many of the initiatives we launched in 2020 are planned to continue in 2021, albeit potentially modified due to public health orders, our Association plans to remain adaptable and responsive to our member's concerns. LOWDSA has an active network of standing committees that undertake much of the Association's work including Membership and Communications, Government Affairs, Environment, and Finance. Committee chairs commented on the previous year's achievements and future plans to provide leadership, education and communication on issues affecting the Lake of the Woods region. Past President, Hardy Bock, presented his report on behalf of the Membership and Communication Committee, noting that "our greatest challenge continues to be maintaining our membership numbers and encouraging new and younger members." Don Parfitt presented the Government Affairs Committee report. He shared the latest updates related to a number of important issues and concerns including key topics that we continue to follow such as highway twinning, broadband and internet connectivity, flooding and land claims, navigational aids, and hydro rates. Lucas King, Environment Committee Co-chair,
For those members who were unable to attend the LOWDSA Annual General meeting, here are some excerpts from LOWDSA President Chris Semenchuk's report. Our recent membership renewal campaign highlighted some key reasons why you should renew your LOWDSA membership. They include: 1. LOWDSA's LakeSmart program: Offers relevant on-site visits, information, and resources to help you "live green at the lake." 2. Invasive Species: Whether it be blue-green algae, flowering rush, or another invasive species, we can provide you with information on how to identify and prevent their spread. 3. Lake Life Resources: We are a resource for a multitude of matters related to "lake life" and can help connect you to the right people to answer questions or resolve issues that arise at your "lake home." 4. Lake of the Woods Area News: Five annual issues to keep you engaged and close to the lake all year long. Your LOWDSA membership supports all of these programs and more. Your membership enables us to deliver these related programs for the Lake of the Woods region—which is what we all agree is "one of the most beautiful places on earth." The LOWDSA Board and staff remain focused on increasing our membership and encouraging new and younger members to join. We encourage everyone to spread the word about becoming a member and consider gifting a membership to a friend or family member. Our key 2021 objectives include formalizing
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
11
Financial Report We are pleased to present our 2020 year-end financial statements and 2021 budget as circulated to LOWDSA members before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and subsequently presented and approved at the AGM on April 7, 2021. LOWDSA’s Government Affairs committee continues to strive to stay on top of developing issues and ongoing concerns.
Financial Summary We circulated the Summary of the 2020 Financial Statements and the 2021 Budget to all members with the invitation to the AGM. Our Association ended 2020 with a surplus of just over $13,000, driven mainly by government wage subsidies. The 2021 budget is calling for a slight deficiency. In 2020, similar to prior years, we had reduced membership revenues and carefully managed all operations and program expenses. Revenue
Like many other membership-driven organizations, LOWDSA continues to need new members and is working to expand its demographic.
the LOWDSA strategic plan, delivering existing and new environmental programs including LakeSmart, the mobile boat wash station and the zebra mussel monitoring program, and of course, continuing to publish the Area News. We've undergone some significant staffing changes, with Diane Schwartz-Williams retiring from LOWDSA at the end of 2020 and Patrick Paulo assuming the Executive Director duties moving forward. We thank Diane for her major contributions to LOWDSA and welcome Patrick to the ED role. Patrick is quickly diving in and becoming familiar with the wide range of LOWDSA related issues. We would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to, a new director to LOWDSA's board, Adam Blake. We look forward to Adam's insights, expertise, and contributions to LOWDSA.
Our 2020 budget was based on expected revenues of $254,000. Actual revenue totalling $246,000 was below budget by approximately $8,000. We were below budget on membership fees by approximately $8,000, and royalties were below budget by approximately $7,500. But the story of 2020 on the revenue side is driven by the impacts of COVID-19. For 2020, we were budgeting cottage show revenues of $33,000, and with the cancellation of the cottage show in 2020, that revenue item almost entirely disappeared (although we did keep a nominal amount for each vendor due to the costs we had already incurred before COVID-19 hit). We also obtained approximately $20,000 in government wage subsidies due to COVID-19 that weren't budgeted, as well as an ECO Canada wage subsidy for $13,000 that was not budgeted. All of this resulted in the 2020 total revenues being close to budget, and consistent with the 2019 actual revenue amount. The 2021 budgeted membership fees are based on a reduced number of members; however, there's a modest fee increase this year, thus driving the budgeted revenue amount. Internship revenue relates to funding from other organizations for the Environment Program Coordinator role that we've hired. The LakeSmart Canada Summer Jobs and ECO Canada wage subsidy relate to funding received to cover the LakeSmart student's salaries and LakeSmart expenses. Expenses Overall 2020 expenses of approximately $233,000 were below the 2020 budget by approximately $20,000. Contributing factors include reduced AGM/cottage show expenses ($20,000). We made similar assumptions when budgeting 2021 expenses, other than the Environment Program Coordinator (the expense is forecasted to be covered by funding received) and increased environment expenses due to projects funded by the Environmental Initiative & Special Projects Fund (EISP). Statements of Financial Position LOWDSA's cash position is strong, and we continue to invest in short-term GIC's to generate a small amount of interest income annually. You'll note a large accounts receivable balance this year, which is due to the timing of us receiving the wage subsidy payments from the federal government. The other item of note is the long-term debt amount of $40,000. This amount relates to the Canada Emergency Business Account loan from the federal
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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
government, which was created due to COVID-19. This loan is interest-free, and if repaid before December 31, 2022, $10,000 of the loan is forgiven. Transfer from the Environment Fund Member contributions are held in this fund, with Board approval required to use the funds and reported annually at the AGM. The EISP fund includes member donations. Examples of projects funded by the EISP include—addressing invasive species, environment awareness initiatives (i.e. boat wash), and LakeSmart. We transferred a total of $1,700 from the EISP to operations in 2020 to pay for two items—Beetle Release and updating the LOWDSA website. In 2021, we budgeted to transfer $25,900 from the EISP for 8 items, including the Watershed Forum, updating of the Living Green at the Lake brochure, $5,000 to support development work on the Mobile Boat Wash station, and $15,000 for a promotional video to commemorate the 60th anniversary of LOWDSA. LOWDSA will continue to pursue government and private sector sponsorships for environment programs such as LakeSmart and the Boat Wash station, but we encourage member donations to the EISP fund given the uncertainty around government programs. We will seek appropriate approvals to transfer funds from the EISP to support relevant programs when needed. In summary, our Association is budgeting a slight loss in 2021, which reflects the need for the marginal membership fee increase this year, and that we continue to need new members (so please continue to spread the word!). We believe this is a conservative budget, and did not budget for any government wage subsidies in 2021, given the uncertainty of how long those will be available. Your Board of Directors and Executive Director are committed to working from a solid financial foundation to deliver the Association's programs and initiates as planned for 2021. We will continue to pursue revenues and closely manage expenses across all areas aggressively. Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions. Thank you for your continued support, Carley Fyke and Jeff Rempel, LOWDSA Co-Treasurers 2020 financial statements are available on our website at lowdsa.com/cpages/agm or by email on request. Call 807-468-8715 or email info@lowdsa.com.
Summary - 2020 Operations & 2021 Budget BUDGET 2021
Revenue Expenditures Excess of Revenue over Expenditures
EISP - Beginning Member Contributions Project Funding EISP - Ending
$ 88,780 6,381 (1,700) $ 93,461
2019
STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES REVENUES
BUDGET 2021
Membership fees Annual meeting and cottage show Royalties Seedlings Potted pines IISD-ELA tour registrations Other Interest
$ 140,794 $ 124,901 $ 133,370 — 3,270 29,698 25,000 26,186 33,554 6,000 5,850 6,144 — — 883 — — 2,199 3,035 723 1,755 2,360 3,771 3,440 $ 177,189 $ 164,701 $ 211,043 — 7,140 5,244 — 13,070 — 38,400 38,392 23,092
Canada Summer Jobs Subsidy LakeSmart Eco Canada Wage Subsidy LakeSmart program sponsorships Government contributions Temporary Wage Subsidy Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Internship Revenue LakeSmart Canada Summer Jobs & EcoCan Transfer from Environment/ Special Projects Fund
2020
— — 39,180 16,290 25,900
901 20,282 — — 1,700
2019
— — — — 14,000
$ 296,959 $ 246,186 $ 253,379 EXPENDITURES
BUDGET 2021
Operations Environment Program Coordinator Communication and education Environment Government affairs Membership Annual meeting Cottage show (LakeShow) Potted red pines Summer Meeting Seedlings Special Projects
$ 149,953 $ 137,397 $ 143,754 40,020 — — 7,350 2,784 5,884 76,000 61,470 45,493 — — 151 19,716 16,090 12,844 2,500 2,602 4,539 — 8,282 24,807 — — 350 1,250 — 1,251 4,800 4,000 5,227 — — — $ 301,589 $ 232,625 $ 244,300 $ (4,630) $ 13,561 $ 9,079
EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURE
2020
2019
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION ASSETS
Cash Marketable securities Accounts receivable Prepaid expenses
2020
2019
$
43,035 $ 154,504 274,051 162,439 29,573 107 6,214 3,775 $ 352,873 $ 320,825
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
Accounts payable Deferred revenue Long term debt
Change in Environmental Initiative & Special Projects Fund (EISP) in 2020:
2020
$ 296,959 $ 250,867 $ 256,593 301,589 232,625 244,300 $ (4,630) $ 18,242 $ 12,293
$
6,721 $ 10,368 94,552 117,099 101,273 127,467 40,000 $ 141,273 $ 127,467
NET ASSETS
Operating Reserve Environmental Initiative & Special Projects Fund - restricted Unrestricted
78,871 93,461
75,140 88,780
172,332 163,920 39,268 29,438 211,600 193,358 $ 352,873 $ 320,825
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
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One of the many benefits to LOWDSA membership...
Book your LakeSmart experience! Choose a virtual dock visit or an in-person visit to your lake, property or event in June, July or August. 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.
BOOK YOUR VISIT! Online at lowdsa.com/cpages/lakesmart or contact 807-468-8715, 888-265-9784 or info@lowdsa.com
Did you know? Every edition of Area News is available to our members online, so you can catch up on what's happening whenever, wherever you are. Visit lowdsa.com to learn more!
You can easily purchase a gift membership—a great idea for birthday, graduation, and house warming gifts— online at lowdsa.com. You can also order by phone or email!
We love to hear from our members and we want to share your story! Help us continue to make this magazine great— send us your comments, suggestions, pictures and story ideas.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
15
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Government Notes BY PATRICK PAULO
FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL
COVID-19 updates and travel restrictions We continue to monitor COVID-19 announcements and updates from all levels of government that have particular relevance to our members who travel to and from the Lake of the Woods district. At the time of writing, COVID-19 regulations, restrictions, and recommendations strongly advise against non-essential travel and the Ontario government also enforced stricter measures including provincial border checkpoints with Quebec and Manitoba, with exceptions for essential travel, that will extend until at least May 20. As changes are occurring on a daily basis from one province to another and federally, we continue to recommend the official websites hosted by the governments of Manitoba, Ontario and Canada and the Northwestern Health Unit (Ontario) as your best source for current and accurate information. We have posted links to each website at lowdsa.com/articles/covid-19-regulations-update. Before this issue of Area News went to print, the Ontario government updated their website to provide further details about the restrictions for travel from Manitoba or Quebec into Ontario. To learn more, please visit ontario.ca/page/emergency-information.
federal and provincial governments for high speed internet through the Government of Canada High-Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity Strategy process led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. The Government of Ontario’s recent budget identified an additional investment of $2.8 billion, bringing the total provincial investment to $4 billion. On January 29, DoKURA made a presentation to the Ontario Ministry of Finance 2021 Budget consultations advocating for improved internet service. DoKURA will determine the details related to this funding and work towards bringing an appropriate share of this investment to rural and remote areas in the District of Kenora that are currently underserved. Their recent letter to DoKURA residents notes, " It is up to us, the residents of the District of Kenora, to protect our interests. There is not a federal or provincial lead to be sure that all residents are served. We must act now because government incentives to extend internet services are time limited. We want every DoKURA resident to have high speed internet access at reasonable costs and competitive monthly rates.” Email your concerns or questions to dokuraorg@hotmail.com.
Create your Image
DoKURA working for access to dependable high speed internet for all residents The District of Kenora Unincorporated Areas Ratepayers Association (DoKURA) is continuing their efforts to help ensure access to high-speed internet at reasonable installation cost and monthly rates comparable to other jurisdictions for residents in their catchment. DoKURA supported the Kenora District Services Board application for funding under the Rapid Response stream of the Universal Broadband Fund in addition to providing a letter of support for a proposal from Camp Communications, a small local organization providing internet service in NW Ontario. At the time of writing, these two proposals are awaiting approval. DoKURA has advocated that the Kenora District receive appropriate funding from
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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
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PROVINCIAL
Lake of the Woods Fisheries Advisory Council (FAC) John Waterer, LOWDSA’s representative on the Fisheries Advisory Council, reported that the council continues to meet on a regularly to develop new regulations targeted at restoring and preserving the walleye fishery on Lake of the Woods. The diverse representation on the council will hopefully ensure that any changes to the recreational fishery are broadly accepted in the angling community. Steve Bobrowicz and his team at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) have done a great job ensuring the priorities and opinions and all participants are heard and included in the plan. The initial meetings reviewed Ontario’s Provincial Fish Strategy document and how its goals will influence the FAC. The primary goals are “Healthy ecosystems that support self-sustaining native fish communities and sustainable fisheries that provide benefits for Ontarians.”
2. Socio-economic objectives • Treat all recreational walleye anglers equally. • Recognize the impact of regulatory changes on the local tourism industry. • Provide additional angling opportunities for other species, consistent with the goals of the Provincial Fish Strategy. Recent meetings focused on the science behind fishery regulations and how various options impact the speed of the walleye recovery. The MNRF team has done a great job of developing and presenting options to the council and explaining how options impact the age walleye begin to spawn and their potential life span.
The council’s objective statements focus on two categories: 1. Ecological objectives • Reduce walleye fishing mortality associated with the recreational fishery. • Increase the biomass of spawning age walleye.
The council has also identified the need for any changes to be legally sound, objective based, easy to understand, easy to administer and enforce. The next meetings will focus on which potential changes the council can implement that will best meet the stated objectives of the council.
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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
It was reported that four First Nations have conditionally signed a memorandum of understanding for the four-laning of Highway 17, however there has been no official reports on the 4lanehighway17kenora.ca website. We are currently unable to provide any new reports from official sources on the fourlaning of Highway 17 with the most recent update to the official website made on April 28, 2020. Comments, suggestions or questions for the Ministry and consultant, or your request to be added to the study mailing list, can be emailed to project-team@4LaneHighway17Kenora.ca. Full contact information including mailing addresses are available online at 4lanehighway17kenora.ca.
