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FOCA Elert ~ February 2025 | |
FOCA AGM & Spring Seminar | |
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LAST CALL!
Join us at the FOCA Annual General Meeting and Spring Seminar for Associations on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in-person (Thornhill) or by Zoom webinar. The theme is "Strengthening Our Members" and topics include:
- a road issues panel with legal, insurance, and technical experts
- release of FOCA member survey benchmark statistics about lake and road associations
- launch of the 2025-2027 FOCA strategic plan
- presentation of the 2024 Terry Rees Achievement Award to a member association
- expert speakers discussing association top governance tips, community cardiac safety solutions, source water protection, and more.
In person attendance is full and webinar registration closes at 3pm on Wednesday. Register here: https://foca.on.ca/events/#upcoming
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FOCA Advocates for Responsive Government | |
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Provincial Election Priorities
As announced on January 29th, an early provincial election will take place on February 27, 2025.
FOCA created a "key priorities" overview and a template letter you can use to ask local candidates about provincial priorities that impact waterfront Ontario communities. Please use and share these resources! Get details about designating your vote riding, FOCA's key priorities list, a link to the voter Register of Elections Ontario (to confirm, update, or add your information in order to receive a mailed Voter Information Card with details on when, where and how to vote), and other important links on FOCA's webpage: https://foca.on.ca/provincial-elections/
Important: You only get one vote in the provincial election, even if you have residences in more than one electoral district. If you do have two residences in Ontario, statistically speaking your vote may be "worth" more at your waterfront property where there are fewer voters. FOCA encourages you to vote where you are entitled to, and where you feel your voice is strongest on the issues that matter to waterfront Ontario. Consult our website (link above) for details.
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Municipal Road Access Agreements
There have been two recent developments that are important for our members who live on municipally-unassumed roads. In November 2024, the Ontario Land Tribunal released their decision on an appeal from property owners against the Township of Tay Valley's road agreement bylaw, which will require the Township to amend their bylaw to exclude existing properties. Then, in mid-February 2025, the Council of the Township of Lake of Bays repealed their own road licence agreement program, after months of public outcry and consultation. Get the details on FOCA's webpage: https://foca.on.ca/road-issues/#news
We will discuss the implications of these developments at the Spring Seminar in our Roads Panel session!
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Road Liability Issues
Join the Cade Associates team at the FOCA AGM & Spring Seminar this Saturday, March 1, 2025. As always, we look forward to seeing you in person and discussing your Association insurance needs.
Ross Fraser of Cade Associates will be participating in the panel discussion about Private and Municipally-Unassumed Rural Roads. Bring your questions, or send them in advance of the meeting to communications@foca.on.ca.
Whenever you have questions about liability insurance and volunteer associations, visit https://cadeinsurance.com/foca/ or email clientservices@cadeinsurance.com.
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FOCA's Gold Level Sponsors | |
sponsors support our work, please support them | |
FOCA Champions Safe & Affordable Rural Living | |
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Preparing for the Spring Melt
Over the past weeks, parts of southern and central Ontario have received the highest snowfall amounts seen in decades. As temperatures begin to climb with the approach of Spring, and ice and snow start to melt, all eyes will be on Ontario's flood forecasting information. Local Conservation Authorities have current watershed conditions statements issued for the Sault Ste. Marie region, among others.
The following tips for those living along a waterway have been adapted by FOCA from information circulated this week by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority:
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- have an emergency plan and emergency kit, and post local emergency numbers in an accessible area of your home
- move outdoor items away from low lying parts of your property
- inspect your sump pump if you have one; consider installing a battery backup
- follow flood messaging in your region
Get a link to Ontario's flood map and messaging (source of the image at the side) from links on FOCA's webpage: https://foca.on.ca/water-levels/
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Passing the Torch: Cottage Succession Corner | |
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Ask the Expert
This is our Elert feature: Passing the Torch - your cottage succession questions answered by estate lawyer Peter Lillico, the expert speaker in FOCA's ongoing Cottage Succession Seminar Series. This month's question comes from Doug M.:
"What are the ongoing costs of maintaining/holding a cottage trust?"
Members can login with their Username on FOCA's webpage for the answer from Peter: https://foca.on.ca/cottage-succession/. If you don't have or can't recall your login, contact the office for assistance during business hours.
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call for questions: Canadian & US Taxation Implications of Cottage Succession Planning
In April 2025, FOCA will be creating a new recorded resource about cottage succession planning and tax implications directed to (1) American and (2) Canadian owners of cottage properties in Ontario. The sessions will feature Kaz Nesbitt (CPA, CA) tax planning accountant with Doane Grant Thornton, and estate lawyer Peter Lillico. Click the image below to enlarge the poster with links to more about each presenter.
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If you are an American owner of an Ontario cottage, we’d particularly love to hear from you to ensure the experts have your questions in hand prior to the recording session! Please send all questions to programs@foca.on.ca by March 3rd, 2025 at the latest.
