LOW Area News - April 2016

Volume 46

Number 1

April 2016

The Day We’ve All Been Waiting For It’s been on our minds since we pulled the last boat out in the fall.

The first day at the lake is not far away!

by Duncan McEwen

28

Pg.

HAROLD WARKENTIN

“The Flying Salesman” ®

CHRISTOPHER CLARK

GRAHAM CHAZE

broker of record

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harold@cabincountry.com 807.464.1221

chris@cabincountry.com 807.466.8819

graham@cabincountry.com 807.407.5253

DUSTIN SHORE

GORD PARKER P. ENG

broker

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dustin@cabincountry.com 807.407.3211

gord@cabincountry.com 807.464.0867

Lot 10 Storm Bay Road $750,000

Lot 16 Lily Pad Bay $850,000

Lot 1-73 Lily Pad Bay $1,077,000

Treaty Island $1,500,000

Beau Jess Road $1,695,000

N EW

823 Beach Road $749,000

The 2016 season is upon on and we are ready for what lays ahead! The unseasonably warm weather resulted in a late start to this winter season; Fortunately it provided more enjoyable conditions to show and sell properties that would otherwise receive little attention during the winter months. It has also given us the opportunity to enjoy our favorite outdoor activities with friends and family out here in lake country, but the time is near to pack away our winter gear. Soon our boats will be getting prepped and new ‘For Sale’ signs will be posted on properties hitting the market.

If you’re in the market to buy in 2016 give us a call or stop by our office. Our Realtors are focused on the recreational market and are amply equipped with the tools and knowledge to help you find a place to call your own.

If 2016 is your year to sell call us first. Put our knowledge of your neighbourhood and skills to work for you to ensure a smooth and successful transaction. Our office is open year-round on the Kenora Harbourfront, so get in touch. We look forward to seeing you all at the Cottage Show on May 2, 2016 or at the lake this season!

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800.528.8848 807.468.3541 807.468.4676 info@cabincountry.com

In this Issue...

3

Editor’s Message

President’s Message

5

6 14

The History of the Area News Cover photo & Table of Contents photo: The McEwen Family

Meet the Team

11

Members - Need to Know Call for Nominations Mark your Calendars Comings and Goings

16

News & Notes Major Changes in Store for Kenora Mall by Bob Stewart No Need for Further PLT Increases by Bob Stewart Island Naming Requested by Bob Stewart Lake Water Levels and Flows by Jack McKenzie Minaki History Society Seeking Input by Garry Bolton

22

Environment Energy East Update by Teika Newton 2020 Vision for Lake of the Woods by Todd Sellers The Day We’ve All Been Waiting For by Duncan McEwen

34

28

LOWDKids!

Spring, A Season for Adventure by Teika Newton Spring Reading for Kids by Erika Olson Who Lives Here? by Hayley Anderson

42

Boating Cold Water Survival by Marianne & Rod Nuttall Boat Buying Tips by Keith Nelson Haiku by Dee Wiwcharyk, Lake Laureate

48

46

Wildlife & Wilderness Beauty & the Beast by Barry Corbett The Common Redpoll Tops Kenora List by Leo Heyens

56 60

Cottage How-to Cottage Opening Tips by the Electrical Safety Authority Classifieds

Advertisers’ Directory

62

The Back Porch by Phil Burke

64

Beautiful Inside & Out Kenora’s Quality Builder

807 407 9983 | blackfoxconstruction.com

Hello, and welcome to the new

Area News!

Spring is the season I most associate with transitions: the breaking of winter’s dormancy to reveal a riotous splendor of new life. Spring is a time that rekindles enthusiasm and a desire to dream big. It is appropriate, then, for this early spring magazine to mark a new beginning for LOWDPOA and the Area News, too.

As you’ll read elsewhere in this issue, I’m part of Fifth Hammer Marketing Group, a firm that has taken on marketing and communications for LOWDPOA as of this year, and this is my first issue holding the reigns as editor of the Area News.

I’ll admit it’s a bit of a daunting task to consider how best to bring a bit of my own personality to bear, while paying the tribute due to those who have invested so much in building this magazine into the beautiful publication it is today. My role is to seek out news and story content, to work with contributors to craft articles that are informative, fun to read, and reflect the personalities, interests, and passions of LOWDPOA members. In doing so, I am deeply honoured to follow in a line of ambitious and tenacious past editors, from Brydon McCrea, who faithfully produced the original Association newsletter from 1962 until his passing in 1983, to Jack McKenzie,

Editor’s Message Teika Newton Area News Editor who continues to contribute stories (see his update on Lake of the Woods water levels on page 19), to the inimitable Gerry Wilson, who ran the magazine for an impressive 23 years from 1992 through 2015.

While our new marketing team puts its own stamp on the look and feel of the magazine, members will recognize a familiar cadre of journalists, writers, and storytellers we have all loved for years, plus a few new faces and features.

The Back Porch, for one, is a new feature we’re running on the back page of the magazine. Set in the fictitious landscape of White Polar Bay, The Back Porch page tells whimsical stories of colourful characters from our part of the world. Envision it as storytelling in the style of Stewart McLean’s Vinyl Café, or Dan Needles of Harrowsmith fame, but with quintessential Lake of the Woods flare.

I hope you’ll enjoy the new Area News, and I welcome feedback including story suggestions, photos, news and events updates any time! Email me at editor@areanewsmagazine.ca. Happy reading!

The official publication of the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association.

Published by Fifth Hammer Marketing Group P.O. Box 2, Kenora, ON P9N 3X1 Phone: (807) 407-7252 Publisher: Mike Greaves, mike@areanewsmagazine.ca Editor: Teika Newton, editor@areanewsmagazine.ca Art Director: Mike Newton, design@areanewsmagazine.ca Design & Layout: Andrea Wray, Shayla Smith Advertising: Mike Greaves, Lindsay Wenaas

Distribution & Membership Lake of the Woods Area News is published five times per year and is mailed to LOWDPOA members. To receive Area News visit lowdpoa.com and become a member today.

Publication mail agreement #43107013. Printed in Canada.

WE’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU Help us continue making this magazine great. Send us your comments, suggestions, pictures and story ideas. editor@areanewsmagazine.ca

©2016 LOWDPOA. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent. Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibility of the author and may not represent the view of LOWDPOA or Fifth Hammer Marketing Group.

3

Lake of the Woods

COTTAGE SHOW AND

54th Annual General Meeting Monday, May 2, 2016 • 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg 54th Annual General Meeting, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Share your passion for Lake Life!

Bring a friend and introduce them to the benefits of LOWDPOA. PRELIMINARY EXHIBITOR LIST

Building Materials

Kenora Home Hardware Building Centre Lumber One Building Supplies McMunn & Yates Star Building Materials

Community

City of Kenora Common Ground Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation Royal Lake of the Woods Yacht Club Sioux Narrows Nestor Falls

Energy

Earth4U Geothermal Solar Solutions Raysolar

Environment

Envirogard Product Ltd. Lake of the Woods Control Board MNRF - Province of Ontario (Fire Smart) The Nature Conservancy of Canada

Construction / Manufacturing

Flame & Comfort Image One Designs Verti-Shade

Brown & Rutherford Docks & Lifts LacLu Industries Logix/AMC Foam Linwood Homes Oakwood Roofing Postech Screw Piles Penta Protective Coatings REMR Roofing Ryan’s Rustic Railings

Marine

Retail & Services

Home & Cottage

Enns Brothers Lake of the Woods Mobile Marine Woodlake Marine WSL Sport & Leisure

Real Estate

Cabin Country Realty Century 21 Reynard Real Estate Duncan Carmichael Real Estate Brokerage Royal LePage Landry’s for Real Estate

B.A. Robinson Bestway Rentals & Sales Brown & Associates Law Office Denver’s Window Cleaning Services Lake of the Woods Docking Lake of the Woods Septic Barge Nucerity Wolframe’s World of Water

For Cottage Show information, please contact Lindsay Wenaas at (807) 464-3802 or lindsay@areanewsmagazine.ca.

President’s Message Nancy Salmijarvi LOWDPOA President

Executive Committee

Welcome to the premiere edition of the ‘new’ Area News magazine!

PRESIDENT

For more than two years the LOWDPOA board and executive has worked very hard to develop an integrated marketing and communications platform for our association, including changes to our flagship publication Lake of the Woods Area News.

Nancy Salmijarvi, Welcome Channel Vice President

Morgan Whiteway, Nestor Falls Treasurer

Barry Baltessen, Lac Lu Past President

Robert Bulman, Tunnel Island

Board Members

Leslie Alexander, Malachi Lake Ted Bigelow, Echo Bay Hardy Bock, Black Sturgeon Wayne Bruce, Pistol Lake Laurie Pentney, Morson Christine Semenchuk, Storm Bay Becky Slater, Shoal Lake Lynn Till, Hanson Bay Bob Wilkes, Gunn Lake

Staff Executive Director

Susan McLeod (807) 548-4337 susan.mcleod@lowdpoa.com

Contact

P.O. Box 1160 Kenora, ON P9N 3X7 Email info@lowdpoa.com

Facebook facebook.com/lowdpoa

I sincerely applaud and thank the board, executive and staff for committing their time, expertise and energy to bring this project to reality. The process was long, and at times challenging, but we came to the unanimous conclusion that a local Kenora supplier, Fifth Hammer Marketing Group was the company that would be best suited to help take us into the future. We understand that change can be difficult, but we’re confident our new partner will continue to provide a quality product while moving us into the digital age with an online edition of the magazine among other initiatives launched over the next year.

A big thank you to Gerry Wilson and her team at Lake Country Publishing for providing us with a first class and well-loved publication for so many years. Fifth Hammer will now build on the strong foundation that is the legacy of the Lake Country team.

Looking forward to spring, I will boldly predict an early “ice out” since we’re experiencing the effects of an El Niño winter. More time on the water is always good news for all of us that look forward to ‘Lake Time’.

Another sure sign of spring is our upcoming Lake of the Woods Cottage show and AGM on Monday, May 2nd at the Victoria Inn, Winnipeg. This year’s show will again showcase a wide range of great exhibitors sharing a host of new products and innovations for life at the lake. I encourage you to attend to not only see what’s new, but to meet your lake neighbours after a long winter, catch up on LOWDPOA business with directors and staff and help us Celebrate Spring 2016.

I hope you’ll take some time to enjoy this ‘new’ issue of our Area News and I’ll look forward to seeing you at the Cottage show and AGM.

Toll-free 1-888-265-9784 Phone (807) 548-4337 Fax (807) 548-4347

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Our History

AreaNews The History of the

Turning a new leaf, starting a new chapter are just a couple of appropriate metaphors that come to mind when thinking of the changes to our flagship member communication tool, the Lake of the Woods Area News magazine.

You’re reading this article so you’ve seen the most obvious visual creative changes by now a fresh, new look, with content still capturing our passion for lake life and sharing the information you need to enjoy and sustain your ‘cottage’ experience.

The LOWDPOA Board and Executive have worked hard to develop a new, integrated communication platform, including the Area News, to better serve our members, young and old. A thorough analysis was begun back in 2013 to evaluate our strengths, weaknesses and to provide us with a new approach to both engage existing members and to attract new ones. People communicate differently today, and we knew we had to adapt to stay relevant and ensure the strength of our association into the future.

While creating this communication strategy, which included our new partnership with strategic marketing/publishing company Fifth Hammer Marketing Group, we reviewed the history of the Area News over the years. It is an integral part of the history of LOWDPOA itself, chronicling the volunteer commitment, the issues faced, programs and projects undertaken.

Chapter One

In 1962 cottagers in Clearwater Bay were surprised to receive notice they were now to be included in the Kenora District School Board assessment area, and would be subject to school tax. As you can imagine, this didn’t go over well and The Clearwater Bay/ Granite Lake Cottagers’ Association was born with one goal – to fight back.

Communication between cottagers spread over a large area proved difficult, so a simple but effective newsletter was created to keep members informed.

Brydon McCrea, one of the first members of the association, and his wife Ruby volunteered to take on the task and for the next twenty years ensured regular updates on activities and issues facing cottagers.

The ongoing tax fight, a rash of break-ins around Rush Bay, and the struggle to add new members to the coalition were just a few of the topics covered.

Chapter Two

At the Annual General Meeting in 1972 a new constitution and name was approved, launching the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association.

With provincial taxes still on the front burner, as the association grew to include a wider area, so did the issues faced by cottagers. Required navigation improvements, water levels on Lake of the Woods and condo developments in Clearwater Bay were some of

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Our History

the concerns addressed by the new group, and for the next ten years the Area News continued to grow and to inform members.

In 1983 the association was saddened by the loss of both Brydon and Ruby McCrae in the same year. Aside from the loss of their commitment and leadership in the association for the past twenty odd years, who would volunteer to take over the huge task of writing, editing and publishing the popular Lake of the Woods Area News?

Chapter Three

It took a year or so, but in 1985 a new plan for the newsletter was developed by long-term directors Norm Fiske, Warren Keates and Ernie Schell to get the newsletter back on the presses. Jack McKenzie, an energetic, new director of LOWDPOA offered to take on the time consuming job and once again, information flowed on topics of interest and concern, at that time including the proposed Clearwater Bay Restricted Area Order, timber harvesting near built up areas, water levels and of course, taxation. Jack was in charge of pulling it all together and in the next few years, he and the committee transformed the once simple newsletter into a small magazine format.

As the LOWDPOA membership grew, so did the Area News.

Chapter Four

While issues facing cottagers and the association continued to demand more attention and action, volunteer directors and committee members were feeling the pressure. They were all busy people with careers and family commitments so the increased LOWDPOA workload was becoming too much to manage for many of them.

The directors knew they needed help, so in 1991 they hired Gerry Wilson, the first Executive Director of LOWDPOA to help manage association business, programs and membership recruitment. Gerry hit the ground running by strengthening relationships in the district, developing programs and increasing membership numbers. A new association logo was developed, the first annual seedling day was launched and LOWDPOA was represented at more events and in meetings across the region.

Chapter Five

Not long after joining the association, in addition to her role as Executive Director Gerry was given the job of publishing the Lake of the Woods Area News magazine. Jack McKenzie continued to assist, but after more than 30 years of unmatched volunteer effort, there was now a team focused solely on managing the collection of stories, editing, photos, selling of advertising and ultimately the production and mailing

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Our History

of our most important member communication effort.

When we asked Jack to share some thoughts from his time with the Area News, he laughed and said, “Of course, as to my best memory of the publication it was when we moved the publication to Gerry so I didn’t have to worry about what to include in the next edition!” Gerry pulled an experienced group together that would grow to become her Lake Country Publishing family. Kathy and Patty Nelson handled design and layout, and Dawn Whiting in addition to holding the position of Assistant Executive Director of LOWDPOA, looked after ad sales to finance the publication along with Debbie Polakoff in the early years. Gerry also credits her many editors including Steve Steigerwald, Jack McKenzie and Don Cameron who offered support and guidance along the way.

“There were a lot of changes to the Area News between 1993 and today”, said Gerry. “That evolution was only possible with the help of so many writers, sales people, advertisers, association directors and members”.

