Volume 47
Number 3
What the Bears Saw by Dyke Williams
44
Pg.
Summer 2017
Welcome home.
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In this issue… President’s Message Editor’s Message Members’ Page
6 7
4
Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung by Barry Corbett
68
8
Members – Need to Know Notes From Your Executive Director Annual General Meeting Recap Cottage Show Recap 2016 Financial Summary Mark Your Calendars LakeSmart What’s in a Name?
22
Cover photo: Don Carswell
62
News & Notes Coney Island’s New Dock Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) Changes Burn Study More than just another regatta Swimmer’s Itch
Cottage How-To Free Heat: Building with the Sun in Mind Making Cottage Water Safe: Surface Water HRV in the Summer Ask an Expert
78
LOWDKids! Celebrating Fireflies Colouring & Painting Expo
82
Wildlife & Wilderness The Monarch Butterfly All in the Family Succession Planning
90
Notes from Razberry Lane
92
94 The Back Porch 95 Stuff That’s Going On 30 Real Estate Listings 96 Lake of the Woods Control Board 32 Cottage Services 100 Environment 38 Climate Change at IISD-ELA Classifieds 101 Lake of the Woods Sustainability Advertisers’ Directory 102 Foundation Rowing: Kenora's Cup of Tea 103 What the Watch Bears Saw 44 by Lori Nelson by Dyke Van Etten Williams Invasive Species 50
Purple Loosestrife Attention Gardeners
54
Boating Beaches: Near & Far LOWISA 52 Test Your Boating Safety Knowledge, Part 3
Arts & Culture
4
President’s Message Nancy Salmijarvi, LOWDPOA President Spring is a busy time for everyone who enjoys lake country and I’m sure by now most of you have completed your spring “to-do” list.
Open the cottage
✓
Tune up and launch the boat
✓
Position the deck chairs to enjoy reading the Area News
✓
Renew your LOWDPOA membership … oops! Over the past several weeks your Board of Directors has been busy making personal calls to “non current” members with a gentle reminder to renew their memberships. During our calls we have gained a bit of insight as to why people have not renewed. We asked if people are satisfied with the work the association does on their behalf and if they enjoy the Area News magazine. We also asked for input on how or what we might improve and if they think we’re still providing programs and content that are relevant to them. The overwhelming majority said we are on track and most of those who do not plan to renew have recently sold their cottages, but hope the new owners will join. Occasionally, even those that have sold chose to renew their membership because they wish to continue supporting the association and they love the Area News. The number one reason for non-renewal was… I simply forgot! This is good news, and we quickly renewed those memberships so they could receive the next issue of the magazine. Going forward our goal is to make renewal even easier with the ability to auto-renew and a new option for a “digital only” format of membership. Details will be revealed as they become available. Of course you - our members - are LOWDPOA’s best ambassadors, and we ask you to encourage friends and neighbors to renew their memberships. I can’t say enough about the 2017 Lake of the Woods Cottage Show and AGM on May 1. What a success! I won’t rehash all the details as there is a recap starting on page 10, but I’d like to thank the LOWDPOA team of Diane, Linda and Carol for a job well done. Many hours of prep time and organization made this our biggest and best show/AGM ever (at least in my opinion!) Also, to the volunteers and Board of Directors, both past and present, who helped out with the show – thank you so much; we couldn’t have done it without you.
Each year there is a partial changeover on the Board of Directors, and this year we welcomed four new members to the Board. Anneke Gillis, Paddy Lake Duncan McEwen, Whitefish Bay Jean Ann Hallas, Poplar Bay Lucas King, Woodchuck Bay (and former LakeSmart team member) On to summer… We’re pleased to introduce a brand new LakeSmart crew to LOWDPOA this year. Welcome, Reed Cupeiro, a long time Granite Lake cottager with extensive Lake of the Woods area boating experience; Krista Robertson, a Kenora resident that “grew up” on Lake of the Woods; and our Invasive Species Outreach liaison, Kylee Neniska from Black Sturgeon Lake, whose main mode of summer transportation is by boat, having grown up in Kenora as well. Beginning July 1 the LakeSmart team will take to the water and you’ll see these enthusiastic young folks on the area waterways and at community events sharing our ever-important environmental messages with everyone they encounter. Don't forget, the team is available to “come to you” for your neighborhood events and will provide a whole host of information - everything from healthy shoreline practices to septic information. Just give us a call to make an appointment. Monday, July 10 is the date set for our annual summer meeting. This year we’re changing things up a bit and holding it in Kenora at the Lake of the Woods Museum annex building - the red brick building right next to the museum. A special presentation by the IISD-Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) folks will follow the usual association business review. It’s sure to be interesting, as they will bring us up-to-date on their current state of affairs and their incredible work. You will also be able to sign up for the two ELA tours we are offering this summer. To round out the afternoon, immediately following the meeting, the Lake of the Woods Museum has invited all members in attendance to tour the Museum as their guests. It’s going to be a busy summer, and this is only one of several events planned; check out all the summer events on page 14. As always, I encourage you to get comfy in your favourite deck chair and enjoy this issue of the Area News!
6
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Members - Need to Know
Editor’s Message
Teika Newton, Area News Editor Ahhh, summer! That season we all long to see after the rugged days of winter and the slow, creeping return of light and heat to our beautiful Lake of the Woods region has arrived at last! As I write this, it’s mid-May and the leaves are just starting to appear on the trees here in Kenora. Grass is green, gardens – and human bodies - are waking from their winter slumber. The migratory birds are back, nesting and often frolicking in the evening skies above me each night as I toil after work, pulling grass and weeds out of this year’s vegetable beds. Increasingly, the weekend days are spent on the water, poking about by paddleboard and kayak with my children and my mom. As on land, the creatures beneath us in this year’s very shallow spring waters are waking up, delighting us with the first signs of life in the complex ecosystem of the lake: darling little mud turtles slithering along the muddy bottom of a marshy bay; long accordions of perch eggs floating amidst emerging lily pad plants; noisy, paddling ducks, quacking and nesting along the shoreline. We are truly blessed to live in such a richly abundant and serene part of the world, and at no time do I revel in this good fortune more regularly than in late spring and early summer.
In this issue of the Area News, in addition to the usual roundup of area news, we bring you stories that evoke this sentiment of reverence for the natural world, and of our place in it. We showcase the powerful, resetting and regenerative force of wildfire in Dyke Williams’ account of the 2007 Ham Lake fire, “The Watch Bears.” The Rasmussens remind us of the joys of local foods in their feature on small gardens, as well as the magic of the monarch butterfly. Barry Corbett gives us a fascinating glimpse into the diverse and charismatic perch family of fish, while Phil Burke entertains with a whimsical fictional fish tale of his own. We also continue our ongoing columns on invasive species, green building for home and cottage, profiles of climate change in boreal lakes, and local history – a little something for everyone. Finally, in this issue, look for the special kids’ colouring page. We encourage you to have your youngsters apply their artistic talents here, and bring their finished works to the LOWDPOA display at the weekly Matiowski Farmers’ Market in Kenora on a Wednesday in July and August. Diane and the LOWDPOA team will be happy to display the works of our next generation of Lake of the Woods area enthusiasts. Until next time, happy summer!
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, Dick Tolton Jr. ©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.
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 Upcoming Editorial Deadlines: July 25, 2017 September 26, 2017
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Members' Page
Teika,
As a cottage owner (Goat Island, L.O.W.) and long time subscriber to Lake of the Woods Area News I have always found your magazine interesting and informative. In your latest Area News Spring 2017 publication you have a very good article describing the need for water testing be it from public or private water supply, concluding with a recommendation that "if you cannot control the source of contamination, or if you want additional peace of mind, consider installing a water treatment system that inactivates bacteria and other micro-organisms”. This is good advice especially for cottage owners who use the Lake as their water source. The article closes with a statement that only UV and chlorine are proven to disinfect water effectively and correctly point out that each technology has different benefits and drawbacks. What you failed to mention is that ozone disinfection is a third alternative that has many advantages to both UV and chlorine and has been in use for over 100 years, including on Lake of the Woods, in Ontario Parks, and First Nations in Northwestern Ontario. I am sure your readers would be interested in investigating this technology as well.
Announcements Volume 47 Number 2, spring 2017 p. 69 – photo erroneously captioned as milkweed (Asclepias spp.) is, in fact, Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum). These flowers have similar floral colours and arrangements, and both are beloved of butterflies but they are actually in different families. Joe-Pye Weed is a member of the sunflower family while milkweed is in a subfamily of the dogbane family. Volume 47 Number 1, February / March 2017 We neglected to identify the cover species in this issue. This photo, taken by Dave Schwartz, is a great blue heron. Dave reports that the photo was taken about April 1, 2016 from Sedesky Road in Kenora. There is a tiny creek draining the marsh area that is bounded on its west side by Sedesky Road and on its north side by the Gould Road. The heron was standing in the creek about 10 m west of Sedesky Road.
Regards, Dave Bignell Submitted by Garry Bolton, Minaki cottager Garry wrote to us in May, providing an update to a story he’s developing for a future issue of the Area News. He is concerned about the potential for invasive species such as zebra mussels and invasive plants to be spread among waterways, not just by boats but by any vehicle that moves among bodies of water. Garry points out that float planes and water bombers that go from lake to lake to river with ease are all potential vectors for transmitting invasive species, and reminds fellow cottagers, residents and visitors to be mindful to prevent the spread of invasive species. Garry is working on a more extensive article on this topic that will outline current procedures and regulations in Canada and the USA. Watch for this piece in a future issue of the magazine.
Email your Members' Page questions, comments and ideas to editor@areanewsmagazine.ca
One of our keenly eyed birding enthusiast members pointed out that this bird’s colouration is somewhat unusual and resembles that of a Würdemann’s heron. Although the colour incongruity is likely best explained as an artifact of colour variation in processing and printing the digital image, this comment did lead us to learn interesting information about the Würdemann’s heron. The Würdemann’s heron is a colour morph variant that occurs when a typical great blue heron mates with its white colour morph, the great white heron, a bird found only in southern Florida. While the Würdemann’s heron is also, therefore, a resident of southern Florida, there’s no denying that the bird Dave captured in this image bears a striking resemblance to this lighter coloured variant.
LAKE OF THE WOODS DISTRICT PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION Executive Committee
Board Members
Staff
Contact
PRESIDENT Nancy Salmijarvi, Welcome Channel
Wayne Bruce, Pistol Lake
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Diane Schwartz-Williams (807) 543-4287 diane@lowdpoa.com
P.O. Box 1160 Kenora, ON P9N 3X7
Vice President Hardy Bock, Black Sturgeon
Dave Christie, Granite Lake Anneke Gillis, Paddy Lake Jean Ann Hallas, Poplar Bay
Treasurer Christine Semenchuk, Storm Bay
Lucas King, Woodchuck Bay
Past President Robert Bulman, Tunnel Island
Don Parfitt, Winnipeg River
Duncan McEwen, Whitefish Bay John Waterer, Clearwater Bay Bob Wilkes, Gunn Lake
7
ASST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Linda Biggar (807) 468-8715 linda@lowdpoa.com
Email info@lowdpoa.com Facebook @lowdpoa Toll-free 1-888-265-9784 Phone (807) 468-8715
8
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Members - Need to Know Notes from your Executive Director Diane Schwartz-Williams
Spring has delivered on her promise and truly surprised me in the process. Somehow, in the flurry of activity as we worked with exhibitors and suppliers to plan the 2017 Cottage Show and AGM, I was not paying much attention to what was happening outside. Then when everything settled down a little I looked around with my eyes wide open and all senses alert, and the transformation was magical. Bare branches had given way to buds on trees, some beginning to open; snow patches in the yard had been replaced with daffodils in full bloom, recently joined by dandelions; still mornings and evenings had exploded with sounds, bird songs to greet the day and those glorious peepers in full chorus every evening; and then there is the lake I see out my office window. What’s not to love above this time of year? I almost (note almost) don’t even mind those pesky ants. May 1 marked the beginning of ‘lake season’ with our Cottage Show and AGM. Simply put, it was a great day thanks to the number and variety of exhibitors, the quality of the displays, the efforts of many volunteers and of course the participation of so many LOWDPOA members, families and friends.
Photo: Tom Thomson
Before we know it, we will be full-on into summer and we are pretty excited about the line-up of events and activities being planned for LOWDPOA members and member-families. We are working hard to come up with a variety that offers something of interest for everyone. Check out the programs and events on the following pages, and watch our website and Facebook page for updates. We’d love to see you in person - at the summer meeting July 10 at the LOW Museum, the tours of the Experimental Lakes Area, a visit with us at the Matiowski Farmers’ Market, or even a personal visit from our LakeSmart team at your location. We are looking forward to every opportunity we will have to meet you and to talk with you this summer, whether at one of our LOWDPOA events or one of yours. Taking advantage of each of those opportunities means we will get to know more of you a little better, and the better we know and understand you, the more effective we will be in working on your behalf. Let’s bring on summer and great times on and around the lake!
www.ndsandblasting.com ndsandblasting@hotmail.ca (204) 871-7463
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
10 Members - Need to Know
Annual General Meeting
Recap
55t h AGM noted by some members as ‘t he bes t ever’!
There was a great turnout for the 55th Annual General Meeting held May 1 where members were caught up on LOWDPOA business and programs. President Nancy Salmijarvi reviewed the past year’s work, calling on the Environment and Government Affairs committee chairs to assist in outlining LOWDPOA programs and initiatives going forward. She also presented the Membership/Communication committee report highlighting not only the high priority realities we face with regard to membership development, but also the plans being developed and put into action to address these realities. The AGM wrapped up following the Treasurer’s financial review presentation and election of new directors. Members who attended the AGM were in for a special treat following the business portion of the meeting and stayed to enjoy the screening of the video Lake of the Woods: a History by Water on the big screen. Sean Kavanagh, of CBC TV and longtime Lake of the Woods summer resident who is featured in the film, captivated the crowd with his commentary on the production process. There were lots of questions for Sean, ’the guy in the boat’, and he answered them all, adding some personal lake anecdotes that were both interesting and entertaining. Those present were treated to sneak preview of the sequel, which is not yet released publicly. These excellent videos were produced by another longtime summer lake resident and well known musician, the late Greg Lowe, for the City of Kenora’s Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre and the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls Northern Ontario Sportfishing Centre.
For those members who were unable to attend the LOWDPOA AGM, here are some excerpts from Nancy’s report: At last year’s AGM I spoke of change; change that would bring this association up to date using new technologies while still respecting our legacy and our diverse membership. I’m pleased to say we’ve successfully implemented many of these new strategies. While there have been a number of changes within the association, one thing does not change – the need to and our focus on maintaining and growing our membership. As we talked about last year we are working to improve our communication and membership strategy to keep up with all the changes in how people communicate and to make sure we are paying attention and responding to the patterns and habits of those younger members we need to attract; yet still staying true to what works for our longtime members.
We’ve completed the first year with our new publishing partner Fifth Hammer Marketing Group. Our flagship publication, the Lake of the Woods Area News continues to be our primary communication tool and all indications are that you, the members, enjoy the new format and content. But, we are always looking for your input, feedback and even submissions. We also developed a brand new LOWDPOA website and we continue to work on providing the most relevant content while ensuring the site is user-friendly. The website is still fairly new, and there is always more to do and more to add to it; it’s a bit of a moving target with content changing as issues come to our attention. Right now we are in the process of developing a resource page that will give you links and access to information on just about anything you want to know. Again, as with everything, we value and look for your input and comments. What we have done is already paying off as we have already had more visits to our website in 2017 than we had for all of 2016. The new membership database portal that we developed and put into use last November is being used increasingly by many of our members. Over 1,100 members have logged in to at least check it out and many have updated their profile, renewed their membership, and purchased seedlings as well. We are also working to improve it, and really do want to know if you are having any problems with it. Our staff are always willing and able to answer any questions you have on this. We know that the database and online transactions are not for everyone (not my favourite either); and our staff are always happy to hear from you by letter, email or phone. With the new database came the ability to be able to offer you online access to the Area News – current and back issues beginning in 2016. Now you can enjoy it at camp, in your home, on a plane; just about anywhere you have internet access. John Waterer, LOWDPOA Director presenting Environment Committee report to LOWDPOA members at AGM. Photo credit: Tom Thomson
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Members - Need to Know
11
Social media has also become more important for us. We are now active on Facebook generating hundreds of likes on our postings. We’re still working on it, but we are getting better at posting regularly on Facebook - sharing items of interest to our followers. If you haven’t already, check it out, like the page, and join the over 800 other people who are already there. Most recently we’ve entered into the world of Twitter: @lowdpoaLakeTime. Tweet us, retweet us and keep us active there as well. We know that the fact that we are all aging is affecting our membership numbers. That aging membership – and I count myself as one of those – is the foundation of our association; provides our core and strength. But we all know that we have to look to those coming behind us to join to ensure the momentum of our programs and initiatives and our impact does not falter. One task our committee and full board has taken on is to personally reach out to members who have yet to renew for 2017. We are calling, not just to remind, but to find out if there is a particular reason for not renewing. What we are discovering more often than not is that most people have just forgotten. That’s good news because it’s an easy fix. In the coming months we will also be able to use our new database portal to send out reminders and plans are in place to implement an auto-renew function. We are also looking at some creative ways to reach out to potential new members – for instance, our ad in the 2017 LOW Cottage Guide that you may see around Kenora this summer.
Nancy Salmijarvi, LOWDPOA President addressing membership development to LOWDPOA members at AGM. Photo credit: Tom Thomson
While we are going to be busy reaching out to recruit new members, the outreach to both longstanding and new members is going to be of primary importance. You, our members are our best ambassadors – and we cannot lose sight of that. The full AGM PowerPoint presentation is available to members upon request. Please contact Linda at 807-468-8715 or linda@lowdpoa.com.
Your board knows that we have some work to do to maintain, and hopefully increase our membership numbers. We recognized that ‘same old’ has its merits, but that we need to add some new and different ideas to the mix. Building on some creative ideas that came out of a board brainstorming session we have developed a very aggressive membership and communications plan that speaks to three main areas – member retention, bringing back ‘lost’ members and new member recruitment. As mentioned earlier we have already begun to personally reach out to members without current membership status. The initial response has been very positive, and we plan to do more of the same, with the involvement of all directors and staff. We will be directing our marketing to a broader audience than we have in some time. This will involve the use a variety of marketing tools and media – chosen to suit the particular audience we have in focus. We will be looking to reach potential members of all ages, property owners and those who don’t own property, as well as visitors, boaters, sailors and campers, year round and seasonal residents, occasional visitors – anyone who shares our passion for lake life and living. With details to be finalized and logistics to be put in place we plan to offer a new type of membership – one that is a digital only access. Stay tuned for more details.
LOWDPOA 2016 review and plans for 2017 presented to LOWDPOA members at AGM. Photo credit: Tom Thomson
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
12 Members - Need to Know
Thank you!
To our exhibitors - too many to list here who set the stage To our corporate sponsors - Q104 Kenora & Garriock Insurance To the volunteers, directors & staff who ran the show To all the LOWDPOA members who joined us for the afternoon
You are the Lake of the Woods Cottage Show; you are its success!
There’s no better way to kick off summer than with you!
LOWDPOA members and guests kept the aisles full and 92 exhibitors busy at 2017 Cottage Show. Photo: Tom Thomson
Lake of the Woods
COTTAGE SHOW Recap No better way to kick off ‘lake season’! It felt like summer outside in Winnipeg on Monday, May 1; inside the Cottage Show it was easy to imagine enjoying all that summer at the lake means. MNRF (fire) Team back again to talk to members. Photo: Tom Thomson
With 92 exhibitors this was one of our biggest Cottage Shows ever and all the bases for lake life were covered. Whether visitors were looking for something for their cottage, watersports, information on lake living or tips for living green at the lake they could find it at the 26th Annual Lake of the Woods Cottage Show. As always, there was a real sense of community at the show as members met up with old friends and neighbours to reminisce and make plans for the coming summer at the lake. Dozens of visitors filled the aisles within minutes of the doors opening at 12:30 p.m., with hundreds more following in a steady stream right up until the show ended at 6:30 p.m. They kept exhibitors busy as they checked out all the displays, asked questions and in many cases made purchases. There was still time for visits with old friends, chatting with LOWDPOA directors and staff, and gathering info on living green at the lake from the LOWDPOA environmental exhibit.
Boreal Architecture Studio was one of more than 55 Kenora businesses that traveled to Winnipeg to participate in the show. Photo: Tom Thomson
A huge effort on the part of many goes into this annual event and each individual, organization and business involved shares the credit for its success. It is the support of LOWDPOA members, Lake of the Woods area businesses, service providers and municipalities who make an effort to attend and exhibit during the Cottage Show that make the event what it is. Collectively, we are able to bring Lake of the Woods and Kenora to Winnipeg for the day to welcome back our summer residents and visitors. Feedback from attendees and exhibitors, gathered in conversation and from dozens of evaluations, was overwhelmingly positive and also provided some creative ideas and suggestions for next year. If we measure the day by that feedback, the flow of people and the smiles on the faces of visitors and exhibitors alike, it was a great day – one that we are going to build on to make next year even better. Broad range of products and services. Pictured here - Mosquito Buzz. Photo: Tom Thomson
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Members - Need to Know 13
2016 Financial Summary
Lake of the Woods District Property Owners' Association Summary - 2016 Financial Statements & Budget 2017
Revenue Expenditures Excess of Revenue over Expenditures STATEMENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES Revenues Membership fees Membership contributions Annual meeting and cottage show Royalties Seedlings Potted pines 50th Anniversay Other Interest Canada Summer Jobs Subsidy Grants LakeSmart program sponsorships Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations Expenditures Operations Communication and education Environment Government affairs Membership Annual meeting and cottage show Potted white pines Children's Programming Summer Meeting 50th Anniversary Seedlings Excess of Revenue over Expenditure
Budget 2017 $212,200 203,040
2016 $194,887 195,507
2015 $199,457 201,904
$9,160
$(620)
$(2,447)
Budget 2017 $138,600 30,000 24,000 4,000 1,600 $198,200 2,000 12,000 -
2016 $134,688 7,157 2,064 24,000 5,056 956 396 1,968 1,878 $178,163 3,724
2015 $144,931 4,573 26,586 4,727 1,114 654 1,592 1,640 $185,817 2,640 11,000 -
12,500 500
$212,200
$194,887
$199,457
Budget 2017 $137,440 3,850 15,650 200 14,000 28,000 400 3,500 $203,040
2016 $157,074 1,840 10,376 105 13,061 7,384 490 565 4,612 $195,507
2015 $135,826 4,055 14,830 143 11,352 27,052 770 1,253 474 2,801 3,348 $201,904
$9,160
$(620)
$(2,447)
2016 $111,937 154,427 5,971 $272,335
2015 $109,419 152,604 8,186 5,416 $275,625
$7,991 105,029 113,020
$9,738 105,952 115,690
73,228 46,736 49,094 169,058 (9,743)
80,000 45,216 43,457 168,673 (8,738)
159,315 $272,335
159,935 $275,625
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION Assets Cash Marketable securities Accounts receivable Inventory Prepaid expenses Liabilities and Net Assets Accounts payable Deferred revenue Net Assets Operating Reserve Environment Fund - restricted Tax Fund - restricted Unrestricted
For a copy of the 2016 financial statements email diane@lowdpoa.com or call 807-543-4287.
We are pleased to present our 2016 year-end financial statements and 2017 budget. The Executive Director and Board of Directors successfully managed through significant change with the association in 2016, ending the year with a modest deficit. We appreciate the ongoing contributions of our members who support the organization through their membership and additional contributions to the environment and taxation funds. These additional contributions will be used to fund future tax or environmental projects that support the LOWDPOA vision. It is with great appreciation that we acknowledge the support of several partners and sponsors, including the City of Kenora, Copperfin Credit Union, the Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations, Gardewine, Garriock Insurance, the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, Nature Conservancy, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Ontario Power Generation, Qualico and Woodlake Marine. Thanks to all of these organizations for their contributions that enable us to provide programs including the very popular LakeSmart program to our members. While we ended 2016 reporting a small deficit, we were successful in achieving results better than budget. The deficit was due primarily to falling short of our 2016 membership revenue targets, incurring some unusual expenses related to our publishing transition and an HST audit. However, throughout 2016, we managed our operating expenses closely while continuing to provide key programs to our members. The 2017 budget assumes a more conservative approach when forecasting revenues. With the audit and transition now complete, we are well positioned to capitalize on the new Board strategies to enhance the Association going forward. Thank you for your continued support. Christine Semenchuk, Secretary Treasurer, LOWDPOA
14 14 Members - Need to Know L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Mark Your Calendars It’s looking like a busy summer for LOWDPOA with a mix of fun and informative events for members already scheduled. But there’s more to come as we are working on a fun-filled LOWDKids day with Green Adventures and SportChek , so stay tuned!
July
1
July 5 Aug 30
July
10
10 am - 4 pm
LakeSmart Team & LOWDPOA at Canada Day Farmers’ Market, Whitecap Pavilion, Kenora
Aug
6
Aug
12
1 p.m.
LOWDPOA Summer Meeting at the Lake
Lake of the Woods Museum Annex (red brick building adjacent to main building), 300 Main Street South, Kenora Catch up on LOWDPOA business over the past year, meet your LakeSmart Team and learn about plans going forward.
LakeSmart Team & LOWDPOA at Harbourfest Market, Kenora Harbourfront 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
FREE Metal Waste Collection Day
Pye’s Landing, Clearwater Bay Open to everyone. Get all the metal junk out of your yard, shed, garage and surrounding bush. Drop off by truck or by boat. Volunteers will be available to help unload. Drop off your junk & have some lunch. Rotary Splash Park Charity BBQ
Every Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
LakeSmart Team & LOWDPOA at Matiowski Farmers’ Market, Whitecap Pavilion, Kenora
14
Aug
17
Full day visit to IISD-Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) Pre-registration required; Discounted cost for LOWDPOA members
For more information on all LOWDPOA events contact Linda at 807-468-8715 or linda@lowdpoa.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Check lowdpoa.com for updates and new events.
Enjoy a special presentation by the Experimental Lakes (IISD-ELA) to bring us up to date on their current state of affairs and their incredible work. Immediately following the meeting, the Lake of the Woods Museum has invited all members in attendance to tour the Museum as their guests. RSVP not required, but we’d love to know if you are planning to attend info@lowdpoa.com | 807-468-8715
July
27
Full day visit to IISD-Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) Pre-registration required; Discounted cost for LOWDPOA members
Hands-on netting activity at IISD-Experimental Lakes. Photo supplied by IISD-ELA
You're invited!
10,000 lbs collected
suMMEr MEETin
last year & we’re out to beat our record!
g
When: Monday, Ju ly 10th 1:00 p.m. Where: Lake of th
FrEE METAL WAsTE coLLEcTion DAy saturday, August 12 - 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
goT JunK? This is ThE DAy To cLEAn iT uP! LOWDPOA is giving you the chance to get rid of that old bedspring, burn barrel and any other metal waste you’ve been meaning to recycle. Just load it up and bring it down to the Pye’s Landing docks—by truck or by boat—and drop it off for FREE!
DroP oFF your JunK & hAVE soME Lunch!
contact: info@lowdp oa.com
charity bbQ from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Help support the Kenora Rotary Club raise funds for their Splash Park project.
