KAPOA Spring Newsletter 2024

There is something for everyone and every interest in this issue:

2024 – KAPOA’s Been Busy!

A Warm Welcome + Volunteers are Still Needed

2024 Events Calendar – Hold these Dates!

KAPOA Dues, Membership Area Reps and Keeping in Touch

12th Annual Poker Run 2024

Regatta 2024

Everyone Loves a Contest

Some things to do in the Valley & Highlands – have you been?

KAPOA T-Shirts are Still Available

What’s Happening in Council (& Locally)

In Our Neck of the Woods

CTLG is Taking the “Lead”

Useful Links:

OPG Presentation Feb 12
Floating Homes Legislation Progress
Bonnechere River Watershed Stewardship
Protecting our Lake: What Can Homeowners Do?
Memories of High Waters in 2017 and 2019
Forestry Stuff for the Forestry Buff
Invaders in the News
Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Publication: Celebrating Over Ten Years of Community Science
Cottage Succession Planning Webinars Continued
Don’t Forget FOCA Benefits

______________________________________________________________

2024 – KAPOA’s Been Busy!

Spring is in the air and we’re starting to anticipate another great season in the Kamaniskeg Lake area. KAPOA has lots underway this year already! Planning and budgeting for the 2024 Poker Run has started, see below for some changes to this year’s event including an afternoon start time and dinner at the beach! The regatta is under new management but promises to be everything you expect and more! Our AGM is also trying out a new date and time, we’ve never scheduled a weeknight in August before. We are kicking off a contest for a free shoreline rehabilitation, you could win up to 100 native plants that will be planted for you in spring 2025, see below! We’ve had a Director change, please welcome Candice Langlois as KAPOA’s new Treasurer! And finally, we’ve been watching lots of stewardship and ecology webinars and attending the FOCA spring seminar so we have lots of links and news to share below – please read on!

Underused Housing Tax affects US owned property – we sent out a bulletin on Jan 8 to remind all American owners of Canadian seasonal properties that there are filing requirements and a filing deadline of April 30, 2024 for the “Underused Housing Tax.” If you owned some types of residential property in Canada on December 31, 2022 and are neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident: “even if your ownership of the property qualifies for an exemption and you do not owe any tax, you still must file a return” according to the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), and late filing penalties may apply. There is also an application of this legislation for Canadian owners of non-seasonal properties that are considered “under utilized”. Go to Underused Housing Tax (UHT) – Canada.ca to learn more.

FOCA AGM – Kerra virtually attended the FOCA Spring Seminar and AGM on Mar 2. A highlight of the gathering was the celebration of the retirement of Terry Rees, Executive Director of FOCA and the introduction of the new FOCA CEO, Lesley Lavender. Lesley is keen to continue FOCA’s strong voice for waterfront associations and amplification of waterfront issues and concerns. Throughout the meeting the importance of building a strong community centred around waterfront stewardship was reinforced. It is hard not to come away from the FOCA semi-annual meetings with renewed inspiration for what we can do with volunteers and heart in our own communities.

Always inspiring are the FOCA Annual Achievement Award nomination stories and the winning recipient. The award has been renamed this year to the Terry Rees Achievement Award in honour of Terry’s longstanding contribution to the organization of 63 years. John Hickey, Chair of the FOCA Member Services & Benefits Committee, recognized many nominees including Lake St. Peters, a fellow Hastings Highlands Interlake Association member, for their nature backpack lending program – well done LSPPOA! The award winner was the Lake of Bays Association (LOBA) for their partnership with the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation over several years to weigh-in on the Langmaid’s Island development proposal. The award recognizes LOBA’s efforts to support the official plan policies of the two related municipalities and to ensure protections are in place for the island’s ecology, shorelines, and tree canopy. Wendy Gibson, President of LOBA, summarized the many lessons that were learned throughout the process. They included the importance of a clearly articulated association mandate for determining how much to get involved, as well as the benefit of maintaining a reserve fund which allows an association to respond quickly to hire experts and obtain legal help. Having a professional planner on your board is highly beneficial in matters of land development. Keep communications to members simple and timely for maximum support. Lastly and most importantly Wendy urged that the only way to secure conservation lands is through a land trust. As we have all observed throughout the province recently, government promises to maintain greenbelts and conservation lands are not a guarantee of future promises kept. Congratulations to LOBA and all of the award nominees, we all benefit from these shared stories of achievement!