Forestry and forest management LOWDSA has been receiving many inquiries from our concerned members about the impact of proposed forest harvest zones in their area. The Kenora Forest Management Plan is currently in the public consultation stage (Stage 3) of the planning process. The public consultation stage provides opportunities for direct input into the forestry planning process. LOWDSA is represented by director and vice president, Garth Collier, who sits on the MNRF Local Citizens Committee. LOWDSA’s role on the committee is to support and facilitate dialogue between the community, stakeholders and representatives of the Ministry. Stage 3 is an opportunity to provide direct input into the draft plan and work in partnership with other stakeholders, rights holders and the Ministry to ensure the sustainability of the forests in our area. The collaborative, problem-solving approach is working and your concerns are being reflected in the updated plans. Through necessary dialogue and partnerships, many cottage groups have been able to successfully negotiate changes in the proposed plan in specific areas. The following are examples where changes have been successfully negotiated by our LOWDSA members in partnerships and discussions with the MNRF:
To share direct feedback to the process, please see the contact information below for MNRF and Miisun or register to the Environmental Registry of Ontario for ongoing notifications in relation to the environment and Ontario policy (ero.ontario.ca/user/register). For more information on forestry plans and processes, contact Kyle Myschowoda, Management Forester at the MNRF at: kyle.myschowoda@ontario.ca For Kenora Forest Management operations, contact Kurt Pochailo, Management Forester, Miisun Integrated Resource Management Company at: kurt.pochailo@miisun.ca an
• Contingency blocks (can be added or changed based on area specifications) • Access concerns, including how and where equipment accesses harvest zones • Reduced visibility of harvest from road and private property • Timing restrictions to mitigate noise and safety concerns (winter or offseason operations) • Replanting for species diversification • Access road decommissioning (removing culverts, crossings, replanting road ways)
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• Identification and protection of important ecological or cultural areas that might not be identified in the maps
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
19
Introducing your LOWDSA Board of Directors LOWDSA is fortunate to have Adam Blake joining as a new director to the board. His experience and knowledge will be a huge asset for the Association and its members. Adam assumed his role as director in April and will attend his first board meeting in May. We are pleased to introduce Adam, and all of our current board members.
Adam Blake From childhood, Adam has spent his summers enjoying lake life at the family cottage in Clearwater Bay, Lake of the Woods. This early connection to the lake led to working at the Clearwater Market, then maintaining cottage properties to continue enjoying full summers at the lake throughout high school and university. During these summers, Adam met his wife, Kendra who cottaged in Deception Bay. Both passionate about lake life, they are now in the process of building their own cottage on Corkscrew Island. Adam and Kendra enjoy the adventures of island life and offgrid living with their three children. Professionally, Adam has spent his career in business development, and has now focused his experience and passion for lake life on starting Clearwater Septic Systems. His interest in LOWDSA is to engage the incoming generation of cottagers to ensure similar experiences will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Chris Semenchuk, President Chris's time at Lake of the Woods began with her family's purchase of a cottage at Bigstone Bay in 1986. She and her husband, Kevin, purchased their own cottage in 2001 on Storm Bay, selling it in 2008 when they bought their current lake home on Bigstone Bay. Chris and Kevin enjoy the lake in all four seasons and make the most of being outdoors at all times of the year. As a board member and now as president, Chris places a high priority on contributing to LOWDSA's initiatives to preserve this beautiful area.
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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Chris and Kevin have traveled to other places and countries, but always miss and appreciate Lake of the Woods, and look forward to getting 'back to the lake'. They live in Winnipeg, where Chris is self-employed doing business process work, and they rarely miss a weekend at the lake.
Garth Collier, Vice President Garth's grandparents were cottagers with their families in the early1930s, and he has been going to Ottermere Lake all his life. His family is in their fourth generation at the lake now and continues 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 "do-it-yourself" fashion, they are almost finished. 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.
Hardy Bock, Past President Hardy and his family's love of the area began on a weekend visit to a family cottage on Coney Island many years ago. This one visit led to many more over the years, culminating with their purchase of a cottage at Black Sturgeon Lake in 2005. It was then that Hardy's family joined the Association, and he encourages you to consider joining LOWDSA if you are not already a member—and if you are, encourage your friends and family to become members. Hardy joined the board in 2014 because he believes this organization plays an important role in preserving the watershed for future generations. This has become even more relevant and important to him since becoming a grandparent. He has been an active and committed director and served as president from 2018 to 2020. He now serves as past president.
Jeff Rempel, Treasurer
Jackie Lowe
Jeff Rempel is a CPA/CA at PricewaterhouseCoopers and a recent cottage owner, having purchased his family's property on Pine Portage Bay in 2017 with his wife Nicole. Jeff's history at the family "camp" dates back many years as his grandparents acquired the property in 1964. He has been enjoying summers there since he was a child. His interest in LOWDSA was sparked as he was transitioning the property from his grandparents, and he looked to the Area News magazine for articles on succession planning, hydro rates, taxation, and all things a new cottage owner needs to know.
Carley Fyke, Treasurer & Secretary 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 of Directors with her grandfather Leverne and her father Terry both having served as director and president of the board. Carley and her husband Dale have two sons, Hayden and Nolan, the fourth generation to enjoy the lake.
Jackie is a retired executive and General Counsel of National Leasing Group Inc. Jackie and her family moved to Kenora when she was thirteen, where she lived during her adolescence. After leaving for university, Jackie and her brothers maintained a close connection to the community and the lake. She summered in the Lake of the Woods area, first as a guest (thanks to gracious parents), and then as a renter (thanks to a helpful network of friends). Since 2000, she and her lake enthusiast spouse and sons have enjoyed their own lake home on Gun Club Island. Jackie has experience with both corporate and non-profit boards and is looking forward to learning more about lake stewardship and assisting in the promotion of environmental awareness.
Dave Christie Dave has been vacationing at his family cottage on Granite Lake since he was born. He makes the most of his time at the lake and brings a passion for the lake and preserving it for generations to come to the board. Dave's home base is Winnipeg, and he is an active member of the community,
Chelsea Lobson Chelsea Lobson is a program manager at the Lake Winnipeg Foundation in Winnipeg, where she has managed their communitybased water monitoring network since 2017. Chelsea has a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Masters of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Manitoba. Chelsea and her family began coming out to Lake of the Woods in 2014 and have a cottage on Kendall Inlet. She is excited to work with LOWDSA to protect her favourite place on earth.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA
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sitting on a number of boards. As a LOWDSA director, Dave has demonstrated particular interest in clean water issues, highway options, and property tax issues and is a strong advocate of the LakeSmart program.
Don has been a very active member of the community, sitting on numerous committees and boards, many of them with great relevance to LOWDSA and its members. His knowledge of the community and connections within it are recognized and appreciated.
Lucas King
Trevor Templeton
Lucas grew up spending summers on Lake of the Woods in Woodchuck Bay at the family cottage. He enjoys spending as much time as possible on the water throughout all seasons on the lake. As a student, Lucas spent three summers as part of the LOWDSA LakeSmart team and now continues to work with LOWDSA as a member of the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Environment Committee. Currently, Lucas works as the Territorial Planning Unit Director at Grand Council Treaty #3 in Kenora, while pursuing a Masters in Water Resource Engineering at the University of Manitoba.
Trevor grew up spending all his summers, and many winter escapes in Minaki, Ontario, at the family cottages on Pistol Lake and Jackfish Bay. He has never missed a summer season at the cottage. This includes the 20 years he lived in Vancouver, BC. His first jobs were in Minaki, and these experiences made him aware of the need for sustainability between local economies and their natural resources. He furthered this interest by attaining a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Ecology at the University of Manitoba. Trevor is currently the general manager of three family-owned Subway franchises, and a business development consultant in orthopaedics for Ossur Canada. He is committed to the future of the Lake of the Woods region and looks forward to bringing his passion for the lake to the LOWDSA Board of Directors. an
Don Parfitt A long-time resident of Keewatin and the Lake of the Woods region, Don and his wife Helen live on the Winnipeg River. He has extensive experience in accounting, auditing, and taxation as well as consulting with a variety of industries and governments, all of great value to the board and management of the Association.
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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
2021-04-24 3:38 PM
LOWDSA membership... Here's just some of what's in it for you!
LakeSmart One on one. Customized onsite visits. Living green at the lake. Info, tools and resources to help you protect your legacy.
Blue-Green Algae Blue-green algae can steal your precious lake time. How to keep your lake clean and safe for swimming, drinking and pets.
Stop Invasive Species Invasive species can take over your favourite fishing hole (and habitat), dock access and lake stops. Tips, tools & best practices to identify them and prevent their spread.
Lake Life Resources Area News Magazine Easy access to just about Connecting you to ’the anything you want to lake’ year round. In your know about lake life. hands or online. Local If we don’t have the stories, all about lake answer we’ll help you life, and issues you’re find it or connect you interested in. with the person who can.
There are four ways you can renew your membership, order seedlings, purchase gift memberships or contribute to the EISP fund: Online Login at lowdsa.com/login. Forgot your password? Contact us!
By email, mail or phone... See the form (and all relevant contact information) on the next page.
Questions? Need help to renew online? Shelley Bujold, Assistant E.D. & Membership Coordinator: Phone: 807-468-8715 or toll-free 1-888-265-9784 Email: shelley@lowdsa.com
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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Your continued support of LOWDSA's programs & initiatives does make a difference.
2021 Membership Renewal
Thank you!
PLUS GIFT MEMBERSHIPS & SEEDLINGS YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Red Pine Seedlings
Select either a Full Membership (magazine mailed) or a Virtual Membership (digital magazine).
LOWDSA members planted 10,000 seedlings in 2020 and over 300,000 since this program was launched. Please indicate a pick-up location and how many bundles (each with 15 seedlings) you would like to order.
1 Year Full Membership ($60) 2 Year Full Membership ($120) 1 Year Virtual Membership ($52)
PICK-UP DATE: Saturday, June 5 from 10AM - 1PM
2 Year Virtual Membership ($104)
We’ve been listening to you &
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Not renewing? Please let us know why not...
Storm Bay Rd. (Firehall)
paying attention to what you’re
# OF BUNDLES __________ AT $10 EACH
telling us is important to you: 1. Responsive to member concerns
total $
total $
2. Familiar activities SEEDLINGS, METAL WASTE DAY
3. Relevant & informative magazine
EISP Fund
Gift Memberships Please fill out recipient’s information, and select Full or Virtual Membership.
4. Growing & moving forward beyond the status quo
Please take a moment to consider contributing to the EISP Fund.
5. New environmental initiatives
Your contribution to the Environmental Initiatives & Special Projects (EISP) Fund will allow us to continue providing our well-known and highly regarded programs and services.
MOBILE BOAT WASH STATION
6. New & enhanced programs LAKESMART, WEBINARS
7. Fiscally responsible All this comes at a cost. In order to meet LOWDSA’s commitment to
Contributions to the EISP Fund can also be made online any time at lowdsa.com/campaigns/eisp.
deliver on all this, combined with
$500 $250
the reality of basic operating cost
$100 $50
increases, the annual cost of LOWDSA membership has increased to $60 for full membership ($52 for virtual).
Other $______________
total $
LOGIN to lowdsa.com to renew online—auto-renew option now available. You can also mail completed form to the address below, or scan and email to shelley@lowdsa.com.
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WAT E R L E V E L S
A question of balance BY JEFF POLAKOFF, LOWDSA REPRESENTATIVE, LWCB The lack of precipitation and resulting drought conditions in the Winnipeg River drainage basin, including Lake of the Woods, through 2020 and into 2021 continues to guide planning aimed at balancing the impacts of water levels on cottagers, communities, wildlife, and other interests in the watershed. Approaching the winter months, the focus of the Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB) was on water storage and maintaining water levels to the extent possible given the low normal conditions and continued lack of precipitation. Planning also focused on forecasting conditions during ice off to ensure adequate water levels for fish spawning and other wildlife considerations while mitigating potential damage to docks and other structures due to ice draw down. As of this writing, the lake level stood at 322.45 m (1057.9 ft).
Nestor Falls feeds water from Crow Lake (Kakagi) into Lake of the Woods. Photo: Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls.
Low levels of rain and snowfall in the watershed began in the spring of 2020 and continued throughout the fall and winter. The La Nina pattern that developed over the winter typically results in increased precipitation, however that was not the case this past year. Snowfall was significantly below average throughout the watershed in the winter months resulting in below normal levels of water within the basin and adjoining lakes, tributaries and reservoirs that feed water to the Lake of the Woods. Winter temperatures were also above average and not surprisingly, the volume of snowpack in the basin was lower than in an average year. Taking all these factors into consideration, the LWCB projected that the volume of spring runoff would be less than normal.
Weather patterns can however change dramatically particularly during spring. The potential for an increase in spring runoff due to above normal precipitation had to be factored into planning as increased rainfall was determined to be a possibility. While the predictability of precipitation based on long range forecasting is not an accurate science, the Control Board takes into consideration information supplied by Environment and Climate Change Canada and other predictors of weather patterns. A review of meteorological forecasting showed that there was the potential for sustained and above average rainfall this spring. Based on these considerations, the LWCB recommended that water level regulation anticipate lower than normal spring runoff balanced against the potential for above normal spring precipitation. The good news is, that should significant rainfall occur, there is a good level of storage capacity within the system, which should be sufficient to accommodate normal lake levels. Following spring runoff, plans call for adjustments to maintain lake levels within normal ranges. Inflows and outflows will need to be managed to maintain lake levels while recognizing that adjustments should be avoided or kept moderate, particularly during the spring spawning period while providing sufficient regulated flows for downstream river interests. The LWCB is targeting a peak summer level of about 323.0 m (1059.7 ft) on Lake of the Woods as recommended by LOWDSA. As we get into boating season and you are beginning to spend time on the water always keep in mind to check water levels against your navigation charts. Remember, your chart water depths are based on water levels for Lake of the Woods of 1059.0 (322.8 meters). It is good practice to maintain an awareness of actual levels in comparison to levels noted on your charts for navigational purposes. If you would like to keep up to date on the status of water levels, please visit the LWCB website at lwcb.ca/waterflowdata.html.
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In the District Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
You are responsible for fires you light Ontario’s Outdoor Burning Regulations are now in effect until October 31. Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services would like to remind the public to use caution when performing any outdoor burning. In order to dispose of yard waste and woody debris, the public is encouraged to use methods such as composting or using the local landfill. If you must burn, follow Ontario’s Outdoor Burning Regulations. Fires are to be ignited no sooner than two hours before sunset and extinguished no later than two hours after sunrise. Always have tools/water adequate to contain the fire at the site. Know the rules for safe outdoor burning. Read the full set of Outdoor Burning Regulations (ontario.ca/ page/outdoor-fire-rules-and-permits). Information provided by ontario.ca/page/forest-fires. For more information, contact your local Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Fire Management Headquarters. Kenora MNRF Fire Management Headquarters: 807-548-1919 Fort Frances (including Morson) MNRF Fire Management Headquarters (Morson Area): 807-274-8643 To report a forest fire call 310-FIRE (3473). More information and updates about Restricted Fire Zones can be found at ontario.ca/page/forest-fires.