ELA Tours
JuLy 27 & AugusT 17 IISD Experimental Lakes Area is one of the world's most influential freshwater research facilities. Come take part in hands-on testing and learn about the importance of freshwater science for sustainable development. cost: $25 for LOWDPOA members; $30 for non-members registration Details below. Meet in Kenora at 8 a.m., return by approx. 5 p.m. Tour is on – rain or shine. Appropriate footwear and clothing recommended. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
e Woods Museum Annex (red brick building adjacent to main bu ilding) 300 Main St. S., Ke nora Catch up on LOW DP year, meet your La OA business over the past ke about plans going Smart Team and learn forward. Enjoy a special pr esentation by the Experimental Lake s (IISD-ELA) to br ing us up to date on their cu rrent state of affai rs and their incredible work. Immediately follo wing the Woods Museum the meeting, the Lake of has invited all mem attendance to tour bers in the Museum as th eir guests. RSVP not require d, but we’d love to know if you are planning to attend. | 807-468-8715
your day tour of the iisD-ELA facility includes: • Transportation to Experimental Lakes Area (details provided with registration confirmation) • A welcome presentation that gives an overview of the history of IISD-ELA and ELA science • A tour of the facilities and closest research lakes including: discussions of standard water flow, quality and fish sampling; tours of the chemistry and fish labs; a tour of the Environment Canada metrological station; a hands-on netting activity to collect small fish or zooplankton. • Lunch at the beach in the camp recreational area. Please pack your own lunch. We ask that you help to reduce waste by packing your lunch as waste-free as possible. • A visit to the ongoing whole-ecosystem experiment in which scientists have reduced water flowing into a lake to mimic drier conditions expected in the Canadian Boreal Shield due to climate change.
rEgisTEr by MAiL, PhonE or scAn & EMAiL PO Box 1160, Kenora ON, P9N 3X7 | Toll Free: 1-888-265-9784 | Phone: 807-468-8715 | linda@lowdpoa.com
rEgisTrATion DETAiLs July 27
August 17
Member
Non-Member
Name: Mailing Address: City: Home Ph: Email:
PAyMEnT inForMATion Total amount:
# of Attendees
Cheque (payable to LOWDPOA) VISA/Mastercard
Prov/State:
PC/Zip: Cottage Ph:
Attendees under 18 will be accompanied by an adult.
Card number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Expiry date: _ _ / _ _ Signature: Please email updates on LOWDKids events & registration
16 16 Members - Need to Know L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
16
What’s happening on your lake? There are a number of lake associations around the area and your LOWDPOA board and staff are only familiar with some of them. We know that a lot goes on within each lake community and would like to hear about your association, keep up-to-date on and promote your activities, and participate whenever possible. Share your event notices, news and activities with us, and take advantage of the network we reach with the Lake of the Woods Area News, our e-News bulletins, website, Facebook page and even Twitter. We can share your website and Facebook posts or we can take updates you email to us and post them directly.
LOWDPOA members have proudly planted more than 300,000 tree seedlings over the years. This year almost 10,000 more will be planted. To all of you who have purchased and planted seedlings - thank you! If you missed out this year, there’s always next year!
LAKE LIFE
Get started and contact Diane Schwartz-Williams at 807-543-4287 or diane@lowdpoa.com
Black Sturgeon Lakes Property Owners Association Annual General Meeting
Saturday, June 24, 2017 - 9:30 a.m. Super 8 - 240 Lakeview Drive, Kenora. For more info: blacksturgeonlakepoa.com
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Members - Need to Know 17 Coming to a Shoreline Near You We are gearing up for LakeSmart 2017 and our seventh season on the water. LakeSmart is a community outreach program unique to our area. It is designed to offer information to shoreline residents and anyone who enjoys the lakes and environment on ways that they can live and play green at the lake. The program core is the provision of information on shoreline buffer zones, reducing run-off, using eco-friendly cleaning products, safe boating, and preventing the spread of invasive species. This year we are adding a new component and educating members on septic and waste disposal systems. In the six years that LakeSmart has been on the water, we have reached thousands of people with our environmentally-friendly messaging. Lake of the Woods alone has over 105,000 kilometres of shoreline, and this summer our team will again be travelling dock-to-dock along its shoreline with island stops as well. The LakeSmart team will also be visiting waterfront properties on many of the smaller lakes in the district, often in conjunction with their respective association events. Look for them at local area events such as Matiowski Farmers’ Market, Canada Day, and Harbourfest, in Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, at the annual Regatta weekend at Lac Lu, and maybe even at your lake or event. We are open to all invitations! We had a great LakeSmart team last year, but they have completed their studies and moved on to full-time employment which opened up an opportunity for a unique and appealing summer job for a brand new team. We are excited about introducing you to Krista Robertson, Reed Cuperiro and Kylee Neniska and hope you get to meet them this summer on the lake, at your dock, at the Farmers’ Market or at another event. (Check out our Team page at lowdpoa.com to learn a little more about them.) Our LakeSmart program and Invasive Species Outreach is only possible through the support from LOWDPOA member donations to the Environment fund and our generous sponsors (confirmed at press time): Woodlake Marine, Ontario Federation
of Anglers and Hunters’ Invading Species Awareness Program, Q104 KenoraOnline and KenoraLive, Copperfin Credit Union, Cabin Country Realty, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, Garriock Insurance, St. John Ambulance, Talbot Marketing Kenora, FOC, LOW Septic Barge and the City of Kenora. Our LakeSmart Ambassadors, Krista, Reed and Kylee, will be out on the lakes and at area events from July 1 until August 19. Representing LOWDPOA, they will be spreading the word about being more sustainable in our stewardship of land and water and sharing practical knowledge that leads to a healthier lake ecosystem. Watch for the LakeSmart boat on the water or the team at events and be sure to say hello.
Interested in having the team visit your property, attend your event or visit your lake? Visits can be scheduled by calling (807) 468-8715 or through info@lowdpoa.com (even if you are not a member of LOWDPOA).
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Stay connected:
Share your passion for lake life by joining LOWDPOA today!
Membership is open to residents, cottagers and vacationers - anyone with an interest in this area’s environmental prosperity.
Stay informed with info on topics important to you: healthy shorelines, septic systems, water levels and more Lake of the Woods Area News magazine: 5 issues/year mailed to you and digital editions online
LOWDPOA - focused on member concerns for over 50 years:
eNews Bulletins for news and info between magazine issues Annual Cottage Show in Winnipeg; over 80 exhibitors Arrange a visit from our LakeSmart team
• Environmental impacts to water quality, fish and wildlife habitat • Property values & fair taxation • Land use & development • Supporting our vibrant communities
Plant red pine seedlings at a special member only price Free Metal Waste Collection Day Summer programs and informative seminars Staff and Directors ready to answer your questions
Join the more than 3 000 members of the Lake of the Woods District
Property Owners Association, the largest organization of its kind in Ontario, and a powerful force in sustaining our watershed
Add your voice to help preserve one of the most beautiful places on earth. (807) 468-8715
info@lowdpoa.com
lowdpoa.com
@lowdpoa
DON’T MISS THE NEXT FOUR ISSUES OF AREA NEWS!NEW DON’T MISS THE NEXT FOUR ISSUES OF AREA ONLINE: Visit lowdpoa.com/membership ONLINE: Visit lowdpoa.com/membership PHONE: 1-888-265-9784 or (807) 468-8715 PHONE: orwith (807)cheque 468-8715 MAIL: Fill out1-888-265-9784 this form and mail to:
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LOWDPOA, Box 1160, Kenora, ON P9N 3X7 YOUR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
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Name: YOUR
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Home Ph: Email:
Membership 1 Year $42 (CAD or USD)
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1 Year 2 Years $84 (CAD or $42 USD)(CAD or USD) 2 Years $84 (CAD or USD)
PAYMENT INFORMATION Cheque (payable to LOWDPOA) PAYMENT INFORMATION
Mailing Address: Name: City:
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VISA/Mastercard Cheque (payable to LOWDPOA) Prov/State:
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Members - Need to Know 19
Digital Editions FREE r ou with y POA LOWD rship e memb
Read Area News wherever you are! Access this issue with live weblinks as well as all previous issues since 2016.
Visit lowdpoa.com
Can't log in? Contact LOWDPOA at (807) 468-8715.
Login Online! Sign up for eNews Keep up to date on LOWDPOA news & events There’s always plenty going on with your Association and sometimes getting updates and info out to you in a timely manner does not fit into our Area News publishing schedule. That’s where LOWDPOA’s eNews fills the gap. Our eNews is sent periodically (but not too often) and includes breaking news that may be time sensitive, important reminders, event updates, and useful links.
To sign up for eNews: • Email linda@lowdpoa.com • Call 807-468-8715 • Login & update your online profile at lowdpoa.com
LOWDPOA website updates We are continually updating our website with great resources. Access links to resources such as Transport Canada - Boating Safety, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Rainy Lake of the Woods Watershed and much more. LOWDkids is back online. Visit lowdkids.ca for kid-friendly activities, resources and educational bits.
We always enjoy your phone calls, emails and letters; and now our member online community gives you one more way to stay informed, up-to-date and: • access your member profile • renew your membership • register for events • order seedlings • purchase a gift membership • read Area News anywhere
Prefer to try it on your own?
• Go to lowdpoa.com • Click on login • Enter your email and click on ‘forgot password’ • Check your inbox and you’ll be on your way.
Contact us:
• if your email address is not recognized • if you're unsure about the process • to ensure we have your current email address on file • if you need assistance to get started
Linda Biggar linda@lowdpoa.com | 807-468-8715
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
20 Members - Need to Know
What’s in a Name? by Robert Bulman
At the 2017 LOWDPOA Annual General Meeting, Robert Bulman, Past President and Nominating Chair for LOWDPOA, presented an idea regarding a name change for LOWDPOA. Here is a transcript of his speech for all association members to consider. The Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association was established by cottage and property owners on Lake of the Woods and surrounding lakes and rivers. While the main constituency of the association is and always will be property owners, our vision and mission appeals to an audience that is much broader than that and includes children and grandchildren of property owners, individuals and families who simply love Lake of the Woods but don’t own property, boat owners, canoeists, campers, and so on. While there are issues such as hydro rates and taxation that are very property owner centric, others such as environmental issues, lake use concerns, the Energy East Pipeline, and ELA are all important to this larger constituency. I only became a member of LOWDPOA when I was 50 and only then when I was told you didn’t have to be a property owner in order to become a member of the association. My parents were property owners and members, but the opportunity for me to become a property owner only happened when I was closing in on 60. With the average age of our LOWDPOA membership sitting at about 65 years old, there are two or three generations of cottagers who are not yet “property owners” but who love the lake and want to preserve it for future generations. Although we have always welcomed these “non” property owners into this association our association name does not suggest this. While there is history in the name and what the association has accomplished over the past 50 years, should we be considering a name that speaks to this larger constituency without diluting the work that the association does for property owners? That is why today, we would like to throw an idea out to you and get your reaction by show of hands; a straw poll of sorts. The question I have for you is whether you think it is time to change our name that is more reflective of the families and individuals who share our vision and love of the lake? To in essence have a name that is more inclusive. Robert Bulman, Past President of LOWDPOA talks name change to LOWDPOA members at AGM. Photo credit: Tom Thomson
I should note that we will be polling our membership on this question, but we first wanted to at least get a sense from the people in this room on your thoughts. Now before I ask you to raise your hands, you may be thinking, what name would it change to? This is totally up in the air and we don’t want to pursue this until we know from our membership whether you support the idea or not. A couple of ideas could be the Lake of the Woods Area Association or the Lake of the Woods District Association. Determining what the name could be would be the next step in the process assuming we want to move ahead with a name change. So, those who believe it is time for a name change to be more reflective of the families and individuals who share our vision and love of the lake, please raise your hands? And those who believe we should stay the course and keep our existing name that we have carried for the past 50 years? Based on the straw poll vote at the 2017 Annual Meeting, approximately 97% of the 100 people in attendance supported the idea of changing the name. Based on this response the LOWDPOA board will take this idea to the membership to determine the overall level of support and to test various name options. So what are the next steps? Now we are taking the questions asked at the AGM, reaching out to all LOWDPOA members through the Area News magazine you are reading today, soon to our website and Facebook page with plans for a member survey under development. Let us know what you think. Do you believe it is time for a name change to be more reflective of the families and individuals who share our vision and love of the lake? Or do you feel we should stay the course and keep our existing name that we have carried for the past 50 years? If you are in favour of a name change and have a suggestion or two you are willing to share, please let us know. Contact us at info@lowdpoa.com, message us at facebook.com/lowdpoa, or write to us at: P.O. Box 1160, Kenora, ON, P9N 3X7
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
22 News & Notes Coney Island’s New Dock By Elsie Neufeld Coney Island has a new dock to accommodate the M.S. Kenora. With funding from FedNor, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and the City of Kenora, the dock was constructed this past winter at a cost of $251,000. The project had been on the City’s to-do list for a couple of years, but one thing or another got in the way, until last summer when the project to design and build the dock went to tender. DTL Carpentry was the winning contractor. The existing dock was in bad shape. The east end of it was about two feet lower than the west end, and the dock was considered unsafe. “The rumour was that the crib had started to deteriorate,” said James Tkachyk, who took on the project when he became the parks and facilities director last year. Upon reviewing the parks and recreation files, he found that the rumour was fact. A disc with underwater images from a sewer and water inspection conducted years before showed the crib disintegrating. DTL Carpentry repaired and enhanced the crib, bringing in 3,000 pounds of rock to shore it up to withstand the force of the MS Kenora’s mass. Accommodating the tour boat was one of the conditions of funding from FedNor.
The new dock and covered seating area on Coney Island. Photo: DTL Carpentry
“I was very conscious of the special culture of Coney Island,” he said. During construction, the local residents kept an eye on the project. “The people who came by loved it,” he said. “There was no negative feedback.” How well the dock handles the large tour boat in practice was tested during docking trials in May and June. Owner of the M.S. Kenora says, “I think [the new dock] is great and we are looking forward to using it regularly,” Luby says. The trials helped determine what ramps or platforms are needed to embark and debark passengers. During July and August, the boat will run daily to Coney Island with one early afternoon trip to the island and one later afternoon trip back to the mainland. Luby said there are many Coney Island functions, like weddings, that will be easier to organize with the M.S. Kenora able to shuttle guests en mass instead of multiple trips by water taxi. As well, the M.S. Kenora offers a sheltered ride in inclement weather.
Once a firm foundation was completed, the new T-shaped dock was constructed of timber frame, keeping the traditional look associated with Coney Island. It included a 23 m (76 ft.) by 61 m (20 ft.) shaded seating area for waiting passengers. In designing the dock, Doug LeBlanc, owner of DTL Carpentry, wanted to meet the new requirements, but keep some of the Coney Island tradition in the design.
The new dock opens up many opportunities for Kenora and Coney Island residents and visitors alike.
RECREATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 100 Main St. S. Kenora, ON Tel: 807-468-7892
Email: shane@pearce-law.ca Fax: 807-468-7503
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
News & Notes 23
Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) changes By: Terry Rees, Executive Director, FOCA May 2017 – The Ontario Government is proposing significant changes to the way land use planning decisions are made in Ontario. The Government will introduce legislation that, if passed, will establish a new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal to replace the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The proposed changes include some significant changes for members who may be involved in land use planning appeals. These changes include: • Amending the Planning Act to eliminate “de novo” hearings. OMB hearings are currently based on “de novo” hearings – meaning that OMB hearings currently start as if no decision has been made by a Local Municipal Council; this would change under the new legislation. • The new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal would only have the authority to “overturn a municipal decision if it does not follow provincial policies or municipal plans.” Currently the OMB is permitted to overturn a municipal decision if it finds the municipality did not reach the “best” planning decision. • The new tribunal would be required to return an overturned decision to the Municipality with written reasons for the decision, with the Municipality having 90 days to make a new decision. The Tribunal’s decision would only be a final decision if the Municipality again fails to follow provincial policies or municipal plans. Currently decisions of the OMB replace decisions made by Municipalities. • The new legislation hopes to reduce the cost of hearings by providing “modern” case management powers to encourage case management. New rules around hearings and evidence will also be introduced. • Creation of a free legal and planning support centre to provide guidance to citizens on the tribunal process and provide free and independent advice to Ontarians on land use planning appeals. • The new legislation will also include larger exemptions from appeal to municipal plans including provincial approvals of official plans and official plan updates.
www.foca.on.ca www.facebook.com/foca.on.ca twitter.com/foca_info
What this means to you FOCA [and LOWDPOA] members should understand how local planning decisions are made as these decisions have significance for our lakes and our properties. Decisions made at the local municipal level will now have greater impact than under the current system as decisions are not going to be as easily appealed (although appealing under the OMB does take resources that are not always available, the option to appeal currently does exist). Under the proposed changes the option to appeal planning decisions will be reduced. This could be both positive and negative for our members depending on the local decision made. We do know that it will become increasingly important for our members to ensure that they participate in the local planning decision making process, including providing input into the Official Planning process, and most importantly, becoming involved in the municipal election process. More information from the Ontario government about the proposed OMB changes can be found at: https://news. ontario.ca/mma/en/2017/05/giving-communities-a-strongervoice-in-development.html
The planned changes to OMB were announced just prior to our editorial deadline with many details yet to be confirmed and a number of questions to be answered. What is not clear at this point is how this change will impact OMB hearings presently in process or about to begin such as the OMB Hearing on the Proposed Plan of Condominium (Minaki on the River) scheduled to begin in Kenora on July 17. How the changes will affect the process in unincorporated areas has not been specifically addressed either. LOWDPOA is working closely with FOCA and other partners to stay on top of the changes and how they will affect our members. Updates will be posted on our Facebook page, website and on Twitter as available.
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
24 News & Notes Burn Study Kurtis Ulrich is a graduate student at the Natural Resource Institute at the University of Manitoba. Ulrich is currently conducting a study of islands within the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve which had prescribed burns conducted from 2012 to 2015. The islands in question are located 16-45 km to the south and south west of Kenora. The majority of the islands are north of the Aulneau Peninsula, east of the Western Peninsula, and South of Shammis Island. Ulrich is looking for volunteer interviewees for his study. These volunteers would be individuals who have experience with these islands and who have observed them both before and after the prescribed burns took place. If you have experience with the islands in the conservation reserve on which prescribed burning took place, Ulrich would appreciate interviewing you. Participation in the study will include an interview that should take approximately 40 minutes. If you are interested in participating, you will receive further information about the study, your role as a participant, and a consent form. If interested, please contact Ulrich: Kurtis Ulrich | Masters Student - Natural Resources Institute 70 Dysart Rd., University of Manitoba, Wpg, MB R3N 2T2 (204) 612-6279 | ulrichk4@myumanitoba.ca
The Study Proposal The proposed research of this project will focus on the process of prescribed burning, what can be learned from its implementation, and its use in designing and managing a landscape, utilizing the conceptual framework of biocultural design. Essentially, this research project will attempt to learn from the outcomes of the recent prescribed burns conducted in the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve. The project will be informed by the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve Management Plan (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2006) and the Old Growth Policy for Ontario’s Crown Forests (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 2003). The research will consist of interviews with the OMNR staff who worked on the prescribed burn planning and implementation in order to explore the techniques involved with the prescribed burn process and how those techniques influence the outcomes of prescribed burns. Interviews will also be conducted with local community members, in order to explore the values that locals have in association with the islands on Lake of the Woods. Workshops will be facilitated between OMNR staff and representatives of the Lake of the Woods community in order to discuss how the outcomes achieved by prescribed burning may or may not be able to meet other values associated with the islands. This research will help to fulfill some of the Old Growth Policy’s requirement for public participation in resource management as well as provide information that can help to inform future planning decisions regarding prescribed burning in the area. Additionally, greater public awareness of the prescribed burn program will be achieved through the course of this research.
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
News & Notes 25
More than just another regatta 2017 Canada Summer Games offers Kenora the opportunity for a legacy event. | By Grace Protopappas
This summer Kenora will welcome the rest of Canada to Rabbit Lake as the Kenora Rowing Club plays host to the rowing events for the 2017 Canada Summer Games. “Rabbit Lake is one of the best 2,000 metre rowing venues in Canada,” said Hubert Mesman, Co-Chair of the 2017 Canada Summer Games Host Society. “I had the pleasure of attending the Northwestern International Regatta held at Rabbit Lake last summer. It was a great event and the competitors and officials from western Canada and the U.S. were super impressed with Kenora and the overall organization of the Regatta. So choosing Kenora was a no brainer.” The 2017 Canada Summer Games are being held in Winnipeg from July 28 to August 13. The rowing events will take place in Kenora over six days from July 30 to August 4. The competition will take place on Rabbit Lake, while the athletes will be housed at St. Thomas Aquinas and Beaver Brae schools. Mesman added that in April members of the mission staff and senior officials toured the competition venues for the Games and were very encouraged with what they saw in Kenora. “The Club member support has been terrific. As a Host Society we are focused on creating an athlete-centred experience for all the participants. The Organizing Committee in Kenora embraced this and I'm confident that the rowing teams from across Canada are going to have a superb experience,” he added. A big part of hosting the national event will be a focus on the legacy it will create for the Kenora Rowing Club. When President and CEO of the 2017 Canada Summer Games, Jeff Hnatiuk, met with organizers in September of 2015, he challenged them to see the event as an economic and social driver. Mesman said Kenora has taken full advantage of this.
“There will be significant capital investments at Rabbit Lake in rowing equipment, docks, boats, and buoys. These upgrades will strengthen the club’s capabilities to host future major events. Equally and perhaps even more important are the human legacies. The host volunteer group in Kenora is a committed and skilled team who will serve the community well in all kinds of volunteer capacities. This will serve Kenora well when bidding for future events,” stated Mesman. Well aligned with the priority it places on tourism, the City of Kenora is hoping to capitalize on what will be a busy long weekend with both the Games and Harbourfest taking place. Mesman, who is a Lake of the Woods summer resident, concluded that this is an excellent opportunity for the area. “Lake of the Woods is unparalleled and when combined with Kenora’s redeveloped water front, cultural attractions, great events, diverse retail and restaurant options I'm really excited that Kenora is a major part of the Games. It’s going to be a blast,” he said. If you’re interested in getting close to the action, tickets for all events under the 2017 Canada Summer Games are on sale. You can find ticket information as Kenora Rowing Club well as general information about the Games at canadagames. ca/2017.
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
26 News & Notes Swimmer’s Itch This spring, we received an inquiry from a member asking about the prevalence, causes and treatments for swimmer’s itch, also called cercarial dermatitis. We contacted the Northwestern Health Unit and were told that swimmer’s itch isn’t a very common concern in our area. They did refer us to a couple of useful reference sites, though: www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/swimmers-itch www.cdc.gov/parasites/swimmersitch/faqs.html From the British Columbia government’s HealthLink website, here are a few answers to common questions about swimmer’s itch.
What is swimmer's itch? Swimmer's itch is a temporary, itchy rash caused by small worm-like parasites called schistosomes (shiss-toe-soams). Schistosomes spend their life cycle as parasites in the bodies of water snails and in the blood stream of aquatic mammals, ducks or other waterfowl. During their life cycle, schistosome larvae leave their snail host and swim near the surface of the water, looking for bird and mammal hosts.
How can I get swimmer’s itch? Sometimes larvae might mistakenly get on your skin if you are swimming or wading in water. The larvae burrow under your skin, however, they cannot survive in humans and will die almost immediately. It is the reaction to these tiny larvae under the skin that causes swimmer’s itch. Swimmer’s itch cannot be spread from person to person.
How can I avoid swimmer's itch? There is no sure way to avoid swimmer’s itch entirely, unless you avoid lakes, ponds, or beaches. However, there are certain precautions you can take: • Speak with other visitors to the area, local health officials, or parks representatives about the water condition before getting in any lake, pond or beach. • Check for warning signs at public beaches, lakes and picnic areas that state that swimmer’s itch may be present. Not all beaches have signage for swimmer’s itch. If you are unsure about the water, avoid areas with lots of weed growth. There may be more snails and larvae around plants. • Use a pier or dock to enter the water may help reduce your risk of exposure, as there tend to be more larvae near the shore. Make sure these structures are approved for swimming and do not dive into unknown waters. • Apply waterproof sunscreen before bathing. This may help reduce the number of larvae from penetrating your skin. • Dry yourself off with a towel as soon as you come out of the water. If possible, have a shower and dry off right away. However, showering will not remove any larvae that have already burrowed under your skin.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms can range from a mild irritation to a very severe, itchy red rash. Scratching can cause severe pain and swelling, or cause your skin to become infected. The severity of your symptoms will depend on how many larvae get on to your skin, and how sensitive you are to them. Symptoms tend to be worse after repeat exposure. As you start to dry off and the larvae start to burrow into your skin, you may feel a tingling sensation. Small, pin-sized red spots will appear, which grow into larger red rashes within several hours. As these red spots grow, the tingling feeling becomes a strong itch.
How long do the symptoms last? A rash may appear within 12 hours after infection. The reaction may last from 2 to 5 days and symptoms can last as long as 2 weeks. Repeat infections are usually worse because people become more sensitive to the larvae and develop stronger responses each time.
How do I treat swimmer's itch? There are a number of steps you can take that may reduce some of the itchiness. Check with your health care provider about what treatment is right for you.
Common treatments and advice include: • Apply plain calamine lotion. • Take antihistamines. For children, consult your health care provider such as your local pharmacist, family doctor. Antihistamines may make young children sleepy or may stimulate the nervous system causing hyperactivity. • Take shallow, lukewarm baths with 3 tablespoons of baking soda in the water. • Take colloidal oatmeal baths. • Apply cool compresses. • Avoid scratching. If you scratch too much the rash may become infected.
Is swimmer’s itch dangerous? The rash and itch can be very irritating, especially for young children, but there should not be any serious danger. However, if a skin infection occurs from too much scratching, you should see your health care provider.
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28 AUGUST
THAT’S GOING ON JULY
LakeRun: Weekly 5k Walk/Run Every Saturday 9:00 a.m. Husky the Muskie
Matiowski Farmers’ Market Every Wed. 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Whitecap Pavilion
Cemetery Tours Every Friday 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. $5 per person. Just show up!
LakeRun: Weekly 5k Walk/Run
106th Kenora Agricultural Fair
Every Saturday 9:00 a.m. Husky the Muskie
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Harbourfront Concert Series
Harbourfest
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LOWISA 52 Race Week
Oar & Paddle Exhibit
KBI: Kenora Bass International
July 1 - September 2 Lake of the Woods Museum
10-12 Whitecap Pavilion kbifishing.com
Canada Day Celebrations - 150th Birthday
Moose n’ Fiddle Festival
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Whitecap Pavilion
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Kenora Walleye Open
Rotary Lobsterfest
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Ontario Family Fishing Week
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Interdenominational Church Service 2
Whitecap Pavilion
Kenora Borealis Annual Triathlon/Duathlon 16
Rabbit Lake
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ArtsFest 28 29
Studio Tour Second Street Festival
Coney Island 9th ‘Maybe Annual’ Music Festival 30
Coney Island coneyislandmusicfestival.com Boat shuttles available from Harbourfront docks
Mather Walls House
SEPTEMBER LakeRun: Weekly 5k Walk/Run Every Saturday 9:00 a.m. Husky the Muskie
Lake of the Woods Aeromodelers Wheeled Fun Fly 3-4
Highway 17 East Airfield
Bassin’ for Bucks - Bass Tournament 8-10 Sioux Narrows bassinforbucks.com
Fat Sunday: Fat Bikes, Paddling, Concert & more 10
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Canada Summer Games - Rowing Competition
Along the Road to Freedom: Mennonite Women of Courage and Faith Exhibit
July 31 & August 1: 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. August 3 & 4: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Kenora Rowing Club, Rabbit Lake
Safe Communities Kenora - 5th Annual Family Safety Night
Sept. 19 - Nov. 10 Lake of the Woods Museum
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Whitecap Pavilion
Musky Challunge PLEASE NOTE: Event dates, times and details may change or be cancelled without notice. Please contact Tourism Kenora at (807) 467-4643 for up-to-date event information.
