Newsletter: President's Report
This past year our Association has taken steps to follow-up on the priorities of our membership as identified by our previous surveys. We applied for, and received, a South Frontenac Township grant to help determine the viability of a boat washing station to prevent the invasion of aquatic invasive species. We legally changed our Association’s name in order to address the concern that the name appears to not include those members in the West Basin, and after two years of restrictions we are hopeful that we can finally have our AGM in person at the wonderful Loughborough Heritage Orchard. We are also in the process of re-establishing our community events including the Flotilla and are discussing organizing new social events such as a morning coffee and snack meet and greet, a water paddling race, or arranging opportunities to learn new skills such as archery or kayaking. If you have suggestions about an event you think we should consider or if you would like to help out, please let us know.
Along the lines of including everyone, earlier this year I received a phone call from one of the purchasers of a building lot on Johnston Point who was interested in joining the Lake Association but was concerned that our members would not be welcoming due to the controversy over the development. We talked about the fact that the issue for the Lake Association has never been one of opposition to individual purchasers but rather exasperation with the lack of oversight by authorities responsible for ensuring that the special legal protections which should have been in place for Species At Risk were not respected. We are also very concerned with the repeated refusal of the developer and their biologists to even acknowledge the existence of the numerous Species At Risk on site despite the substantial amount of irrefutable evidence. Unfortunately, the responsibility for the protection of these species now defaults to the purchasers and we are most grateful for the anticipated new owner’s efforts on behalf of these vulnerable plants and animals.
Above and beyond the covenants already in place, the purchaser also wanted to know what actions their family could additionally take to enhance the environmental protection of their property. This became a subject of discussion at the following Board meeting. Not surprisingly, we quickly concluded that while uniquely positioned adjacent to not one but two provincially designated significant wetlands, Johnston Point’s delicate ecosystem is in need of particular vigilant attention. However, the measures we would suggest could just as easily apply equally to all cottage and/or homeowners on the lake regardless of the level of sensitivity of their own property. To that end we are in the process of drafting an information package on our website with practical steps that individuals can take to improve or maintain their properties. This package will be updated on an ongoing basis as needed.
We wish to thank this new owner for reaching out to us and we would like to make it clear that we welcome anyone who is genuinely interested in protection of the lake, whether they are new to the lake or have been here for multiple generations, to join and participate in the Lake Association.
The willingness of lake residents to establish a community that wishes to reduce their impact on the land and water helps to ensure that the beautiful wildness which first drew us to this area will continue to exist for all inhabitants, wildlife and human.