Emergency Management and Grand Count Treaty #3 BY: MONIKA HUMINUK, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, GRAND COUNCIL TREATY #3
In March 2020, Grand Council Treaty #3 was approved for funding through Indigenous Services Canada in support of three Emergency Management Coordinators (EMC) to assist communities throughout the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. The EMC’s work with communities to ensure emergency plans are in place prior to an occurrence as identified by historic events, risk assessments and current weather projections. This includes providing essential support to communities, through partnerships with community members and other agencies, for the development of resources needed during an emergency such as floods, fires, pandemics, weather related circumstances, etc. Grand Council Treaty #3 territory consists of 28 communities and extends 55,000 square miles throughout the region, including two communities in Manitoba. Approved funds flow through Treaty #3 to our partnering organizations and their Regional/ Community Emergency Management Coordinators: • South/Fort Frances and Area—Greg Allan • Pwi-di-goo-zing Ne-yaa-zhing Advisory Services, North/Lac Seul and Area—Derek Maud • Frenchmans Head, Kejick Bay, White Fish Bay West-Central/ Kenora and Area—Monika Huminuk
This past year, COVID-19 has had an alarming impact on all of our resources within the region requiring additional support to assist, “Team Rubicon”. Team Rubicon Canada unites skilled military veterans with first responders to serve disaster affected communities at home and abroad. New innovative ways to support communities are being established and identified with local service providers, partnering organizations, federal and provincial governments and our neighbours throughout the North/Northwest. This includes the coordination of deployable resources that are accessible to communities across the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3 during a disaster. This project will continue to expand as we move forward, along with other helpful resources that are currently in the development stages. The Master Emergency Plan (MERP) supports the emergency operations team within the community, including job descriptions, tasks, contacts and a list of resources available. It identifies specific plans for floods, wild fires, pandemics, weather related emergency and others identified by the community as a risk. Together these resources provide guidance and knowledge for community members to respond effectively and in a timely manner. When developing these communities plans, the EMC works with Treaty #3 members to ensure the documents and logistics enclosed are part of the Treaty #3 community’s vision to meet the needs they have recognized. Every community is different;
Title photo: Team Rubicon Canada brings together skilled military veterans and first responders to serve disaster affected communities.
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In the District Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
from their geographic location, vulnerability of their members, resources available, community access, health supports and much more. All of these play an important role and must be considered when creating plans to meet their individual needs. Completing a risk assessment prior to completion of a plan, helps identify these challenges. To assist with some of the tools that may be an asset during an emergency, Grand Council Treaty #3 is coordinating a supply of deployable (loan) equipment that will be available, on an as needed bases. These include: generators, fire gear, fire equipment, air purifiers, saws, fire hoses, and much more. Air purifiers are now available for deployment. These devices are FDA certified and have been lab tested to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the air and on surfaces. They also help reduce smoke in the air during wild fires. The Active Pure Technology, is now being introduced in doctor’s offices, hospitals, schools and other facilities that are high risk. These devices would be an asset to isolation centers and in individual homes used for isolation, including vulnerable members with health concerns. The units are portable, efficient, and tested for safe deployment into communities.
management at a community level, will be available to the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3 for testing in the coming months. An email survey will be sent out to community members to participate in the research and development of this new system. IMS (100/200/300) and Fire Safety Training opportunities are being offered year-round, along with other additional resources and services. For more information please contact: • Monika Huminuk, EMC at 807-464-4616 or monika.huminuk@treaty3.ca. • Ashley Lindsay, AMC at 807-407-4969 or ashley.lindsay@treaty3.ca Grand Council Treaty #3 extends a huge THANK YOU to all of the Front-Line workers, our community partners, service providers and support staff for everything you do, are doing and have done to make a difference during these trying times.
The Grand Council Treaty #3 Emergency Management Team continues to identify resources to enhance community services. A project to develop a Geo-portal in support of emergency
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W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G AT Y O U R L A K E
Spring and summer at The Muse LAKE OF THE WOODS MUSEUM
DOUGLAS FAMILY ART CENTRE
April 6 - June 12
May 7 - July 24
Colour with a U
Phillips Interpreted
A juried exhibition of art quilts created by Canadian members of Studio Art Quilt Associates. The theme of their works is diversity and inclusion.
A collection of art quilts inspired by the works of Walter J. Phillips and created by QA5, five local textile artists.
June 1 - July 24
The Red Chair Sessions
Raising the Curtain: 30 Years of TryLight Theatre Co. An exhibit of TryLight’s 30 years of theatre magic with a behind-thescenes look at what goes into the creation of their performances. July 31 - October 16
Dakobinaawaswaan (Baby in a Cradleboard) A stunning selection of over 70 cradleboards from across North America from the private collection of Shirley Stevens and curated by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.
May 8 - July 10 Nadya Kwandibens’ evocative photographs represent, in her words, “who we are as Indigenous people, how closely and deeply that connection is to the land.” July 16 - September 5
The Gift of Art: Lake of the Woods by Walter J. Phillips The woodcut prints, watercolours, and engravings of Lake of the Woods by Walter J. Phillips.
Please note that this schedule is subject to change based on COVID-19 safety restrictions. For more information visit: themusekenora.ca or phone (807) 467-2105.
July 23 - August 7
The Sioux Narrows Arts Festival Anniversary Exhibition A celebration of works by some of the noted artists who have participated in the Sioux Narrows Arts Festival. July 31 - November 27
Beads of Truth Ruth Cuthand’s contemporary beaded works remind us that beads and viruses go hand-in-hand—both were brought to the Americas by traders. September 12 - December 24
Somewhere in the Sky This selection of art quilts by Nancy Bergman symbolizes the sky and its mysteries during the 24 hours of a day.
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In the District Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G AT Y O U R L A K E
Sioux Narrows Arts Festival 60th anniversary celebrations BY HEATHER GROPP For 60 years, creative people have come together to celebrate art over the August long weekend in Sioux Narrows. The Sioux Narrows Annual Arts Festival will take place again in 2021, with modifications to account for COVID-19 restrictions. To learn about the events taking place, or to see the call to artists visit siouxnarrowsartsfestival.com.
Brock Blosser of Wood with Whimsey discusses his carvings during the Sioux Narrows Arts Festival. Block and Karen Blosser are the festivals longest running exhibitors.
Minaki Lodge property sold to local group SUBMITTED BY THE MINAKI CONSERVANCY A buyer group headed by Winnipeg businessmen and brothers Doug and Glen Gratton have successfully acquired the site of the former Minaki lodge on the Winnipeg River. The Grattons are permanent residents of Minaki, with homes on Pistol Lake. The sale closed in late March 2021. The previous developers had pursued two high-density forms of residential redevelopment, neither of which commenced on the site. The initial plan for 139 condominium units was approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in 2016, but the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) reversed that approval after an appeal by a large group of year-round residents of the town of Minaki and The Minaki Conservancy. The OMB agreed with appellants that the proposed use of the old Minaki Lodge sewage treatment plant to service the condominium development violated Ontario's Provincial Policy Statement. The developers' second plan, announced in the fall of 2020, for a 198-unit trailer park, again serviced by the old Lodge sewage plant, culminated instead in the sale to the Gratton group. In the announcement of the purchase, Doug Gratton summarized his group's concept for the property: "Our main vision is to see a sustainable development, with plans to decommission the sewage treatment plant and replace it with septic fields." The development will include residential lots on the water around the Lodge Point and others with dock access. A portion of the complex of concrete hotel buildings, erected
Former Minaki Lodge site on the Winnipeg River. Photo: Alex Rheault.
by the Province during its ownership in the early 1980s, will be demolished. The smaller remainder will be re-cladded in an attempt to improve its appearance on the site for condominiums. The development website is minaki.com. Minaki is a small community in unorganized territory, and the Lodge property holds a critical place in its geography and history. The Gratton group's concept is focused on bringing activity, value, and new residents to the site while respecting Minaki's natural environment, its special community heritage, and its tourismbased economy. In the announcement, Gratton said, "Different ideas are still being discussed, so we are very open to suggestions from the local community."
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association In the District
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Morson history some early Minahico families BY NANCY MILLER, MORSON HISTORY BOOK COMMITTEE WITH LEANNE FOURNIER
6 • • • 7 Modern day visitors to Morson may not be aware of the vibrant community of Minahico that made up the southern part of Morson Township, back in the early 1900s. Minahico had a store, post office, community hall, school, restaurant, Government Dock and dance pavilion, ball park, snowmobile racing, and outdoor ice rink. Today Spruce Creek Golf Course, Oscar Bay Beach Park, and Tomahawk Lighthouse are destinations for visitors to the area. Following are a couple of the stories that have been collected as part of the Morson History Book project that show the important contribution made by early families and their LOWDSA member descendants. They are examples of how the beauty and opportunity of the area have always been irresistible.
Ernest and Lilly Pentney Ernest and Lilly (Rushfeldt) had eight children and moved to the Minahico area in the early 1930s. Ernest was a lumberman by trade with an interest in botany, which he shared with Lilly. It was said that people would take a Sunday drive the 35 miles from the town of Rainy River to see Lilly's beautiful garden. They also had fruit orchards on their property. Son Richard ran a lodging camp at the end of Lighthouse Road and had the decommissioned Tomahawk Lighthouse moved across the ice to the property. Another son, Ernest, and his wife Katie, were
involved in commercial fishing as was their son Ken. Ken, and his wife Laurie, created Spruce Creek Golf Course, which was carved out of the wilderness in Minahico. Laurie tells how Ken was inspired to build the golf course after he retired, feeling the community needed another pastime beyond fishing. “We had David Grant, a golf course architect from Winnipeg come out,” said Laurie. “The sand for the greens and everything that was needed was already there.” Ken and his son-inlaw began clearing the land in 2004. Laurie said that many times, they wondered if they should just stop. “But eventually, we had gone too far to turn back.” The course, constructed on the original Pentney homestead, opened in 2008. Ken passed away in 2011, but Laurie continues to run the course and teach basic lessons. Tomahawk Lighthouse still sits on the front lawn of a Pentney home, now Laurie’s, which was built in 2002. There’s a welcome sign asking visitors to check in first so she can take them up to
Ernest and Lilly’s daughters, Edith and Elsie, in the Pentney garden that drew visitors from afar.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association
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ahawk tney’s home with the Tom Top: Ernie and Katie Pen luded inc o als ty und. The proper Lighthouse in the foregro house. an ice house and a fish chassis a windjammer, using the Bottom : Construction of den, Fad Val y, tne Pen . ay. L-R : A.R of a car, is well underw . den Fad Sandmoen, Arvena Ernest Pentney, Mrs. Leo
the iconic structure, a reminder of days gone by, poised as it is overlooking Lake of the Woods. Laurie says being involved in so many aspects of the community, as she and other Pentney’s have been, is just what you do living and raising your family in a small town. “That’s your social life, how you meet people and get involved to make your community a better place.”
Valentine "Val" and Arvena Fadden When Val completed his WWI draft registration, he stated they were living in Rainy River and he was running a boat for a company out of Baudette, Minnesota. In about 1919, Val and Arvena (Clendenning) Fadden settled into farming, moving to Minahico in 1938. They homesteaded on the south side of Spruce Creek in Minahico, now located on Highway 621. In addition to farming, Val worked as a fisherman and logger. He also operated a small sawmill and worked as a labourer. Val, with the help of Ernest Pentney, built a windjammer using the chassis of a car. Within the Fadden family circles, the story of the “windjammer” was thought to be a bit of tall tale. Lawrence (Stash), Val’s greatnephew, was surprised to learn that a photo exists showing that it is (at least in some part) true! Colleen Fadden is Morson’s present-day mayor. While she only moved to the community in 1970 from Sleeman, her mother’s family was from the area, running a fishing camp on the lake. Stash’s grandfather Ben, Val’s brother, was a captain and commercial fisherman. The home he shared with his wife Mabel,
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Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
located on Painted Rock, was referred to as the “fishery,” a local landmark until the fisheries were closed and the house was burned down. Colleen says that these families demonstrated what hard work can accomplish. Their legacy is a community where neighbours are always there to help one another and everyone is welcome. The community centers around the lake, which Colleen said can be taken for granted. “We take company out on the lake for a boat ride and they’re amazed by the beauty, and the peace and quiet. That’s just a normal day for those of us who live here.” The Morson History Book committee continues its collection of stories of the Morson community and businesses, both past and present. Anyone wishing to send along stories and photos related to the Morson area can email: morsonbook@gmail.com. You can also learn more on the Morson History Book page at facebook.com/watch/morsonbook. an
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Picture perfect
in the early 20th century
In the early 1900s people all over the world became captivated by the new phenomenon of picture postcards. At a time when personal cameras were rare, postcards provided an easy way for people to have keepsakes of the places they lived in or travelled to—and an economical way to share images of their hometowns with faraway families and friends. The appealing pictures brought about a new hobby of collecting postcards that swept the entire world. In 1908, with a population of about 6.6 million, 41 million postcards were posted in Canada alone. The postcard business flourished in Kenora and Keewatin. Both local and national publishers produced hundreds of “printed postcards” of the Kenora area – these were mass-produced on printing presses. A handful of photographers also sold scores of “real photo” postcards—these were photographs developed on special paper with a postcard style pre-printed back. Many of these same photographers sold their images to the big publishing companies which used them for making their printed postcards. Five photographers were primarily responsible for capturing the various sights and scenes of Lake of the Woods that adorned the postcards of this era. I am excited to introduce them to you, along with samples of their work.
Article and Postcard Collection photos by Rob McInnes, Deltiologist
George Barrowclough was a Winnipeg photographer
and the city’s most prolific creator of early real photo postcards. Visiting the Kenora area in the summer of 1905, he produced about two dozen real photo postcards. He was possibly the earliest publisher of real photo postcards sold here. The scenes on his cards included Main Street Kenora, the Norman Dam, Keewatin Beach, and other familiar sights. One particularly interesting Barrowclough postcard shows a south-facing view along Kenora’s unpaved Main Street and wooden sidewalks, dominated at that time by the towers of the Post Office and the Fire Hall that was lost to a fire in January 1912.
Carl Linde, originally from Quincy, Massachusetts, was a
boat-builder by trade. He immigrated to Canada in 1905 and moved to Kenora in late 1905 or early 1906, unaware that he was destined to become Kenora’s unofficial “photographer laureate”. As a photographer, Linde did not overlook the popularity of postcards. By 1907, he was self-publishing real photo postcards of his work. Through the following years, many of Linde’s images were used by national companies to produce printed postcards. Kenora was his primary home through to 1947. He spent his later years with his family in the U.S. One of Linde’s outstanding photographs was taken during a Kenora regatta held in July 1914. It shows a line of spectatorfilled boats stretching south from the old Rowing Club. A full-colour postcard, derived from that photo, was printed by the Pugh Manufacturing Company of Toronto. The image also captures the second-story deck of the Rowing Club, the Stone Boat Manufacturing Company, the back end of the sternwheeler Agwinde, and the conical roof of Kenora’s old bandstand.
This page: Kenora Regatta, 1914. Photo: Carl Linde. Opposite page, top to bottom: 1. Downtown Kenora, 1905. Photo: George Barrowclough. 2. Keewatin Football Team, 1906. Photo: William Marr. 3. Kenora Canadian Pacific Railway Station, c1906. Photo: George Whiten.
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Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
William Marr arrived in Keewatin in 1904,
at the age of eighteen. He, his mother, and his siblings travelled from England to join his father who had immigrated a year earlier to establish a home for his family. William lived with his parents and likely worked at the local flour mill (Lake of the Woods Milling Company). His earliest commercial postcard image is believed to have been sold in the summer or fall of 1905. Photography was likely never a primary source of income for William, but he produced real photo postcards through to at least until 1909. In 1911, William married Nellie Baker and the young couple soon relocated to Vancouver.