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32
Lake of the Woods Control Board By Matt DeWolfe
Many property owners along Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River have a keen interest in water levels. If you fall into that category, you are probably familiar with the informative columns on water levels in this magazine by Jack McKenzie. For years, Jack has played an important role in communicating information between LOWDPOA and the Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB). This article takes a closer look at the LWCB: how it came about, what it does, and the limits of its control.
The original Norman Dam under construction in the 1890s. The powerhouse was added in 1926.
Early History of Lake of the Woods Water Level Control
Water level management on Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River began in the late 19th century with the construction of several channels between the lake and the river in Keewatin for mills. The first power plant was constructed at the eastern outlet of Lake of the Woods in 1892 (site of the current Kenora Powerhouse, built in 1906), and, most importantly for Lake of the Woods water levels, the Rollerway Dam was built at the western outlet of Lake of the Woods in 1887. This outlet, which normally carries
three quarters of the flow from the lake to the river, was replaced by the original Norman Dam, about a mile downstream, in the 1890s. These structures allowed for the control of water flowing out of Lake of the Woods and into the Winnipeg River. As a result, the level of the lake rose by roughly 0.9 meters (3 feet).
1. Kenora Powerhouse at Eastern Outlet. 2. Norman Dam at Western Outlet. 3. Mink Creek outlet (very small flow) 4. Former Mill C Outlet, now filled 5. Former Mill A site, now filled.
Four of the twenty log sluices, left, at Norman Dam used to adjust flow out of Lake of the Woods into the Winnipeg River. The Norman Powerhouse, right, passes water through five hydroelectric turbines.
33 Establishment of the LWCB An International Decision
Control of lake levels led to frequent flooding of some shoreline areas around the lake, but also led to occasional issues with low levels for navigation. Complaints over the management of the lake levels led the governments of Canada and the United States to refer the issue of management to the International Joint Commission (IJC) for study and recommendations in 1912. The IJC was established by a 1909 Canada-USA treaty to prevent and resolve disputes over shared waters between the two countries, and the Lake of the Woods Reference was one of its first undertakings. The IJC conducted a comprehensive five-year study looking at water supply, agriculture, sewage disposal, electric power, fishing and navigation. The aim was to “secure the most advantageous use of the waters of Lake of the Woods and of the waters flowing into and from the lake on each side of the boundary…”. The IJC provided a number of recommendations to the two countries, including a range of acceptable lake levels and the establishment of two control boards. It recommended that a Canadian board be established to regulated the lake under normal lake level
conditions, but that an international board should also be created to review and approve decisions by the Canadian board when lake levels exceeded the acceptable level range. Based on these recommendations, the Canadian Lake of the Woods Control Board (LWCB) was established by the government of Canada in 1919, and the International Lake of the Woods Control Board (ILWCB) was established after the signing of a treaty between Canada and the Unites States in 1925. The Canadian LWCB was further confirmed by legislation by Canada (1921), Ontario (1922), and Manitoba (1958). The LWCB has four members, which are Governor-in-Council appointments. Two are made by Ontario and one each by Manitoba and Canada. Each member also has an alternate. The board members and alternates are all licensed water resource engineers. They fulfill the board’s duties in their professional capacity rather than on behalf of their employers.
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Mission & Guidelines
The LWCB’s mission is to regulate the water levels of Lake of the Woods and Lac Seul, and the flows in the Winnipeg River and English River downstream of these lakes to their junction (just upstream of the Ontario-Manitoba border) for the benefit of all users and interests, including those in Canada and the United States.
• All decisions consider, and attempt to balance, all interests in the basin. These interests include property interests along lakes and rivers, recreational uses (such as boating and fishing), fish and wildlife protection, tourist outfitters, wild rice, electric power production/consumption (both within and outside the basin), local industry (power and water quality concerns), and domestic water supply.
The control points used by the LWCB include the dams at Lake of the Woods and Lac Seul, the principal reservoirs in the system, as well as run-of-river (no reservoir) dams at Whitedog on the Winnipeg River, and Manitou Falls and Caribou Falls on the English River.
Seasonal Operating Strategies - The Lake of the Woods Secretariat
The LWCB’s jurisdiction includes Lac Seul, Lake of the Woods and the English and Winnipeg Rivers downstream of these lakes to their junction near the Ontario-Manitoba border.
In fulfilling this mission, the following guidelines are used: • All decisions are made in accordance with international treaty, Canadian federal and provincial legislation, and sound water management principles. • All decisions are based on the most recent and extensive data and information available at the time.
• When critical conditions exist for an interest, the LWCB may select the regulation strategy that best satisfies that interest.
To best address the interests in the watershed, the LWCB seeks input from First Nations, formally recognized specific interest groups (including LOWDPOA), and resource agencies from Ontario and Minnesota. It meets with these groups in the watershed several times a year to discuss conditions, forecasts, and water level preferences. Based on these discussions, the LWCB adopts an operating strategy for several months. Operating strategies define how the LWCB aims to respond to a range of inflow conditions, from very dry to very wet, should they develop. Implementing these seasonal regulation strategies is the job of the board’s full-time staff, the Lake of the Woods Secretariat. The Secretariat was established in 1981, and consists of four engineers and a computer programmer. Housed at the headquarters of the National Hydrological Services, a division of Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Secretariat carries out the day-to-day operations of the LWCB, including collection and review of extensive meteorological and water level data from across the Winnipeg River drainage basin, development of inflow and water level forecasts, and directing the dam operators to adjust the flow of water through their facilities in accordance with the LWCB’s strategy. The Secretariat updates the public on the latest water level and flow conditions through the LWCB’s website each working day, and is the main point of contact for the public.
Balancing Lake of the Woods and the Winnipeg River
The starting point for water level management on Lake of the Woods is the requirements of the treaty and legislation.
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35 Erosion at the south end of the lake in 2014 (Mike Hirst, Lake of the Woods Soil and Water Conservation District)
The Lake of the Woods operating range defined by CanadaUSA Treaty, and Canada, Ontario and Manitoba Legislation.
The normal operating range for the lake, a range of 5 ¼ ft, is defined by these (See figure). The LWCB is required to regulate lake levels to stay within this range. When lake levels are approaching the top of this range, the decisions of the LWCB must be approved by the ILWCB. Normally, this means releasing water from the lake as quickly as possible to avoid reaching the flood limit. Another key consideration in regulating the level of Lake of the Woods is the difference in the geographical character of the south end of the lake compared to the north. Unlike the hundreds of islands in the north, Big Traverse Bay provides a long, uninterrupted fetch for the development of large waves during windy conditions. Also, the southern shorelines consist of fine soils, not the rugged Canadian Shield of the north. These two qualities mean that the southern end of the lake is much more susceptible to erosion, particularly at higher water levels. The LWCB must also strike a balance between the lake and the river. Under normal flow conditions, this is reasonably
straightforward. As conditions become unusually dry or wet, it becomes more difficult. During dry conditions, for instance, reducing flow out of the lake to retain water results in lower river levels when conditions are already dry. In wet conditions, the opposite is often true: slowing the rate of lake level rise requires releasing more water into the river, often when it is already running high. Seasonally, other factors also come into consideration. During the spring, the LWCB normally aims to limit flow changes from Lake of the Woods that could harm spawning along the Winnipeg River. In the winter, large changes in lake outflow can cause ice damage to shoreline structures along the river, while maintaining minimum flows is important for hydropower both in Ontario and Manitoba. Finally, further downstream, in the Whiteshell region of Manitoba, the Winnipeg River combines the flows of the English River watershed and the Lake of the Woods watershed. The LWCB seeks to balance conditions here with upstream areas by adjusting the balance of flows out of both Lake of the Woods and Lac Seul.
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Limits on Control - Lake of the Woods
Water can be released out of Lake of the Woods into the Winnipeg River through turbines in the powerhouses at Kenora and Norman Generating Stations, as well as through 20 log sluices at Norman Dam. These are the tools for adjusting the level of Lake of the Woods. Although the ‘C’ in LWCB stands for Control, true control of lake levels is sometimes not possible due either to very dry or very wet conditions.
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Low flow into Lake of the Woods occurs during droughts and often in the autumn when evaporation tends to be greatest. Evaporation can be so great that, even if the dams were completely closed, there would be a loss of water each day as more water evaporates than flows into the lake. Practically speaking, the dams cannot be closed completely, as maintaining some flow into the Winnipeg River is necessary for a variety of interests. Under such conditions, the lake level will decline until flows into the lake rise again with more precipitation. During high flow periods, the lake level can rise even if the dams are fully open. This is because the natural channel at the Western outlet of the lake, upstream of Norman Dam, is not able to pass water fast enough to keep up with the rate of water entering the lake. Only the rising lake level results in more flow out of the lake, by providing more pressure to push water through this channel. There are some misconceptions that very high flows benefit hydropower production. In reality, power production is greatly reduced when the dam is fully opened. During the high water of 2014, no electricity was generated at Norman Dam for several weeks while the dam was fully open. Operating with such constraints is a challenge for the LWCB, one made more difficult by the lack of accurate precipitation forecasts beyond more than a few days. It addresses these limitations by providing a margin of safety for both high and low extremes in flow.
Limits on Control - Winnipeg River
Along the Winnipeg River in Ontario, water levels are affected by flows out of the dams in Kenora, as well as local runoff and the operation of the hydroelectric dam at Whitedog. This dam is operated as a run-of-river facility, generally passing water at the same rate that it arrives at the dam. The dam owner is required by the LWCB to adjust the river level upstream of the dam (known as the headpond) to allow for stable
The Kenora Powerhouse, at the Eastern Outlet, has ten turbines, but no sluices to release additional water
levels further upstream at Minaki. This is accomplished by temporarily increasing or decreasing flow to lower or raise this local headpond area. The Whitedog dam keeps the average water level at Minaki higher than it was naturally, but the range of water level fluctuations is much less. In fact, the water level at Minaki is the most stable of the areas under the LWCB’s jurisdiction. Eighty per cent of the time the water level is now within a range of about 0.3 m (1 ft) compared to a pre-dam range of 1.3 m (4.3 ft). This reduced range is due to the Whitedog dam maintaining very stable water levels when river flows are below 700 cubic meters per second (cms) (normal mid-June flow is about 425 cms). As the flow rises above 700 cms, however, lowering the headpond level at Whitedog no longer affects the level at Minaki, and the water level along the river from Kenora to Whitedog will continue to rise as flow increases.
Spill gates at the Whitedog Generating Station allow passage of Winnipeg River flows in excess of the turbine capacity.
More Information Online
The LWCB’s website, lwcb.ca, has much more information on these topics and the latest water level and flow information. Have questions or comments? Call the Secretariat at 1-800-661-5922. AN
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
38 Environment Climate Change at IISD-ELA:
What is happening to our fish? by Sumeep Bath, Media and Communications Officer, IISD Experimental Lakes Area
IISD Experimental Lakes Area researchers measure fish as part of their research into climate change. Photo by Lauren Hayhurst.
Take a look out of the window. It’s a pretty exciting time! The transition from spring to summer can be one of the most magical times of the year. We can look forward to basking in the sun, spending time by the lake, and making the most of the glorious summer months we are afforded in this beautiful part of the world. At times like these—when we are enjoying the sun—it is easy to forget the fact that, thanks to the intensifying effects of climate change, our weather has been changing over the last few decades, and confusing us in the process. This is affecting our resources, our fresh water lakes, as well as those who reside within. You will have read in the last edition of Area News that IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), thanks to its unique datasets and weather-monitoring program, has discovered some rather alarming changes to our lakes as a result of climate change. Focusing on the surface of the lakes themselves, we revealed that our air was getting warmer and that our lakes are getting less icy. In the second instalment of our series of articles on what IISD-ELA has discovered about the effects of climate change on our lakes, we are diving deeper into the lakes themselves, to meet some of the fish residents and learn how their lives have been affected by climate change.
One of the major findings of the last 50 years is that lake trout are getting squeezed into smaller habitats. The space within the lake in which lake trout can live successfully and healthily has been diminishing, ‘squeezing’ the lake trout into much smaller spots. This happens because the water above them is too hot for them to inhabit (see last issue’s article), and the water below has levels of dissolved oxygen that are too low for them to survive. They therefore live in an area in the middle of the lake that is getting progressively smaller. We anticipate that this will continue to happen. With increasing global temperatures, we can expect surface lake temperatures to increase as a result, which may start affecting the habitat available to lake trout. If these changes happen too quickly and the species is not able to adapt in time, it is likely that lake trout near the southern edge of their natural range will begin to disappear. Taking a closer look at the lake trout, we have also discovered that they themselves seem to be getting smaller. Our scientists have found that the average length of an adult lake trout (from its snout to the fork in its tail) has decreased since records began, all the way back in the 1970s. Can we attribute this to climate change? If so, how?
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Environment 39 Generally, one of the challenges in detecting the effects of climate change would lie in separating the effects of climate from other effects such as fishing pressure, changes in land use, or changes in industrial activity. Fortunately, IISD-ELA has been monitoring lake trout populations since the 1970s in several remote and pristine lakes with no fishing pressures.
We can therefore deduce that, in this region, climate change has increased the length of time that lake trout are stuck in the deeper parts of lakes, limiting their access to food in the shallow waters during the spring and fall. Such is the impact of this dislocation that the fish have actually gotten smaller over time. Do these changes confirm what you have been seeing? When fishing for lake trout, have you noticed that they have been getting smaller over the years?
IISD-ELA researchers analyze fish on the banks of Lake 239. Photo by Lauren Hayhurst.
Where is our climate heading, and what will it mean for our lakes and rivers (and how we enjoy them) over the coming decades? Be sure to look for our final instalment in this series in an upcoming issue of Lake of the Woods Area News. For more information about IISD Experimental Lakes Area, visit www. iisd.org/ela. AN
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
40 Environment
Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation Put a plan in place; ensure there's enough science and management expertise; unite and coordinate actions binationally—communities, researchers, policy makers. That’s our vision. We’re getting close. IJC Watershed Board presents 4th annual report
Foundation Executive Director, Todd Sellers and other members of the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board, presented the board’s annual report to the International Joint Commission (IJC) in Washington in early May.
The board welcomed two new board members Teika Newton, public member from the Kenora area and Shane Bowe as the alternate member representing the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. The board’s full report can be read at www.ijc.org/en_/RLWWB/Reports .
Our Watershed Coordinator – keeping us working together The foundation’s International Watershed Coordination Program (IWCP) continues to support binational coordination of research, management and citizen engagement for the Rainy-Lake of the Woods watershed. Kelli Saunders leads the program at the foundation, with the partner support of the International Joint Commission, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District.
The International Rainy Lake of the Woods Watershed Board appears before the International Joint Commission in Washington, D.C. on May 3, 2017.
The board’s report highlights conditions in the basin and the board’s activities during the past year. Key messages brought to the attention of the IJC, include: • Water quality continues to be a concern, with significant algae blooms in late summer last year that continued well on into November, although not reaching the severity of 2015. • Invasive species are an ongoing concern, although there were no new invasions during 2016. The distributions of established invasive species (e.g., spiny water flea and rusty crayfish) have not expanded. Zebra mussels, which are in a few lakes in the upper reaches of the watershed, have not spread and have not been reported in Lake of the Woods. • The board participated in a review of water quality objectives from coast to coast and intends to recommend revised water quality objectives for Lake of the Woods. • The board continues to be concerned about the need for integration of science between the two countries and that the science leads to actions, particularly the establishment of objectives and reduction targets for phosphorus to combat harmful algal blooms.
This spring, the program is rolling out outreach materials and programs to engage citizens in the stewardship activities underway in the Rainy-Lake of the Woods basin. Projects include: • Launch of a watershed website to showcase stewardship and restoration projects of partners working in the basin www.rainylakeofthewoods.org. • A storm drain stenciling project—engaging local schools, the Town of Fort Frances, Ontario and the City of International Falls, Minnesota in raising awareness of the importance of eliminating contaminants reaching Rainy River. • Expanding citizen engagement in water quality monitoring through the Ontario Lake Partner Program and Minnesota Citizen Lake Monitoring Program, particularly in areas of the watershed were there are currently few. • Distribution of stewardship education and outreach materials promoting awareness of the watershed, stewardship tips and information on issues such water quality and invasive species.
Minnesota to develop phosphorus targets
Minnesota’s phosphorus study for Lake of the Woods is nearing completion. Known as a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study, its goal is to identify phosphorus target reductions for point and non-point sources of pollution to
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Environment 41 bring the lake back within Minnesota waters quality standard for phosphorus. Minnesota is refining the pollution loading numbers used in its models for the Lake of the Woods and anticipates having a draft report with recommendations in the fall.
Environment Canada science underway
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is beginning its second field season on Lake of the Woods as part of its binational science plan. The main components are: • Enhanced monitoring to better understand nutrient sources and loads. • Development of models to understand the links between nutrients and algae blooms and to predict the response of the lake to nutrient reductions. • Development of satellite remote sensing tools to track and monitor the nature and extent of algae blooms across the vast area of the lake. ECCC will be installing a number of moorings in the lake with automated sampling gear collecting water quality information and recording current speeds and directions (see map).
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Location of six moorings in Lake of the Woods as well as the land-based meteorological station on Monkey Rocks. An additional buoy dedicated to support the satellite-based remote sensing work will be located in Big Traverse Bay.
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
42 Environment In addition, a buoy specifically designed to support the satellite-based remote sensing research will be deployed in Big Traverse Bay. These moorings will provide continuous optical and basic environmental data that will be used to assess the current conditions of the lake and ultimately help predict the response of the lake to changing environmental conditions. If you see these sampling stations in your travels this summer please stay away and do not disturb them—they’re collecting vital information! The ECCC team will be on the lake in June and September collecting additional samples at 28 stations around the entire lake. Samples will be analyzed for nutrients, major ions, and trace metals to add to the long term monitoring efforts by ECCC over the past 8 years. Chlorophyll a concentration, phytoplankton composition and toxin levels will supplement this data to help develop a better understanding of lake status and behaviour. Additionally, water samples will be analyzed for the presence of artificial sweeteners, which can be used as indicators of inputs from urban development. ECCC also monitors water chemistry in the Rainy River at four locations yearround, with samples collected by local residents in partnership with ECCC. The ECCC data will also contribute to Minnesota’s studies geared at setting nutrient targets for the U.S. portion of the lake, as part of binational efforts across the watershed.
ECCC Buoy collecting information for satellite remote sensing research (ECCC photo)
Many thanks to Veronique Hiriart-Baer, manager of the ECCC science program, for providing information for this update on the binational science plan underway. If you see the ECCC team on the lake or around town—give them a warm welcome!
Objectives for Lake of the Woods
Development of a sustainability plan for Lake of the Woods is the major goal of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation. An international nutrient management strategy to reduce harmful algae blooms will be a key component of the plan. Science is now underway in Canada and the United States that will provide the information needed to inform such a nutrient and algae strategy. But science is not an end unto itself—we need a binational commitment to do something with the science. Governments should commit to a water quality agreement that establishes objectives, targets and allocations for phosphorus and processes to achieve them along with review and reporting requirements. There is a model for this: Annex 4 (Nutrients) of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, most recently applied to Lake Erie. Lake of the Woods deserves no less.
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
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The fabled "Watch Bears" on station and on guard, ready to watch anything!
In early May 2007, Minnesota's second biggest wildfire swept through the “Arrowhead”, in the state's northeast corner, extending into adjacent Ontario. That area is just like the Lake of the Woods region – endless lakes, Canadian Shield granite and coniferous boreal forests. I am writing this on the wildfire's 10th anniversary. The Williams family have a small “cabin” there which survived, though our treasured ancient boathouse and Scandinavian hand-rosemalled outhouse did not. Each time we leave for home we leave our “Watch Bears” - a stuffed Mama Bear and Papa Bear in charge, seated in our comfy people chairs looking out over Sea Gull Lake. We believe they were at the same time terrified and amazed during and after the fire. Here's what we think they saw…
The beginning It all started with the phone call you dread. For those of us who weren't actually there, it's hard to fully imagine the magnitude and complexities of what really went on. We had planned to be there then, but delayed our trip north for a few days to recover from some minor ailment. Two days into the delay I got the call that said there was
fire in the area south of our cabin. It was pre-green up and a drier winter and earlier spring than anyone could remember. My heart started thumping like a grouse on a log in May. This was the worst, scariest news possible. Scouring the internet, I gradually pieced together the few tendrils of information available at that time. Official websites were useless – no info whatsoever – but news sources were slowly catching up. The next morning I searched again and found that yesterday's 1.5-mile wide fire had been allowed to burn westward toward Round Lake, with the thought that it would burn out as it hit lake water. Not so at all. That's when a “surprise” front with a very heavy south wind (gusts to 40+ mph) “appeared”, driving what was now an eight-mile wide fire front northward, right toward Sea Gull Lake and all our cabins.
What the Watch Bears must have seen as the wildfire approached.
On the web I found a phone number that the Cook County Sheriff's office had thoughtfully and mercifully provided for those of us with threatened homes, and who were needing updates. Late that afternoon I was actually on the line being briefed by a sympathetic deputy when someone in his room shouted, “the fire's on Fishhook!” I could hear it clearly, and, having spent six years there as director of Wilderness Canoe Base, I knew that if Fishhook Island was burning, then in a driving south wind all our cabins would be too. The fire burned at an alarming speed, through matchstick timber felled by an earlier blowdown, and right through three different large “prescribed burns” that had been lit in prior years to prevent just this situation from happening. Flaming tree parts were “spotting” up to three-quarters of a mile downwind – soaring high and then landing and setting fire to areas well before the main fire got there. “Balsam rockets” - trees whose sap boils in hot fire and the resulting steam blows the trees' flaming tops off and up – became airborne torches adding to ignition everywhere. As the actual fire crossed our small bay it was both a ground fire, incinerating all the duff and dried wood on the ground, and a crown fire, traveling from treetop to treetop and burning everything. With the strong wind, the smoke was reported to be horizontal. Planes and helicopters couldn't see the ground through it and they had a rugged time even just flying safely in the heavy, squirrely swirly winds. By everyone's admission, there was no stopping this fire.
Now about those “Watch Bears” Our cabin looks south and southwest over Sea Gull Lake. In our two padded comfy chairs we usually sit looking out the big window and watch the world and its critters go by – moose with calves, bears and cubs, deer, wolves, fox, chipmunks, etc. Every time we leave, we put a toy stuffed bear, Mama and Papa Bear (aka “The Watch Bears”), in each chair and their job is to look out for trouble and take care of the place until we return. Of course they were in place when the fire approached the cabin, coming up the lake's east shore and paralleling up Fishhook Island to basically surround the place. Unfortunately, there was nothing they themselves could do, but piecing various stories together after the fact, we believe they saw everything. On our land and the adjacent lot we had planted about 20,000 trees, all native and multi-cultural, over a 20-year period – white pine, red pine, white cedar, birch, mountain ash, serviceberry, etc. There were lots of jack pines too, left from the 1910 fire that had come up that east shore. Of all
those thousands of new and really old trees, the fire left only 17 alive. The rest burned and either died right away or within the year. The first miracle turned out to be that on May 5 (my birthday!) the frost was only about 2-3” out of the ground. So trees like birch, poplar and mountain ash simply regrew thereafter. Their aboveground parts had been reduced to ashes but the underground roots remained, shot out leaders and became new trees. Within three weeks of the fire, while EVERYTHING was still totally black, there were shoots of trees, bushes and plants coming up through the black, green as anything. The Watch Bears saw or heard nine of the eleven cabins on our shore burn to the ground. Propane tanks (grillsized and bigger ones for heating) exploded. Gas tanks and cans exploded. We found foot-long pieces of our neighbor's siding 300' into the bush. Our classic outhouse, lovingly rosemalled by expert hands decades ago, totally disappeared. Our ancient boathouse on the shore became two inches of fine ash, taking with it two Mad River canoes and our favorite wood-and-canvas Stewart River handmade canoe. That boathouse had three generations of fishing and cabin maintenance gear in it – old minnow traps, really old lake trout rods, my grandfather's lures and dry flies, knives made by a true craftsman from “file stock”. We also had a small aluminum boat and a Johnson 6; both vanished. We did find the warped steel shift rods from the motor, but the rest became rivers and lakes of melted aluminum and fell onto the rocks below. I still have a few on a bookshelf, along with the steel trout rod that bent in a complete circle in the heat. The only really recognizable item left was a small Weber charcoal grill, totally bent out of shape and useless but clearly designed to withstand more heat than anything else in the boathouse. The Watch Bears must have thought they were done for. In fact, I called the sheriff's office the next morning and they told me the shore had been surveyed and our cabin was gone. For eight hours I believed that to be true – a bad eight hours indeed. But then I got another call from a friend. He told me to look on the official fire website (there was one by then) and see if I recognized anything. I looked at their photo gallery of other people's disasters and there was a photo of our cabin – with the caption “partially damaged”. Someone else had seen the picture, called my friend asking if that was ours and, sure enough, it was. And the “damage” was an error. We were having a small deck added to one end of the building just then. It had uprights and joists but
CL-215 in mid-water drop.
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Three cabin sites - the thoroughness of fire!"
Is a Wildfire Possible Here?
It sure is! Here's what needs doing on your part: Find the "FireSmart" website https://www. firesmartcanada.ca and study their specific recommendations on how to protect your home and woods. "Defensible areas" really work. "Limbing up" tree branches really works. This is really important stuff! Decide now what you want to save besides the dog. Think about installing a propane-powered sprinkler system. Make sure you have good insurance against fire. Have: fire extinguishers, first aid kits, multiple hoses and faucets, smoke detectors, maybe a portable fire pump & gear, a grab bag of keys, clothes, food, water, maps. Have everyone agree on a post-fire meeting place. Make sure everyone has a vehicle or powered boat available to leave in a hurry if needed. Plan land and water escape routes.
The Ham Lake Fire (and 2 years later the Pagami Creek Fire) got away from U.S. and Minnesota fire experts who were using computer models from events 10 - 20 years ago to predict what these current fires would do. But the message we all need to grasp is that weather that was then will never necessarily be that way ever again, due to global warming. Just out: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its annual State of Global Climate report in May, noting a year of broken records and extreme weather events—climate change trends that are continuing into 2017. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/21032017/ climate-change-2016-world-meteorologicalorganization-arctic-weather
no decking, and whoever took the photo mistook that for a burned deck. When we were finally allowed to go there we found fire had burned right to and under the deck and back stairs and right to the foundation, but had not in fact burned the cabin.
How could that be? There was a tiny island of green left immediately around the cabin, and the cabin itself. For months we wondered how that could possibly be. Years before I had prepared a serious fire response and sprinkler system – hoses, couplings, sprinklers, etc. but they all depended on using our submersible drinking water pump. What I hadn't seen coming was that the first thing the fire folks did was cut off all electricity to all of the threatened area, so my water pump was useless, even if I had been there. A cabin two lots away had also been spared, and SeaGull Outfitters likewise. We wondered if the fire department's portable sprinkler system had played a part, but that was stoutly denied. We wondered if a water-bomber aircraft had hit these structures, but there was absolutely no sign of broken branches or other impact damage usually seen in water-bombings. We couldn't imagine! A couple of years later a fire squad friend told me he'd talked with a CL-215 pilot who had been on the Ham Lake fire. The pilot remembered seeing a slight gap in the smoke pall and bombing two cabins and the outfitter, all of which are in a straight line one after the other. Out-of-line intervening structures didn't make it. I thought we'd have to accept this as the real story, since nothing else made sense.