The writing and story contributions were even more indicative of the lake community’s love for, and investment in, the Area News. At risk of missing someone, let’s just say that our magazine is full of great

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stories, by great writers that have added to the overall flavour that represents our shared passion for lake life. Gerry reflected, “The stories submitted by the members themselves seemed to touch readers most deeply. Those that dig into the very roots of who we are, the commonalities of shared core values for lake stewardship, reverence of wilderness and the simplicity that time at the lake can bring to our hectic and frenzied lives”.

Under her guidance the Area News became a muchloved benefit of LOWDPOA membership, providing readers with everything they need to know about lake life including how-to and education articles, personal stories, area history and timely issues. She and her team took the Area News from a few photocopied pages to what is today - a full-colour, glossy publication sent to LOWDPOA members five times a year.

Today, related organizations, advertisers and event planners know that if they want to reach lake lovers, they need to get their information into our magazine.

A favourite story is from a member who couldn’t bear to throw away her back issues of the Area News.

“My family and I read them over and over so I just can’t part with them”. One day she came home to find that her husband had taken all the covers of the magazine and surprised her by wallpapering the walls of their outhouse with them. “It’s beautiful, and now we have a complete history of our years at the cottage!”

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Our History

Chapter Six

2016 marks another milestone year in the story of LOWDPOA’s Lake of the Woods Area News member magazine, as we begin a relationship with our new publisher, Fifth Hammer Marketing Group. With the strong foundation begun more than 50 years ago in the form of a simple member newsletter, to the beautiful magazine our ‘Area News’ has become today, we are well positioned to move ahead.

In addition to the printed magazine, we will be offering members an on-line digital format, with search capability to allow you to locate specific topics and articles, link to related information and access archives of past issues. If you leave your most recent copy in the city, you can still read the Area News on your phone or tablet as you relax on the dock to watch the sunset.

We’re looking forward to these exciting changes and hope you will continue to support our efforts through your LOWDPOA membership and story contributions to our Lake of the Woods Area News.

Not the End

Perhaps Gerry says it best. “Cottaging is not just a way of life for those seeking weekend respite from big city living. Cottaging is a way to life. It is a way to gain balance, grounding and compassion for all of nature.

It’s a way for us to connect to our inquisitive, adventuresome, imaginative selves in the community of the people who are nearest and dearest.”

Life is good, and getting better at the lake.

Thank-you Gerry LOWDPOA, its past and present directors, would like to thank Gerry Wilson and her team at Lake Country Publishing for helping LOWDPOA’s Lake of the Woods Area News magazine become the vibrant publication it is today. Our partnership, and their commitment to the Area News over the years has been a cornerstone of our success.

More than twenty years ago Gerry took the existing member newsletter, and with her vision and hard work, strengthened relationships with contributors and advertisers to grow that little newsletter into a well-loved magazine mailed to LOWDPOA members five times each year. We hear time and again how the Area News keeps readers both informed and

connected with their favourite place – ‘the lake’ – even when they are far away, or buried under a foot of snow.

“We love your magazine,” is the common refrain from LOWDPOA members, and much of the credit goes to Gerry and her team.

As we turn the page with a new publisher and introduce a range of new communication programs, the legacy of Gerry’s efforts provides us with a strong foundation to build upon. Her passion for our association, the members and the Lake of the Woods Area News magazine will continue to be felt by all of us as we move ahead into the future.

Thank-you Gerry.

9

LakeoftheWoods.net 807-467-2323 or 888-954-2323

carmichaelrealestate@lakeofthewoods.net

“Dedicated to Lakefront Property” Duncan Carmichael

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C: 466-2323

C: 466-2236

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Meet the Team

Fifth Hammer Marketing Group

After a lengthy procurement process through the summer and fall of 2015, we are pleased to announce that LOWDPOA has contracted the services of local Kenora business, Fifth Hammer Marketing Group. Fifth Hammer Marketing Group operates multiple local and regional media brands including Blitz Advertising and Kenora Stuff magazine.

This youthful and innovative company has undertaken a range of member marketing projects for the Association, including publishing our Lake of the Woods Area News magazine and management of our annual Lake of the Woods Cottage Show.

Building on the long-time success of past publisher Gerry Wilson and her team at Lake Country Publishing, our new partners bring a fresh and exciting approach to LOWDPOA’s communication projects, helping us to better serve existing members and attract new ones.

Meet the team at Fifth Hammer Marketing Group:

Mike Greaves, Partner & Publisher Mike grew up a tourist outfitter’s son so he can’t imagine living anywhere else other than in lake country. He learned at an early age that if you find something you love to do, try to create a career out of it then chart your own course. Over the years Mike has done just that, building himself as an entrepreneur and community leader with a strong reputation throughout Northwestern Ontario for creativity and innovation, balanced with astute business management.

Mike’s expertise in strategic marketing will guide us as we create an integrated suite of targeted communication tactics focused on membership retention and development.

Comments, concerns or questions about the publication? Contact Mike at mike@areanewsmagazine.ca.

Teika Newton, Editor Teika has extensive experience as a writer, editor and administrator. From 2009 – 2015 she coordinated the Common Ground Research Forum, a collaboration of more than 40 Northwestern Ontario community organizations, First Nations and non-indigenous governments. A champion of environmental causes in the region, she writes educational and technical reports for various national environmental NGOs, in addition to being executive director for Transition Initiative Kenora, a local environmental non-profit.

Teika has also contributed articles to the Area News on environmental and outdoor issues of interest to our members.

As Editor, she will be responsible for creating and curating quality content for our magazine by maintaining and developing relationships with our writers and contributors.

Have a great story idea? Contact Teika at editor@areanewsmagazine.ca

11

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

12 Meet the Team Mike Newton, Partner & Creative Director

Lindsay Wenaas, Client Management & Cottage Show Coordinator

Mike’s extensive background in communication design has seen him create communications and marketing campaigns for local, national, and international clients. Mike has taught post-secondary graphic design and continues to mentor up-and-coming graphic designers. An award-winning graphic designer, Mike has operated his own design shop in Kenora since 2008.

Lindsay relocated to Kenora with her family at a young age, and felt the lake calling her back home after university where she quickly became involved in community and non-profit development. Since returning, Lindsay has worked with a wide variety of organizations to increase brand awareness, develop key relationships and partnerships, and strategically plan for the future.

Comments or concern about the design?

Contact Mike at design@areanewsmagazine.ca

Want to advertise in the Area News or exhibit in this year’s Cottage Show? Contact Lindsay at lindsay@areanewsmagazine.ca.

LOWDPOA is proud to support local business through its programs, and looks forward to a long and successful partnership with Fifth Hammer Marketing Group.

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

14 Members - Need to Know Call for Nominations

Mark Your Calendars

LOWDPOA is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Board of Directors.

May

2

Prerequisites •

• •

•

•

Nominee must be a 2016 member in good standing of Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association.

Nominee must accept the nomination Name, email address and telephone number of the nominee must be provided Nominee must provide a brief written outline detailing areas of expertise, location of property and areas of particular interest.

Nominations from voting members must be sponsored by ten LOWDPOA members in good standing, and must be submitted 21 days (April 11) before the AGM held May 2, 2016.

Please contact

54th Annual General Meeting & Lake of the Woods Cottage Show Monday, May 2, 2016 Victoria Inn, Winnipeg 1808 Wellington Ave.

Doors open for the Cottage Show 1pm – 7pm LOWDPOA Annual General Meeting: 6:30pm – 7:30pm Catch up on association business and meet the team from Fifth Hammer Marketing Group, our new communication partner and publisher of the Lake of the Woods Area News magazine.

Share Your Passion for Lake Life!

Robert Bulman, Past President and Chair of the Nominating Committee Bulman@lowdpoa.com, or care of LOWDPOA, Attention Nominating Committee PO Box 1160, Kenora, Ontario, P9N 3X7

May

21

For more information contact: Susan McLeod 807-548-4337 susan.mcleod@lowdpoa.com

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Members - Need to Know 15 Comings & Goings Goodbye to Hayley Anderson

Late last fall, our Membership Coordinator Hayley Anderson accepted a full time position with the City of Kenora, leaving us behind to grow her career. Unfortunately, this was our loss and their gain as Hayley will now offer her enthusiasm and tireless energy to the City’s engineering department.

During her two years with us, Hayley handled countless member queries, helped us with all our member communication, managed our summer students in the LakeSmart program, and was the constant smiling face at LOWDPOA events throughout the year.

Our congratulations, best wishes and thanks go out to Hayley as she charts her new path. We know she’ll do well and will miss her.

Hello and Welcome to Diane Schwartz-Williams

LOWDPOA recently contracted the services of long-time Lac Lu resident and entrepreneur Diane SchwartzWilliams as Assistant Executive Director to help support Susan in managing the association. Diane comes to us with many years of results-driven experience from strategic planning to implementation of tactical projects and programs in business development, marketing, administration and event coordination. She is well respected for her abilities and has a solid network at all levels throughout the region.

Part of Diane’s responsibility will be the management of membership related administration, so when you’ve got questions - did I renew my membership? Did I order seedlings this year? Or how do I register for events? She’ll have the answers.

Her focus on customer service will help us improve our communication and engagement with existing members as well as attracting new ones.

Diane will be at this year’s Cottage Show in May so be sure to stop by and introduce yourself. We are confident her skills and positive approach will help us strengthen both our management team and our association into the future.

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

16 News & Notes

Major Changes in Store for Kenora Mall

by Bob Stewart

Kenora’s 42-year-old downtown shopping complex is set to undergo some dramatic changes this year.

The Kenora Shoppers Mall was sold in August 2015, and in addition to a new name the new owners will be converting the main building on the property to a strip-mall style with just one anchor tenant — Ted’s No Frills — and seven retail outlets with entrances from the parking lot. The current indoor concourse will disappear with the development, while stand alone buildings housing the Beer Store and the Pet Value store will remain as they are. The existing 80,000 square foot former Zellers building at the west end of the mall will be demolished and the land and adjacent parking areas totaling 2.94 acres sold.

The redesigned units will range from 1,300 to 12,600 square feet in size.

Sale or redevelopment of the property had been rumoured for two years following the closure of the Zellers store in 2013, one of two anchor tenants in the mall.

Last summer Plaza Retail REIT acquired the Kenora mall, along with one in Midland, Ontario, paying $16.1 million for both properties.

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Plaza Retail owns and operates over 300 mall and other commercial properties in eight provinces with national retail, service, restaurant and food chains representing about 90 per cent of their tenants.

Plaza had attempted to find a tenant for the vacant Zeller’s space, however company officials said that wasn’t possible at this time and the decision was made to downsize the mall’s footprint and recoup some of the purchase costs by selling the land.

“If we could have filled it, believe me we would have.

We tend not to like to demo malls that we buy,” Jamie Petrie, Plaza’s chief operating officer, told Kenora media last fall in announcing the company’s plans for the Kenora property.

The mall had lost a number of tenant’s in the years following the Zellers closure and only about 30 per cent of its total square footage and seven of its 12 interior spaces were occupied when Plaza bought the property.

Petrie wouldn’t confirm how many of the remaining tenants will be in the renovated mall, noting they usually leave such announcements up to the tenants.

Demolition of the former Zellers building started in January, with work on the main mall building to begin later this the spring.

Kenora’s downtown mall has been renamed Park Street Plaza by its new owners and will undergo significant changes this year including the sale of part of the property.

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

News & Notes 17

No Need for Further PLT Increases by Bob Stewart Changes to the Provincial Land Tax have more than doubled the amount of money the province is collecting from property owners in non-municipal areas, and that should be enough, says the District of Kenora Unincorporated Areas Ratepayers Association.

In an October submission to the ongoing Provincial Land Tax Review, the association notes that rate increases in 2015 and again this year, when coupled with assessment increases, will boost property owner contributions from $11 million in 2013 to $25 million this year towards an estimated $65 million the province pays on behalf of PLT areas for policing, social services, local roads, land ambulance and other services.

In its 2015 budget, the province announced rate increases for the PLT of $50 per $100,000 of assessment for residential class properties, with $10 applied in 2015 and $40 in 2016. Business, industrial and other non-residential rates were increased proportionally, averaging $65 per $100,0000 in increases.

“When taken in context with separate property tax levies for roads, fire service and LSB services, this in line with the provincial average of 40 per cent of revenues from taxation towards similar expenditures by municipalities.

We feel no further total PLT revenue tax measures are warranted, however changes in tax rates between or within classes of the PLT system may still be warranted,” reads the submission.

In the Lake of the Woods area, with assessments for waterfront homes now averaging $400,000, the 2016 PLT rates will mean an average payment of $850 for a property within a school tax zone, an increase of $200 over 2013. An average of $800 more would be levied for education tax along with separate levies for Local Roads Boards and Local Service Boards if applicable.

For a similar property in a non-school tax zone, the 2016 levy would be $300, up from $100 in 2013, plus any local roads or service board levies.

While calling for an end to any further general rate increases, the association stressed it still wanted the province to address the issue of its two-tier residential rate, with properties outside of school tax zones continuing to pay significantly less than those with school tax zones.

“We would ask that a clear statement of equal tax treatment be made, or recommended to the Ontario Cabinet, and that a clear timetable be set for achieving that goal,” reads the submission.

A further increase in the minimum tax is also called for.

As part of the 2015/2016 rate changes the minimum PLT

is going from $6 to $50 this year. The minimum hadn’t been changed since 1952.

However, the association argues, the new minimum barely covers administration and assessment costs which average $45 per property according to the PLT Review. DoKURA is asking for a further increase in the minimum to $100, “to ensure all property owners contribute a reasonable amount towards service costs.”

The submission also asks the Review to look at how assessment differences across the North could be addressed to more fairly distribute the PLT levy. The association notes the unincorporated areas of the Kenora District account for about 25 per cent of all PLT properties, but due to higher than average assessments contribute about 50 per cent of total PLT revenues.

The submission suggests differing PLT rates for different regions could be one way to address the “assessment penalty” Kenora District property owners pay.

A review of road funding criteria is also asked for. Local Roads Boards in the district receive a high level of government funding and support, however many local roads in the district are maintained by road associations and adhoc local groups, only a few receive government assistance, and it is very limited.

Similarly, the submission asks the government to look at ways it can encourage expansion of Local Service Boards which fund critical services like fire protection, making it easier for small rural communities to create Local Services Boards.

DoKURA is also recommending the government look at increasing the terms of office for Local Roads and Service Boards to four years, to match the terms of office for municipalities, school boards and district social service boards.

Finally, the submission urges the government to take whatever steps are possible to control policing costs.

The PLT Review noted $22 million was paid to the OPP in 2013 for policing services in unincorporated areas across the North, an average of $500 per household.

“High policing costs can’t be ignored as one of the factors that resulted in the 2015/2016 PLT rate increase,” stressed DoKURA. As well, the association would like to see an annual accounting of OPP services for PLT areas, similar to reports municipalities using OPP services now receive, detailing officer hours spent on patrols and service calls, costs and crime/service call statistics.

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

18 News & Notes

Island Naming Requested by Bob Stewart Locals have referred to it as Bigelow Island for decades, and this year the province is set to make it official.

Located on Lake of the Woods at the east entrance to Echo Bay south of the Clearwater Bay area, the unnamed island has been the summer home for the Bigelow family for several generations.

An official request to name the island was made last year to the Ontario Geographic Names Board, an agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests. The board opened a period of public consultation for the proposal in the fall of 2015.

If approved, the name Bigelow Island will be used on all official government maps and documents.

The Bigelow Island naming request was one of three for Northwestern Ontario the board invited public comment on last fall.