One of Marr’s most engaging postcards was a 1906 portrait of Keewatin’s trophy-winning Football (Soccer) Team. Unfortunately, the individual players are unidentified.
George Whiten arrived in Kenora with his
wife Emma in 1905. He was 56. Already an accomplished portrait photographer, George got in early on the postcard boom. By early 1906, he was selling real photo postcards of local scenes and publishing his own set of printed black and white postcards. George quickly began to sell his images to different publishers who developed printed postcards from them. George and Emma left Kenora in August of 1909, settling in Vernon, British Columbia where George re-established his photography business.
Whiten’s most widely distributed postcard was probably one based on a photo he took of the Kenora Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Station. It became a colour postcard printed and reprinted by Valentine & Sons of Toronto. Likely taken from the Matheson Street bridge, it shows a train drawn by a steam-powered locomotive picking up west-bound passengers. Kenora’s old Central School is evident in the background of the image while the water fountain in the CPR garden graces the foreground.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association
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William Woodhouse
emigrated from England to Keewatin in 1904, at the age of 37. Loving their new home with a passion, he and his wife Elizabeth convinced William’s sister Elizabeth and her husband Fred Parfitt to also leave England and resettle their whole family in Keewatin Camper’s Dock, c1910. Photo: William Woodhouse. the area. While William apparently worked at the Lake of the Woods One postcard, based on a Woodhouse photograph and Milling Company, by 1907 or earlier he developed a successful photography business on the side. Specializing published by the Pugh Manufacturing Company, shows a colourful hustle and bustle as passengers disembark from in real photo postcards, he produced dozens of stunning the train at the Keewatin Station, and descend the stairs to images of sights and scenes from both Kenora and the Camper’s Dock and an array of awaiting watercraft. Keewatin. By 1914, he was selling the rights to many of his photographs to the Pugh Manufacturing Company in We owe a debt of thanks to these early photographers Toronto who transformed them into beautiful full colour and to the advent of the picture postcards to which they printed postcards. Like so many others, William went applied their craft. Through the scenes that were captured to war in 1914. He survived the war, but his health had and conveyed, the splendour of Lake of the Woods was deteriorated, and he remained in England. With fond displayed worldwide for the first time and, a century later, memories of the Canadian town that he loved, William we can enjoy these many historic images of the lake, set named his house in England “Keewatin”. amidst the same beauty that captivates us still. an
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Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
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The
perfect predator
Article & photos by Barry Corbett
Last year, while enjoying a wonderful day at the beach, a hoard of horseflies invaded our happy space causing crying kids, adults slapping themselves and dogs snapping at their tails. Then out of the blue, like a squadron of attack helicopters, dragonflies appeared. Zipping and darting deftly through our group, they quickly eliminated the unwanted intruders. I watched with particular satisfaction as one dragonfly snatched an unsuspecting horsefly off my shoulder. While hovering in front of me, it quickly ripped the wings off, preventing its escape, and surgically removed the fly’s head before devouring the rest of the body. For once, “dragons” saved the “villagers”! Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the order Odonata (meaning toothed ones) and have been doing this job for a very long time, over 300 million years – 70 million years before dinosaurs appeared. Amazingly, they have changed little in appearance except for size. Fossil evidence indicates the wingspan of some dragonflies exceeded 70 cm making them the largest invertebrate ever to fly. Makes you shudder to think how big mosquitoes were!
Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the order Odonata (meaning toothed ones).
Worldwide, over 6,000 species inhabit all continents except Antarctica. In Canada, there are 214 known species. Although dragonflies and damselflies closely resemble each other, there are subtle physical differences. The most obvious is their wing position when resting. Dragonfly wings are held in an open horizontal position, while the damselfly folds its wings together above or alongside its body.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association
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Damselflies locked in a mating circle resemble a romantic heart.
Reproduction Odonata live two different lives in two separate worlds. We are most familiar with them as adults, the shortest period of their lives as “Masters of the Air”. In fact, they should be considered aquatic insects since they spend most of their lives underwater as nymphs. However, since Odonata reproduction is such a spectacular affair, let’s start with their sex life. To put it bluntly, it’s a rough and tumble affair requiring the flexibility and acrobatic skills of an Olympic gymnast. When a male spots a receptive female, he quickly performs a rather inconvenient task, transferring sperm from the end of his abdomen to a storage space just behind the thorax (wing area) where his sex organ resides. Lifting off, he quickly approaches from behind, grasping her thorax with his legs. His grip must be firm because another male may try to steal her. Now begins one of Nature’s most extraordinary choreographic acts. The male must curl his abdomen forward, grabbing the female’s neck with two appendages on the tip of his abdomen. Once secured he releases his grip on the thorax, snaps forward, and the pair fly attached in tandem. With a motion warranting a drum roll, she swings her abdomen forward and upwards, latching onto the underneath of his abdomen where the sperm is now
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Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
stored. This act, unique to Odonata, is called a mating circle and appropriately resembles a romantic heart. Since females may mate multiple times, the male will check for any competitor’s sperm. If detected, special scoops on the penis remove it before depositing his own, ensuring only his genetic traits are passed on. Coupling usually lasts only a few seconds to a minute but keep in mind this is all done while the dragonflies are flying! Damselflies on the other hand take a less strenuous approach to mating, forming the mating circle while resting on aquatic vegetation. This leisurely approach can last for five to ten minutes. How dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs depends on whether the female possesses an ovipositor or not. Those who do, use this knife-like appendage at the end of their abdomen to cut into an aquatic plant, rotten wood or even moist soil, releasing their eggs there. Those without one, simply dip their abdomen into the water, releasing their eggs which sink to the bottom. After mating the male’s job is not over. For some species the male will guard the female, preventing other males from mating with her while she lays eggs. In others, the male remains attached to the female helping her fly while she focuses on egg laying. And if by chance, she dips too deeply into the water the male will rescue her.
Life underwater Eggs hatch in a few days or if laid in the fall will overwinter until next spring. Once hatched, the longest phase of Odonata life begins. The larval or nymph stage lasts several weeks to several years depending upon the species. During this period, they will molt six to 15 times as they grow. Far from being helpless, the children of Odonata are natural born killers, actively stalking or lying in ambush for their victims. Anything that moves, including, aquatic insects, worms, tadpoles, small fish and even their own, is on the menu. What makes the nymph such an effective and frightening predator is its unique large hinged lower jaw or labium tucked under the head and thorax until needed. Functioning somewhat like the elbow of a human arm, it is powered by hydraulic pressure controlled by abdominal muscles. When prey is detected, the labium armoured with hooks and spines thrusts forward with blinding speed, seizing and drawing back the unsuspecting victim. Some suggest this structure inspired the monster in Alien. The nymphs travel by either walking or swimming. Damselflies are poor swimmers undulating back and forth, whereas dragonflies can squeeze water out their anus achieving remarkable bursts of speed or throttle back and cruise. And we thought humans invented jet propulsion!
Those who survive live only a few weeks or months but in this short time become one of Nature’s most formidable aerial predators. If the nymphs are voracious, the adults take predation to the next level! Their exceptional hunting prowess depends on their unique flying ability and unparallelled vision.
Again, unique to Odonata, each of the adult’s four wings works independently permitting exceptional maneuverability, agility, and speed. Dragonflies and damselflies can hover in one place, fly forward, backward, up, down, sideways and upside down. Even hummingbirds, their closest aerial rival can’t fly upside down. Dragonflies are extremely fast, achieving top flying speeds of 36 to 54 kph with
Once fully grown, the nymph abandons its aquatic world, crawling out onto a plant stalk or rock, undergoing its last but most dramatic transformation. As the back splits, an adult packed in like an accordion emerges vulnerable to bird predation until its exoskeleton and wings dry.
Aerial masters 1 Willow Drive Falcon Lake, MB R0E 0N0
Your Project Is Our Passion
E: info@lumberone.ca W: www.lumberone.ca TF: 1-866-325-2661 P: 204-349-2294
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association
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Dragonflies are distinguished by four wings held in an open horizontal position.
combinations of red, blue and green while Odonata species may possess 11 to 30 opsins. One of their opsin even mimics polarized glasses reducing sun glare off water. a cruising speed of 16 kph. Damselflies, although accomplished fliers are far slower, preferring to flutter and float. Most of the Odonata head is comprised of two enormous eyes each housing 20,000 to 30,000 facets. Each facet creates a separate image the brain consolidates into one single image. Eighty percent of the brain is devoted to vision. Odonata can see in every direction except for a blind spot directly behind them. If that’s not enough, dragonflies and damselflies see colours we can only imagine. The human eye is equipped with three “opsins” allowing us to see
You would think with their speed, Odonata would simply chase down their prey; not so, they employ a far more complex and effective ambush strategy. Like a flying weapons system, Odonata can lock onto an individual insect within a swarm. The brain instantaneously determines the prey’s speed and flight path, calculates a trajectory intercepting the target, resulting in an astounding 95 per cent success rate. Once an insect is targeted, the game is over! Damselflies and dragonflies are equal opportunity predators, feeding on whatever is abundant and available. Fortunately for us, they have a particular fondness for mosquitoes eating 30 to hundreds in one day. For me, there is no more welcome sight than a squadron of dragonflies or mosquito hawks as they are sometimes referred to. After 300 million years and countless environmental changes, Odonata has evolved little in appearance or behaviour. Why change when you already are the perfect predator. an
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Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
The not so common crow ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY DAVE SCHWARTZ
A family of American crows nested in our yard last year. Given their reputation as crop thieves by farmers and gardeners, nuisances by city dwellers and nest robbers by bird lovers, we were less than delighted and on the verge of trying to drive them away.
by the dominant male. Sometimes another male snuck in for a clandestine rendezvous but more often, one of the male offspring of the nesting female impregnated her. This discovery came as a surprise to researchers because crows form long-term pair bonds.
However, we soon became fascinated with their antics as they swooped gracefully through the yard on various missions. They cawed loudly from the tree tops to claim ownership of the territory and often landed on the lawn to dig up big white grubs and head to the bird bath to wash them before flying away and disappearing into the trees. Occasionally, a mob would form to drive away an intruding hawk or eagle in a noisy David and Goliath aerial battle. The crows were very secretive and deceptive while nest building. Try as we might, we could not spot the nest until the chicks were hatched and starting to raise a ruckus when food arrived. The nest was located close to the trunk near the top of a pine tree. Crows live in family groups of from two to 15 individuals. Family members protect and care for each other. Young crows help their parents to defend their territory and raise the next brood of young in the years after their own hatching. The dominant male crow stands guard and does not normally feed the female or the chicks. The female never leaves the nest. When only a male and a female crows tend the nest, both parents share the parenting duties. Young crows do not breed until they are at least two years old and some stay with their birth family for several years longer, perhaps waiting for a territory to become available before mating. It’s a lot of work to raise young crows: a week to build the nest, another to lay eggs, 18 to 19 days for incubation and another five or six weeks to feed the nestlings. The adults then feed them for about two months after they leave the nest. Despite its benefits, cooperative breeding is a rare social system in the bird world. Males, females, juveniles and even recently fledged chicks are indistinguishable from each other, although the chicks of the year have blue eyes until a couple of months after they fledge and red beak interiors for up to two years.
Crows are highly intelligent and known to be protective of their domain.
Despite their reputation as noisy pests, crows are beneficial in a number of ways. A crow family can eat thousands of grubs, caterpillars, army worms and other insects in one nesting season. Their transport and storage of seeds contributes to forest renewal and their habit of eating carrion makes them part of nature’s cleanup crew.
To address the difficulty of identifying individual crows, Cornell University scientists used genetic testing to determine sex and parentage of individual birds in crow families. Once identified, the birds were tagged so that individuals could be tracked and studied from a distance. Among other things, those genetic studies revealed considerable hankypanky in the crow families. Almost 20 per cent of nestlings were not fathered
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment
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revenge by scolding and attacks in which the crow may swoop down and peck painfully at the back of their villain's head. That is just one of many indications that all of that cawing is not just noise but instead, a fairly sophisticated language being used to communicate complex information. After the breeding season and before the migration, crows begin to congregate in large numbers. In late evening they fly to a communal tree roost/slumber party. Crow roosts can number from dozens of birds in the early fall, to hundreds, to thousands, with roosts gathering in size as the crows concentrate along their southerly migration. The largest crow roost was estimated at two million birds. Fancy having your car parked below them! A crow stands guard for its family.
The American crow population has dramatically increased since the arrival of settlers in North America. Formerly a rural bird, it has now adapted and thrives in urban and suburban environments where it can forage for food made available by human activity (trash, pet foods, bird feeding, etc.). They are opportunists and will eat nearly anything. Crows are highly intelligent and are known to live up to 19 years in the wild, giving them lots of time to learn and also to teach one another. This was well-illustrated by an experiment in which crows’ reactions after being banded were studied. Getting captured and banded by researchers is an unpleasant experience for a crow and they remember and can recognize the people that did the deed. They can hold a lasting grudge and teach other crows to dislike and distrust that person. They take
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It’s believed that crows coming together in large roosts, day or night, is for protection from predators and sharing information about food sources. I was inspired to write this piece when I saw a course offered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, in which they wrote, “This common black bird, that few of us pay much attention to, is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood on the planet… Once you uncover the hidden lives of these birds, you will never consider crows ‘common’ again.” Indeed. And I have barely scratched the surface.
Environment Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
an
Tips to keep your septic system working Your septic system "is alive" and just like your digestive system, it relies on bacteria to process the material we put through it. By paying attention to what we put into our systems, we can really improve our septic system performance. Perform regular maintenance:
Do not use the toilet as a garbage disposal:
Solids MUST eventually be pumped from the tank, even if you are on an island. If you can't remember the last time your tank was pumped, you're likely overdue. Septic tanks can contain toxic fumes and tank pumping and filter cleaning is best left to the professionals.
Cat litter, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons, paper towels, facial tissues, coffee grounds, or cigarette butts and filters should never be flushed down the toilet. These items can quickly clog septic systems.
Prevent overloading the septic tank & field: Ensure that your septic system has grown with your home or cottage. If your cabin has doubled its sleeping capacity, it should have also increased its septic capacity. Use low flow toilets, aerators on faucets and flow reducer nozzles on showers to help lower water consumption. Reduce water levels for small loads of laundry or consider buying energy efficient appliances. Wait until the dishwasher is full to run it or try a shorter dishwashing cycle, which uses less water. Never pour grease down the drain: Grease can ruin your septic system by clogging the septic field, making it impossible for soil to absorb liquids— you may need a completely new field.
Keep trees away from the septic system: Keep trees far from the septic system to avoid damage by roots. Trees with very aggressive roots, such as willows, should be even farther away from the system. Minimize use of garbage disposal systems: Using a garbage disposal will greatly increase the amount of solids entering your system. No matter how well they are ground up, they are still solids and will clog up your field. Therefore we do not recommend their use with septic systems. Compost plant material instead.
More information about septic system requirements, including permits for the region, is available at nwhu.on.ca.
