Fellow LJNA members and 

Lake Joseph neighbours, 

Summer is coming and with it, much more activity on the lake.   We are  looking  forward to fun on the water and to seeing more of each other in person including at the AGM – scheduled for the morning of Saturday August 6^th at Gordon Bay Marine. Please mark your calendar now! 

There are many other opportunities to get involved and participate in our lakeside community - a list is below. We welcome your ideas and energy. 

I recently received a note from one of our members on boat noise (from directional speakers on PWC’s in this case). He made a very interesting connection to the economic concept usually referred to as the Tragedy of the Commons. Thinking about this, I realised that this is a powerful way to view the work of the LJNA. Our Commons is our shared lake environment: the water, the surrounding shoreline and views, the natural environment…. How we share the Commons will have a big impact on the kind of lake we leave to the next generations. LJNA activities are motivated by and focused on working together to find the best ways to share our beautiful Lake Joe.  

An important example of this ongoing conversation is our participation in the revisions to Seguin’s Official Plan. LJNA Director James Buchanan has an update below.  A highlight is our plan to survey the membership for feedback on some of the alternatives. Stay tuned. 

On a personal note, and talking about sharing, we were startled and delighted to learn that a Massassauga Rattler was possibly spotted on our property! Before you run into one in your space you might want to check out these links: WPSHC Antivenom Depot and Ontario Species at Risk.

Your ongoing support and engagement is so important to the work we do. Thank you! 

Happy Victoria Day weekend!

Warm regards,

Nancy Cohen, President

LJNA Update

Official Plan Review - Public comment welcome - James Buchanan

As we have reported previously, Seguin is in the process of reviewing and updating this important policy document. LJNA has been involved in the development of the Official Plan (OP) since its inception and board member James Buchanan is currently serving on the township’s OP steering committee. LJNA has also received input from a planning consultant with extensive experience in these matters.   

The first draft Official Plan for Seguin Township has finally been released for public comment and is available on the Official Plan Review website. Seguin is inviting comments on this first draft until June 30. A schedule of the next steps can be view HERE.

Early in the process, LJNA submitted a summary of 9 issues of importance. Many of these have been addressed the draft plan and in general, we believe that it continues to reflect our members interests in protecting the environment and character of the shoreline on Lake Joseph. However, some important issues and questions remain.

The LJNA board will formally submit comments and questions before the June 30 deadline. We expect to survey our members on key provisions of the draft in July for a second submission from the association in August. We invite all members to participate in the process and to send any feedback to James at jbuchanan@rockledges.com.

The Official Plan (OP) is one of the Townships most important policy documents and will guide land use in the Township over the next 10 or more years. Once the OP is approved these policies are implemented in By-Laws. The consultation process is very important and helps to ensure the OP reflects input from all of us.  

Blasting and Excessive Site Alteration - Nancy Cohen

In the fall, the LJNA wrote to Council urging them to move forward swiftly to address excessive site alterations through stronger bylaws, effective enforcement and appropriate penalties. Seguin is now seeking public input on proposed revisions to the by-law (more detail below). We are preparing comments on behalf of LJNA and are encouraging all members to do so as well. Our goal is to work constructively with staff and Council to bring solutions to the table that preserve the "view from the canoe" and ensure property owners have reasonable options for their site.

LJNA volunteers are once again participating in the MLA Water Quality Monitoring in 2022. Samples are collected four times per season beginning on the May long weekend. New volunteers will be accompanied by a trained volunteer who will provide an introduction to the program, sampling locations and sampling methods, with the hope that the new volunteers would be willing to take over some of the sampling in future years. If anyone is interested in helping out with collection of water samples for the MLA water quality program, please contact Alex Magditsch.

MLA 2021 Water Quality Results for Lake Joe North Are In.

The 2021 MLA Water Quality Report has been released in an online interactive map available to MLA members.  The results for the northern portion of Lake Joseph are similar to previous years and are below Provincial Water Quality Monitoring Objectives.

Volunteer Opportunities for Summer 2022

Water Testing: Help with testing at four sites four times over the summer. Contact Alex Magditsch.

Benthic "Bugs in the Mud" Monitoring: Several volunteers are required for a couple of hours to count the various critters. This would be an ideal event for high school students interested in biology or university students studying Environmental Sciences. Anyone else who is interested in learning about Benthic invertebrates is, of course, also welcome. Contact Lynda McCarthy.

Dock Drop: Be one of a team to deliver the LJNA Annual Newsletter by boat in early July (and meet your neighbours!). Contact Blair Sinclair.

AGM Coordinator: Help organize and run this annual event on Saturday August 6. Contact Nancy Cohen.

Municipal Elections October 2022: Help ensure LJNA members are aware of the issues and get out to vote. Contact Nancy Cohen.