Equally uplifting were some brief stories given of “cottage climate champs” by Leslie Garrett, Editorial Director of BlueDot. These stories by ordinary people can be motivating, where climate data can be paralyzing. They included:

Turtle Guardians which have rallied volunteers to save and help turtles.
Lego Lost at Sea FB page highlighting impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and what we can do.
Project Drawdown – solutions to reducing food waste which contributes to Co2 waste by connecting grocery stores & near date expired foods to people who are food challenged.
The sharing of stories about what you have love and how it’s changing (Cottage Life Magazine, Katharine Hayhoe)
Canoe Garden Network (fill old canoes with wildflower seeds).

The enduring message from this session was to not “worry about the whole Earth. Worry about the piece of Earth that you can influence” (Douglas W. Tallamy, entomology professor and author). With that in mind, what can you influence in our little piece of heaven? See below for CTLG’s initiative to remove lead tackle as a leading cause of loon deaths, that’s something we can do quite easily.

In addition to presentations on fire and boating safety, Ontario provincial policy changes that FOCA is monitoring on our behalf, and updates that we can anticipate to FOCA’s Aquatic Plants Guide, there was annual general meeting business conducted. Specifically, there were motions passed to increase our FOCA fees starting in 2024 (KAPOA will see an increase of approximately $275) and FOCA bylaws and Articles of Incorporation were reviewed and passed to bring FOCA in alignment with the Ontario Non-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) which is effective in October 2024. KAPOA’s bylaws were updated in 2023 and approved by our directors in anticipation of the impending legislated requirements, but this meeting highlighted a necessary update to our Articles of Incorporation which we will review with our membership at our AGM this year.

The greatest impact was kept to the end of the meeting, a presentation of Ontario wide boating safety statistics by Sgt. Dave Moffatt, Provincial Marine Coordinator of the Ontario Provincial Police.

The OPP Marine Units across Ontario floated 170 boats with 380 OPP members in 2023
Vessel stops totalled 35,000 last year
Men represent 96% of marine fatalities (all of which involves death following an “involuntary entrance to water”)
Overall marine fatalities are down year over year (2022 – 2023)
Of the 201 marine fatalities in the past 9 years, 178 (89%) are vessels under 6 metres (motored and not motored). Note there are no fatalities of children under 16.
83% are fall overboard and capsizing incidents with no other boats involved.
Interestingly, there was no mention of the proportion of incidents that involved alcohol or drugs, but we can surmise this is very likely a factor in a proportion of the fatalities.

Most importantly, of the 312 people involved in marine fatalities in the past 13 years, 88% were not wearing life jackets!! Does this information encourage you to start wearing a life jacket whenever you step onto a boat for a ride, no matter the reason or distance to be covered? Consider the use of bike helmets and how normalized they have become for bikers of all ages. Or how about helmets on the ski hill, how normal it’s become regardless of age and whether you’re snow boarding or skiing.

Find a PFD that works for you:

Further (this was an eye opener) – many may think that they will have the time and ability to reach for a life jacket, swim to safety or get back up in the boat or on the paddleboard and carry on. Sgt Dave participated in involuntary immersion research conducted in a lab with virtual reality technology and dunk tanks and experienced the following even in his good condition:

Increased heart rate
Increased rate of breathing (up 180% in warm water, up 110% in cold water)
Involuntary (uncontrolled) gasp resulting in 60% larger/bigger inhalation. THIS CAN OFTEN LEAD TO INVOLUNTARY AND UNEXPECTED WATER INGESTION, DESPITE YOUR SWIMMING CAPABILITY.
Increased panic and anxiety levels

Sgt. Dave’s advise? Respect the water, protect your family and friends, become cold water smart, get your passengers engaged, don’t have alcohol on the boat, consider using the what3words app and wear PFD at all times. He also highly recommends boat operator courses since Pleasure Craft Operator Cards are not difficult to obtain.

