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

An Important Message from FOCA

Subject: Keep FOCA strong during the postal disruption

Dear FOCA members, friends, e-news subscribers, and colleagues,

Canada Post workers are on strike, as announced late last week. While we respect the importance of workers raising their voices for fair wages and safe conditions, mail service across the country is currently on hold.

FOCA’s community has always shown resilience and creativity in moments like this. Whether renewing your membership, making a donation, or sharing our work with others, you find ways to keep our collective voice strong.

If you were planning to send a cheque by mail, we kindly invite you to consider making a secure payment online, or give us a call at 705-749-3622. This helps us stay focused on the work that matters most: protecting Ontario’s waterfronts, supporting lake associations, and ensuring a healthy future for our communities.

If you’ve already mailed your gift or renewal, thank you. Please know it may take a little extra time for us to receive and process it, and we appreciate your patience.

Together, we continue to demonstrate the strength of Ontario’s waterfront community. Thank you for being such an important part of it.

With gratitude,

The FOCA Team

FOCA Fall Seminar - Event Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined us at FOCA's annual Fall Seminar on September 20, 2025. Passing the Torch: Generational Action for Climate was held by Zoom webinar. Members can login for 'more' on our event webpage, including the Event Summary with links to the slides shown. Missed the event but want to watch the recording in full? Members can purchase access to the recording from a link on that same webpage.

We may not want to believe it, but summer has come to an end. As we prepare for colder weather, storms and power outages are always a possibility and many cottagers turn to portable generators for peace of mind.

While generators can provide much-needed backup power, they also come with serious risks if not used properly. To help keep your family and property safe, we encourage you to click 'more' for our Generator Safety Guide, which outlines best practices for setup, operation, and refueling. Stay warm!

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 of the Canada Post strike, Lake Partner Program (LPP) volunteers are temporarily unable to mail their samples back to the lab for analysis. All LPP volunteers are encouraged to click 'more' to read a letter from the Lake Partner Program team about how to proceed with sampling and storage of samples in the meantime. Thank you to all our dedicated volunteers!

Invasive species pose a serious threat to Ontario’s ecosystems by harming water quality, native species, recreational opportunities, and the health of our shoreline communities. But you can make a difference.

Here’s how you can help:

• Learn to identify common aquatic invaders such as Eurasian watermilfoil, spiny waterflea, and water soldier (click the image above to enlarge it)
• Always Clean • Drain • Dry your boat and trailer before moving between waterbodies
• Dispose of bait responsibly
• Report sightings of invasive species: call the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 or visit https://www.invadingspecies.com/

Together, we can protect Ontario’s lakes, rivers, and shorelines — now and for future generations. Click to learn 'more' on our invasive species webpage.

As we approach the final month of the 2025 forest fire season, large parts of northwestern Ontario remain under threat from several active fires that have kept the Ontario forest fire danger rating high.

Click 'more' to reach the 'Latest News' section of our fire safety webpage for a link to the current fire danger map (source of the image above), and an overview from The Narwhal about fires in southern Ontario earlier this season, titled: 'A wildfire in southern Ontario burns differently. Here's why'

Despite some recent rain, water levels remain low in many parts of the southern Ontario because of a long dry summer. FOCA members have reported wetlands that appear drained, and wells going dry. If your property is located within a Conservation Authority report local concerns to them, and reduce non-essential water usage as directed.

FOCA has been keeping members informed over the past several years, as Transport Canada (TC) has worked on needed amendments to the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORR). These changes have now been implemented, and are expected to speed up the process for local authorities like municipalities to implement restrictions on local waterways. FOCA continues to sit on the Ontario Recreational Boating Advisory Committee of TC, and posts member updates on our boating webpage - click for 'more'.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2025 (7:00pm-8:30pm, Zoom): Join FOCA and estate lawyer Peter Lillico for Stepping Up to the Plate: The Children’s Role in Cottage Succession. Usually, the parents worry most about how best to keep their cottage in the family and so they take the lead with cottage succession planning. But sometimes it’s the kids who realize that if effective plans aren’t in place, their inheritance of the cottage may be at risk. 

Family cottage succession planning is too important to leave entirely on the shoulders of either generation. This presentation will share recommendations on how the children can share the load and contribute valuably to the process. Click 'more' to register (free for members' families!).

FOCA is excited to announce a brand-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, and receive a dedicated segment during the session to hear 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.