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Then, just last week, I opened my “Ham Lake Fire” file folder and saw a photo there I didn't remember. Someone else must have taken it before we were allowed to return to our cabins. It showed many dead jack pine branches clearly broken off tree trunks and lying all over the ground – the sure sign of a heavy water bomber hit. The branches were gone when I first got there, but this photo pretty well wraps up the theory.
And the people The Gunflint Trail fire department evacuated everyone who would leave in
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good time, though the late-leavers found their Macadam road (the only road out) on fire in a few places. Evacuees went to stay with friends or at the local Grand Marais churches, whose members did yeoman's service providing food, sleeping arrangements, spare clothing, necessities, etc. It was awesome – the way it SHOULD be! The “Gunflint GreenUp” idea was a masterstroke! Three weeks after the fire, the community had involved leaders and had come together to celebrate that there were no deaths or serious injuries and to begin restoration of our beloved woods. Word went out that we would plant seedlings in the burned areas. Several of us found sources for 6,000–10,000 seedlings, and folks flocked in from all over the state and some from much further away. Together we organized people, seedlings and planting tools, found endless volunteers to feed, house and celebrate with these wonderful new/old friends. Out of disaster we did what we could and it felt great. The next few Mays we did the same, one year planting 70,000 seedlings in just one day. Lots of kids helped plant trees. I believe that if a young person plants 30 seedlings they have a life-long ownership of the idea that trees and forest, and thus wild places, are valuable and important - a good thing for kids to learn in this increasingly urban and screen-oriented world.
20 days after the wildfire, look what has popped through the black ashes!
US Forest Service doling out wrapped ("jellyrolled") seedling bundles to Gunflint GreenUp volunteer planters My favorite story from GreenUp is the five-year old who got right down on the ground with every seedling. She planted with dirty fingers and thumbs, giving each one a serious pep talk in the process. “Now you hear me – I want you to grow! I want to see a big healthy tree when I come back. Now you get right to work!” And so on. I know where those trees are on the Round Lake road and they're fine! An event like this raises the awful issue of survivor's guilt. Yes, we were totally and undeservedly lucky not to lose the cabin. Almost all the folks on the shore that didn't have propane-powered sprinkler systems up and running did lose theirs. Ironically, the only sprinklered cabin that did burn (50 were saved) was perched on the top of a hill. One theory was that the wind was so strong that the sprinkler water did in fact come out, but that the wind blew it totally sideways and it never was able to form the “dome of humidity” from the ground up that a sprinkler system counts on to save a building – and often the nearby woods. To this day we still feel awful that we were the lucky ones, that it's not fair, that it shouldn't have happened that way, and we're so, so sorry. When they let us back in to the area, old friends from down the lake came to our road head. We walked in together, talking very quietly. A kind soul had put a flower basket on the trail's fire signs if a cabin there had been lost. We got to the neighbors’ place, now nothing but ashes, and all three of us cried. Their cabin had been hand-built by a couple
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long ago and had been someone's boyhood summer home. It was now completely gone. He had asked me by phone to rescue anything I could that might matter to them before the rains got them. I went over and started through the ashes, finding dishes totally shattered, heirloom cups and saucers broken in many places or powdering in my hand as I tried to pick them up. I piled up a few things, nothing intact or at all useful, and put them out of the weather for when the owners came up. An old, melted sewing machine comes to mind.
And, finally… Well, we have a new boathouse, but it isn't the same. The wonders of ages before ours are gone. It doesn't smell anywhere near as friendly or rich in lore and meaning. It holds new canoes and new paddles (my 40-year-old favorite Clement burned and they don't make them anymore). We have a new outhouse on the site of the old one, but it's clinical and sterile – does the job but has no “life”. I've never seen anything so thorough as fire. And this one was HOT. It got basically everything. The trees are back. I confess I took it personally when the ancient trees I had hoped to predecease had been taken from us and I would not live to see them old again. Right away, with friends, we planted about 3,000 seedlings in the blackened dirt – whites, reds, cedars, birches, etc. all over again. Planting in the burned woods was a truly filthy job. We designated planting clothes, worked in them as they turned black from tree and ground contact, took them off on the back porch and ran for the shower. The clothes went home in a tough plastic bag, but they never ever got clean even after many washings. The next miracle: the text books are right. Jack pines DO grow from seeds released by the heat from a fire. Everywhere the duff had been burned off the ground and mineral dirt showed through, we found little tiny puffballs that first October just all over the place. Took a while to figure out what they were, but they did look a lot like incipient pines and so we declared them to be. The next spring they grew like mad and were pines for sure. Where there was blackened nothing all summer of 2007, there are now endless jacks. The irony is that we have gone from a planting family to a cutting down family. There are two to five jacks per square foot out there, WAY too close to
What the WatchBears see now out the front window.
survive, much less thrive. Yes, some will off others, but serious thinning, especially in areas where we want fast and healthy growth, seems to really help. Mature tree trunks have to be anywhere from 12 to 30 feet apart – quite a change from two-to-five a square foot. We also have to release those non-jacks – cutting impeding growth back 3+ feet – so the multi-culture can assert itself without being drowned by just jacks. So ‘acutting’ we will go, for years and years! A few “snags” - the tall trunks and scraggly dead branches of former giants – still stand, waiting for the next big wind or ice storm to start becoming dirt again. The summer of the fire, when you looked down the lake, all you saw was black. Black trunks and branches. Black duff and dirt. Black soot covering all the rocks and cliffs. The next summer much of the black had washed away, and the far shores were the bright off-white of clean, unlichened granite. Gradually over these ten years more and more greenery has grown, so that today looking down the lake it greets you with almost solid green, with just a few granite areas showing through. It's not the same as the old days with the hundred footers dominating, but it is green, and that really helps. Our trees are now taller than we are, so walking around you see only green at eye level. I've decided that makes it a “forest” again. Hooray for that.
What else? Well, the take home lesson is that nothing is certain to come out the way we planned it. It's like travel – indeed life is a journey – you have to flex with the realities as they appear, because they are what's happening. Same with the fire: NOT what I had in mind, but some fine things have come out of it, just as some other fine things have been lost. There is now a proper sprinkler system in place. The Watch Bears have seen another foot and a half of growth for the new trees and have given us back our chairs for the summer. Overall, I don’t think they were W. Randall F. Seller, B.A., LL.B Stephen R. Lundin, B.A., LL.B as traumatized as I was, but I'm glad RSeller@HSLlaw.ca SLundin@HSLlaw.ca they're there, continually on the job. I Cheryl C. M. Siran, B.A. (ADV), LL.B really hope they don't see anything like CSiran@HSLlaw.ca that again, though between the blowdown and the fire debris clearly there is already Reid E. Thompson, B.A., LL.B Beth Allison White, B.H.Ec., LL.B RThompson@HSLlaw.ca BWhite@HSLlaw.ca enough fuel for another round. Let's hope for wet springs and early greenups. And Sayer S. Down, B.A. (Hons.), J.D. Kimberly P. Riediger, B.B.A., LL.B SDown@HSLlaw.ca KRiediger@HSLlaw.ca our undying thanks to all the friends and neighbours in our very long community Ph.: (807) 468-9831 • Fax: (807) 468-8384 who shared the pain and helped when Suite 204, Bannister Centre, 301 First Ave. S., Kenora, ON P9N 1W2 needed and made it all a very human and www.HSLlaw.ca rich experience of what folks can do with and for each other. AN PROVIDING SERVICES IN RECREATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
THE ISLAND SERIES - A MODERN EXPLORATION ...AN ARTISTIC TOUR DE FORCE
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Sunset, Lake of the Woods,1928, colour woodcut by W.J. Phillips
he idea behind the “Island Series“ originated when Lake of the Woods resident, Bill Mayberry, founder of Mayberry Fine Art, set out to locate and identify the island pictured in Walter Joseph Phillips’ iconic painting Sun- set, Lake of the Woods. Once he had discovered the location, Bill was amazed how the rock formations and surviving trees readily identified the island, some 90 years after Phillips created the painting in 1925.
N 49º 40’ 54.30”, W 94º 31’ 09.65”
L
Mayberry Fine Art founder, Bill Mayberry
Randolph Parker
ake of the Woods is known to have 14,000 such islands, each with a distinct character and topography. This concept captured Bill’s imagination and demanded exploration on an artistic level. There was never any doubt in his mind which artist would share his enthusiasm. He recruited friend, fellow explorer, and landscape painter extraor- dinaire, Randolph Parker. While noted artists of the past like Walter J. Phillips have painted outstanding works of the Lake, never before has an entire body of work been dedicated to this one subject on such a grand scale.
N 49º 41’ 40.94”, W 94º 30’ 46.77”
T
he significance of the Island Series can not be overstated. The ambitious five year project, now underway for the last three years, will have a dedicated website and a comprehensive book illustrating each work of art. The project promises to be a Tour de Force, resulting in 100 paintings spanning the enitre geography of the lake.
N 49º 27’ 56.97”, W 94º 33’ 50.92”
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he Island Series”, Randolph states, “is about connecting to a specific place, a place affected by its environment and the passage of time. It is essential to me that each painting strikes a balance between representing a particular location and epitomizing the highest artistic achievement.”
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50 50 Invasive Species L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
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Purple Loosestrife When previously working as an invasive species technician, I participated in a fair number of public events. Stationed at my booth with my educational materials on display, I talked to people who stopped and showed an interest in our programs. My favourite moment was when people saw the purple loosestrife brochures and said something like, “that never turned out to be as bad as everyone said it would be”, because that was my opportunity to educate them on the incredible success story of the purple loosestrife biological control program. First, let’s take a look at the plant itself. Purple loosestrife is a tall flowering plant that grows in marsh areas, wetlands and ditches. As gardeners say, it likes wet feet. So much so, in fact, that the roots can survive extended periods of being completely submerged in water. It is native to Europe and Asia. While there are not any confirmed records of its first introduction to North America, the belief is that it may have come via multiple introductions in the early 19th Century with settlers - for use in gardening, beekeeping, in feces or coats of farm animals, or as a seed contaminant in soil ballast before ships used water as ballast during ocean voyages. Once introduced to North America, it spread to become a dominant species in many wetlands in almost every province and U.S. state. The heaviest concentrations of invasion are in northeastern North America. Purple loosestrife stems can reach heights of up to two metres, but average 60-120 cm. The stems are woody, square and fuzzy, with the long, thin leaves directly opposite each other on the stems. Once purple loosestrife is introduced to an area, it begins to grow a large perennial taproot, from which up to 15 stems can emerge in the following years.
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Purple loosestrife produces purple flowers with five to seven petals that are arranged on a dense terminal spike. The stems die back each winter after the flowers produce seeds, and then new stems emerge from the same root each spring. It is further spread through the seeds or pieces of the taproot that have broken off, possibly to float to new areas downstream. Single plants can produce upwards of two million seeds, which can be more than all of the other seeds from native plants in the area combined. The seeds can remain dormant in the soil for several years until growing conditions are right for their development or until the soil is disturbed and they are brought closer to the soil surface. If there is sufficient water and sunlight, purple loosestrife will quickly take over and replace native species where it grows. Its growth rate is faster than native species, so it quickly will grow taller and shade them out. Combine the growth rate with the sheer quantity of seeds produced, and the takeover doesn’t take long. In some areas, the presence of purple loosestrife has reduced native species by more than 50 per cent. It quickly creates dense mats of vegetation, which change water levels, flood capacity, and while decomposing can create low oxygen environments where very few aquatic organisms can survive. The changes in water levels and dense vegetation may also impact amphibian habitat and nesting sites. There are nine species in Ontario that are listed as at-risk either directly or indirectly as a result of the impact of purple loosestrife. In the agricultural community, purple loosestrife can clog irrigation canals, and reduce valuable forage land in pastures. Some people notice that bees and butterflies
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Invasive Species 51 visit purple loosestrife plants; the plant is insect pollinated and that is how the seeds become viable. Beekeepers enjoy the taste that purple loosestrife lends to honey, and so may wish to keep some plants for that purpose. However, bees and insects are in the minority of species that find it beneficial. Muskrats, beaver and bird species such as the marsh wren prefer cattail marshes instead of purple loosestrife dominated areas. In the mid 1980s, the search for a biological control agent for purple loosestrife began. Bettle leaf damage (photo: Les Mehrhoff) When invasive species are introduced, it is often their lack of predators and climatic checks and balances that allow them to dominate the landscape. The goal of biological control is to find a host-specific predator, fungus or pathogen in their native range, and after extensive testing, to introduce it to provide some measure of control over the invasive species. While this method will never provide complete control or wipe out populations, there have been purple loosestrife population reductions of up to 90 per cent, allowing native species to grow alongside it in areas where the purple loosestrife once dominated the landscape. Clump of purple loosestrife plants (photo: Les Mehrhoff)
The process of finding a biological control agent begins in the home country of the invasive species. Scientists go there to seek out insects, fungi, or diseases that are host-specific, meaning they will live only on the targeted invasive species. The potential agents are immediately discarded if they are found to affect plants that may be related or similar to native plants or crop species in North America. Once those sole-host species are identified, they are further tested. This includes only offering them their non-host species, to see if they will starve before they eat something else.
In the case of purple loosestrife, the researchers started with 120 species and narrowed it down to four that could be released with little to no damage to any other plants. They included two species of beetle in the Neogalerucella family that solely eat the leaves and new growth of the purple loosestrife plant, a weevil that eats the flowers (not yet released), and another weevil that bores in to the roots. The Neogalerucella beetles eat the new shoots and leaves of purple loosestrife, restricting growth and therefore its ability to produce seeds. The flower-feeding weevil severely reduces seed production by feeding on flowers as they mature. The root-boring weevil lays its eggs in the roots of purple loosestrife, and when the larvae hatch they feed on the root tissue and cause the plant to weaken or die. These species can provide population control so that the purple loosestrife plants fit in to the ecosystem instead of taking over. One of the identifying features of purple loosestrife: the square stem (photo: Les Mehrhoff)
These species were first released in test plots before being more widely released in a 1992 Canada-United States coordinated release program. The most successful
Purple loosestrife plant (photo: iStock.com)
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agent proved to be the Neogalerucella species which provided an immediate reduction in the purple loosestrife population and subsequently dispersed to new purple loosestrife populations once they had outgrown their initial release areas. Currently, Ontario Beetles is the only company that raises and releases the beetles. The owner of that company has been involved in the program since the very first releases and was one of the researchers who identified this species as a potential biological control agent. As a side note, whenever people hear the words biological control, they normally get concerned because of highly publicized failures or other issues wrongly attributed to biological control programs. In reality, biological control in Canada and the U.S. is a tightly regulated practice that is not taken lightly. For purple loosestrife, the search for the biocontrol agents began in the 1980s, and at least five years of research on the beetles and weevils was done, with follow up research still being done to this day. Oftentimes, biological control is the last hope and most cost efficient option for invasive species that are widely distributed or present in large populations.
Prevent the spread of Purple Loosestrife and other invasive plants • Purple Loosestrife cultivars are still widely available for sale in garden centres. Do not purchase them, rather, plant similar species such as Blue Vervain that do not share its invasive tendencies. • Watch for it and learn what it looks like, and remove it as soon as you see it on your property. • Clean and remove mud from equipment such as ATV’s, trucks, bicycles, mowers and tools before moving them to new areas. • Report it! Visit www.eddmaps.org/ontario for more information.
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If you have purple loosestrife on your property: Check for beetle activity. Look for holes munched through the leaves, egg masses or larvae. You may even see the beetles themselves. They are very small (3-5 mm) and light brown. If you don’t see any beetle activity or if the population is small or new, you can attempt complete removal. If it is a large established area, the focus should be on removing outliers and preventing further spread. Plants can be pulled or dug up, but it must be ensured that every piece of the root is removed otherwise it will grow back. If there are seeds in the soil, they may be stimulated to grow by the disturbance of the soil, so monitoring control areas for new growth is essential. Pulled or dug plants should be placed in black garbage bags and left to “cook” in the sun before being disposed of. Never leave the pulled or dug stems on the ground or in your compost pile as that may spread the plant even further. AN
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Attention Gardeners:
Protect Your Turf from Invasive Species It pays for you to know the difference between native and non-native plants at the cottage. After all, if invasive plant species take root in your garden, they will attack and potentially ruin something you’ve no doubt worked very hard to build. Far from being good neighbours, they will be downright aggressive. In the absence of their natural predators or controls, invading species will outmuscle native plants, taking their resources and space. They may directly kill those species, introduce disease and/or hybridize with other plant species.
Threats: why controlling invasive species is important Invasive plants pose a serious threat to Ontario’s natural environment and our economy. In fact, every year invasive plants cost the agriculture and forest industries in Canada about $7.3 billion. They have been recognized by many agencies as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity – second only to habitat loss. And not only will your garden feel the pain, some of these species can be poisonous to people, causing rashes or burns. Compared to other provinces in Canada, Ontario has the highest number of invasive species. This is due to favourable environmental conditions, a high number of imports moving through, and its location; with four of the Great Lakes being part of the province, there are many ports of entry. So, controlling invasive plants is not an easy task and it can take many years to fully do away with many pesky invaders. This is a big problem, but not an unsolvable one. Anyone living in Ontario can and should aim to take a few simple actions on their own property to help control the spread of invasive plant species.
Tips on stopping the spread • Do not transplant species from natural areas into your garden. • Check the resources listed below to make sure you are purchasing only non-invasive plants. • Watch for invasive plants in your garden, especially along property lines, fence lines and trails. • If you find invasive plants in your garden, replace them with a native or non-invasive alternative. • If an area is only lightly invaded, it may be okay to leave invasive material onsite if it appears to be seedless. However, if the plant appears to reproduce through the roots, be sure to remove it from your garden. • Put any invaders into a garbage bag. Check with your municipality to see how it treats organic compost. Consult local by-laws to see whether it can be burned or should be taken to a landfill. • Learn more about invasive plants and alternatives at www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca or www.invadingspecies.com • You can report sightings of invasive species by calling the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or by emailing info@invadingspecies.com. You can also use the EDDMapS Ontario system to report sightings through your computer or smartphone.
For more information on what plants belong in your garden see Grow Me Instead: Non-Invasive Plants for your Garden at Grow Me Instead - A Guide for Northern Ontario and Grow Me Instead: Non-Invasive Plants for your Garden at Grow Me Instead - A Guide for Southern Ontario.
Join in the fight against invasive species and protect your great outdoors. Learn more at Ontario.ca/InvasionON.
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SUMMER 2017
54 Boating
Beaches: Near and Far by Duncan McEwen
There are two types of people who use Lake of the Woods: those who aren’t very confident at navigating the big pond, and those who are quite confident. If you are one of those confident navigators, feel free to skip ahead to the “Off the Beaten Path” part of this article. For others who dislike navigating, fear it, always find the rocks that are just below the surface, or simply don’t know the lake well—you’ll want to read below. On the Beaten Path
The easiest beaches to access in the Kenora and Lake of the Woods area are those that are accessible by vehicle. Let’s start here. Keewatin Public Beach. Located on Beach Road, in Keewatin, this City-run beach, playground and swimming dock is located in the quaint neighborhood of Keewatin and is ideal for swimming, family-friendly time, and offers public bathrooms as well as a little play structure and a picnic shelter. It is a short walk up the hill to Keewatin Place, if you forget any essentials for the day. Boats are not permitted at the docks or the beach. Norman Beach. Located just down the hill towards the lake from Dairy Queen, this City-run beach offers a play structure, bathroom facilities and a picnic shelter. The CPR Railroad Museum is also nearby. Garrow Park Beach is on Rabbit Lake. This beauty has it all. The facilities and amenities here include a nice beach with great swimming, washrooms, tennis courts, docks, picnic area and a paved trail. The Kenora Rowing Club is right next door and is the host to the 2017 Canada Summer Games rowing events. Anicinabe Park. Located on the east side of Kenora, less than a kilometre south of Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart, this full service campground boasts a nice beach and swimming area. “Anish” as it is infectiously called also offers a convenience store, washrooms, boat ramp, playground, a beautiful picnic area as well as more than 80 campsites.
h Coney Island Beac
Coney Island. This beach is on Coney Island, making it only boat accessible. The boat ride from Kenora’s downtown area is about 2-3 minutes. It is also easy to paddle to Coney. This is another beach that has a staffed store during the day that offers ice cream treats, snacks, cold drinks and awesome waffles on Sundays in July and August. Coney is also host to the “Coney Island Maybe Annual Music Festival”. This year’s festival is on July 30, 2017. This is an all around clean, familyfriendly beach with great facilities including a large field for games such as Frisbee and soccer.
Off the Beaten Path
The next five beaches are a little more off the beaten path and require a boat to get to. S-Island. This small but unique beach is about a 15-minute boat ride from downtown Kenora. It is located south of Kenora in the very eastern stretches of Ptarmigan Bay. Similar to a sand bar, it allows boaters to enjoy access from either the east or the west side. The island attached to it offers great spots for pitching a tent and even a few plywood tables for cleaning the day’s catch. Scotty’s Beach. Located about 15 minutes south of Kenora, this is the area’s longest beach and also one of the busiest. I can’t say I’ve spent much time here, but I certainly see the white “glow” of all the houseboats and other big cruisers from about a mile away as I drive by every day. This beach is well known for its social culture more than its natural beauty.
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Further down the beaten path, I have really found some good beaches on Shore Island. This is about half way between French Narrows and Yellow Girl Point. This beach has you a bit further out on the lake and is the perfect beach for a family or small group of boats to spend a day or weekend. It is close to some great walleye fishing areas, making it a great option for some of the family to stay and play on the beach, while the others catch dinner. Timber Beach is one of the lake’s finest beaches. Located about 8 miles south of Sioux Narrows, and about 40 miles from Kenora, this beach is an incredible destination. The “gin clear” waters of Whitefish Bay make it the perfect beach for swimming or sunning all day. The beach is usually one of the quieter ones with most visitors staying for the day, and packing up. However, it does offer a spot for camping just off the beach if you decide to stay. Be sure to look for turtles in the lagoons behind the beach. There are also some exceptional petroglyphs, or rock paintings, in this area (remember: look, don’t touch, as these are ancient sacred sites).
Sable Island Be
ach
but other times I have found them with a gentle bump or with the help of a child on the bow looking out for them (recommended).
It should go without saying that we need to respect all these Sable Island. This is the “grand-daddy” of all the beaches gems around the lake, as well as the neighbouring property I’ve been to on Lake of the Woods. Sable is located on owners who love their peace and tranquility. Please leave the south shore of the lake, about 70 miles from Kenora. these beaches cleaner than you found them. AN Even though you are travelling that far south, and you have Oak Island (MN) as the halfway point, you can do this trip without ever leaving Canada (however, a fuel top up and a burger at one of Oak Island’s restaurants can be fun too). Although this destination may seem intimidating or quite far, the drive EST. 1983 for me never gets old. If you cruise close to 35 mph, the trip from Kenora is about BLINDS • MOTORIZATION • SECURITY SHUTTERS two hours. It has you crossing the entire AWNINGS • PHANTOM DOORS lake and offers many different, stunning views including an eerie look at Massacre Island and an almost disorienting feel across the Big Traverse, where the comfort of the islands that have surrounded you disappears. The sand itself rivals the sand of Mexico. This trip does require an experienced boater (or a guide), and the trip is usually dictated by the wind/ weather. There are dozens more beaches on Lake of the Woods. Do I want to share all of my/our secrets with all of our members? Not really! Get out and explore and you will find your own little beach and perhaps name it after your grandchildren. I will offer a note of caution - beaches have a reputation of having hittable rocks within the bays as you approach the shore. These sometimes are marked on your chart/GPS,
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SUMMER 2017
56 Boating
LOWISA 52 Lake of the Woods By Paul Gomori, Commodore, LOWISA 52 As a young sailor, I had grown up hearing stories about LOWISA, a unique sailing regatta held on Lake of the Woods near Kenora, Ontario. The stories were filled with people and friends as well as sailing and adventure. It was not until many years later that I bought a 30’ sailboat and had the opportunity to compete in the event, and from that day, it has been one of my favourite weeks of the year. As Commodore of this year’s LOWISA, my 10th year participating in the event, I have the honour and opportunity to contribute to its long-standing history.
This year, the Lake of the Wood International Sailing Association regatta, most commonly known as LOWISA, is its 52nd year and will take place from August 6-12, 2017. It is an international event bringing together boats from Canada and the United States to compete in one of most incredible sailing regattas of the year. It provides the opportunity to explore
and discover beautiful Lake of the Woods, which is characterized by over 14,000 islands and 100,000 km of shoreline. The race takes the fleet through an intricate labyrinth of islands while people enjoy the sun, nature, and wildlife of this incredible landscape. It is open to people of all ages and boats of all sizes that come together for a week of racing, friends, family and fun. It’s a week for making new stories that will be told for generations to come. LOWISA is an adventure that you will remember forever. Based out of Northern Harbour, just east of Kenora, LOWISA is a 7-day event that includes six days of racing and a mid-week layover day which offers a variety of activities. Both racers and cruisers who share a love of the lake participate in LOWISA. The racing fleet is broken into a number of divisions that group boats together based on their speed or their boat type. Each boat is assigned a handicap that is used to adjust their race times, and the regatta is scored using the PHRF system. The racing format for LOWISA does not follow the traditional round-the-buoys format and instead utilizes a network of islands as marks for the course. The course weaves its way through the islands taking the fleet to a new destination each night, miles away from the previous anchorage. The vast number of islands brings an added element of complexity not seen in a typical sailing race, favouring sailors with a keen ability to read the wind. Racers are challenged to not only sail fast and make use of their tactical skills, but also to navigate around the lake using their strategic skills.
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The cruising fleet is made up of sailors and families who want to enjoy and explore the lake, following the racing fleet to each anchorage. Taking a more leisurely approach, cruisers can choose their route to each destination where they take part in numerous social activities that are planned for each day. People meet there and tell stories of the day’s adventures. Kids’ events will be planned each day, giving the younger participants a range of evening activities to look forward to, including a treasure hunt and face painting. The agenda this year begins with an opening ceremony and skipper’s meeting in central Kenora on Saturday, August 5. The first race will start on the following morning right in Kenora Harbour, providing an excellent opportunity for people to come and watch the start of the event. From there, the fleet moves southward with each day’s course ending in an anchorage in a different part of the lake. Once moored for the night, people gather together on other boats or on nearby islands for parties, campfires, cooking competitions and many more activities. Mid-week is the layover day, which will be hosted by Ash Rapids Lodge located in Ptarmigan Bay, close to Clearwater Bay. The lodge has a full restaurant and will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner during our stay. Cabins can also be rented from the lodge. Layover day activities
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include a layover day race, a paddleboard competition, a football game and yoga, followed by a fish fry and a live band. In the second part of the week, the regatta continues, taking the racing fleet into different parts of the lake each day. The event concludes with a Commodore’s Banquet and Awards Ceremony at Northern Harbour. Come join in the adventure and sail with us on Lake of the Woods, one of most beautiful places in the world! If you would like to learn more about LOWISA, please visit www.lowisa.org or our LOWISA Regatta Facebook page. AN
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58 Boating
Test Your Boating Safety Knowledge: Part 3 by Marianne & Rod Nuttall In the past couple of issues, we reviewed boating safety topics for you to test your knowledge. Here are a few more. Once again, read each of the following and just think about what you would do in that situation or how you would answer the question.