To find out more about the naming of lakes, rivers and islands in Ontario visit: www.ontario.ca/page/geographic-names

The reasoning for the request included: “… the island has been known by this name for many years and the official name is required for emergency services.”

The period for public comment ended in December and the Geographic Names Board is expected to make a decision on the naming request this year.

Map Credit (Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2015)

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News & Notes 19

Lake Water Levels and Flows The Water Control Board – with the writer attending as the representative of the LOWDPOA – met in Kenora in mid October to review conditions as of that date and plan action for the winter based upon weather forecasts and everyone’s best guess at what to expect.

Conditions at the time were what many considered ideal, heading towards freeze up. The lake had been drawn down to the level most interest groups liked to see just prior to freeze up – 1059 feet elevation.

That’s the level we like to see (or lower) when the ice forms. Freezing at that level usually means the ice is low enough on shoreline structures (docks and boathouses) that it won’t cause damage as the water level is drawn down over the winter.

In addition to the ideal lake level, the forecast for November and December was for dry conditions.

Everyone went home feeling that they had little to worry about this year, only to have Mother Nature perform at approximately 180 degrees from what was projected.

The temperature remained above normal (as expected) however the precipitation greatly exceeded projections. Minnesota reported the warmest and WETTEST November – December in 120 years of record keeping. Unfortunately, much of that precipitation flows north into Rainy Lake and into the Lake of the Woods.

Rather than the lake level continuing to decline as everyone had projected (and hoped), the lake started to rise, and rise it did. The lake level rose to approximately 1059.75 feet (about eight inches) peaking around the first of December.

The Water Control Board staff was able to prevent the lake from exceeding that level only by increasing the outflow north

by Jack McKenzie

through the Norman Dam into the Winnipeg River, to 725 cubic meters per second. Luckily the warm weather held and the lake remained ice-free. Had the weather turned cold at that time, the ice would have formed high on the waterfront structures, causing even more concern for damage as the lake level was drawn down to deal with projected spring conditions.

The increase in outflow down the Winnipeg River is always a concern, particularly when it occurs that late in the late fall. Fortunately the level in and around Minaki is not affected until the river flow exceeds 700 CMS. River residents closer to Kenora saw increases as much as 3+ feet, depending upon where they were located.

The good news is that with the warm weather, the lake stayed relatively ice-free until just about Christmas.

That allowed the Control Board to get the level down to approximately 1059.3 feet when the ice started to form.

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20 News & Notes In order to deal with conditions, and in an effort to allow all the interest groups input, a special conference call Control Board meeting was called for January 12th.

The result of that meeting was a confirmation that the lake should be drawn down over the winter, targeting 1057.7 feet elevation for April 1st.

That’s a draw down on the lake, after the ice formed, of approximately 18 – 20 inches. Without working towards that target, authorities risk the chance of high waters – flood conditions – next summer. Management of the outflows over the winter has seen the lake decline to where the April 1st level of 1057.7 feet appears to be where the lake is headed.

In an effort to get the lake down, the flow through the Norman Dam remained MUCH HIGHER than normal over the winter. That resulted is faster current under the lake ice, which, combined with the warmer temperatures resulted in much thinner ice than usual. We’ve seen reports of ice as thin as 9 inches however most reports put the lake ice around 18 – 24 inches, about half the thickness of a normal year.

That leads to the expectation of an early ice out.

The target level maximum for this summer (July 1st) is 1059.7 feet elevation. Requests from the south end of the lake – where the shoreline is very susceptible to erosion damage once the level exceeds 1060 feet – is for the lake to be held about 1059.5 feet (or lower) this year, allowing for property owners in that area to repair their waterfront, damaged by high water a couple of years ago.

If you want to follow along on what progress is being made by the Control Board in reaching its targets, visit www.lwcb.ca. The site contains lots of information, perhaps too many facts and figures for the average individual to comprehend, but if you limit your search to “Basin Data” and then click on “10 day inflow report”, you will find a chart showing the current inflows, outflows and elevation. The Lake of the Woods numbers are at the bottom of the page.

Still confused or have questions you would like answered? Contact the Control Board at 1-800-661-5922.

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

News & Notes 21

Minaki History Society Seeking Input

by Garry Bolton

The Minaki History Society, a committee of Minaki cottagers, is actively working on the development of the history of Minaki and the section along the Winnipeg River from The Dalles to White Dog. We are developing storylines, preparing chronologies, conducting interviews, and collecting photographic treasures for a wide range of topics and areas of interest.

These include Indigenous Peoples, Pre-1900 Exploration/ Expeditions/ Fur Trade, the Hudson’s Bay Company, the Railroad, Townsite and Cottage Development, Holst Point Lodge, Minaki Inn and Minaki Lodge, PALA Camp, Tourism, Mining and Lumbering, Aviation, Hydro Development, Health and Education, Hunting/ Fishing/ Trapping, Policing, Commercial Camps, Boating and Marinas, and the arrival of the Road being just some of them.

A couple of short “ did you know?” facts: 1. Charles Melville Hays, the President of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, and a driving force both for the railroad’s existence and for its Winnipeg River Crossing location at what became, in 1911, Minaki, was drowned in the early morning of April 15, 1912 on the Titanic and he never saw the completion of his dream.

2. In early August 1946, Ben Hogan, arguably one of the greatest golfers of all time, and his wife Valerie holidayed at Minaki Lodge and fished and golfed.

Ben waived his normal appearance fee of $ 500.00 and put on a clinic on the Stanley Thompson designed golf course. He returned to Winnipeg and, in shooting a 7 under 281 over 4 rounds at Niakwa G. & C.C. beat out Sam Snead to win $ 2,000 and the CPGA Open Championship. His tour leading winnings after the CPGA were $29,000.

Our goals are to develop and populate a dynamic website, to provide all collected information to the Lake of the Woods Museum for safe storage and public use, and to ultimately publish a book.

It is now time to reach out to a wider audience, so we are asking for any stories (long or short), contacts, leads, photos, videos, or “ factoids” that can be provided. Every piece of information adds to the collective story we want to tell. We have also

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developed questionnaires for both cottagers and residents that we can send out, to anyone interested, to help spark memories.

We look forward to any and all input and assistance to this exciting project, and we can be contacted at via Garry Bolton at gboltonsms@gmail.com. You can also check us out on Facebook at Minaki History Society.

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22 Environment

Energy East Update

by Teika Newton

Pipelines have been a hot issue in Canada in 2016, with several projects currently under the National Energy Board’s (NEB) scrutiny. The project that is probably most familiar to Lake of the Woods area residents is TransCanada’s Energy East proposal. At 4,600 km, crossing six provinces, with an expected price tag of $15.7 billion, this is the largest of all interprovincial pipeline proposals currently before the NEB, Canada’s quasi-judicial energy regulator.

In our area, the project proposes retrofitting portions of two of the four existing natural gas pipelines to carry a mix of western Canadian crude oil products to tidewater in New Brunswick, where unrefined crude oil can be sold at world prices, not subject to North American price discounts for heavy oil sands product.

Energy East would carry mainly diluted bitumen from Alberta’s Athabasca oil sands, but potentially also some quantity of synthetic crude oil, conventional crude, and hydraulically fractured shale oil out of the Bakken formation in Saskatchewan and neighbouring North Dakota. From the terminal port on the Bay of Fundy, the majority of the Energy East product would be shipped to refineries elsewhere in the world – likely the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast – where refinery capacity exists to process bitumen, while it is expected some of the lighter oil products would be processed at the local Irving refinery.

December 2015

TransCanada filed substantial amendments to the Energy East project description on December 17, 2015, including more than 700 route changes, mostly on the new build section through Québec and New Brunswick. Notably, with the removal of a proposed marine loading terminal at Cacouna, QC – removed because the site would have interfered with endangered beluga whales’ calving grounds in the St. Lawrence – the company had to make many alterations to pumping station locations along the entire route. In our area, the location for the pumping station nearest Vermilion Bay got moved a bit to the west of its original location.

The December filing contains an enormous quantity of information covering technical, design, and operating issues, economics, community and Indigenous consultation updates, and environmental considerations such as areas in Northwestern Ontario where risk is higher due to slope instability, landslide or erosion

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Environment 23 risk, or where soil cover is poor. Regulatory filings can be accessed here: www.neb-one.gc.ca/EEregistry

where and when hearings will take place, and what scope and types of evidence will be acceptable.

January 2016

At the end of the public review, the NEB will submit a recommendation to Cabinet, and Cabinet then has three months in which to assess evidence presented and to make a determination whether to approve or reject the project proposal.

Procedural changes recommended by Cabinet in January 2016 will see an additional nine months of extra review process added on to accommodate an upstream climate impacts analysis (i.e. how much extra carbon would be released to the atmosphere as a result of activities necessary to fill the pipeline), more comprehensive consultation with Indigenous communities, and potentially an extension of the NEB review itself that could result in accommodating procedural elements (e.g. oral hearings, testing evidence through cross examination) that had been removed following legislative changes in 2012.

Spring 2016

The National Energy Board is currently reviewing TransCanada’s latest submissions to determine if the project application is sufficiently complete to be able to begin a public hearing process. There is no time limit for the NEB to make the completeness determination, but if/when they do, they will issue a Hearing Order that will describe the details of the review process, including how intervenors can participate,

The hearing process must adhere to a legislated timeline of 15 months according to the NEB Act. However, procedural reforms recommended by Ministers Carr and McKenna in January could add up to nine months to this timeline.

In early 2015, a handful of Northwestern Ontario groups including the IISD-Experimental Lakes Area, Transition Initiative Kenora, the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, Common Voice Northwest, and a number of Treaty 3 First Nations applied to participate in the Energy East NEB review as intervenors.

So far, only Indigenous intervenors have been apprised of their participation status.

Information updates can be tracked through the NEB website: www.neb-one.gc.ca/pplctnflng/mjrpp/ nrgyst/index-eng.html

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

24 Environment

2020 Vision for Lake of the Woods An International Priority and Plan

by Todd Sellers Global Affairs Minister Meets with Foundation Strong backing for the Lake of the Woods Water Quality Plan of Study was the focus of a meeting between Foundation officials and the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Minister of Global Affairs in March. Foundation Executive Director Todd Sellers and the Right Honourable John Turner, 17th Prime Minister of Canada, made the case for the lake, urging Canada and the United States to fund and implement the study plan through the International Joint Commission. This will pave the way for completing the research needed to develop a sustainability plan for our lake’s future. Key outcomes of the Plan of Study will be international strategies for:

• Reducing nutrient pollution to combat blue-green algae blooms and toxins.

• Preventing and controlling invasive species.

• Mitigating risks of surface and groundwater contamination.

• Coordinated monitoring binationally.

It is just the right thing to do — make the future of Lake of the Woods an international priority and put a plan in place to ensure our lake’s future.

Record Forum Attendance Reflects Binational Interest

It was standing room only at the 13th annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, held March 9-10 in International Falls, Minnesota.

The record participation of over 160 researchers reflects the increased focus on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River basin by our governments, the International The Northwestern Health Unit Land and Sewage Joint Commission and stakeholdProgram provides the following services, at a fee, for smaller private sewage systems: ers. The Forum focused on priority

• Inspects and issues permits. issues identified in the IJC Lake of

• Inspects future sites for new the Woods Basin Water Quality Plan lot development. of Study as well as the review of

• Conducts file searches regarding water levels regulation of Rainy and existing permits for land transactions.

Namakan Lakes by the IJC. The Health Unit also investigates complaints

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Results of 34 research studies were presented during the two day event.

Highlights included studies: • Predicting the climate change effects on lake temperature, oxygen depletion and release of phosphorus from lake bottom sediments - a factor in summer blue-green algae blooms.

• Understanding blue-green algae blooms and predicting their toxicity.

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Environment 25 •

•

Aimed at defining phosphorus concentration objectives target reductions needed for Lake of the Woods.

Assessing impacts of water level regulation and best future strategies.

The Forum is organized annually by the Foundation in partnership with researchers and resource managers working in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods basin. The Proceedings Report of the Forum will be available in April at the Foundation’s website. www.lowwsf.com

Foundation Honours Scientist at Forum The Foundation presented Ryan Maki, with the Kallemeyn Award, recognizing his outstanding professional achievements and contribution to research and resource management in the RainyLake of the Woods basin. Larry Kallemeyn, for whom the award is named, was on hand to make the presentation. The Foundation and the international

research community thank Ryan for his dedication, outstanding research, and efforts to foster collaborative and cooperative approaches that truly carry forward the Kallemeyn “legacy” and which have contributed immensely to advancing science and management in the basin. A resounding “congratulations” from all of us to Ryan!

Editor’s Note

The selection committee also recognized the Foundation’s own Todd Sellers as this year’s recipient of the Wilson Stewardship Award. Given in recognition of significant contributions to environmental stewardship in the basin, Todd was recognized for his tireless commitment to grassroots science and stewardship initiatives for the Lake of the Woods. He has demonstrated exemplary leadership when it comes to watershed management, helping to establish and grow the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, its annual Watershed Forum, and its 2009 and 2014 State of the Basin reports. A recognition that is extremely well deserved, Todd!

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26 Environment Thanks for a Huge Leg Up The Richardson Foundation Matching Gift Program We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Richardson Foundation for giving Lake of the Woods and our Foundation a major leg up. Over a 3-year period from 2013-2015, the Richardson Foundation provided $150,000 through its Matching Gift Program, doubling the impact of your donations to the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation.

The Richardson Foundation is the medium through which Winnipeg-based James Richardson & Sons, Limited (JRSL) supports Canadian charitable organizations in the areas of Visual & Performing Arts, Youth Initiatives, Education and Environmental Issues.

Hartley Richardson, President & Chief Executive Officer of JRSL and a Trustee of the Richardson Foundation, commented on the success of the matching gift program. “The health of Canada’s rivers and lakes is so very critical to the overall well-being of our ecosystems. By establishing a matching gift program, it was our Foundation’s goal to bring increased attention to the important work being done by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, and encourage others to join us in supporting this organization,”

Our Board and Staff Board of Directors

Tony Stephens – Toronto, ON Richard Sjoberg – Thief River Falls, MN Joan Richardson – Winnipeg, MB Bruce Ormiston – Kenora, ON Don Konantz – Vancouver, BC Art McKenzie – Sioux Narrows, ON Polly Craik – Winnipeg, MB

Executive Director

Todd Sellers – Minaki, ON

International Watershed Coordinator Kelli Saunders – Kenora, ON

Tony Stephens, President of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, noted “Having the support of the prestigious Richardson Foundation helped us in raising funds and it also stood us well in our dealings with governments and stakeholders internationally”.

We are very grateful to the Richardson Foundation for helping Canadians and Americans who care about Lake of the Woods to get involved in protecting the future water quality of our lake.

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We think about it often. “Camp.” “The Cottage.” “The Lake.”

Whatever we call it, it’s been on our minds since we pulled the last boat in the fall.

As you read this, the day to get back out there is not far away. Just thinking about it, I’m sure you can smell the pine needles, hear the water lapping on the shore, and picture that first cup of coffee on the dock for the year.

The Day We’ve All Been Waiting For Story and photos by

Duncan McEwen

28

It’s early February as I write this, and part of the fun of anticipating summer at the lake is to use this quiet time to plan and prepare for the busy season ahead.