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

We (my wife and I, > 65) are Canadian citizens, living in the US 9 months of the year and at our cottage in Canada 3 months a year. For the Joint Partner Trust, can we still be considered "Canadian Residents"? Does that also apply to the Sprinkling Cottage Trust?

Have your own question for Peter?

Email it to: programs@foca.on.ca

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.

It is time to nominate your FOCA member association for the 2025 FOCA Terry Rees Achievement Award which will be presented to the recipients at the 2026 FOCA AGM - hold the date: Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Learn 'more' about this annual award that celebrates the successes of our community, review past recipients, and apply on behalf of your association by October 31, 2025 at the latest.

The FOCA staff are pictured at the side during an in-office day in Peterborough recently (most often we work from various home office locations across southern Ontario). On this occasion, we got to work together in-person on a variety of programs and initiatives, and to put the final touches on the FOCA Fall Seminar plans.

We hope to see you at the next in-person event: the Fall Cottage Life Show from November 14-16, 2025 at the International Centre, Mississauga. Come out and meet the FOCA team, and bring your questions for our partners at Cade Associates Insurance Brokers who will be with us at the show. Use our promo code FOCA3 for $3 off the general admission price. Click 'more' to purchase tickets.

Every "Friend of FOCA" and member of our Member Associations can create a unique login to access members-only materials on the FOCA website, including publications and the access codes for offers! Click 'more' to visit FOCA's member benefits webpage.

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. Please ask your contact to reach out to FOCA if they need assistance locating the association's link.

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.

sponsors support our work - please support them

The Muskoka Watershed Council's Algae Sub-Committee released a report on their community science algae monitoring program on 16 area lakes in 2024. The program is intended to address issues with nuisance algal blooms and to communicate important information about algae. Learn 'more' from a link in the Latest News section of FOCA's algae webpage.

Remember: if you think you see a blue-green algal bloom:

1) assume toxins are present; don't drink the water, bathe or swim in it (or allow pets to do so)

2) report it to the Ontario Spills Action Centre.

images of BGA from FOCA's Guide to Underwater Plants & algae (L - Ministry of Natural Resources; R - Claire Holeton)

While many lakes in southern Ontario are unfortunately already familiar with blue-green algae (BGA) blooms, Lake Superior is warming faster than most other Great Lakes and is therefore becoming susceptible as well. Click 'more' to read an article on the topic, posted by The Narwhal.

October 16, 2025 - Cataraqui Conservation is running a series of natural programs for seniors. The upcoming session is "Beyond Tails & Trails: Learning to Track & Get to Know your Animal Neighbours" in Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area. Learn 'more' about this and other upcoming events.

Georgian Bay Forever has released a handy guide to understanding water sources, good practices for water testing, and safety if you rely on lake water for your drinking water. No matter where you are located in Ontario, click 'more' to reach FOCA's 'Welcome to Cottage Country' webpage where we have posted a link to the useful guide.

October 3, 2025 (Bracebridge) - The Muskoka Summit on the Environment is taking place this week, with the theme 'Living Smarter in a Changing Climate'. Learn 'more' and register now. Join FOCA there!

image: Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has launched a call for project proposals to fund efforts to protect and restore Lake Simcoe. Eligible projects within the Lake Simcoe watershed must be completed by November 15, 2027 and might include management, monitoring and other undertakings. Click to read 'more' in the notice sent to FOCA, and apply by October 17, 2025.

October 18, 2025 (Elgin) - Our partners have announced this year's Lake Links in-person event with the theme: "Me, My Lake, My Watershed: Living lakeside, thinking watershed wide." Click for 'more' and to register.

The "Ask an Expert" webinar series is back from the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation (LOWWSF), and the first two sessions are coming up in October:

> Oct. 16, 2025 - Understanding Bitumen's Impact on Freshwater

> Oct. 28, 2025 - Microplastics & Freshwater Health

Click 'more' for details and to register for the webinars.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Board of the International Joint Commission has released a resource guide to help small and medium-sized communities integrate Great Lakes water topics into their climate adaptation and resilience strategies. Click 'more' to access the guide from a link in the 'Latest News' section of our Great Lakes webpage.

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Have you read it yet? The 2025 edition of the FOCA Magazine - Ontario Lake Stewards - is ready to enjoy and share. Click 'read' to download your copy (PDF, 5 MB). This year's edition includes articles about youth engagement, cottage succession, insurance in a changing climate, salt pollution, biodiversity, source water protection, invasive species prevention and management, and more! Please share with fellow members and cottage country neighbours.

Here's the URL to share: https://foca.on.ca/publications

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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