Issuu

Volume 51

Number 4

Fall 2021

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In this issue 3

Cover photo by Wanda Kabel

LOWDSA

President's Message 3 Executive Director's Note 4 Our Contributors 5 A few words about summer 2021 from the LakeSmart Team 7

Summer memories & highlights 8

Living

Government Notes 11

Tax changes anticipated—plan now or pay more 55

Strong connections help advance LOWDSA’s stewardship and environmental initiatives 17

Notes from Razberry Lane: Growing food in a changing climate 56 Treading wisely: Good-bye for now 57 Cottage winter shutdown checklist 59

Member recipe: No life like it 60

In the District

Anishinaabe Inakonigaawin 21 Water levels: Water levels and climate’s “New Normal” 24 What's happening on your lake: Art for everyone 25

Environment

Succession from bare rock to forest 43

Climate change—it's time to talk about it by Jacob Rodenburg & Drew Monkman

Forestry 101 – How are forests in northwestern Ontario managed? 45

Nuclear waste selection site update 28

Empowering African women in science… from Lake of the Woods 49

LOWWSF: Nine-year partnership with our neighbours has built a strong cross border connection 50

Real Estate Listings 64

Purple loosestrife—history and environmental impact 52

Home & Cottage Services 66

Memories of Clearwater Bay by Tannis Erwin Engel and Phyllis Ketcheson

Pandemic lessons learned: Sustainable eating + living by Sharon Gurney

Services

Classifieds 65

Advertisers’ Directory 67

St. Mary's Indian Residential School by Lori Nelson

Have fun on the water this fall by Jeff Gustafson

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA

BUILDING DREAM S

President's Message CHRIS SEMENCHUK

It was a long time coming, but Canadian residents outside of Ontario were finally able to travel back to their lake homes in Northwestern Ontario in early June and as I write this, our U.S. members have also been able to return. Welcome back to all of our members! I know first-hand how great it was to finally get back “to the lake” after being unable to be here through the spring. Thanks to Patrick, Shelley, Cassidy and the LakeSmart team for their great work Chris Semenchuk delivering both existing and new programs this year against all odds! Cassidy embraced the new role of Environment Program Coordinator and, in conjunction with the LakeSmart team that includes Brie, Abbi, Seanna and Quinn, greatly enhanced LOWDSA’s programs and events. Given the success of adding the Environment Program Coordinator role to deliver environmental programs, resources and outreach, we have started the process of applying for similar funding and are now recruiting for this role in 2022.

Once again, we didn’t hold any LOWDSA summer meetings this year due to the Ontario public health orders in place, but the Board will be reviewing our activities and starting to plan for 2022. In addition to the Annual General Meeting, we hope to hold a Cottage Show and/or summer meetings next year. The Board is also embarking on the next phase of strategic planning to help identify areas of focus in the future. A key step in this will be soliciting input from LOWDSA members on what is important to you. We encourage you to respond honestly and thank you in advance for doing this. We started filming for the 60th anniversary video in the region including interviews with some individuals who have played an integral role in the evolution of LOWDPOA… now LOWDSA. We plan to finish the filming with some upcoming fall and winter shots in the region and look forward to sharing it with all of our LOWDSA members in 2022 as we celebrate 60 years as an association. For those whose membership is expiring prior to year-end, you will hear from us shortly as we embark on our fall membership renewal campaign. Thanks to those who have renewed and as always, we encourage you to spread the word and solicit other family members, friends and neighbours to join LOWDSA! With fall in the air, I wish the best for you and your family and your time at the lake as this next beautiful season unfolds.

The mobile boat wash station is the first of its kind in the region and a project that has been in the works for many years involving many different people and LOWDSA directors and staff. Thanks to the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) and the perseverance and commitment of our LOWDSA staff, we borrowed and are using OFAH’s mobile boat wash at various boat launches in the Lake of the Woods region this year. This has provided us with the opportunity to learn and apply what we’ve learned to prepare for 2022 (yes, we’re already thinking ahead to next year!). Special thanks to the sponsors of the mobile boat wash as we couldn’t have done this without your support. We continue to rely on sponsors to support programs such as the mobile boat wash, so we encourage you to email us at info@lowdsa.com if you are interested in sponsoring this or other LOWDSA programming.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA

Executive Director's Note PATRICK PAULO Somehow, September is here and the days are getting cooler. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, your Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association was still able to get plenty of work done! As I sit back and look at the summer initiatives and programming, I reflect on how lucky we are to have such a great team. Summertime has a significant focus on LOWDSA's environmental initiatives. Patrick Paulo Cassidy, LOWDSA's Environment Program Coordinator, stepped up in a big way that cannot be understated. Her efforts really took our LakeSmart programming to a whole new level as LOWDSA's staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors were hard at work and participating in summer events such as Seedling Day and Metal Waste Collection Day. Please be sure to read Cassidy’s EPC Note on page 17. I would also like to give a shout-out to our LakeSmart team— Brie McCardle, Abbi Friesen, Seanna Cyncora, and Quinn Miller. All embodied LOWDSA's mission of serving the community by providing leadership, education, and communication on issues affecting the Lake of the Woods region. The effort and energy they put into sharing our message of living and playing green at the lake throughout the summer really shows and contributed to our success. Read more about the LakeSmart team's closing thoughts over the summer on page 7.

Last but certainly not least, I want to thank Shelley Bujold. As LOWDSA's Membership Coordinator, Shelley has helped LOWDSA navigate through this second year of COVID-19. Her efforts have been phenomenal. To say that the spring and summer of 2021 were unpredictable and quite busy would be an understatement (to say the least!). But, whether it was greeting our members over the phone with a friendly voice or helping with LOWDSA's plans, her attitude really makes all the difference in what we do. While much of the year and our work was done virtually, I was happy to welcome back our members from outside of Ontario who were able to return to their summer homes. I am reinvigorated now that it looks like Canada and the world are starting to take steps to return back to the way things used to be before all of our lives changed due to the pandemic. Just as the change and transition between seasons occur, so does mindset. Gone are the days of looking ahead for an ambitious summer, and here are the days that we start looking toward the year's end. Fall is LOWDSA’s time to reflect on activities, wrap up the year and plan for next year. With so much underway and so much more to come, I'm looking forward to the winter for the first time in awhile! Your comments, questions, and suggestions are encouraged. Please send us an email at info@lowdsa.com if you were able to attend one of our events and have suggestions for next year. I hope everyone has a beautiful fall and enjoys this issue of Area News.

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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Our Contributors Bob Stewart’s contributions to the Area News have focused on government issues affecting rural property owners. A year-round resident of the Longbow Lake area, Bob loves all things “lake” including the bounty of wild fruits and flowers he makes into delicious jams and jellies, available at the Matiowski Farmer’s Market and as our latest Member Recipe. Bob was a reporter and editor with the Kenora newspaper for over 36 years. He continues to keep abreast of issues facing the region through his involvement with the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association government affairs committee, the Storm Bay Road Local Roads Board, the District of Kenora Unincorporated Areas Ratepayers Association and the Kenora District Services Board.

Sumeep Bath Mona Brown Seanna Cyncora Tannis Engel Leanne Fournier Abbi Friesen Sharon Gurney Jeff Gustafson Phyllis Ketcheson Patrick Paulo

Hailey Krolyk was born and raised in Kenora, Ontario. She studied at Trent University and the University of Manitoba where she was drawn to study economics, politics, business and sustainable community development. She currently works for Grand Council Treaty #3 as an Outreach Coordinator, focusing on learning about Manito Aki Inakonigaawin from elders and knowledge keepers in Treaty #3. In Hailey’s down time, she enjoys doing everything and anything outdoors, and spending time with her family and friends.

Cassidy Mazur Brie McCardle Quinn Miller Drew Monkman Sophie Lavoie Lori Nelson Jeff Polakoff

Ryan Haines has been working with First Nations in the Treaty #3 Territory on natural resource projects since 2002. Ryan has worked extensively with First Nation communities and band members to assist them in navigating engagement in forest management. This experience has included providing support for participation in the forest management planning process, reviews of annual work schedules and operational plans, and protection/enhancement of community values and cultural sites. Ryan has a B.Sc. from the University of Northern British Columbia and is an M.Sc. in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph.

Henry & Anita Rasmussen Rosemary Robertson Jacob Rodenburg Todd Sellers Dave Schwartz Kelli Saunders Stéphane Warnock

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

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A few words about summer 2021 from the LakeSmart Team Your LakeSmart team's 2021 season was jam-packed with environmental action, outreach, and education. From large-scale community projects to casual conversations, the team brought their passion, positivity, and diligent effort that ensured the success of our activities. We did shoreline cleanups, stencilled storm drains, and conducted webinars, kids programming, dock visits, markets, tree plantings, metal waste collection, and invasive species removal. We also launched a citizen science program, our Mobile Boat Wash Station and made meaningful connections along the way that will benefit the LakeSmart program for years to come. Each of these initiatives contributes to a network of action in the Lake of the Woods district. The steps we take through the LakeSmart program wouldn't be nearly as effective without the passionate community that LOWDSA is a part of. Thank you to everyone that has been a part of our summer whether you've supported us by participating, volunteering, or simply following along with what we've been up to. And a special thanks goes to each of our sponsors. None of this would be possible without you!

Abbi Friesen It's been a whirlwind summer for LakeSmart, but our team did a fantastic job of tackling LOWDSA's ever-growing programs. From launching Kenora's first boat wash station to starting up LOWDSA's own zebra mussel’s citizen science initiative and running the regular LakeSmart programming, we were one busy team! I am proud of all the successes we had together this summer and enjoyed learning from each of my teammates. My favourite day this summer had to be our seedling day on Lake of the Woods. I, along with the rest of the LakeSmart team, paddled to two islands and planted 600 seedlings in partnership with Camp Stephens. In addition, we were able to drop our first Zebra Mussel Settlement Sampler at the camp and managed to fit in a very lovely swim. I can't wait to see what is in store for LakeSmart next summer!

Brie McCardle Just like that, summer is wrapping up, and so are the cottagers’ time at the lake. For me, a highlight was the biodiversity on Coney Island, where we hand-cut purple loosestrife. The low water gave us an advantage in getting deep in the marsh and cutting the large population we don't usually have access to. Our goal was to manage the invasive species to ensure the biodiversity stays as wild as

it is. After finishing the cuttings in the area, I was very shocked when I looked up to see a big black bear about 15 feet away watching me work. It was a rush of adrenaline and fascination as I got out of there to tell the others. We may have had to cut the day short, but we got to see things you simply do not see every day, and that is one of the reasons I love my LakeSmart job.

Quinn Miller This has been a busy summer of excitement, adventure, and learning. I am honoured to have been a part of the LakeSmart team this summer. With so much accomplished, it's difficult to sufficiently summarize it all in just a few words. Highlights of our summer include the launch of our boat wash station, which ran Thursdays and Fridays every week, the launch of our citizen science zebra mussel monitoring program, and dock visits on the LakeSmart boat. I thoroughly enjoyed learning from the team and all the people we interacted with this summer. It has been a pleasure to have been able to spend an entire summer living, working, and playing in Lake of the Woods, the most beautiful place on earth.

Seanna Cyncora As a new member of the LakeSmart team, I loved my summer with the Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association. We worked on a variety of interesting projects regarding outreach education and physical environmental improvements. It felt amazing and inspiring to be a part of an active environmental stewardship team. The projects and activities we completed over the short summer months were always exciting, and I found myself constantly learning new things each day. My confidence and social skills improved as we connected with locals on dock visits while using our boat wash station, teaching kids at camp, and talking to people at the markets. I loved working alongside my co-workers out on the lake and making a difference in my community. I have always been very passionate about the lake, so it was super exciting to be a part of the first boat wash station in the region and the Zebra Mussel Settlement Sampler project! The best highlights of the summer were when our team reached our goals for the planned projects we had set for the summer. We were a busy group, but it was always interesting, and I'm proud that we ended our summer successfully.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA

Summer memories & highlights LakeSmart 2021 team ready to go The LakeSmart team was back on the water for its 11th season. Equipped with knowledge and resources on a broad range of topics, the team enjoyed a busy summer and shared their passion for the lake.

LOWDSA Executive Director ride along LOWDSA Executive Director Patrick Paulo joined the LakeSmart team members Seanna Cyncora (far left) and Abbi Friesen for ride-along of dock visits near Kenora.

Environment Program Coordinator leads the LakeSmart Team

LakeSmart boat launch The LakeSmart boat, generously supplied by our lead sponsor, Woodlake Marine, is the key to the program and likely its most recognized feature. While things looked different for a second year, the LakeSmart team was still able to do personalized dock visits following ongoing health guidelines. The LakeSmart team, LOWDSA staff and Board members and a few up and coming LakeSmart ambassadors pose for a photo on boat launch day.

LOWDSA’s first ever Environment Program Coordinator, Cassidy Mazur, (holding sign) expanded the breadth and depth of LOWDSA’s programs. Summer 2021 was LOWDSA’s busiest and most ambitious summer to date. Cassidy and the LakeSmart team shared their understanding of best environmental practices and knowledge with our members and others, encouraging them to make decisions on their own properties to minimize the human impact, protect the environment and sustain the value.

Title photo: Clockwise from back left: Brie McCardle, Seanna Cyncora, Cassidy Mazur (Environment Program Coordinator), Abbi Friesen, Quinn Miller.

LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Minaki visit David Hewlett, LOWDSA Environment Committee member, toured the LakeSmart team on his boat around the Minaki area to do dock visits. David spoke with the LakeSmart team on a range of topics and gave the team background information on some ongoing environmental issues in the area.

Camp Stephens tree planting LakeSmart’s Seanna Cyncora celebrates success after completing a day of planting seedlings on a Camp Stephens island.

Matiowski Market After our Seedling Day in June, there were extra bundles of red pine seedlings that were handed out by the LakeSmart team during the weekly Matiowski Farmers’ Market. LakeSmart’s Abbi Friesen and Quinn Miller canoeing to the islands around Camp Stephens where the LakeSmart team planted hundreds of LOWDSA red pine seedlings.

LakeSmart’s Seanna Cyncora shares invasive species information while displaying a preserved sea lamprey from the Great Lakes to a group at the Matiowski Farmers’ Market. The team engaged with members and passerby on the Kenora Harbourfront.

Shoreline cleanup The things that go into our lakes impact water quality, fish and wildlife habitat. Healthy shorelines are essential for all who share our lakes and rivers. Here, Cassidy Mazur and Brie McCardle lead by example and carry a tire pulled out of Rabbit Lake during a shoreline cleanup.

Out on the boat The 2021 LakeSmart team navigating Lake of the Woods together as they make their way to Clearwater Bay. This year, we were proud to expand our team, adding a fourth team member to spread the word on ways to live and play green on the lake. The team was eager to share their practical knowledge on environmental stewardship to preserve one of the most beautiful places on earth as a high quality environment for future generations to enjoy.

Our lake shorelines are amazing places, and we can only see a tiny portion of what goes on along the water’s edge. The LakeSmart team did multiple shoreline cleanups throughout the summer months and frequently encouraged our members to use reusable products when possible and to recycle and dispose of waste responsibly.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA

Storm drain stencils

Mobile Boat Wash Station LOWDSA launched the Mobile Boat Wash Station this summer. It is the first of its kind in the area and a huge step up in our environmental initiatives. When the LakeSmart team weren’t out visiting docks, doing shoreline clean ups, or other events, they were washing boats and sharing best practices to prevent invasive species from taking over favourite fishing places, docks, and lake stops. (L-R) Quinn Miller, Seanna Cyncora, and Abbi Friesen pose with a sign reminding boaters to clean, drain, and dry their boats.

The LakeSmart team spray painting a stencil beside a storm drain at the Harbourfront that reads “A healthy lake starts here”. The team did storm drain stencilling this summer and spoke to youth about how simple choices make a big difference in our watershed.

Attack on invasive species on Coney Island

Zebra Mussel Settlement Sampler project A complimentary program to the Mobile Boat Wash Station! This year, the LakeSmart team expanded LOWDSA’s initiatives with a zebra mussel monitoring program. Abbi holds a settlement sampler to be positioned off a dock and monitored for zebra mussel presence.

LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Cassidy Mazur wearing hip-waders and holding up the clippers she is using to cut purple loosestrife from a wetland on Coney Island to help manage the invasive species. LOWDSA's Assistant Executive Director, Shelley Bujould (front) and LakeSmart’s Brie McCardle spent the day hand-cutting and bagging up purple loosestrife for removal from a property on Coney Island.

Government Notes BY PATRICK PAULO

FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL

COVID-19 updates and travel restrictions

LOTW First Nations flooding claims

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.