Please keep your family and friends safe this year on the water. If you do have the misfortune of being involved in, or observing, a marine accident, Sgt. Dave has provided these guidelines for who to call and what to provide:

A Warm Welcome + Volunteers are Still Needed

Welcome Candice Langlois as KAPOA’s new Director and Treasurer, effective March 2024! Candice lives in the Barry’s Bay area, she’s a small business owner and professionally trained engineer, and a part-time bookkeeper for Madawaska Café. Now she’s added KAPOA’s bookkeeping to her list of responsibilities – thank you Candice! Make sure you say hi to Candice at one of our events this summer. We would like to also take this opportunity to thank Laura Stevens of Valley Accounting and Tax for her help with getting KAPOA’s books into QuickBooks and our T2 not-for-profit forms filed with CRA from date of incorporation to present. Not to mention Laura’s endless enthusiasm and energy at our events and meetings!

We do still have 2 open Director positions that we need to fill, please consider helping us out for a few hours per year. Many hands make light work, plus it’s a great way to meet the KAPOA member community and surrounding associations with like interests and challenges!

Website Co-Administrator – OPEN

Shares responsibility for updating the KAPOA website for new announcements and articles.
Activities include: adding semi-annual KAPOA newsletter and occasional news bulletins and articles of interest to the web site, maintaining the list of current year events, look at opportunities to improve the current user experience with the KAPOA website, etc.
Preferred (but not required) experience, skills and abilities include knowledge of WordPress (KAPOA’s website platform), and knowledge of HTML is helpful.

Communications Coordinator – OPEN

Independently coordinates the preparation and time sensitive dissemination of all KAPOA communications (email bulletins, twice annual newsletters, social media updates) to the membership
Works closely with the website administrator to maintain an up-to-date website for content, links to other sites and visuals
Shares responsibility for accepting new members to the KAPOA Facebook group, publishing articles of interest and group administration
Preferred experience, skills and abilities include strong organizational (meets target communication deadlines), technical (Word, communication tools such as MailChimp) and verbal/written communication skills. Considers conscious/unconscious bias in all communications with those who are internal and external to the association.

Other open positions include:

Area Membership Reps (as indicated above)
A KAPOA representative to virtually attend Madawaska Valley Municipal meetings

In all of the above positions, we are looking for volunteers who work comfortably and respectfully with a team of volunteers and have a strong commitment to our waterfront community. These positions do not require a great deal of time. These positions can be Director positions with the KAPOA board depending on your interest. Please consider volunteering some of your time to keep KAPOA thriving, by reaching out to kapoacares@gmail.com.

2024 Events Calendar – Hold these Dates!

Please mark your calendar for our KAPOA 2024 events, and note some new dates and times this year:

Event	Where	Date and Time
Bay Day	Barry’s Bay Hwy 60 main street – booths (including KAPOA’s) will be lining both sides of Hwy 60	Sat May 18, 9am – 5pm KAPOA booth until 1-2pm (depending on attendance & weather)
Poker Run – boats only	Starts: Barry’s Bay boat launch Finishes: Hinterland Beach	NOTE THE NEW TIME! Sat July 27, 1pm (see below)
Regatta	Hinterland Beach	Sat Aug 3, 1-4pm
Annual General Meeting (AGM)	Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 406 250 John Street, Barrys Bay	NOTE THE NEW DATE & TIME! Tues Aug 13, 6:30 – 8:30pm

KAPOA Dues, Membership Area Reps and Keeping in Touch

Spring has arrived and it is time to pay your $20.00 KAPOA dues. Stay informed and connected with our Newsletters and Bulletins.

There are 3 ways to pay your dues.

E-transfer your $20 to pay.kapoa@gmail.com – please be sure to include your municipal address so we can record your payment correctly.
Mail your $20 cheque payable to KAPOA to: O. Box 297, Barry’s Bay, ON K0J 1B0. Please be sure to include your municipal address so we can record your payment correctly.
Visit the KAPOA booth at Bay Day in Barry’s Bay on Saturday, May 18.

Having membership area reps keeps KAPOA “in touch” with the membership community and increases the likelihood of securing a new or returning membership payment. Please consider helping us out as a membership area rep this spring/early summer 2024. The following areas need reps:

Kamaniskeg Lake Road – between Lakeshore Road and the right hand bend toward the beach

Bleski Road

Arrow Road

Highway 60 / Barry’s Bay

A further reminder …

Please encourage your family members who enjoy time spent by the water to sign up to receive our bulletins and spring and fall newsletters. Your membership fee provides you with information and resources that we want to ensure is shared directly with everyone in your family. Additionally, we are increasingly finding emails and phone numbers to be outdated, so we’d appreciate your help to provide your most current information. (KAPOA Membership Information Form).