Not only is it much easier getting a few things done now, in February, than in May, June, or beyond, but it’s a great way to reignite the passion for summertime life at the lake.

keeps blowing fuses. With some luck, I will get these done before the big rush. Other things could and should be done before it cuts into time at the lake are planning this summer’s building projects, picking up spare parts for the plumbing, getting the boat new bumpers and ropes, attending to trailer wheel bearings, and stocking up on food and drink to get us through the busy season ahead.

Early spring is an important season for annual chores.

In the summers, I work as a guide for Blue Heron Lake Tours. My business offers guided fishing trips with the most delicious shore lunches, as well as guided tours of the lake to many of the historical and scenic sights on the lake. So in my case, work to my guide boat needs to be done before I back it down the launch.

The local boat dealer will have to take a look at a few things, such as a little sound in my steering mechanism and my live well pump that

Ice-out is one of the busiest times of the year. As the days get longer, and the smell of spring starts to saturate the air, my phone starts to light up with texts

from some of my friends and family from “the 204”, inevitably wanting to know my prediction on ice out for various parts of Lake of the Woods and other lakes. May 3 is an average date for accessing the water with a boat, but it can vary widely from year to year.

According to blogger Nancy Miller, the earliest recorded date for ice-out on Lake of the Woods was April 7, 2000 and the latest was May 22, 1950.

The earliest swim we have had at our camp is April 24th! This seemed a little odd, considering we were there on snowmobile just three weeks prior!

According to our cabin journal, the earliest swim we have had at our camp in Whitefish Bay is April 24th, 2012, where both of my boys, Mason (then 10) and Oliver (then 6), took a dip…..albeit a short one! This seemed a little odd, considering we were there on snowmobile just three weeks prior!

When that day comes where we can finally put the boat in, we start on some chores that we simply couldn’t do in February. Now the fun really begins!

And by fun, naturally I mean all of the work that comes with opening up camp.

Hopefully the boat starts, as it will be my favourite mode of transportation for the next several months.

Fellow islanders will relate to the problem of how best to optimize trips between the mainland and the cottage to restock for the busy summer season.

Our family opts to load our boats to the gunnels and make each trip count, but whether you pack it all into one trip, or spread it across several loads, island living is worth the work.

I can recall, sitting on loads of lumber on our 16’ Lund with the 40 hp Merc, where things felt a little “top heavy”. We never used the ice to get supplies to our camp, and this came at the expense of our spring boat trips.

From rocks, to lumber, to furniture; it’s all come across the lake in a boat, and as I sit in the cabin built with that lumber, sitting on the couch, brought by that relatively small skiff, staring in awe at the giant fireplace built

of rocks all carried by the same skiff, I have a deep appreciation of the hard work that got our cabin to the state it is today.

Though we wouldn’t have our cottaging any other way, I’ll concede that even road access cottagers face similar challenges when it comes to trucking all the supplies out to camp each spring.

Certainly, there have been years where being at camp seems like nothing but work. A year ago, we had a complete dock rebuild after the high water of 2014 took ours away. We had had a 35-year old crib dock, built to last by my dad. We gave dad a break this time, and between my three bothers and myself, the reconstruction of the new dock took several weeks.

Work like this is an exception that thankfully doesn’t happen every year.

29

I love “lake stuff” and it distracts me from the task at hand, every time!

There is, of course, some routine dock maintenance work required every spring. In our case, prior to the rebuild, every year we had to re-level our crib docks, placing shim on top of shim, to account for missing logs and boards. The game of Jenga comes to mind, as I think about the shims we had towards the end of the old dock’s life. This is all “routine maintenance.” If the water decides to rise or fall, we find ourselves scrambling to make these docks right, once again.

There are other opening-up jobs that most of us have to tackle and these routine jobs are where I really find true joy. There is a pleasing routine to the annual small jobs like putting the little boats in the water, hooking up the water, putting out the loon nesting structure, and getting the swimming dock positioned.

There is a special wonder reserved for opening up the shed, and outbuildings that makes it one of my favourite tasks. In searching for something that may be in a shed that’s been shut up for a season or more, I am often distracted from my initial task by other “things” that make our cabins so special. So often I’ll drift away and spend time looking at all of the odds and ends stored in these outbuildings: the old fishing rods and tackle boxes, the new water toys from last year, the shirts hanging that are my “lake shirts”, and of course the old Peterborough water skis that are on display in the bunkhouse. Cottage sheds are a treasure trove of nostalgia and palpable memory, and it’s this sentimental richness that gives life at the lake its

30

deepest meaning and keeps cottaging a family tradition through the generations. It is moments of pause like this that bring me back, virtually every year. I love “lake stuff” and it distracts me from the task at hand, every time!

Springtime at the cottage isn’t all work, though. Once the initial chores are done, the lake calls, beckoning us to remember the real reason we go through these annual rituals faithfully year in, year out. Going for that first boat ride, fish or visit to the neighbours is a special time, and a time I wait for all winter. It feels so great to be floating again. The feeling of the semiwarm May sun beating down on you. The loons, trying to find their voice, fish and baitfish surfacing for the first time in months, and of course ruffed grouse thumping in the woods, and white-throated sparrows singing so proudly, making their presence known.

All of a sudden, everything has come to life!

For fishing enthusiasts like me, some of the best lake trout fishing can be done in the early spring.

The trout, at this time of the year are usually up in the 15-25’ range, making them fairly easy to target.

If it’s past the 3rd Saturday in May, the walleyes are also ready to go for a boat ride.

One of the first outings I will have in my boat in April or May each year is to visit some of my favorite shore lunch spots nestled within one of the 14,522 islands.

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They offer so many good memories. Early season boat trips also provide opportunities to scout for new locations, all part of the fun and adventure of lake life.

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As I write this basking in the comfort of my woodstove warmth, I’m reminded of the dozens of shore lunches I provided and enjoyed in summer’s past, all of which started with energy and vigor, but ended with full tummies and bald eagles cleaning up our scraps. It never fails that afternoons after these lunches end up with naps on the way to our afternoon fishing spots.

On these early shore lunch expeditions, I like to rebuild some of the tables to allow for fish cleaning and food prep. It often surprises me that some people

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don’t use the fish-cleaning table for fish cleaning and that some people don’t use the food prep table for prepping food. I mean, isn’t it obvious that the one closer to the water should be used to clean fish, and the one closer to the picnic table and fire pit should be used to prep the food!? Any time of year, but especially in early spring, when I go trekking around these islands, I also like to bring a garbage bag with me to clean up after those that feel they don’t need to.

As with so many things in this ephemeral life, pipes will break, pumps will fail, and boats may leak. Summers are precious and much too short, and they need to be spent restoring the spirit and making memories to last through the quiet, dark days of winter.

Luckily, before summer, we have spring, the season for new beginnings, and a valuable time to tackle some preventative maintenance.

So whether it’s making sure your outboard is running like a top or water is coming out of your taps, feel the inspiring grumble in your stomach as you think of those tasty, freshly fried walleye fillets awaiting you on the summer beaches. Make the most of your limited summer time by doing spring chores now, and in a few months, when the kids or the grandkids want you to take them fishing or skiing, you’ll be delighted to say, “Let’s go!”

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Spring, A Season for Adventure Story and photos by Teika Newton

Our family lives in a rural area, near endless forests and many small, isolated lakes.

My kids and I spend a lot of time outdoors exploring, adventuring, and studying nature, from the teeny tiny fairy villages we imagine in rich, green moss cushions, to the powerful majesty of roaring spring waterfalls. We are lucky to live next to a lake that has no public access, so it is always quiet and every year, we love watching natural processes unfold without much human interference.

This is an excellent place for kids to be wild, free, and to play without structure, all of which is important for establishing independent, creative thought and problem solving skills for children.

Early spring is my favourite time of year, and it’s a time that pushes the limits of creative outdoor play.

Although our family spends the winters outdoors, skiing, walking in the woods, tobogganing, and picnicking, the outdoor world that is so familiar to us in the summer becomes a completely different place under a blanket of snow. When the snow melts away, it is always a thrill to reacquaint ourselves with friends who have been asleep beneath my ski trails these many months: cattails, clams, little fishes, turtles.

In the spring, the sun shines more brightly, the air is warmer, and the whole world feels charged with new life as it emerges from the long, winter slumber. There is nothing I love more than renewing my connections to familiar places after a long winter apart. There is beauty in rediscovering the magic of a place, and in watching a place change through time.

On one particularly lovely April day last year, my son Sam and I spent a leisurely afternoon slowly prowling around the shoreline by our house. The water was unusually low following the previous summer’s record high water levels. Long stretches of sandy beach lay exposed, with boulders poking up out of the melting ice. The clear, icy water revealed millions of fragments of shells – the sign of a hungry otter’s winter snacking

kids.lowdpoa.com beneath the ice. Sam found two massive clamshells, quite possibly the largest I’ve ever seen in our lake.

Small minnows and little copepods floated around, and we lay on our bellies, side by side, on the sunwarmed rocks, studying the community of early spring life beneath our noses. We talked about the interrelationships of creatures that live in the lake, and about the life cycles of the plants that would soon shoot back up from their winter dormancy. We imagined what it must feel like to be fish, turtles, and other lake creatures. The entire scene was completely peaceful and serene – just the perfect afternoon to relax, release all our cares to the wide world around us, to daydream and imagine and to feel whole and perfect again.

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LOWDKids! 35

Tree climbing is probably the quintessential early spring activity for our family, a way to really revel in the thrill of new life that is taking flight all around us.

Sam told me earlier this year that when he grows up, he would probably like to make a career out of climbing trees. He’s had a good start, easily able to find his way up a jack pine since he was a toddler (he’s seven years old, now). He will be following in fine footsteps, too, as I made a pretty prolific study of tree climbing Sam and Dodge

There is nothing I love more than renewing my connections to familiar places after a long winter apart.

Sam and Maya, my daughter, have always been ideal exploration buddies. In the early spring, we are all eager to get outside, to visit places that had been off-limits all winter while the snow made it impossible to venture very far off the well-trodden snowmobile and ski trails. As soon as there has been enough melting to prevent us from getting that hard, crystalline early spring snow pouring in over the tops of our rubber boots, we spend many of our weekend days tree climbing, picnicking, and poking around the jack pine forests near our house. We play in mud puddles, making rivers and dams in the driveway, delighting in feeling and hearing the soupy mud slurp under our feet. As the kids are getting older, the engineering design that goes into a game of Rivers gets more sophisticated, and often our whole yard will become an intricate web of canals, dams, sluiceways, and ponds for a few weeks in April.

April is also a time to look for woodland creatures’ winter burrows that are newly revealed in snow-free hillsides. We imagine the hollows in the bases of tree trunks as the homes of tomtens, the little gnome people of Scandinavian folklore, who populate our family’s cultural heritage. We leave little offerings of cheese and biscuits and fruit as tokens of kinship for the spirits that dwell all around us in the vibrant, newly awakened forests.

when I was a kid. One of my dearest childhood friends – Sam’s “faerie godmother” - climbs the worlds tallest trees for a living, as a forest canopy ecologist based in northern California.

Once, when I was about 10 or 11 years old, another girlfriend and I decided to see if we could reach the top of my favourite, huge old jack pine that used to grace the top of the highest hill on my parents’ property. We thought it would be great fun to suspend a rope from as high up as possible, and slide down it.

To protect our hands against rope burn, we nabbed a pair of gloves. Gloves that fit nicely. Gloves that were made of kid leather and were brand new to my mom.

The day was splendid: clear, bright, warm, with all the freshness of spring egging us on. As I recall, there was only a very light breeze – nothing to dissuade us from besting the tall tree. When we got to the top after a few minutes of careful, thoughtful climbing, we sat triumphantly among the topmost branches, surveying the forest canopy for miles in every direction. The gentle rhythmic swaying amid the resinous, piney branches was equal parts pacifying and exhilarating.

We were birds, eagles in our aerie. We were forest

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Sam climbing

rangers, watching for signs of fire from high atop our lookout tower. We were the trees themselves, swaying gracefully in the wind, warm under the new spring sun.

Looking back on this as an adult, as a parent, I am horrified that we freely scaled trees dozens of feet high with no protective equipment, but then we were young, fearless, and foolish.

On the way back down the tree, we slung the rope we’d brought along from a sturdy branch about halfway up the tree. We tied it securely, and I donned the gloves and glibly grabbed the rope, and swung out into free space, dangling high above the ground.

Carefully I relaxed my grip just enough to start to slide down the rope. The rush was incredible! In a few seconds, I was safely on the ground. I scrambled back up the tree to hand the gloves over to my friend for her turn. For the next while, we took turns sliding down the Tarzan rope and climbing back up. We giggled and squealed with glee.

However, by about the tenth pass, we were done.

Our legs and arms were tired, and the gloves seemed to have become a bit threadbare. We abandoned the adventure, leaving the rope in place for the next time we needed a thrill. It was only as we were walking back to my house, basking in the glow of tremendous satisfaction, that it really sank in that we had just destroyed my mom’s brand new, expensive leather gloves.

At that time, both of our families were experiencing financially lean times, and the consequences of ruining something that was not only costly, but also precious and necessary struck me in the pit of the stomach. I was mortified and shamed.

And so I did what any sensible ten year old would do, faced with a similar situation: I hid the evidence in the back of a derelict, unused old snowmobile in my dad’s junk heap!

Maya and Sam exploring

For weeks my mom searched for those gloves, and for weeks I claimed complete ignorance. Eventually, spring gave way to summer, and the quest for the missing gloves was set aside and forgotten.

And so I did what any sensible ten year old would do, faced with a similar situation: I hid the evidence in the back of a derelict, unused old snowmobile in my dad’s junk heap!

Several years later, my dad was cleaning up the yard and taking old equipment to the scrapyard. He came across the gloves in the back of the snowmobile, and to my immense relief, by then enough time had passed that neither he nor my mom was really angry.

In fact, I remember them laughing quite a lot about this discovery: the ingeniousness with which we girls had taken to perfecting our tree climbing and descending operation, and also the ingenuity I’d demonstrated in hiding the evidence.

This amusing story of childhood mischief encapsulates so well the unique and beautiful gifts that are available to kids growing up in the wilds of Northwestern Ontario. We are free to play outdoors from dawn until dusk, in a setting that is clean, pristine, wild, and real. We learn about the world around us by observation, and we learn to problem solve by trial and error testing, getting our hands dirty – and sometimes bloody. We learn to see the world through many different perspectives, from the minute life in a puddle of water, to the grand vistas of entire forests.

We learn to appreciate and respect and love the life that is all around us. We are the lucky ones.

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LOWDKids! 37

Spring Reading

for Kids

by Erika Olson

I have always loved children’s books. Growing up in the bush near Kenora, I enjoyed long days reading

in the hammock or on the dock: a childhood spent stepping between two trees with eyes shut, hoping to end up in Narnia. Those who know me know me as either: 1. A self-avowed Harry Potter and Middle Earth nerd, or 2. She who is the fathomless wellspring of ridiculous farm anecdotes involving chickens and goats. I love storytelling in all its forms, and this year I was presented with a special opportunity to work in the kids’ department at the Kenora Public Library. To the casual onlooker, my work probably looks like it is 90% picking up googly eyes and 10% modelling good scissor technique, but it feels like a daily celebration of the ancient art of storytelling. I design programming and crafts based on great kids’ books, hoping to inspire young library patrons with the love of stories. I also get to hear straight from young readers which books are truly great, and which are destined only to be hard backboards for colouring projects. With this in mind, here are a few of my top recommendations for spring reading at the lake:

Saving Turtles: A Kid’s Guide to Helping Endangered Creatures, by Sue Carstairs (non-fiction)

Especially lucky lake kids might enjoy the thrill of seeing a huge, prehistoric snapping turtle, or an exquisitely perfect baby painted turtle. Our family loves turtles. Because we are decent human beings, my daughter and I recently stopped to move a painted turtle off the road. Because we are us, the turtle had a massive ear abscess and urgently needed surgery.

