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Our vision is to sustain and enhance the cottage experience for generations.

Last Call: Apply Now for the FOCA Award!

Has your FOCA member association had a success over the past year, or reached a significant milestone on a long-standing effort?

We encourage you to apply on behalf of your association for the FOCA Terry Rees Achievement Award. Hurry! Nominations were due by today - October 31, 2025 - but are extended until Monday, November 3, 2025. Learn 'more' and download the nomination form from our Award webpage.

Above: FOCA's Michelle Lewin got to catch up with David Overholt of the White Lake Property Owners Association - recipients of last year's FOCA Award - at the recent Lake Links event (see more in 'FOCA on the Road' below; also pictured, Laura Kostyniuk of Ducks Unlimited)

FOCA Survey - Your Impressions

Please take a moment to provide us with YOUR impressions in our new FOCA Experience Survey. Click 'more' to reach the quick survey, and share the link below with fellow waterfront enthusiasts. The survey is open until November 30, 2025. Thank you for sharing your feedback! Here's a link to copy and share:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FOCAvalue25

Will your upcoming Fall Cottage Life Show visit include a chat with builders about a cottage build or renovation?

Click 'more' to download a "Building or Renovating a Cottage" tip sheet. Then stop by the FOCA Booth at the show to ask the Cade crew any questions so you can arrange the necessary coverage before your work begins!

An update from our partners in risk management - administrators of the FOCA Association Insurance Program and CottageFirst group insurance for cottagers

As a result of the announcement that Canada Post has moved to a rotating strike, Lake Partner Program volunteers are once again able to mail their samples back to the lab for analysis. Thank you to all our dedicated volunteers! Learn 'more' about the program.

We are excited about this new, exclusive opportunity for FOCA member families: small group cottage succession workshops led by our long-time colleague, estate lawyer Peter Lillico for $160+HST per family.

These virtual sessions are limited to just 4 to 6 families at a time, providing direct access to Peter’s legal expertise in a more personalized and interactive setting.

• submit your family's "Top 3 Questions" in advance
• receive a dedicated segment in the session with Peter's tailored advice for your family
• if your question can't be fully addressed during the workshop, Peter has offered a 1-on-1 follow-up at no additional cost.

This initiative is made possible through Peter’s generosity, with proceeds supporting FOCA’s ongoing programs and advocacy work.

Your association renewal contact has a link (unique to your association) for you to use to set up your own Username and Password as a Sub-Account to see members-only material on the FOCA website. Please ask your contact to reach out to FOCA if they need assistance locating the association's link.

The Ontario Legislature is back in session, and the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) public comment period postings are dropping faster than the leaves (credit to colleagues at the Canadian Environmental Law Association for the simile). FOCA is tracking a number of related issues that are important to our waterfront environments.

Some of the ERO postings are related to the implementation of Bill 5, the "Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025" which became law in June 2025 despite widespread opposition from FOCA and environmental partners across the province.

There is also a new Bill 56, "Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025", an omnibus bill that sped through three readings in the Legislature late this month. Learn 'more' about these issues, and what FOCA is doing next, on our Land Use Planning webpage.

In an effort to keep nature on the balance sheet with our decision-making partners at Queen's Park, on October 20, 2025 FOCA participated in the inaugural 'Nature at Queen's Park' event hosted by our colleagues at Ontario Nature (ON) with nature network partners, MPPs, and staff from all parties in attendance. See the pictures and read 'more' from ON's Facebook post about the event.

On October 29, 2025, the Minister of Energy and Mines announced the first fast-tracked project under the province's new 'One Project, One Process' framework intended to streamline permitting approvals and "end delays" for mining projects. The new project is a lithium operation north of Dryden and Red Lake in northwestern Ontario. Read 'more' on FOCA's Aggregates & Mining webpage.

As part of ongoing efforts to meet federal 'Clean Fuel Regulations' to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Quebec recently increased the allowable ethanol content in regular gasoline up to 15%, as ethanol has a lower carbon intensity than petroleum gasoline. Ontario is on a similar path, with provincial regulations allowing 11% renewable content in gasoline this year, and a target of 15% by 2030.

There are implications for gasoline-powered small engines - particularly for older or seasonally-used equipment. Readers with small gas-powered engine equipment such as PWCs, boats, snowmobiles, ATVs, lawn mowers, portable generators, etc. are encouraged to click to begin to learn 'more' from a CTV News report from August 2025 (source of the video still above).