12th Annual Poker Run 2024

(submitted by Bruce Willmer, 2024 event chair)

Each year the KAPOA Poker Run raises funds for the purchase of crucial medical equipment required by the St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Barry’s Bay, Ontario. St. Francis Memorial provides emergency services to residents, cottagers and visitors to the area numbering in excess of 10,000 people during the summer months. The demand for funding emergency equipment is a constant need, either to purchase new types of equipment using new technologies or replacing older equipment. Purchasing this equipment is not covered by provincial government sources and becomes a local responsibility. Last year we raised an incredible $37,000 thanks to the generous support of this community, this money was used to purchase a baby isolette as well as other needed medical equipment.

This year’s event goal will be to raise $28,000 to be used to help purchase telemetry capabilities in the Emergency Department. This event will help to contribute to the $65,000 purchase price of this equipment. The use of telemetry capabilities in the hospital’s Emergency Department will allow a patient to have their vital signs monitored wirelessly thus giving them the ability to move more easily from a bed, to a chair, to a different room, or, to visit the restroom without first having to disconnect wires. Presently, the Emergency Department does not have this in place meaning that patients are tethered to their locations by the monitoring wires.

New for this year, the 2024 Poker Run will be held on Saturday July 27^th starting at the Barry’s Bay boat launch at 1pm and finishing at Hinterland Beach by 4pm, where a BBQ and celebration will be held (stay tuned for details). The cost for a boat entry will be $200 per boat, or, if you can’t make the date in person, you can enter a virtual boat and your poker hand will be drawn randomly for you by the organizers. If neither of these options are available to you, you can make a donation to the Poker Run and it will be pooled with monies raised towards achieving our community goal. Entry fees and donations are eligible for a tax receipt issued to each person by the Foundation.

The event allows for a relaxing ride around Kamaniskeg Lake, Blackfish Bay and along the Madawaska River and is the perfect way to see the area and meet others from the community, while raising funds for a great cause. Participants are expected to follow all the rules for safe boating to make this an enjoyable day for all and will be provided with maps of the dock locations which will be reviewed with the participants at registration. There will be 7 docks, the last at Hinterland Beach, where your team’s poker hand is turned in. Boats start at the boat launch and move from one dock to another in any order and at each dock draw a card. Once the cards are turned in to event organizers all entries are reviewed (virtual and in person) and the 3 best poker hands are eligible for prizes, 1^st prize – $750; 2^nd prize – $500; 3^rd prize- $250.

We had hoped to bring back the second annual Bike Poker Run to be held in parallel with the boating event this year, but due to the challenges associated with insuring such an event, it will not be held. We will continue to evaluate options to expand the excitement of this day going forward.

This year’s event will include recognition of the most festive dock with a possible required theme for the festivities (voted on by the participants) and best/festive boat (voted on by the dock hosts). Several sponsors have stepped up to help offset the cost of hosting the event. Please consider entering before June 22nd to be eligible for our early bird prize (to be announced). Entry forms and details will be found on the Poker Run Facebook Page or Instagram Page, or on KAPOA’s website in the coming weeks.

Regatta 2024

Please encourage and support Greg Zdzienicki and Laura Stevens who have agreed to take over the management of the event in 2024! Come out for a family fun day of swim and canoe races for kids and adults of all ages, sand castle building & tug-of-war competitions. No registration is required. While there will not be a sailing race this year, contact Bill Cahoon at bcahoon@rogers.com to join in on a “sail by” the beach and some time on the water with the KAPOA sailing community. Enjoy hotdogs and drinks at prices not subject to the current rate of inflation!

While we’re thinking about the regatta, if someone can find a more organized way to conduct the tug-of-war at the end of the day, we are all ears! By having uneven numbers of teams in the first and/or second round of pulls, it results in the requirement for a team to get a “bye” (done by rock/paper/scissors last year) to keep the event on schedule. Otherwise, you’d need to do a round robin which requires too much time and would tire out the participants too much. Let us know what you think, and if you’d like to run the tug-of-war next year, we won’t turn you down!