We called up Sue Carstairs, author of this book and chief medical officer at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. With input from Dr. Carstairs, our vet performed the surgery and the turtle made a full recovery and was released back into the wild. Saving Turtles offers exceptional photographs and lots of useful information that kids can actually use to become turtle advocates. This is a book that tuned-in nature kids will appreciate.

The Birchbark House, by Louise Erdrich (junior novel)

This is one of the most powerful young adult books that I have read.

Ojibwe author Louise Erdrich takes us through one year with seven year old Omakayas (Little Frog) and her family on Madeline Island, Lake Superior, as they are faced with the 1847 smallpox outbreak. Lyrically written and deeply engaging, this book describes fascinating details of Omakayas’s daily life: gathering and preparing traditional foods, sharing stories, relating to animals, exploring, surviving. Lake kids will recognize many of the plants and animals featured in this story. This book deals with deep feelings around life and death, both in families and in the complexity of feelings toward animals that we eat. Omakayas discovers her own gifts during this year, and her story will resonate especially strongly for kids who love animals.

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Stella: Fairy of the Forest, by Marie-Louise Gay (picture book)

I love the enchanting artwork in these books: the woodland aesthetic, the mushrooms, birch trees and ferns. Stella is the red-haired embodiment of confidence, whose leadership and her sense of adventure carry the story: what she lacks in factual information she makes up for with imagination.

Interestingly, the entire story is told in dialogue between Stella and her little brother, Sam. There is no narrator, and there is no real conflict or plot arc, but somehow this doesn’t seem to matter. What I especially love about this book is the feeling it evokes: the freedom of being a kid, playing outside in the forest.

The Day the Crayons Quit; The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt (picture books)

Duncan’s crayons have it rough: they get left behind, sat on, melted, ingested and vomited forth. Their grievances are real. I love the messages of social inclusion and empathy, and can relate on a deep level to these crayons: we all have days when we feel a little disheveled, or we regret arguments, or are geographically challenged.

I say with confidence that 9 out of 10 kids will love these books, and the 10th kid has fallen asleep after eating lots and lots of glue.

Read these books.

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

April 2016

LOWDKids! 39

Who Lives Here?

by Hayley Anderson

Spring: The frogs begin to peep, the birds return from the South, the bears

wake up from their winter naps, and the flowers start to grow. This is spring in cottage country, and if you look, you’ll see signs of it everywhere.

Pussy Willows Pussy willows are the fuzzy early flower buds (called catkins) of Willow trees; their appearance is usually one of the first signs of spring in March or April.

You can see them in ditches, or along wetland edges. If you bring along some scissors on a nature walk, you can cut some branches to bring home.

The branches, when put in water, will continue to grow and you can watch the catkins form flowers, though they do drop pollen and get a bit messy! Better yet, try to plant a willow tree on your property and you can watch it signal the arrival of spring every year.

“The Willow Cats”

by Margaret Widdemer

They call them pussy-willows, But there’s no cat to see Except the little furry toes That stick out on the tree: I think that very long ago, When I was just born new, There must have been whole pussy-cats Where just the toes stick through---And every Spring it worries me, I cannot ever find Those willow-cats that ran away And left their toes behind!

What are the first things that you see in the spring?

Take this checklist and see what you can find!

Bird’s Nest

Marsh Marigold (or another yellow flower)

Groundhog

Green grass

Robin

Earthworm

Pussy Willows

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Spring Peepers

Spring Peepers are frogs that can be found in Northwestern Ontario, and more widely in the central and eastern parts of the USA and Canada. During the winter, they hibernate (sleep) under logs, in loose tree bark, or on the forest floor under leaf litter, and as the weather warms they begin to wake up. Being about the size of a paper clip, they are so small that you may not see them, but when it gets warm enough you can definitely hear them! They are nocturnal (active at night), so when the sun begins to set, listen closely for their songs.

The frogs have a vocal sac of extra skin under their neck, when they begin to sing, they fill the sac with air until it looks like a balloon, then as the air comes out they let out a loud “peep”, they often sing in rounds of three, so it sounds like “peep…peep... peep.”

Marsh Marigolds

Marsh Marigolds are known as the Mother’s day flowers in my family, because they bloom in May just around Mother’s day each year. Marsh Marigolds grow in swamps in the forest, and look like buttercups. They have bright yellow flowers, so are easily seen amongst the green in the forest. This is a plant that is better looked at than picked, because it can cause skin rashes if you touch it, and it is poisonous to eat. It has large, kidney shaped leaves which are very glossy.

Robins

American Robins are one of the first birds to return in the spring. They can arrive any time between the end of March and middle of May, depending on the weather conditions. Robins are grey or brown birds, with a bright red stomach. You often see them hopping on lawns looking for worms to eat. They build cup shaped nests which might be found in bushes or trees. Their eggs are light blue and their young leave the nest after about two weeks.

If you find a robin’s nest, it is best to leave it alone, but if you are very quiet and respectful and find a good spot to watch from a distance, you can see the mother returning to feed her young after they are hatched.

Groundhogs

Every February 1st, we look to groundhogs like Wiarton Willie and Punxatawney Phil to come out of their winter hibernation and tell us if there will be 6 more weeks of winter. If the groundhog sees its shadow when it comes out of its hole, it’s a sign that winter will continue. In our area, we usually get 6 more weeks of winter either way! But it is a sign that spring is just around the corner. Groundhogs are also sometimes called Whistle-pigs because of the whistling call that they make. They live in burrows in fields, on the side of hills or sometimes in farm fields or backyards. Because they dig holes in the ground for their burrows, or eat farmer’s crops, they are sometimes considered a nuisance.

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42 Boating

Cold Water Survival

by Marianne & Rod Nuttall

Surviving in cold water is challenging at the best of times. Having a few hypothermia and cold water survival tips at the top of your mind will be indispensible if you find yourself facing the unexpected.

Much of the information in this article is based on the research of Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, (also known as Dr. Popsicle), Professor of Thermophysiology at University of Manitoba.

How your body maintains your temperature Heat Gain

Body heat is normally gained through exercise, conversion of food to heat, and also from the external heat sources.

Shivering, initiated by the brain, is an extremely effective means of creating body heat. At rest, we normally generate approximately 100 watts of heat, but vigorous shivering can increase heat production up to 500 watts. It not only slows the onset of hypothermia but can also help in rewarming.

TIP: When attempting to aid a potentially hypothermic victim, a warm sugary drink that provides both heat and energy (like warm cocoa) is best. It is better to offer a cold drink with sugar (to fuel shivering) than a warm drink that relies only on heat for rewarming (like warm water). Avoid caffeine and alcohol as they cause your veins to expand which increases heat loss.

Note that fluids should only be provided in cases of mild hypothermia where the victim is conscious, alert and won’t choke.

Heat Loss

Body heat is lost in several ways.

• Radiation is the heat generated from within the body and is given off to the surrounding atmosphere.

• Evaporation happens when you sweat or when your skin or clothing gets wet. Evaporation of your sweat promotes heat loss, and the result is a cooling effect.

• Convection is the when air or water flows by the skin and carries away body heat. It’s convective heat loss that you try to prevent by staying as still as possible in the water. When you stay still, the layer of water next to the skin is heated by the body and remains undisturbed. If you move around in the water, you disrupt that layer of warmer water, and that increases heat loss.

• Conduction is when body heat is transferred to whatever the skin is directly contacting. Conductive heat loss is especially critical in water, as your body loses heat about 25 times faster in water than in air of the same temperature.

How to Maximize Heat Preservation When you are in cold water, heat preservation is critical. Your body reacts to preserve heat by narrowing blood vessels to decrease blood flow to the extremities (hands/feet).

Protect high heat transfer areas. Try to reduce water flow around the neck, armpits and groin.

If you are by yourself in the water, adopt the H.E.L.P. (Heat Escape Lessening Position) by drawing your legs up close to your chest and wrapping your arms around them in a tuck position to help conserve body heat. If you are with others, huddle together, interlock your arms and legs, and press your torsos together for warmth.

In a rescue scenario, the most effective rewarming often consists of applying external heat directly to the armpits as well as the chest.

Do not swim to keep warm! Swimming in cold water conditions will increase the blood flow to blood vessels close to the skin. Because of conduction and convection, swimming can actually increase the rate of heat loss and speed up the onset of hypothermia, and can increase your heat loss by 10 times.

Try to get as much of your body out of the water as possible. Climb aboard your overturned boat hull or onto any other floating object, such as a cooler.

Remember, our bodies lose heat 25 times faster in the water than in air of the same temperature.

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Be Proactive: Reduce or prevent the risk!

First and foremost – practice good safe boating basics. Be sure not to overload your boat and avoid situations where you may fall overboard.

• Wear a life jacket or PFD. A PFD is critical if you are out on cold water, by yourself, or in bad weather.

It will keep you from breathing in water and will keep you afloat even if cold water incapacitation sets in.

• Wear appropriate thermal protection. Thermal protection that also provides flotation, such as a floater jacket and pants or a one-piece survival suit, is your best choice.

4 Phases Of Cold Water Immersion Long before hypothermia sets in, cold water immersion triggers other serious events, each with its own challenges. Dr. Giesbrecht coined the phrase 1-10-1 to provide a simple way to remember the first three phases of cold water immersion and the approximate time each phase takes.

(1) Cold Shock Response - 1 Minute to get your breathing under control

Cold Shock Response lasts for only about a minute and affects your breathing. Initially, there is an automatic gasp reflex and hyperventilation in response to the cold water. If the head goes underwater, water may be breathed into the lungs during the gasp. The result is simple: Drowning. That’s one of the many benefits of wearing a life jacket or PFD: it helps to keep your head above water during this critical first response.

Panic can cause hyperventilation to continue.

Prolonged hyperventilation can lead to a faint, so the key thing is to concentrate on controlling your breathing. Another response can be cardiac related, since your body will automatically narrow the arteries to retain heat. As the arteries narrow, the heart has to work harder to pump the same volume of blood throughout the body. Especially for people with underlying heart disease, this additional workload can cause the heart to go into cardiac arrest.

TIP: If you have the choice, immerse yourself slowly to minimize the shock.

(10) Cold Incapacitation - 10 Minutes of meaningful movement

Over the next 10 minutes you will lose the effective use of your fingers, arms and legs as your body decreases blood flow to the extremities in an effort to preserve heat in the core.

During this phase, concentrate on self-rescue. If that isn’t possible, prepare to have a way to keep your airway clear to wait for rescue. If your PFD is floating nearby, get it fast and put it on because swim failure will occur within these critical minutes and if you are in the water without a lifejacket, drowning will likely occur. Climb on top of overturned boats or floating materials, if possible.

(1) Hypothermia -1 Hour before you become unconscious

Even in ice water it takes up to 1 hour before hypothermia causes unconsciousness, depending on water temperature and body mass. Knowing this is vitally important in a survival situation, since people would be far less likely to panic if they knew that hypothermia would not occur quickly and that they have some time to make good decisions and actions to save themselves.

Treatment For Mild Hypothermia (Core body temperature 35-32o C) Mildly hypothermic people can feel the cold. They shiver and may have some physical and mental impairment. Mild hypothermia sets in within 30 minutes. If there is no way to get to a medical facility within this time, a mildly hypothermic person should be insulated and encouraged to shiver. Shivering should be fueled with fluids containing sugars (sugar is more important than heat). Make sure that the person is capable of drinking liquids without choking. Alcohol and tobacco use should not be permitted because they constrict blood flow.

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44 Boating

External heat can be applied to the underarms and sides of the chest. Active heating of the skin is beneficial as it increases comfort, preserves energy stores and reduces cardiovascular stress.

Light exercise such as walking produces heat but should only be attempted after a mildly hypothermic person is dry, has had calorie replacement and has been stable for at least 30 minutes. A warm shower or bath may be tolerated by an individual that is alert and mobile. However, this could be fatal to a moderate to severely hypothermic person and should be avoided in this case.

Treatment for Moderate to Severe Hypothermia (Core body temperature 32- less than 28oC) This is a serious medical emergency requiring proper handling and treatment and immediate transport to a medical facility. The heart is under extreme stress, and great care must be taken when handling a moderately or severely hypothermic person. Moderate hypothermia takes 30-120 minutes to set in, while severe hypothermia can take up to 180 minutes.

In any hypothermic individual, core body temperature continues to decrease after rescue. This is called ‘afterdrop’ and it may last many hours in a moderate to severely hypothermic person. Gradual warming of the heart will help avoid cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation.

Any jostling or rough handling can trigger ventricular fibrillation. Despite the urgency of the situation, take your time and move the victim carefully. If you have to

pull someone in over the side of the boat, pull them on top of your body to protect them from hitting hard surfaces.

Keep the victim’s body as horizontal as possible to keep blood flowing more uniformly throughout the body.

Extracting a victim vertically can cause blood to pool in the legs resulting in a drop in blood pressure which can cause ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest.

Keep the person in a horizontal position. Remove wet clothing and insulate the body using dry blankets, clothing or other protective materials. If shelter is available, keep the person protected from the elements and insulated from the cold ground or snow using sleeping bags, clothing, back packs or even evergreen boughs. If available, wrap a vapour barrier (plastic sheeting, tarp) around the insulated victim to prevent further heat loss and to keep the insulating materials dry.

Gently, blot the victim’s skin to remove moisture.

Don’t pat or rub the skin since this, too, can bring on ventricular fibrillation.

If vital signs are present, the person should be rewarmed but not allowed to sit or stand until rewarmed. Under no circumstances should the person be placed in a warm shower or bath, no oral fluids or food should be given and no attempts should be made to rewarm with exercise, including walking.

Marianne & Rod Nuttall are certified Boating Safety instructors offering Boating Safety courses in all areas of Manitoba and NW Ontario. They have certified over 17,500 boaters to date. They can be contacted in Winnipeg at 204-889-3000 or Toll Free at 1-877-783-3368 or nuttallboatingsafety.com

Nuttall Boating Safety Boating Safety Course Dates BASIC: A 6.5 hour course and exam that covers all of the information. Please register in advance for any of these courses.

LOCATION

DATE

TIME

St. Vital/Windsor Park River Heights (Grant Park H School) St. Vital (College Jeanne Suave) River Heights (Grant Park H School) Transcona (Murdoch MacKay Collegiate) Kenora (Lakeside Inn)

April 24 (Sun) April 30 (Sat) May 12 & 19 (Thu) June 2 & 9 (Thu) June 7 & 14 (Thu) July 5 (Tue)*

9:30 am to 4:30 pm 9:00 am to 4:30 pm 6:30 pm to 9:45 pm 6:30 pm to 9:45 pm 6:30 pm to 9:45 pm 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

*to be confirmed

To register for any of these courses, contact Nuttall Boating at (204) 889-3000 in Winnipeg or toll free 1-877-783-3368 or email info@nuttallboatingsafety.com Check our website for changes and additional dates:

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Boating 45

Boat Buying Tips

by Keith Nelson

One of the terrific things about boating is that there are boats designed for different activities, and there is truly something for everyone.