Website: A great opportunity to contribute to our community and help the LJNA build online resources. Contact Nancy Cohen.

Stay Informed

Shoreline Alteration and Tree Protection Bylaw Consultation 

Seguin is inviting public input to the issue of shoreline alteration. This obviously concerns waterfront property owners, i.e. LJNA members. Click here to review possible changes to the 2008 bylaws and give your opinion. Deadline is May 31. To participate you must first create an account by clicking on Register in the top right corner of the page.

Free Dump Days

Large items can be taken to the Seguin Landfill Site,  39 Star Lake Road from 8am - 4 pm on: 

• May 14, 15, 21, 22 and 23, 2022
• June 25 to September 5, 2022

Free Dump Days allow items such as furniture, mattresses, brush, tires, scrap metal, appliances, electronics, and boat shrink wrap that are not allowed at transfer sites. Items not allowed: refrigerators, construction materials, shingles and boats. 

To participate in our Free Dump Days events, proof of residency is required (i.e. tax bill, drivers license).

Note: Hazardous waste must be disposed of at McFarlane Transfer Station, Parry Sound.

Seguin has created an election webpage  election webpage with information about the October 24th municipal election. It includes instructions for ensuring you are on the voters’ list.

“Camping” on the Water

The use of floating container homes on Ontario lakes is gaining interest by vacationers and reaction from cottage associations and government. 

The MLA outlines some of the issues in question: “Unlike a houseboat, these are intended to be used for living space rather than travel. They are marketed as homes, but can be a navigational hazard, a visual scar and an environmental risk through sewage, wastewater and grey water leakage. Surprisingly, since floating accommodations are not on land, they are not subject to any building, safety or environmental regulations, and pay no property taxes.”

The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry gathered initial public input on the issue earlier in the spring; no news has been posted yet regarding their response or intended action.   The LJNA submitted comments and will keep members informed of any progress on this issue.

MLA Webinar on Water Quality

The MLA prepared and presented an interesting Webinar titled “What’s in your water” on May 10, 2022. This Webinar touched on the history of the MLA and the water monitoring program, the specifics of the monitoring program and why monitoring is conducted, and what cottagers and property owners can do to keep the water healthy. The Webinar can be watched HERE.

Season Opener

Opening up the cottage for the season makes you think of getting the deck furniture out, and checking mouse traps. But FOCA has put together a list of checks that relate to safety for the season for you and your loved ones at the cottage. Make these items part of your check list this weekend.

Invasive Species Action Plan

A new Ontario law went into effect in January making it illegal to launch any boat, motorized or not, containing water or inadvertently hosting aquatic plant residue from other bodies of water. Boaters are encouraged to clean, drain and dry vessels before transporting them. 

A new gardener’s guide Grow Me Instead, published by the Ontario Invasive Plant Council identifies species which are non-native and/or invasive and offers alternative species to plant. 

Fire Regulations

It is not too early to think about the potential for forest fires. Consult Outdoor fire rules and permits at Ontario.ca to know what is allowed and when.  Seguin's fire rating is updated on their website - HERE.

In the Community

Local Pottery to Buy - or Make!

Joy Bellamy got her first experience working with clay as a child during her summers cottaging nearby on Crane Lake. In 2012 Joy made Seguin Township her home, where she owns and operates Riverware Pottery from her home. “Throwing on the potter's wheel and teaching are two of my passions and my business allows me to incorporate both of these,” Joy says.  

Riverware Pottery was named for the Sandusky River in Ohio, where Joy grew up and worked for most of her career as a teacher before relocating to Seguin. When her church commissioned her to create commemorative pottery for their sesquicentennial in 2016, Riverware Pottery was born. Joy started by selling pottery in several shops and from her studio, then moved to on-line sales during Covid. She incorporates her love of nature in every piece she makes, setting the leaves and flowers and images of Muskoka animals in stone, literally. A teacher at heart, she also loves teaching others to roll up their sleeves and try their hand at the potter’s wheel. 

Individuals and groups of any age can learn to “throw” pottery with Joy. Birthday parties, Wine and Wheel and “clay dates” are examples of events Joy hosts in her studio. For real pottery enthusiasts a series of lessons can be arranged. Joy also makes available Take and Paint kits to work on at home. 

To visit the studio 34 West Roberts Lake Road, or for more information on pottery classes and events, contact Joy at 705-746-0421. Joy’s pottery can also be viewed and purchased at Riverware Pottery or on Facebook.

Want to view a past issue of the LJNA E-News?

We’ve loaded several years of them on the website.

Click here to access them.

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

The E-News is published on a regular basis to keep Lake Joe North residents and LJNA members informed of items of importance and interest to them.

Editor: Karen McCullough, LJNA member - editor@ljna.org

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