1
2 3 4 5
You are out on your power boat in the evening and start to have engine problems. You cannot get it fixed and it is too far to paddle home. It is now dark, cold and buggy. You are across the lake on an uninhabited part of the lake but can see lights from several cottages in the distance (or maybe you see a boat in the distance). What can you do to help yourself from spending the night out on the lake? You are out on Lake of the Woods and see a buoy that is black at the top and yellow on the bottom. The chart shows the same symbol and two triangles pointing up. What is this buoy called and what does it mean? You have two power boats, one with an 8 HP engine and the other with 40 HP engine. Someone told you they should both be licensed. Is this correct? Why is licensing required at all? You are out on Lake of the Woods and/or the Winnipeg River following the main track line on the chart and see a red buoy and, further up, a green buoy. What are they called and how can they help you navigate a bit easier? You are driving your boat during the day and see another boat heading towards you on a collision course. The other boat is on your left or port side. What is the correct procedure for both of you?
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The answers:
1. You are out on your power boat in the evening and start to have engine problems. What can you do to avoid spending the night out on the lake? The first thing will be to get out your safety equipment. You want to pull out your flashlight and sound signalling device (a whistle or horn). For the best effect, use your flashlight and sound signalling device at the same time or one following the other. Using either one of these simple safety devices might attract attention since light and sound can carry far at night. The flashlight should be used to make a S.O.S. signal which is a distress signal. To make a S.O.S. signal you make 3 short flashes followed by 3 long flashes and then 3 short flashes. Repeat this sequence of 3 short, 3 long and 3 short. Reducing the odds of having to spend an unplanned night out on the lake is the reason why it is so important to make sure your flashlight is always working and even carry extra batteries. You never know when you might be caught out at night. Remember, if you are the person on shore, if you hear a whistle or horn at any time or see new or different flashing lights at night, investigate to see if it is someone in distress asking for your help. You have a responsibility as a boater to help anyone in distress. 2. You see a buoy that is black at the top and yellow on the bottom. The chart shows the same symbol and 2 triangles pointing up. What is this buoy called and what does it mean? This is a north cardinal buoy. It is telling you that the water is safe as long as you are north of it. There are four types of cardinal buoys all relating to compass directions. Once you know the name of the buoy, it tells you where the safe water is. The two triangles reference the position on the buoy of the black colour (for a north cardinal buoy, black is on top, so triangles point up; for a south cardinal buoy, black is on the bottom and the triangles point down). If you cannot remember the names, look at the legend printed on the side of your charts. Watch for a cardinal buoy memory aid in a future issue. 3. You own two power boats, one with an 8 HP engine and the other with a 40 HP engine. Someone told you they should be licensed. According to the law, anything with a 10 HP or larger engine must be licensed. So in this case the 40 HP engine must be licensed but the 8 HP is not mandatory. But it is a good idea to license all boats. It provides identifying information to help identify owners to determine if a search and rescue may be required. For example, if the O.P.P. find your boat floating in the middle of the lake, unless they can contact an owner they don’t know if it just floated away from your dock or if someone fell out of the boat and we need to look for them. It also discourages theft and it helps identify owners to enable returning lost or stolen boats.
You are expected to carry a copy of the license papers on board. Licensing is free for recreational boaters. Search online for Transport Canada Application for Pleasure Craft Licence to apply for a new license, change ownership or get a duplicate copy of the license. 4. You are following the main track line on the chart and see a solid red coloured buoy and, further on, a solid green buoy. The red buoy is called a starboard hand buoy because you will keep it on your starboard (right) side when you are returning upstream against the current. The green buoy is a port hand buoy and you will keep it on your port or left side when going upstream. You can tell if you are going upstream or downstream from your chart. If you are going in the direction of the red arrows on a track line on your chart, you are returning upstream. For example, if you are travelling from Kenora via Devil's Gap to Scotty Island – you are going upstream against the current. From Minaki to Kenora is upstream. (But don’t just trust me! Check your charts and see how you can figure it out yourself since some areas are not so obvious.) When you are going in the opposite direction, downstream, then the side the buoy will be on is reversed: green on the starboard (right) and red on your port (left). TIP: To help you remember – three R’s – red on your right when returning upstream against the current. 5. You are driving your boat during the day and see another power boat heading towards you on a collision course. The other boat is approaching on your left or port side. What is the correct procedure for both of you? See diagram on Page 60. If you have another power boat approaching on your port or left hand side, you have right-of-way (and you are called the stand-on vessel). You should maintain your course and speed until the other boat is safely past you. The other boat on your left is called the give-way vessel. They must show early and obviously that they will give way. But even if you are sure that you have right-of-way continue to watch the other boat to make sure that they do give way. If they don’t appear to be giving way do something to avoid an accident. How did you do? If you don’t know how to respond these situations maybe it is time for a review of the course material. Dig out your course manuals or consider taking a review course. AN 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. www.nuttallboatingsafety.com
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*Note: We are now offering an optional Boating Safety Review Course No Test or Card Issued. This is intended for boaters that already have their PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operators Card) but would like a review of the course material. You will join in the Basic course but will not write the test at the end and a PCOC card will NOT be issued. (A $30 discount on course fees.) To register for a course, 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. www.nuttallboatingsafety.com
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by Barry Corbett If you are looking for a special place to visit this summer, make it Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre, the “Place of the Long Rapids” – where history, culture and a unique ecoregion come together. The History of Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung, also known as Manitou (Spirit) Mounds, is located on the north shore of the Rainy River, between the towns of Barwick and Stratton. The site encompasses approximately 90 hectares and stretches three kilometres along the Rainy River. This landscape represents the last remnant of a historically much larger oak savannah prairie ecoregion. Prior to the 1800s prairie vegetation grew everywhere along the Rainy River. As intriguing as this unique environment is, what truly distinguishes this site is the historic and cultural footprint of Indigenous people. For over 8,000 years to the present, Indigenous peoples have gathered at the “Place of the Long Rapids”. Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung is considered one of the most significant centres of early habitation and ceremonial burial sites in Canada. Archeologists have documented a network of 30 village and camp sites and 17 known burial mounds stretching between Long Sault Rapids to Manitou Rapids with the greatest concentration in the vicinity of Long Sault. The mounds were constructed from approximately 2,000 BP (before present) to 300 BP. But who were the peoples that lived and gathered here? Oral history and archeological evidence show at least five groups of Indigenous peoples have utilized this area beginning with Paleo-Indian Culture (8,000 BP), Archaic Culture (2,000 to 8,000 BP), Laurel Culture (800 to 2,000 BP), Black Duck and Selkirk Cultures (300 to 800 BP) and finally the present day Ojibway. The Laurels and Black Duck Selkirk peoples were the mound builders, leaving behind ample evidence of elaborate social and religious customs. Although it is uncertain whether the earlier people permanently resided here or seasonally migrated through the area, there is no doubt the Ojibway established permanent settlements. Approximately 300 years ago, the Ojibway migrated from the Great Lakes region following the Elders’ visions to seek out areas where food grew on water. The Elders were referring to wild rice or Manoomin – an essential of the Ojibway diet and considered sacred in their traditional ceremonies.
Prescribed burn to restore prairie plants large mound in distance.
But why did this place attract so many different Indigenous peoples over the millennia? Ask any realtor today what the most important selling feature of a home is and they will say ‘location, location, location!’ Apparently this is not a new concept as Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung fulfills this priority. The abundance of large wildlife to hunt, the diversity of medicinal plants as well as fertile soil and southern exposure favourable to gardening played a role in attracting people here. However, it was the presence of sturgeon and its central location along east-west and north-south waterways that make this area so special. Lake sturgeon have existed for over 200 million years and as long as the Rainy River has flown into Lake of the Woods, these fish have migrated upstream to spawn and live in Rainy River. This was no ordinary population of sturgeon; historically, Lake of the Woods was called the greatest sturgeon pond in the world. This fish was and continues to be significant to many Indigenous people including the people of Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung, not only as a food source but as an integral part of their spiritual and cultural identity. Sturgeon were called “buffalo of the water” and embodied the same relationship the people of the western plains shared with bison. Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung was at the centre of a continentwide Indigenous and more recently European trading network. This location is only 40 kilometres from the headwaters of the Mississippi River providing a waterway for southern Indigenous people to travel northward, while the Prairie and Lake Superior Region people took advantage of the east-west water corridors. People traveled here to gather for social and political reasons, fish for sturgeon, bury their loved ones and, of course, to trade. Trade was
extensive and impressive with obsidian coming from Wyoming, copper from Lake Superior, marine shells from Florida, exotic stone from the north and west and flint from the Dakotas. European contact resulted in dramatic changes to the landscape and the people who resided here. Much of the prairie ecoregion was lost to agricultural practises in the 1800s. Over the last one hundred years, sturgeon populations throughout North America declined drastically due to habitat loss and overfishing. The Rainy River/Lake of the Woods population was no exception. The Fort Frances dam blocked migration, fragmenting the population, and pulp and paper effluent covered and degraded sturgeon spawning sites with wood fibre. Coupled with excessive commercial harvesting a near collapse of this population was inevitable. In 1916, under the direction of the federal government, the members of Long Sault Indian Bands 12 and 13 left this area and settled further upstream by Manitou Rapids. They moved, leaving behind the mounds so integral to their culture. Unprotected for several decades, the mounds incurred damage from people looking for gravel and “souvenir” artifacts. From the 1950s to the early 1970s archeologists working for the Royal Ontario Museum’s Rainy River Project excavated several mounds and removed numerous artifacts and skeletal remains. Fortunately, this historic site is now protected, largely because of initiatives of the Rainy River First Nations and the federal and provincial governments. In 1970 Kay-NahChi-Wah-Nung was declared a National Historic Site and the land was returned to the Rainy River First Nations. The
mounds are now protected from any further disruptions including archeological excavations and the Ojibway of the Rainy River First Nations have resumed their role as stewards and guardians of this area. Some of the artifacts and ancestral remains removed have been returned and the Rainy River First Nations continues its mission to have all the remains returned and buried at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung. Each year Elders and the community, in partnership with Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Manitou Fire Department, undertake a prescribed burn to preserve and rejuvenate the remaining prairie landscape.
Traditional shelter.
The Rainy River First Nations’ Watershed Program has improved water quality in tributary streams and strict environmental regulations have reduced effluent allowing the river to flush the spawning sites clean. Presently no sport or commercial harvesting of sturgeon occurs on the Canadian side of Rainy River and the Rainy River First Nations operates a sturgeon hatchery to assist in the recovery. Although the population is still considered threatened it has responded positively to these actions and the Rainy River/Lake of the Woods stock is one of the few populations in North America showing strong signs of recovery.
Visting Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung
Water Level & Flow Information Lake of the Woods / Winnipeg River Lac Seul / English River • Web Site (updated each workday): www.lwcb.ca Current information & advisories, historic data & more º Regulation Guide - Regulation rules & criteria; basin physical features; water level & flow preferences Before You Build - Hazard lands and docks; water º levels to plan for; determining the level on your shore • Recorded Message (updated weekly): 1-800-661-5922 Current level and flow information; advisories as needed • Staff: Call: 1-800-661-5922 Email: secretariat@lwcb.ca Write: Lake of the Woods Control Board Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
What is there to see and do at Kay-Nah-ChiWah-Nung? First impressions can be deceiving. At first glance the Interpretive Centre looks like a typical interpretive building until you realize this architectural gem is embedded into the river bank and provides a panoramic view of Rainy River. The centre was a vision of the Elders, and architects incorporated this vision into the building’s unique design. The centre is primarily a meeting place – a place where different cultures come together and experience the story of the area’s Indigenous people through time. Before you enter the main centre you will descend down a long corridor and come face-to-face with the reason so many people gathered here – name (pronounced na - may), the Ojibway name for lake sturgeon. Housed in a 4,000-gallon aquarium, name is accompanied by many other native fish species of Rainy River and Lake of the Woods. The centre’s five galleries are strategically placed, ensuring you never walk directly over the next exhibit; doing so would be considered disrespectful. The entrance gallery introduces you to how the Anishinabek came to be on Mother Earth. Moving between galleries, you descend towards the river and with each step
65 travel back through time beginning with the fur trade era, and continuing through the millennia before European contact, to the first habitation at this site. In the final gallery the Ojibway – the present guardians – share with you their efforts to “present, preserve and protect” this sacred area. The use of natural light and wood amplifies the effect of the exhibits. The interpretive demonstrations focus more on traditional activities as opposed to artifact displays. There are dioramas depicting the day-to-day life of Ojibway people living and fishing in a village and displays of beadwork, tool and pottery making. The walls are adorned with beautiful murals and the black and white photo collection is particularly striking and reflective.
tour that takes 45 – 90 minutes. If it’s your first time, I highly recommend the guided tour that provides an overview of the history and significance of the mounds, intermixed with plant and wildlife identifications. For repeat visitors, special tours focusing on medicinal plant use and identification and birding tours are also available. For those with mobility problems or who prefer to ride, there are guided tours on golf carts. You can also rent bikes from the Interpretive Centre for yourself and the whole family. The main grouping of mounds is four kilometres from the centre but there are also approximately 10 kilometres of trails looping through the forest that can be used for leisurely walking in the summer or snowshoeing or skiing in the winter.
Before heading out on the trails take a break at Hungry Hall, a first class restaurant where you will have an opportunity to sample traditional Ojibway food with a contemporary flair. After your journey don’t forget to come back to the gift shop.
As you begin your journey you will pass by the Anglican cemetery used from 1873 to 1916 by both natives and non-natives. A short distance away you will encounter the Elders’ Cabin and Roundhouse. The Roundhouse is built in a traditional manner and serves as a gathering place for the community. The nine sides of the structure encompass clans, families and the community, representing the Ojibway belief all that is circular is good. Inside you’ll see four cedar posts signifying the four directions and a carved eagle, the messenger to the Creator. The round earthen floor is deliberately left bare to allow dancers to touch Mother Earth directly.
Now it’s time to see what you really came for – the Mounds. You can access them by yourself or join a guided walking
Before leaving the Roundhouse look to the west and experience your first burial mound. This one from the
There is also a conservation area where artifacts are cleaned and catalogued. Currently more than 10,000 artifacts are stored here. A truly innovative project is about to be initiated, requesting museums throughout the world to digitalize images of Indigenous artifacts in their collections. These images will be stored “ in the cloud” and made accessible to the Indigenous community and public.
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66 Blackduck Selkirk period is lower and more elongate than the circular dome-shaped Laurel mounds you will see further along the trail. When you reach the lookout, take a moment and enjoy the panoramic view of the prairie landscape and in the distance the mounds and Long Sault Rapids. Just a glimpse of the mounds will quicken your pace in anticipation. As you travel along the trail, glance into the forest and you will see several small mounds with trees growing through them. Historically this would have been prairie savannah but the forest is beginning to reclaim these areas. The larger Laurel mounds near the Long Sault Rapids range in size from 18 to 24 metres in diameter and up to 7 metres in height. Although they may not be as large as Egyptian or Mayan pyramids, what they represent in terms of Indigenous culture and history is every bit as significant. The ancient mounds were constructed by digging a shallow pit, ceremoniously placing the bones and sometimes goods such as medicine bags, pipes, food, clay pots and tools within, and covering the remains with earth. The following year the burial ceremony would continue with more remains and earth placed on top. The mounds eventually grew into the size we see today. As interpretive guide Mylo Smith reflected, “Some say the mounds are finished when all the soil is gone.” Beside the first large mound is the smallest mound started in 1995. Buried here are the repatriated ancient bones of eleven ancestors excavated in 1969 and returned by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage. If you are in a guided group you may have the privilege to participate in the building of this new mound by adding a handful of black earth and tobacco honouring the eleven who rest here. Your symbolic gesture in a small way replicates how the original people built the mounds.
Now close your eyes and sense the mounds and what occurred here. The villages were set up around the mounds and would have been a bee hive of activity of day-to-day living, particularly when other people came to fish for sturgeon, trade or bury their loved ones. This is a wonderful place to sit back and reflect on time gone past. Eventually you must return, but if you rushed to see the mounds you may have missed much of what the trail offers in terms of flora and fauna. Take your time on the way back, in June and July many prairie plants and medicinal plants (e.g. Seneca Snakeroot, Yellow Lady Slipper, Bloodroot) are in full bloom, while August is a great time to see the berries and fruits of these plants. Interpretive signs in both Ojibway and English are located along the trial identifying medicinal and prairie plants. And if you are a bird watcher, there are many species here that are uncommon in the Kenora area such as the scarlet tanager and Baltimore oriole. This summer or winter, gather with your friends and relatives at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung. The People of Rainy River First Nations invite all to share and experience this unique and sacred place. To reach Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung from Kenora travel 170 kilometres down Highway 71 and turn right at the intersection with Highway 11. Go west for approximately 12 kilometres and turn south on Shaw Road for three kilometres and then turn east. There are obvious signs along the highway to guide you. For further information, upcoming events, special tours, seasonal activity and equipment rentals visit manitoumounds.com. AN
panoramic vista from lookout - shows large mound, Long Sault Rapids and prairie landscape
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
68 Cottage How-To
Free Heat: Building with the Sun in Mind By Beth Turner In the last article in this series, we explored energy efficient wall assemblies and the use of air and vapour barriers. But if there is one aspect of wall construction that warrants its own discussion, it is windows—and the quest for passive-solar heat.
Taking Advantage of Orientation
With the sun's potential to provide both heat and illumination—especially during our long winters—most new home-builders tend to give at least some thought to solar orientation. In green building, the rule of thumb has generally been to orient the longest side of a home (assuming it is roughly rectangular) along its east-west axis. This maximizes southern exposure. North-facing windows are then minimized and east-west-facing windows are used judiciously. The south glazing provides both heat and light in the winter when it is most needed, as the sun stays low to the horizon. In the summer, the sun passes overhead, and is blocked by overhangs, to keep things cooler.
Are More Windows Always Better?
Armed with this knowledge, many homeowners assume that more is better when it comes to south-facing windows, especially when it happens to align with a beautiful view of the lake. That would be an oversimplification as we must also consider the potential for heat loss when the sun is not shining. A well-insulated wall might have an R-value (i.e., insulating power) of R-30, but the best windows will only provide perhaps R-5. This means that every window could also be a weak link—a major source of heat loss compared to the surrounding walls. In building our own green home, we wondered if, as we increased the number and size of windows, we would reach a point where the overall heat loss was greater than the overall solar heat gain. There is no easy answer to this question, however. We must consider many different factors such as the direction the window is facing (north losing more heat than south, of course), the characteristics of the window, climate, and shading. New home-builders would be wise to consult an expert who can perform the calculations needed to optimize their home's performance before finalizing their window selections. Well-calculated overhangs are also essential to block summer sun and ensure that the home stays cool during the warm months. The standard sizes seen on most homes are rarely sufficient. Fortunately, there are a number of online overhang calculators that account for things like latitude and roof height; for the DIY-minded owner-builder these can be an invaluable tool.
Keeping it Comfortable
Efficiency isn't everything. Another issue that is often overlooked is comfort. While large expanses of glass can look very dramatic, nearby occupants may feel uncomfortably cold even when the best performing triplepaned windows are employed. Careful planning of furniture placement in advance of building is always a prudent move. There is also the potential for temperature swings and overheating on sunny days. Many passive-solar homes of the 1970s and 1980s suffered from this problem because they did not incorporate any thermal mass to absorb the Thermal Mass sun's rays. For this reason, of Various Materials modern passive-solar homes Material Heat per usually integrate some form volume of thermal mass—concrete or (MJ/m3k) ceramic tile floors, for example. To be effective in our climate, Water 4.18 the mass should be located on Concrete 2.09 the interior (inside the home's Brick 2.02 insulated envelope), be a minimum thickness (some say Sand (dry) 1.34 4” for a concrete floor), be dark Soil 1.22 in colour, and be exposed (i.e., not covered by carpet or other Wood 0.23 insulating materials).
Living with Fluctuations
While thermal mass will help to mitigate temperature swings to some extent, the reality is that occupants of passive-solar homes must be willing to tolerate at least little variation in order for the mass to do its job of absorbing and releasing heat. Typically, this plays out as cooler nights and mornings and warmer afternoons. However, as a tradeoff for this variability during heating season, indoor thermal mass can help keep your house much cooler in the summer. I have found that my own home, with its exposed 6” concrete slab, has no need for air conditioning even throughout the most sweltering of days. In fact, it has performed so admirably in this regard that even the ceiling fans are collecting dust.
A Different Approach: The Sunspace
As the window area of a direct-gain passive-solar home increases, so must its thermal mass—this has become common practice. But temperature control can also be achieved another way; by building a sunspace—a room, usually on the south side, with plenty of windows to gather heat. The heat can then be distributed either actively (i.e., mechanically) or passively (i.e., by opening the doors to the space), and closed off from the main living area to
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Cottage How-To 69 prevent heat loss at night. This approach could be particularly useful for those who are not building new, but who instead wish to add on to an existing home. It can also create a lovely space for growing plants or just for enjoying the light. The disadvantages, however, include an increased cost of building (owing to the increased square footage and the large number of windows required). Temperature swings may also make the space unusable at certain times of the day or the year; I certainly found this was the case with my own sunspace in a previous home.
Case Study:
Wild Woods Hideaway
The newly constructed eco-lodging of Wild Woods Hideway is perched on an idyllic spot overlooking Mink Bay. In addition to a number of rustic rental cabins and prospector tents, owner-builders Peter and Kristine Zylstra-Moore constructed their own green home on site, and did so with passive-solar principles in mind. The 24' by 30' one-and-a-half storey home is constructed with 10” thick double-stud walls with a 3” layer of foam is sandwiched between two layers of eco-friendly mineral wool insulation. Peter poured his own 2” thick concrete slab, and although it is thinner than the typical thickness specified for passive-solar homes, he still reaps many of the benefits of its thermal mass. It also encases the home's in-floor hydronic tubing, which is fed by a tiny electric hot water tank. Although the main water view is located on the north and west sides of the house, most of the windows are south-facing, with some west glazing to provide water views and warm afternoon light. This clever balance of esthetics with function means the home soaks up plenty of free solar heat. Peter and Kristine keep the temperature set very low on their hydronic system (5 degrees C) in order to take full advantage of the heat produced by both the sun and their centrally-located Kitchen Queen woodstove. The couple acknowledges that this set-up creates temperature fluctuations that might bother some homeowners—cold mornings, for example, until about 11:00 a.m. But, as Peter says, “If you turned the heat on, you'd heat yourself out.” They compensate by putting on extra layers when they wake up. One drawback of the hard, cool concrete floors is that they are not very baby-friendly—their one-year old daughter, now crawling, is undoubtedly not a fan.
North and west sides of Peter and Kristine’s home
When asked if he would do anything differently, Peter thought he might have liked a sunspace “in order to capture more solar gain and have more temperature regulation,” as discussed previously. “And I wish someone would call us when the northern lights come out—we miss them every time,” he laughs about his home with its window-less north side. Beyond that, Peter and Kristine are pleased with their energyefficient house and are hard at work preparing their eco-lodging for the upcoming summer rental season. AN
Peter Zylstra-Moore
70 Cottage How-To Making Cottage Water Safe: Surface Water Drawing surface water directly from the local lake, pond or river is a convenient way of supplying your home or cottage with water. As surface water is exposed to all elements of nature and water has a tendency to dissolve or take away a part of everything it touches, the main water quality issues for surface water tend to be colour and turbidity.
Turbidity is the result of solid suspended matter in the water supply. If you fill a glass of water from your faucet and it appears cloudy or you notice tiny white particulate matter floating down to the bottom of the glass, you have turbidity. Effective turbidity removal from water is easy with a whole home backwashable filter.
Keep in mind, just because water is visibly clear DOES NOT mean it is without contaminants .
Microbial contaminants, such as E.coli, fecal coliforms, and protozoan cysts (including Cryptosporidium and Giardia), are commonly found in lake water throughout Canada and are only detectable with a water quality test. You can’t see, smell, or taste them in your water, but they can still make you sick - specifically severe gastroenteritis. These microbial contaminants will require more specialized equipment to treat.
Colour in water can be attributed to tannins, which are fulvic and humic acids. Tannins are the result of decomposing organic material. If you consider lake water and what’s commonly found in it – weeds, fish, tree branches, leaves, etc. – you can create a more accurate picture of how tannin concentrations develop. Every lake will have different levels of tannins, depending on location and surrounding vegetation. If the tannin level is very high, you will be able to detect colour simply by filling a glass with the lake water. Lower levels are more difficult to detect, and you may not see the colour unless you were to fill a white bath tub. Fortunately, discoloured water is easily corrected with good carbon filtration. The most popular set-up is a high-grade, plastic filter housing containing a disposable filter cartridge. Filters are available in various sizes/capacities or, for higher levels of tannins, there are specific tannin removal systems (aninon exchange) available. A water treatment specialist can help determine which filters are best for your water issue.
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection is a highly effective means of neutralizing microbes without the use of chemicals. If you are on a private water supply like lake water, it is your responsibility to ensure your water’s safety. Installing a UV system on a private water supply will help ensure that your water is safe to drink. It’s also wise to test your water at least once a year. That way, you can react to any changes in the environment that might impact the effectiveness of your water treatment system. For instance, it may become necessary to change filter cartridges more frequently. Your local water treatment specialist can help with your water testing, interpreting your results, recommending the right water treatment system for your home and ensuring its optimal performance over time. Stay tuned for the second part of this series in the next issue: Making Cottage Water Safe: Well Water.
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
72 Cottage How-To
HRV in the Summer By Elsie Neufeld
Most of us with an HRV (heat recovery ventilator) in our home understand its role during the winter, which is to supply fresh air and remove stale air and pre-heat the incoming air with the heat in the outgoing air. What might not be so clear is the role of the HRV in the summer. Its role - to provide fresh air and conserve energy - does not change much from winter to summer, but there are differences. First of all, with the option to throw the windows open, most of us do so. With windows open, the HRV should be switched to remote or standby mode so it is not running continually, but is available for the kitchen and bathrooms. With windows closed, such as when the air conditioner is running, have the HRV on, just as you would in the winter. In summer, the HRV heat exchange works in reverse. The outgoing cooler air cools the incoming warm air, reducing the load on the air conditioner.
The heat exchange during the summer is not as significant as during the winter because the heat differential is not as great. Still, the slight cooling will reduce the work for the air conditioner and might be enough to skip air conditioning all together. Every kilowatt counts in the energy saving game, especially during peak hours. You will also save energy by setting the air conditioner at the higher end of the recommended thermostat setting of 22˚C–25˚C. The air conditioner provides some outside air, but its purpose is to maintain the temperature in the house, just like your heating system during the winter. It does not ventilate the house. When windows are closed, air conditioner or no air conditioner, the HRV should be running to provide healthy air in your house. When windows are open for natural air conditioning, remember to turn the HRV on again when you close the windows on windy, stormy or cold days. In addition, windy days stir up pollen and other allergens. If someone suffers from hay fever or other allergies, it may help to close the windows and run the HRV, which has filters, to minimize exposure.
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Another role of an HRV is to maintain humidity between 40 and 60 per cent, the healthy humidity range. However, during the summer the HRV dehumidifier cannot keep up. It will run in high mode trying to achieve the impossible. During the summer, set the de-humidistat above 80 per cent or off. Make a note to set it back to 40–60 per cent again in the fall when the system is returned to winter operation.