To narrow down your search, simply ask yourself what will the boat be used for. Fishing and generally enjoying local waterways? Waterskiing, wakeboarding and exciting watersports? Cruising with family and friends? Racing? A little of everything? There is a boat that’s right for you. It is a good idea to deal with a marina familiar with the area where you will be using your boat.

How big a boat will I need?

This depends on several things: how many people will be boating with you? Where will you use it?

Every new boat has an “NMMA Capacity Plate” that tells you how many people you can safely have on board. If you want to enjoy the boat in different places, the boat should be 26 feet or less, for easy trailering.

What will it cost?

There is a boat for every budget. Boat owners are often surprised that their dream boat cost less than they had expected! New boats and pre-owned boats bought at a reputable dealership can be financed, so you can take advantage of monthly payments.

As with cars, pre-owned boats typically cost less than a similar new model.

What is the best time of year to buy?

The best time is when you are ready! You can find a great deal on a boat at any time of year.

Boat shows provide excellent opportunities to find “show specials”. At a boat show you can also comparison-shop among a wide variety of brands and dealers.

How do you find a good dealer?

Boat shows are ideal for finding the dealer that suits you best. You will want to look for a dealer who is Marine Industry Certified, and one that is convenient to where you will be using your boat. Depending on your needs, your dealer may also service and store your boat. The dealer who is open about his facilities and who offers to take you for a test drive is probably a good choice.

Should I buy new or used?

We recommend shopping new first. You will gain insight into which type of boat is best for you and the market price. You can comparison shop for similar pre-owned models. Think about warranties when comparing new and pre-owned. Then you can zero in on your perfect boat!

If I buy used how do I know the boat is in good condition?

Get a qualified marine surveyor’s inspection. Surveyors will check all systems as well as the hull structure.

Keith Nelson is a sales associate with Woodlake Marine in Kenora.

W. Randall F. Seller, B.A., LL.B

Stephen R. Lundin, B.A., LL.B

RSeller@HSLlaw.ca

SLundin@HSLlaw.ca

Cheryl C. M. Siran, B.A. (ADV), LL.B CSiran@HSLlaw.ca

Beth Allison White, B.H.Ec., LL.B

Reid E. Thompson, B.A., LL.B

Sayer S. Down, B.A. (Hons.), J.D.

Kimberly P. Riediger, B.B.A., LL.B

RThompson@HSLlaw.ca

BWhite@HSLlaw.ca SDown@HSLlaw.ca

Ph.: (807) 468-9831

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Haiku

by Dee Wiwcharyk, Lake Laureate

Finding My True North Snow and Ice, Champagne Bubbles Renaissance Be Mine For many months, the colour white has been everywhere.

White is an achromatic colour, literally a “colour without hue”, that is a mixture of the frequencies of all the colours of the visible spectrum. Imagine if you will – brilliance, faith, possibility, goodness.

White is winter in Canada. Winter in Canada is a strange mix of ice hockey and candy canes, igloos and icebergs, snowshoes and woodstoves, hot chocolate and board games. Here we are at 49.0000° N, 94.3833° W and you can find so much more than snow and ice underfoot on the vast and frozen Lake of the Woods in rural and remote northwestern Ontario. By April, the long winter months and the insulating comforts of the good and brilliant snow, begin to yield their quiet slumbers to a new bubbling up, a renaissance of sorts, of art, culture, craft and ideas. What force, what gushing geyser, like Ol’ Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, lies beneath the surface of this surge?

Perhaps the answer lies not in “what” but in “who”. Who is this new generation of dreamers and doers awakened by a new consciousness? A beatnik, maybe. A craft brewer, possibly.

A mother, sister, daughter, uncle, friend, elder - certainly. Artisans and activists.

46

Some say artists are the canaries in the coal mines. And, perhaps more importantly artists’ bodies of work predict real life, even before it happens.

Our renaissance in our true north is best illustrated by the listing of events that happen absolutely everywhere – from the eastern shores of Lake of the Woods, in the small communities of Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls to the farmers markets that dot the corridors off of Highway 17, Highway 11 and Highway 71. Just as topographical maps clearly show the shoals and depths, colourful illustrations bring to life the local and regional offerings of art classes, dance recitals, museum exhibits, fairs and festivals. If we travel through the seasons, we find how the abundance of the wilds, found only here in our little corner of planet Earth, play with the creative impulses.

“I sometimes wondered what the use of any of the arts was. The best thing I could come up with was what I call the canary in the coal mine theory of the arts. This theory says that artists are useful to society because they are so sensitive.

They are super-sensitive. They keel over like canaries in poison coal mines long before more robust types realize that there is any danger whatsoever.”

-Kurt Vonnegut, The Canary in the Coal Mine: Kurt Vonnegut at the Library

A ruggedness defines this cultural landscape, shiftshaped by history and heritage, by miners, loggers, hunters, and outdoor adventurers. Today’s re-visionaries come with hot yoga classes, spoken word cafés, neighbourhood pubs, fish tales, and made from scratch chicken-n-waffles. Moral compasses are kicking open settled doors. Words like Kinder Morgan, Energy East, and Tesla are as commonplace as “pass the salt and pepper, please” when seated at the dinner table.

Here, art interfaces with politics, the economy and current events.

The blueberry festival is as synonymous with Sioux Lookout as the Stratford Festival is to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Whitecap Pavilion has nestled in, along the harbourfront in Kenora, and is home to perennial favourites, like Harbourfest. Trylight Theatre practices and plays bring musical theatre and murder mysteries to the stage. Mashing it up with the great “catch and release” stories of every fisherperson are the fiction and the non-fiction writings that come together in the Lake of the Woods Museum’s Common Ground stories.

These have become our modern cultural classics, if you will.

The new works – like the 7th “Maybe Annual” Coney Island Music Festival and a little further south and east, the Moose ‘n’ Fiddle Music Festival, stand beside the upstarts – like the street party on Park Street that is Oktoberfest. This all happens at the intersection of the great outdoors and the authenticity of art and audience, where form and function collide.

A school of perch make plain the activities and interest of the many while the muskellunge prefers the quiet and solitude of its own company. So too, might you.

Nestled against the great outdoors, there is no better place for exploring the magical spaces of the imagination. Escaping into Middle Earth and King’s Cross Platform 9 ¾ through Tolkein and Rowling, we see the special nooks and crannies that invite the reader to other worlds, to imaginary places and to greater understanding, tolerance, empathy, and hope. From Homer to Plato, we find the writings of the ancient Greeks and the wonders of The Iliad and The Odyssey. In epic Greek poems, the Haiku and free verse, we cross continents and span the millenniums.

Here on Lake of the Woods, bean bag chairs, front porch swings, and long, pine logs reveal readers in camps: we go to camp in northern Ontario not cottages.

On rainy days in sunset country, reading a book is a perfect pastime. This was true for our grandparents and it is as commonplace for today’s generation as it will be for the next. And, whether you are reading by the light of a propane light, hearing the fizzle n hiss or you are sitting in a comfy chair and turning the chapter book by the light of a solar ray, being off-thegrid and all – know that you are in good company, where everything old is new again.

From petroglyphs to birch bark letters, pottery shards and arrowheads – some of the most fascinating archeological finds help us understand ancient cultures, peoples and places. One of the most visible signs of ancient and Indigenous cultures are the

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Blinds

pictograph sites which dot rocks and cliffs, around Lake of the Woods. These are forms of rock art.

They were painted by Indigenous ancestors and are considered sacred sites. The next time you fancy a boat ride, Google pictographs and petroforms, and as Mordecai Richler once gave me orders “to get in your canoe and paddle” or power up your GPS and start the out-board on the Blue Orca, straddling the worlds of the Anishinabe and the constancy of the Canadian Shield. Find the enduring, unchanging and very prehistoric abstract patterns, boulder mosaics and turtles. Bridging cultural divides is not for the faint of heart, so take your time, find a friend and let the world be your oyster. Let this be the year that you really do find your true north! There is 65,000 miles of shoreline to explore…from Hay Island, Picnic Island, Big Island, Devil’s Gap, Eagles’ Pass, Flag Island, all abutting rock outcroppings and picturesque scenes with Norway and white pines and clumping birches.

A blank canvas looms large in the natural and built environments that form quintessential Lake of the Woods. Find the Haiku poem or better yet write your own. Doodle on a chalkboard wall, journal a little everyday, or find a colouring book and sit a spell.

Create an unhurried hour to paint with your group of seven. Let nature be your inspiration. It is all around us…rocks, trees, and water! Art is for everyone.

Happy Camping!

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

48 Wildlife & Wilderness

Beauty & the Beast A Tale of Two Fish

by Barry Corbett I can’t think of two fish species more different in terms of life style, appearance, or reputation than the yellow walleye (Sander vitreus) and the white sucker (Catostomus commersoni). And yet, for a short time each spring, their lives are intimately entwined.

Walleyes are top of the food chain, a voracious apex predator, roaming the lakes and rivers at dawn and dusk like a ravenous wolf pack hunting schools of smaller fish, such as their cousin the yellow perch or lake ciscoe, or any one of the numerous minnow species that dwell in Lake of the Woods. Heck, when prey is scarce they will even eat their own. No family loyalty with this bunch!

White suckers can also be found in lakes and streams and are most active at dawn and dusk, but that is where the similarity in life style ends. There’s no way to glamourize what they do for a living – simply put suckers are bottom feeders. While walleyes are terrorizing the aquatic neighbourhood, white suckers spend their time peacefully and methodically vacuuming the bottom with their sucker like mouth, gorging themselves on aquatic invertebrates such as chironimids (blood worms) or small molluscs (snails and clams).

Suckers can occasionally be seen imitating a trout rising to the surface for a fly. Unlike the stealthy attack and leap of the trout, the sucker lazily rises to the surface, awkwardly tilts its body and slurps an emerging mayfly from the surface. This strange and comical behaviour has given rise to such nicknames as “whistling trout” or “Manitoba Char”.

Most would agree, the walleye is a strikingly beautiful fish; robust, but sleek in appearance. Its colouration may vary depending on the waterbody. The walleye’s back is olive shading into yellow hues with golden flecks on the scales. Five dark saddles or bars extend along its upper sides while the belly is milk–white or yellow–white. Like all members of the Perch family, walleyes are equipped with two large dorsal fins – the forward spiny fin and a soft rayed back fin. These help in balance, propulsion and can be used as sails

to quickly turn in currents - a handy feature for a pursuit predator! The spiny dorsal fin deters some predators and any angler will attest grabbing a walleye the wrong way can be an extremely painful experience. A dominate white spot on the caudal fin or tail distinguishes it from its closest relative, the sauger.

Typical of most predators, the walleye’s mouth is filled with large razor sharp curved teeth. Few escape the deadly grasp of a walleye. Without a doubt the most unique physical feature of the walleye are its eyes. Containing a light sensitive layer called the tapetum lucidum their eyes actually reflect light back like a cat’s eyes. This enables walleyes to see and hunt in dim light conditions at dawn and dusk and even during the dead of night. The ability to reflect light causes their eyes to be extremely sensitive to bright conditions. The name ‘walleye’ alludes to its smoky, silvery eyes and was derived from the old term “walleyed” used to describe bulging, staring eyes or cloudy sightless eyes. It’s a suiting descriptor for a fish with bulbous eyes, literally “blinded by the light” but perfectly adapted to low light conditions.

The colouration of the white sucker is drab but ideally suited for life on the bottom. With its back ranging from grey to brown to black and a mostly white belly it hardly makes a fashion statement with its freshwater peers. The sucker’s bottom dwelling life style has mistakenly led to the assumption it is a slow, plodding species, often derogatorily dubbed a “River Hog”. Nothing could be further from the truth; their body is torpedo shaped and they negotiate rapids and currents with far greater ability and success than the walleye. The sucker has only one small soft rayed dorsal fin which aids in balance and propulsion, but

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Wildlife & Wilderness 49 The walleye is regarded with reverence in the fishers’ world.

In contrast, the lowly sucker is looked upon with disdain or at best disinterest. provides no protection from predators. Since it feeds in dim light conditions and does not rely on vision to pursue its prey, the sucker eyes are small and beady.

Its most distinguishing feature is its classic down turned (sub terminal) protrusible mouth equipped with large fleshy lips. The sucker mouth is toothless but they grind their food with a set of specialized pharyngeal or throat teeth located behind the gills.

What truly distinguishes the walleye and white sucker is the way we humans view them. The walleye is regarded with reverence in the fishers’ world.

In contrast, the lowly sucker is looked upon with disdain or at best disinterest. Walleyes are arguably the most sought after sport and commercial freshwater fish species. When you say walleye, it is synonymous with “shore lunch” and if captured by hook or net most end up in an angler’s frying pan or on a restaurant menu. Being popular from a fish perspective can have its drawbacks!

On the other hand, few people eat suckers, although they are quite palatable either canned, smoked or as ground fish patties. Years ago, I shared a meal of boiled sucker head soup with some commercial

Shoal Lake, Walleye spawn

fishers of Icelandic decent. It doesn’t sound appetizing and didn’t look appealing, but it was delicious.

Anglers may not target suckers, but they prize them as a bait for muskies or pike. If suckers are harvested, they are usually dip netted in the spring either to be canned or used as bait for spring lake trout. Suckers have little value as a commercial species. Commercially caught walleye or whitefish end up in grocery stores or restaurants, while the sucker finds itself in cans destined for our cat’s or dog’s dinner bowl.

On the darker side, white suckers have been falsely accused of eating walleye eggs (they don’t, so read on and discover the truth) and sadly in the past this has

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

50 Wildlife & Wilderness Walleyes have been described as wasteful spawners, but it’s hard to criticize a reproductive strategy that has worked for thousands of years.

Shoal Lake, Walleye spawn

resulted in efforts to reduce or eliminate populations without considering the important ecological role they play in the aquatic environment.

Soon, with the lakes breaking up and the tributary streams flowing freely, the predator and grazer will come together in an age old ritual of survival and share a common spawning bed. Both species are spring spawners and reproduction may occur from April to May depending on location and water temperatures.

Spawning can occur in either lakes on wave washed shorelines or in or near river rapids. The critical physical components to ensure successful spawning for both species is a multiple layer of rocks, cobble or gravel for the eggs to incubate in and current or waves to keep these rocks clean of debris and silt.

Walleyes are usually the first to arrive on the spawning grounds and begin spawning when water temperatures are between 7 to 9 degrees C, while suckers wait a few more days until the water has warmed above 10 degrees C. In both species it is the males that arrive first to scope out the situation and wait for the egg laden females.

or steep gradient) or man-made barrier (e.g. dam or perched culvert). Walleyes prefer to spawn in the slower moving waters around the periphery of the riffle. If they spawn in the main current it is usually behind a large boulder where the current is significantly reduced. Initially spawning occurs at night because of their sensitivity to light, but once the hormones have “kicked in”, they overcome this aversion and will spawn during the day.

