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

The annual FOCA Magazine - Ontario Lake Stewards - has arrived! A print copy of the 2025 magazine is on its way by mail to our titled member association representatives.

Everyone is welcomed to read and share the digital version - click 'read' to download a 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. Enjoy your mid-summer reading.

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

Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 9am to noon by Zoom webinar - Join us on the National Day of Climate Action for our 2025 FOCA Fall Seminar: Passing the Torch: Generational Action for Climate. With the theme of 'generations', each member registrant will receive one free webinar link for a guest under age 30. Come and be inspired for the good of our environment! Click for 'more' and to register now.

In recent weeks, FOCA has had important conversations with elected officials and key Ministry partners to enrich lines of communication supporting our ongoing work, representing the interests of our members and advancing priority issues affecting waterfront communities across Ontario. Click to learn 'more' about FOCA's provincial priorities. (At top - meeting with Ministry staff; at bottom - meeting with Green Party leader Mike Schreiner.)

Further to our report in last month's edition that the Province had passed controversial Bill 5, in mid-July nine Ontario First Nations launched a constitutional challenge to the provincial Bill and its federal counterpart, Bill C-5.

Regarding municipal response to Bill 5, Guelph Council was among the first to pass resolutions condemning the Bill's 'special economic zones', reduced environmental protections, and potential to override municipal planning authority. Click for 'more' including a copy of the Guelph resolution. FOCA recommends you bring this to the attention of your own municipality and encourage them to do likewise.

image: Deborah Martin-Downs

Please help FOCA deliver on our mission: to sustain and enhance the cottage experience for generations. We ask you to make a one-time or recurring donation to FOCA today.

A reminder that FOCA's partners at the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition have a letter-writing campaign that wraps up on August 10, 2025. Toronto just joined more than a dozen municipalities in passing a municipal resolution to encourage the Province to act on oversalting! Learn 'more' and get links to the campaign from FOCA's Salt Impacts webpage.

After our update in last month's Elert, FOCA's partners at Transport Canada (TC) reached out to us with a request to circulate TC's current call for public comments on floating accommodations (see below). Click 'more' for background on FOCA's webpage.

"Transport Canada has also requested comments on restricting anchoring for these types of structures. We are asking the following questions in order to develop appropriate measures to restrict long term anchoring:

1. What types of vessels should be subject to anchoring restrictions?

• All vessels – commercial and recreational?
• Only pleasure craft?
• Only floating accommodations?

2. What factors should be considered when determining long-term anchoring limits? seasons, locations, the environment, etc.

3. What time limits are reasonable for long-term anchoring? Should the time limit be left to each local authority to decide?"

Submit comments to TC by email: MSSRegulations-ReglementsSSM@tc.gc.ca

Life in cottage country is all about freedom, fun, and enjoying the great outdoors. For many families, that can include the use of ATVs, snowmobiles, and watercraft to enjoy Ontario’s natural beauty.

But whether on the land or on the water, these vehicles carry risks, and insurance coverage is an essential part of their management. Click to learn 'more' in our tips sheet.

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

Returned samples are rolling in to the lab from Lake Partner Program volunteers across the Province - thank you, volunteers! Sampling continues through October for lakes that are off the Canadian Shield (on-shield lakes sample once in May). Find out if your lake is being sampled, and learn 'more' about the program!

As you travel between lakes and rivers this summer, remember to Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat and gear. These vital steps help prevent the spread of invasive species like Water Soldier, an aggressive aquatic plant that’s already been found in several Ontario locations including the Trent-Severn Waterway, the Black River near Sutton, the Bay of Quinte, Red Horse Lake north of Gananoque, and Cook’s Bay in Lake Simcoe.

It’s not just good practice—it’s the law. Ontario regulations now require boaters to clean and drain watercraft before moving to a new waterbody:

• Clean any plants, animals or algae from your watercraft, trailer and equipment
• Drain by removing drain plugs (for example transom, bilge, motor, live-well and ballast) to allow all water to drain from the watercraft.

Cleaning tip: wash with pressurized and/or hot water. Allow watercraft and gear to completely dry between trips. For more details, visit: Invasive species action plans | ontario.ca

To learn more about Water Soldier and other invaders, and how you can help protect Ontario’s lakes and rivers, read FOCA’s Guide to Underwater Plants. Download a free copy from our webpage: https://foca.on.ca/aquatic-plants/

(source of the image at the side; photo credit: Kaleigh Mooney)

Let’s all do our part to keep our waterways healthy for generations to come!

Phase 2 of FOCA's Source Water Protection community planning project is underway this summer, helping community associations to develop and deliver volunteer-led planning for local vulnerable areas and potential risks.

Above: FOCA spoke about the project earlier this month

to property owners at Little Silver and Rainbow Lakes.

