Make sure you see all the updates: you're at the end when you see this FOCA banner again: | |
FOCA Elert ~ November 2024 | |
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For the Love of the Waterfront...
As a not-for-profit organization, FOCA relies on the generosity of our members and community to continue our vital work. This Giving Tuesday, please consider making a one-time or recurring donation to FOCA. Your support helps us advocate year-round for sustainable waterfront living across Ontario. Together, we can make a difference. Thank you for supporting FOCA!
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FOCA Fall Seminar: Healthy Shorelines
held on November 9, 2024 by Zoom webinar
Thank you to our speakers, our session sponsors, and all our attendees for posing questions and making the 2024 FOCA Fall Seminar such a success! All paid registrants were sent an email on November 22nd, containing a link to the event recording. All FOCA Members can access the Event Summary, including links to all the slides shown, under the member login on FOCA's event webpage. Topics discussed include water quality monitoring, septic system reinspection, source water protection, aquatic plant ID and management tips, and shoreline naturalization resources.
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Lake Partner Program: new videos!
With the help of our Assistant Lake Stewardship Coordinator and summer students, FOCA created two short videos to engage a younger audience in the Lake Partner Program, FOCA's long-standing water quality monitoring program with our volunteer Lake Stewards across Ontario, and the scientists of the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Please share the videos widely on your own social channels:
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Bubbler Safety Considerations
In the winter, some waterfront owners install bubblers - a type of de-icing system - intended to prevent the build-up of ice at or around waterfront structures like docks and boathouses. However, before you use a bubbler, read this information sheet (download PDF, 1 page) about important safety and legal implications. Also, check with your local municipality, as some have begun to implement bylaws that impact bubbler use. Be safe and enjoy the winter! Learn more about ice changes, ice safety, bubblers, and more on FOCA's webpage: https://foca.on.ca/ice/
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FOCA Strategic Plan Update | |
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We have been working to update the FOCA Strategic Plan to carry us forward ambitiously and effectively into the future. Following extensive stakeholder surveys, a strategic planning session was held in early November 2024 with FOCA's Board of Directors, lead staff, and an outside facilitator. See more about the weekend and connect with us on our socials: Facebook and Instagram.
At the virtual FOCA Fall Seminar in mid-November, Board Chair Deborah Martin-Downs gave an update on the strategic planning process. Members can access the slides and overview in the Event Summary on the event webpage, as described above.
Save the date to join us for the final Strategic Plan reveal on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the FOCA Annual General Meeting & Spring Seminar, being held as a hybrid event by Zoom webinar and in-person at the Bayview Golf and County Club in Thornhill. Watch for registration details in the January Elert!
Learn about our staff and volunteer Board of Directors: https://foca.on.ca/about/team/
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FOCA's Gold Level Sponsors | |
sponsors support our work, please support them | |
FOCA Serves Lake & Road Association Members | |
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Happy American Thanksgiving!
FOCA extends warm wishes to all our American association members and annual supporters, for a very happy Thanksgiving celebration with your extended families.
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Black Friday Member Benefits
All FOCA members are reminded to check out the special limited-time Black Friday deals from Rogers on mobile phones and plans. Login on the FOCA Member Benefits webpage: https://foca.on.ca/member-services/benefits/ and scroll down to find the link to the Rogers Preferred Pricing portal, for deals exclusively available to FOCA member families.
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Login for all your FOCA Member Benefits
Please note that all our Member Associations and our annual supporters - the "Friends of FOCA" - have been onboarded to FOCA's MemberPress system with individualized web logins. As a result, the old generic "focamember" login has been discontinued.
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Association Member Families: Your association renewal contact has a link (specific to your association) that you can use to set up your own unique Username and Password as a Sub-Account of your association, in order to access all the member benefits and members-only materials on the FOCA website. Please ask your association representative to reach out to FOCA if they need assistance locating the association's link.
FOCA members are encouraged to login on the Benefits webpage to access the discount codes for all member benefits and offers from our sponsors and partners - like the new Kokomo and Park'N Fly offers, Rogers Preferred Pricing plan, AEDs from Action First Aid, Canadian Canoe Museum & Cottage Life Magazine subscription discounts, and the CottageFirst group insurance program for your cottage, boat, car, and more.
