E-NEWS MAY 2021

Fellow LJNA members and Lake Joseph Neighbours,

Up on Lake Joe the spring buds are slowly unfolding as if they are waiting for all of us to be able to come up to the lake. With patience and a bit of luck we will all be back on our docks with family and friends soon. Hope that you and yours are well and staying safe.

The Board is proceeding with the hope of a full summer of activities for the association. Water testing and our dock drop are set to proceed, in family groups; our AGM will, hopefully, be hybrid on the August long weekend; and our fireboat celebrations and benthic testing plans will adapt as the rules permit. We are always looking for new energy and ideas. More details are below. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! 

The recent announcement by Seguin to enforce a ban on short-term cottage rentals has stirred up a lot of discussion -- on both sides. Thanks to Cecil Hayhoe and Karen McCullough for the update from the Mayor included below. In addition to news from the association and local activities, we are including links to some very interesting and informative items: an update on the Parry Sound 33 Fire of 2018, a seminar series from the Muskoka Discovery Centre and some local gardening resources.

Look for your membership renewal email soon. Last year, we were thrilled to see our numbers grow and exceed our target. Your ongoing support is so important to the work we do. Thank you!

Wishing you and your family a very happy and safe Victoria Day Weekend - wherever you end up celebrating….

Warm regards,

Nancy Cohen, President

info@ljna.org

LJNA Update

Short-Term Cottage Rentals (STCR)

Short-term cottage rentals (STCR) is a hot button issue this year. Covid has increased the demand for (and price of!) cottage rentals, making renting very positive for some cottage owners. At the same time neighbours complain about renters who abuse safety and noise protocols. Seguin, like other townships in cottage country, decided this year to strictly enforce existing bylaws in an effort to control what is becoming a real problem. The LJNA has been actively participating in public consultation on this issue. You can read our most recent letter to the township here.

This week we reached out to Seguin for clarification and received this reply from Mayor Ann MacDiarmid: 

Seguin has had a bylaw in place since 2006 that prohibits all commercial activity in areas zoned “residential." The number of complaints we have been receiving with neighbours objecting to nearby cottage rentals has risen sharply in the past few years - especially with organizations like AirBnB, VRBO and Jayne’s cottages. Council felt it was time to test out the existing bylaw by informing cottage renters that commercial activity is not permitted in most shoreline areas. 

Registered letters were sent out to owners who we know rent their cottages informing them of the existing bylaw, as well as to the rental companies. Many already have contracts in place to rent during the summer of 2021. When they contact the Township, we work with them to understand their existing contractual obligations, and to make sure that they do not accept future rental contracts.

While we understand this is a divisive issue, Council felt we needed to enforce the existing bylaw or change it. We are awaiting a detailed staff report on discussions our bylaw folks are having the owners who have received our notices. Our overall goal is to protect the neighbourhood nature of our lakeside communities. Various options are likely to come forward from an outright ban on all rentals, insisting that short term rentals of less than 2 or 3 weeks are banned, a licensing program, or any combination of these options.

We are at a learning stage now. If you or any of your neighbours want further information, please call Don Hood, Chief Bylaw Officer at the Township. I hope that this helps to clarify.

Ann MacDiarmid, 

Mayor of Seguin Township

The Official Plan review process is moving forward slowly. The Steering Committee requested more time for discussion prior to the planning consultants drafting new policies. As a result, four major subjects have been identified for discussion: Economic Development, Liveability and Healthy Communities, Heritage and Healthy Lakes, and Servicing. For each a briefing paper will be prepared for review and discussion by the steering committee.

The first of these discussions (Economic Development) occurred on April 29. There was broad agreement that development must not compromise our natural environment and healthy lakes. Additionally, there was agreement to pursue economic growth and diversification through focus on transportation and “new economy” sectors. Promotion and regulation of home-based businesses was discussed. A summary is expected over the next week or so.

The review of all four issues will be completed in July and a revised final Scoped Issues Paper will be presented to Council. The steering committee will also be involved in the preparation of that report.

When Council approves the final Scoped Issues Paper the consultants will prepare draft Official Plan policies followed by further consultation with the steering committee, community and Council. This will culminate in a public participation process anticipated in September/October of this year and a further opportunity for the steering committee to be involved in the final policy preparation and round of public process early in 2022. The goal is to have the final version of the updated Official Plan before Council for adoption no later than May 2022.

I welcome your comments or input at jbuchanan@rockledges.com and will distribute more information for comment when the process becomes more focused on issues directly affecting cottagers.

James Buchanan

LJNA Board, Municipal Affairs

James serves on the Steering Committee for Seguin Township’s Official Plan review, along with the mayor, several councillors and other community representatives.

