Welcome to Summer 2013!
Wow! What a difference a few months make…the opening line to our fall newsletter was “the lake level is extremely low…getting boats off lifts has been a problem” and this spring Kamaniskeg Lake set new water level records and keeping your dock from floating away was a problem. Thankfully, the water levels are now back to the normal range.
The 2013 Calendar (in the right column) highlights some of the great events taking place this summer for the KAPOA community. New this year is the KAPOA Poker Run to raise money for St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Barry’s Bay. The KAPOA AGM is taking place next Saturday at the lodge at Madawaska Mountain. The AGM provides a “one stop shop” for topics of interest to KAPOA community. Both mayors will be presenting at the AGM so please plan to attend.
We are looking forward to seeing you at one of the events this summer!
KAPOA – Valley Gazette – SFMH Poker Run:
Hospital Fundraiser
Here’s a fun way to do something great for the community. On Sunday July 28th starting at 10am, the first KAPOA / Valley Gazette Poker Run will take place in support of the St. Francis Memorial Hospital Foundation. The first year goal is to raise $6,000 to go towards new equipment for the hospital. Sign up now by emailing PokerRun@KAPOA.ca
Thirty boats will leave the Barry’s Bay dock, each having donated $200 to the hospital foundation to earn a free entry fee. Participants will collect seven cards by visiting various locations. This is not a race – to win you need to build the best 5 card hand. A 2:00 o’clock get together following Poker Run, at a secret location, will include wake-board surfing and wake-board rail slide demonstrations by a group from Ottawa, food & beverages, awarding prizes, as well as the ceremonial presentation of all hospital donations. Join us for the day and enjoy some boating, social time with neighbors and do something great for the community.
Come one – Come all! KAPOA membership is not a requirement so invite your friends. This will be a great event for everyone in the community. To register: email us at PokerRun@KAPOA.ca or take your chances to be within the thirty boat limit by registering at the last minute at the Barry’s Bay dock prior to the 10am start on Sunday July 28.
For more information click on these links:
It is important to arrive early to get maps, card recording sheets and any final instructions.
It promises to be a fabulous day.
Please contact PokerRun@KAPOA.ca for more information and to pre-register.
Regatta – Volunteers Needed and New Sailing Start
Regatta is once again scheduled for the Saturday of the August Long Weekend.
A few things:
- We need volunteers to help this year. Below is a list of openings. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
- the sailing races will start at 11am this year. This 11 am start time has a number advantages:
- the winds earlier in the day are typically lighter & the race would be over by the time the heavy winds build up in the mid – to – late afternoon — thus a safer race for all concerned
- there will be less boat traffic at the start time in the beach area
- the above 2 make the race young people friendly
- the early start will allow sail race participants to be part of the other Regatta activities
Volunteers Needed
Please contribute a couple of hours to help make this event a huge success:
- Set up on saturday morning – dock and tent
- Hold finish line
- Ticket sales for 50/50
- Hotdog and drink sales
- Awards table assistant(s)
If you are interested in helping out, please contact Kerra Wylie via email (klwylie@sympatico.ca), telephone (416-949-3879) or speak to her at the AGM.
Algonquin Land Claim Update
The KAPOA website contains a tremendous amount of up-to-date information on the Algonquin Land Claim (www.kapoa.ca/algonquin-land-claim/ ). Importantly, the website contains the detailed maps of the areas impacted within the KAPOA community. Take the time to understand how the land claim might impact your enjoyment of crown land in the area.
We continue to work to keep the community appraised of the latest developments and we encourage you to voice your opinions and concerns directly to community leaders ( national, provincial and municipal politicians as well as the negotiating team).
Here is a quick summary of latest updates:
- Ontario has released a fact sheet to clarify outstanding items. Click here to read it.
- The lead of the negotiating team released a letter to cottage associations. Click here to read it.
- KAPOA has spoken and corresponded with Madawaska Valley and the municipality has contacted the negotiating team regarding the impact on the Thomas P Murray recreational trails. The negotiating team is waiting for further information from the Ministry of Natural Resources. KAPOA will be submitting maps and trail information to the negotiating team to clarify the location of the impacted trails.
- Local municipalities met on April 6 2013 and South Algonquin, Hagarty and Richards, Lanark Highlands, North Frontenac, Hastings Highlands, East Ferris, North Kawartha, Addington Highlands and North Algona Wilberforce, and Laurentian Hill are calling for municipal representation at the negotiating table to provide “input towards fair & workable treaties for the respective benefits of both native and non-natives of the municipalities across Ontario.”
Madawaska Valley Municipal Update
It has been a busy, turbulent 2013 for Madawaska Valley Council. Here is a quick summary in reverse chronological order:
Most recently, the Madawaska Valley CAO was fired and Councillor Shaun O’Reilly resigned. Both local papers carried stories, here is link to Valley Gazette.
Madawaska Valley has also cancelled the water/wastewater public meeting and finalized a number of decisions regarding the cost allocation of water/wastewater costs. Here is the MV press release summarizing the situation.
The public continues to question MVs handling of cost allocation of water/wastewater costs. See story in Valley Gazette.
Transparency and closed session council meetings also came under scrutiny in Madawaska Valley. Here is the report from the formal investigation and the story in Barry’s Bay This Week.
In January, MV Council attempted to shift some of the cost allocations from the Water and Wastewater budget into the general township budget. Given, water and wastewater treatment services are only available to those living in Barry’s Bay, many township residents living outside of Barry’s Bay found the proposed cost allocation unfair.
Since January, the local papers have carried many stories covering the issue. Here are links to a few: Barry’s Bay This Week or Valley Gazette. As well, a group of concerned citizens formed the Madawaska Valley Citizens Action Committee. You can read their views and contact them via their website.
Hastings Highlands Municipal Update
Recently, HH council decided to eliminate electing a separate deputy mayor. This will reduce the size of council to 7. Now only 4 votes required for a majority and the elimination of a elected deputy mayor will reduce municipal personnel costs. Going forward, the deputy mayor will be selected by Council from one of its existing the elected Councillors.
Over the winter, HH council attempted to strike down rumours that HH was going to amalgamate with Bancroft.
Water Hazards Co-ordinates Please?
KAPOA plans to prepare a map showing all known hazards for both the benefit of members generally as well as for the KAPOA Annual Poker Run. Please email the precise GPS coordinates of any hazards you and your family avoid to us at kapoacares@gmail.com so we can all boat more safely?