Minimize, or better yet, eliminate heavyduty cleansers: Overuse of heavy-duty cleaners and anti-bacterial products kills beneficial bacteria in the septic tank, so solids won't break down as well. Also many solid detergents (laundry and dishwasher) contain clay as a filler—filler that can clog your field. So use environmentally-friendly liquid detergents whenever possible. Never pour hazardous chemicals down the drain: Varnish, paint thinners, motor oils, gasoline, and other similar chemicals can ruin your system and are a hazard to groundwater. Store used hazardous chemicals in appropriate containers and dispose of them in accordance with your jurisdiction's hazardous waste laws. Protect the system from damage: Do not drive over the field, build a structure on top of it, or cover it with concrete or asphalt. Do plant grass on the field to minimize soil erosion.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment
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Antidepressants: What happens when they end up in our fresh water? BY JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ GIL, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, IISD EXPERIMENTAL LAKES AREA
Antidepressants are a lifeline for millions of
How do antidepressants end up in our water?
people across North America and the world. And
Our bodies are great at getting rid of things that are not recognized. When we take a pill, a large portion of the medicine can be excreted directly unchanged. Pharmaceutical companies know this and actually adjust what is in the pill to make sure enough medicine actually reaches the intended destination within our bodies.
as COVID-19 measures have taken their toll on populations, we are seeing prescriptions for those drugs growing.
What do antidepressants have to do with the environment? Critical psychoactive therapeutic agents, such as the aforementioned antidepressants or antipsychotics, are of special interest to ecologists and freshwater scientists (or limnologists). This is because psychiatric medications, in addition to being among the most prescribed drugs in the continent, are also some of the drugs most commonly detected in aquatic ecosystems. Over the last two decades, an increasing number of studies have confirmed the widespread presence of complex mixtures of pharmaceutical and personal care compounds in aquatic environments. Even so, our understanding of the fate, behaviour, and effects of these compounds in aquatic ecosystems (including those who inhabit them) is still limited.
Once we excrete those compounds, through urine, they enter into wastewater. Wastewater treatment plants do a fantastic job removing things like phosphorus and nitrogen that, when in high concentrations, can cause problems like harmful algal blooms. These plants, however, were never designed to remove small amounts of complex chemicals like pharmaceuticals. Next step? The compounds are released into freshwater systems and can end up in lakes, where the organisms that reside within are continually exposed to them.
What do we know already about their impact? There have already been some studies in laboratories to explore what happens to the physiology and behaviour of aquatic organisms who have been exposed to concentrations of those antidepressant compounds that you would find in freshwater environments such as lakes and streams.
Title photo: Lee Hrenchuk of IISD-ELA does mucus swabs on fish in a freshwater lake at the site.
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Environment Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Critical psychoactive therapeutic agents, such as antidepressants or antipsychotics, are of special interest to freshwater scientists at IISD-ELA due to their potential ecological impacts.
So, where do we go from here?
The effects on those organisms were subtle, and generally not intense enough to result in the death of the organism. In fish, they noted some changes in behaviour too. For example, fish showed slower response times, which resulted in them exiting potentially dangerous situations at a slower pace, which is clearly a concerning effect and could potentially affect their overall health (and ultimately population sizes). We have also seen effects on the nervous systems of aquatic organisms. While laboratory studies are always useful, they can only reveal so much. When you manipulate and experiment on whole ecosystems, you can explore the many different effects that a pollutant or drug has on multiple components of a lake ecosystem and on ecosystem services. Only by looking at all the components together can we see larger effects on the ecosystem.
Here at the world’s freshwater laboratory, we do just that— experiment on whole lakes to mimic and monitor what we see around the world every day. This summer, after preparatory small-scale experiments in laboratories and on the land, we are exploring what happens when venlafaxine, a commonly prescribed antidepressant, is introduced into freshwater environments. We will be using small enclosures within a real lake and introducing venlafaxine into them at the levels they have been detected in regular, real-life water bodies. Then, we will explore what happens at all levels of the food web and in every corner of the lake. We want to know the toxicity of the drug on the fish (especially when they are young), we want to explore any behavioural changes in the organisms once their lake is exposed to the drug, we want to see if there is any impact on populations and population sizes, and we also want to discover how the drugs accumulates in the lake’s organisms. Once we have those answers, we will be developing policies that empower our governments and industry to protect our fresh water from any harmful effects these critical drugs may have, and to inform Canada’s wastewater treatment strategy. an
Succession Planning your cottage can be complicated. We’ll help you navigate through the process.
204-745-2028 Mona Brown mbrown@pkflawyers.com
42 Years of Experience
Stéphane Warnock swarnock@pkflawyers.com
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment
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L A K E O F T H E W O O D S WAT E R S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y F O U N D AT I O N
Record Attendance at the Watershed Forum Put a plan in place. Ensure there's enough science and management expertise. Unite and coordinate actions bi-nationally—communities, researchers and policy makers. That’s our mission. BY TODD SELLERS, LOWWSF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR All eyes focused “virtually” on our watershed and lakes at the 18th annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, held on March 10 and 11. Over 180 participated—a record attendance, with 21 presentations and Q&A sessions organized into theme groups of Water Governance, Aquatic Invasive Species, Nutrients, Canadian Phosphorus Options, Regulation, and Monitoring. Priscilla Simard and Mona Gordon, Knowledge Keepers with the Women’s Council of Grand Council Treaty #3 opened the Forum with a prayer and ceremony honouring Nibi (water). Their thoughtful words, reflecting on the need to work together to respect and protect Nibi in our watershed, got our meetings and discussions started in a good way. Welcome addresses focusing on the strong binational collaboration in our watershed were provided by Consul General Ariel Delouya, from the Canadian Consulate in Minneapolis and Consul Brian Koontz, from the U.S. Consulate in Winnipeg. Highlights included:
Environment and Climate Change Canada – Public Engagement on Phosphorus Targets For the past several months, the Foundation has been helping you to connect and “have your say” with the team at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) about their plans for managing algae blooms on Lake of the Woods. A big thank you to all who took the time to participate in the Zoom webinars, ask questions of ECCC, and also to those who provided responses to the questions ECCC posed on its Lake of the Woods Engagement website. The webinars were well attended; thought-provoking questions were asked and many of you provided your thoughts on what you want ECCC to do! We heard that you think it’s time for action to be taken, now that the science is done. We heard support for setting targets that will protect the lake in the future; and that any strategies should be done in close communication with the state of Minnesota. ECCC presented three potential phosphorus reduction scenarios for the lake based on results of its four-year science program:
• A plenary session with Dr. Gretchen Hanson of the University of Minnesota, focusing her research on the impacts of invasive spiny water fleas and zebra mussels on first-year growth of walleye and yellow perch in Minnesota’s large lakes.
• 5 per cent reduction: a do-nothing option via natural lake flushing over decades.
• A Town Hall discussion session with Daniel RokitnickiWojcik from Environment and Climate Change Canada detailing proposed ecosystem objectives and phosphorus reduction scenarios to manage algae blooms in Lake of the Woods.
• 30 per cent reduction: that meets all the ecosystem objectives but will require substantial effort to achieve.
• An update on the status of the walleye fishery in Lake of the Woods and work underway to protect the fishery from decline. • Updates on research by Trent University, supported by the Foundation, investigating phosphorus loading “hot spots” in tributaries to the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods to help guide management actions.
• 20 per cent reduction: that meets most ecosystem objectives and is in line with Minnesota’s plans.
We heard a variety of opinions from you on which is the best approach, but it was clear that you feel it is time to act now and move ahead to set water quality objectives and reduction targets—and that an ongoing monitoring program is essential to support adaptive management to accommodate for future climate change and development changes. Although ECCC’s formal engagement period is over, we encourage you to continue to push for action! The Foundation will carry on pressing our governments to move from science to action and develop a plan for our great lake.
Far too much information was presented to do justice here. A full report on the Forum, with details of the research presented is available at the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation website: lowwsf.com/forum-proceedings
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment
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L A K E O F T H E W O O D S WAT E R S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y F O U N D AT I O N
Apples and Oranges in Lake of the Woods BY BEV CLARK FOR THE LAKE OF THE WOODS WATER SUSTAINABILITY FOUNDATION For many years now there has been a focus on determining the causes of nuisance algal blooms in Lake of the Woods. We know, based on a volume of scientific evidence, that too much phosphorus is the culprit, and this fact steers the question towards how much phosphorus is too much phosphorus? In order to answer the question, we need to determine: 1. How is phosphorus getting into the lake? and then, 2. What are its effects on the algal community? This is a difficult task, especially for a large international water body like Lake of the Woods. To get going, we need to develop a phosphorus (P) budget (and several attempts have been made at this over the years). That will tell us how the P is entering the lake and how this affects in-lake P concentrations. If we can do this, we will have a handle on the first question. The focus of this article is to look at several different P budgets from different sources. We will need to leave that second question until later. It’s a bit of a Duesenberg.
In Table 1, we compare the components of three P budgets that have been developed for Lake of the Woods. The earliest attempt by Hargan et al. (2011) provided an initial budget that, while missing some crucial inputs, compares surprisingly well with later more rigorous attempts. Two recent budgets include: Minnesota’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the south basin of Lake of the Woods and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) effort to link phosphorus inputs to inlake conditions throughout Lake of the Woods. It is important to note that all three of these budgets recognize that the lion’s share of both water and nutrients that enter Lake of the Woods do so via the Rainy River that drains the vast watershed shared between Canada and the United States.
Okay, so let’s get to this business of apples and oranges. If we want to compare the components of the three budgets outlined in the table, the first thing to do is look at what data are being used. If we look at the top of the table, we see that the TMDL study uses data from 2005 to 2014 and focuses on the south basin of Lake of the Woods. The ECCC budget uses data from 2016 to 2018 and incorporates the entire lake. Hargan used data before 2011 and described loads to the whole lake. Right off the bat we have apples and oranges. There’s more. If we look at the waste load estimates and glance up at the dates it seems likely that the TMDL loads Lake of the Woods includes the Abitibi pulp and paper mill in Control Board Fort Frances that was active during their data collection range (about 40 MT). For the ECCC budget, the mill had shut down in 2014, prior to their study. It would have been active for Hargan’s attempt. It is easy to see why there may be differences in the estimates and there are similar problems with comparing line items stitched throughout the entire table. Use Web Site (updated each workday): www.lwcb.ca of the term tributaries has clearly different meanings in each of the three budgets. Current information & advisories, historic data & more ECCC and Hargan may be comparing " Regulation Guide - Regulation rules & criteria; basin similar sources but the TMDL budget has physical features; water level & flow preferences a larger tributary number which contains Rainy River loads. Some of the largest " Before You Build - Hazard lands and docks; water differences are with internal loads (a large levels to plan for; determining the level on your shore component) which was not included in Hargan’s budget. So, if we really wanted Recorded Message (updated weekly): 1-800-661-5922 to get away from apples and oranges we would need to add or subtract loads from Current level and flow information; advisories as needed the idle Abitibi mill, add internal loads, compare similar areas, and so forth. That is Staff: Call: 1-800-661-5922 not going to happen here.
LWCB
Water Level & Flow Information Lake of the Woods / Winnipeg River Lac Seul / English River
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! !
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Email: secretariat@lwcb.ca Write: Lake of the Woods Control Board Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Environment Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Lake of the Woods P Load Assessments Data Range Utilized
TMDL
ECCC
Hargan
2005 to 2014
2016 to 2018
up to 2011
Target Receiver
S. Basin LoW LoW
LoW
Sources
(MT)
(MT)
(MT)
Waste Load
90.1
60.84
98.7
(+Abitibi, ~40T)
(-Abitibi, ~40T)
Local watershed
17.1
Septic
0.7
9.36
18
Tributaries
373.5
123
130
Atmosphere
51.4
70.2
95
Erosion
72
70.2
no est
Internal Load
282
219.25
no est
Rainy River
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Rainy River at Long Sault Rapids. Photo: Lee Grim.
395
568
Current total
887
877
762
Proposed Reductions
163.1 (-17%)
175.4 (20%)
no est
Target P Conc.
<30 ug/L
improved
none
Source of Reductions
Rainy River
Whole no est watershed but primarily Rainy River
The good news here is that for the first time we have studies that recommend what must be done to ameliorate harmful algal blooms in Lake of the Woods. We can now start talking about these numbers. The next steps to meet reductions will be challenging but we have come a long way towards addressing these algal blooms. Stay tuned. an
This article was written for the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation as part of its Enhancing capacity for collaborative governance in the Lake of the Woods Basin project.
Table 1 – Comparing three Phosphorus budgets for Lake of the Woods.
There is one final consideration. In these budgets, if most of the sources are considered and if the data are representative of average conditions, then the total loads should be similar. In this case since most of the load is from the Rainy River, we can look at the total loads. We see that the TMDL and ECCC loads are similar. Hargan is lower but does not include an internal load. At this point, it is important to understand that both the TMDL study and the ECCC project have determined total loads and go forward to indicate reductions in P that are required to improve conditions in the lake. Hargan did not do that. Since reductions will occur primarily in the Rainy River, we come to a spot where apples may be closer to apples. The TMDL study recommends a 17.3 per cent reduction and the ECCC study says that a 20 per cent reduction will fulfil most of their goals in the lake. Close. Of course, one study pertains to the south portion of the lake and the other encompasses the entire lake...sigh.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment
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BUILDING DREAM S
MEMBER RECIPE
Some wow with Walleye Burgers BY MARILYN AND TERRY FYKE, HOLMSTROM'S MARSH AND WINNIPEG
Pickerel Burgers Ingredients: 2 c. chopped pickerel Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 tsp. roasted red pepper
1 tsp. green pepper Chana flour (chickpea flour) Bread crumbs
Directions: Mix all ingredients except flour and bread crumbs. Add flour to hold the burgers together and then place in bread crumbs. Brown in hot oil and then cook in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes. Place on buns. Top with lettuce and tartar sauce.
The lake is a very special place for the Fyke’s. Terry and I built our place in 1991. Our lot was next door to my in-law’s Joyce and Leverne Fyke, which meant our daughters had the wonderful advantage of spending a great deal of time with their grandparents at the lake. As our children grew, we enjoyed our trips to the lake. One year we did not miss one weekend! The winter has always been just as enjoyable as the summer. With the growth of our family Jen, Ryan, Carley and Dale and grandchildren Hunter, Charlie, Hayden and Nolan, we always have to organize meals. Once I surprised them with the Walleye Burgers and they were a hit! Having the entire family all at the cottage provides us with such memorable times that are cherished.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living
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T R E A D I N G W I S E LY
Food for thought BY ROSEMARY ROBERTSON
There is something comforting about food and lake living. Everything tastes better. We develop hearty appetites through outdoor activity and fresh air. We savour leisurely meals with folks we love. Although many of our favourite cottage foods like s’mores, popcorn and butter tarts won’t likely disappear, there is a change afoot for the better. We are reaching towards recognition of the need to make much of our cottage noshing more sustainable. People are choosing fresh, sustainable foods, grown locally if possible and produced in an environmentally responsible way. Why, you say? Because it is better for your wellbeing and the world around us. Meal planning and using reusable containers are normal at home but not necessarily at the lake. The reason may be that it is easier and quicker to get to paradise by buying prepackaged and an
abundance of food. This makes foodstuffs readily available for those spontaneous deck breakfasts or picnics. But it comes with a cost and it is one we can no longer afford. Just as we plan that first trip to or on the lake, including essentials like the camp keys, we could meal plan. Buying only what we need and either using up leftovers or taking them home produces far less waste. Choosing recipes that have the potential to cover multiple meals are good selections. Doing part of the prep ahead of time gives you more free time to relish the time on the lake. Being wise when buying in bulk pays off. Often too late, we realize that giant bag of freezies created plastic garbage and extra product that is not used. In contrast, large water jugs or biodegradable liquid hand soap can be purchased guilt free, as it will allow refills and usually will be totally used.