Everyone Loves a Contest!

Ian Hendry of the Bancroft Area Stewardship Council (BASC) has extended a free native planting offer/shoreline rehabilitation to 1 KAPOA waterfront owner! Every year BASC chooses a couple of local lakes to offer a free shoreline planting of up to 100 trees and/or shrubs to one lakefront property owner FREE OF CHARGE! The purpose is to highlight the importance of having a natural shoreline, which also contributes to the overall health of the lake itself. BASC visits the properties in the fall to do an assessment and would return in May of 2025 to do the planting. They involve the property owners to ensure that their wishes are met through onsite meetings, provision of diagrams or even videos. The property owners are under no obligation to keep all of the trees if they choose to eliminate any in the future.

To participate: submit a short description of your property and how this planting opportunity would benefit your shoreline and the lake. From the submissions KAPOA will randomly pick a winner on August 31. Send your submission and any pictures to assist the judges to kapoacares@gmail.com. Good luck!

And for those who just need a couple of plantings, check out BASC’s Tree and Shrub Program and make a purchase through the Bancroft Stewardship Council – online store. As it says on their website “The best time to plant a tree may have been 30 years ago, but the second best time would be right now.”

Some things to do in the Valley and Highlands – have you been?

Madawaska Rafting- Fun for everyone on the river! (mkc.ca) – Madawaska Kanu Centre (MKC) runs family rafting trips down the Madawaska River Mon through Thurs from mid June to end of August. Great for all ages, including young ones and grandparents!
Sun Run Café and Bakery – a new favourite lunch spot in Maynooth, they have the most delectable sweets for after your sandwich and soup! Check them out while visiting the Maynooth Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings throughout the summer. 33021 Hastings County Rd 62, Maynooth, ON K0L 2S0

Bonnechere Caves– consider a trip to Eganville to discover the caves by guided tour, no reservations are required. On the tour you will learn about the different types of rocks, the process of fossilization (and see lots of fossils), the impact of glaciers on our landscape, the formation of caves, how stalactites grow, hibernation practices of small brown bats, local history and how the caves were discovered and explored. Only 48 minutes from Barrys Bay, great for all ages. Check out the teaching materials on their website too!
Cathedral Under the Pines – just around the corner from Wadsworth Lake Beach at 25 Chapel Road, Barrys Bay, this religious property is home to an outdoor Sunday mass for the Kaszuby community. If you visit when mass is not being held, it’s serene and beautiful, an absolute gem in the woods. Combine that with a bike ride from Combermere to Barrys Bay and back along Old Barrys Bay Road, you won’t find a route less gruelling route in the area, with Madawaska Coffee as your midpoint in the ride!

KAPOA T-Shirts are Still Available

T-shirts will be available at all of our events this summer, but you might want to get yours before quantities run out. Order on kapoacares@gmail.com and advise how you would like to proceed with delivery. Shirts are $25.00 each, payable by e-transfer to pay.kapoa@gmail.com, cash or cheque payable to KAPOA.

Available sizes:

Mens/Unisex Childrens – Oatmeal colour

Small – 9 dark grey, 1 white XS (age 4/5) – 6 available

Medium – 3 dark grey, 7 white Medium (age 8) – 3 available

Large – 3 dark grey, 1 white XL (age 14/16) – 7 available (works also as women’s Small/Med)

XL – 4 dark grey, 4 white

2XL – 3 white

What’s Happening in Council (& Locally)

Municipal Operating Budgets for 2024 – we just recently sent out an urgent call to action regarding the Hastings Highlands proposed operating budget that had a second reading on Wed Mar 20. There’s still time for Hastings Highlands residents to “Have your Say”, third reading for the budget is April 17th, the agenda is to be set April 11th. KAPOA is particularly concerned with the nearly 9% tax levy to our municipal property taxes that will occur if this passes, compared to the 3% increase in Madawaska Valley. Granted there’s some significant catching up to be done for past shortfalls in reserves funding for roads and emergency services equipment, training and infrastructure, but it’s a tough increase to swallow for all impacted in this recent period of high inflation. Check out our analysis at A Tale of Two Township Budgets – Kamaniskeg Area Property Owners Association (kapoa.ca). Thank you to those members who have sent their concerns and questions to the municipal clerk and copied KAPOA, keep them coming.