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FOCA Champions Safe & Affordable Rural Living | |
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Northern Ontario Satellite Internet
In mid-November 2024, the Province of Ontario announced a $100-million deal with Starlink to provide internet to 15,000 homes and businesses in northern Ontario via the new ONSAT (Ontario Satellite Internet) program. According to CBC News Sudbury coverage of the announcement, installation and equipment fees will be paid by the Province. Find out when you'll be able to register for service from a link in the "Latest News" section of our webpage: https://foca.on.ca/rural-internet/
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Eastern Ontario Internet Speeds
The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) encourages regional residents to help tell the story of internet connectivity in eastern Ontario. EORN and the Canadian Internet Registration Authority want to measure internet speeds. By taking the internet performance test and sharing your information, you can help inform decision-makers and funders.
Nearly 200,000 tests have been run so far. Learn more from EORN here, then take the test: https://performance.cira.ca/eorn
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Short Term Rental Accommodation
As reported by The Star, the Tax Court of Canada recently ruled that a condo unit regularly rented out for short-term leases on Airbnb was subject to HST on the property value when sold. Get a link to the article (a Star subscription is required to access this item), as well as earlier news about municipal responses to rental accommodations, on FOCA's webpage: https://foca.on.ca/rental/
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Wildfire Community Preparedness Events
FOCA encourages each of our member associations to apply for a $500 award to hold a Wildfire Community Preparedness Day between May and October next year. There are lots of resources available to help you plan your local event. Learn more and apply by January 31, 2025, here:
https://firesmartcanada.ca/programs/wildfire-community-preparedness-day/
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FOCA's Silver Level Sponsors | |
sponsors support our work, please support them | |
FOCA Promotes Healthy Lands, Lakes & Rivers | |
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Invasive Species Action Fund
The Invasive Species Action Fund (ISAF) is a grant program designed to facilitate on-the-ground management and monitoring of invasive species in Ontario. The ISAF "Microgrants" stream (up to $3,500 funding) supports local communities with invasive species needs.* Projects must be on public (not exclusively private) lands, and should be about management and monitoring, rather than education and outreach.
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2024 fund recipients included municipalities, conservation authorities, First Nations, and land trusts, so FOCA encourages our lake association members to consider a collaborative project with one of these types of organizations.
Register to attend an ISAF information session on December 5, 2025 at 11am about developing a budget and in-kind contributions for your ISAF application, and apply online by January 15, 2025.
* NOTE: ISAF is not for invasive Phragmites projects, which are now managed through the separate Ontario Phragmites Action (OPA) program.
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Impacts of Invasive Species
In related news, a recent article published by a McGill University professor warns that freshwater ecosystems in Canada and around the world are under siege from invasive non-native species. Read the article online. Learn more about how to prevent the spread of invasive species from resources on FOCA's webpage: https://foca.on.ca/invasive-species/
(image of Eurasian watermilfoil by Kaleigh Mooney)
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About Algal Blooms
CBC News recently created a digital story map about toxic algal blooms and what scientists are developing to protect lakes against them. Quotable: University of Windsor professor Aaron Fisk said, "algae blooms in the Great Lakes aren't going away, and there's concern they could get worse." (image: NASA via CBC News)
In related news, Brock University researchers are investigating potential neurotoxins in Lake Erie algae, as reported in late October by Water Canada.
Access both articles, and related algae resources, on FOCA's webpage: https://foca.on.ca/algae/
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Resources for Municipal Partners | |
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How Planners Can Build Better Communities with Nature
The Natural Assets Initiative (NAI) works with municipal planners to help plan for housing growth while creating balanced, resilient communities. The goal is to foster economic growth while simultaneously protecting the environment and enhancing quality of life. Read a late-October 2024 blog from NAI, containing an overview about what planners can do, and how NAI can help with their Natural Asset Management Roadmap Program.
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FOCA's Bronze Level Sponsors | |
sponsors support our work, please support them | |
Partner Updates & Regional Notices | |
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Northern Ontario Police Budget Increases
As reported in late October 2024 by CBC News Sudbury, some small towns in northern Ontario are facing more than 20% increases in the costs of their OPP contracts, which will have direct impacts on tax levies. Read the online article which includes information about Kapuskasing, Mattawa, northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, and Temiskaming Shores.
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TSW & Rideau Water Levels
Earlier this month, Parks Canada's water management team updated the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) and Rideau Canal Water Management plans, in response to low water levels. Rainfall amounts for September and October 2024 contributed 25-75% less precipitation than long-term averages. For updates, visit the TSW Management webpage (source of the image above) or the Rideau Canal Management webpage.
