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.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Storm drain stencils

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

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.