Considerable progress has been made since information was last shared regarding the Lake of the Woods/Shoal Lake/Winnipeg River flooding claim settlements being negotiated among Ontario, Canada and First Nation communities. It is likely that some settlements will be concluded this year.

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.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs Ontario (IAO) is unable to host in-person meetings. To ensure that information about the proposed settlement of these claims is available, the IAO has developed a virtual information process, available at ontario.ca/page/lake-woods-flooding-claims.

To learn further details about the restrictions for travel from Manitoba or Quebec into Ontario, please visit ontario.ca/page/ emergency-information.

Ontario is committed to arranging teleconference and/or videoconference meetings to discuss these land claims and is willing to set up a meeting at a mutually convenient date via teleconference or videoconference. Should you have any questions or want to request a meeting, please contact LOTWFloodClaim@ontario.ca or Dianne Woods, Negotiator, (416) 575-9838.

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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 regularly. After eight meetings, a few COVID-19 delays and some great discussions, the Fisheries Advisory Council (FAC) has put forward its recommendations. The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) pulled together a diverse group of interested parties including Indigenous communities, local guides, tournament organizers, anglers, lodge and cottage owners to develop recommendations for consideration. Under the excellent leadership of Steve Bobrowicz (MNRF), the FAC was challenged with balancing the diverse needs of the group. To briefly recap, the population of walleye in Lake of the Woods (LOTW) is at a critical tipping point. Harvest is exceeding recruitment to the point where a total collapse of the walleye fishery is a real possibility. Extensive creel surveys and test netting was used to generate a comprehensive picture of a fishery under stress. The data clearly shows that harvest pressure has reduced both the size and number of walleye in LOTW and has pushed unnaturally younger fish to reproduce… all indicators of a fishery under stress.

The FAC was tasked with developing a new set of regulations that will allow anglers to continue to enjoy the great fishing on LOTW for generations to come. The recommendations have hopefully achieved a balance between the desire by anglers to continue to harvest walleye from LOTW and the need to create a sustainable harvest plan. There are very few options available that will achieve the goals of the FAC in a reasonable timeframe. Many “small adjustments” to regulations were considered, but none would meet the goals of the FAC. In reality, the tools that are available are reduced catch limits and tighter slot limits. One contentious point was the retaining of the ability to keep a trophy fish. The FAC was unanimous in its opinion that keeping trophy fish should no longer be an option, but as the regulations are currently written, anything more than immediate release is considered possession, and this would result in the walleye tournaments on LOTW being in violation of the regulations (even if they are pictured and released). Therefore, the recommendations going forward do allow possession of a trophy size walleye, even though it goes against the “spirit of the recommendations”. MNRF has agreed to look into changing this in the future but didn’t want to delay implementation of the current plan. Several slot sizes with maximum or minimum size options were considered and the preferred option of the group was a maximum size of 43 cm (17 inches), meaning any fish over 43 cm must be released. With the ability to retain one fish over 70 cm to accommodate the walleye tournaments on LOTW. The council agreed to present the following options for inclusion in the draft plan: Preferred option: • Daily limit: sportfishing 2, conservation 1 • Possession limit: sportfishing 4, conservation 2 • Maximum 17 inches (43 cm) with one fish over 70 cm (27.5 inches) Second option: • Daily limit: sportfishing 2, conservation 1 • Possession limit: sportfishing 4, conservation 2 • 14-inch to 17-inch harvestable slot with one fish over 70 cm (27.5 inches) The Council noted that it needs to be clear that the intent of including the 70 cm plus fish allowance is to allow tournaments to continue operating until the province changes the rules about photographs. 1 Willow Drive Falcon Lake, MB R0E 0N0

Your Project Is Our Passion 12

LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

E: info@lumberone.ca W: www.lumberone.ca TF: 1-866-325-2661 P: 204-349-2294

The draft plan draft plan will be posted for public comment on the province’s Environmental Registry for 45 to 60 days. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, there may also be one or more public open

Nuclear waste selection site

houses held. Consultation with Indigenous communities will also take place. The FAC has one more meeting planned to review any developments arising from the public consultation, then the proposal should go forward for implementation in January 2023. LOWDSA will report any further updates from the Fisheries Advisory Council, in our eNews communications or the next issue of Area News.

Four-laning Highway 17 LOWDSA emailed the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) project team March 24, and once again June 17 requesting an update in regards to the twinning of Highway 17. On July 29, 2021, the 4lanehighway17kenora.ca website was updated to report that “WSP Canada Inc. (WSP), on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), is undertaking a Planning, Preliminary Design, Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) and Detail Design Study to review options to provide a four-lane divided Highway 17 from the Manitoba/Ontario border to Kenora (39km).” According to the 4lanehighway17kenora.ca website this study is nearing completion. LOWDSA distributed the notice of completion to members via eNews. Comments, suggestions or questions for the Ministry and project team can be emailed to project-team@4LaneHighway17Kenora.ca.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has narrowed their search for a site to host long-term underground storage of nuclear waste to two locations, including the town of Ignace. Currently, the NWMO is undertaking more intense geophysical surveys, geological mapping, environmental surveys, and other intensive fieldwork to determine the suitability of the area. This phase is expected to take one to two years, and we don’t expect to see any major updates in the near future, but of course, we will share updates and study results as they become available. Site selection is projected to occur in 2023, which will be followed by confirming acceptance by the host. For more details on this project, visit NWMO.ca or email contactus@nwmo.ca. More information about the project is also included in the article, “Nuclear waste selection site update” on page 28.

Forestry and forest management In any forest, but more so in our area, there are many operational challenges. These are reflected in the terrain—rocky, steep, swampy, etc. The contexts vary greatly thus necessitating a unique response that reflects the ever-changing terrain. Cut blocks in harvest areas, must be representative of pre-harvest conditions. The remaining or residual forest must be a mix of small, large, and dead trees. The type and age of tree has to be numerically accounted for i.e., 25 larger trees. A living mix is required as well an observance of habitat.

Other contacts include: Mr. Gord Firth, P.Eng. Consultant Project Manager WSP Canada Group Limited Phone: (905) 823-8500; Toll-free: 1-877-562-7947 Mr. J.A. (Sandy) Nairn, MCIP, RPP Senior Environmental Planner WSP Canada Group Limited Phone: (905) 823-8500; Toll-free: 1-877-562-7947 Mr. Steve Sutch Area Manager Ministry of Transportation Phone: (807) 630-1720; Toll free: 1-800-465-5034 Full contact information including mailing addresses are available on the website.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDSA

The harvested area must also meet wildlife objectives. There are specific numbers of each type of tree that are required to be left in each hectare. No-cut-zones are also established for streams, shorelines and any area that has a specific value that needs to be considered. Wildlife habitats (caribou, moose, deer etc.) are protected as are spawning areas. In areas that are considered vulnerable, no harvest reserves are created. These are sometimes determined through dialogue with stakeholders and people who are more intimately connected with a specific area.

nrip.mnr.gov.on.ca/s/fmp-online. This is a very comprehensive document in which scientific references and citations are found —detailing how the Forest Management Plan is developed and implemented.

If you are interested in the environmental aspects of forest management, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s document, the Stand and Site Guide contains all relevant information. The research is well-documented, reviewed, peer reviewed, and is “rooted” in a robust and thorough sciencebased best practices approach. Many stake holders in the region have been supplied with the MNRF’s Stand and Site Guide. It is available on the Natural Resources information) portal,

Kenora forest update: Stage Four Draft Forest Management Plan

Remembering that negotiations with the MNRF are “context driven”, many gains have been made by stakeholders. Some examples are increased buffer zones, timing (winter only), dropping whole blocks, and creating contingency blocks. In addition, access concerns and road decommissioning are Pockets of timber are not only harvested for their monetary value discussed. Access roads are usually torn up, culverts and but also to combat disease, insects, age, fire and blow down. This crossings are removed, and replanted where deemed necessary. year, combined with our extended drought, residents and visitors “Viewscapes” are created by software and are used to illustrate alike are living under the terms of a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ). pre and post-harvest views of specific perspectives of the area in Simply put, outdoor fires for outdoor roasts are strictly prohibited. question. From a tourist value perspective, “viewscapes” are used More information on RFZ’s can be found by searching to show that cut blocks are not visible from multiple perspectives Northwestern Ontario Forest Fires Updates. Fortunately for around a lake. property owners and tourists to the area, the smoke and ash “Forestry 101 – How are forests in northwestern Ontario have left us... hopefully for good. Thanks to the fire fighters and managed?” on page 45, provides a detailed look at the province’s support crews for their brave and professional presence in the forestry management process. many fire zones.

Please see below for steps on how to access Stage Four: Draft FMP information on the Natural Resources information Portal (NRIP). Consultation Period: 2021/07/05 - 2021/09/04 • You are able to access the Draft Forest Management Plan online at FMP Online (gov.on.ca). Once you’ve selected the link and arrived at the home screen, scroll down to where, on the right-hand side, you see a box titled “Consultation notices”. Within that box, scroll down until you see the option to select the Forest Management Plan for the Kenora Forest Management Unit.

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LOWDSA Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

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Strong connections help advance LOWDSA’s stewardship and environmental initiatives BY CASSIDY MAZUR, ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM COORDINATOR, LOWDSA As I reflect on this past summer, certain experiences stand out from others. We had a busy season, yet with so many different activities and initiatives happening, what I appreciate above all else is the connections I have made.

• We stencilled storm drains in various locations, stopping to chat with folks along the way about how diverting pollution from our streets and yards subsequently diverts it from entering our waterways.

I have had the privilege to work alongside the passion of so many like-minded people in the LOWDSA community. The warm greetings the LakeSmart team and I received during dock visits, the many inspiring conversations with our members and the public, the collaborative efforts with all of our partner organizations, the support and connections with our sponsors, and of course, working closely with the LOWDSA team, have all been essential to our success on top of being memorable to me.

• We had over 130 people attend our live virtual events, including two webinars with IISD-Experimental Lakes Area to get to know the latest on microplastics and algal blooms, and a Forestry 101 Panel Discussion; reaching even more people that watched the recordings on our YouTube channel.

My family camp in Nestor Falls on a small lake is a very different “Lake Life” experience than this past season has been for me. Being immersed in the community in more high-use areas and events has allowed me to witness the different ways people use the lake; it has shown me how the land and water have shaped peoples’ lives. I didn't think it was possible for me to become more passionate about protecting the environment in Lake of the Woods. Having a window into so many of the unique and diverse lives people have built around the lakes has added a layer of appreciation for how vital this protection is. I understand the need for stewardship of the Lake of the Woods district more than ever, and as our name suggests, the importance of the work LOWDSA does. I am confident that anyone reading this is a steward of the area in your own way and LOWDSA's vision likely resonates with you: "To preserve one of the most beautiful places on earth as a high quality environment for future generations to enjoy." I specialize in environmental education because that line is far easier said than done and giving people information and resources to help them become better stewards is incredibly rewarding.

• We reached shoreline residents in various locations through LakeSmart's dock visits, dozens of children through our guest programming at the Kenora Rec Centre's Day Camp, hundreds of people at the Matiowski Farmers Market and the Open Markets, thousands through our various social media platforms where we shared information about shoreline buffer zones, reducing run-off, septic systems, using eco-friendly cleaning products, preventing the spread of invasive species, safe boating, and more. • We planted hundreds of trees at Camp Stephens. • We removed lots of the invasive purple loosestrife from Coney Island and distributed 50 settlement samplers in the area for early detection of zebra mussels. • We recycled waste at our Metal Waste Collection Day. • Finally, we launched the area's first Mobile Boat Wash Station, decontaminating boats of invasive species and educating boating enthusiasts on how to prevent their spread. Each of these initiatives contributes to the stewardship of the area, and I enjoyed being a part of them all. I am looking forward to continuing our activities throughout the fall, albeit on a smaller scale without the summer LakeSmart team.

When it comes to LOWDSA's environmental programs and outreach, I don't just see one successful initiative. I see a ripple effect of positive impacts that might last a lifetime and beyond. Take LOWDSA's annual Seedling Day for example. Every year 10 thousand trees get distributed in the area. That is a huge accomplishment on its own, but the memory I have of my grandparents taking my sister, cousins, and I out to plant pine trees from LOWDSA when I was about seven years old shows me the ripple effect of the program. Those trees are now part of the ecosystem, in addition to being a part of my journey with stewardship that I have carried with me throughout my life. As I give updates on some of our activities, I will leave it to your imagination what ripple effects each of them might create: • We did three shoreline cleanups, diverting bags upon bags of litter and waste from our lakes. During our first cleanup on an especially chilly morning, a community member brought our team hot chocolate.

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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.

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Anishinaabe Inakonigaawin BY HAILEY KROLYK, TPU OUTREACH COORDINATOR, GRAND COUNCIL TREATY #3

Anishinaabe Inakonigaawin (law) has governed relations on and with Mother Earth since time immemorial, which has been passed down through the Creator. Today, the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3 continues to live by Anishinaabe Inakonigaawin. The authoritative version of these laws are mostly oral, as they are held in ceremony and learned from the animals, plants, the sun, and the changes in season. The laws co-exist with western law as they pre-date the man-made laws we see in our society now. In Treaty #3 territory, one of these Anishinaabe laws is called Manito Aki Inakonigaawin (Great Earth Law).

stewards of the land, but also on the responsibilities we have as a collective to care for Mother Earth. The law is guided by the Anishinaabe relationship to the land, communities in Treaty #3 territory and the Nation, and supports the collective rights of the Nation as a whole, while affirming Anishinaabe jurisdiction.

What is Manito Aki Inakonigaawin? Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is inherent to the Anishinaabe people of Treaty #3 territory. Since the law was formally written in 1997, it has helped uphold Anishinaabe land rights and create a nation based law-making process in relation to responsibilities, when working within the territory, in acknowledgement of the shared lands, waters and people in the 55,000 square miles of Treaty #3. Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is written within and throughout nature. Its spirit is within all living things on earth—from humans to the trees, to the animals and to the air we breathe. It is the natural law that governs the natural cycles of life and death. Manito Aki Inakonigaawin has its own spirit, as it itself is also living.

Collective responsibility The law is eco-centric, which means it considers and acknowledges that it’s not only human beings that live on this land, but all things on earth possess spirit and life. Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is based not only on Anishinaabe rights as proper

It is considered to be unlawful to proceed with developments within Treaty #3 without the proper consent of the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. The obligation lies on all associated parties who wish to develop or manage resources within Treaty #3 Territory to abide by Manito Aki Inakonigaawin.

Although the law was gifted to Anishinaabe people at the beginning of time, it is important to realize that the responsibility to protect and respect Mother Earth doesn’t solely depend on Anishinaabe people. The law represents the collective duty of us all to protect Mother Earth.

Title photo: Manito Aki Inakonigaawin provides ethical and holistic guidance in regard to natural resource developments in the Treaty #3 Territory.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association In the District

Protecting Mother Earth is an obligation we all share. Following Manito Aki Inakonigaawin, it is possible for development to occur with the least amount of uncertainty and conflict.

These processes can also be applied in relation to the legal duty to consult as it resides with the Crown. Key outcomes of following this process ensures: • Respect for Treaty and inherent rights • Conservation and protection of the environment • Joint decision making • Contracts: co-management, business opportunities Manito Aki Inakonigaawin provides ethical and holistic guidance in regard to natural resource developments in the Treaty #3 Territory. As a collective, following it to make resource decisions provides a clear path to protect Mother Earth but also contributes to more sustainable, long-term economic resource developments.

How does it work? At its core, the spirit of Manito Aki Inakonigaawin guides decisions while caring for Mother Earth and all her relations. One application of Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is as a guiding framework in the decision-making process of the Anishinaabe Nation as it relates to activities impacting Treaty #3 Territory. This framework outlines both community decision-making processes and a Nation based decision-making process. This is defined into four phases: application, engagement/consultation, authorization, and compliance and monitoring. Each of these phases are guided by the seven grandfather teachings which are honesty, wisdom, courage, bravery, truth, respect and love.

