Fellow LJNA members and Lake Joseph Neighbours, I hope this finds you and your family healthy and staying safe. Perhaps some of you choose to spend the Ontario lockdown at Lake Joe. And why not! It is a spectacular place to be in the winter. Nothing like the quiet of a snowy winter hike on a crisp day or a good read curled up by the fire. While the winter winds are still blowing, the board has turned its attention to planning our summer activities. At this stage we are getting a sense of which activities we will be able to resume by summer. Bets are on a hybrid season. We are hopeful that our regular water testing and our new benthic testing program will both be able to move forward and will be recruiting new volunteers as soon as we have the details confirmed.
Summer 2021 is an anniversary year for the LJNA - 20 years since officially incorporating and 25 years since the first meetings. We will be celebrating the history of our lake in photos and stories on our website and in our summer newsletter. More details below and to come. We will also be celebrating the fireboat. A public launch event will take place as soon as it is in the water and public health guidelines allow. Thank you once again to everyone across Lake Joseph North who donated to make the fireboat a reality! We continue to monitor activities of Seguin Council and other organizations in our community. Some highlights are included below. We hope you enjoy reading this E-News and we welcome your comments and ideas. You can reach our editor Karen McCullough or me at info@ljna.org. Warm regards, Nancy, President |
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Seguin Official Plan (OP) Issues to be Reviewed February 1 by Council
In the December E-News we advised that a Scoped Issues Report was being prepared by the OP consultants describing the set of planning issues for which resolutions and changes will be considered. The Report was issued for review to the OP steering committee before the holidays. Input from a broad stakeholder group was considered in preparing this report and it appears as though all the issues that LJNA identified and presented last summer are included. The next step is for the consultants to present this to Town Council for discussion and approval on February 1. Following that the pace of activity is expected to ramp up considerably as options for changes are developed and assessed. We will be directly involved and will report on any issues of concern or areas where further membership input is required.
James Buchanan LJNA Director, Municipal Affairs |
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Watershed Management
A paper was released in November 2020 by Chris Cragg titled “The Evolution of Water Management in the Muskoka River Watershed”. This paper is a great read for anyone who is interested in understanding the intricacies of managing the water flow in a complex watershed. It was prepared with input by the Muskoka Watershed Council for use by the Water Quantity Task Force.
In the paper Cragg examines the history of water management in Muskoka, describes the watershed with regard to size, geology and characteristics, and introduces the concepts of water balance and water cycle. He further goes on to discuss the impacts of dams and other water retaining structures, the current water management plan, fish spawning impacts, recent flooding, and the implications of climate change and development. Finally Cragg offers some options for decreasing the impacts of floods.
In summary Cragg states “The Muskoka River Watershed is complex. As a result, there is no simple solution to flooding…. While there are options to lessen flooding effects, implementing them without considering other elements of the watershed would inevitably come to an incomplete solution. The solution must include the watershed ecosystem, the interests of landowners and the local economy.”
To read the paper please go to https://www.muskokawatershed.org/wp-content/uploads/WaterMgmt-Nov2020.pdf. Alex Magditsch LJNA Director, Water Quality
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Let's tell our Story in Pictures Families have lived and cottaged on Lake Joe for hundreds of years. As 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the Lake Joseph North Association, we want to capture that history. SEND US PHOTOS OF PEOPLE, PLACES, EVENTS that tell the story of life and leisure in this part of Muskoka. |
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Here’s an old photo postcard of Rocky Crest. Can anyone identify the era?
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LJNA Community Fund.
For the last few years the LJNA has been a sponsor of Seguin Dog Sled Mail Run as part of our commitment to support community initiatives that are of interest to our members. Unfortunately, this very popular Family Day weekend activity has been cancelled this year. Recognizing the tremendous impact of Covid on the community, the Board has voted to direct this contribution to Harvest Share in Parry Sound. Their mission is "to improve access to healthy, nutritious food for individuals & families in need in the District of Parry Sound." Nancy |
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Seguin Township
The January issue of Seguin Newsletter features Mayor’s Ann McDiarmid’s New Year letter and some tips on winter safety at the cottage.
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West Parry Sound Health Centre - Keeping the Pandemic at Bay
While the incidence of Covid in our region has been very low, the pandemic has demanded a lot from our health care workers. Here is an encouraging report from Lynne Atkinson, Executive Director & Corporate Secretary of the West Parry Sound Health Centre Foundation. |
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At the Health Centre, our team, like our community, has been working diligently to keep the pandemic at bay. Still it’s a challenge. Every single day things change. But adopting shifting protocols quickly, along with training, has been instrumental during the pandemic. The tremendous challenges have all of us adapting swiftly to keep patients and staff safe. The incredible community support has also made a difference. New high tech systems and equipment bought by donors has meant proper care when its needed, where its needed, throughout the Health Centre.
Despite the pandemic our new CT Scan installed in January 2020 undertook a mere 60 scans less than the old one in 2019. In all, our entire medical imaging system undertook 20,613 procedures in 2020. To our donors, please take that as 20,613 thank yous! Our new 4-piece x-ray system is delayed, but on January 19 a loaner mobile x-Ray, like the one we have on order, arrived to take its turn as part of our workhorse team in medical imaging.
Vaccines on the Way
Each Regional Public Health Unit is responsible for planning and directing the dissemination of COVID-19 vaccines. Long term care residents in Parry Sound began receiving their first COVID-19 vaccination on Tuesday, January 26.
Read the Foundation's full newsletter here. |
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Safety on the Ice! How do we know when it is safe to venture out on the lakes that surround us? The Federation of Cottage Associations (FOCA) has this offer: Ice Safety Webpage
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Covid Closes Outdoor Activities
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (NBPSDHU) has closed all outdoor facilities and cancelled outdoor events for the duration of the provincial Stay-at-Home order. Most winter activities in Seguin are cancelled or on hold until at least February 16 as a result. This includes skating rinks and trails, toboggan hills and snowmobile trails within the district.
37th annual Rosseau Sled Dog Mail Run Goes Virtual!
This year a virtual Rosseau Sled Dog Mail Run will take place on Saturday, February 13 at 10 a.m. In other years, breakfast has been served at the Humphrey Community Centre before the sled teams head cross country to the Rosseau post office with letters to be hand-stamped and mailed as in olden days. The Seguin website will have more details as the date approaches.
Walking Trails Still Open
The Rose Point Trail and the Humphrey Nature Trails are still open. They provide 8 km of meandering forest paths for walking, snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing free of charge.
The town of Rosseau offers a self-guided walking tour of historical landmarks. Access the map on the Seguin website and take a winter stroll. |
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Online Writing Workshop with Renowned Author Joseph Boyden
Many members will have read one or more books by Joseph Boyden, who resides in the Parry Sound area.
Boyden is conducting online writing workshops, starting February 6 and running for four sessions. What better time to explore or hone a talent for creative writing? |
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ERRATUM! Bearly Used Books - The address of Bearly Used Books in the December 2020 E-news was incorrect, and should read:15 James St, Parry Sound. |
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The Lake Joseph North Association (LJNA) represents the interests of shoreline residents on the Seguin section of Lake Joseph, including Portage Lake.
Volunteers bring fresh ideas and perspectives to our work. Interested? Contact us at info@ljna.org. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe at any time
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