Title photo: Gathering to share food is a treasured part of lake life. While this 2015 photo is posed, the mayhem is pretty true to life, especially now that there are nine grandchildren.
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Living Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Surplus food has been a perennial problem for cottagers because people come and go from their places frequently. It is a particular hitch at closeup. The top foods wasted are fruits and vegetables, dairy and bread followed by meat. Funny that there are no chips in this list. Here’s a fun idea. When we can safely meet again, how about hosting a “everything but the kitchen sink” potluck with your family or neighbours? Using their leftovers to create dishes, you might see be a zucchini casserole, a catch-all soup, or a pumpkin cake with extras like chocolate chips. Prizes might could be offered for the most creative or popular creations.
in a hanging pot on your deck is doable for most of us. If not, a visit to a Lake of the Woods area market or food co-op is a great way to access produce and support a local business whose winters are fairly lean.
Gardening is a gift we give to our children. If they are to embrace sustainability, learning about how to grow food, even on a small scale is vital. We may not want to be totally plant-based but making plants a larger part of our diet leads to healthier people. Picking and eating a carrot as a snack trumps any wrapped granola bar for our grandkids. That joy is extended if they have helped to plant Clockwise from top left: 1. Fresh from soil each day is the best way to enjoy vegetables. 2. Homemade Food prep has become those carrots. They also bread has made a comeback and can be full of sustainable ingredients. The smell and taste is irresistible. 3. Delightful, easy to grow raspberries bring smiles to little faces. Maisey is making the most learn about the value of infinitely easier than in of her treat. 4. Different years produce varying crop sizes of grapes. The resulting jam is so flavourful early cottage days. The composting when they that no store bought jam compares. meals we have planned throw the tops in it and can be cooked outdoors in a myriad of styles; BBQs/smokers and help dig it into the soil the following spring. Our raspberries are even the good ol’ bonfire, in a crockpot, instant pot or microwave. considered a delicacy, eaten right off the bush or even when These forms of cooking can make our meals easier and energy frozen out of hand or in a smoothie. Through this, they have efficient, adding sustainability. Bonus…. they save precious swim practiced the principles of food sustainability (food grown locally, or fishing time. produced responsibly and wasted rarely). Notes from Razberry Lane reminds us of the value of gardening. It is a major contributor to living sustainably, as we edge towards a more plant-based diet. Granted not everyone wants to spend their lake time gardening. But even a pot of lettuce and onions
Sure, we still eat fresh caught fish and popcorn. But now we make sure that it all gets eaten, either right then or the next day. We can always make more, but we can’t put things back where they came from, unless it’s compostable. Food for thought! an
Clear and practical advice Over 40 years of experience in Lake of the Woods Real Estate
W. Randall F. Seller
Stephen R. Lundin
Cheryl C. M. Siran
Beth Allison White
Reid E. Thompson
Kimberly P. Mejia
Phaedra M. Olinyk
Laura M. Wheatley
rseller@hsllaw.ca
slundin@hsllaw.ca
csiran@hsllaw.ca
bwhite@hsllaw.ca
rthompson@hsllaw.ca
kmejia@hsllaw.ca
polinyk@hsllaw.ca
lwheatley@hsllaw.ca
B.A., LL.B
B.A., LL.B
B.A. (ADV), LL.B
B.H.Ec., LL.B
B.A., LL.B
HOOK SELLER LUNDIN
B.B.A., LL.B
LLP
BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS
B. Soc. Sc., J.D.
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1-833-447-5529
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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living
59
HST/GST and cottage properties— it’s a minefield! BY MONA BROWN AND STÉPHANE WARNOCK The basic rule for HST/GST and Real Property is that everything is taxable, and the Vendor (person selling a property) must collect for the government, unless there is a specific exemption. Real property is the land, everything permanently attached to it, and all of the interests, benefits, and rights inherent in the ownership of real estate. There is an exemption for “used residential” property, which will apply for most cottages. A purchaser that is registered for GST/ HST can “self-assess” on a purchase of a property that they intend to use for business purposes (as a rental), and claim an offsetting input tax credit, thus paying no tax. This is the only exception to the requirement of the Vendor to collect the HST/GST. Determination of what is considered “used residential” is extremely fact specific. Often purchasers, vendors, and even sometimes lawyers, will mistakenly assume that a property is “used residential” or otherwise exempt from HST/GST under Schedule V of the Excise Tax Act. Consider the following
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Living Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
scenarios: the property was “used residential”, but there was a change of use to a short-term rental; the property was subdivided twice or more prior to sale; or the lot is larger than CRA considers “necessary.” Generally, CRA allows the cottage and the 1 acre/ half hectare immediately surrounding, exceptions may be made if local zoning requires a larger minimum lot size. In any of these scenarios, HST/GST is payable and should be collected by the Vendor and remitted. Did you know that if CRA reassesses a transaction, which can be many years after closing, and demands HST/GST, penalties, and interest, it must be paid by the Vendor? Section 224 of the Excise Tax Act permits the Vendor to sue the purchaser for the
HST/GST. Potentially the Vendor can sue the purchaser even after the normal limitation period has expired, and even if it was the Vendor’s error that HST/GST was not collected and remitted. In some cases, the Vendor has successfully sued the purchasers many years after closing, and often after the time limit has expired for the purchaser to claim input tax credits on a commercial transaction.
What should you do?
It is important that purchasers and their legal counsel ensure that they get the right indemnities from the Vendor on closing regarding the representations about use of the property, and that these representations survive the closing date so that the purchaser has a defense to such an action.
If you are purchasing a cottage, the safest way to protect yourself would be to include in the agreement a provision confirming that the vendor acknowledges that HST/GST has been included in the purchase price.
If your offer to purchase is silent on HST/GST then, under current legislation, HST/GST is deemed not to have been included in the purchase price and the purchaser will be required to pay HST/ GST in addition to the purchase price.
How might this affect you? As noted above, if you are the seller, in the event that CRA reassesses the transaction and says it was subject to HST/GST, you may be required to remit the HST/GST, with penalties and interest. You may be able to sue to recover the HST/GST from the purchaser, but this will require a lawsuit and caselaw suggests you may not be able to recover the interest or penalties.
If you are selling commercial property and relying on the Purchaser self-assessing, your lawyer should search the purchaser’s HST/GST number to confirm the number matches the actual purchaser. Never agree to allow another party to take title without a new GST indemnification and search.
If you are the vendor, you need to have your lawyer and accountant advise you on whether HST/GST is owing: (1) never assume that the property is exempt from HST/GST; and (2) always consult a lawyer knowledgeable in taxation and real property law, who can advise on whether HST/GST is payable and how that should be properly dealt with. an The purpose of this article is for general education and interest of property owners. For questions or advice specific to your situation, contacting a professional is recommended.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living
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Suit up! It’s tick season No sooner does the snow disappear and we need to suit up—not for the cold—but against the blood suckers, black-legged (deer) ticks and wood ticks that are so prevalent in our region. While we want to avoid both, deer ticks as carriers of Lyme and anaplasmosis bacteria, pose the greatest hazard. They are most abundant during spring and early summer. The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation (canlyme.com) offers information and tips to protect ourselves, our children and our pets during the warm months and still enjoy the great outdoors. The best prevention, according to cnalyme.com is to “is to avoid tick-infested areas whenever possible, particularly in spring and early summer when nymph ticks feed. Adult ticks are a bigger threat in fall. Ticks that transmit Lyme disease favour moist, shaded environments; especially leafy wooded areas and overgrown grassy habitats.” 1. Use repellents that are recognized as being effective against ticks such as those containing 30% DEET, 20% icaridin also known as Picaridin that can be used on children from 6 months of age onwards. Natrapel lemon/ eucalyptus [pmenthane-3,8 diol] may work to repel ticks but it isn’t labelled as such. (Source: canlyme.com/wp-content/ uploads/2018/09/NS_Lyme_Prevention.pdf ). Apply by hand to your face, neck, and ears—you don’t want DEET in your eyes or mouth! Adults should apply DEET products to young children. You may need to reapply after several hours. For more information on repellents and children see ages 3 and under caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/insect_repellents. 2. Apply permethrin to clothing, hiking boots, tents and camp chairs. Permethrin products should never be used on skin. It remains effective on clothing through several washings. Permethrin is also sold under the names Permanone and Duranon. 3. Wear light-coloured clothing. You’ll have a better chance of seeing a dark tick crawling on you before it makes its way to your skin.
4. Wear long pants with sneakers or hiking boots. Tuck your pant legs into your socks, and keep your shirt tucked into your waistband. In areas where ticks are abundant, you may even want to wrap duct tape around your ankles, over the top of your socks. You’ll look ridiculous, but it makes it harder for ticks to find your skin. 5. Outfit yourself in bug repellent apparel. Want a sporty, outdoor look with built-in tick protection? Sporting goods stores often sell clothing that is pretreated with permethrin. The treatment lasts for up to 70 washes. 6. Stay on the trail. Ticks hang out in high vegetation, waiting for a passing host. When your leg brushes through the vegetation, the tick transfers to your body. Walk on designated trails, and avoid blazing your own through meadows or other high vegetation areas during tick season. 7. Avoid tick-infested places. In some places, ticks may be too abundant to avoid, even with the best repellents and long pants. If you venture a few feet into a wooded area or field and find your legs covered with ticks, get out of there and remove all ticks! 8. Be vigilant—do a daily tick check. Strip down and search all those places that ticks love to hide: in your hair, under your arms, between your legs, behind the knees, and even in your belly button. 9. Put your clothes in the dryer, and tumble them on high heat. Research shows many ticks can make it through the washing machine, even when you wash in hot water. Most ticks will die during a cycle in the hot, dry air of your clothes dryer, though. 10. Check your pets and your kids before letting them loose in the house. Ticks can drop off on carpets or furniture. You can read more about safe tick removal at canlyme.com/lyme-basics/tick-removal.
Title photo: A deer tick is dark brown or black with no white markings on their back.
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Living Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Create tick-free zones
Lyme Disease
• Keep your lawn well manicured, free of leaf litter, brush and weeds.
Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. These bacteria are spread by the bite of a blacklegged tick. The black-legged tick is found throughout Ontario, including the Northwestern Health Unit region.
• Create a tick barrier using chips or gravel between your lawn and taller grasses or bush.
They are very small and hard to see. Not all black-legged (deer) ticks carry the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Ticks must be attached for at least 24 hours for transmission of the bacterium to occur, and is most likely if they have been attached for at least two days of feeding. Symptoms of Lyme disease usually begin within three days to one month of being bit. The symptoms include: fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and a skin rash that looks like a red bull's eye.
• Move children's swing sets and sandboxes away from the wooded or bushy edges of a play area and consider placing them on wood chips or mulch. • Use plants that do not attract deer or consider fencing to keep deer out of the yard and garden. • If you have a bird feeder keep it away from the house. • Eliminate mouse habitats because deer ticks get the Lyme disease bacteria from mice. See the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center website for more information on these tips and Lyme Disease.
Anaplasmosis Anaplasmosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Humans can become infected with this bacterium when they are bitten by an infected black-legged (deer) tick.
a mild and self-limiting illness. More serious infections and complications may occur in people who have weak immune systems or in older adults. If bitten, disease can be prevented by removing the tick within 12 to 24 hours.
Symptoms of anaplasmosis usually begin within five days to three weeks of being bit. The symptoms include: fever, headache, chills, muscle and joint pain, fatigue and nausea. Less common symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, cough and confusion. A rash is rarely noticed. Anaplasmosis is most often
For more information, contact the Northwestern Health Unit or visit Preventing Ticks at nwhu.on.ca. an
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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living
63
NOTES FROM RAZBERRY LANE
Cool weather gardening BY ANITA & HENRY RASMUSSEN Back in March, the view out our kitchen window was often of five sleeping deer curled up in the next yard. Each morning they would leave deep hollows behind as they rose languidly from their winter beds. Through the same window four little solar lights bravely shone up through thick caps of snow every night. No other sign of life or of anything growing out there. But that would soon change even while the garden slept on in the frozen ground. Dreams of a new growing season began to percolate. Seed catalogues became dog-eared. Wish lists were made, discarded then re-edited. Soon each windowsill would sport trays of precious seeds, harbingers of spring. Gardeners are ever impatient for green shoots to emerge from the soil, but how early is too early? Over the years, we have experimented with so-called “cool weather crops”. Our first and most satisfying venture harks back to an unusually mild spring in the 80s when we had to be away for a few weeks. We planted two raised beds on the last day of March and tented them with plastic. Upon our return, we were astonished to see peas and lettuce trying to break out. It seems though the ground was cool, that little bit of extra protection had trapped enough sunlight to make all the difference. Realizing that some vegetables actually prefer cool growing weather, like the lettuce that did so well that spring, we branched out to include green onions, peas and radishes for an early harvest, then replanting for a second and even a third crop. With their tendency to bolt in the heat, lettuce and spinach do better sheltered from direct sunlight. Radishes are a winner, particularly the long tender French Breakfast variety which are easy to grow and are mild tasting even later in the season. Green onions can be harvested and enjoyed early, while leaving some in the ground to grow larger for later. Peas, onions and lettuce can germinate as soon as the soil thaws and becomes workable, and many leafy greens like kale, Chinese cabbage, swiss chard and sprouts will germinate in soil as cool as 4°C. Hardy green and yellow beans can be seeded early and with staggered plantings guarantee a fresh crop all summer.
Raised beds are a perennial favourite with many gardeners.
weed, compost or mulch and when protected temporarily with a tent of plastic or glass, they give vegetables an early start. As in a cold frame, the sun heats the soil during the day and the protective covering stores it overnight. Coverings can be adjusted then removed altogether as the danger of frost recedes. Waist-high growing boxes were introduced to us by a friend who gardened in the Yukon and now uses them exclusively in her rocky backyard with great success. Constructed from boards or wooden pallets, lined with landscape fabric then filled with soil, they will give plants a head start. Even root vegetables grow well in boxes with sufficient soil. Being virtually labour free, this method eliminates two of the gardener’s major woes: bending and weeding. Years ago, we built one small greenhouse for tomato plants. It proved so popular that at last count six others had joined it and two more are in the works for this spring. A greenhouse provides shelter from the wind, inclement weather and mild frosts while trapping the sun’s heat during daylight hours. Greenhouse growing has the advantage of extending the length of the growing season, both at the start and at the end. Moving seedlings from the indoors to the greenhouse should be done gradually and cautiously with an ear to the weather forecast. A thermometer inside the greenhouse is a good investment.
a simple wooden box filled with soil and covered
Starting hot weather plants like tomatoes and peppers from seed indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected frost will allow direct transplanting to garden, hanging baskets or pots on the deck when all danger of frost has passed. There is something elemental and deeply satisfying in harvesting vegetables you have grown yourself. And for you adventurous souls who want to give cool weather crops like lettuce, peas, radishes and green onions a try, it’s not too late. The seedlings can still catch up as the soil warms. We promise that the result will be the best thing you’ve tasted since last summer.
with an old window or two.