'Your Lakes, Your Views' Survey

LJNA is proud to be participating once again in the 2021 “Your Lakes – Your Views” survey with Safe Quiet Lakes. This is an important survey that gathers the experiences and opinions of all who use the waterways in the Muskoka and Georgian Bay regions. 

Results of their 2013 and 2017 Surveys have been presented to Municipalities, Transport Canada, the OPP, boating organizations and many others to help communicate the interests and concerns of the users of our region’s lakes. These results have also been used by associations, like ours, to understand members’ concerns and plan programs.

Starting May 20, you will receive an invitation and reminder emails with a link to the survey. We are encouraging all generations to complete the survey in order to ensure all opinions are heard. We look forward to sharing results with you later in the summer.  

LJNA Wants You!

A lot goes on behind the scenes, and you can help. 

Does meeting new neighbours interest you? Deliver the LJNA annual newsletter to docks in your bay. Do you enjoy planning events? Help organize the AGM or the Fire Boat launch. Need volunteer hours for school? Participate for a few hours searching for “bugs in the mud," to help determine lake water quality. Interested in municipal politics? Join our LJNA Municipal Affairs committee. As the summer season approaches we are reaching out to you, our members. Contact Nancy Cohen, LJNA president at info@ljna.org.

We really, really want you to send us OLD PHOTOS! 

Does anyone have photos from the '90s of swim lessons with Hilary Morris in Gordon Bay? How about Hal Hunter’s water ski hi jinx in Hamer Bay? Can you show us the shorelines 20, 30 or 50 years ago? Old Muskoka cottages? Can you pull out some photos of your ancestors in the bathing costume of yesteryear? Or the old boats that used to ply the lake? 

These are just some suggestions of the types of photos that we would love to share with LJNA members to commemorate our 25th anniversary.

The Dixon farmhouse (1898-2020) in Hamer Bay. The Dixon family farmed the entire east side, then called Dixon Bay, from the 1870s. 

Stay Informed

Muskoka Flood Watch on April 29:

"Lake levels are approaching summer normal and the concern about being too low at start of summer has been alleviated."

Remember the Parry Sound 33 Fire of 2018?

Many of you remember there was massive fire in the French River area in 2018. It ravaged 30,000 acres of land between the Pickerel and Key Rivers, annihilating important wetlands. White Squall Outdoor Store in Parry Sound recently drew our attention to an excellent video “Paddle to the Fire” about the McMaster University team studying the fire and working to help reestablish the wetlands and ecosystem. Watch it here.

Photo by Dan Leonard 

MNRF Aviation Forest Fire Emergency Services, July 27, 2018

Image from "Paddle to the Fire"

In the Community

Hummingbird Gardens has been around for 23 years, serving a regular clientele at the top end of Lake Joe.

Owner Diane Dow grows all her nursery stock right on the premises without pesticides. She has everything needed for the garden and porch - baskets, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. 

More than plants for the garden...

Although best known for plants and flowers for the garden, Hummingbird also sells home-grown, pesticide-free, organic vegetables, picked fresh daily. 

Need help designing, creating or maintaining your cottage landscape? Hummingbird does this too. 

Located at 311 Clear Lake Road, they are open daily from Monday to Saturday, 9:00-4:00 and Sunday 10:00-3:00.
(After July 1st, closed on Sundays.)

Virtual Speakers' Series on Sustainability

LOVE MUSKOKA ♥ SUSTAIN MUSKOKA!

Discover ways to make a difference.

The world is talking about Sustainability and Climate Change. Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre have assembled the best speakers to talk about the impact on Muskoka. In collaboration with 17 regional organizations, they have organized a range of virtual webinars on the most relevant and important topics. Register here for upcoming webinars and to view previous webinars in the series: 

Indigenous Perspective: Reconnecting with the Natural World, Thursday, May 20, 5 p.m. Imagining a Good Future for Our Lakes Despite Climate Change, Thursday, May 27, 5 p.m.

Looking to plant native species?

The Georgian Bay Biosphere is offering its 5th annual Native Plant Fundraiser! Over 40 species of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers are available. Order deadline: Friday May 28th Place your order here!

Get Ready. Get Set. Go!  

For the 14th Annual WALK, RUN, POLE in support of the West Parry Sound Hospital Foundation.

From May 1-30 get a group together and exercise with us! Or go it alone. Become part of LoveOurHospital.com. Set your kilometre goal. Set your 'Funraising' goal. It’s not about one of us, it’s about all of us together. Moving to be the difference for our bodies, our minds and our local hospital. 

The E-News is published on a regular basis to keep Lake Joe residents and LJNA members 

informed of items of importance and interest to them. 

Editor: Karen McCullough, LJNA member

Volunteer s bring fresh ideas and perspectives to our work. Interested? Contact us at info@ljna.org.

The Lake Joseph North Association (LJNA) represents the interests of shoreline residents on the Seguin section of Lake Joseph, including Portage Lake.