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Cottage How-To 73 Maintenance
While you are making notes on the calendar, make a few entries to do routine maintenance to keep the HRV working. The recommended schedule for the HRV is in the owner’s manual, if you can find it. If you can’t, a copy is probably available online.
Here are the maintenance highlights. Be sure to turn the HRV off and disconnect the power to it before doing any maintenance. 1
Clean or replace air filters in your HRV every one to three months. For reusable filters, vacuum the debris off and then soak them in mild soapy water.
2
Clean exterior intake and exhaust vents regularly. During the snow-free months, these may plug up with leaves, grass and other debris; during the winter, frost and snow can accumulate on them.
3
Clean the heat exchange core twice a year.
4
Clean the condensate drain and tubing twice a year to ensure the condensate can flow freely. Also, clean the condensate pan inside the HRV.
5
Service the fans twice a year. Check the manual to know if the fan needs lubrication. Many are designed to run continually without lubrication. Clean the blower fan blades using a brush or vacuum cleaner.
6
Clean the grilles and inspect the ductwork inside and out annually to ensure it is in good repair. A very helpful video demonstrating routine HRV maintenance is available on the Canadian Mortgage and Housing
Corporation website at https:// www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/grho/ grho_003.cfm. Also, on that page is a simple procedure to check the balance of your HRV. One of the most important aspects of HRV operation is balanced airflow. The intake and exhaust airflow rates should be the same. When your HRV was installed, it should have been balanced, and if nothing has changed, the HRV should still be balanced. However, if a renovation or alteration has added or blocked ducting, the airflow balance needs to be tested and, if required, rebalanced. An HVAC (plumbing and heating) professional will check the balance if you are concerned. You can hire professionals to do the routine maintenance as well if you have more money than time. Just do not ignore your HRV. An HRV needs care and maintenance to operate properly to protect the health of your family and the house. An informative brochure on HRV maintenance and operation is available at Natural Resources Canada website http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan. gc.ca/files/energy/pdf/energystar/HRV_EN.pdf.
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
74 Cottage How-To
Ask An Expert For some time now, we’ve been eager to run a regular “handyperson’s” column. Our vision is that this column becomes a forum for members to pose questions and we will do our best to seek out reputable answers from area experts. Topics can range from cottage DIY, building and renos, to gardening, recreation, boating, and other activities you and your family pursue while at the lake. To start us off, this month we thought we’d provide a list of commonly asked questions and answers related to cottage and home maintenance in the Lake of the Woods area. If you have other questions or are an expert with valuable info that you think would benefit the membership, please send the details to editor@areanewsmagazine.com or diane@ lowdpoa.com.
Who Do I Call When ....? My septic system is acting up
Septic systems are one of the most critical and heroic pieces of cottage and rural home infrastructure. When functioning
well, they are out of sight and out of mind for decades at a time. But anyone who’s dealt with the headaches of a misbehaving septic system knows that this is a problem that will ardently refuse to be ignored – and sometimes comes with a daunting but unavoidable price tag. Leaking, plugged, flooded or frozen septic systems may all reveal their failures by the unmistakable aroma of raw sewage wafting through your yard. Often, failing septic systems will show damp spots in the grass or gravel, where oozing, stinking sewage effluent is backing up out of the drainage system. In the worst case, when a field has failed because of compaction or silt and sand getting into the drainage system, your first clues may be slow drainage of plumbing in your house, and eventually sewage backup into the home. Yuck! Sometimes the fix for sewage problems is relatively simple. If your septic tank hasn’t been pumped in the last five years, start here with a call to one of the local septic system service providers in the area. There are at least a couple of these providers in the Kenora area, and lake service is available. Modern septic systems also have filters in the tank that may need to be cleared of solid debris, particularly if septic system neophytes have flushed solid objects that clog up septic systems (things like disposable make up or baby wipes, feminine hygiene products, diapers, cotton balls, and even dental floss). Although this can be a fairly repugnant task, once the tank has been emptied, opening it up, removing and replacing or cleaning the filter from the tank to the field will definitely boost the system’s performance if it’s become clogged by any of these materials.
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The septic system service provider will likely be able to inform you if there are obvious, more serious structural defects to your system. If you continue to experience problems with slow or sluggishly draining plumbing even after you’ve cleaned out the tank and filters, you may need to call a certified septic system contractor to come inspect your system. A contractor will be able to assess whether your system is in need of minor repair or full-scale replacement.
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Cottage How-To 75 I need to (re)build a dock
Dock building regulations changed in Ontario recently. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) provides guidance and permits for dock and boathouse building. We ran a bulletin provided by MNRF on this topic in the May-June 2016 issue of the Area News, but as it is valuable info, here it is again: As a result of a 2015 decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, authorization is required to construct or place a dock or single-storey boathouse that occupies (i.e., that is on or above) more than 15 square metres of shore lands. This includes the placement of seasonal structures on shore lands as well as expansions or replacements of existing structures that are greater than 15 square metres. The area of shore lands occupied by a dock or single-storey boathouse can be calculated based on the perimeter of the structure. This is a change from how MNRF authorized the majority of structures in the past and at this time, there is no fee associated with applying for and receiving an authorization for this activity or occupation of Crown land. Applicants should contact their local MNRF District Office to initiate the application process. District staff will provide an estimate of the time required to process your application. Crown Land Work Permit applications can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/ page/crown-land-work-permits For more information, contact the Kenora MNRF District Office at 808 Robertson St., Kenora, ON Phone: (807) 468-2909 For general questions, contact: mnr. approval@ontario.ca
I need to do some brush or grass burning
If you live within municipal limits, you’ll have to visit City Hall or Kenora Fire Hall No. 1 (on Fourteenth Street North) to obtain a burning permit, or you can order one online. These are inexpensive ($15 in 2017) and last for the whole season. See http://kenora.ca/living/emergencyservices-and-preparedness/fire/burningpermits/ for details on where and how to purchase a permit.
Within City of Kenora limits From April 1 until October 31, no day burning is permitted as set out in By-law No. 8-2016. For yard spring cleanup that includes burning old grass, leaves, waste wood, small brush piles, and untreated lumber, evening burning is allowed between two hours before sunset and two hours after sunrise. Rural area outside municipal boundaries If you live outside municipal boundaries, burning permits are not required but you should alert the district Fire Management office of your intentions to do burning and it must be done in accordance with provincial fire regulations. We ran a detailed article on fire regulations in the July 2016 issue of the Area News, but again, this is salient information to have at hand so we reprint it here: For information on local burning regulations as well as sunrise/sunset times in the Kenora area, call the MNRF Fire Management Headquarters (FMH) in Kenora at (807) 548-1919. In Ontario, the Forest Fires Prevention Act is the legislation that regulates fire activities. Provided a Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) (in MB an RFZ is referred to as a Fire Ban) is not in effect, fire
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
76 Cottage How-To permits are not required for small scale burning. A camp fire may be used during the day if it is used for cooking or warmth, but must not exceed 1m x 1m. During a Restricted Fire Zone, no burning is allowed. Please bear in mind the following rules when burning small fires: Every year, from April 1 through October 31, no day burning is permitted. Day burning includes burning brush, grass, or using a backyard incinerator or burn barrel. Brush piles may be started two hours before sunset and must be extinguished by two hours after sunrise. The weather app on your smartphone will give you sunrise/sunset times, or you can call the Kenora FMH at (807) 548-1919 to get this information. Burn barrels and backyard incinerators must be kept away from buildings, and be at least two metres from flammable materials, and five metres from any forest. They have to be covered with mesh that is smaller than 5 mm in diameter. Burn barrels must be monitored while in use, and are restricted to being used at the same times permitted for camp fires (2 hours before sunset to two hours after sunrise).
I have a pesky skunk living under the cottage deck.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has a nuisance animals call line and they can advise you of the best way to deal with problem wildlife, from skunks to bears to insects. In the Kenora area, call the district office at (807) 468-2501 and select menu option #2.
My drinking water needs testing.
The Northwestern Health Unit is your go-to resource for information about testing drinking water. Visit https:// www.nwhu.on.ca/ourservices/EnvironmentalHealth/Pages/ How-to-Test-Your-Water.aspx for details on where to obtain collection bottles, how to prepare a water sample, and when and how to get it tested. You can also phone the Health Unit at 1-800-830-5978 from anywhere in the service area. The Health Unit provides the following basic guidelines about drinking water testing: Your drinking water can come from many different sources: drilled wells, dug wells, lakes, or rivers. Any water from a lake, river, stream, spring, or dug well could be contaminated by humans and animals. No surface water is safe to drink without treatment. If your drinking water does not come from a municipal water system, it is important to test it regularly – especially if it has not been checked recently or if you notice any changes in its appearance, taste, or smell. If you have never tested your drinking water, a minimum of 3 samples should be taken, 1-3 weeks apart, to determine a sampling history of your water source. Once you have achieved a sampling history, sampling should be done at least twice per year to ensure your drinking water remains safe.
I don’t know where to dispose of the cottage recyclables and trash.
The City of Kenora operates a municipal solid waste Transfer Station at 401 Melick Avenue (aka at the top of “Barskey’s Hill”). You can get detailed information about the Transfer Station including hours of operation and services at http://kenora.ca/living/recycling-waste/transfer-facility/ The Transfer Station offers domestic, commercial, construction and demolition solid waste disposal services, including used tires, billed by weight. Full recycling services are provided free of charge by dropping off materials in the appropriate bins at the Transfer Station, including plastics #1-7 (but not Styrofoam), cardboard, paper, coloured paper, coffee cups, and glass. The site also provides specialized free waste collection for fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, scrap metal, and electronics, and they offer weekly household hazardous waste days. The City also accepts yard waste, brush under 1” in diameter, leaves and grass clippings in the big, green compost bin near the recycle centre. You can learn more about recycling and composting programs here: http://kenora.ca/living/recycling-waste/. See the online dropdown menu for information about how and where to take specific waste items, and also how to dispose of waste if you’re a Coney Island resident. Finally, you are encouraged to install the Recycle Coach app to your smartphone or tablet: http://kenora.ca/living/recycling-waste/recycle-coach/
City of Kenora Waste Transfer Station
Hours and Contact Info
401 Melick Avenue, Kenora Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sunday*: 12 noon – 4 p.m. *Summer hours, begin May 21, 2017: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Household Hazardous Waste Disposal June 1 – September 28, 2017 Thursdays: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Residential customers can dispose of household hazardous waste at a depot inside the Transfer Station. Call the Transfer Station for more information at:
807-467-2980
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
Summer 2017
78 LOWDKids!
lowdkids.ca
Celebrating the wonderful weirdness of bugs!
Fireflies
By Erika Olson,
Children’s Librarian, Kenora Public Library
In mid-May we enjoyed “Bug Week” at the children’s library in the Kenora Public Library, so everywhere I look I’m seeing insect life in all its amazing and occasionally unwelcome abundance. I think it’s really fantastic for kids to be able to recognize species around them and to notice the diversity of wildlife sharing Lake of the Woods. We have some great bug habitats to explore!
Recommended read: My current favourite insect book at the library is
Some Bugs – a brief, beautiful and whimsical picture book by Angela Diterlizzi, illustrated by Brendan Wenzel. The illustrations are excellent and the text is lyrical and entertaining. What I love about this book is that with a few prompts, kids can basically tell the story of each page. What do you think these bugs are doing? Can you see any bugs that are camouflaged? Why might these bugs want to blend in with their habitat? Have you ever seen a bug that looks like this? Do you have a favourite bug?
Insect Craftiness Watercolour and wax resist firefly craft
Our Bug Week crafts featured fireflies, which make an ideal creative subject because they glow in the dark! So charismatic! Also known as ‘Lightning Bugs’, these friendly little beetles are an accessible place to start when talking to a skeptical audience about the virtues of bugs. They don’t bite (some species may not eat at all as adult beetles!), they are pretty, and they are really cool. Did I mention the glow in the dark part? Fireflies can also be sneaky – using their glowing lights to trick similar species with promises of romance, and instead leading them to their doom (mwahahaha!). Not all fireflies do this - just a few species. Ours here in Kenora are probably totally trustworthy.
What you will need:
• A ballpoint pen
• A firefly template to cut out and then trace • A piece of watercolour paper or some ‘Royal Chinet’ type paper plates. You need the thick cardboard kind, and you will do your art on the absorbent, rough underside of the plate (not on the smooth eating surface). In a pinch, any thick, absorbent paper will do. You could also use a flattened coffee filter, although it is more difficult to draw on these with crayons • Washable markers – just normal markers (not ‘Sharpies’ or gel pens). We used Crayola Supertips, but any water soluble marker will work • Crayons • A spray bottle filled with water • Salt (regular table salt or coarse pickling salt will work)
lowdkids.ca
How to do it:
• Trace a circular “frame” onto your watercolour paper/back of a thick cardboard-type paper plate. Your artwork will be done inside this frame. • Draw/trace and cut out a firefly template (or you can freehand your ballpoint pen line drawings). Using a ballpoint pen, trace several firefly outlines onto your watercolour paper/back of the paper plate • Using the ballpoint pen, add details to your firefly outlines – antennae, legs (six), abdominal segments, wing veins • Use a yellow crayon to colour the back end of the firefly’s abdomen. Also colour a small area around the back of the abdomen to show the “glow” around the firefly • Colour the rest of the firefly with crayon/pencil crayon. I used white crayon for the hind wings, black crayon for the wing casings, and orange for the pronotum (“back of the head”). This will give you a ‘Lightning Bug’ similar to the species we have here in Kenora.
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Summer 2017
LOWDKids! 79
• Using a crayon, thickly colour around the outside of your “frame” (later, when you spray the work with water, this will help to prevent all of your beautifully coloured ink from running off of your artwork) • Colour the blank space of your artwork with markers. It’s okay to leave some areas uncoloured. We used ‘night time’ colours that we thought would contrast well with the glow of the firefly: blues, purples, greens • Test your water bottle to make sure you can get a nice, fine mist coming from it. You don’t want a strong jet for this next part. Lightly mist your artwork with the water bottle until you get a lovely ink-running-together watercolour effect. You can sprinkle a little salt on the paper if you want to get a feathery/crystalline looking texture. The water will naturally bead off of the parts covered in wax crayon. Watercolourists call this a ‘wax resist’ technique. • Leave your work to dry flat in a warm spot. You could make several of these and hang them up on a string as a summer firefly banner!
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Summer 2017
80 LOWDKids!
lowdkids.ca
Fireflies in Peril Many firefly species are endangered. Current thinking is that fireflies are in decline worldwide because of a combination of factors: Light pollution: unwanted light impedes firefly communication, making it harder to find mates and food. We can help by turning off unnecessary lights when fireflies are out and about! Pesticide use: much like declining bee populations, fireflies are vulnerable to a host of pesticides that are used domestically, agriculturally, and industrially for broad-scale applications (forest management, city fogging). While some of this is pretty hard to avoid, we can stop unnecessary use of pesticides, and can support research efforts directed at more benign forms of pest management. General habitat loss: Fireflies need forests with leaf litter and rotting logs for their larval stage, and tall grass with damp areas and pools for their adult beetle life stage, and reproduction. Could you let the grass grow tall in a nice dark part of your yard? Is there a spot where you could leave some woody debris on the ground? Many adults will remember seeing these small beetles lighting up the fields and backyards of their childhood. They may even remember collecting them in jars to watch them bioluminesce. From a biological standpoint, it is probably okay to do this as long as we are very careful when capturing lightning bugs (they are super delicate!). Hold them in a container with good ventilation and some grass, and let them go after 15 minutes or so. Lightning bugs have important work to do as they light up the twilight, and we don’t want to interfere too much with their glowing communication. Finally, let’s just take a moment to appreciate the incredible weirdness of bugs. Evolution has lead to some pretty
incredible diversity in the insect world. Just check out these weird bug legs:
http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/science/zoology/insects/ general/legs.htm You can’t make this stuff up. I don’t care who you are – these are some crazy bug parts! As I have been writing this, I have watched my dog’s entire day be ruined by the presence of one single fly, and I am reminded that some of us just cannot handle bugs. And that’s okay - we can still coexist, right? Whether you are a fearless defender of insect-kind or an ardent avoider of things creepy crawly, I think we can all appreciate that bugs can be pretty amazing.
lowdkids.ca
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
Summer 2017
LOWDKids! 81
Colouring&PaintingExpo Share the colours of your love for the lake
Local artist, Irene McCuaig, has generously loaned us two of her amazing drawings to create a LOWDkids Summer 2017 Art Expo. We are pretty excited to see the works of art from our next generation of Lake of the Woods enthusiasts, and that’s where you come in. Go to our website or Facebook Page, download and print your favourite drawing. Create your masterpiece - with crayons, markers, paint, pencil crayons... Come see us at the LOWDPOA display at the Matiowski Farmers’ Market on Canada Day or any Wednesday in July and August, and bring your artwork with you. We can’t wait to see your finished artwork, and we’re looking forward to displaying it at the Market.
lowdpoa.com lowdkids.ca facebook.com/lowdpoa/
About the artist
Irene McCuaig has been creating works of art for most of her life, working in a variety of mediums and styles over the years. She has been teaching art for over 30 years, and now offers classes in all mediums to all ages at her Inglenook Art Studio in Kenora. With her 70th birthday approaching at the end of August, Irene is working on a collection of 70 paintings that will be created in layers using transparent paints and glasses. Irene has published two colouring books –‘My Kenora’ and ‘Lake of the Woods’, the latter includes the two drawings she has loaned us for the LOWDkids Art Expo. The complete colouring books can be purchased from Irene at her studio or at the Farmers’ Market in July and August, and are also available at the Lake of the Woods Museum.
inglenookartstudio.com facebook.com/InglenookStudio
If you cannot access the internet or a printer, just come see us at the Market and we will have some copies of the drawings on hand.
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
82 Wildlife & Wilderness
The Monarch Butterfly
(Danaus plexippus)
by Henry & Anita Rasmussen
“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.”
Easily recognizable by its bright orange wings edged with black veins and white spots, the Monarch is the only butterfly whose migration mirrors that of birds. After delighting us with its presence from early July through summer, its extraordinary migratory pattern lures it south from Canada each fall to Mexico to overwinter, making its tortuous voyage back northward the following spring.
Monarchs leave us by October or earlier as the weather turns cold, arriving in central Mexico nearly 3,000 miles later. These are the members of a so-called “supergeneration” with a life span eight to ten times longer than subsequent generations, allowing them to make it south without mating on the way and living upwards to eight months. Inexplicably clustering on the same pine and oyamel trees year after year, these beauties, too numerous to count, turn the trees to flame. How they manage to return to the same winter locations over a gap of several generations remains somewhat of a puzzle. Some researchers believe the knowledge is inherited, imprinted in their DNA. Other research suggests they somehow navigate using the earth’s magnetic field combined with the position of the sun. Their winter destination remained a mystery, until nearly eighty years ago when Canadian zoologist F.A. Urquhart tracked their migration by tagging the wings of thousands of individual butterflies. By 1975, with the intervening aid of a great
– Rabindranath Tagore
Spring Migration
Fall Migration
“Just living is not enough,” said the butterfly, “one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.” –Hans Christian Andersen
number of volunteers, he succeeded in locating the first known winter refuge of the Monarchs on a mountaintop in Michoacan, Mexico, 4,000 kilometres from their original starting point. Now a World Heritage Site, the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is protected along with a dozen such sites by the Mexican government. The Monarch’s southern destination became and remains a huge tourist attraction in that country. Their habitat extends to the woodlands of central and southern California as well. Though the Monarch is capable of travelling hundreds, even thousands of miles, no single butterfly makes the entire southnorth round trip. There will be three to five generations born each spring as they wend their way north. Soon after leaving Mexico, pairs of Monarchs mate and the females begin to search for the necessary milkweed plants on which to deposit their eggs.
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Wildlife & Wilderness 83 “We kill all the caterpillars, then complain there are no butterflies.”- John Marsden After four days or so, the eggs hatch and during the next two weeks the small black and green caterpillars grow to several times their original size. Each caterpillar then forms a chrysalis, a pale green sac which hangs on or near the milkweed plants. Two more weeks will elapse before the adult butterfly emerges fully formed. This process is referred to as metamorphosis. As Monarchs go through their developmental cycle, their diet will change. During the caterpillar stage they must feed exclusively on milkweed (Asclepias). This flowering aromatic plant contains toxins, harmless to Monarchs, but deadly to their predators. The Monarch caterpillars store these toxins in their bodies rendering the adults poisonous as well, indicated by the bright orange warning of their wings. Following metamorphosis, the adult butterfly feasts on nectar from a variety of plants and flowers including the milkweed. Many gardeners now include milkweed in their plantings helping to attract these fascinating creatures to their gardens.
“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” -Carl Sagan
Some years very few, if any, Monarchs complete their life cycle. They may encounter various dangers along the way, some climate related, others man-made. Extreme weather resulting from climate changes can alter the timing of migration and the usual patterns of rainfall. Habitat loss is always a risk as farming continually expands and forests are destroyed due to cutting practices and insect infestation. The use of pesticides and herbicides on crops and weeds, in addition to
certain invasive species that squeeze out vital plants, all pose a real threat to the survival of the Monarch butterfly. In spite of setbacks, the Monarch population so far has been able to rebound, a testament to the adaptability of nature when given half a chance. Concerned gardeners can give Monarchs a boost by creating butterfly-friendly gardens and by including the varieties of milkweed appropriate to their region. Here at ‘Razberry Lane’ the perennial Common Milkweed returns each year to fill a small greenhouse, site of the “Monarch Conservation Project”, an initiative of our local Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Laureen Parsons. Freda Holmes, locally known as the “butterfly lady”, helped to launch the project by her contribution of its first Monarch caterpillars. Last summer no butterflies appeared, but the previous year we were privileged to observe two separate hatchings, a truly magical experience. We find the Monarchs’ life cycle, though short, to be endlessly fascinating, combining as it does beauty, mystery and resilience in one small delicate creature. AN
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
84 Wildlife & Wilderness
All in the
Family
Walleye spawning
We’ve all attended them, the family reunion where the “self-appointed family genealogist” lines up reluctant kids and declares how much they look like Great Grandpa or Grandma. We all dutifully agree, although no one can imagine them as children! Or, those awkward moments when long-lost cousins appear and nobody recognizes them. We think they’re the caterers; so much for family resemblances! Well, fish also belong to families and like any family there are members who resemble each other and there are others where the family connection isn’t as obvious. In the freshwater world, I can’t think of a family more diverse in size, shape and life styles than the Percidae, or perch family.
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Wildlife & Wilderness 85 The most well-known members of this family are the walleye, sometimes referred to as pickerel, sauger and, of course, the yellow perch who bears the family name. But did you know there are a number of other family members collectively called the “darters” with exotic names like rainbow, Iowa or Johnny?
First spiny
Anal pectoral
saugeR
Description
Although there is tremendous diversity of size, shape and colours, all members of the Percidae family share some common traits. The family is distinguished by two wellseparated dorsal fins. The first dorsal fin possesses sharp spines while the second is soft-rayed. These fins act like ballast keeping the fish from rolling and are used like a sail to execute sharp quick turns. The pectoral and the pelvic fins positioned just behind the head control direction, balance and braking. Percidae use them in unison like a double set of oars to hover and perform tight maneuvers.
pelvic
caud Sauger with fins identified
Range
Walleye, sauger and perch can be found throughout North America with equivalent versions (Zander, European perch) in Europe, Scandinavia and Russia while an amazing 107 species of darters are only found in North America. In Lake of the Woods there are five species of darters: Iowa, Johnny, log perch, river and blackside and, of course, walleye, sauger and yellow perch.
second soft rayed
numerous black
single black
walleye
white How to identify sauger and walleye
Another common feature amongst Percidae, the pelvic fin is equipped with one spine while the anal fin has one or two spines. These sharp spines, as well as the first dorsal fin spines, act as a deterrent to predators. Just ask any fisher unfortunate enough to be poked by one.
Next in size are the perch, with adults typically ranging in size from 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) reaching weights of 0.35 kg (3/4 lb). In 1865 a whopping 4lb 3.5 oz (almost 2 kg) perch was angled. The record stands to this day. Maximum age is about nine or 12 years and like their cousins, the northern populations tend to grow slower and are older than the southern populations.
If anything exemplifies the diversity exhibited by this family, it is the wide range of sizes and ages that its members can achieve. Walleye, sauger and perch are literally the “big three” with walleye being the largest, achieving lengths of 80 cm (31 in) and weights of 9 kg (20 lbs). The maximum recorded length for a walleye was 107 cm (42 in) and weighed in at a hefty 13 kg (29 lbs). Walleyes also live longer than any other Percidae with populations in the southern part of their North American range reaching ages of 10 to 12 years while those in the north can be over 20 years. The oldest recorded walleye reached the ripe old age of 29 years.
Although perch are the runts of the big three, they are gigantic in comparison to darters. To the untrained eye you might mistake a darter for a baby walleye or perch, but in fact these little miniature versions of their bigger cousins are fully grown adults. Most darters are no bigger than 5 to 6.5 cm (2 to 3 in) and three to four years is considered a long life for these pint-sized Percidae. Of the darter species we have in LOW, the log perch is the “goliath “ sometimes reaching the staggering lengths of 18 cm (7 in) but most often measures 10 cm (4 in) long.
Although saugers are almost identical to walleyes in appearance, they tend to be smaller and shorter lived. Saugers range in size from 25 to 41 cm (10 to 16 in) and typically weigh between 0.2 to 0.9 kg (0.5 to 2 lbs), but the North American record was 3.7 kg (8.1 lbs). Southern saugers normally live five to six years while their northern counterparts can reach 12 to 13 years.
Colours vary between species and even within a species and can be influenced by the colour of the water they live in. However, it is their differing markings that truly distinguishes Percidae from each other. Walleye are usually olive-brown to golden brown while their twin, the sauger, is often sandy or dull brown in colour. However in some waters it is almost impossible to distinguish these two species by colour and only their unique markings will give their identity away. Walleyes have a distinctive white spot on their caudal tail while the
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
86 Wildlife & Wilderness sauger lacks this. Sometimes this white spot can be very small or faded and an inexperienced angler may confuse these two species. The best way to tell them apart is to look for a single black spot on the base of the walleye’s first dorsal fin while the sauger displays a series of black dots on this fin. There’s no mistaking the yellow perch. The back and head are usually bright green to olive with yellow along its flanks and several distinctive “tiger bars” extending from its back down the sides. On larger individuals their pectoral and pelvic fins can be brilliant orange. There’s no question - a yellow perch in full colours outshines its bigger cousins. The diminutive darters spend a great deal of time avoiding a host of predators. As a result they tend to be drab in colour and often mimic their surroundings. Iowa darters, for example often live near aquatic vegetation or organic debris and are dark or olive brown in colour. Johnny darters on the other hand, favour sand or silty bottoms and are pale brown or straw coloured. The males of some darter species, however, throw caution to the wind and display vibrant colours when mating. Without a doubt, the appropriately named rainbow darter is the peacock of this group. Some consider this male darter in breeding dress to be the most beautiful of all our native fishes. Regardless of their colour, each of the 107 species of darter can usually be identified by the shape, size or number of distinctive markings found along their sides.