• Compensation: partnerships, employment and training Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is an exercise of inherent nationhood by the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. It is considered to be unlawful to proceed with developments within Treaty #3 without the proper consent of the Anishinaabe Nation of Treaty #3. The obligation lies on all associated parties who wish to develop or manage resources within Treaty #3 Territory to abide by Manito Aki Inakonigaawin. As such, Manito Aki Inakonigaawin is considered a foundational process of mutual respect. Protecting Mother Earth is an obligation we all share. Following Manito Aki Inakonigaawin, it is possible for development to occur with the least amount of uncertainty and conflict. This process has the potential to maximize cooperation and a fair sharing of economic opportunities throughout the Nation while fulfilling our responsibilities as caretakers to Mother Earth. an

In the District Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

WAT E R L E V E L S

Water levels and climate’s “New Normal” BY JEFF POLAKOFF, LOWDSA REPRESENTATIVE, LAKE OF THE WOODS CONTROL BOARD The summer of 2021 provided good evidence of the increasing challenges associated with predicting and regulating water levels within the Winnipeg River basin including Lake of the Woods. As we approached summer, abnormally dry conditions had persisted for over a year within the basin. Despite an anticipated return to “normal” water level by the Lake of The Woods Control Board (LWCB) for July, lower than seasonal precipitation combined with low inflow and ongoing hot conditions with related evaporation, resulted in continuing low water. With this in mind, I thought it would be useful to consider why climatologists characterize current weather patterns as signalling a “new normal”. There was nothing normal about the summer of 2021 for a whole range of reasons, not the least of which was weather. It was characterized by wildfires, heatwaves, and drought with high temperature and low precipitation records being broken throughout the region. Clearly, the thinking of climate professionals, and others of what “normal” is when it comes to climate is changing. The original determination of a “climatological normal (CN)" for an area was developed at an international climate So, what is “Normal”? conference in 1935 where it was determined that the CN would be based on a 30-year average of data for a particular time period. The tracking of this data started with a review of climate records and variables as far back as 1901. These records have been continuously updated in 30-year increments by international and national agencies such as The World Meteorological Agency (United Nations), Environment Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) in the U.S. Both ECCC and NOAA have emphasized the significant impacts of climate change that has resulted in warmer and wetter conditions which will continue to affect current and future weather patterns. These changes are driven to a large degree by the increasing warming trends as well as the resulting “wetting” of the atmosphere as rising temperatures result in increased evaporation from oceans, lakes, and land surface. While the atmosphere is getting wetter, this doesn’t necessarily translate into wetter weather patterns for all areas. The wetter atmosphere can affect regions very differently. This was certainly the case for the basin this year, where early summer did not see very much precipitation at all, however it was certainly hotter. According

to climatologists, the drier and wetter areas shift back and forth without an obvious pattern. As a result, one region may experience drought while another may be impacted by floods. Prediction of these events is challenging. It is, however, clear that climate change and the warming of the planet is driving a new normal and an increase in weather events. Summer temperatures in Canada have risen on average 1.5 C from 1948-2016. According to climatologists, this has resulted in a significant increase in climate related events that are difficult to predict. For the Lake of the Woods area, 2021 has been the driest year since 1961 based on LWCB records. Between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021, 152.8 mm of precipitation fell in the Kenora area. This compares with an average level of precipitation of 308.9 mm, or 49.5 per cent of the expected precipitation for that period. As of this writing at the end of July 2021, the level of Lake of the Woods is at 322.60 meters (1058.4 ft.) above sea level or the 10th percentile for that time of year. This is compared to the water depths on your navigation charts of 322.80 meters (1059.0 ft). Below normal levels of precipitation were anticipated to continue into the fall. In June, the LWCB Secretariat staffed by ECCC, requested assistance from member organizations to assist with the collection of data and perspectives for a study on low spring water levels and how they affect rightsholders and stakeholders on Lake of the Woods and Lac Seul. This request and the related survey were posted on the LOWDSA website in July and was anticipated to be active until the end of August. The intent is for the data collected to be presented and discussed at the October 2021, LWCB regulation meeting for inclusion in LWCB strategies for Winter 2021/22 and Spring 2022. Our thanks to all who have participated in this survey. We will be keeping you apprised of findings and our approach to a changing “normal.” If you would like to keep up to date on the status of water levels and related bulletins etc., please visit the LWCB website at lwcb.ca/waterflowdata.html.

In the District Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

W H AT ' S H A P P E N I N G O N Y O U R L A K E ?

Art for everyone SUBMITTED BY THE MUSE - DOUGLAS FAMILY ART CENTRE AND LAKE OF THE WOODS ARTS COMMUNITY The arts community in Kenora and Lake of the Woods has always been strong, including a rich array of artists from all creative disciplines—visual, vocal, performing and literary arts. While the pandemic had a profound impact on the arts, local arts organizations like The Muse - Douglas Family Art Centre and Lake of the Woods Arts Community (LOWAC) found ways to offer virtual programming and exhibits to bring artists and their audiences together when it wasn’t possible to do so in person. Both organizations are looking forward to welcoming arts enthusiasts “back” now that restrictions are being eased. The Douglas Family Art Centre had only been open a matter of months when COVID-19 hit, and it was required to close its doors. “This was incredibly disappointing,” said Sophie Lavoie, curator. “Our original opening date was delayed, so we were raring to go and had some outstanding exhibits planned for the earlier part of 2020,” she said. Not knowing when they would be allowed to re-open, The Muse team put their heads together. “It was becoming evident that, during the lockdown, the arts were playing an important role, assisting people with the processing of the pandemic and just getting through the days of isolation.” The Muse put out a call for artists to provide artworks for an exhibit that would be entitled Art in the Time of Corona. The response was extraordinary and the exhibit, originally featured live at the Douglas Family Art Centre, from late October 2020 to February 2021, featured over 46 pieces of works by artists of all levels of experience who expressed their COVID-19 experience through poetry, paintings, glass, ceramics, photography, textiles, videos, and more. “It truly was a means by which we could come together as a community and through the art that was created, support each other, and share in our collective experience,” said Lavoie. With both the museum and art centre closed during lockdowns, Art Centre programmer Shelby Smith was at the core of

developing online content for Art in the time of Corona, Maud Lewis, and Strike a Pose. “We also had up for a limited time Colour with a U and there is currently Story Trees as well.” The virtual exhibitions are available at themusekenora.ca/ exhibitions/virtual-exhibitions.

The Man in the Mirror, c1895, photographer unknown, from the collection of the Banning Family on Coney Island, is one of over 60 portraits featured in Strike a Pose: Portraits from the Collection, now available as a virtual exhibition.

Once its annual ArtsFest was cancelled in 2020, LOWAC, which is a local non-profit that supports the arts community, knew it too needed to find new ways to fulfill its mission to foster and promote the spirit of creativity in the City of Kenora and the surrounding area of Lake of the Woods. “As artists ourselves, our Board was seeing first-hand how much the arts community was helping to bring people together online to experience, create and share art in the early days of the pandemic,” said LOWAC’s chair Leanne Fournier.

Title photo: Art in the Time of Corona, originally exhibited at the Douglas Family Art Centre, is now available as a virtual tour (where you can see the artists names and statements) at themusekenora.ca/exhibitions/virtual-exhibitions.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association In the District

Upcoming exhibits at The Muse The Muse is pleased to welcome everyone back to its Main Street locations with three wonderful exhibitions.

Beads Of Truth: Ruth Cuthand

The Douglas Family Art Centre: September 17 - November 27, 2021

Aimee Baldwin, Moon in June studio, conducted a lively pinch pot making session for LOWAC’s Arts@Home.

A call was put for submissions for Arts@Home, which would include free online performances, workshops and presentations from regional artists. Thanks to the tremendous response and a Dream Fund grant from the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation (KLWCF), the program ran from September 2020 to April 2021. Audiences were invited to create their own art pieces, as well as listen, learn and enjoy the talents of a wonderful array of area artists. “We were thrilled with the response,” said Fournier. She adds that it’s well-recognized that the arts sector continues to be affected by the pandemic. For this reason, LOWAC has again successfully applied for KLWCF funding and will be offering Arts@Home starting this fall. “Arts@Home is free and open to anyone anywhere who can join online via Zoom,” said Fournier. Scheduling is still underway. Check lowac.ca/artshome for updates.

Ruth Cuthand was born in Treaty 6 territory, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. For more than 40 years she has used her art as a platform to speak about historic and contemporary settler/Native relationships and to challenge mainstream perspectives of colonialism. In 2020, she was presented with the Governor General’s Award for Visual Arts. Beads of Truth features beadwork that addresses the history of diseases introduced to Indigenous peoples from European settlers, the poor conditions in which many live on reserves, and the effects of intergenerational trauma.

Bakaan Nake'ii Ngii-Izhi-Gakinoo'amaagoomin/ We Were Taught Differently: The Indian School Experience The Lake of the Woods Museum: September 23 - October 20, 2021

This award-winning exhibit originally opened at the Lake of the Woods Museum in 2008 and is on display again this fall. The exhibit will allow visitors to learn about the Indian Residential School system with a particular focus on the two schools located in Kenora—Cecilia Jeffrey and St. Mary’s. Powerful images, text, archival material, and personal recollections combine to tell this story. The primary objectives of this exhibit are to acknowledge this part of our history; to promote awareness about the residential schools and the long-term effect they had on the First Nations people; and to honour those whose lives have been touched by the schools. It is an exhibit for everyone.

Somewhere In The Sky, Nancy Bergman

The Douglas Family Art Centre: October 1 - December 24, 2021 Local textile artist Nancy Bergman presents a selection of her art quilts symbolizing the sky and its mysteries during a 24-hour day. She observed that the circle is found everywhere in nature and dominates our lives. "When we view the sky, we see the circles of the moon, sun, planets, and stars. Ancient cultures used the circle to note the way that time and the seasons passed in a cyclical way.” For more information, visit: themusekenora.ca or call (807) 467-2105.

In the District Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

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Nuclear waste selection site update BY LEANNE FOURNIER

The Revell Lake Area, between Ignace and Dryden is one of two short-listed locations currently being considered as a site to host long-term underground storage of nuclear waste. This article aims to provide LOWDSA members with some background and the latest updates about the project and links to resources for more information.

Background In 2002, Parliament passed the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act, NFWA, which required nuclear energy corporations to establish a waste management organization as a separate legal entity to manage the full range of activities for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. The NFWA also required that this waste management organization prepare and submit a study to the Government of Canada on proposed approaches for the long-term management of the used fuel. Under this Act, the Government of Canada was designated responsible for: • Reviewing the waste management organization’s study on proposed approaches for the long-term management of spent fuel • Selecting a long-term management option from those proposed and outlined in the study • Providing oversight during the implementation of the selected option In accordance with the NFWA’s requirement to establish a waste management organization as outlined above, Canada’s nuclear electricity producers established the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) in 2002. The NWMO was given the responsibility for designing and implementing Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel.

After a comprehensive three-year study and extensive public engagement, the NWMO presented the study, including its preferred approach, to the Government of Canada. In 2007, the NWMO’s recommendation of Adaptive Phased Management (APM) was selected as the preferred approach for the safe and secure long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel. APM—which involves the containment and isolation of Canada’s used fuel at a new repository site—comprises six phases, starting with site selection and regulatory approval through to postclosure monitoring of the site. The NWMO is now responsible for implementing APM, subject to all necessary regulatory approvals.1 APM is both a technical method and a management system. The endpoint of the technical method is the centralized containment and isolation of Canada's used fuel in a deep geological repository in an area with suitable geology and an informed and willing host. APM also involves the development of a transportation system to move the used fuel from the facilities where it is currently stored to the new site.2 APM also means that the approach can be adapted as technology and science change.

Site selection process and next steps NWMO has been conducting its site selection process since 2010. This process started with 22 municipalities and Indigenous communities that expressed interest in learning more and exploring their potential to host the project. The plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing host. In addition to the Township of Ignace in northwestern Ontario, the Municipality of South Bruce in southern Ontario are the final two municipalities being considered. Of note is that the Revell Lake area is more than 40 km west of the boundaries of the Township of Ignace.

Title photo: Geologists study the rock for its suitability to host a deep geological repository in Ignace, Ontario.

In the District Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

accurate information from the government, nuclear industry and nuclear regulators along with policies and planning that ensure transparency and public safety. In its material, Nuclear Free North highlights concerns related to risks to the watersheds connected to the proposed site, which includes the Lake of the Woods, if the containers fail, through either manufacturing flaws or simply as a result of degradation over time; transportation of the waste to the site and the radioactive releases that are anticipated as part of transferring the wastes from the transportation cask to the final container; and that the risks will be borne by all along the transportation route, by those living in closest proximity to the site, and by those downstream. An interactive 3D model of a deep geological repository is available for viewing at the NWMO Ignace Learn More Centre.

NWMO is currently in Step 3/Phase 2: Field Studies and Engagement, which began in 2014. This phase includes geophysical surveys, environmental surveys, geological mapping, and other intensive fieldwork to determine the suitability of the area. It also includes continuing engagement with the community and surrounding municipalities to explore interest and build awareness and understanding of the project.

Additional resources LOWDSA believes that informed communication is important to further the goals of the Association and to educate and inform our members and the larger community of the Lake of the Woods region. Recognizing there are various or different perspectives on a project of this nature, here are some information sources. • Nuclear Fuel Waste Act: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/ acts/N-27.7/

Site selection and the “Learn More" stage of the project is projected to end in 2023, which will be followed by confirming acceptance by the host community. Once the site selection process is complete and a host is willing, a regulatory process is triggered. Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is the regulator for this process. In the regulatory process, public consultation and impact assessment of the APM project will take place. In the event a willing host or suitable site is not brought forward, the site selection process can be restarted.

Ignace focused on learning more The Township of Ignace initiated its involvement in the site selection process by formally expressing interest in learning about the project in 2010. The Township shared the following statement from Mayor Penny Lucas: “Our community members will continue to learn more and define as a community what our willingness is and we will be ready make an informed decision. Nuclear Energy is the single largest source of electricity in Ontario and accounts for approximately 60 per cent of electrical power generated in the Province. Canadians and Indigenous peoples agree that we simply cannot leave the management of used nuclear fuel for future generations. We have been learning for 10 years and a decision will be made in early 2023.”

Concerns and uncertainties While there is a high level of agreement in the nuclear industry that deep geological repositories are their preferred option, opponents of the project, including a public alliance, Nuclear Free North, believe it is not a consensus that includes public interest groups, academics and many independent experts. Some of the main concerns being cited are the dangers of nuclear energy, the need for public education, and demands for

• Nuclear Waste Management Organization: nwmo.ca • Canadian Nuclear Safety (CNSC): nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/ waste/high-level-waste/community-meetings-with-theCNSC/index.cfm • We the Nuclear Free North: wethenuclearfreenorth.ca • Know Nuclear Waste (a public interest information project): knownuclearwaste.ca Through the site selection process, LOWDSA will continue to provide information to our membership and opportunities to learn about the Nuclear Waste APM process. Please follow our Facebook posts, E-news and watch for future Area News articles as this process moves forward. For any questions or comments, please reach out to patrick@lowdsa.com. Source: nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/acts-and-regulations/regulatory-documents/ published/html/regdoc2-11-v2/index.cfm

2 Source: nwmo.ca/en/Canadas-Plan/ About-Adaptive-Phased-Management-APM

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Memories

O F C L E A R WAT E R B AY Introduction by Tannis Erwin Engel–Memories by Phyllis Ketcheson

Following are memories shared by my Aunty Pook—Her name is Phyllis, but she was always Pook to us. She grew up in Winnipeg and the cottage has been in the family since she was a little girl and, of course, for my whole life. She inherited the cottage from my grandparents in the 1990s, and we subsequently purchased it from her and her husband, Donald Ketcheson (Ketch to his friends and family), in 2014. It was a succession that happened partly because my dad, her only brother Stewart, passed away when I was only 15 years old. It was the cottage that was the glue that held our small family together. Pook and Ketch were both so creative and inspiring, Ketch an interior designer and Pook a visual artist. They led a glamorous and busy life in Toronto but always had the cottage to come back to every summer to stay grounded and gather with our Winnipeg family. Now in her 80s and without Ketch, who passed away in 2018, Pook finds the journey to Clearwater Bay more difficult but her love and lasting memories of lake life remain strong. Pook got her creativity from my grandparents Ralph and Helen Erwin. My grandmother was a concert pianist and my grandfather was an actor that managed a traveling acting troupe called Chautauqua. Although they were Americans, his troupe travelled through Northwestern Ontario and the prairie provinces throughout the 1920s. This is how Ralph discovered the beauty of the Lake of the Woods area and eventually settled in Winnipeg, where he started up a successful restaurant chain called Salisbury House that is still in operation today. But that is a long story to be told another time. The following memories of Clearwater Bay are in Pook’s words. They are stories I have grown up with and will also continue to share to ensure our family’s long and wonderful history at Clearwater Bay is always remembered.

Ketch’s watercolour paintings of the main cottage provide a beautiful, permanent record of the Erwin/Ketcheson/Engel family cottage.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

POOK’S MEMORIES While my parents Ralph and Helen Erwin bought the Clearwater Bay property in 1945, our family's time on the lake actually began in 1938 when my father rented a cabin at Granite Lake. Fishing was undoubtedly the main attraction, which brought the family back there for the next three years. I was four and my younger brother Stewart was two. Then in 1941, Ralph learned about a camp for sale on Clearwater Bay, off McCallum Point Road.

Helen and Ralph coming or going with the Peterborough boat in the background.