Happy gardening!
Our grandparents and parents were way ahead of us in jump-starting the growing season. Almost every farmhouse had a cold frame consisting of
The glass trapped the sun’s rays keeping the soil warm all through the day and night. Tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, peppers and celery were commonly started for transplanting later in the garden. Raised beds are another perennial favourite with gardeners. Besides taking up little yard space, they are easier to
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Living Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Choose non-invasive when gardening and landscaping This chart serves as a guide to avoid introducing potentially invasive plants when planting your gardens and buffer zones. The recommendations come from A Guide for Northern Ontario: Beautiful Non-invasive Plants for your Garden. The original brochure with more detail, including botanical names of the plants, 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, Flowering Raspberry
Norway Maple
Sugar, Silver, freeman Maples, Basswood, Hackberry
Oriental Bittersweet, Bittersweet Nightshade
American Wisteria, Jackman Clematis, Virgin’s Bower, Virginia Creeper, Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle, Goldflame Honeysuckle
Vines
Ornamentals Himalayan Balsam
Aquatics
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, Common Cattail, River Bulrush, Hardstem Bulrush Narrow Leaf & White Cattail Eurasian Watermilfoil, Water Soldier
Coontail, Common Waterweed, Common Mare’s Tail, Yellow Pond Lily, Fragrant White Water Lily, Water Smartweed
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living
65
the magic of a spring night By Drew Monkman & Jacob Rodenburg
Some of our fondest memories as nature educators are linked to being outside
under cover of darkness. In fact, a huge
part of nature’s resurgence every spring
can only be witnessed during the twilight hours and at night. In this issue, we’d like
to present some suggestions on ways to better appreciate the magic of the dark.
Our heightened senses
You might begin by simply heading out for a night hike. But, as Wendell Berry wrote, “to know the dark, go dark.” This means taking a path through the fields and forests with your flashlight turned off for part of the time. Instead, turn on all your senses! • Walking in silence, pay special attention to the feel of the terrain underfoot, subtle changes in temperature, and different smells as you move from one spot to another. Keep a mental checklist of the sounds you hear. Share what you’ve noticed. • Explore your night vision. Cover one eye with your hand and stare at a lit candle. Extinguish the candle. Look around with each eye separately to see if you notice a difference. It should be quite dramatic. The pupil in the uncovered eye contracts because of the bright light. The pupil in the covered eye, however, has gained night vision and remains dilated (wide open). • Try going out at first light. Not only do you stand a good chance of seeing mammals, but you can experience the rich “dawn chorus” of bird song. Listen carefully for when a different species joins in. How many different songs can you hear?
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Living Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Woodcock-watching
The fascinating courtship flight of the American woodcock is a true hallmark of spring. It’s the male’s way of attracting a female. First, ask a local naturalist or consult eBird.com for a good woodcock location. This is usually a low, damp field beside a forest. Try to face the western sky. The show starts about 15 minutes after sunset. Listen for the male’s buzzy “peent” call. As the sky darkens, the calls quicken until the bird suddenly bursts into the air and spirals upwards to 300 metres, silhouetted against the sky. Listen for the twittering of his wings. When you hear him start chirping, it means he’s started to make a zig-zag descent to where he took off from. The peenting then starts again. To get a closer view of the bird, move towards his take-off point while he’s flying. Crouch down when he starts descending and stay as quite as possible. There’s lots of woodcock sky-dance videos on YouTube.
The frog orchestra
The dazzling night sky
In May, frogs provide much of the soundtrack to the night. Calling is loudest during the first few hours after sunset. Listen for the duck-like chuckles of the wood frog; the short, loud peeps of the spring peeper; the guttural snores of the leopard frog; the scratchy clicks of the chorus frog; and the long, single-pitch trills of the American toad. By late May, gray treefrogs join in, too, with their bird-like chirps. Listen at naturewatch.ca/frogwatch/ontario/
Being able to recognize the key constellations of each season is extremely satisfying. Two that tell us “spring is here” are Leo (with the star Regulus) and Boötes (with the very bright Arcturus). In May this year, some planets to watch for are Jupiter at dawn and Mercury and Venus adjacent to each other at dusk. Here’s a few tips for better sky-gazing: • The brighter constellations are easily seen with the naked eye. Binoculars, however, are great for gazing at the Moon and the Milky Way.
A fun way to learn the calls is try imitating them. You might even try to make your own “frog orchestra” with different people imitating different frogs!
• Refer to a night sky app like “Sky Guide”.
Sp
• To be more comfortable, sit on a reclining chair or simply lie on your back with your head propped up on a pillow.
rs p
in pr
Firefly magic
Fireflies, too, are part of spring’s night pageant. On a warm June evening, visit a damp meadow where there are fireflies. The light show begins as dusk fades to darkness. Watch for a pattern in the flashes of light. You might try reproducing the sequence with a small, key chain flashlight. The kind with a single LED light works well. Use any colour other than blue. With a little luck, fireflies will come to you.
g
e pe
ni gh ts.
g ri n
pe
• The darker the sky, the better. Avoid bright, built-up areas and nights with a full moon.
Pho to: Jo rt hn Urquha
To take in a live show, grab a pair of rubber boots and a strong flashlight. Arrive at your wetland destination at sunset and take a moment to try to identify the species you hear. Next, walk slowly in the direction of the calls. If the calling stops, just wait a while. Try to pinpoint the sound from one individual and shine your flashlight in that direction. Scan the water, the floating plant debris, and the lower stems of vegetation. Watch for a shiny throat sac expanding and contracting. To get a photo or video, shine the beam of a flashlight on the frog.
• If you bring a flashlight, dim it down with a coating of red nail polish. This helps to retain your night vision.
rov
ide m
uch of t
s of sic u m e h
Making a temporary “night light” is also fun. Put some long blades of grass in a Mason jar with a lid. Catch several fireflies in a plastic container and transfer them to the jar. Admire your new friends and their blinking lights. If you wish, bring the jar home so you can lie in bed and fall asleep to their lovely light show, but be sure to let them go in the morning!
Go one step further
Whenever you have a memorable experience in nature, be sure to talk about it with friends and family. Explain how much you love the natural world and want to protect it. Emphasize the importance of finding solutions to climate change. Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living
67
Real Estate Listings
Sioux Narrows
Andrew Bay, LOTW
Snake Bay, LOTW
1,200 sq. ft. newly built cabin at Au Lac Retreats in Sioux Narrows - Carefree living in downtown Sioux Narrows - Docking space and use of historic lodge included - Photos and video on our website
2,324 s/f custom open design home with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 600 s/f dockhouse with bar and sauna, on 2.11 acres. Water access.
4 bedroom, 4 bath 1,740 s/f year round lakefront bungalow on 3.30 acres low profile property. Very private. Road access.
$995,000
$789,900
807-466-8266 / gregkirby.ca
807-466-8266 / gregkirby.ca
$280,000
Northwoods Realty
Greg Kirby, Re/Max First Choice Realty Ltd
Greg Kirby, Re/Max First Choice Realty Ltd
807-226-1024 / northwoodsrealtyltd.com
Highway 596
Lily Pad
Rare opportunity! 120 acres of land that was once the Minaki Ski Hill. Approx 5697sq.ft. of frontage at the corner of HWY 596 and HWY 525. +HST - Unorganized - Low Taxes.
Over 3,700 sq. ft. of living space. Six bedrooms and three full bathrooms. Take a plunge platform into the deep waters at the dock.
$200,000
Re/Max NorthWest Realty
$1,580,000
Cabin Country Realty
807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com
807-468-4573 / remaxnorthwestrealty.com
Beauty Bay Golf Course All-season cottage features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom with a total of 1,028 sq. ft of open concept living space. Private dock at the shoreline, southern exposure and sand bottom; great for swimming and boating.
$499,000
Cabin Country Realty
807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com
East Hawk Lake
French Narrows, LOTW
Private Island
Situated on beautiful Cliff Lake, this 3 bedroom cottage/year round home is ready to move into. Open concept with dining room views of Cliff Lake. Large Bright Sunroom & deck.
960 sq ft Cottage on Lake of the Woods. Generator and Solar power, propane appliances. Northern Exposure. Newer crib & floating dock.
2.5 acre island with 2,600’ of shoreline, 800 sq ft cottage, sand beach & dock in protected bay.
$379,900
Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd Independently Owned & Operated – Brokerage
$329,900
Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd Independently Owned & Operated – Brokerage
807-468-3747 / century21kenora.com
807-468-3747 / century21kenora.com
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Services Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
$575,000
Carmichael Real Estate Inc.
807-466-2236 / lakeofthewoods.net
Classifieds
Classified ads are a free service for LOWDSA members.
How to Submit Classifieds
Email: patrick@lowdsa.com | Mail: LOWDSA, Box 1160, Kenora, ON P9N 3X7 Next submission deadline: June 3, 2021 Please try to keep your listing to 35 words or less.
FOR RENT Rustic lakefront cabin in Clearwater Bay, Zigzag island. 5 minutes from marina. 3 bedrooms, satellite, kayaks, great fishing, cell service, prefer retired or past cottage owners as there is a composting toilet. 1200$ per week. 300$ for boat. July booked. 204-688-7347. Lakefront Cottage, near Welcome Channel. South Exposure, water access, 5 miles from Kenora by boat. Private dock, hydro, satellite TV & DVD player, full kitchen w/ dishwasher & 3 pc. bathroom, additional outdoor shower, washer & dryer, BBQ, screened porch, 2 bedrooms (queen & 2 twins). Available June – Sept. Seasonal / Monthly / Min. 2 weeks preferred $900$1150 / Week + $100 cleaning fee. Contact: lowcottage@hotmail.com Quiet Bay Cottage Rental. This boat access property is in a secluded bay on Lake of the Woods approximately 10 minutes from town. 2 bedrooms, suitable for 2 couples or a family of 4-5. No pets or smokers please. Own boat transportation required, boat rentals and taxis available in Kenora. Furnished property includes large decks, sauna, and screen rooms. Contact Karla at karlatreadway@ hotmail.com. Lakefront cottage, Storm Bay Rd. Road access 2 bedroom cottage. Deck with beautiful view, patio table/chairs, private dock and great swimming. Full kitchen, TV, satellite, wifi. Many good dates left. $850/week. Call Bob 807-464-2056. Lakefront, Clearwater Bay. S. exposure; road access; spacious docks. Lge great room, kitchen/dining with great lake view. 3 bdrm; master with ensuite. Full 2nd BR, shower & bath. Den -fireplace, sat. TV, pullout sofa. Dishwasher, microwave, washer, dryer. Lge deck; BBQ. Minutes from liquor store,gas, groceries. 1-2 wk stays, June -Sept $4000/wk. dpeever@mymts.net Private Island Cottage. 2-acre island on Lake of the Woods, 17mi south of Kenora; 2 cabins & sand beach. 3 BR cottage with small sleeping cabin; sleeps up to 8 people. Spectacular view, quiet solar electricity, fully equipped kitchen, lg living room, fireplace, satellite TV, cell phone coverage, great deck, BBQ. Enjoy great fishing nearby! Non-smoking. $400/night, min 4 nights. $2,500/wk. Wendel Dafcik 807-733-2213 or info@crowrock.com Island property on LOW. 20 minutes from town. 3 bdrm, sleeps 6-8, full bath, hydro, sat TV, lots of decks, docking, hot tub, diving board, paddle board, kayaks, lakeside fire pit. Transportation to & from the property incl. Optional boat available. $1500/wk. Shorter or longer stays available. Brad at 807-464-1190 or brad@kmts.ca Lakefront on Coney Island, LOW. Walking distance to Coney Island Beach & 5 min boat ride from Kenora. Rustic 2 bdrm. cottage plus guest house. Dock, multi-level decks, fire pit, & beach. Full service hydro & water. JuneSept $1,250/week, 1-week min. Discounts for multiple weeks. 310coney@gmail.com LOW Storm Bay Rd 9. Large house with 9 bdrms, hot tub, multi level decks, granite kitchen, boathouse, sauna, WiFi, fireplace, washer & dryer, dishwasher. Kayak & boat are a possibility. $2500-$7000 weekly. Discounts available in the fall. mail@markmcgregor.ch
Island rental Storm Bay Rd. near the rollers. 2 log homes, new mattresses, 1 king, 1 king, a double and a single. 2 kayaks & a boat can be included. $200-$375 per night. kaitlyn.mcgregor@gmail.com Bulman Bay Cottage, LOTW – Near Yacht Club/Keewatin, 10 min. down McKenzie Portage Rd. Lake front; large dock; great swimming. 4 bdrm; full bath; washer/ dryer; dishwasher; wood burning fireplace; sat. TV. Screened porch; lge deck; firepit. Recently renovated. Available Jan. – Dec.. Min. 2 week $3080/wk. hklapman@mwgapparel.com Lakefront Island Property Brule Point. Boat access only,16 m. from Kenora. Sand beach, dual docking facilities (with plugs), fully equipped; hydro/water; 3 bdrms. Ideal for families & fishing. Weekly rate (7 nights) $1195. Add individual nights $170/night. Donna Bell 204-736-4555 or taketwo@taketwoinc.com Coney Island LOTW, W exposure. Open concept. 4 lge bdrms, 3 baths; separate master suite/bathrm/private deck. Full kitchen; all appliances, dishwasher, microwave, washer/dryer, lge island, dining area. Wood burning fireplace, sat TV. Screened porch, wrap around decks, outdoor shower, gas BBQ. Lge main dock; 2 floaters with deep water docking. 2 wk. min. bill.ralph@shaw.ca Lakefront onTrout Lake. 20km north of Kenora. 2 or 3 bdrm cabin available for rent weekends or weekly May-June. Full kitchen & bathrm, TV/DVD, BBQ. Comes with canoe, kayaks & 12 ft. alum. boat. Deck off front of cabin; private deck at water’s edge; your own sand beach. Spring fed lake with crystal clear water. troutlake596@gmail.com Lakefront Cottage on Lake of the Woods, near Kenora, road access. Includes 3 bedrooms, full kitchen, bath and laundry. 2 acres, private bay, sandy beach, floating dock and good fishing! Available June, July, August. $5,000/month. Text 204-951-5812.