Diet
fish, and small mammals that make the fatal mistake of venturing into their water. Opportunistic feeders, they prey upon whatever is abundant, with a particular preference for yellow perch and ciscoes. They might be smaller in size but saugers share the same predatory ferocity and feed upon many of the same organisms. Lower on the pecking order are the yellow perch. While perch may strike fear into the hearts of many a small fish, much of their diet consists of immature insects (midges, mosquitoes) and larger invertebrates such as crayfish, dragonfly and mayfly nymphs. Little fish are usually relegated to eating small food items and darters know their place, feeding primarily on zooplankton like water fleas (cladacerans) and copepods and a variety of benthic organisms such as midge larvae, mayfly nymphs and amphipods. In text books, darters are described as “converters of small benthic materials to larger forms within the aquatic community” which is a polite way to say they are “à la carte” for larger fish. There is absolutely no loyalty in this family. Darters are fair game for the big three and walleyes, saugers and yellow perch will in turn eat each other and even their own offspring. Let’s put it this way: there are no millennials living in the basement of this family.
Reproduction
So how does this family make its living? Undeniably walleye are at the top of the food chain, a voracious apex predator. Like the Tasmanian devil in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons, walleyes eat virtually anything that moves, including mayflies, leeches, crayfish, frogs, numerous species of
The most fascinating aspect of this family is their diversity of reproductive strategies running the evolutionary gambit from broadcast spawners to parental care. At one end of the spectrum are the walleye and sauger who congregate in the spring and migrate to “special habitats” in rivers or
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Wildlife & Wilderness 87 suffocating. The pores on the folds act as bellows, allowing fresh water to be pumped in and wastes expelled out with wave action or water movement. This ability to spawn virtually anywhere results in high reproductive success and abundant populations which is handy when your larger cousins are looking to make a meal out of you.
Walleye spawning along lake shores or shoals. These areas have a multiple layer of rocks, cobble or gravel to protect the eggs from predation and are subject to current or wave action keeping the rocks free of debris and silt and preventing egg suffocation. Broadcast spawning behaviour is quite simple with two or more males following a female and simultaneously releasing sperm and eggs over a suitable habitat. Thousands of eggs are abandoned with the hope that nature will ensure sufficient numbers survive to continue the population.
It’s the darter spawning behaviours that are truly fascinating. This is the one time they outdo their big cousins and like everything else in this family their spawning habitats and behaviours are varied. Some like to bury their eggs in stream riffles (rainbow darter) or beaches (log perch) while least darters prefer to stick their adhesive eggs onto plant stems and the Iowa darter chooses fibrous roots. Greenside darters favour individual rocks covered with algae while fantail darters utilize the underside of a rock.
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Perch, on the other hand, utilize a totally different strategy thus eliminating the need for specialized habitat conditions. The female produces a unique gelatinous egg strand with accordion like folds that are covered with pores. Most strands are small and contain approximately 28,000 eggs, but egg strands can reach 2.1 m (7 ft) in length and may hold over 210,000 eggs. Similar to walleye and sauger, the female perch is followed by several males but instead of broadcasting hundreds of individual eggs over a rocky bottom, she will shed the egg strand over rooted vegetation, submerged brush, fallen trees or over a simple bottom of sand or gravel while the males release sperm. The egg mass is semi-buoyant and by suspending it on branches this prevents the egg mass from sinking into silt or mud and
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
88 Wildlife & Wilderness Regardless of their habitat preference, the male of most species of darters will establish a small territory they defend from other males while enticing a female to enter. In most species the male initiates courtship, except for the male greenside darter who can be a reluctant suitor letting the female take the “bull by the horns”! Some darter species are monogamous, remaining with each other for a few days or weeks until all the eggs have been laid. Others are promiscuous the female shares a small number of eggs with one male and moves on to find a Rainbow Darter new partner. Typically most (not breeding colours) species will lay only a few hundred eggs. In many species the eggs are not cared for, although the presence of the courting male as he waits for other females provides indirect protection. The Johnny darter, however, takes an active role in the protection and care of their eggs. He may not be as flamboyant as his rainbow cousin but he takes parenting seriously.
Johnny Darter Rainbow Darter (male darter in breeding colours
The male Johnny darter selects a rock, log, mussel shell or even an old tin can, clearing a space underneath it and meticulously cleaning its underside. Males will chase both females and other males from his little castle, but if a female approaches upside down, this signals “she’s the one”. Like underwater acrobats the nuptial couple enters the spawning chamber upside down, grasps the underside of the rock with their pectorals and proceed to mate – quite a feat for a little fish! As the pair move under the rock they maintain contact with each other using their pectorals. As she lays an egg, the male will immediately fertilize it. After laying 30 to 200 eggs, the honeymoon is over and she will abandon the nest, seeking a new suitor. Meantime the male will patiently wait for another upside down passerby
and settle into his new role as Dad. If he’s lucky to attract additional partners, his nest may contain up to 1,000 eggs. For the next six to 10 days until the eggs hatch, he aggressively protects the brood from predators. In between bouts of heroism, this peewee gymnast will clean the eggs upside down with his fins. Flipping upright he will fan the eggs with his pectorals ensuring they are well oxygenated. If he detects fungus on an egg (a sure sign it is dead) he will eat it, keeping the others safe from infection. This gives a whole new meaning to “Father knows best”. As diverse as their reproductive behaviours are, the Percidae have one thing in common – they all spawn in spring and early summer and spawning is triggered by warming water temperature.
Commercial Values
Diversity is not limited to just their physical and behavioural characteristics but also how we view this family. Walleyes are the most sought after freshwater species by both sport and commercial fishers and yet their identical cousin, the sauger is often over looked or undervalued. Come opening season, everyone will head out looking for walleye, but when’s the last time you heard an angler say "I’m going sauger fishing?" Even though their flesh and taste is identical to walleyes, the sauger fetches a far lower price in commercial fisheries. In fact, they are often marketed as sand or baby pickerel to unsuspecting consumers who think they are purchasing walleye. I have to admit these two species remind me of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper. Two young boys identical in appearance, one held in high esteem because of his royal birth, while the other leads a much less glamorous life. How we view perch depends on where you live in Ontario. Those in Southern Ontario and around the Great Lakes highly value this species for sport and in restaurants whereas in Northern Ontario, they are often thrown away by anglers and seldom appear on a menu. When I first came to Kenora in the early 90s, I often found yellow perch discarded on the ice. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and I would quickly scoop them up and prepare a perch feast. Times are changing and more and more people in the north are realizing and appreciating the qualities of this delicious member of the perch family. What can I say about darters? Most likely if you have spotted one you probably mistook it for a minnow. Too small to be angled or eaten, the only humans who are obsessed by them are Fisheries Biologists and underwater photographers. The next time you go fishing for walleyes, saugers or perch check out what they were eating. You might be surprised to find one of the family in its stomach or if you stroll along the beach take a peak in the water and if something small darts by – guess who? AN
ACHIEVING HARMONY
at the lake
Smart & Thoughtful Cottage Planning & Dispute Resolution Mona Brown | mbrown@brownlawoffice.org | 204.745.2028 B.A. LLb. TEP. CArb. Med
Specializing in Tax and Succession Planning for Cottages, and Mediation and Arbitration of Cottage Disputes.
BROWN & ASSOCIATES LAW OFFICE
Poplar Bay, Lake of the Woods, ON
mona@lonestarfarm.ca 71 Main St S. Carman, MB
www.brownlawoffice.org
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
90 Succession Planning
Cottage Inheritance: Bliss or Burden? by Mona Brown
The inheritance of the family cottage is a tradition that can have a mixed effect on beneficiaries. Most owners assume all of their children want to be involved in cottage ownership. This is often not an accurate assumption. A cottage property is one of the most popular and valuable recreational assets a family may own. In many cases, cottage life helps bind families together in leisure activities and for many families the cottage is central to some of the most cherished memories. Cottage owners often want to preserve the positive experiences of cottage life by passing the family cottage on to the next generation. Many cottage owners make wills leaving the cottage equally to all of their children. Often children of cottage owners do not become aware of the plan for the family cottage until both of their parents have died and their wills are read. When cottage owners fail to include their children in discussions and planning before their deaths, they have not considered the views of those who will inherit and be responsible for the cottage. Unplanned cottage responsibilities can create unnecessary angst, stress, and even divisions in a family that can’t easily be healed. The failure to tax plan the succession of the cottage usually results in additional and unnecessary tax being paid. This money could have been used instead for a much needed cottage maintenance fund.
Challenges: beneficiaries’ perspective Mobility Children may not reside anywhere near the cottage or may have commitments to their work or families that prevent them from accessing the cottage frequently, if at all. Having all their inheritance tied up in a cottage they rarely use may not be desirable. Full-time employment Two career families already have serious issues balancing work and family life. The social obligations attached to cottage ownership and the need to upkeep, maintain and pay for the cottage add further burden to an already over stressed agenda. Beneficiaries need help. They need someone to understand that they are torn between their childhood memories of the blissful summers with extended family at the lake and the reality of their current hectic life. Not everyone is a ‘worker bee’ Some of the family may be very “hands-on” and contribute sweat equity. They expect other family members to
contribute equal time and efforts. Others may not have the time or expertise to contribute. Resentment grows in the “worker bees” who typically try to guilt their siblings into action. Push back comes from the “lazy ones” and the result is an impasse. One person sees themselves as doing all the work and the rest as “freeloaders.” The freeloaders want the harassment to end so they stop coming to the cottage. Finances Some children simply cannot afford the cottage. The cost of transferring the cottage on the death of their parents and the capital gains tax that may have to be paid (if not properly planned) plus high taxes, insurance and upkeep, make owning a cottage prohibitive for many. Many would rather have their share of the sale proceeds now to help buy a home, to make the mortgage payments, or to fund their children’s education. Parents should recognize that all of their children are not in the same financial situation (a house in Toronto costs more than a house in Winnipeg). Also, a cottage maintenance fund might be needed. Secondly, some beneficiaries may have undisclosed debts. They don’t want to share that information with their family, yet such debts could cause judgments to be registered against the cottage, forcing a sale. Varying visions of cottage life There can be significant discrepancies between beneficiaries’ views of what cottage life should look like. One child sees the cottage as a “party place” with loud music, good food, fast boats and lots of people. Another imagines the cottage as a serene escape with no TV, no internet, no power boats or seadoos, and no guests; a paddle around the bay at sunset is their style. These competing visions can cause serious family conflict. Health issues Some beneficiaries may have allergies to pets, smoke or the inability to do stairs. Others may have emotional issues that make them not the easiest co-owners. Power of Attorneys must always be drafted to protect against the unforeseen. Uncertainty over the future If four children take the cottage, what happens when one of them dies? If these decisions are not discussed openly and documented in a Use Agreement prior to the beneficiaries taking title, conflict is inevitable.
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Succession Planning 91 These challenges are not insurmountable
They all need to be heard, considered and accommodated. Creative solutions can be found. Often the solution is not to leave the cottage equally to all children. When parents plan in advance and discuss options with their children, they can tailor a plan that works. The solution might be to transfer a remainder interest to children sooner, keeping a life interest and entering into a Use Agreement with the next generation. What if the parents have transferred or passed away without the needed discussion? This can be a family catastrophe. No one is talking to each other and everyone is mad.
Solution: Mediation
When people are not talking, they need someone to help them. A mediator could be just that person. Mediators are trained in communication, listening, hearing, and questioning. Conveying one party’s position to the other party(s) and massaging the parties to consensus. Mediators routinely meet separately with each party so each can speak their minds fully. The mediator’s job is to make all parties see, hear and respect the feelings of the other party(s) and search for a solution that is a win for everyone. What if mediation fails? The newest approach to dispute resolution is called Med/ Arb. The parties start by agreeing to mediate. Hopefully,
2017
a solution can be found with the help of an experienced listener. If a solution is not found, the mediation stops and the mediator transforms into an arbitrator. The arbitrator hears both sides and mandates a solution. All parties have previously agreed to the authority of the arbitrator to make a decision that all will accept. Sometimes the solution is simple. They set up a cottage maintenance fund or they allocate exclusive weeks/months to each family branch, so they can have the cottage to themselves, their family and friends. One child may buy out some or another child’s entire share. For example, ownership by three children could be divided as a ½ share to one child and a ¼ share to the other two children. The reality is, this process is better than not talking to your family. It is better than being upset when you come to the lake and saying something to a sibling you may regret. Let skilled people help you plan your cottage succession plan or help you mediate if the past generation didn’t consult and plan. Lawyers skilled in cottage succession can help you tax plan and draft Use Agreements. Lawyers skilled in mediation and arbitration can help you find a solution when there is an impasse. AN Mona Brown practices cottage succession and mediation/ arbitration in Kenora, ON and Carman, MB. Mona’s personal cottage is in Poplar Bay, Lake of the Woods.
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
92 Food & Drink
Notes From
Razberry Lane by Henry & Anita Rasmussen
“Blessed are those who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” - Camille Pissarro
Small Gardens Whoever believes that bigger is better has never experienced the pleasure of a small vegetable garden. Some of the most lush and productive gardens around are the polar opposite of “big” and have distinctive advantages over larger gardens—they are easy to cultivate, to plant and to weed. The preparation and maintenance of an acre or more of growing vegetables can be a formidable undertaking, off-putting for most and impossible for the owner of an average-sized property. The small compact garden space, on the other hand, is not only practical but possible for virtually anyone. In the 1970s then U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz advised farmers to “get big or get out”. The idea was that in order to feed the hungry of the world, efficient use of the land demanded large-scale mono-crop growth. This hasn’t worked so well. The large industrial food complex has resulted in the loss of topsoil, pollution of ground water, generic manipulation and chemical overuse. However, all is not lost. There is a renewed movement afoot towards small-scale commercial vegetable production, measured not by acreage but by square feet. More and more people recognize the poor nutritional value of much of the food they purchase, and that gardens of one-quarter acre or less can grow enough produce for a family in most locales. One must remember that apart from North America, most populations throughout the world get their produce from small holdings. But here, farming policies have purposefully
set out to destroy the small-scale farming community by utilizing massive amounts of herbicides and fertilizers to promote large-scale growth. This in turn not only destroys precious farmland but uses as much as ten to twelve calories of oil to grow one single calorie of food. Agribusiness has grown so large that in many cases aging farmers can no longer pass on the family farm to their sons or daughters due to the scale and monetary value of their holdings. Thus ownership is often transferred to large corporations whose guiding principle is the bottom line. Our reliance on big farming has resulted in the loss of the skills necessary in order to feed our own households. Few will deny the superiority of home grown vegetables over those available in the grocery stores, the latter having been picked unripe and travelled thousands of kilometres. Freshness, taste and nutritional value trump supermarket offerings every time. The obvious lesson is that small is not only beautiful, it is also economical and good for us. Knowing this, why do so many of us continue to get our vegetables from a plastic bag? We believe that too many people are intimidated by the daunting prospect of planting a vegetable garden. We intend to dispel some of those fears. First of all, many people who own a patch of land fail to utilize its full potential. Even a narrow strip of soil that gets full sun for part of the day can grow a surprising amount of food. Raised beds are simple to build and need not be
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Food & Drink 93 large. Their advantage is that the soil warms more quickly in spring, allowing for early cold weather crops. The beds are closer to the sun and more easily accessible for planting and maintenance. A seemingly useless rocky back yard with little or no soil lends itself to building elevated soil-filled boxes, a good use for used pallets at little or no cost. As well as being virtually weed-free, they provide the added advantage of gardening without stooping. Even our decks can provide the necessary space to grow a variety of vegetables by using large pots and containers of all kinds. Many people with limited growing space create small square beds along their walkways with astounding results. A small-scale greenhouse or hoop house is the answer for other folks. These have the advantage of extending the growing season by allowing us to plant earlier in the spring, and growing longer in the fall. Cold frames are another way to extend the season and can easily be constructed using old windows. Cabbage, celery and peppers will benefit from an early start, for example. Watering and weeding are both much simpler and easier in small garden spaces, with no need for complicated irrigation systems or equipment. Much of the actual gardening is done with hand tools or just hands, without machinery of any kind. The broadfork, or French “grelinette”, is seeing a resurgence in small-scale gardening of late. It deeply loosens the soil by incorporating space for air, water and roots to penetrate. It has the added advantage of not harming the many living organisms necessary for a healthy plot. Small-scale growers generally have little use or desire for a rototiller. Soil that is not fed and replenished regularly ceases to be productive over time, and compost is the cornerstone of good soil and the best friend of the gardener.
Every gardener’s yard should contain a composter to accommodate the household vegetable scraps accumulated over the winter months. The resulting product can be augmented with commercial compost applications. Often local farms have extra aged manure for sale or to give away. It is a good idea to rotate your plantings from year to year as well. This helps ensure fertility and some freedom from disease and pests. We believe that, should enough individuals go back to growing vegetables on small holdings and in private gardens, a revolution in food production is possible. Each household can take some ownership for producing its own food, even in some small way. The number of small farmers in America and Europe is growing, and many are making a comfortable living at it. By supporting and encouraging this movement, we can help them produce healthier food as well as create hundreds of jobs. To all you gardeners and would-be gardeners, we leave you with these words from Michael Pollan: “The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world.” AN
Suggested Reading List:
Compact Farms, Josh Volk, proprietor of Slow Hand Farm Miraculous Abundance, Perrine & Charles Herve-Gruyer The Intelligent Gardener, Steve Solomon The Market Gardener, Jean-Martin Fortier
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L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
94 Arts & Culture
Arts Fest 2017 by Lake of the Woods Arts Community Lake of the Woods Arts Community (LOWAC) is excited to announce that we will be hosting Arts Fest 2017 in the City of Kenora this summer on July 28-30. Artists from our communities have been invited to participate in LOWAC’s three-day festival. July 28: Studio tours, around Kenora July 29: Artist demos and entertainment, Second Street July 30: Coneyfest, Coney Island Several artists will host studio tours on July 28 on a comeand-go basis starting at noon and ending at 7:00 p.m. This unique opportunity gives us a peek into their creative world that we would not otherwise witness. On July 29, artists will be demonstrating their talents, on Second Street South, working in their preferred art medium. Feel free to ask questions, receive valuable tips, purchase works and just enjoy the visual feasts the art provides. Entertainers and educators will be on site from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with demonstrations, music, and cultural activities. For example, the NeChee Centre has arranged a mini powwow to demonstrate many steps performed by dancers of all ages. Since people (especially kids) love to participate, an interactive art diorama will be available for the audience to add their personal touch, based on the Path of the Paddle theme. In past Arts Fest events, visitors were encouraged to paint sails for Sails on Main. Last year, a double scull donated by the Rowing Club was painted and will be on display at this year’s Canada Summer Games Rowing event on Rabbit Lake.
Experimental Watercolour Techniques: Rex Beanland
July 15-16, 2017 10am-4:30pm Cost: $240 Play with water, and let it do what it wants to do, while using that quality to create realistic watercolour paintings. Learn the freedom, experimentation & looseness that can be applied to future paintings.
Arts Fest has proven to be a significant draw for tourists and locals alike, and increased foot traffic along the streets of Kenora always benefits the local businesses. We are inviting all businesses to join with us to ensure this event is once again a success. Merchants are encouraged to set out sidewalk signs and participate as they deem suitable. As with previous years, there will be large tents along Second Street under which artisans can set up demonstrations, as well as a stage for musical or theatrical performers. A bouncy castle will provide added excitement for the little ones. The City of Kenora has permitted LOWAC to once again close off Second Street South to vehicular traffic from Main Street to Matheson Street from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 29 to ensure pedestrian safety and provide a secure site this fun day. July 30 is Coneyfest, the wonderful ‘maybe annual’ music festival held on the beautiful beach on Coney Island. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, personal shelter or whatever the weather dictates, sit back and enjoy the music, the atmosphere and the pleasant boat trip to and from the event. LOWAC members will be there enjoying the show and participating in kids’ activities and art events. LOWAC ‘postcards’ will be available at local businesses and public areas that will provide map direction to studio tours, the entertainment line up for the street festival, and the musical line up for Coneyfest. This and more information will be available on our website, lowac.ca and on our Facebook site lowac – Lake of the Woods Arts Community. And, while you are enjoying the festival, why not post your favorite Arts Fest pictures to #KenoraArtsFest to share the fun.
SummerATArt Workshops INGLENOOK TO REGISTER: (807) 407-1170 | 1051 RAILWAY ST., KENORA
inglenookartstudio.com email: irene@inglenookartstudio.com
Abstract Landscapes: Holly Ann Friesen Aug. 13, 2017 | 10am-4pm | Cost: $120
Holly will help us create & enhance our image by working with the negative space to crearte eye-catching compositions.
CMYK Colour Wheel & Painting the Sunset: Pippi Johnson Aug. 26, 2017 10am-4pm Cost: $120
Painting a sunset with CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow & Black). Used in contemporary design, photography, film, house design & fashion, these colours are clean, clear & adjust to all values ... bold to pastel.
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Arts & Culture 95
ConeyFest 2017 by Ferg Devins
The Coney Island Ninth “Maybe Annual” Music Festival, presented by The Standard Insurance and Wawanesa takes place on Coney Island in the northern most channel of Lake of the Woods, Sunday, July 30 from noon to 5:00 p.m. The event is a family occasion with live entertainment, snack shack, kids games and one of the finest beaches in the area for a dip in the lake. The M.S. Kenora will sail over at 11:45 a.m. with a pick up at 5:00 p.m. Green Adventures will be running shuttles continuously throughout the day from Kenora’s Harbourfront. ConeyFest is a summer “must do” event proudly encouraging youth to get involved in the arts through our relationship with the Lake of the Woods Arts Community - LOWAC.
al si c mu rks pm o o r 45 py irew 10: f y@ a nd su
2017 for more info: go to www.harbourfest.ca
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
96 Phil Burke
The Back Porch The Teapot Fishing Trophy In White Polar Bay fish tales blossom like dandelions but a town favourite is the one told by Leonard Urbanski who volunteered to share it here.
I explained to Aunt Emily that we could use lures. Uncle Walter hooked up a life-like Rapala and began casting like a pro. I snapped a red and white Daredevil lure on Aunt Emily’s line but because she wouldn’t let go of the minnows it was impossible for her to cast. Instead she cradled the minnow pail in her left arm and used her right to hold the rod and dip her lure into the water beside the boat.
Years ago, after their seven-day visit to our new hometown of White Polar Bay, my wife’s eighty year-old aunt proudly loaded the first-ever family fishing trophy—an engraved aluminum teapot—into the trunk of their Ford Crown Victoria.
That was when the bald-headed eagle showed up, (which is what Uncle Walter called it) and he reeled in his line as the magnificent raptor swept toward us. Suddenly it dived, talons foremost and plucked a large sucker from the surface. It beat the air heavily and as it attempted to adjust its grip, the fish fell into our boat directly on top of Uncle Walter’s lure. Uncle Walter held up the fish in a two-handed grip ecstatically announcing that since he had to take it off his hook, he could claim the prize for the contest.
During Aunt Emily’s and Uncle Walter’s visit, we took a fishing trip thanks to a generous friend who loaned us his runabout. My wife Annie—who has no interest in the art or sport of fishing—readily volunteered to stay home with our three pre-school boys and suggested we award a trophy to the person who caught the largest fish. As we left the dock, Uncle Walter, garbed in his life jacket, took the bow seat looking every bit like a sultan reclining upon blaze orange silk pillows. Aunt Emily reminded me of a tiny caterpillar in a blaze orange cocoon as she sat in the middle seat peering into the flip-top minnow bucket on her lap with her feet resting between the tackle box and the landing net. “Oh look,” she squealed. “Eddy’s showing off. He’s swimming on his back.” When one of your fishing guests begins to name the minnows, it cannot bode well. With the Evinrude barely pushing us through the calm water, we headed towards the best secret fishing hole on Poplar Bay. When we reached our destination, Uncle Walter snatched the tackle box and prepared his line in record time. “Emily,” Uncle Walter said, “pass Lenny the minnows so he can bait my hook.” Emily’s eyes widened, she clutched the bucket tighter to her life jacket and outright refused. Nobody was going to skewer any of her little fish. If PETA were around in those days, Aunt Emily would have been the poster child.
All the while Aunt Emily’s lure was dancing and twisting a few inches from the boat. Then the surface erupted in a diamond spray and a mighty jackfish exploded from the water to take the dangling lure. It missed the lure completely but its momentum carried it over the gunnel into the boat. Aunt Emily screamed and dropped the minnow bucket while Uncle Walter leaped to his feet causing the boat to list dangerously. Fortunately Uncle Walter flopped back into his seat but unfortunately his rod and his prize sucker flew into the water along with the minnow bucket, tackle box and net. The jackfish violently pounded the boat bottom amid Aunt Emily’s flailing hooves and then suddenly the fish went dead. Aunt Emily had stomped it to death and of course she claimed the fish for the contest. That evening at dinner Uncle Walter insisted that Aunt Emily could not claim the fish since it leaped into the boat of its own free will while Aunt Emily reminded Uncle Walter that he couldn’t legally claim the sucker since it ended up on his lure thanks to the free will of the bald-headed eagle. The legal arguments shot back and forth across the table until Annie decided there should be a secret ballot with everybody voting including our sons. On the basis of a 5 to 1 majority, Aunt Emily was awarded the first-ever family teapot fishing trophy. There was only one abstention and that was because our youngest son had eaten his ballot. AN
Real Estate Listings 97
Andrew Bay, Pipestone Peninsula
Great building lot on south side of the Pipestone Peninsula in Andrew Bay. Approx. a 25-minute boat ride from Kenora. 1.33 acres with 300 ft of shoreline. Great building location on the point of land.
$123,000
Northwoods Realty
Eagle Lake
24-acre water-access, private peninsula featuring 5,525 feet of shoreline with sheltered coves & harbours.
$129,000
Greg Kirby, Century 21 Reynard Real Estate
Malachi Lake – Lot 1
Water or railway access, well maintained affordable 880 sq. ft. two-bedroom cottage with low maintenance exterior, situated on a very private 0.7-acre lot.
$144,500 ($107,376 USD)
807-547-5555 / kenoracottagecountry.com
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty
Regina Bay, LOTW
Longbow Lake
French Narrows, LOTW
$159,900
$260,000
807-226-1024 / northwoodsrealtyltd.com
2.01 acres vacant land with 160 feet rock shoreline and 8 x 12 storage shed. Road access.
Greg Kirby, Century 21 Reynard Real Estate 807-547-5555 / kenoracottagecountry.com
2.01 acres vacant land with 160 feet rock shoreline and 8 x 12 storage shed. Road access.
Greg Kirby, Century 21 Reynard Real Estate 807-547-5555 /kenoracottagecountry.com
807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
4 bed, 1 bath cottage situated on a 1.65 acres low profile lot with 600+ ft. of north and south frontage/exposures. Includes gazebo, solar power, protected bay with docking and so much more.
$345,000 ($256,363 USD)
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
Ash Rapids Acreages
Ash Rapids is created by two privately owned peninsulas that form a narrow inlet between Lake of the Woods and Shoal Lake. These two acreages boast 42 and 43 acres, respectively, and over 1800 feet of shoreline.
$375,000 ea
Duncan Carmichael Real Estate 807-467-2323 / lakeofthewoods.net
Pelican Pouch, LOTW
The cottage consists of three bedrooms and one bathroom with a total living space of 1,068 square feet.
$385,000
Cabin Country Realty
807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com
Middle Island, LOTW
This privacy is second to none with your own 3.84-acre peninsula on Lake of the Woods.
$385,000
Cabin Country Realty
807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com
98 Real Estate Listings
Whitefish Bay, LOTW
Sylvan Street, LOTW
Sioux Narrows
$399,000
$419,000 ($311,351 USD)
$459,000
350 s/f one bedroom seasonal cottage with 130 s/f A-frame guest cabin and 120 s/f bunkie, cribbed 17’ x 28’ boathouse, electric boat lift on 1.34 acres. Water access.