Walleyes are broadcast spawners with the female rising to the surface to release her eggs followed by two or upwards to six males simultaneously releasing sperm. The fertilized eggs “rain down” onto the rocks and fall between the protective crevices. If by chance they select an area with too strong a current, the eggs The subtle differences in spawning behaviour and will be transported downstream to a less favourable preferences are most pronounced in river and stream incubation site. Walleyes can afford to lose a few eggs spawners. Here both species will migrate upstream because they are one of the most fecund freshwater as far as the first impassible natural (e.g. water fall fish species carrying between 50,000 to over 600,000 eggs depending on the size and age of the female.

Shelley Torrie Shelley Torrie Broker of Record The eggs are extremely small with HOME and COTTAGE REALTY 807.468.1120 a typical diameter of 1.5 -2.0 mm. storrie@kenora-realestate.com Walleyes have been described as wasteful spawners, but it’s hard to criticize a reproductive strategy that has worked for thousands of years.

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Day or night, with romance on their minds, nothing will deter suckers from spawning. In comparison, sucker eggs are gigantic (3.0 mm), almost twice the size of a walleye

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Wildlife & Wilderness 51 egg when fertilized. The female sucker carries far fewer eggs (20,000 to 50,000) than the walleye and can ill afford to waste any. She is more deliberate in her efforts ensuring her eggs are laid in optimum habitat. Suckers utilize their superior swimming ability to spawn in the main current with a female accompanied by two to four males. Prior to the spawn, the males develop breeding or nuptial tubercles on their anal and caudal tails. These tiny rough “bumps” are commonly called pearl organs and help the male grasp the female as they vigorously rub their bellies in rock and gravel ensuring the fertilized eggs are securely placed in the right location and not swept downstream with the current. This action can cause serious bruising on the adults and sometimes results in mortality. Definitely sacrificing parents!

Now is the time to burst the myth of suckers eating walleye eggs! Numerous studies have confirmed suckers do not feed while spawning. Reproduction, not feeding, is what is on the sucker’s mind during this period. Besides, if they were actually eating eggs, there is a good chance they would be feeding on their own eggs – not a good survival strategy for any species!

This is not to say walleye eggs are safe from predation.

Call it sweet revenge - suddenly the prey becomes the predator. Schools of yellow perch and minnows follow their nemesis onto the spawning ground and gobble down any exposed eggs.

Depending on water temperatures, the eggs of both species will incubate for about two weeks in their separate locations before hatching. Here once again, different reproductive strategies are followed. When walleye emerge from their egg shells, initially the tiny larvae (6.0 – 8.6 mm) remain motionless on the bottom. They have limited swimming ability but as dusk approaches this stimulates the larvae to make jerking motions bringing them to the surface where they are caught in the currents and transported passively downstream to the receiving lake. Attached to their abdomen is a large yolk sac providing food for the next three to four days until they can begin feeding on their own. Drifting at night is a great survival strategy because most predators such as the yellow perch are resting at this time.

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

52 Wildlife & Wilderness

The white sucker takes a slightly different tack. Initially the sucker larva resembles a small worm (9 - 11 mm) with no swimming ability and remains in the substrate for an additional 10 to 14 days feeding on its yolk sac.

By the time the larva emerges from the gravel, it resembles a small fish (12 -17mm) with developed fins and can swim modestly. Curiously the mouth of the sucker larva does not resemble its parents’ down turned or sub terminal mouth but instead is terminal like a walleyes. They too, wait until dusk to rise to the surface and be swept downstream passively with the currents avoiding the gauntlet of potential predators.

The emergence and drift of both species is a wonderful example of nature’s synchrony. By the time walleye and sucker larvae reach the lake, the spring turn over has occurred. This annual event brings nutrients from the bottom resulting in a bloom of phytoplankton (algae) and a soupy mix of small organisms such as rotifers, diatoms, chladocerans (water fleas) and copopods. For a few weeks, these bite size invertebrates are the first food of both the walleye and white sucker larvae. Sharing a similar diet, both species initially live in the lake’s surface waters. Then a strange transformation occurs in both species: the walleye develop a sensitivity and aversion to light and move inshore to feed on larger invertebrates (e.g. mayflies) or small fish, while the white sucker experiences an even more radical physical change. Differential growth causes its terminal mouth to move and become a down turned mouth with sucker lips.

Now it resembles the parents and it abandons the surface waters and accepts its new life as a bottom feeder. For a few weeks, the larvae of both species shared a common nursery habitat, but now they enter the world and professions of their parents.

They will not meet again until they have grown and reached sexual maturity and once again the need to reproduce and continue the species will bring this odd couple back to their shared spawning bed.

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Wildlife & Wilderness 53 Ducks are optimistic feeders and will follow schools of spawning suckers guzzling up newly laid eggs.

If you have never witnessed walleyes and white suckers spawning and are interested, there are numerous viewing opportunities in and around Kenora. A couple of my favorite locations are Keewatin Channel on Lake of the Woods often referred to as “the Walleye Factory.” Both shorelines on Anglican, Shragges and Channel Islands have numerous spawning sites. In the spring look for splashing in the water or better yet, if you see a mallard drake and hen swimming along the shoreline you can be pretty certain spawning is occurring. These ducks are optimistic feeders and will follow schools of spawning suckers guzzling up newly laid eggs.

Or check out the creek flowing into Pye’s Landing at the Rockery Marina. Walleyes migrate from the marina channel to the first plateau and spawn below a small spillway and steep set of rapids. However, it’s the sucker’s performance that is unbelievable! These characters will do their best imitation of a salmon and

jump the spillway, darting behind large rocks negotiating their way up the steep gradient and continue their migration to the TransCanada Highway.

Easy viewing locations are down the Storm Bay road at Longbow Lake dam and Blindfold Lake dam. Over the years both spawning grounds have been enlarged and enhanced by Storm Bay Road residents and the local high school students who assisted the Ministry of Natural Resources by adding additional cobble and boulders. These are also great places to watch white pelicans scooping up a quick and easy fish snack.

Enjoy this natural spectacle but remember this is a critical time for these fish – try not to disturb them with loud noises, sudden movements or lights. And if you are dip netting for suckers do it from the shore as wading in the water will inadvertently destroy walleye and sucker eggs.

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

54 Wildlife & Wilderness

The Common Redpoll Tops Kenora List Kenora Christmas Bird Count Results

by Leo E. Heyens

Bohemian Waxwings

The 36th Annual Kenora Christmas Bird Count was held on December 19th and proved quite interesting from a birding perspective. Because of the warmer than normal fall and early winter conditions, a number of species of the late migrants were still present in Kenora in reasonable numbers. For example; 3 Mallards were spotted by a number of our field counters at Mink Bay, 14 Bald Eagles were reported, 1 Mourning Dove at tallied at Vic Wadman’s feeder, 30 American Crows were reported, 5 American Tree Sparrows at Cathy Zroback’s feeder, and lastly, 3 Common Grackles are still hanging around Kenora. All of these species have been tallied on our previous counts but there were just more of these species around this year.

A number of feeder counters noted the lack of birds coming to feeders. This is generally the case when there are warmer temperatures and little accumulated snow cover. These conditions allow our winter birds to find plenty of wild food to forage on. But don’t despair, it’s looking like we will get some colder temperatures soon so keep those feeders stocked.

The total number of adult birds seen this year was 2,689 with the top three species being the Common Redpoll at 692, Black-capped Chickadee at 435, and Common Raven at 283. Species such as Common Redpoll are considered “eruptive” species. What this means is that they moved south (they don’t really migrate) in the winter to take advantage of available seed cone crops – primarily conifer and birch.

There was a medium crop of seed across much of the boreal forest this year and all finches were predicted to erupt (or move further south) this year in search available food sources. You can read more about this on the Ontario Field Ornithologists website at; www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.winterfinches Since the Kenora Christmas Bird Count on December 20th, finch species including the Common Redpoll and Pine Siskin continue to increase in number in the Kenora Area. I now fill my niger feeder every other day or so!

Despite the warm fall, our species count topped out at 30 individual species (compared to 31 last year).

Count highlights include a Mourning Doves seen by Vic Wadman, a Black-backed Woodpecker seen by Jim McNulty, 2 Boreal Chickadees at Jim & Sandy Irish’s feeder, and a number of large groups of Bohemian Waxwings. These waxwings can still be seen around town eating crab apple fruit from a number of trees. Interestingly, White-tailed Deer are quick to pick up any of the dropped fruit and appear to be following these birds around town!

Thank you to the 9 volunteer field counters who took to the field on this day to tally birds along assigned routes within a twenty four kilometer circle of the Kenora city center. Most volunteer Kenora Christmas Bird counters (55 in total) chose to participate in this annual event by watching their bird feeders from the comfort of their kitchen or living rooms.

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Wildlife & Wilderness 55 The Annual Christmas Bird Count first began in 1900, when ornithologist Frank Chapman was disturbed, as were many conservationists, at the slaughter of birds in the annual holiday event called the “side hunt.”

The team that shot the most birds and other small animals was the winner. As a protest, Chapman organized 27 friends in 25 locations on Christmas Day, 1900. Instead of shooting birds, they counted them.

Thanks to all the folks who continue to annually contribute to this long-standing Kenora holiday tradition.

Field Counters:

Eric Matheson, Meagan Saunders, Chris Martin, Lyndon Kivi, Scott & Lynn McAughey, April Mitchell, Christy MacDonald, and Leo Heyens.

Feeder Counters:

Ray & Grace Baker, Liz & William Barling, Penny Beal, Cathie & Wes Braun, Terry & Norann Dunbar, Al & Deb Farrer, Cheryl Favreau, Marg Fors, Tim Fullmer, Dianne Gagnon, Fred Galbraith, Rebecca Green, Betty Harding, Jim & Sandy Irish, Percy Irmsher, Grace Jorgenson, Brian Kantola, Dianne Konoski, Eula Konoski, Janet Lindstrom, Scott Lockhart, Anna Lovas, Katherine Lozenski, Jim McNulty, Bev & John Moore, John & Jenn Hughes, Elsie Neufeld, Ward Palson, Albert Rose, Vern Sawatzky, Max & Marianne Setliff, Todd & Brenda Skene, Wayne Stack, Helen Stemerowicz, Judy Stockham, Victor & Vera Wadman, Mel Warttig, Gloria Waterson, Donna Wiebe, Bob White, Lee Winterton, Betty Wires, Brenda Zdep, and Cathy Zroback.

36th Annual Kenora Christmas Bird Count - Dec. 19, 2015 - Common Loon - Canada Goose 3 Mallard 42 Common Goldeneye - Bufflehead - Hooded Merganser - Common Merganser 14 Bald Eagle - Sharp-shinned Hawk - Northern Goshawk - Merlin - Spruce Grouse 2 Ruffed Grouse 176 Rock Dove 1 Mourning Dove - Great Horned Owl - Barred Owl - Great Gray Owl - Northern Saw-whet Owl 19 Downy Woodpecker

41 - 1 17 45 139 7 30 283 435 2 70 4 - - - - - 141 - -

Hairy Woodpecker Three-toed Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Gray Jay Blue Jay Black-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee Boreal Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren Golden-crowned Kinglet American Robin Northern Mockingbird Bohemian Waxwing Cedar Waxwing Northern Shrike

Total Species = 30 Total Individuals = 2689

158 - 5 - - 12 - - - - 3 155 - 26 - 692 2 52 112 -

European Starling Northern Cardinal Am. Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Brewer’s Blackbird Common Grackle Pine Grosbeak Purple Finch Red Crossbill White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll Pine Siskin Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

56 Cottage How-to

Cottage Opening Tips Electrical safety as you open your cottage

It’s that time of year again. Many people have their bags and tools packed for opening their cottage or vacation home. Proper planning for this annual ritual will help get the season off to a great start.

The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) reminds cottage and vacation homeowners to think about your electrical needs and keep safety top of mind. Here’s is a handy checklist of electrical safety tips to consider.

When you arrive: Look for damage to powerlines leading to your cottage. Stay clear of downed or sagging lines, and contact your local utility immediately.

If you own the hydro poles and powerlines on your property, contact a professional to trim trees that are within four metres of powerlines.

Advise your utility if the trees appear to be too close to the powerlines (within four meters).

Before turning the power on at the main switch: Check that all wiring around your cottage that runs exterior equipment such as water pumps, etc. is intact. If it’s damaged, remove the associated fuse or turn off the circuit breaker and contact a Licensed Electrical Contractor. Find a list at www.pluginsafely.ca Make sure all appliances are off, clear any debris from stove-top elements or base board heaters.

Fill the hot water tank.

Check all appliance cords and extension cords for signs of damage or wear – especially cracking or rodent damage.

Check that the chimney for your electric furnace or wood burning stove/fireplace is clear of debris (i.e. bird’s nests, leaves etc.).

Ensure all branch circuits are in the “off” position.

After you turn on the main switch, turn them on or replace the fuses one at a time to avoid surges that can damage your appliances.

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Cottage How-to 57 Keep these electrical safety tips top of mind at your cottage or vacation home: When outdoors, use only those extension cords rated for outdoor use. They are designed to resist outdoor wear and conditions.

Don’t string multiple extension cords together.

Not only is it unsafe, but it will also reduce their power capacity and your electronic tools or gadgets won’t work properly.

Always use grounded (three-pronged) cords and never remove the grounding pin from the plug.

It’s there to protect you. If you have an old twopronged extension cord hanging around, don’t use it in a pinch. It’s time to toss it out.

If you’re using a cord for the first time this season do a careful check to ensure it’s in good condition.

Extension cords stored outdoors in the winter can crack, which could result in a shock, electrocution or fire.

Plug your grounded outdoor extension cord into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)-protected electrical outlet that has been installed in accordance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.

If the outlet isn’t GFCI protected, you can get a portable GFCI outlet adapter at your local home improvement retailer or hardware store.

Don’t use outdoor extension cords as long-term power sources. The longer they’re left out, the more risk there is of damage or wear. If you need ongoing power on your deck, dock, or yard, have permanent outdoor wiring and outlets installed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.

Following these electrical safety tips can make your summer at the cottage a safe one. For more cottage safety tips visit www.esasafe.com

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

58 Cottage Services

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L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Cottage Services 59 LOTW SEPTIC BARGE SEPTIC TANK, HOLDING TANK, OUTHOUSE PUMPOUTS FOR ISLAND PROPERTY ON LOTW.

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60

Classifieds

Classified ads are a free service for LOWDPOA members.

For Rent Private, exceptional, peaceful, Family Fun Island. Southern exposure, 180’ lakefront with beach, 150’ docking. Kayaks, canoe, 12’ skiff, PWC for rent. 16’ waterslide and dive tower. Firepit, fireplace, hot tub in veranda with shuffleboard, darts, TV/VCR. All amenities. $1500/week, mainland parking $10/day. Contact Sandy (928) 259-7559 Nov – April, (807) 548-1077 May – Oct. Private Cottage for rent in prime location Bulman Bay, Lake of the Woods - minutes from the Yacht Club. Near Keewatin, 10 minutes down McKenzie Portage Road.

Lake front with large dock and great swimming. 4 bedrooms, full bath with washer & dryer, good size kitchen with dishwasher, wood burning fireplace & satellite TV. Screened porch, large deck and firepit. Lots of parking .Recently renovated. Available June, July, August & September. Minimum 2 week stay. $2800/ week Email inquiries to hklapman@ mwgapparel.com Island Rental - 4 miles west of Sioux Narrows. 2 bedroom cabin with loft, kitchen, chemical toilet & water heater. Sleeps 3-4 adults; 3 children. $1000/week; $3000/4 weeks. Blueberries galore in July/August.