He and my mother went immediately to see the property. The location was special, 1.5 acres on a pieshaped piece of land, with a wide shoreline covering a bay on each side. There were only four other camps on the whole Clearwater Bay side of McCallum’s Point at the time.

The camp was simply furnished. There was a small kitchen and cook stove and an ice box, one window and a door leading onto a small porch, which was also the dining area. A small brick fireplace was at one end of the living room with a “Winnipeg” couch which opened out to make a double bed. There were partitions forming two bedrooms with two single cots in each, with a window in each room. None of the camps had running water so each one had outhouses instead. While the asking price was $800, which was more than my parents could afford, it was irresistible. But somehow, they would manage. How fortunate for our family and the subsequent grandchildren and great grandchildren that they made the decision to take the risk. At the end of the 1920s, my American parents had lived in New York City before moving to Winnipeg. My mother loved the excitement of the big city, so adjusting to

camp life in the Canadian wilderness was a big step. It became their true home. In 1941, there was swim dock. no road access Pook poses on the old from McCallum Point Road to the camp. We used to park across the small bay where the road ended and row a boat to the camp. My mom, brother Stew and myself and sometimes my grandmother would spend the whole summer at camp. My dad took long weekends, Thursday night to Monday morning. He would honk the car horn upon arrival. Our mother would row over to pick up him and all the exciting goodies from the city. After dinner, we’d play board games—parcheesi, snakes and ladders, checkers, and cards. A unique lamp hung over the oilcloth-covered table. It had two fragile small oval-shaded bag light units that burned white gas. From time to time the lamp had to be pumped up with air to keep it burning. It hissed as it burned. The water, which was so clear (the reason for the Clearwater Bay name) was hauled up to the kitchen. It was drinkable for many years straight from the lake! How convenient it was to scoop a cupful of water out from the boat when fishing on a hot day. The family boat was a wooden Peterborough craft with a huge 16 horsepower motor. It had removable seat backs, where my brother used to sleep under the cowl on the way home from a day of fishing in Echo Bay or Cul de Sac. We never saw any bears, only a few deer on our trips. However, there was a young moose who appeared often on the small point of land on the opposite side of the bay. It was quite tame because we could paddle our rowboat fairly close to it. Driving from Winnipeg via the old road through Beausejour and West Hawk Lake during the war years meant we almost always had to stop for Dad to change a tire. Rubber was scarce, and tires were worn out. It was also always necessary to stop at what was then known as the Dog Farm, owned by Cecil Platford, to buy a chunk of ice. As a kid, I marvelled

Left: Helen, Ralph, Pook and Stewart relax after a dip. The family often hosted guests from the city or other nearby cabins. Right; Ralph, Cecil Platford and another friend working at the dock in the early 40s.

Pook’s younger brother Stewart enjoying some quiet time on the front point.

at the ice being available in the summer. Cecil would haul out a big chunk. My dad always carried a gunny sack in the car to carry the ice in. A chunk would last in the ice box for almost a week. We had an outdoor storage hole in the ground for butter and eggs, vegetables, etc. which were not as perishable. It was covered with a thick tarp and some heavy rocks. Cecil, whose place eventually became known as the Rockeries, sold home grown vegetables from his garden. We ate well. Our days were carefree. We got up when we felt like it, ate when we were hungry, and went to bed when it was dark. My brother and I used to spend hours on our beach building houses for the frogs or tree toads. We were always curious that they were gone in the morning, wondering how they had escaped. In the first year, an L-shaped dock was built on a reef jutting out from the beach on either side, which the winter ice promptly took out the following spring. Subsequently, a boat dock was built in the small bay where it was protected. A tiny swimming dock was also built against the shore close to the camp. It wasn’t long before a road right to the camp was built and my father put in a running water system to the kitchen. A gas run pump was by the lake, placed on a flat rock about eight feet above the waterline. It was started by my dad pulling on a rope wound around a starter plate to get the engine going. A second person had to stand at the back of the camp to yell “STOP” when the geyser of water shot out of the tank. A pipe leading down to the kitchen had a tap over a basin. In the evenings, the adults would socialize in the living room, while my brother and I were supposed to sleep on the other side of the partition. We climbed up the wooden partitions to peek over the top.

Like many families of the time, in the 1950s, the year of the devastating flood, my father sent the family to camp, much earlier, in May. A friend and her mother stayed with us as well. Our Winnipeg home was used by some of my father’s staff whose homes were likely flooded. Clearwater Bay in the spring was wonderful. What a great vacation far from the tragedies occurring in Manitoba and North Dakota. We had no school work to do either. Eventually, a three-burner stove was installed, so there was no need to light a fire when you wanted to heat something up or cook quickly. A kerosene fridge was also installed, and so began years of kitchen improvements. A series of barbecues were built, first a small brick one on the beach, then a fairly large one at the east end of the yard. It was a proper oven-like affair, built of round stones with a chimney. Next, was a barbecue oven built on the other side of a newly constructed beautiful stone fireplace. The outdoor barbecue oven was connected to the same chimney. The final barbecue was also a smoke oven built outside during the 1954 kitchen, dining, and sitting room addition. It is still in use today. Life was simple and carefree, nothing to break down as there was no electricity, no running water and no phone. I have often felt we should go back to that simple way of life without all the modern conveniences the camp has today. Thanks to all those steps taken by my parents, our family camp at Clearwater Bay has become an integral part of all of our lives. My niece and nephew, Tannis and Gerry Engel, have turned it into a wonderful, winterized home they enjoy with the whole family, siblings, nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren year-round. This is the fifth generation enjoying Clearwater Bay life. None of this would be possible without the stoic dedication and vision of Ralph and Helen when they first fell in love with this part of the world and made it home. an

Left: Final stone BBQ built by Ralph in 1954 is still in use today. Centre: Cozy living room features the original fireplace. One of Aunty Pook’s paintings hangs on the wall. Right: Three generations gather at the cottage: Gerry and Tannis (centre), their sons Tanner (far left) and Cord (far right), Cord’s wife Stacey and children Eli and Piper.

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PA N D E M I C L E S S O N S L E A R N E D :

Sustainable eating + living Article & photos by Sharon Gurney

As I am sure has been the case for many of us, this pandemic has not only resulted in much self-isolation, but also self-reflection, self-discovery and in some cases, a desire for self-sufficiency and even food security. Take-out food delivery wasn’t an option at my Granite Lake cottage, where I spent as much of the past year and a half as I could. With COVID-19 public health restrictions making grocery shopping challenging for most of that time, I began to wonder… how am I going to eat sustainably and healthy in a more isolated environment?

Healthy sustainable food

My first new food venture was into the world of sourdough bread making. Everyone seemed to be doing it, so much so that finding flour became a challenge. Although I love to cook, baking was never my forte. I soon learned that making delicious sourdough bread was a great way to reduce trips to the grocery store, and another reason to get outside and work off the bread calories. The Fall 2020 issue of Area News featured a great stepby-step sourdough breadSourdough success was a surprising pandemic making recipe (as a member, accomplishment. you can see it online).

Make your greens go further—cut off the bottoms, put them in water and they start growing again.

Another way to make your greens go further is to cut off the bottom of your green onions, celery stalk, bok choy, romaine lettuce, and put them in water and voila, they start growing again. You can plant your onions and celery once they root to increase your harvest. Free homegrown healthy food! Growing my own garden seedlings over the spring resulted in a thriving container garden—fresh greens and herbs right outside the door from spring to fall.

Fun Food Fact: Broccoli sprouts have 50-100 times the concentration of sulforaphanes per weight of regular broccoli. Nutritional researchers report that eating these potent anticancer fighting phytochemicals found in broccoli sprouts is the most nutritious and costeffective way to improve your diet.

But you can’t eat healthy and live on bread alone. Thanks to the Next, came foraging for chanterelle and lobster knowledge I gained from the sprout mushrooms, and of course, picking wild berries, guru, Doug Evans (sproutman.com but ensuring to leave plenty for the wildlife. /pages/sprouting-101), and a This past spring, I harvested my sea of yellow Canadian seed supplier, I became dandelion flowers, turning them into a enthralled with the wonderful delicious syrup for blueberry pancakes (see world of jar and container also Bob Stewart’s dandelion jelly recipe on sprouting. Who knew you page 60). Fortunately, my prolific concord could grow delicious and grape vine provided enough berries to extraordinarily nutritious food sustain me in jam through the winter. in only a few days with some seeds, a sealer jar, and water! Sprouts are delicious on salads, sandwiches, or as a super nutritious side.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Naturally grown concord grapes are a great jam staple.

You can grow delicious and extraordinarily nutritious food in only a few days with some seeds, a sealer jar and water.

HOW TO GROW SPROUTS IN A SEALER JAR Although each type of sprouting seed may require different growing protocols, most follow these simple instructions. You will need (1) sprouting seeds from a seed supplier; (2) a 2-quart sprouting jar with a screen lid or make you own using a sealer jar and nylon window screen cut to fit under the sealer ring; and (3) water (Brita water reduces the chlorine levels, which can affect germination rates). Follow these simple steps 1. Place 1-3 tsp of seeds in sealer jar. 2. Partially fill the jar with water, swirl to rinse the seeds well. Drain rinse water through the screen lid. 3. Add enough water to cover the seeds in the jar. Soak seeds according to the instructions on the seed package – generally 2-8 hrs depending on the seed. 4. Drain seeds and invert container on an angle. I use a dish drying rack. Cover the jars with a tea towel to block out the light. 5. Gently rinse and drain seeds twice a day, keeping jars covered until the seeds are well sprouted—generally 3-10 days, depending on the seed type. Once the seeds are well geminated, uncover the jars to allow the natural light (not direct sunlight) to further green-up the sprouts. 6. Place your sprouts on a paper towel to dry thoroughly before storing in the fridge. 7. Enjoy your sprouts on salads, sandwiches, or as a super nutritious side to almost any meal. Once you have mastered jar sprouting, you may want to try growing microgreens in containers with or without a rooting medium. I’ve had great success growing sunflower sprouts in leftover clamshell lettuce containers. Microgreens take longer to grow than sprouts—but are equally nutritious and delicious. Again, lots of instructional YouTube videos are available.

Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

I also discovered how to make delicious spicy kimchi by fermenting the vegetables in my fridge in need of preservation. Kimchi is a versatile Korean dish that is often made with cabbage, garlic, ginger, and hot peppers, but other veggies can be added. Super easy to make, and once fermented, it is alive with healthy probiotic bacteria. Check out YouTube for some easy-to-follow instructions.

Less waste, more compost

I was able to significantly reduce my wet garbage waste by feeding all my vegetable scraps to my red wriggler worms. These voracious worms not only take care of your vegetable waste, but they also produce both a natural fertilizer and an effective pesticide.

Studies have also shown that home composting can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which would otherwise occur if this waste made it into landfill. Bonus—fewer trips to the dump, and free rich fertilizer to help you grow more nutritious vegetables in the year ahead! Check out the Green Action Centre website to see how to get started with your own vermicomposting at greenactioncentre.ca/ module/composting-2/vermicomposting.

Reflection and self-discovery

Many people I know were also fortunate to find similar silver linings through this pandemic. It gave many of us (at least those not homeschooling children) time to learn and explore new interests that we never had time for in our busy pre-pandemic lives.

Sprouts properly dried and stored keep well in the refrigerator.

Area News editor, Leanne Fournier shared that her greenhouse and large garden were bright spots during the long dark days of isolation at her remote home on the Winnipeg River. “Having that purpose every day, beginning in mid-March, when I was starting my seedlings and all through the summer tending the garden, has definitely been a balm for the loneliness and anxiety of the pandemic,” she said. “If I couldn’t see

and care for my family in other provinces, at least I could pamper my seedlings and plants, creating a healthier, sustainable food supply and dramatically reducing our carbon footprint, packaging waste and garbage.” Jake Boutwell, of the Harvest Kenora Collective, a local group concerned about the global industrial food system and its impacts on people and the planet, reports that interest in its volunteer-run Home Run Gardens in Keewatin has increased during the pandemic. “There is a growing awareness around how our food gets to our plate, and more and more people want to feel connected to their food and their community by sharing the experience of growing food.”

Need help getting started growing your own food? Check out Harvest Kenora, a collective of people working to promote sustainable small-scale agriculture, community building, and a love of gardening. Find out more at harvestkenora.ca or facebook.com/harvestkenora.

There is definitely something moodboosting about growing your own food, whether it be in a jar through the winter, on your deck in the summer, or productive use of available land. My pandemic lifestyle Dandelions can be harvested and turned gave me the time into a delicious syrup or jelly. to dive into the fascinating world of nutritional science. Much to my surprise, I have transitioned into a plant-centered diet. Some people make this choice for health, ethical and/ or sustainability reasons. I think I was influenced by the science of all three of these factors. I have never felt better both mentally and physically. Best of all, I have learned that I can make choices to tread a little lighter on this earth. AN

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Have fun on the water this fall

BY JEFF GUSTAFSON

The fall season is always kind of depressing for anglers across the Lake of the Woods area because it means that another open water season is coming to an end. Fortunately, the fish in our lakes know that another long winter is coming as well, so they want to eat and stockpile as much energy as they can before freeze. If you like to catch fish, fall is the prime time to be out there for most species of fish. On Lake of the Woods, lake trout are the only species with a closed fishing season (closes after Sept. 30) —all other species in the lake are fair game. outh nd smallm aitfish a hool of b Gustafson. y imic a sc lb m e s h g S ri : Umbrella like them. Photo lly bass rea

CRAPPIE:

Find them with electronics While crappie don’t get all that big, maybe up to a couple of pounds, they are a popular species for anglers to target because you can find them in large schools, so there’s lots of action, and they are really good to eat. You can use your electronics to find fish and trick them into biting, which is an aspect of crappie fishing that a lot of anglers enjoy, myself included. It’s fun watching the fish react to your bait and then figuring out how to get them to bite. When it comes to finding crappies in the fall, they will be in deeper water, 20-40 feet, depending on the depth of the basins where they live. They’ll get out on the deeper mud flats in the bays that they live in, mostly eating invertebrates that rise from the bottom. The reason electronics are so effective for finding crappies is because they are typically found in larger groups that show up pretty good on screen. Rather that pulling into an area that you know has a population of crappies, you’re farther ahead to spend some time idling around to find exactly where they are, then drop your jigs down on top of them. Jigs tipped with small plastics or minnows are tough to beat. r kids are fun fo Crappies ey can provide th because ction. fa plenty o

SMALLMOUTH BASS:

Humps and points

While smallmouths disperse along the shoreline throughout the lake during the summer months, in the fall, they start to congregate on spots where they will spend the winter as a large group. Smallmouths essentially go dormant through the winter months, so they feed heavily during the last couple months of open water to conserve energy to get them through the winter. The places where they like to group up are points, humps, and even flats in the main lake basins, where they have access to deep water and baitfish like cisco and smelt that they feed on. Throughout the summer, crayfish are the main focus of their diet but that changes in the fall when more of these baitfish show up in the same depth range as bass, typically 15-35 feet. Knowing that, you should choose slender baitfish imitating baits like a jerkshad style soft plastic on a jig head, swimbaits, spoons and umbrella rigs with a variety of swimbaits attached. In Ontario, we are allowed to use four hooks on one line, so on most umbrella rigs that have five arms, cut the hook off one of the top baits. Smallmouths will also show up on your electronics really well on these spots, so save some time by finding the fish while idling before actually starting to fish.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

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From my experiences over the past couple of years, the walleye population on Lake of the Woods continues to be excellent and rivals most of the fly-in waters that I have visited in the past. I think the incredible population of crayfish has changed where a lot of the fish show up in the summer. More walleyes remain in shallow water than in the past to feed on the crayfish. In the fall, much like crappies and smallmouth bass, walleyes migrate towards deeper water where they will feed heavily before the lake freezes. When it comes to finding good fishing spots in the fall, traditional main lake humps and flats in 25-35 feet of water are good but an often overlooked “sure thing” on Lake of the Woods is fishing some of the neck-down areas with current. The lake has a massive current to it and with the low water this year, the flow is much less than normal but it can actually change daily depending on the wind. These neck down areas are great in the fall because they attract baitfish like shiners that the walleyes feed on. Keewatin Channel and Tranquil Channel are popular locations but there are countless smaller channels and spots that kick out fish. Focus your efforts in 28-35 feet of water and you will run into plenty of fish. A jig tipped with a soft plastic minnow is all I ever use, but jigs with real minnows always produce.

Regardless of which species you pursue in the fall, know that they will be biting somewhere so the key is to keep hunting around until you find fish. Do you need new electronics to catch fish? No, but they help speed up the process of finding fish and then catching them. Spending time using your electronics units and learning what they are telling you is important if you really want to improve the catching on your outings. Enjoy those last few trips on the lake this fall and happy fishing!