Greg Kirby, Century 21 Reynard Real Estate 807-547-5555 / kenoracottagecountry.com
Islander Condominiums. Affordable, like-new 2 bedroom condo with private garage, use of workshop & dock slip. Spectacular views of Kenora’s world famous Harbourfront.
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
Year-round cabin or home on Whitefish Bay, Lake of the Woods. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, walkout basement, boathouse and carport. Great privacy and views.
Northwoods Realty
807-226-1024 / northwoodsrealtyltd.com
Rocky Point Drive, Black Sturgeon
Coney Island, LOTW
Big Narrows Acreage
$535,000
$550,000 ($408,695 USD)
$595,000
This original-owner cottage was built in 1993 and sits atop 100% pure Canadian Shield. Amazing privacy here with huge frontage and no neighbours across the bay.
Cabin Country Realty
807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com
Private Island at Big Narrows
Very private 8.9-acre island situated just south of Wiley Point. Pleasing views, no other cottages in sight and sheltered docking with deep waters. The lands have a wonderful, walkable terrain with diverse tree cover - especially cedars.
$595,000
Duncan Carmichael Real Estate 807-467-2323 / lakeofthewoods.net
One owner, 3+ bedroom year round home/cottage with Canexel siding, newer roof, double stall boathouse with lift & separate workshop with a view. 2 minutes to Kenora by boat. Offered turnkey.
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
Approx. 42 acres of titled lands with approx. 11,000 feet of meandering shoreline. Situated 5 islands due south of the docks at Wiley Point Lodge - this immense parcel has enviable privacy.
Duncan Carmichael Real Estate 807-467-2323 / lakeofthewoods.net
Private Island in Smuggler’s Cove
Storm Bay Road, LOTW
$600,000
$644,000 ($486,414 USD)
This beautiful 2 acre island includes a guest cottage, bunkhouse, boathouse and a workshop with its own little sand beach and protected harbour.
Cabin Country Realty
807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com
Sand beach on LOTW. 3 bed, 3 bath, year round home/cottage, with 2 car garage, guest cabin, boathouse, extensive docking and decking, crown neighbour and quiet bay. Great value.
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
Real Estate Listings 99
Tooles Island, LOTW
Clearwater Bay, LOTW
$774,000
$795,000 ($590,749 USD)
2-acre private island located as close to downtown Kenora as it gets. Nice cottage and boat port.
Century 21 Reynard Real Estate 807-468-3747 / toolesisland.com
Year round home/cottage, guest cottages & workshop/garage. Approx. 315 ‘ of frontage with north and south exposure, and sand beach.
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
Woodchuk Bay, LOTW
Low profile, level yard, nicely treed & very private. 3 self-contained cottages with kitchens, living areas, bed, bath, decking & screened porches. Main cottage is approx. 2,520 sq. ft. with 4 bed, 2 bath.
$799,000
Duncan Carmichael Real Estate 807-467-2323 / lakeofthewoods.net
Storm Bay Road, LOTW
Bigstone Bay, LOTW
$900,000
$1,295,000 ($962,289 USD)
South facing low profile lot with a year round, well-kept 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom cottage.
Cabin Country Realty
807-468-3541 / cabincountry.com
4 bed, 2 bath, 2 garages. 3 bed, 1 bath loft & guest cottage. Boat launch and more. Incredible sand beach.
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
Rockeries Road, LOTW
Outstanding 4 bedroom, 2 bath year round home/ cottage on Clearwater Bay. Providing magnificent and expansive southern views of Clearwater Bay, this property is sure to please.
$1,350,000 ($1,003,159 USD) Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
Andrew Bay, LOTW
Own half an island! 1.6 acres, 4 level cottage, pagoda style gazebo and magnificent sand beach.
$1,450,000 ($1,077,467 USD)
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
Storm Bay, LOTW
Custom-built log home with 4,300 sq. ft. 4 bed, 2.5 bath. Geothermal heating, in-floor heat, air conditioning; detached garage. Unmistakable quality & attention to detail. Southwest exposure with 230 ft. of frontage & 6.5 acres.
$1,525,000
Century 21 Reynard Real Estate
807-468-3747 / stormbayloghome.com
Kendall Inlet, LOTW
2 cottages, oversized garage, 4.2 acres with over 1,100’ of low profile deep water frontage on Kendall Inlet East end of Clearwater Bay.
$2,490,000 ($1,850,270 USD)
Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 807-547-4020 / kenora-realestate.com
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
100 Cottage Services A family business serving Lake of the Woods cottagers for over 30 years
Bob’s
ElEctric
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING
• new construction/renovations/cottages
Owned/Operated by
• lake Work ready 24/7
rick Brignall
• acP contractor ESa/Ecra #7008852 • call anytime for a FrEE EStiMatE
807.468.5915 rBrignall@yahOO.ca
SPRAY
FOAM COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL COTTAGE EAVESTROUGH CLEANING LOW PRESSURE HOUSE, COTTAGE & DECK WASH
1-855-4PILING (474-5464)
screwpiling.ca
COTTAGES | DOCKS | BOATHOUSES | DECKS
www.denverswindowcleaning.com
Party Supplies • Tent Rentals • Equipment Rentals
1-800-890-7559 Northwestern Ontario’s Biggest KUBOTA Dealer Box 1240, Kenora
(END OF SIXTH ST. N.)
P 807-548-4131 • F 807-468-4565 bestway.robin@gmail.com
204.320.1935
Protect P ro tyour e c t yo umos r m ots tvaluable v a l u a b l e a sassets sets. .
Cottage & Boat Cottage & BoatSpecialists Insurance Specialists Insurance
Richard McKenzie, Richard McKenzie, CAIB CAIB
800.773.7157 800.773.7157 | rmckenzie@garriock.ca | www.garriock.ca rmckenzie@garriock.ca | www.garriock.ca
Middle Lake Enterprises Inc. Construction
David S. Longe 807-466-8202 mle.longe@gmail.com
Site 8, Box 50, RR #1 Keewatin, ON P0X 1C0 Like us on Facebook
See me at the Farmers’ Market! Check website for dates
midnightloonglass.com (807) 465-5896
Elizabeth Wires ::: Midnight Loon Glass | midnightloonglass@gmail.com
Classified ads are a free service for LOWDPOA members.
How to Submit Classifieds
Real Estate for Sale
Email: diane@lowdpoa.com Mail: LOWDPOA, Box 1160, Kenora, ON P9N 3X7 Next submission deadline: August 4, 2017
Waterfront Condo Location...Location...Location. 2 bdrm, 1 bath, 1150 sq. ft. condo overlooking Kenora Bay. Open concept with living room, dining room and kitchen overlooking the lake. Includes boat slip, garage, guest parking all kitchen appliances, air conditioned plus other nice amenities. This unit is available for immediate occupancy. Asking $419,000. For more information contact maffleck@kmts.ca
Please try to keep your listing to 35 words or less.
For Rent Lakefront Cottage on Lake of the Woods, near Kenora, road access. 3 bedrooms, full kitchen, bath. 2 acres, private bay, sandy beach, floating dock. Available June, July, Aug. $3,000/wk or $5,000/mo. Call (204) 795-5193. Clearwater Bay Easy access mainland Clearwater Bay 4 season home. 3 bdrm, 2 bath, open concept living-dining-kitchen, screened porch. Amenities include full kitchen with dishwasher & microwave, washer/dryer, 2nd fridge, wifi, satellite TV. Southeast exposure, large decks overlooking the lake with barbeque & outdoor eating area. Single slip boathouse and docks with deep water. Minimum stay 2 weeks. Contact janellezaj@mymts.net Exceptional location on Coney Island minutes from Kenora/Keewatin. Large main dock with two floaters that provide deep-water docking and great swimming. Open concept with large kitchen island, all appliances, dishwasher, separate dining area, wood burning fireplace and satellite TV. Screened porch, large wrap around decks, outdoor shower and built-in gas barbecue. Minimum 2 week stay. Email inquiries to bill.ralph@shaw.ca Lakefront cottage on Lake of the Woods, near Kenora. Road access, 2 bdrm, fully modern. Available Aug 11-18. $800 per week. Information and pictures, contact lowcottage@hotmail.com. Private Cottage in Bulman Bay, LOTW - minutes from the Yacht Club. Near Keewatin, 10 mins down McKenzie Portage Road. Lakefront with large dock and great swimming. 4 bdrm, full bath with washer and dryer, good sized kitchen with dishwasher, wood burning fireplace and satellite TV. Screened porch, large deck and firepit. Lots of parking. Recently renovated. Available January through December. Minimum 2 week stay. $2800/week. Email enquires to hklapman@mwgapparel.com
Miscellaneous for Sale Shore Master Cantilever Boat Lift 2500 lb. capacity; 8’ wide x 10’ long. Fully reconditioned; looks like new. Available in LacLu. $3000 OBO. Call 807-543-2853 or email jdwill@kmts.ca Solar System prewired and assembled. Includes: outback equipment, sign wave inverter 2800 watts, charge control, mate, DC breaker box, meters, 6 solar panels 465 watts on frame, 6 batteries L16 and cables. $3200. Also available: 2400 watt inverter: $150. 12-volt DC 1/2HP motor for piston water pump: $175. 3500 watt generator: $200. 3000 watt Kohler propane generator with demand start. Runs at 1800 RPM, needs engine work. Call Dave 807-464-3759 or 219-365-4537 4 Person Hot Tub "SofTub" 4 person hot tub, operates on regular 110 volt 15 amp household outlet, uses very little power as it does not have any heating elements, easy to move, recent liner replacement ($750 value), 6 ft diameter, 850 L water volume, excellent working condition, no leaks! Can be seen at Clearwater Bay. $750 OBO. 204-793-7008 5 x 10 ft utility trailer with tailgate. 2 ft sides. 3,500 lbs axel. Excellent tires; jack on the front. Call 807-534-2225
Want to Buy Grandpa looking for small, light, (no leaks) boat able to be fitted for rowing granddaughter for fishing. Contact Paul McCrea. 604-736-1580 or wunday600@gmail.com. Want to buy a "Shorestation" or similar vertical boat-lift - 6000 lb. capacity. Call 204-896-6141.
Classifieds 101 DeepWater 1700 Challenger Fishing boat. 90hp Yamaha 4 stroke. MinnKota trolling motor with co-pilot remote. Fish Locator. Trailer. $8500 Echo Bay. 204 955 0203 2 Seadoo 2001 GTX with double trailer. One red, one blue. Very lightly used. $8500 Echo Bay. 204 955 0203. 1994 Sea Ray Bow Rider 21 ft, 386 Hours. Mercury 5.7L Immaculate condition. Included: a full Sunbrella canvas set, bow cover, interlocking top extursion, aft curtain, side curtains, cockpit cover and fire extinguisher. Many upgrades. $10,000 (OBO). danielleandre5@hotmail.com or 204-981-4441. 1956 Lyman 19ft runabout, 100 H.P. gray marine inboard, original condition, kept in boathouse, runs great. $18,000. No trailer. For pictures contact Barb. (807) 466-2578 or burchwell@sympatico.ca 2005 – SX175 yellow/white Glastron Boat, inboard Volvo/Penta 4.3L with low hours. Includes fish finder, radio, cover, EZ Load trailer. Asking $11,000. Echo Bay. Call Fred: 807-733-3717 or 204-269-8756 TWO Mercury Racing Motors 1 - 1952 KG7 Super 10 - Hurricane 1 - 15 HP - Modified Current model 16 cu.in. c/w new factory racing lower unit and SS cleaver prop (never used). Phone Jim Geddes for info 204-599-2192 2000 Sea Ray 215 Express Cruiser in immaculate condition, 5.0L fuel injected, 240 hp Mercruiser, less than 450 hrs, trim tabs, depth finder, upgraded stereo, cuddy cab with toilet and sink. Sleeps 2 comfortably, pressurized water system, transom shower, integrated swim platform, full canvas, mooring cover and bimini top. Snap-in carpet, custom cooler, garage stored and professionally serviced. Custom Sea Ray tandem boat trailer included. Located on Storm Bay Road. Great value at $14,750! Call Robert at 250-858-3301 Pace Ship 16’ Sailboat. Fibreglass hull, teak wood trim with small storage cuddy. Great for family, lots of cockpit space, easy to sail and very stable in the water. Built in Mahone Bay, NS. Includes jib, main sail, retractable keel, tiller and all lines. Stored for 16 yrs in good condition. Echo Bay, LOW. donway@mymts.net, 760-733-3333 or 204-888-4698 25 HP Yamaha 2-stroke outboard motor. Just been serviced. Excellent condition. Call 807-542-2225
Island Rental 4 miles west of Sioux Narrows. 2 bdrm cabin with loft, kitchen, chemical toilet & water heater. Sleeps 3-4 adults; 3 children. $1000/ wk; $3000/4 wks. Blueberries galore in July/August. 812-637-3366, mel@getreals.com
10-12 foot John Boat and Grumman canoe. Must be in excellent condition. Call 807-543-2225. Retired couple looking for building lot on LOW. contact Richard at kaletzke@mymts.net
13 acre island for camping or houseboating. Sandy beach; middle of best walleye fishery. No facilities. Search ‘Craig Island Kenora Ontario’ on Google Earth. $500/wk. 812-637-3366, mel@getreals.com
Minn Kota trolling motor 24 volt system. Includes sonar and foot control. Excellent condition. Call 807-543-2225
Want to Hire
Miscellaneous
Lake front 3 bedroom cottage - 30 mins from Kenora a short drive off Trans-Canada Hwy. On a beautiful, quiet lake with lots of bays and clear clean water. Perfect for swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, boating, blueberry picking, hiking & biking. The cottage is great - comfy, very clean and well equipped with a GREAT newly renovated kitchen, 2 decks, floating dock. It will appeal to those who enjoy the outdoors and the joys of lake life. Road access. By the week or longer periods. Phone: (204) 941-0475 Email: LakeforU@mymts.net.
Want to Rent Looking to rent a 4 bedroom cottage with mainland access, west of Kenora. We require 2+ bathrooms. Dates are flexible. Would like either the month of Jul or Aug. brian@canadianfootwear.com, (204) 981-0277.
Cottage Cleaning Wanted. Looking for someone who is available to clean a cottage on Storm Bay Rd. It is a 2400 sq ft cottage with 4 beds and 2 baths. Would require cleaning every two weeks. If interested please email connie@priority.mb.ca
Boats & Motors for Sale 16' 6" Sea-Touring Kayak: Highly recommended "Magellan" model from Dagger. Incredibly rugged, stable, large storage capacity and works for large or regular people. Glides over the water, not through it. Very speedy in all conditions with superb tracking. Foot-pedal rudder needed only in windy conditions. Comes with double-bladed paddle, padded seat with backrest and sprayskirt. Great beginner boat yet truly satisfying for the experienced. $900 cash. Email for photos. Dyke Williams auldbear@aol.com 1985 19.6 SeaRay 260 hp Mercury I/O, new out drive 2015, full tops + mooring cover. Everything runs well, no trailer on lift, in Kenora. Call Bryan 204-955-3780
Lake of the Woods Historical Society Special Events at Mather Walls House. Open for Summer Tours & Teas, July & August, Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm. Canada Day Celebrations & Strawberry Social July 1, 2pm - 4pm. End of Season Blueberry Tea, August 27, 2pm - 4pm. Falcon Lake Golf Course Ladies League FUN LEAGUE PLAY at Falcon Lake Golf Course on Tues mornings for all levels. Tee times start at 9:00 am in June and 8:00 am in July and August. League Fee $25 or $75 including optional R.C.G.A. membership. Fees cover year-end flight prizes. For more info please email brendacleverley@gmail.com
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
102 Advertisers’ Directory Accommodation 50 Nature’s Inn Highway 17 West, Keewatin 807-547-2888 naturesinn.ca
Art Studios & Galleries 94 Inglenook Art Studio 1051 Railway Street, Kenora 807-407-1170 inglenookartstudio.com 49 Mayberry Fine Art 212 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg 877-871-9261 mayberryfineart.com 100 Midnight Loon Glass 807-465-5896 midnightloonglass.com
Apparel 35 Starboard Winnipeg starboardbyhinge.com
Building Materials 72 Kenora Home Hardware Building Centre 1105 Highway 17 East, Kenora 807-468-8975 homehardware.ca 93 Lumber One Building Supplies 1 Willow Drive, Falcon Lake 204-349-2294 lumberone.ca 17 McMunn & Yates 1666 Highway 17 W, Keewatin 807-547-3366 100 Penta Protective Coatings 39 Merit Crescent, West St. Paul 204-992-2603 penta.ca 60 Star Building Materials 16 Speers Road, Winnipeg 204-233-8687 starbuilding.ca/winnipeg
Community & Philanthropy City of Kenora INSIDE BACK 1 Main Street South, Kenora COVER 807-467-2000 kenora.ca
95 Harbourfest harbourfest.ca 47 Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation 21 Sylvan Street West, Kenora 807-468-9861 lwdhf.com Sioux Narrows - Nestor Falls Highway 71 807-226-5241 snnf.ca
Contractors & Construction 2 Black Fox Construction Lot 19, Williams Road, Kenora 807-407-9983 blackfoxconstruction.com 36 Conquest Manufacturing 3077 Road 6 NW, Altona 866-300-0222 conquestbuilt.com 9 DTL Carpentry 204-979-4055 dtlcarpentry.ca 73 Friesen Drillers Steinbach 204-326-2485 friesendrillers.com 100 Middle Lake Enterprises Keewatin 807-466-8202 24 Norsemen Contracting Kenora 807-468-1488 65 Northern Energy 1870 Highway 17 East, Kenora 844-548-7297 74 Oakwood Roofing 1350B Highway 17 East, Kenora 807-467-8824 oakwoodroofing.com 100 Postech Screw Piles 57-075 Symington Rd E, Winnipeg 1-855-4-PILING manitobascrewpiles.ca 5 REMR Roofing 2053 Highway 17 East, Kenora 807-548-2811 remrroofing.com 39 Solid Construction Kenora 807-466-1111 solidconstruction.ca
Docking 58 Clarion Lakeside Inn Marina 470 First Avenue South, Kenora 807-468-5521 61 Docks & Lifts Ltd. 1940 Highway 17 East, Kenora 807-547-4444 docksandlifts.ca
Electrical 100 Bob’s Electric 225 Main Street North, Kenora 807-468-5915 rbrignall@yahoo.ca 46 S&H Electric Contracting 70 Highway 641, Keewatin 807-221-9418 sandh.electrical@gmail.com
Environment 64 Lake of the Woods Control Board 800-661-5922 lwcb.ca
Equipment Sales & Rentals 100 Best Way Rentals 1906 Sixth Street North, Kenora 807-548-4131
Financial Planning 37 The Darcy Zaporzan Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 3100-201 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg 204-982-2635 dzwmg.com 43 Richardson GMP Limited 1 Lombard Place, Winnipeg 204-943-5263
Fireplaces 27 Flame & Comfort 318 Logan Avenue, Winnipeg 204-943-5263 flameandcomfort.com
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
Advertisers’ Directory 103 Home & Cottage Maintenance
89 Brown & Associates Law Office 71 Main Street South, Carman 204-745-2028 brownlawoffice.org
34 Bell’s Septic 807-468-7251 bellskenora.com 100 Denver’s Window Cleaning Services 30 Deerfield Trail, Steinbach 204-320-1935 denverswindowcleaning.com 33 Keystone Security Solutions 1221 Highway 17 W, Keewatin 807-468-7878 keystonelock.ca
34 Lake of the Woods Septic Barge 807-464-3468 septicbarge.com
Home Furnishings 41 Image One Designs 1060 Railway Street, Kenora 807-468-3641 imageonedesigns.com 55 Verti-shade Harbourfront, Kenora 807-468-3980 verti-shade.com
22 Shane Pearce Law 100 Main Street South, Kenora 807-468-7892 82 Shewchuk, Ormiston, Richardt & Johnson LLP 214 Main Street South, Kenora 807-468-5559 kenoralaw.com
91 Lake of the Woods Cottage Guide lowcottageguide.com
8 Notre Dame Sandblasting & Painting 74 Grea Street East, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes 204-871-7463 ndsandblasting.com
48 Hook Seller Lundin LLP 203-301 First Avenue South, Kenora 807-468-9831 hsllawyers.com
Marine 16 Enns Brothers 1095 Railway Street, Kenora 807-468-4077 ennspowersports.com BACK Woodlake Marine COVER 1956 Highway 17 West, Kenora 807-468-2628 woodlakemarine.com
Real Estate INSIDE Cabin Country Realty FRONT 138 Main Street South, Kenora COVER 807-468-3541 cabincountry.com
Insurance 100 Garriock Insurance 390 York Avenue, Winnipeg 800-773-7157 garriock.ca 57 The Standard Insurance Brokers 319 Second Street South, Kenora 807-468-3333 thestandardonline.com
Legal 27 Booth Dennehy LLP, Raymond Oakes 387 Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg 204-957-1717 boothdennehy.com
77 Century 21 Reynard Real Estate 213 First Street South, Kenora 807-468-3747 century21kenora.com 21 Duncan Carmichael Real Estate 625 Lakeview Drive, Kenora 807-467-2323 lakeofthewoods.net 67 Greg Kirby, Century 21 Reynard Real Estate 807-547-5555 kenoracottagecountry.com Northwoods Realty 5701A Highway 71, Sioux Narrows 807-226-1024 northwoodsrealtyltd.com 52 Shelley Torrie Home & Cottage Realty 721 Beach Road, Kenora 807-547-4020 kenora-realestate.com
Recreation 86 Blue Heron Lake Tours Kenora 807-466-7752 facebook.com/blueheronlaketours 69 Snow Much Fun Winnipeg 204-269-4357 snowmuchfun.com
Restaurant & Eatery 75 Lake of the Woods Brewing Co. 350 Second Street South, Kenora 807-468-2337 lowbrewco.com
Retail 70 Blue Heron 321 First Avenue South, Kenora 807-468-7748 29 Donny B 39 Main Street South, Kenora 807-468-3084 donnyb.ca
Sunrooms 87 Suncoast Enclosures 1106 Buchanan Boulevard, Winnipeg 204-292-2173 suncoastenclosures.com
Stuff to Buy & Eat 31 Bearheart Kids Boutique 31 Broken Paddle Coffee Roastery & Kitchen 30 HAF Art Studio & Gallery 31 Ho Joe Coffee & Eatery 30 Lake of the Woods Brewing Co. 31 Plaza Restaurant 30 Tangled Tree Framing & Gifts 30 The Hardwear Company 30 The Seasons Shop 31 Weekend Adventure
Water Treatment 71 Wolframe’s World of Water 710 Lakeview Drive, Kenora 807-468-4338
L.O.W. AREA NEWS
SUMMER 2017
104 History
Continuing our recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary, here is another look at our region’s history.
Rowing: Kenora’s Cup of Tea by Lori Nelson
Young Tom Lipton was barely out of short pants before he left school and booked his passage across the ocean from Scotland to the United States. His was an education of hard knocks and when he returned to his home country five years later it was with a wealth of experience that set him on a path of hard work, determination and success. When Sir Thomas Lipton had amassed a fortune through his tea company, he sought ways to reward those same qualities in the fields of sailing and rowing. Pertinent to our story is his presentation in 1914 of the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup, an impressive sterling silver cup standing three feet in height, to the Winnipeg Rowing Club. Awarded to the rowing club scoring the greatest number of points during the annual Northwestern International Rowing Association (NWIRA) regatta, the Lipton Cup is a symbol of hard work, determination and dedication – qualities with which Sir Thomas Lipton was only all too familiar. The NWIRA included clubs from Winnipeg, Fort William, St. Paul, Duluth, Minneapolis, Pine Falls, Regina and Kenora. The Rat Portage Rowing Club had its beginnings in 1890 and had seen its moments of glory, boasting the likes of Jake Gaudaur, single scull world champion, and Jack Hackett, considered to be the fastest amateur sculler in America at the time, among their ranks. In those early club years, the local rowers performed so well that the club was admitted into the Minnesota-Winnipeg Rowing Association, later to become the NWIRA. It was no surprise that it was the larger clubs of Winnipeg and Duluth that dominated at the regattas and for the first 11 years of the awarding of the Lipton Cup, only their names were engraved on the trophy. A Minnesota club managed to wrest the championship from them in 1929 but it was in 1930 that there was a real upset.
1930 Kenora Rowing Club with the Lipton Cup (Lake of the Woods Museum collection)
The Kenora Rowing Club (KRC), only 15 members strong, pulled out all the stops at the hometown event and their brilliant
performance not only garnered them superlatives in the local newspaper—“herculean feats of pluck and endurance”, “flawless performances”, “peak of physical perfection and endurance”—but earned them the coveted Lipton Cup. From the first race, when the KRC’s two entries in the Junior Fours, took first and second, until the final race of the day when the Junior Eights slimly missed the victory by a mere 18 inches, the Kenora Club commanded the race course. The club racked up first and seconds throughout the two-day regatta finishing with an overall score of 133 points, well above their nearest competitor, St. Paul with 87 points. At that time, it was the Bergman brothers, Gunnar, Charlie and Herb, Max Cameron, Bob Gibson, Les Ingo, Bill McCann, Bud Brown, Vic Carlson, and others whose strength and skill won the honours for Kenora. The years following, from 1931-1935, were lean years and the Kenora Club was only able to send one crew a year to the regatta. The club’s continued but limited participation met the host requirements for the NWIRA and ensured that the regatta would be back in Kenora in 1936. With limited work, but plenty of time, the club members trained twice daily under the coaching of Oscar Martin and when July 1936 rolled around the local club was ready. The temperatures soared the week of the regatta, topping out at 105˚F on the final day. That, and the unusually high humidity, created challenging conditions for the athletes, but it seemed nothing was going to stop the Kenora boys who once again showed their true mettle. The Senior Four of Gunnar Bergman, Gordie Stiles, Jim Miller and Herb Bergman triumphed over the nationally hailed Regina Four and set a course record. The Junior Doubles of Andy and Jim Miller swept to first place, as did the Junior Fours, the Senior Doubles, and the Working Boats. When the final race, the Bantam Eight, was run, Kenora had things well in hand. Their first place finish in that race clinched the Cup once again. For such a small club (19 members in 1936) the win was impressive. And although the Kenora Rowing Club name is inscribed only twice on the Lipton Cup, their continued tenacity, skill, and strength are still strong characteristics of the local club, whose cup of tea is most definitely rowing. AN
Don’t spend your entire summer just relaxing at the cottage.
Swinging Seniors June 10 Matiowski Farmer’s Market Every Wednesday-June 21 to Oct 4
Dingwall Car and Boat Show June 15 to 17
Triple “B” Beer, BBQ, Blues June 23 to 25
Winnipeg Symphony June 30 Canada’s 150th Birthday Celebration July 1 Artsfest July 21 to 23
Canada Summer Games Rowing Regatta July 28 to August 5 Coney Island 9th ‘Maybe Annual’ Music Festival July 30 Kenora Agricultural Fair August 3 to 5
Harbourfest August 4 to 6 KBI - Kenora Bass International August 10
Lobsterfest August 19 Esox Musky Challenge Sept 16 to 17
Haven’t been to Kenora lately? Check out our amazing new restaurants, along with your old favourites – or do some shopping in our exceptional boutiques. For a complete listing of events,please visit
kenora.ca
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