(812) 637-3366/mel@getreals.com 13 acre island available for camping or houseboating. Sandy beach; middle of best walleye fishery. No facilities. Go to Google Earth and search ‘Craig Island Kenora Ontario’. $500/week. (812) 6373366 mel@getreals.com Beautiful lakefront road access 4 bedroom 2 bathroom cottage for rent on Storm Bay Road, LOTW. All docks & decks are new and the interior/exterior is completely redone/remodeled. Very modern accommodations. Includes satellite internet and laundry. Gorgeous sunroom facing the lake. No pets no smoking. $3000/ week. Discount on multiple weeks.

Email: stormbayroadrental@gmail.com Clearwater Bay. A western exposure offers sunsets over Deception Bay from the deck of our family cottage. Drive to the door on one of the lake’s best-maintained access roads to our three bedroom cottage with full amenities including internet, plus fireplace. Dock and waterside patio with a ten foot sheltered boat slip is suitable for swimmers of all ages. Available June and July. For further info call (780) 477-7958 or email gmccrea@telus.net

How to Submit Classifieds

Email: susan.mcleod@lowdpoa.com Mail: LOWDPOA, Box 1160, Kenora, ON P9N 3X7 Next submission deadline: April 20, 2016

2 bedroom Waterfront cottage on Winnipeg River. Fully furnished, full service.

Large deck, boat dock, quiet, clean. No smoking. 10 minute drive from Kenora year round. Book early $180/day, $1000/ week. Contact (807) 468-1171 tomrof@ kmts.ca Lake of the Woods - Unique two and a half acre private island wonderfully located just five minutes from facilities at Northern Harbour. The main cabin has one double bedroom and a loft with one double bed and two singles. Extra accommodation on futon in living room. The Bunkie has one double bed. Screened in porch for outdoor living. Remote services with composting toilet. Solar power supplemented by generator. Docking facilities. Great fishing at your dock. Boat not included. $1,500.00 per week, 15% discount for month rental.

Contact Bonnie at (807) 548-5528 or email migizi.bonnie@gmail.com

Want to Rent Retired couple previous island camp owners with 30+ years LOW experience and own boat looking for lake/island cabin to rent anywhere within radius of approximately 14 miles of Kenora. 3-4 weeks starting July 4. Call James (604) 880-2295.

Retired couple looking to rent two/three bedroom cottage for one month this summer. Preferred location is Coney Island or surrounding area. Some flexiblity on times is possible. Docking for 19 ft boat required. We are former Winnipegers, Kenora residents and long time lovers of the Lake of the Woods. We are non smokers with a small quiet clean dog. We guarantee you we are a “renter’s dream” and will treat your property with respect.

References from local Keewatin/Kenora residents are available. Please contact Don or Kathleen by email (rudkokd@ gmail.com) or cell (204) 803-0077. Thanks for your consideration.

Please try to keep your listing to 35 words or less.

L.O.W. Island 15 mins. from Kenora.

Recently upgraded, 1250 sq. feet plus 12x18 screened area, large deck. 3 B.R., Bath Room, Utility Room. Open concept kitchen, L.R., Dining Room. 12 x 20 Workshop, 8 x 12 shoreline shed, 50’ crib dock and beach area. All major appliances included. $385,000 Ph. (306) 371-0628

Boats & Motors for Sale 18 foot Chris Craft super sport 1964.

Beautifully restored like new – mahogany V8 327 engine. Great for skiing and wakeboarding. Original documents and manual and many extras. Mint condition call John @ (204) 791-4202 14 foot Lund fishing boat (red), 1989.

Comes with 2001 mercury 15 HP 4 stroke motor No trailer – great kids boat. Call John (204) 791-4202 25hp Yamaha, 2013. 4 stroke outboard motor, short shaft. Call (309) 752-0205 1985 32’ Fairlane flybridge sedan. Sleeps up to 6 pp. Well equipped for living aboard. 2 x 230HP merc stern drives.

Offers contact Dave at (250) 658-8891 or after May (807) 543-3191 2008 Sea Doo 3 person 155 HP very low hours. $8000. Contact Dave at (250) 6588891 or after May 1 (807) 543-3191 1964 Chris Craft SS Classic 18’ Wooden Boat. Superior condition, one of a kind!

Excellent value at $24,000 327 Chevy 210 HP 325 hours, straight through dual exhaust. Professionally restored by renowned boat builder Don Danenburg, author of the book, “How to Restore your Wooden Boat”. Includes full boat cover and custom build, heavy duty tandem axle trailer powder coated black with mag wheels. Original manual documents, accessories and other extras included.

Call John (204) 791-4202 or email tyjohn@shaw.ca

Real Estate for Sale

Miscellaneous

All-Season Cottage/Home, fully furnished Deception/Clearwater Bay area , 1,600 sq. ft. , 3 bedroom , 2 bath , on 1.59 acres , 235 ft. of shoreline , with Boathouse and Docks. More Information: pineportage@ mymts.net Move-in-ready. Private Sale.

9th Annual Mind Body Spirit Fair (Kenora) on Sun., May 1, from 10 to 4 at the Lakeside Inn (Clarion Hotel). Awaken your Soul, discover Energy Healing modalities, mini sessions, enlightening information, hand-crafted items and Intuitive Readers. Contact terrealynn@gmail.com

Long Bay, Sioux Narrows, Lake of the Woods. 8 acres, 800’ of low profile shoreline including two natural sand beaches.

Property has road access with western exposure. Original log lodge, six cottages, 2 double garages, fixed and floating docks.

Asking $999,000. Call (807) 407-5891.

BUILDING DREAM S

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

62 Advertisers’ Directory Arts Inglenook Art Studio 1051 Railway Street #3, Kenora 807-407-1170 inglenookartstudio.com

Building Materials McMunn & Yates 1666 Highway 17 West, Kenora 807-547-3366 mcmunnandyates.com Penta Protective Coatings 39 Merit Crescent, West St. Paul 204-992-2603 penta.ca Star Building Materials 16 Speers Road, Winnipeg 204-233-8687 starbuilding.ca/winnipeg

Community & Philanthropy City of Kenora 1 Main Street South, Kenora 807-467-2000 kenora.ca Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation 21 Sylvan Street West, Kenora 807-468-9861 lwdhf.com Northwestern Health Unit 210 First Street North, Kenora 807-468-3147 nwhu.on.ca Sioux Narrows Nestor Falls 5521 Highway 71, Sioux Narrows 807-226-5241 snnf.ca

Contractors & Construction Black Fox Construction Lot 19, Williams Road, Kenora 807-407-9983 blackfoxconstruction.com Boreal Design Studio 201 Main Street South, Kenora 807-464-1151 borealstudio.ca DTL Carpentry 204-979-4055 dtlcarpentry.ca Linwood Homes 285 Kirkbridge Drive, Winnipeg 204-955-8675 linwoodhomes.com Oakwood Roofing 1350B Highway 17 East, Kenora 807-467-8824 oakwoodroofing.com Postech Screw Piles 57 075 Symington Road East, Winnipeg 1-855-4-PILING manitobascrewpiles.ca REMR Roofing 2053 Highway 17 East, Kenora 807-548-2811 remrroofing.com

Docking & Boat Storage Docks & Lifts Ltd. 1940 Highway 17 East, Kenora 807-547-4444 docksandlifts.ca Frank Hickling Sales 15 Chimo Place, Springfield 204-222-3301 fhsales.ca Lake of the Woods Docking 807-547-2026 lotwdocking.ca

Electrical Bob’s Electric 225 Main Street North, Kenora 807-468-5915 rbrignall@yahoo.ca S&H Electrical 470 Highway 641, Keewatin 807-221-9418 sandh.electrical@gmail.com

Energy Earth4U 42-610 Lakeview Drive, Kenora 807-468-4486 earth4u.ca Raysolar 1870 Hwy 17 East, Kenora (807) 548-7297 raysolar.ca

Environment Nature Conservancy of Canada 611 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg 204-942-6146 natureconservancy.ca

Equipment Sales & Rentals Bestway Rentals & Sales 1906 Sixth Street North, Kenora 807-548-4131

Loch Lomond Equipment Sales 1860 Loch Lomond Road, Thunder Bay 807-472-7357 lochlomondequipmentsales.com

Financial Planning The Darcy Zaporzan Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 3100-201 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg 204-982-2635 dzwmg.com

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

Advertisers’ Directory 63 Fireplaces

Insurance

Real Estate

Flame & Comfort 318 Logan Avenue, Winnipeg 204-943-5263 flameandcomfort.com

Garriock Insurance 390 York Avenue, Winnipeg 204-773-7157 garriock.ca

Cabin Country Realty 138 Main Street South, Kenora 807-468-3541 cabincountry.com

Home & Cottage Maintenance

The Standard Insurance Brokers 319 Second Street South, Kenora 807-468-3333 thestandardonline.com

Century 21 Reynard Real Estate, Greg Kirby 807-547-5555 century21.ca/greg.kirby

Kitchen

Duncan Carmichael Real Estate 625 Lakeview Drive, Kenora 807-467-2323 lakeofthewoods.net

Bell’s Septic (Kenora) Inc. 1523 Agur Street, Kenora 807-468-7251 bellskenora.com Denver’s Window Cleaning Services 30 Deerfield Trail, Steinbach 204-320-1935 denverswindowcleaning.com Lake of the Woods Septic Barge Box 351, Keewatin 807-464-3468 septicbarge.com Wolframe’s World of Water 710 Lakeview Drive, Kenora 807-468-4338 worldofwateronline.ca

Home Furnishings Image One Designs 1060 Railway Street, Kenora 807-468-3641 imageonedesigns.com Verti-Shade 150 Main Street South, Kenora 807-468-3980 facebook.com/vertishade

Seine River Cabinets 45 Trottier Bay, Winnipeg 204-927-1483 seinerivercabinets.com

Legal Hook Seller Lundin LLP 203-301 First Avenue South, Kenora 807-468-9831 hsllawyers.com Shewchuk, Ormiston, Richardt & Johnson LLP 214 Main Street South, Kenora 807-468-5559 kenoralaw.com

Marine Deception Bay Marina Clearwater Bay 807-733-3777 deceptionbaymarina.com Lake of the Woods Mobile Marine #1 Akres West - Highway 17 West, Keewatin 807-548-7540 kencavanagh@bellnet.ca Tall Pines / WSL Sport & Leisure 832 Lakeview Drive, Kenora 807-468-5253 lotwsport.com Woodlake Marine 1956 Highway 17 West, Kenora 807-468-2628 woodlakemarine.com

Northwoods Realty 5701A Highway 71, Sioux Narrows 807-226-1024 northwoodsrealtyltd.com Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 721 Beach Road, Kenora 807-547-4020 kenora-realestate.com

Retail Nucerity - Mark Wehrle, Independent Distributor 204-791-5727 mynucerity.biz/MarkW

Sunrooms Suncoast Enclosures 1106 Buchanan Boulevard, Winnipeg 204-292-2173 suncoastenclosures.com

L.O.W. AREA NEWS

APRIL 2016

64 Phil Burke

The Back Porch The door opened onto the back porch and Mayor Horton Freeman stepped from the house with his coffee and newspaper. He paused, staring at the boreal vista before him as a bright spring sun blessed the town with the first day he could enjoy outdoors in his shirtsleeves. He sat on a deck chair and opened the White Polar Bay Daily Sentinel, a good read for local events.

Remnants of a cruel winter shrunk from the strengthening sun and sought refuge in available shade.

The green would soon return, the lakes and rivers would thaw and visitors and summer residents would begin their migration.

Mayor Horton Freeman loved everything about the town, from his wife whom he met at college and who convinced him to share her small town all those years ago, to the citizens that made the town what it is today, to the glory of the Canadian Shield and its visitors, and to White Poplar Bay, a body of water that separated the mainland from Poplar Island—one of the fourteen thousand five hundred islands boasted

by Lake of the Woods.

The mayor smiled as he recalled the historical events resulting in the town’s name—White Polar Bay— instead of White Poplar Bay. In 1903, as fast as the eastbound C.P.R. train could travel, letters of incorporation for the fledgling town of White Poplar Bay sped to Toronto. Because the town clerk at the time, young Mr. Grover Stanson, was in a dither that particular day, the second “P” in the word Poplar was inadvertently omitted from the official papers. When the accepted application returned, Lenton Ascue, the mayor, explained to the townsfolk that the name of their community was now ‘White POLAR Bay’ and not ‘White POPLAR Bay’ as had been previously agreed. There would have been great objection if the word ‘Poplar’ had been replaced by ‘Polar’ at the whim of a politician, but when Grover owned up to the fact it was his error caused by an unsettled state of mind due to his wife’s labour with their first child, the hearts of the townsfolk melted and they gladly accepted the new name as easily as they accepted little Loretta, the daughter of Grover and Gladys Stanson and White Polar Bay’s newest citizen.

Of course there was a movement to change the ‘Polar’ back to ‘Poplar’ but when Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier made a whistle stop in the town on Dominion

Day, July 1, 1905, two sentences in his thirty-nine minute speech sealed the fate of the town name.

He posed on the deck at the rear of his decorated caboose and stated with the utmost pomposity, “The Prime Minister of our great nation is honoured to grace the town of White Polar Bay. But where are the bears?” The townspeople laughed and the Prime Minister’s entourage laughed but the prime minister didn’t laugh. “Why else would they name the town White Polar Bay if there weren’t any polar bears?” he asked himself.

From his back porch Mayor Freeman could see the tops of the Maple Leaf Flag and White Polar Bay’s insignia waving proudly above the town office. Years ago the town had purchased an old, small stone church, spent a fortune remodeling it and moved the expanding town bureaucracy from the cramped quarters above Mason’s Drug Store. In the steeple they installed a charming old town clock, a gift from the Order of the Deer that consistently ran seven minutes slow. After futile attempts to repair it, the mayor of the day laughed and told a reporter from the Daily Sentinel that the clock was simply a visual statement that life in White Polar Bay ran at a slower pace.

Everyone agreed except those who could never calculate the correct time, or those who felt embarrassed by visitors constantly observing that the town clock was wrong. Finally council ordered a brass plaque to be placed on the lawn explaining that the clock was indeed seven minutes slow and would remain that way, thank you very much.

Yes, White Polar Bay was the perfect haven for those seeking an alternative to the sterile, jostling, noisy, hectic life in a big city, or for those simply wishing to commune with nature. Mayor Horton Freeman had only two unfulfilled wishes. One was that his arch-nemesis, an elected town councillor named Edith Cosgrove, would move away. The second was that he could wear a magnificent official chain of office like the one worn by Kenora’s mayor.

Visit us at the LOWDPOA Cottage Show May 2nd, 2016

Investing in our community, and our future.

Visit the business section of kenora.ca for information on Kenora’s diversified economy – including key sectors Tourism, Boating, Mining, Value Added Forestry, and Health Care.

Top 10 Reasons to Locate Your Business Here!

1 2 3 4 5

Natural Resources Location Service Area Diversified Economy Labour Force

6 Work Force Development 7 Major Infrastructure Investments 8 Incentives 9 Quality of Life 10 Business Opportunities

, s g n i h t y r e v E To learn more, contact Jennifer Findlay, Economic Development Officer

807.467.2127 jfindlay@kenora.ca

kenora.ca

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