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Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

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BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES SEASON RECAP Getting to fish competitively is the dream job for me and there is not a day that goes by that I take it for granted. 2021 was my third season fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, the highest level in professional bass tournament competition.

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Overall, it was a good season. I won my first pro-level tournament back in February at the Tennessee River, with it a $100,000 first place prize and a beautiful, big blue trophy. I finished in the money (the top 50) in six out of nine events on the season. There were a couple of tough tournaments in there, but the good days outnumbered the bad and at the close of the season I ended up 23rd in points in the 100 angler field, qualifying me for the 2022 Bassmaster Classic. Over the course of the season, we get points based on where we finish in each event and at the end, the top 40 anglers in points qualify for the Classic.

Heading in the final two events out in New York in July, I was just outside the cutline so there was some pressure to finish strong and get back on the right side of the line. Fortunately, both events were on really good smallmouth bass fisheries so they aligned nicely with my skills, and I was able to get the job done. Overall, I’m calling it a great season and now we have a nice break before we start the new season again in February 2022 down in Florida. I’m happy that I get to spend the rest of the season around home on Lake of the Woods.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Succession from bare rock to forest BY DAVE SCHWARTZ

It’s a bit of a stretch to look at the rock outcroppings in our area and visualize beautiful, mature forests in their place. However, that’s just normal if nature gets its way without interruption. As the glaciers receded from our area about 10,000 years ago, they left many signs of their passage. Among those were many areas scraped right down to bare rock. While bare rock is still evident, most areas are now covered by forest. The process by which the landscape progresses from bare rock to forest is an example of primary succession. Lichens are the first plants (pioneers) to colonize the harsh, soilless, often arid environment of bare rock. The hardiest of all plants, lichens derive their subsistence from thin air. They consist of algae and fungi in a symbiotic relationship in which the algae produce carbohydrates by photosynthesis and the fungi provide shelter, shade and water absorption for the algae. Together they release carbon dioxide, which mixes with rainwater to form carbonic acid. The weak acid begins breaking the rock into small grit-sized pieces which wash down into depressions or cracks in the rock along with dust, decayed organic material and tiny rock fragments produced by erosion to form the first soil. The rate at which this happens is dependent on climate and occurs more rapidly in warm, moist conditions.

Once the lichens have built sufficient soil, mosses begin to grow and eventually out-compete and replace the lichens starting in the cracks, depressions and crevices in the rock and spreading out from there. Some mosses have the ability to establish themselves directly on certain types of rock but normally rely on lichens to improve conditions before they take hold. Mosses grow faster than lichens and the soil building process accelerates. Tiny organisms, such as insects move in, add their remains to soil when they die and decay. As lichens colonize bare rock, decayed material collects in open cracks. Note the herbaceous plant taking advantage of the extra soil and moisture.

Eventually, there is sufficient soil to support grasses and other herbaceous plants. Lichen-covered rock is interspersed with patches of various, more advanced, stages of vegetation. As soil continues to accumulate and hold more moisture, shrubs gain a foothold. After the establishment of the shrub stage and more soil formation, the environment becomes more humid and trees start to colonize the site. As the trees grow larger, the forest floor becomes more shaded. The plants beneath the canopy of trees are gradually replaced by more shade-tolerant species. In the Lake of the Woods area boreal forest the most common tree species on former bare rock sites are balsam and primarily

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment

Mighty white pines thrive on former bare rock sites by spreading their roots through the meagre soil and into cracks and crevices in the rock.

A forest fire has destroyed most or all of the organic soil around the charred tree root and set succession back to an earlier stage.

jack pine. White pine is also common in our southern regions and extends northward along the Lake of the Woods and Winnipeg River due to the climatic influence of large water bodies.

jack pine forest. If fire strikes the jack pine forest, the forest will renew itself with the released seed, provided the trees are old enough to have cones.

When jack pine is the dominant species, the forest depends on fire to regenerate as its cones only open to release their seeds at high temperatures. Jack pine trees are shade intolerant so the understory in a jack pine forest will have shade tolerant species, usually balsam fir. As the jack pines age and die, the balsam fir takes over. Balsam fir forest is prone to damage by spruce budworm, creating ideal conditions for forest fires. Fire opens the dormant jack pinecones putting the site on its way to a renewed

Fire and logging are the two main factors which set back forests in this area. On average, without fire suppression, any given area of forest burns about every 70 years. When forests on former bare rock are destroyed by an extremely hot fire, it may completely destroy the plant community and burn all the organic soil. The process of primary succession starts over with lichens recolonizing the rock. If the fire is less intense, the plant community may be temporarily destroyed but the soil remains. When this happens, the plant community will re-establish itself at a later development stage and a new forest will be established relatively quickly in a process called secondary succession. Similarly, when an area is logged, the soil remains behind and secondary succession will begin if the area is not replanted with a particular commercially desired species. Nature has also left areas of clay soil, sand from ancient beaches, gravel deposits from ancient beaches and riverbeds, deposits of glacial till and deep organic peat soil. Since soil type determines the composition of forest in any given climate, it’s interesting to wander in our forests and ponder how they came to be and what lies underneath.

Environment Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Forestry 101 – How are forests in northwestern Ontario managed? BY RYAN HAINES

Even prior to COVID-19 resulting in funds unspent on winter vacations being reallocated to home renovations, the forest industry in northwestern Ontario has been on a prolonged boom in the latest boom-bust cycle characteristic of the industry. This increased demand, combined with the removal of 700,000 hectares of no harvest zone north of Kenora in the Whiskey Jack Forest, has resulted in increased demands on the wood in the surrounding area to supply the area mills.

We need wood to build and heat our houses, produce paper, and other pulp products; but why not use less disruptive methods, such as selective harvesting that only removes some trees?

Forest management plans must ensure that harvest levels do not exceed what is deemed ecologically and socially sustainable. The demand for wood is balanced with a myriad of environmental and social requirements embedded in provincial legislation, which is carried out via the development of 10-year forest management plans. These plans take almost three years to develop. Understanding the context and process for these plans is critical to gain an understanding of how forestry is carried out in Ontario.

The short answer to this question is light. Clearcutting removes big trees and creates conditions which allow for lots of light to reach the forest floor, whereas selective harvesting only creates “small” shady spaces on the forest floor for new trees to establish.

Forest management planning in Ontario Although clearcutting has been practiced since the beginning of industrial harvesting in the area over a century ago, the way clearcuts have been planned, implemented, and renewed at the landscape level has changed radically over the past few decades. With the rise of the global awareness of sustainability issues in the second half of the 20th century, Ontario was one of the first jurisdictions in Canada to embrace the principle of Sustainable Forest Management with the goal to maintain long-term forest health. The Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994), along with its regulations and the four regulated manuals, is the sole piece of legislation that governs forestry activities on Crown land in Ontario. To meet these legislative requirements, every decade, forest managers embark on a three-year planning process to develop a 10-year plan for each Forest Management Unit in Ontario. Each plan is prepared following a comprehensive and prescriptive process based on regulated manuals and forest management guides.

Ecological context Clearcutting, the most common harvesting method in northwestern Ontario, takes trees and leaves behind a completely changed area, including: stumps, residual trees (standing dead trees and live trees), and patches of exposed soil. Clearcutting is a major disturbance that shocks the ecosystem and radically changes the area, including habitat for many species of plants and wildlife. Many ask why clearcutting is still allowed?

Selective harvesting means a silvicultural system used to harvest and regenerate particular forest types. Trees are harvested either singly or in small groups at intervals indefinitely. Regeneration is established continually in the gaps produced, and an uneven-aged stand is maintained. In Ontario, selective harvesting is used mainly in stands composed of shade tolerant hardwoods, such as maple, ash, and beech.

Prior to significant advances in fire suppression during the second half of the twentieth century, large forest fires used to burn hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest on a regular basis, leaving behind large swaths of dead trees and disturbed forest. Within a year or two following these fires, there would be a flush of growth as a new generation of plants and trees rapidly colonized the area. Many of these species would not be able to grow without a major disturbance because they need more light in order to survive. Examples of species that thrive in these conditions include jack pine, poplars, tamarack, and blueberries. Similar to the needs of different plant species, there is also an abundance of wildlife that are dependent on large areas of young forest habitat, including moose, deer, grouse, and many songbirds. Historically, large forest fires would help to make sure that there is a diversity of habitats available, including young, mature, and old forests. Many wildlife species in northwestern Ontario have adapted to large-scale forest fires (and now harvesting activities that mimic fire). These species have also adapted to move around the landscape as the forests ages and/or burns.

Clearcutting, similar to fire, creates conditions with a lot of light and therefore is considered the most ecologically appropriate method of forest harvesting in northwestern Ontario.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment

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The summer of 2021 has provided us with a stark reminder that northwestern Ontario is a fire-based ecosystem. Woodland Caribou Provincial Park has implemented a policy to not fight fires within the park boundaries to address the ecological implications of large tracts of boreal forest that are not logged and are subject to aggressive fire suppression. This park fire policy resulted in hundreds of thousands of hectares of forests north of Kenora being left to burn over this past summer, often blanketing the region in smoke and ash.

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Figure 2. Similar to fire, harvesting removes large trees and opens up the forest floor for new seedlings. New forest is made up of trees that establish on their own, and/or that are planted or seeded. As the forest grows, biomass builds up and harvesting will take place again in mature forest.

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Figure 1. The boreal fire cycle: with the buildup of the forest fuels in mature or old forest, lightning strikes and kills the trees. There is now lots of light reaching to the forest floor. The light and burned forest floor make perfect growing conditions for new seedlings to establish. As the forest grows, the fuel builds up again, until lightning strikes.

To overcome these and other differences, forest managers are required to consider the historical impact of fires on the landscape and make their best efforts to replicate them when determining where cutting takes place to ensure that the forest regenerates in a manner that mimics the natural forest condition as much as possible. Site preparation, tending and planting/seeding are used to help forests to renew to a similar state that would have historically resulted from fires. It is important to keep in mind that northwestern Ontario is not a coastal rainforest. Two-hundred-year-old forests in this area are not the majestic dark forests with two-meter-wide trees that are found in areas such as Cathedral Grove or Fairy Creek that are emblematic of the coastal rainforests of British Columbia. Old growth boreal forests are more likely to resemble a game of pick-up sticks being played by giants as trees mature and then rot and fall to the forest floor with new species of trees such as balsam fir, spruce and birch establishing in the canopy gaps created by dead trees. Despite its rugged appearance, these forests are still an important habitat

To be clear, logging activities do not perfectly replicate the ecological characteristics of a forest fire. For example, forest fires will burn the soil layer, often deep into the roots of the existing plant species, limiting sprouting and burning existing seed banks within soil organic layers. Coupled with a flush of nutrients from ash and lots of light, fires create seedbeds with excellent growing conditions for new trees.

Environment Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

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Forest regeneration occurs shortly after an area being clearcut.

The summer of 2021 has provided a stark reminder that we live in a fire-based ecosystem.

for many species which need vertical structures of dead logs, and shelter (e.g., pine marten). Forest management planning needs to make sure that all habitats are available within the management unit in amounts and arrangements that would be found in natural conditions.

Social context The interests and values of the people who live in and use the forest must also be considered in forest management planning. Consultation with Indigenous communities (First Nations and Metis) and accommodation of their values and interests is a legal requirement as dictated by various court decisions. Social license, or gaining broad public support for development activities, has come to the fore in resource management in recent decades and the interests of cottagers, outfitters, hunters, anglers, and other individuals or groups that use the forest are an important component of the forest management planning process. The accommodations that are often made for social interests include timing of harvest, viewscapes (visual appeal from roads or lakes), maintenance of forestry roads for access, and protection/enhancement of gathering areas (berries or medicinal plants).

Forestry—the imperfect solution Forestry activities, including logging, clearcuts and silviculture (forest regeneration), are an imperfect attempt to mimic the natural processes and disturbances found on the boreal landscape. Outside of our parks, it has become expected that the province aggressively suppresses fires to protect municipalities or cottages. This poses an ecological challenge, as the fire cycle naturally found in the boreal forest has been disrupted. The demand for wood and wood products provides a mutually beneficial solution to this problem. The author recognizes that it is convenient that claims of mimicking large fires also happens to provide an economical way of feeding local mills, but it is difficult to envision another feasible way of protecting infrastructure from

The forest management planning process in Ontario provides several ways and opportunities to get involved during the three-year planning process and through the ten-year plan implementation. These processes provide cottagers and other concerned residents or groups with an opportunity to influence the objectives of the plan by effectively communicating their interests in and benefits they would like to see from the forest. More information on how to get involved can be found at ontario.ca/document/ participate-forest-management-ontario/ how-get-involved-forest-management

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment

Fires, logging, and lake buffers

forest fires while ensuring natural ecological processes can continue on the landscape. There have been significant changes in forest management planning in recent decades, including how clear-cuts are distributed, shaped and renewed, and how much wood is made available from a management unit. Today, forest managers are legally required to consider historical ecological processes as well as the natural forest condition, then utilize extensive modelling of the forest landscape to consider how logging can best mimic historical impacts of fire while accommodating a variety of wildlife habitat needs, all while balancing the human economic and social priorities in the forest. As anyone who has participated in a forest management planning process can attest to; the time, factors, and scientific inputs and modelling that go into forest management plans is overwhelming. While not perfect, the current forest management planning process in Ontario does attempt to provide an approach that addresses the natural ecological processes in the forest that surrounds us. an

For decades, LOWDSA’s LakeSmart teams have been stressing the importance of maintaining natural vegetation in the riparian (near shore) zone. The scientific literature demonstrates that leaving natural vegetation on the shoreline is critical to minimize impacts of soil runoff and nutrient inputs on lake health. However, to mimic the pattern of fires on the landscape, forest managers will often propose extending cut blocks right to the edge of a lake. This causes some concern for cottagers regarding the impacts to lake health as well as the aesthetics of the shoreline. Riparian disturbance created by logging is very different than lands cleared for cottage development. While cottagers typically clear lands to create a lawn, deck, or other uses that are permanent in nature, logging in the riparian zone is a “once in a generation activity” with the young forest and its related environmental benefits restored within a few years after the removal of the trees. Therefore, while cut blocks that extend to the edge of the shoreline may result in additional nutrients into the adjacent waterbody, the impacts are much more limited over time when compared to road and cottage developments. This increase in nutrients should still be taken into consideration but must be balanced with the ecological needs of providing areas of young forest around the shoreline of lakes to create a variety of riparian habitats for wildlife species. As always, careful landscape and stand level planning needs to take place before deciding how riparian areas are managed. Ryan Haines is a biologist and planner with Kenora Resource Consultants Inc. Triin Hart, Ph.D, provided forestry technical advice and support for this article.

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Environment Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Empowering African women in science… from Lake of the Woods BY SUMEEP BATH, EDITORIAL AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, IISD EXPERIMENTAL LAKES AREA IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) recently teamed up with the scientists working on the African Great Lakes (AGL). The AGL are highly valuable natural resources, renowned for their rich fisheries and "biodiversity hotspots." Consequently, they, and the ecosystem services they provide, underpin the welfare and livelihoods of over 50 million people across 10 countries. That’s why IISD-ELA partnered with the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education—to come together and strengthen science on large freshwater resources and the countries in which we both reside. There is just so much we have to teach and learn from each other. It is an unfortunate reality that women have tended to be disenfranchised from work in the sciences. This is no different when it comes to working on the African Great Lakes. It’s only when women’s skillsets and perspectives are included that we can truly address critical issues for natural resources (such as those provided by the AGL) and those people whose lives depend on them.