Hastings Highlands Interlakes Association – 2024 meeting is scheduled on Sat June 10 this year, with new President Marlin Horst presiding (Baptiste Lake). KAPOA’s Greg Zdzienicki will be attending along with representatives from associations on the following lakes – Diamond, Baptiste, Papineau, Salmon-Trout, Mink and Lake St. Peter, as well as representation from the Hastings Highlands Council.

Madawaska Valley Interlake – Following from the first meeting of the Madawaska Valley Interlake last October that included KAPOA, Carson Trout Lepine & Greenan Lakes Association, Paugh Lake Property Owners Association and Kaszuby Cottagers Association, there was a commitment to meet with the MV Council this May and to schedule a follow up (annual) meeting again this fall. As with the Hastings Hastings Interlake Association, this interlake group has a mandate to build a positive and reciprocal relationship with the mayor and Council, as well as to share successes, challenges and prevailing priorities amongst the associations for the benefit of all participants.

BRWP Freshwater Partners – Allan Best of the Bonnechere River Watershed Project (BRWP) has initiated a BRWP Freshwater Partners meeting on Sat Aug 24, and KAPOA will be attending. The Bonnechere River Watershed Project’s mission is to engage with others to promote awareness and inspire stewardship actions for the Bonnechere River and its watershed. We are excited to meet other “stewards” in the area and learn how we can assist in BRWP’s mission.

In Our Neck of the Woods

KAPOA keeps an eye annually on the forestry plans of the 2 forest license companies in our membership area – Bancroft Minden Forestry Company (BMFC) and Ottawa Valley Forest Co (OVF). Additionally, Kerra sits on the Local Citizens Committee for BMFC, and meets with other LCC members, BMFC and the MNRF about 4 times annually. When the company initiates the next 10-year Forest Management Plan (FMP) in the 3 years prior to the 2031-2041 plan, that committee will be actively involved in meetings with a variety of stakeholders and vetting the plan. In the meantime, we watch and question annual plans, forest audits, FMP revisions and the evolving science of forest management.

This year, our immediate membership area is getting a break from any form of harvesting and tending. BMFC has no plans around Kamaniskeg Lake (block 2266), while OVF continues to show the primary road corridor east of Hwy 62, north of Long Lake Road (block 77) that follows the Red Pine trail along the northern stretch of the Phillip P. Murray public trail system. No harvesting is in the current annual plan in that area. As you will recall, KAPOA has negotiated 30 meter buffers with OVF for all of the Thomas P. Murray trails including those expanded as forest roads, meaning that your future hiking experiences (post harvest) will remain under a canopy cover. A modified level of logging will be allowable in that buffer zone, but no clear cutting will be allowed.

CTLG is Taking the “Lead”

Carson Trout Lepine and Greenan Lakes Association (CTLG) will be supporting the Wolfe Lake Association’s (South Frontenac/ Rideau Lakes Township) initiative, Let’s Get the Lead Out Campaign, to encourage anglers to voluntarily surrender their lead tackle. They are promoting the use of non-leaded alternatives such as tungsten, steel, tin, bismuth/tin, and glass. Tungsten is a great alternative as it is denser and sinks quicker than lead and it is eco friendly!

Ingested lead is not only fatal to loons but also to other aquatic wildlife as well. Even eagles, as top predators of the food chain, will succumb to lead poisoning. Loons, and other birds in general, ingest small pebbles to aid in their digestion. Lead fishing tackle, such as lost sinkers and jigs, can be found along the lake bottom amongst the pebbles that become accidentally ingested. Lead fishing tackle is banned in Canada’s National Parks and in 2005, New Hampshire became the first US state to ban its use on all inland freshwater lakes. Refer to this short video for more about the problem and how we can so easily prevent more than 50% of loon deaths: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqYKSbKqVvk

CTLG will be at Bay Day in the booth beside KAPOA and will be accepting lead tackle. Bring your tackle to their booth and you will be eligible for a prize valued at ~ $200!!

And let’s start replacing that tackle, there are equally effective replacements!