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE Private Sale: Cottage. SE Corner of Echo Bay, flat 1 acre lot, road access, 1400 sq.ft cottage and detached garage. 3 bdrms, 1 bath, open beam ceiling in front, traditional in back games room c/w slate pool table. Wood/electric heat, partially insulated, newer shingles, and double pane windows. Eco Flow septic system. Front and back decks, enclosed veranda, laundry shed, woodsheds, garden shed, two docks and pump shed. $650,000. Fred at (204) 269-8756, cell (431) 276-5121 or (204) 801-4625. Minaki Island Retreat. 4 BR, large wrap around screen porch, BBQ deck, upper deck off upstairs BR. Boathouse with spacious deck & swimming dock. S. half (1.12 acres) of island property, S, E, W exposures. Wood burning stove/glass front, baseboard heat, shower, hydro, phone, sat. TV, washer/ dryer, composting toilet. 1975 sq. ft. 2 levels. Furnished, move in ready. 7 mins to Minaki marinas. Txt/call 651-200-2217, 651-274-7278. Brule Point area. Waterfront lot for sale. Approved for septic, land owned to high water mark, hydro available, 300’ low profile frontage, great docking sites. Boat access in summer and ice road access in winter. Asking $172,000. No HST. For more information please call Brad 807-464-1190 or email brad@kmts.ca.
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. Andrew Bay, Pipestone Point, LOTW. 255 ft. frontage, 277 ft deep on west side, 319 ft deep on east side and 104 ft across the rear. Lot nine. Sheltered Bay, well treed, gradual drop off. 20 minutes by boat from Kenora. Asking $175,000. migizi.bonnie@gmail.com Pipestone Peninsula. 2.19 acres, titled land w/ 280 ft. frontage, good water depths. Medium profile, 768 s/f 3 BR cottage, 99 s/f waterside bunky. Pipe dock & new floating dock (2019). 1500 watt solar power system & generator. Good cellphone reception. Comes furnished. Water access & winter road accessible. (204) 470-0140. Golf Course Bay, LOTW. For sale by original owner, 3200 sq. ft. 2 story air conditioned 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. Lake of the Woods - Pipestone Pt.: 1.2 acres,175 feet frontage, S exposure. Approx. 800 sq.ft.,2 bdrm. Lake access only, ice road in winter. Lge new deck; new walk-in porch/ washroom with work to finish but functional; renovated kitchen; new countertops. Fixed/floating dock. New solar panels; solar fridge/freezer. Propane tank on site, hot water tank/cooktop. lstebs@icloud.com; text/call 807-467-7664/807-467-7678
WANT TO HIRE Qualified persons to lift and level our cottage on Rush Bay in August 2021. For work description and details please contact Brian @ rushbay2@gmail.com.
FOR SALE: MISC. Propane Fridge. Unique 18.2 cu ft propane direct vent fridge. Model UGP-18, excellent condition. New cost $5000. Asking $2500. 30”W x 36.5”D x 66.25"H. White matte finish, 3 removable glass shelves, 2 crisper drawers, interior light, reversible door, front mounted controls. Located on an island in the Hades on Lake of the Woods. Please contact gerrywilson@areanews.ca. SUN MAR Excel Non Electric Composting Toilet. This is a self contained unit that can accommodate 5 adults or a family of 7. New cost is $1500. Asking $500. It is in excellent condition. It is 5 years old and has been used sparingly. Located on an island in the Hades on Lake of the Woods. Please contact gerrywilson@areanews.ca. Free to Give Away! One WiFi Router Globe Surfer 3+ 3G GATEWAY. Contact allansmeall@shaw.ca or 204-452-8765. Free: Sofa Bed. In excellent condition. Green colour fabric. Photo available. Corkscrew Island. Pam @204-489-6337 or text 204-781-5321. 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. jaslaw1@shaw.ca. Boat trailer, for use on rails into the lake, built for boat up to 18 foot. Trailer has adjustable bunks with rubber rollers. Solid wheels of trailer fit into or onto the rails. Winch which will be sold separately
if desired has a switch with approx. 10 ft. of cable. Price to be negotiated. 204-253-2145 or jrcousin@hotmail.com
WANT TO BUY Building lot. Retired couple looking for building lot on LOW contact Richard at kaletzke@mymts.net . Microtouch Foot Pedal Control. To fit Minn Kota Power Drive bow-mount trolling motor. allansmeall@shaw.ca or 204-452-8765. Pre-owned boat trailer. For 17 1/2' Lund aluminum boat with 50 hp tiller motor; prefer 13" tires although not mandatory. Bunk or rollers. Contact 204-782-2808 or email jim.coldwell@mymts.net.
BOATS/MOTORS FOR SALE Antique PETERBOROUGH CEDAR STRIP Canoe, complete with floor boards. Perfect 'as-is' as a wall hanger or suitable for an easy restoration. Needs canvas. Located in Clearwater Bay. Email: jmblake74@gmail.com for pictures. Asking $600. 1986 Invader 198 V6 205 Merc Cruiser. Mooring Cover, Canopy & Boot, Garmin GPS, Hummingbird Depth/Fish Finder with internal GPS, ICOM Marine 2 Way Radio, Marine Communication Antenna.Stored for 4 years. Trailer not safe for highway. $5,800 OBO. Photos & specs: (204) 944-9944 or sean@marketingcapitalinstitute.com Vanguard Calais 17.5 ft bowrider. Full conv top and travel tarp, seats 8, 4.3 chevy inboard 4 barrel 208 HP with Newer Yamaha outdrive, stainless prop, fish finder,GPS and Yacht Club trailer with all new tires and new spare. Pictures available. rushbay2@gmail.com. 2008 Baylliner 175 Bow Rider. Blue and white, with a 3 ltr/135 hp motor and a 2008 galvanized trailer. Boat is very clean and in very good condition. Seats 8 people. Asking $11,999. Call Luke 204-295-9309. 15 ft Albacore sailboat. Complete set of sails including main, jib, spinnaker and sail bag good shape. Custom built trailer included, needs lights rewired. Mast support for trailering. Asking $2500, call 204-489-6787 or email brugin1@mymts.net 2012 Chaparral Xtreme 204 Boat-Ski/ Wakeboard. Excellent condition, clean, new custom carpet fitted for the floor. Purchased from US, imported to Canada. 260HP, 20 ft, single I/O, 105hrs, JBL speakers & stereo. Includes Eagle trailer. Winterized every year. Currently in storage/wrapped. 431 335 4240 campbell9@me.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. (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 807-466-2578 or for pictures burchwell@sympatico.ca. $9,500 or best offer.
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.
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Services
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Home & Cottage Services
A family business serving Lake of the Woods cottagers for over 30 years
Bob’s
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rick Brignall
• acP contractor ESa/Ecra #7008852 • call anytime for a FrEE EStiMatE
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807.468.5915 rBrignall@yahOO.ca
Services Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
Cottage & Marine Insurance Specialists Over thirty years of experience
Richard McKenzie, CAIB 204.410.1010 | richard@mckenzie.insure | mckenzie.insure
Advertisers’ Directory BUILDING SUPPLIES 43 Lumber One 30 Manitou Forest Products 40 McMunn & Yates 24 Star Building Materials COMMUNITY & PHILANTHROPY 54 Lake of the Woods Control Board 54 Lake of the Woods District Hospital 38 Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation 2 Sioux Narrows Nestor Falls CONTRACTORS 70 AK & Company 23 Black Fox Construction 57 Conquest Manufacturing 27 Custom Woodworking Co. Inside Back Docks & Lifts 56 DTL Carpentry 55 Oakwood Roofing 44 REMR Roofing 58 Revco ELECTRICAL 70 Bob's Electric 35 Bowman Electric FINANCIAL SERVICES 16 RBC Darcy Zaporzan 7 Richardson Wealth HOME & COTTAGE FURNISHINGS 21 Faveris Wood Furniture 17 Image One Home & Cottage HOME & COTTAGE MAINTENANCE 70 807 Refrigeration & Mechanical 18 Clearwater Septic Systems 70 Denver's Window Cleaning 65 Hitchinge 10 Keystone Security 48 LOW Septic Barge / Bell's Septic 61 Mantario Chimney 70 Mason Plumbing & Heating 70 Penta Protective 60 Sunset Spray East 70 United Tree Service 49 Wolframe's World of Water INSURANCE 70 Richard McKensize Insurance 63 Standard Insurance LEGAL 59 Hook Seller Lundin 51 PKF Lawyers MARINE 14 Big Lake Fibreglass 29 LOTW Docking 22 The Boat Centre MARINE & RECREATION Back Cover Woodlake Marine 6 WSL Sport & Leisure PUBLISHING 47 Vidacom Publications REAL ESTATE Inside Front Cabin Country Realty 35 Carmichael Real Estate 52 Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd 39 Greg Kirby, ReMax 19 Northwoods Realty 45 Oneida Island Estates 8 RE/MAX NorthWest Realty Ltd 32 Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty TRANSPORTATION 12 Winnipeg Moving 46 Reef Store / Devil's Gap
1 Willow Drive, Falcon Lake Emo 1666 Highway 17 W, Keewatin 16 Speers Road, Winnipeg
21 Sylvan Street W, Kenora 21 Sylvan Street W, Kenora Sioux Narrows Highway 17 W, Keewatin 225 Main Street North, Kenora
204-349-2294 807-482-2185 807-547-3366 204-233-8687
lumberone.ca manitouforest.com mcmunnandyates.com starbuilding.ca/winnipeg
800-661-5922 807-468-9861 807-468-9861
lwcb.ca lwdh.on.ca lwdhf.com snnf.ca
Kenora 1940 Highway 17 East, Kenora Keewatin Highway 17 East, Kenroa 2053 Hwy 17 E, Kenora 950 5th Street West, Fort Frances
807-543-2493 807-468-5915 866-300-0222 807-464-0007 807-547-4444 204-979-4055 807-467-8824 807-548-2811 807-274-7918
blackfoxconstruction.com conquestbuilt.com customwoodworkingco.com docksandlifts.ca dtlcarpentry.ca oakwoodroofing.com remrroofing.com revcocarpet.com
1025 Railway Street, Kenora Kenora
807-468-8813 807-467-1022
rbrignall@yahoo.ca bowmanelectric.com
3100-201 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg 1 Lombard Place, Winnipeg
204-982-2635 204-943-5263
dzwmg.com richardsongmp.com
625 Wall Street, Winnipeg 1060 Railway Street, Kenora
204-957-4940 807-468-3641
faveriswoodfurniture.com imageonehome.com
Keewatin
1221 Highway 17 W, Keewatin Kenora 308 Elmhurst Rd, Winnipeg West Hawk Lake 39 Merit Crescent, West St. Paul Kenora Kenora 712 Lakeview Drive, Kenora
807-219-9001 204-292-1526 204-320-1935 705-933-8439 807-468-7878 807-464-3468 204-881-0822 204-349-2672 204-992-2603 807-464-3104 807-464-3602 807-468-4338
57-99 Scurfield Boulevard, Winnipeg 319 Second Street South, Kenora
204-410-1010 807-468-3333
mckenzie.insure thestandardonline.com
203-301 First Avenue South, Kenora 71 Main Street South, Carmen
807-468-9831 204-745-2028
hsllaw.ca pkflawyers.com
Kenora Kenora Kenora
807-548-2628
biglakefibreglass.com lotwdocking.ca lotwdocking.ca
1956 Highway 17 West, Kenora 832 Lakeview Drive, Kenora
807-468-2628 807-468-5975
woodlakemarine.com wslsport.com
Winnipeg
204-235-0078
vidacom.ca
138 Main Street South, Kenora 625 Lakeview Drive, Kenora 5-308 2nd Street South Kenora 5701A Highway 71, Sioux Narrows Lake of the Woods 334 Second Street S, Kenora 721 Beach Road, Kenora
807-468-3541 807-467-2323 807-468-3747 807-466-8266 807-226-1024 204-795-9200 807-468-0101 807-547-4020
cabincountry.com lakeofthewoods.net century21kenora.com gregkirby.ca northwoodsrealtyltd.com oneidalakeshore.ca remaxnorthwestrealty.com kenora-realestate.com
Winnipeg Wauzhushk Onigum FN
204-633-5795 807-548-4207
winnipegmoving.com thereefstore.ca
30 Deerfield Trail, Steinbach
clearwaterseptic.ca denverswindowcleaning.com hitchinge.ca keystonelock.ca septicbarge.com mantariochimney.com masonplumbing.ca penta.ca sunsetsprayinc.com worldofwateronline.ca
Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Services
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100 years ago: Al G. Barnes circus BY LORI NELSON
There had never been quite anything like it in the town of Kenora—a two-mile-long parade of wild animals! Lions, zebras, grizzlies, camels, hyenas, and elephants, all in step as they sent dust swirling among the curious and excited crowd that gathered on the sidewalks of the downtown. Leading the parade, seated on the head of an enormous elephant, was Alpheus George Barnes Stonehouse, founder of Al G. Barnes Big 4-Ring Wild Animal Circus. The morning parade kicked off the circus’ visit to town which culminated in afternoon and evening performances on June 22, 1921. By the time this circus came to Kenora, it had been in operation for over 25 years. Stonehouse, born in a small farming township just west of London, Ontario, started his show in 1895. While several sources record that he started off with just a phonograph, stereopticon (a slide projector of sorts) and a pony, others indicate that when he married in 1890 his wife sold her farm and, with the proceeds, they purchased several dog and pony shows. Initially they toured through the smaller towns in the US, ones that wouldn’t attract the larger extravaganzas. With the acquisition of animals from all over Europe, Asia and Africa, including tigers, leopards, jaguars, polar bears, llamas, kangaroos, giraffes and more, Al G. Barnes’ big top eventually developed into a large railroad circus. It was touted as “the only real wild animal show on earth.” Imagine the excitement at the Kenora Station as the circus train pulled into town! The writer of a front-page article in the local Miner and News took alliteration and simile to new heights promoting the circus: “Just as the ponderous pea-eyed pachyderm towers above the
miserable, morbid and melancholy mouse, does the Al G. Barnes Circus overtop all other tented aggregations.” Local ads provided teasers of the world’s only performing llamas; Tom, Dick and Harry, the horse-riding seals; Big Bill the Wrestling Grizzly; the world’s only educated zebras; and the Riding, Driving and Racing Ostriches. Who could resist? These were just some of the 110 promised animals acts that were to be presented. Highlighting the show were 20 tigers, including Rajah, the $10,000 wrestling tiger whose trainer was the renowned Mabel Stark. Mabel joined the Barnes Circus in 1911. She became known throughout the world as the most famous female tiger tamer. Her unsettling signature act with Rajah involved wrestling with the tiger which led the audience to believe that he was mauling her. Stark suffered several actual maulings throughout her 60 years of working with tigers. Fortunately, no mishaps were reported at the Kenora performance. With fewer entertainment options available 100 years ago, the arrival of the circus to town was big news and the two shows would have been packed. After all, it’s likely only once in a lifetime that one would have a chance to see Sampson, an aerial lion that rode in a balloon surrounded by shooting skyrockets, or Lotus, the largest hippopotamus in captivity. Eight years after its appearance in Kenora, Al G. Barnes’ show was purchased by the American Circus Company, which later that year was bought by John Ringling of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. While it may not have been the greatest show on earth, it certainly would have been the wildest of spectacles in small towns like Kenora along the CPR.
Title photo: The circus arrives in town by train and those animals that did not need to be caged would have detrained directly into the train yards. The elephants and camels, shown here, take a stroll down McClellan Avenue. The beautiful station gardens are shown in the background. (From the collection of The Muse - Lake of the Woods Museum)
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History Lake of the Woods Area News Spring 2021
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