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partner event: Fish Studies - Rainy Lake
December 5, 2024 - as part of their ongoing "Ask an Expert" webinar series, the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation invites you to register to participate in an upcoming webinar about lake whitefish and walleye studies in the boundary waters of the Rainy/Lake of the Woods watershed. Register online here.
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Kawartha Tree Seedling Sale
Kawartha Conservation has announced the launch of the 2025 Tree Seedling Sale, offering local residents and landowners the opportunity to enhance their properties with a selection of 23 different species that cater to diverse soil and weather conditions. Act now to secure your tree seedlings for spring planting. Get details and order online here: www.kawarthaconservation.com/TreeSales
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partner event: Aquatic Research Workshop
December 9, 2024 - register for a free day of hybrid talks from students and professors of Carleton University and 5 other university partners conducting research on the lakes and rivers of south-central and eastern Ontario. Get the latest on water quality, recreational fisheries science, shoreline development, aquatic weed control and more. You must pre-register to receive a Zoom link to participate digitally, and in-person space at the event is limited.
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Lake Simcoe Award for Salt Impact Efforts
In October, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) awarded Landscape Ontario the 2024 “Distinguished Achievement” award for advocacy efforts to reduce the impacts of over-salting. Watch an overview video about the issues, and read about FOCA’s involvement since 2020 with Landscape Ontario on the Freshwater Roundtable on salt issues, here: https://foca.on.ca/salt-impacts/
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event recap: Haliburton Invasive Plants
In late October 2024, a 2-part webinar series was held about invasive terrestrial plants of Haliburton County and their management and control, as a partnership between the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) and the Ontario Invasive Plant Council. Watch the webinar recordings on the HHLT webpage.
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partner event: Virtual Invasive Species Forum
February 18-20, 2025 - register now to participate in the annual Invasive Species Centre forum that brings attention to invasive species issues, research, and advances in prevention and management occurring across Canada, neighbouring U.S. states, and beyond. The 2025 theme is "Advancing Community Action". Register for the virtual event here.
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Kawarthas Regional Conservation & Climate Partnership
In October 2024, FOCA participated with partners at the kick-off event of the new regional partnership on conservation and climate, held at the new Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. The partners are interested in enhancing collaboration, networking, and interaction around landscape conservation and ecological resilience at a regional scale.
Reminder: FOCA members get a 25% discount on membership to the beautiful new Canadian Canoe Museum, which is well worth the visit to Peterborough. Login on the FOCA Member Benefits webpage and use our discount code when you join online.
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recap: Fall Cottage Life Show
November 15-17, 2024 - Thanks to everyone who dropped by the FOCA booth at the Fall Cottage Life Show at the International Centre.
We had over 100 in-depth conversations about invasive species, water sampling, fire safety, Canada geese, docks, and tips for building a cottage. Plus, we heard FOCA partner Peter Lillico talk on the main stage about how to pass the cottage to the kids. Thank you to our friends at Cade Associates Insurance Brokers for being there to answer all the insurance-related questions. And thanks also to our Board volunteers for joining us in greeting visitors at the booth.
Got cottage country questions? FOCA has answers! Start your search here: https://foca.on.ca/issues-programs/
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recap: FOCA Cottage Succession Seminars
We've wrapped up the last of our 2024 FOCA Cottage Succession Seminars, but are already making plans for next year. Stay tuned to the FOCA Elert for 2025 session details. In the meantime, you can still purchase access to pre-recorded sessions of Peter's FOCA talks, here: https://foca.on.ca/cottage-succession/#buy, so you can continue the conversation with the family in the off-season.
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DID YOU KNOW:
Even if FOCA is unable to attend your local event, we can supply you with a short written overview, slides, and/or a 10-minute recorded video presentation about our work and your member benefits. Contact us for these resources.
Be certain to circulate the FOCA Member Benefits sheet to all your fellow members. Login on the Benefits webpage for a version with access codes, or download the version without codes for your next association membership drive.
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All Too Clear - Now on TVO
Explore the unwater world of the Great Lakes, and the impact of invasive mussels on the ecosystem, including lake whitefish populations.
The "All Too Clear" 3-episode video series is now available for free digital viewing via TVO's website or YouTube Channel.
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FOCA: Inform. Protect. Unite.
FOCA is the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations, the voice of the waterfront for the past 60 years. Find out more about YOUR ROLE.
info@foca.on.ca | 705-749-3622 | https://foca.on.ca
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