The recorded resources will become available for digital purchase in April so you can review the information with family at your leisure, and as a fundraiser for FOCA, sponsored by the presenters.
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register now: Targeting Tax Seminar
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 from 7-8:30pm by Zoom webinar - register to join FOCA and estate lawyer Peter Lillico for the first of our 2025 digital seminars: a "deeper dive" into cottage succession tax issues. This talk provides an overview of how and when capital gains tax and probate tax applies; techniques to avoid, reduce or defer tax; and planning approaches to fund it.
MEMBERS register for free here; remember to tell us your FOCA affiliation when you register! Not a member, but still want to attend this cottage succession seminar?
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Pay the $30 non-member fee per registrant, then register using the link above.
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Or become a Friend of FOCA (our paid annual supporter category) to receive free access to all FOCA Cottage Succession events over the coming year, plus additional supporter benefits.
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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 Week
February 24 - March 2, 2025: It's Invasive Species Week! Join the conversation and help raise awareness about the threats invasive species pose to Ontario's lands and waters.
Join FOCA and our partners for the "From Knowledge to Action" symposium this Thursday, February 27, from 1-3:30pm for practical strategies and actionable tools to help tackle invasive species. Whether you're new to the topic or looking to deepen your understanding, this symposium has something for everyone. Register here.
Learn more and spread the word to help prevent the spread of invasive species:
https://foca.on.ca/invasive-species/
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Understanding Aquatic Plants
In response to the question we are often asked: “What’s this ‘weed’ in my water?” visit
FOCA's webpage dedicated to the topic of aquatic plants in Ontario. Refer to the FOCA guide on aquatic plants posted on the webpage to learn how to identify plants and algae, their roles, and risks and regulations to consider when deciding if management is the appropriate option or not. Download the publication in digital format, or pick up a print copy at the FOCA AGM & Spring Seminar this weekend!
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Partner Updates & Regional Notices | |
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partner webinar: Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action
March 26, 2025 - the Community Foundations of Canada is hosting a free webinar as we mark the 10th anniversary this year of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 "Calls to Action" regarding reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous Peoples. While the webinar event is targeted at Community Foundations, FOCA member association representatives may want to register for context about how the Calls to Action align with your organization's mission and values. Register here.
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partner event: Watersheds Canada Conference
May 1-2, 2025 - purchase a ticket to participate in the first Watersheds Canada National Conference, which will be held as an in-person event in Haliburton, Ontario.
Review the agenda and speaker details online here: https://watersheds.ca/conference/
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partner event: Itasca Waters Webinars
Across the border in Minnesota, the 2025 edition of the "Practical Water Wisdom" free webinar series returns at lunch hour on the first Thursday of each month from February through December. Watch the session about invasive freshwater jellyfish, held earlier this month, and register for upcoming topics such as lakeshore development and natural shoreline protection coming up quickly on March 6th: https://itascawaters.org/water-wisdom-2025
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Breaking Down PFAS
As reported recently by the Water Network (source of the image at the side by Miyake Group), researchers have developed a way to break down long-lasting PFAS compounds using light. An excerpt: "Conventional water treatment methods can remove PFAS from water, but these processes merely concentrate the contaminants instead of destroying them." The researchers' new method uses a photocatalyst to speed up a chemical reaction using cheap blue LED light. Learn more about PFAS and read this report from a link on FOCA's webpage: https://foca.on.ca/pollution/#pfas
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partner event recap: Invasive Species Forum
February 18-20, 2025 - FOCA attended the virtual 2025 Invasive Species Forum with the theme, "Advancing Community Action" hosted by our partners at the Invasive Species Centre. If you missed it, watch recordings of the presentations on the ISC YouTube channel to review sessions on community science, phragmites, forest pests, climate change and biodiversity adaptation.
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partner event recap: Northern Pike, Muskellunge and an Invader
Dr. John Farrell of the Thousand Islands Biological Station presented his research at the January 2025 Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper's winter environmental conference. In addition to information about Northern Pike and Muskellunge, he brought attention to a new invasive species in the St. Lawrence River, the Chain Pickerel. Watch the recording on YouTube. (source of the image at the side)
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FOCA's Bronze Level Sponsors | |
sponsors support our work, please support them | |
FOCA Serves Lake & Road Association Members | |
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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.
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Lake Erie Ice
Watch a short video from the Weather Channel (source of the image at the side) with drone footage of amazing ice ridges on Lake Erie right now. The Lake is at around 80% ice cover, well above the historic average for this time of year. However, the U.S. National Weather Service and Coast Guard are reminding people to stay off the ice as temperatures begin to rise, and following an emergency rescue this weekend of a group who were about 100 metres offshore of Cleveland on the ice.
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FOCA: Inform. Protect. Unite.
FOCA is the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations, the voice of the waterfront for over 60 years. Find out about YOUR ROLE.
info@foca.on.ca | 705-749-3622 | https://foca.on.ca
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