Two in 10 Canadian homes are at risk of flooding - the most frequent natural disaster in Canada. Over the past decade, FOCA has been proud to participate in the University of Waterloo's 'Partners for Action' (P4A) initiative to empower Canadians to become flood resilient.

As P4A winds down, the University of Waterloo has written a reflection on the decade of impact and legacy – including FloodSmart Canada, which for a long time was the only site where the public could access flood maps. Learn 'more' in the Latest News of FOCA's Water Levels webpage.

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Each month, estate lawyer Peter Lillico answers a FOCA member question about cottage succession planning. This month's question comes from Craig W. Click 'more' below to reach our webpage, where members can login to read Peter's response to this, and earlier questions.

Is there capital gains due at the time when one person within a Sprinkling Cottage Trust sells their share to another person in the Sprinkling Cottage Trust?

Have your own question for Peter?

Email it to: programs@foca.on.ca

FOCA welcomed more than 590 attendees at our 4 virtual succession seminars with estate lawyer Peter Lillico this year. That's a lot of families getting their cottage planning underway! Now we're looking ahead to 2026, so ensure you stay on FOCA e-news list for updates in the new year.

FOCA is pleased to offer a special 1.5 hour video recording about cottage succession tax planning with expert advice for both American and Canadian owners of Ontario cottage properties. We have created a highlight reel so you can make an informed purchase. Click 'more' for details, the member discount code ($75 off the regular price) & order link.

Imagine this: A perfect late-season day on the water suddenly turns stressful when your boat won't start.

Or you're stuck on a sandbar as the sun goes down.

Every cottager's worst nightmare, right?

Because cottage life is about making memories, not waiting for help. Learn more: www.c-tow.ca | 1-888-419-2869

Download the App in the AppStore or Google Play.

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October 1, 2025 - the FOCA Board of Directors and senior staff met in Bracebridge earlier this month. With the guidance of a professional governance consultant, the group engaged in-depth strategic planning, relationship building, and governance skill development. Thank you to Board Director Eric Stuart for the photo essay, and to Don McCreesh for leading the session!

FOCA is seeking passionate and dedicated individuals for the 2026-2027 slate of directors to join our Board. We are particularly seeking candidates with professional experience in corporate law, governance, or related legal and compliance fields to complement the existing skills and perspectives on our Board.

As part of our organization's strategic priorities, FOCA is beginning the process of investing in an updated digital operational system to enable us to serve our members more efficiently and effectively. You’ll hear more about these improvements in the new year — we look forward to sharing the updates with you!

Friday, November 7, 2025 at 9:30am - FOCA's partners at Safe Quiet Lakes (SQL) are holding a webinar to release the results of their 2025 Your Lakes Your Views survey. Click 'more' to register to hear what over 7,100 lake uses had to say about lake activities and pressing issues.

Fall Cottage Life Show

November 14-16, 2025 -

Join FOCA at the Fall Cottage Life Show in Hall #2 at the International Centre, Mississauga. Come out and meet the FOCA team, and bring your questions for our partners at Cade Associates Insurance Brokers. Bonus: your ticket also get you access to the Seasons Christmas Show in Hall #1. See you there!

Apply now: Invasive Species Action Fund

FOCA's partners at the Invasive Species Centre encourage you to apply to the Invasive Species Action Fund for grants to support on-the-ground invasive species monitoring, management and prevention projects across Ontario.

Eligible municipalities, lake and community associations, conservation authorities, organization, and Indigenous communities can apply by January 9, 2026 for funding of up to $50,000 to help protect local ecosystems and advance the goals of Ontario's Invasive Species Strategic Plan. Optional virtual information sessions will be held on Nov. 5 and Nov. 12, 2025. Click to learn 'more' and to apply.

FOCA members may be interest in registering to attend an upcoming webinars in the annual "Ask an Expert" seminar series presented by the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation:

Tuesday, November 4, 2025 @ 12:00pm CST: Microplastics and Freshwater Health: Lessons from the Great Lakes - click 'more' to register.

Congratulations to all the Water Canada Award winners announced earlier this month! Close to our Ontario hearts, we were thrilled to see Watersheds Canada's winter fish habitat restoration projects featured (pictured in the image at the side), along with the Hiawatha First Nation Water Treatment Plant and Distribution, and Pollution Probe's Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup! Click to read 'more' about all the award winners.