Useful Links:

OPG Presentation Feb 12 – OPG conducted an in-person meeting at the Barrys Bay Legion on Mon Feb 12 to provide attendees with educational resources addressing management of the Madawaska River system and to answer questions. Ian Doyle attended the meeting and summarized the discussion for KAPOA members who could not attend. OPG Presentation at Barrys Bay – Feb 12, 2024 – Kamaniskeg Area Property Owners Association (kapoa.ca)

Floating Homes Legislation progress: The Floating Homes Not Vessels Coalition leadership believes that they are now in the final stages of having all levels of government create the appropriate framework that are both effective to control floating accommodations and are consistent with Transport Canada’s view of floating accommodations and vessels. While it has taken 3 years of hard work to get to this point, they believe that all combined efforts are now paying off. Float Homes Not Vessels Coalition Update Mar 2024 – Kamaniskeg Area Property Owners Association (kapoa.ca)

Bonnechere River Watershed Stewardship – link to their “Nature in Your Neighbourhood” 4-part series. The four Nature in Your Neighbourhood video episodes features footage of local landscapes and conversations with residents of the Bonnechere River watershed and the Upper Ottawa Valley. These video webisodes were produced through a collaboration of the Bonnechere River Watershed Project, the Ottawa River Institute and TVCogeco as part of a multi-faceted environmental outreach and education initiative for the Bonnechere River watershed funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. BRWP – Nature in Your Neighbourhood Guide, Videos, Presentations (bonnechereriver.ca)

Protecting Our Lake: What Can Homeowners Do? – Learn how and why we can all contribute to the health of our most precious resource, our lakes and rivers.

Memories of High Waters in 2017 and 2019: Did you know that the Ontario Government conducts a Flood Forecasting and Warning Program, which prepares provincial and local authorities in the event of a flood? Follow this link to learn more about the program and to view the flood forecasting map of Ontario. Flood Forecasting and Warning Program (gov.on.ca)

Forestry Stuff for the Forestry Buff – View a webinar hosted by the MNRF that describes their management recommendations and silviculture tactics to increase resiliency, mitigate damage and facilitate restoration of hemlock forests: Science Insights: Hemlock woolly adelgid update_0 (adobeconnect.com) And if you are still interested, Applying three decades of research to mitigate the impacts of hemlock woolly adelgid on Ontario’s forests (cif-ifc.org) is a whitepaper containing everything you ever wanted to know about the invasive aphid-like insect and its impact on our hemlock forests in Ontario.

Invaders in the News: Ontario adds 10 new invasive species to registry | CBC News

Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Publication: Celebrating Over Ten Years of Community Science (youtube.com) – panelists in this 90-minute webinar held last November describe the many benefits and uses of the 10-year observation, collection and documentation efforts that have resulted in an invaluable database of turtles, frogs, toads, snakes, salamanders & newts across the province. The ORAA publication is the most comprehensive source of information on Ontario’s reptiles and amphibians available and it’s a free resource available to anyone.

Cottage Succession Planning Webinars Continued – for those who missed the last cottage succession planning webinar on Tues Feb 13 with Peter Lillico, Estate Lawyer and longtime friend of FOCA, you missed a description of some strategies for preserving the cottage for generations to follow. These strategies include Sprinkling Cottage Trusts, Joint Partner Trusts, transfers in your lifetime to your adult children, or transfers at death. All have a variety of advantages and disadvantages, such as years of asset protection, exclusion from probate fees, or generation skipping of capital gains tax, but none entirely avoid the tax man. What will work for your family is a very personal choice. If you want another opportunity to hear Peter’s advice on estate matters, you can register for a “deep dive” into Cottage Sharing Agreements: advantages and obstacles to overcome to make your family’s succession plan a success. The event is on April 17, so register asap. MEMBERS register for free here; remember to indicate in your registration that you are a member of KAPOA!

Don’t forget FOCA Benefits: we are all entitled to take advantage of FOCA membership benefits. Members can set up their own individual Username and Password for the FOCA website to access online member materials, register at the member rate for FOCA events, and to access FOCA discounts and benefits. Check it out! https://foca.on.ca/register/member-association/?ca=6889232b3d0218e1f34263fc32fb1c88

Your KAPOA Team