It proved to be a useful and enjoyable experience all around, especially for the AWIS participants who were able to present and participate at IAGLR thanks to the support of the program. But don’t take it from us; the following quotes from two of the participants underline what a valuable opportunity it was for them. “It was inspiring listening to the different work being done by fellow AWIS members in their respective countries. I saw it as an opportunity for collaborative research among and between countries.” ~ Loziwe Njobvu Chilufya, Zambia, Lake Tanganyika “During this conference, I was able to make contact with other scientists. The

With that in mind, we decided to launch an African Women in Science (AWIS) program.

themes presented are, for me, a model

AWIS is a transformative initiative for early-career African women scientists from the African Great Lakes region. The program aims to build capacity and offer mentorship opportunities for African women scientists who are actively engaged in African Great Lakes, and freshwater research.

research and presentations. And so, it

Participants are currently in a ten-month cohort of 18 African women scientists structured as a learning and implementation community. This community supports and guides the next generation of African women scientists in catalyzing positive change in the African Great Lakes. What does this look like? Well, these female scientists from across the African Great Lakes region will have access to training (in skills such as leadership development and communication techniques); networking opportunities (such as taking part in international symposia related to their work); mentorship opportunities (allowing them to connect with senior scientists, peers and other experts for insights, advice and problem-solving related to research and careers), and to make international connections. And it’s already started. Due to the pandemic, the 2021 International Association of Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) conference was held virtually, which allowed more participants from across the planet to attend. This included female scientists working on the African Great Lakes who may not have otherwise been able to attend the conference, usually held in North America.

and also a reference for my current was an opportunity for me to learn a few more things.” ~Joyeuse Mudagi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lake Kivu While our work at IISD-ELA may seem locally focused, let’s not forget that we are the world’s freshwater laboratory. The science we conduct on these small 58 freshwater lakes (and their watersheds) has a massive impact on the rest of the world’s fresh water because freshwater bodies around the world—from Canada to Africa—have so much in common. We are thrilled to be able to empower the next generation of freshwater scientists, on another continent, to help protect their critical freshwater supplies. And of course, once international travel opens up a little more, we will be excited to welcome the participants to the IISD-ELA site so they can discover our unique approach to freshwater science firsthand, and so our scientists can learn from the science taking place across the pond. To learn more visit iisd.org/awis.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment

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

Nine-year partnership with our neighbours has built a strong cross border connection 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 & KELLI SAUNDERS, INTERNATIONAL WATERSHED COORDINATOR

In 2012, the Foundation had a crazy notion. What if we had a coordinator for our watershed—someone to keep all the agencies and groups on both sides of the international border collaborating and working towards common goals for the health of Lake of the Woods? We floated the idea of a position hosted at the Foundation and shared internationally by the agencies working on Lake of the Woods. Key partners bought into this concept and the International Watershed Coordination Program (IWCP) was launched, with the support of the International Joint Commission, the (then) Manitoba Water Stewardship Department, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District. Several years ago, Environment and Climate Change Canada joined in support of the program as well.

Environment Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

For nine years now, the IWCP Coordinator, Kelli Saunders, has served as the “glue” connecting and supporting groups working at local, regional, and international levels, keeping all of us working together. Key functions include assisting the IJC Board with special projects, providing secretariat coordination for the International Multi-Agency Arrangement—a collaboration of research and management agencies, and supporting civic engagement in stewardship activities across our international watershed. Little did we know that this would grow for the next nine years to reach thousands of people around the basin. Much of the creativity, funding and drive came from our neighbours in Minnesota who knew that the work they were doing on watershed protection had to include players from Canada.

The International Watershed Program connects all working at local, regional and binational levels in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed.

This partnership has allowed for the development of real, onthe-ground community engagement projects that have drawn on the science and research that we have learned at the annual Watershed Forum, the intensive monitoring done by MPCA as part of their Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy and the good work of tribal, First Nation and NGOs like LOWDSA in the watershed. The first year was dedicated to understanding who the players were in the basin, building relationships with them through joint project work and enhancing communication at every opportunity. Within a short period of time, joint work efforts became the norm between Ontario, Minnesota and Manitoba. Many of the projects we started in 2012 have become annual mainstays of our IWCP workplan. Every spring, we host a Community Engagement Workshop and every fall, it’s the annual Lake Association Network Event. LOWDSA has participated in each of these most years and has presented several times on the LakeSmart program, the Area News success and its many other initiatives. We have engaged youth—the inheritors of the lake—to paint stewardship messages beside storm drains in Kenora, Fort Frances, International Falls and Ranier, Minnesota such as “No Dumping – Drains to River” or “A Healthy Lake Starts Here”. These remind us all to be aware that what goes down the storm drain, goes into the closest lake or river. The IWCP has a locally based website that showcases the good work that our partners are doing

around the basin (rainylakeofthewoods.org) and we send out quarterly newsletters that highlight research and collaboration projects that build cross-border stewardship. In 2020, we hosted a lunchtime seven-part series called “Ask An Expert”, where we linked experts on subjects like septic maintenance, green infrastructure, algae and the Treaty #3 Water Declaration to members of the public who signed up to attend. The recordings of those sessions can be viewed at rainylakeofthewoods.org/index.php/askanexpert. We worked with MPCA to conduct almost 40 interviews across the basin to better understand how landowners are practicing stewardship and what the barriers and challenges may be. Every year, we promote Ontario’s Lake Partner Program and Minnesota’s Citizen Lake Monitoring Program to engage more and more volunteers in these important water quality monitoring volunteer opportunities. It’s been a busy, productive and extremely rewarding nine years growing the IWCP with our neighbours to the south. Watershed work can’t be done successfully if the watershed itself is broken up by borders. Water knows no boundary and we are proud to have worked within this vision with Minnesota and our other partners for the past nine years!

Youth volunteers in Kenora stencil storm drains to remind us to protect our lake.

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Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Environment

Purple loosestrife— history and environmental impact BY QUINN MILLER, LAKESMART ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP TECHNICIAN, LOWDSA Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an invasive plant species that has a negative impact on ecosystems across North America, including the Lake of the Woods ecosystem. It was brought to North America from its native habitat in Europe when its seeds were present in soil carried on ships, through imported livestock, bedding, and feed, as well as when European settlers planted the flower in their gardens. The plant forms dense mats of roots that choke out native plant species and reduce habitat for native wildlife. With seeds easily spread by water, wind, and human movement, purple loosestrife has become a significant problem for shoreline ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and disrupting ecological balance. This invasive plant thrives in wetlands across North America as it has no natural insect predators.

Habitat and identification Purple loosestrife can be identified by the woody and distinctly square stems, growing to over two meters in height. The flowers

LakeSmart’s Abbi Friesen (front) and Brie McCardle (back) joined forces with Martin Gurtman for a day of loosestrife removal on their Coney Island property.

of the plant have five to seven pink/purple petals arranged in groups at the top of the stems. Leaves are arranged on the stem opposite or whorled and are three to ten centimetres long. A single plant can have upwards of 15 stems. Larger plants can produce millions of seeds each season, making the spread of purple loosestrife difficult to control. The plant is typically found in wetlands, shorelines, and along roadside ditches. Its ability to reproduce through plant fragments produce up to two million seeds per growing season and its tolerance to a variety of water and soil conditions contributes to its rapid spread through many environments. The seeds released towards the end of August can lay dormant in the soil of the surrounding area for up to two years, and disruption of the soil can cause dormant seeds to germinate.

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Other species of loosestrife are native to the Ontario region. Some species are sold in garden centres and advertised as "sterile"; however, these species can crosspollinate with purple loosestrife, thus producing viable seeds that will contribute to the spread. As an extra precaution, it is advisable to avoid planting any loosestrife varieties in the region.

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Environment Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

The eradication and management of purple loosestrife can be difficult as the plant spreads easily through the seeds. To manage purple loosestrife populations on private property, owners can practice hand-cutting the plant, which must be done before the flowers go to seed. However, the plant is incredibly resilient and can easily re-root from pieces of root, stock, seeds, or other small pieces making it hard to get rid of. Furthermore, no herbicides are registered for use in Canada for purple loosestrife growing in or close to water.

Above: While there’s been a slight reduction in the purple loosestrife population in the area, more needs to be done. Below: One of the few ways to manage purple loosestrife populations is hand-cutting the plant, which must be done before the flowers go to seed.

The good news Biological controls such as Neogalerucella beetles, a species also native to the same habitat as purple loosestrife, were approved for use in 1992, and they have been successful in the long-term removal and management of this invasive species. The beetles feed exclusively on purple loosestrife, weakening and eventually causing the death of the plant, all while leaving native species unharmed. The LakeSmart team released Neogalerucella beetles on Coney Island in 2020. This was the fourth beetle release by LOWDSA over the past few years and has shown success in reducing the spread of purple loosestrife on the Lake of the Woods. A return visit to the same Coney Island property in 2021 has shown a slight reduction in the purple loosestrife population but much more still needs to be done.

LOWDSA's LakeSmart team members Abbi Friesen and Brie McCardle executed a hand-cutting day to help reduce the population of Loosestrife on the east side of Coney Island. The property owner, a helpful neighbour, as well as LOWDSA's Assistant Executive Director, Shelley Bujould, assisted in the removal of bags of the invasive plant. The property is being considered as a pilot area for ongoing management.

Managing invasive species If you have purple loosestrife on your property (or any other invasive species), please report it to EDDMaps at eddmaps.org/ Ontario or on their mobile app. EDDMaps is a mapping program to document the population and spread of invasive species. To manage a purple loosestrife population on your property, the best practice is to cut the stems below the flowers and put them in a black garbage bag. The bag should sit out in the sun for at least a day before being taken to the landfill. Alternatively, you can purchase beetles for your property to manage the plant. The spread of invasive species is exacerbated by the movement of watercrafts from lake to lake. To stop the spread of invasive species, it is important to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft when transporting it to and from water bodies. For more information about purple loosestrife or any other invasive species, and for any questions, please contact LOWDSA and the LakeSmart team at 1-807-468-8715 (TF 1-807-265-9784) or by emailing info@lowdsa.com.

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Tax changes anticipated —plan now or pay more BY MONA BROWN & STÉPHANE WARNOCK, PKF LAWYERS Changes to tax legislation are likely coming, and there will never be a better time to tax plan than right now under the current rules. With Canada’s net debt eclipsing $1 trillion, all signs point towards an increase in the capital gains inclusion rate. Most tax and financial planners are also expecting changes to the Principal Residence Exemption (which may limit the gain exempt or tighten the rules, so it doesn’t apply to your cottage). Currently, the capital gains inclusion rate is 50 per cent. This means 50 per cent of the capital gain must be included in your taxable income and tax paid at your marginal rate. By increasing the inclusion rate, the government could generate significant revenue to help reduce the deficit—a tactic the Canadian government has implemented in the past, when the inclusion rate went to 75 per cent in 1990. In the U.S., President Biden has proposed treating capital gains as ordinary income for high income tax payers, which would amount to 100 per cent inclusion rate. Compare the tax effects in the following scenario: You purchased your cottage 10 years ago for $100,000, failed to keep track of any improvements, and are now selling the cottage for $500,000. Current 75% rules 50% inclusion 100%

PRE

Cost base

$100,000

Proceeds of disposition

$500,000

Capital gain

$400,000

Taxable capital gain

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

Taxes owing on gain (in MB)*

$100,800

$151,200

$201,600

Taxes owing on gain (in Ont.)*

$107,060

$160,590

$267,650

Any sale, gift or transfer upon death to a non arm’s length party is deemed to occur at fair market value. With the expected changes, it is far better to transfer the title now and pay less tax. If you previously sold a residence and did not report the gain, you are deemed to have used your PRE on that sale and can not claim the PRE on another property for the years in which you owned the property you sold. If your residence has increased in value more than your cottage, you may not wish to use your capital gains exemption on the cottage. If selling the cottage will result in a capital gains tax, it is better to pay at a 50 per cent inclusion than 75 per cent or higher. For example, Elizabeth and Philip bought the cottage in 1990 for $100,000. Fair Market Value is now $400,000. They have visited the cottage every year. They sold various houses from 1990 to 2015 and are deemed to have used their PRE on each sale as they did not report any sale to CRA. They sold a home in 2020 and reported the gain and claimed the PRE. (Since 2016 you must report and claim the PRE.) Therefore, they can only claim the PRE on the cottage for (2021 plus 1 extra year) 2 years out of the 31 years they have owned it or 6.45 per cent tax free.

*Taxes owing calculated based on high marginal tax rate

The last column denotes the taxes owing, if the cottage owner were to use their Principal Residence Exemption (“PRE”). Generally, if you or your spouse/common-law partner have resided at the cottage for a vacation period in any year, you may designate the cottage your principal residence for that year. However, only one residence may be designated as the Principal Residence in any given year per family unit. Before determining whether to use the PRE on the home or cottage, calculate the gain on each and claim the PRE on the property that has experienced a larger gain. Consult your accountant or tax lawyer for help.

If your cottage has greater gain, transfer the cottage to the next generation, use your PRE and pay no tax on the cottage now when the rules are simple and be able to access more PRE years on your house in the future.

What if you are not ready to give up control of the cottage? Transfer a remainder interest either to your children or skip a generation and transfer to your adult grandchildren, keeping a life interest which gives you use and control during your life. As the life interest holder, you will be responsible for all taxes, insurance, and normal maintenance. While the remainder interest holders cannot interfere with the life tenants’ right of use during your lifetime, they will receive the benefit of any increase in value after transfer and you have deferred further tax on the cottage for a prolonged period of time. The time to cottage succession plan is now. The information contained is provided for informational purposes only. It is advisable to seek advice for your specific circumstances.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living

NOTES FROM RAZBERRY LANE

Growing food in a changing climate BY ANITA & HENRY RASMUSSEN To paraphrase Bob Dylan, the climate it’s a changin’. This summer’s heat waves in the northern hemisphere alone reached a full five degrees higher than any on previous record. In Europe, downpours washed away whole villages in Germany and Belgium. Devastating fires and massive flooding are daily news items, no longer relegated to poorer countries like Bangladesh and Africa where disaster and starvation are endemic. Here in one of the richest countries of the world, drought stalks the prairies, forcing cattle farmers to contemplate getting rid of their stock because they won’t be able to feed them over winter. Wildfires are becoming more frequent, more frightening and harder to control here and elsewhere. Scientists predict that the next twenty years or so will bring much of the same. Faced with such challenges, we as individuals tend to feel powerless. We ask ourselves how we can possibly halt the juggernaut that is ahead. We could always just ignore it, go on with business as usual or leave it to the government to fix somehow. The trouble with that approach is that governments, however well-meaning, tend to be short-lived, lasting about four years at a stretch, and their innovations are often not part of the vision or priorities of their successors. So that brings us back to individuals. What can we do? We can begin by taking stock of our own situation and our backyards in particular. For example, just how useful is that vast expanse of grass that has to be cut and trimmed every week or so? Perhaps we can take a page from the Brits who, faced with wartime food shortages, turned their flower beds and lawns into Victory Gardens, augmenting their rationed diets with healthy homegrown food. Let’s look at that backyard with new eyes and picture a few raised beds of lovely vegetables next spring and summer. Even the least experienced gardener can grow a bed of potatoes as well as many root vegetables like beets, onions, and carrots. These keep for months in that extra fridge many of us have in our basements. The more adventurous will freeze and keep corn, beans, and perhaps even can a few jars of tomatoes for winter, a surprisingly simple process. Fruit and berries can be stored in the freezer or made into jams and jellies as well. We’ve covered these processes in past issues of the Area News and there’s tons of information online. You can also check out Bob Stewart’s jam recipe on page 60. Though seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme of things, every backyard gardening effort is a step towards self-sufficiency by allowing us to take some control of our own food supply. More tips on this are available in “Pandemic lessons learned: Sustainable eating and living” on page 35.

Living Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Even the least experienced gardener can grow a bed of potatoes as well as many root vegetables like beets.

One gardener we know believes that vegetables hate to travel, and it’s true that every vegetable we grow will be one less on its long trek from Mexico or California to our dinner plate. Each truckload of vegetables removed from the road results in fewer emissions in the atmosphere. What may seem like a hopeless and trivial task in the face of a global crisis can make a real difference when multiplied by many households. By taking a measure of responsibility for our own food sources, we help in a small way to slow down the dire consequences of a changing climate. You may recall the old story of the thousands of beached starfish that someone was throwing back into the sea one by one. When asked why he bothered when he could not possibly save them all, he replied that it mattered to each particular starfish. It takes concerted effort to make an effect. Affecting climate change can be likened to stopping a large ship on a certain collision course. It can’t be stopped on a dime. But if enough people take on some personal responsibility it may not be too late to make a difference. Remember the starfish. See also “Climate Change: It’s time to talk about it” on page 62 for some great suggestions on how to engage young people in these conversations.

T R E A D I N G W I S E LY

Good-bye for now ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY ROSEMARY ROBERTSON Every spring, we listen for the first sound of each bird species; loons, robins, red-winged blackbirds, and more. What a delight to hear the early morning songs of our returning feathered friends! There is great pleasure in observing their activities all summer. We notice their staggered departure in fall. However, their true value is unseen. As major contributors to the health of the ecosystem, birds’ importance goes far beyond providing pleasure for us with their beauty and joyful songs. We need them. On the other hand, they face obstacles in life because of us. It doesn’t seem like a fair exchange. How can we help to right this wrong? Perhaps the most significant function of birds is to disperse seeds. Who would have thought bird poop was such a generous offering? In essence, when birds go a ‘flying they take the seeds they have eaten with them. Through their droppings, the seeds are spread widely. The seeds create plants frequently in areas that were devoid of vegetation. We assume pollinators are bees or butterflies. We forget that those wonderful hummers we love to watch, are pollinators.

Moving a robin’s nest is never a good idea, even if it isn’t the best spot for us. A robin’s fidelity is not just the nest, but the whole nest setting. These hatchlings are comfortable right over our daughter’s front door.