Credit Value Conservation has launched a digital self-assessment tool to help you understand if your water sources may be at risk from your septic system. While targeted at those who reside in Credit Valley, the 'quiz' is useful for anyone on a septic system. Click 'more' for the assessment tool.

A new trap is the first of its kind in place on the Canadian side of Lake Superior to trap sea lampreys. Click for ‘more’ including a link to the CBC article (source of the image at the side – Sarah Law/CBC) in the ‘Latest News’ section of our Invasive Species webpage.

As the saying goes: the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now! Snap some pictures of your waterfront shoreline, and do some planning in the off-season, with the help of a handy shoreline forest guide from Kawartha Conservation (KC). Click for 'more' about Kawartha-region trees, shrubs, planting guidelines and a template layout you can customize to the size of your shoreline.

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September 24-25, 2025 (Kingston) - FOCA participated with our boating safety partners in the annual Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) symposium with the theme, 'Solutions Through Partnerships: Charting a course for marine safety.' Click 'more' to access the event presentations on the CSBC website, to learn more about search and rescue, boating law enforcement, PFDs and drowning prevention, and other important topics.

September 27, 2025 - FOCA was one of the featured speakers at the annual fall meeting of the Kawartha Lake Stewards Association (KLSA). Click 'more' to access the slides and recordings from the event on the KLSA website.

At their Fall Meeting (above), KLSA launched an annual $3,000 Graduate Scholarship for a qualified individual whose research is primarily focused on lakes, streams, or wetlands in the Kawartha Lakes region. Click to learn 'more'. Regional partners: consider emulating this idea to encourage research in your own region!

October 1, 2025 - FOCA participated with eastern Ontario lake association and Conservation Authority partners at the fall meeting of the Lake Networking Group (LNG). Past meeting notes can be found on the Tay Watershed's webpage by clicking 'more'.

October 3, 2025 (Bracebridge) - FOCA participated in the Muskoka Summit on the Environment which was themed 'Living Smarter in a Changing Climate'. It was a great opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues, and absorb important presentations on wildfire and climate, plant-based eating, holistic green building, and so much more. Click 'more' for an overview of the day's speakers.

October 7-8, 2025 - FOCA participated in the 20th anniversary of the Haliburton-Muskoka-Kawartha Children's Water Festival! We were one of a dozen partner presenters offering inspirational learning about the connections between water health, ecosystems, and human well-being for more than 1000 participants. 

What fun to see the light in the eyes of the future generation of water stewards! Click the image at the left above to enlarge a PDF composite of images from the event, or click 'more' to reach the Water Festival's webpage.

October 18, 2025 (Elgin) - FOCA was pleased to participate in-person in this year's Lake Links event, themed: "Me, My Lake, My Watershed: Living lakeside, thinking watershed wide." FOCA presented on ways volunteer associations can maximize their value, and find and engage members and volunteers.

If we can't attend your local event in person, you can bring a recorded message from FOCA to your membership, explaining member benefits and FOCA's work on behalf of waterfront Ontario. Click 'Email' to send a request to the FOCA office for a copy of the digital recording, and the current member benefits sheet.

November 1-7, 2025 is Carbon Monoxide (CO) Awareness Week. CO is known as the silent killer because it is a colourless, tasteless, and odourless gas that can be deadly. More than 65% of injuries and deaths from CO occur in the home. As of January 1, 2026, the Ontario Fire Code requires homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages to have a working CO alarm on all levels of the home. Learn 'more' on our webpage.

When Daylight Savings Time ends and you turn your clocks back an hour this Sunday, November 2, 2025, remember to change the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. This includes back-up batteries in alarms that are hard-wired, and CO alarms that plug-in.

November is also Radon Awareness Month. Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the soil and enters buildings through contact with the ground. The longer people are exposed, the greater their risk of lung cancer. If your residence has a finished basement, testing over at least 3 months is important, as indoor radon levels can vary a lot from day to day or week to week, but tend to be highest during the heating season. Learn 'more' about radon and testing, on our webpage.

Please help FOCA deliver on our mission: to empower and enable our members by being the leading provider of advocacy, resources, education, programs and services for Ontario cottagers.

We thank you for making a one-time or recurring donation to FOCA today.

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