Did you know that birds pollinate five per cent of the plants we consume as food or medicine? If those birds were to disappear, the result could be drastic. You may not have considered that birds eat and control pests to the tune of 400-500 million tons of insects per year. Evening grosbeaks, for example, may as well wear Superman capes during spruce budworm outbreaks. Who doesn’t love a good bug guzzler?

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Talking about pest control, vultures are queens and kings. A group of turkey vultures circling about a dead carcass may seem creepy, but they are speedy and efficient. They dispose of remains quickly before other disease-carrying scavengers like rats or feral dogs arrive on the scene. Those scavengers are carrier/spreaders of rabies and tuberculosis, unlike the sky scroungers. Birds are environmental custodians.

Above: All four eggs became healthy chicks. Their main predators are snakes, squirrels, cats, blue jays and crows. Below: The fledglings are ready to fly. To help them keep cats indoors, avoid insecticides, plant berry trees for food and shrubs for protection. Windows are their biggest threats.

is requisite if we are serious about stemming this tide. As we work away on our properties, leaving vegetation alone during nesting season will ensure successful mating and reproduction. This greatly aids the continuation of species.

A substantial boon to the world is that birds are the ‘bringers of news’ or messengers about the health of the planet. Let’s protect them and heed their warnings. Bird populations are widespread. They respond rapidly to environmental change, which becomes obvious to humans promptly as an early warning system of sorts. The declines of bird populations are foreboding indicators of something extremely wrong happening in the natural world. Because we are part of that world, paying attention, finding the cause and eliminating it is advantageous to us. Birds inspire us to be citizen scientists. In the Early Spring 2022 issue of the Area News there will be information for interested birders about becoming involved in data collection for the 2022 breeding season. There is nothing like hands on experience to build understanding and knowledge about issues affecting birds. Because 12 per cent of all living birds are endangered, it behoves us to learn how we harm birds and how we can facilitate constructive change. The major threats to bird populations are climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, collisions with structures and pesticides and toxins. The ways we can assist in safeguarding birds align with the threats. The pressing issue of climate change needs our help by supporting legislation that sets greenhouse gas reduction targets. Voting for legislators that honestly commit to fight climate change is crucial. Decreasing our own carbon footprint

It is essential that we find alternatives to pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Another problem for birds is the careless disposal of insect and rodent poison. This can kill birds but even if they don’t die, it might harm their reproductive systems irreparably. Planting indigenous trees and flowers and building a pond or having a bird bath are also well-known suggestions. Covering your windows or putting predator silhouettes on windows help to keep birds from hitting them. It was my intention to make window decorations with our grandkids this summer before writing this article but somehow water fun won out. I found a great idea by Audubon to use on YouTube. It is a video called “Making Bird-Friendly Window Decorations”. I am going to keep it in my cache of activities for when the weather is cooler. Covering windows at night during migration periods is wise to avoid crashes as well. Now that the birds have gone quiet in the mornings, and we are left with noisy but essential crows and ravens, I am filled with hope that this year’s juveniles have a safe trip south and that their return in spring 2022 will be as jubilant as ever. So long, my fine feathered friends.

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Living Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Check your insurance policy or talk to your broker before shutting down for the season. Your insurance company may require you to check in on your property at regular intervals, have a monitored alarm system or other requirements.

Cottage winter shutdown checklist Plumbing (Seek a plumber’s advice about your system) Drain and disconnect any outside tanks and pumps. Flush all toilets and remove any remaining water in the tank or bowl. Some people add RV antifreeze to prevent freezing. Check all pipes and connections before you drain—mark any leaks for repair. Check that supply lines all slope down to a low point outside. Turn off the power to the water pump and hot water tank. Drain the hot water tank. Open all the taps inside and outside, then open the drain valves to let the water drain out. Leave them open through the winter. Keep sump pump operating.

Electrical (Seek an electrician’s advice about your system) If you choose to turn the electricity off and let your cottage freeze, be sure to understand how that affects your plumbing, alarms, monitoring systems, lighting and other systems. If you’re relying on minimum electrical to prevent freeze up, regularly check your power usage (usually available online) with your service provider to ensure it is operating as expected. Top up backup generators and ensure timers/connections are in working order.

Inside Turn the heat down (10°C) or off. If you choose to turn the heat off be sure to understand how to drain your water system to prevent pipes from freezing. Turn off the gas supply as well. Remove all food from cupboards and fridge, even canned or dry goods and take them home. Unplug and clean the fridge and prop the door open. Spread a few mothballs around to discourage rodents. Turn off or unplug baseboard heaters.

Have step by step instructions on closing down the cottage systems that everyone is aware of. That way if a key member of the shutdown 'team' isn’t available, others know what to do. Keep it simple and in the form of a checklist. Following are some suggestions, but the actual checklist will depend on the systems you have (electricity, septic, grey water, etc.) Your checklist should also include the contact information for the service providers to call in case of any emergencies.

Outside Unplug any unnecessary appliances (or turn off breakers). Turning the power main off is not a good idea if you have sump pump, exterior lights and/or alarms. Check for openings where rodents and small animals can enter. Clean outdoor furniture and move into the cottage or a shed. Inspect the roof for damaged shingles. Replace if necessary. Put away your water sports equipment. Remove water from outboard motors and empty gas from your lawnmower or other gas-powered tools. Run them dry so no fuel is left in lines or carburetor. Check the caulking around all windows and doors. Clean out the eaves troughs to allow melting snow to drain properly and inspect all fascia boards. Leave a spare key and your contact information with someone you trust who can check the cottage regularly. Cut back branches and trees as well as dead or damaged branches that overhang your cottage and outbuildings. Close any propane tank valves and remove all fire hazards from your property. Lock all doors and windows. And don’t forget to take that last bag of garbage away with you. So long until spring!

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living

MEMBER RECIPE

Crystal clear wild plum jelly INGREDIENTS

No life like it BY BOB STEWART, LONGBOW LAKE

• Wild plums (at least 8 to 10 cups required per batch, including a cup of green fruit for the extra natural pectin) • 1 package of pectin, 49 grams (can be either standard powdered pectin crystals, "light" crystals which require less sugar, or liquid pectin)

Canada’s military catch slogan used for many years, ‘There’s no life like it’, captures the essence of living at the lake in Northwestern Ontario.

• 4 to 5 cups of ordinary white sugar

For myself and my wife Brenda, it has been a lifestyle we’ve thoroughly enjoyed for more than half a century. For over two decades we had use of my family’s cottage at Longbow Lake, and since 1992 have been permanent residents there.

• Several large pots

Brenda came by a love of living near the water early. Her parents lived at West Hawk Lake and owned rental cabins, a gas bar, and an ice cream stand, so she grew up with a lake at her doorstep. I came to love the lake life in my teens when my parents bought their cottage on Longbow Lake in 1970, converting it a decade later into their year-round home, and only selling to us when they began spending winters in Arizona and summers on the road in their RV. They didn’t want the worries of maintaining a house and yard while they were away. There really is no life like having the lake as your front yard; the solitude of a clear, crisp winter’s day, a quiet summer evening sitting in the screen porch, and a boat ride always only a few steps from the front door—fishing included if you are so inclined, neighbours far enough away to not need curtains on the windows yet close enough to call for help if needed (and always handy for a get-together), and birds and wildlife outside the window. The many pluses of rural lake life far outweigh any minuses. One of those pluses is harvesting the bounty of the land; another is the opportunity for nature photography. Vegetables from the garden are familiar to many, but for us, nature’s harvest also includes wild fruits and flowers—most of which find their way into jams and jellies.

• 12 sealer jars, 250 ml size (you won't need them all, but having them sterilized and ready is a good idea)

Making the jelly: 1. Rinse the fruit and place in a large stockpot; add water until just barely covered and bring to a boil. As soon as it boils, pour off the water and rinse fruit in a colander. Refill the pot with fruit and fresh water; bring to a boil again. Cook at a slow boil until the fruit becomes soft and the skins begin to split (test by mashing a plum or two with a wooden spoon). 2. Use a jelly bag or make your own strainer by lining a colander or sieve with several layers of cheesecloth (or a sterilized linen or smooth cotton tea towel) and place over a large pot. 3. Pour the softened fruit into the bag or colander and let the juice drain into the pot (never mash down the fruit or squeeze the bag, it will result in cloudy juice). Draining takes about 30 to 45 minutes. 4. It takes six cups of juice to make a single, standard pectin package fruit jelly recipe. Starting with more fruit than called for doesn't hurt as extra juice can be frozen for future batches, up to several years, or until you have enough juice for another full batch. 5. Follow the standard jelly recipe on the package, especially for the sugar amounts and boiling times. A bit of over-measuring on the sugar won't hurt, but too little and your jelly won't set properly. The same with the boiling instructions. A bit of extra time doesn't hurt, but too little and your jelly won't set. Hard boil means just what it implies, a really rolling, bubbling and foaming brew. Skimming is also important. The more foam and surface skin that can be removed, the clearer your jelly will be. The jelly is ready to go in the jars when a small amount cooled for 30-45 seconds on a kitchen spoon slides off as a single mass. 6. Process the sealed jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes, then remove and cool. Jelly will last in a storage cupboard for a year or more. 7. Save the foam and surface skim; it makes a great glaze when cooking meats and although it won't win prizes for appearance, is just as tasty as the jelly.

An evening cruise is one of the many joys of living at the lake.

Living Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Dandelion jelly

We didn’t start out as jelly and jam makers. Our hand was forced by a bumper crop of wild plums one year that prompted concerns about a bear wrecking the plum tree that had taken root behind the garage. After collecting five or six five-gallon pails of fruit, we were faced with the challenge of what to do with it all. Making jelly seemed as good a solution as any. A quick check in the ever-handy Joy of Cooking we’d picked up at a yard sale shortly after we got married provided the instructions. However, as we quickly found, turning 20-30 gallons of wild plums into jelly results in a lot of jelly—dozens of jars in fact. Selling the excess at a few church sales that fall eventually developed into a regular booth at the local farmers market selling my jelly and Brenda’s photographs of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife drawn to our bird feeders and deck planters. These hobbies provide plenty of enjoyment for both of us. Wild plums, crabapples, Saskatoon berries, chokecherries, dandelion petals, nasturtium and peony blossoms, even new growth pine needle tips—some harvested from our own property, others gifted by friends and neighbours —are just some of the things that have made their way into the jelly pot. Here are two of our favourite recipes: our classic wild plum jelly and Brenda’s personal favourite, dandelion jelly.

INGREDIENTS • 5 cups of dandelion juice (pinch or cut the petals from the dandelion heads keeping out as much greenery as possible—three to four cups of loose petals will yield about five cups of juice) • 1 package of No-Sugar powdered pectin (the No-Sugar variety is needed as floral petals have no natural pectin) • 3 cups of white sugar • 2 tbsp lemon juice • Sealer jars, 250 ml size • Several large pots Making the jelly: 1. Put the petals in a large pot with about six cups of water, bring to boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. Use a jelly bag or make your own strainer by lining a colander or sieve with several layers of cheesecloth (or a sterilized linen or smooth cotton tea towel) and place over a large pot. Let the juice drain into the pot (never mash down the fruit or squeeze the bag, it will result in cloudy juice). Draining takes about 30 to 45 minutes. 2. It takes five (5) cups of juice to make a single, standard pectin package recipe. If needed add some water to the strained juice to make up the required volume. 3. Add the lemon juice (or the juice of one fresh lemon) to the liquid and the powdered pectin – stir to mix and bring to boil, then add the sugar and continue boiling until set. This usually takes just five minutes or so. The lemon juice lowers the pH of the mixture to a level required for jelly setting. 4. As with the wild plum jelly, a bit of over-measuring on the sugar won't hurt. The same with the boiling time. Skim off any foam that develops for clear jelly and when it reaches the gel stage, poor into sterilized jars and seal. 5. Process the sealed jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes, then remove and cool. Jelly will last in a cupboard for a year or more.

Above: Dandelion jelly on a toasted and buttered muffin brings a taste of spring to your morning. Below: Dandelion petals can be harvested by pulling the flower heads from the stems and either cutting the petals from the heads or plucking them with your fingers.

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Living

Climate Change It's time to talk about it By Drew Monkman & Jacob Rodenburg

Until recently, we could count on nature as a place of stability, offering the same wonderful experiences year in and year out. Sadly, as we’ve seen more than ever in recent months, this stability can no longer be counted on. All of us need to acknowledge, talk about, and engage with the elephant in the room: climate change. As educators, we feel it’s absolutely necessary that kids have an understanding of how and why the climate is changing, so they have both knowledge and emotional resilience to help them cope with the worsening climate impacts that are coming. A wonderful general resource for everything concerning kids and climate can be found at forourkids.ca.

How to talk about

climate change

Children may already be anxious or have misconceptions about climate change, hence the need to talk about it. The following guidelines are recommended in an article by Daisy Simmons at yaleclimateconnections.org. 1. These conversations are appropriate for children of all ages. Yes, it may seem difficult, but it’s no different from talking about things like divorce or death. You simply find ways to do so. 2. Ask them what they already know. It’s likely more than you think. 3. Brush up on the basic science ahead of time. Later, you and your child can learn together with resources like NASA’s interactive Climate Kids website at climatekids.nasa.gov. You can also use the ‘Climate Change 101’, next page. 4. Acknowledge climate feelings of sadness and anxiety. Assure your child that these are normal and help inspire solutions. 5. Give kids reasons for hope and ways to take action. Be sure to acknowledge the challenges, however. Mention what actions your family is taking, but stress that individual action won’t be enough. Point out inspiring examples of collective solutions already happening in your community and beyond, like new solar arrays or political and corporate initiatives. 6. On-going conversations are essential. Our knowledge of both climate impacts and solutions is changing almost daily. Refer to websites such as dailyclimate.org. 7. Consider doing some climate-related activities like those below. Take part as a family in public climate events. If you have older children, watch documentaries together like ‘Breaking Boundaries’ on Netflix. Excellent children’s books on climate change include The Tantrum that Saved the World by Megan Herbert and Earth Heroes by Lily Dyu.

LOWDKIDS Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

Climate change 101 for kids Climate change describes a change in the typical weather for a region—such as temperatures and rainfall—over 30 years or more. Scientists have found that the Earth is warming up very quickly. This is because there are now more gases in the Earth’s atmosphere like carbon dioxide (CO2) that trap heat from the Sun, just like the glass roof of a greenhouse does. By far, the biggest cause of climate change is humans burning fossil

fuels like oil, gas, and coal. Here’s why. All plants and animals contain carbon. When they die, they often get buried in the ground. Over a very long time, their underground remains can turn into fossil fuels full of carbon. When we burn these fuels, the carbon goes into the air as an invisible gas called CO2. The earth’s climate has changed before but never this quickly. Our planet’s average temperature has already gone up by two degrees

Fahrenheit (1.2 Celsius). This might not sound like much, but the impacts are huge. It is causing more extreme heat, floods, and wildfires and is melting glaciers and sea ice. This is making life more difficult for humans, along with Earth’s plants and animals. People all over the world are working hard to stop the climate from heating up even more. For more information, go to climatekids.nasa.gov.

Some climate activities The following activities not only help connect kids to nature, but they include an element of climate action and learning. Detailed instructions are easy to find online. A favourite resource of ours is pathwayproject.ca. • Make and maintain a bird feeder. Bird populations will be greatly affected by climate change. • Butterflies like monarchs are also vulnerable. To help them cope, design and plant a pollinator garden with species such as milkweeds. Fall is a great time to plant. • Make a terrarium. When you add a tight-fitting lid, it has its own mini-climate—just like a greenhouse. You’ll find detailed instructions on the NASA website. • Make and decorate Christmas cards on the theme of climate change. Send them to friends and family. Include a personal message about feelings and hopes for the future. • Celebrate Halloween by wearing "naturized" costumes. Attach natural objects like pine needles and twigs with leaves to costumes or even dress up as a climate-vulnerable animal. • Research and then plant a tree that will thrive in a warming climate. Kids love this activity. It leads to great climate conversations. • Go for a nature hike and collect conifer needles, cones, colourful leaves, and tree seeds and nuts for a fall nature table. Discuss how are forests are changing. Remind children that the natural world is part of their “family,” not simply a resource. Use the language of wonder when exploring. Find out who resides in your own “neighbourwood.” an

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association LOWDKIDS

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Northwoods Realty

807-226-1024 / northwoodsrealtyltd.com

807-468-4573 / remaxnorthwestrealty.com

807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com

F4481: Lot 5 Deception Lake

Jacks Lake – NEW PRICE!

Regina Bay, Lake of the Woods

Water access retreat on Deception Lake! Located west of Clearwater Bay and north of Hwy 17, this lake is known for its great water quality and fishing. Very low traffic and quiet. Enjoy off the grid living on a private lake with easy boat access.

This rare find offers approx. 20+ acres, a road access year-round home, water access guest cabin, boat launch, amazing privacy and is situated in Unorganized Territory!

Big John’s Bar & Grill is located on a 3.92 acre waterfront site offering a seasonal restaurant and bar, year round home, 2 seasonal cabins and 2 trailer sites. Road access.

$650,000

$695,000

807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com

807-466-8266 / gregkirby.ca

$299,000

Cabin Country Realty

Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty

Greg Kirby, Re/Max First Choice Realty Ltd

807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com

Private Island - NEW! About 25 min. south of Kenora on Cloverleaf Island; 1.95 acres, 1729 ft of frontage, approx. 900 sq ft main cottage plus guest cabin; beautiful south facing beach and harbour; lots of newer upgrades including a brand new septic field.

F4477: 812 Essex Rd, Black Sturgeon

48 Lily Pad Bay, LOTW

Beautiful country retreat log home 15 mins from downtown Kenora. Access to Black Sturgeon for great fishing & boating. Huge master bedroom overlooking the lake. Includes a 30 x 24 ft. garage. New addition in 2003. 3 bdrms, 2 baths.

2110 sq ft over 2 levels featuring 3 bdrms, 2 baths & 175 ft of water frontage. 2000 sq ft deck along the front of the cottage and down to the water. Water-side gazebo and a large floating dock.

$795,000

$995,000

807-466-2236 / lakeofthewoods.net

807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com

Carmichael Real Estate Inc.

Cabin Country Realty

Services Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

$1,195,000

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

807-468-3747 / century21kenora.com

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: October 9, 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. 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, 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 for Rent. Private Island for Rent on Lake of the Woods. Boat-in, 16 miles South of Kenora. Three bedroom cabin fully furnished can sleep 6 – 8 people. Quiet solar power, fully equipped kitchen, full bathroom facilities, living room with fireplace, BBQ, satellite TV and cell phone coverage. Cabin is non-smoking, great fishing nearby. A private vacation experience with all the comforts of home. Boat transportation and boat rentals available. 1-800-547-3474 or email for rates and availability— info@crowrock.com. 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. June-Sept $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 on Trout 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.

LAND FOR SALE Private Sale. 2 New Road Access Lakefront Lots on Lake of the Woods - Pine Portage Bay area, access via Storm Bay Road. Each lot has 200 feet of frontage, 2.6 Acres and 2.42 Acres, West exposure, heavily treed, very private gated-road access, hydro and telephone on the lots, unrestricted deeded access, legal title to each lot. Contact e-mail: peterzaj@mymts.net.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE Longbow Lake. Boat access, 800 sq.ft in a small sheltered bay on Longbow Lake, 16km east of Kenora. 1.92 acres with 276 ft lake front, 73 ft of sand beach, 3 outbuilding, 2 brms, screen porch, large windows lake facing. Insulation, shingles, vinyl siding and windows new in 2013. Solar installed 2017. 12V fridge, 2018. Propane stove. Access to LOW via rollers at Bigstone Bay. $300,000. Contact: j4heppelle@shaw.ca or phone 204-885-3484. 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.

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. TV, washer/dryer, composting toilet. 1975 sq. ft. 2 levels. Furnished, move in ready. 7 mins to Minaki marinas. Txt/call 651-2002217, 651-274-7278. 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 Golf Course Bay, Lake of the Woods. 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

WANT TO HIRE Part-time, general labourer for help around the cottage and land. Possibly 3 days a week. Location: Northern Harbour area at the end of Storm Bay Road. Contact e-mail: peterzaj@mymts.net. 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. Free to Give Away! One WiFi Router Globe Surfer 3+ 3G GATEWAY. Contact allansmeall@shaw.ca or 204-452-8765. ShoreStation PWC Boat Lift. 2017 Aluminum Vertical lift—1500 lb capacity—up to 5"6 feet deep. Purchased from Docks and Lifts. Excellent condition stored near Kenora. New Cost $5,000, asking $2,500. Please contact siftonmelanie@gmail.com. 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 1966 Mahogany CENTURY RESORTER. 17’7”. Original Chrysler V8 Marine Fury 210 inboard engine. Original upholstery, windshield, bench seat, cockpit cover. Professionally maintained and serviced. Stored indoors. Comes with trailer. Email rbkat5851@gmail.com or call 807-466-7456. 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: sean@marketingcapitalinstitute.com or (204) 944-9944. 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 brugin1@mymts.net 2012 Chaparral Xtreme 204 BoatSki/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 or email 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. Email burchwell@sympatico.ca for pictures or call 807-466-2578. $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

Home & Cottage Services

COMMERCIAL

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RESIDENTIAL

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INDUSTRIAL

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COTTAGE

Security Systems, ULC Monitoring, CCTV, Intrusion, Smoke, Hi/Lo Temp, Flood & Fire

CCTV Card Access Electronic Door Controls Lock Sales, Repairs, Rekeys • Deadbolts • Padlocks • Safe Opening & Repairs • Restricted Key Systems • Keys by Code •

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PHONE: 807-468-7878 Toll Free: 1-888-893-6488

Bob’s

ElEctric

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING

•

A family business serving Lake of the Woods cottagers for over 30 years

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1221 HWY 17 W., Keewatin info@keystonelock.ca

Services Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

• new construction/renovations/cottages

Owned/Operated by

• lake Work ready 24/7

rick Brignall

• acP contractor ESa/Ecra #7008852 • call anytime for a FrEE EStiMatE

807.468.5915 rBrignall@yahOO.ca

Advertisers’ Directory BUILDING SUPPLIES 12

Lumber One

1 Willow Drive, Falcon Lake

204-349-2294

lumberone.ca

McMunn & Yates

1666 Highway 17 W, Keewatin

807-547-3366

mcmunnandyates.com

Star Building Materials

16 Speers Road, Winnipeg

204-233-8687

starbuilding.ca/winnipeg

Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation 21 Sylvan Street W, Kenora

807-468-9861

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS anh.lwdh.on.ca lwdhf.com

CONTRACTORS 66

AK & Company

Highway 17 W, Keewatin

807-543-2493

Black Fox Construction

225 Main Street North, Kenora

807-468-5915

blackfoxconstruction.com

Conquest Manufacturing

3077 Road 6 NW, Altona

866-300-0222

conquestbuilt.com

Docks & Lifts

1940 Highway 17 East, Kenora

807-547-4444

docksandlifts.ca

DTL Carpentry

Keewatin

204-979-4055

dtlcarpentry.ca

REMR Roofing

2053 Hwy 17 E, Kenora

807-548-2811

remrroofing.com

Revco

950 5th Street West, Fort Frances

807-274-7918

Treadway Construction

Inside Back

807-466-2497

ELECTRICAL 66

Bob's Electric

1025 Railway Street, Kenora

807-468-8813

rbrignall@yahoo.ca

Bowman Electric

Kenora

807-467-1022

bowmanelectric.com

RBC Darcy Zaporzan

3100-201 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg

204-982-2635

dzwmg.com

Richardson Wealth

1 Lombard Place, Winnipeg

204-943-5263

richardsongmp.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES Inside Front 6

HOME & COTTAGE FURNISHINGS 44

Faveris Wood Furniture

625 Wall Street, Winnipeg

204-957-4940

faveriswoodfurniture.com

Image One Home

1060 Railway Street, Kenora

807-468-3641

imageonehome.com

Keewatin

807-219-9001

HOME & COTTAGE MAINTENANCE 66

807 Refrigeration & Mechanical

Clearwater Septic System

Denver's Window Cleaning

Hitchinge

Keystone Security

204-292-1526 30 Deerfield Trail, Steinbach

204-320-1935

denverswindowcleaning.com

705-933-8439

hitchinge.ca

1221 Highway 17 W, Keewatin

807-468-7878

keystonelock.ca

LOW Septic Barge & Bell's Septic

Kenora

807-464-3468

septicbarge.com

Mantario Chimney

308 Elmhurst Rd, Winnipeg

204-881-0822

mantariochimney.com

Mason Plumbing & Heating

West Hawk Lake

204-349-2672

masonplumbing.ca

Penta Protective

39 Merit Crescent, West St. Paul

204-992-2603

penta.ca

United Tree Service

Kenora

807-464-3602

Wolframe's World of Water

712 Lakeview Drive, Kenora

807-468-4338

worldofwateronline.ca

Richard McKenzie Insurance

57-99 Scurfield Boulevard, Winnipeg

204-410-1010

mckenzie.insure

The Standard Insurance

319 Second Street South, Kenora

807-468-3333

thestandardonline.com

Hook Seller Lundin

203-301 First Avenue South, Kenora

807-468-9831

hsllaw.ca

PFK Lawyers

71 Main Street South, Carmen

204-745-2028

pkflawyers.com

Big Lake Fibreglass

349 Northern Harbour Rd, Kenora

(807) 548-2628

LOTW Docking

Kenora

The Boat Centre

80 Government Road, Keewatin

807-464-0345

lotwdocking.ca

WSL Sport & Leisure

1956 Highway 17 West, Kenora

807-468-2628

woodlakemarine.com

INSURANCE

LEGAL

MARINE lotwdocking.ca

REAL ESTATE Back Cover

Cabin Country Realty

138 Main Street South, Kenora

807-468-3541

cabincountry.com

Carmichael Real Estate

625 Lakeview Drive, Kenora

807-467-2323

lakeofthewoods.net

Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd

5-308 2nd Street South

807-468-3747

century21kenora.com

Greg Kirby RE/MAX

Kenora

807-466-8266

gregkirby.ca

Northwoods Realty

5701A Highway 71, Sioux Narrows

807-226-1024

northwoodsrealtyltd.com

RE/MAX NorthWest Realty Ltd

334 Second Street S, Kenora

807-468-0101

remaxnorthwestrealty.com

Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty

721 Beach Road, Kenora

807-547-4020

kenora-realestate.com

Winnipeg

204-633-5795

winnipegmoving.com

Sioux Narrows

807-226-5275

totemresorts.com

TRANSPORTATION 66

Winnipeg Moving a division of Gardewine

WINTER RECREATION 22

Yellowbird Lodge & Chalet

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association Services

St. Mary’s Indian Residential School BY LORI NELSON Now: It is the site of a bustling marine operation. Docks line the shore and parking dominates inland with the Golden Eagle Casino as a backdrop to Devil’s Gap Marina. Then: For over seven decades on the same site there was a brick veneer, three-story school, a principal’s residence, a stable, a woodshed, two boathouses and a log cabin for visiting parents. There was also a cemetery; each grave marked by a white wooden cross. It was called St. Mary’s Indian Residential School. In 1896 the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), a missionary arm of the Catholic Church, purchased 51 acres of land in Kenora and began construction on the school. By the end of 1897, 20 students were living there. It was one of at least 57 Indian residential schools operated by the OMI in Canada, including the schools in Kamloops, B.C. and in Marieval, Saskatchewan, recently in the news because of the discovery of unmarked graves. It was one of two residential schools operating in Kenora. The other, Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School, was run by the Presbyterian Church and was located first on Shoal Lake and later on Round Lake. Residential schools, 139 across Canada, were established by the federal government and operated by churches with the express purpose of “aggressive civilization”, specifically, as stated in the Davin Report of 1879, “the aim of education is to destroy the Indian.” Policies and practices, like separation from family and community, forbidding students from using their original language or participating in their cultural practices, and subhuman treatment that included abuse (verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual and physical) and medical experimentation were methods employed to achieve this abhorrent objective. Most of the students at St. Mary’s Indian Residential School came from Ontario communities in the Treaty #3 territory but there were also students from Manitoba and Quebec. The school’s original capacity was 40 pupils but increased to 70 by 1915 as building extensions were added. Overcrowding was an issue at the school, as were water and sewage systems, inadequate ventilation, improper building maintenance, disease, and unqualified teachers. Chronic underfunding—based on a per capita payment from the government—was often cited as the reason for many of the inadequacies. To address the food shortage, many schools, including St. Mary’s, cleared land for a garden. By 1922, 15 acres

had been cleared, mostly for potatoes. The school also had cows, goats, hens, turkeys, geese, pigs, and a team of horses. The students were not educated as other Canadian children were. Until 1951, residential schools operated on a half-day system which meant that the older children spent half their day in the classroom; the other half was spent at practical skills. For the boys, that meant the care of livestock, working in the garden or chopping wood. For the girls, it was sewing, cooking, laundering, and other general household duties. Religious training for all was an important part of the curriculum. St. Mary’s Indian Residential School was purchased by the Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) in 1923, although the Oblates continued its operation. In 1969, the DIA assumed complete control. By the early 1970s, only Grades 1-3 were taught at St. Mary’s. The older students were integrated into Catholic elementary schools and public high schools in Kenora. St. Mary’s closed in 1972 and was eventually demolished. Now: The existence of the school is marked by a memorial for all the children whose lives were significantly impacted by a damaging and shameful school system. The white crosses that once marked the gravesites are gone—anecdotally, a fire destroyed them. According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation records, at least 36 students died while attending St. Mary’s Indian Residential School. They deserve to be named and remembered. They are: Rosaline Bird, Amos Blackhawk, Joseph Blackhawk, Joyce Bluebird, Marie Therese Bob, Jim Flim, Elise Indian, John Jack, Sarah Jack, Albert Joseph-Henry, Peter Kapkagesik, Roderick Keesick, Nancy Keewatin, Victoria Kelly, William Kennedy, Michael Charley Macheegabow, Charlie Mechangabo, Joseph Netawegabo, Margaret Peetawekijick, David Redsky, Norman Robinson, Josephine Seymour, Josephine Shebawkwan, Martha G. Sukedjeweskang, Ambrose Skead, Mabel Skeid, Bernadette Strong, Louis Strong, Mary Strong, Phillip Swain, Antoinette Tap-Pee, Cathline Thomas, Elizabeth Thomas, Joseph Thomas, Robert Thompson, and Thos Wawanapetungs. From September 23 - October 20, the Lake of the Woods Museum will be showing the exhibit it produced with its partners in 2008— Bakaan nake’ii ngii-izhi-gakinoo’amaagoomin: We were taught differently: the Indian residential school experience. If you wish to learn more about the two schools in Kenora within the national context, please plan to visit. an

Title photo: St. Mary’s Indian Residential School was in operation on the shores of Lake of the Woods from 1897 until 1972. Photo credit: Lake of the Woods Museum.

History Lake of the Woods Area News Fall 2021

WATER ACCESS

FILE 4478 | TREATY ISLAND LOCATION 305P | LOTW | $3,950,000

This rare offering on the south side of Treaty Island is an absolute masterpiece and is sure to impress even the most discerning cottage buyer with its immaculate grounds, stunning views and superlative privacy. Boasting four structures consisting of the main cottage, the “dance hall”, the lakeside pavilion and the self-contained boathouse hosting an additional four bedrooms and two bathrooms with full kitchen and a large living space.

WATER ACCESS

FILE 4487 | MAYBANK ISLAND | LOTW | $697,000

Maybank Island is 4.5 acres and has 1,900 feet of frontage with a dynamic shoreline. One great feature is the south cove where you will find a permanent shore dock with a 40-foot well-anchored floating dock that will accommodate a family-sized boat. There are currently two older cabins on site that are useable. The new owners will have the choice to live a rustic island life, or to choose the perfect spot to build a cottage of their own design. Please call for showings.

SOLD IN

13 DAYS

ROAD ACCESS

FILE 4477 | 812 ESSEX ROAD | KENORA | $995,000

Beautiful country retreat log home located only 15 minutes from downtown Kenora. Close to Beauty Bay Golf Course and access to Black Sturgeon perfect for fishing, swimming and boating. Property has tiny picnic island accessible on the property. There is also a 30 x 24 ft. garage. This year round home has three bedrooms, including a large master bedroom overlooking the lake and two bathrooms. If you are ready to start living the country life, inquire today!

SOLD IN

50 SUNRISE TRAIL | BLACK STURGEON | $749,000 toll free

FILE 4476 | 1-73 LILY PAD BAY | LOTW | $1,550,000

Built in 2002. This four season, three bedroom, two bathroom cottage features a total of 1,892 square feet of living space over three separate levels. The main floor features an open concept kitchen with dining room, a bedroom and laundry, a small office off the living room and large windows taking in the amazing view of Lake of the Woods. The upper loft area hosts the second bedroom as well as the primary bedroom with en-suite all taking in the views of the lake.

12 DAYS

LOT 16 LILY PAD BAY | LOTW | $1,495,000

138 MAIN ST S, KENORA, ONTARIO |

ROAD ACCESS

SOLD IN

24 HRS

12 ZIG ZAG ISLAND | LOTW | $769,000

1.800.528.8848 | INFO@CABINCOUNTRY.COM | WWW.CABINCOUNTRY.COM