Our three participating member associations are applying the Province's Best Practices for Source Water Protection, to lead conversations about local strategies for protecting drinking water sources. Our pilot groups are engaging local experts, reviewing available data and identifying additional needs, and circulating a community survey to assess awareness and source water needs.

These steps will help inform the development of meaningful, community-specific source water protection plans. Learn 'more' about the importance of source water protection, and what you can do on your own property.

(image: Asian Carp Canada)

What happens if an invasive carp is found in Canadian waters? A Response Plan is implemented by Fisheries & Oceans Canada, which may include assistance from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and other partners. Click to learn 'more' about the process.

Next, find out how YOU can be our eyes on the water around the Great Lakes - visit foca.on.ca/carps/.

If you think you’ve seen or caught an invasive carp, call the Invading Species Hotline (1-800-563-7711) so DFO can respond! 

Invasive phragmites are rapidly taking over Ontario shorelines, forming dense, towering walls of reeds that block boat access, clog launch sites, and alter water depth. These fast-spreading plants threaten recreational boating by making water routes and waterfronts difficult—or impossible—to navigate. Boaters can help stop the spread by following Clean, Drain, Dry practices and removing plant material from boats and gear. Click for 'more' about the impacts of phragmites and how you can take action. 

Plan a visit to the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough this summer, and experience the canoe as it's meant to be - on the water. Take your trip to the next level by paddling in a voyageur canoe (pictured), renting a canoe or kayak, or bring your own to enjoy on Little Lake after exploring the Exhibition Hall. Click 'more' to reach the museum's visitor webpage.

Did you know FOCA members get a 25% discount off annual membership at the Canadian Canoe Museum? Plus, that membership gets you further discounts on workshops and purchases in the museum shop! Login on the FOCA Benefits webpage for the discount code, or contact the office for assistance.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (7:00pm-8:30pm, Zoom): Join FOCA and estate lawyer Peter Lillico for TRUST THE COTTAGE, an in-depth look at a combination of trust techniques that can help avoid payment of probate tax, protect against claims by children’s creditors and divorcing in-laws, and defer capital gains tax by “generation skipping” ownership. Click 'more' to register (free for members!).

FOCA is excited to offer a special new on-demand 1.5 hour video recording about cottage succession tax planning with expert advice for both American and Canadian owners of Ontario cottage properties. Click 'more' for details, the member discount code for $75 off the regular price, and the order link.

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

"I am wondering what makes up the value of the ACB (Adjusted Cost Base), which is used to determine the capital gain of an asset like a family cottage."

Have your own question for Peter?

Email it to: programs@foca.on.ca

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As our interim Membership Coordinator, Portia Buchanan, prepares to return to school for graduate studies this fall, FOCA is very pleased to welcome Ella Fischer-Slack who has joined our team as FOCA's MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR. Learn 'more' about Ella and all the FOCA team - staff and Board of Directors!

Download your BINGO card from FOCA's Instagram Story or Linktree, or click 'more' to be taken to a PDF version posted on the FOCA Welcome webpage. Each square is a small action you can take to protect, enjoy, and sustain cottage country.

Follow FOCA on Instagram: @ontariocottagers for weekly BINGO updates and featured actions, and post & tag us on your photo or video actions (or direct message us and we'll share for you).

Play continues until August 15th. What you get for playing: bragging rights, a possible feature on our social channels, and the title Cottage Country Steward of the Summer. Let's BIN-GO!

FOCA members in Fletcher Bay on Kawagama Lake sent FOCA a copy of their newsletter, noting:

"Thank you, FOCA, for all your help in the past year answering questions and providing valuable services to our membership. It is much appreciated!"

FOCA has received the association's permission to share an excerpted copy of their newsletter as a great example of the work our member groups do with private roads, and how important regular communication is to volunteer groups. FOCA Members can click 'more' above, and login on our Road Issues webpage to read about the group's efforts over the past year to:

• achieve ONCA compliance
• pursue consistent road dues payment without exceptions
• complete required bridge inspection.

In the association's words, "This year’s focus will be decidedly more fun! This includes additional road grading and aggregate, improvement projects, bridge repairs, signage, ditching, and drainage upgrades." We love that they call this ongoing effort the fun stuff! Keep up the good work, and thank you for sharing with FOCA and your fellow members, as always.

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.

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In early July, FOCA spoke about member benefits and ways to maximize FOCA membership value at our member association's AGM in Haliburton. Grace Lake Property Owners Association is one of our member groups that has taken advantage of the FOCA offer to host a member webpage for digital exposure - click 'more' to visit their page - a sub-page of our site.

In later July, FOCA was pleased to participate in a partners event hosted by one of our member groups in Rideau Lakes, the Otter Lake Landowners Association. We provided information about aquatic plant identification, invasive species prevention with clean, drain, dry techniques, and helped members create their unique User logins for online benefits. Don't have your login yet? Click to email us - remember to tell us your association name!

In mid July, FOCA participated in the AGM of our member group, the Picard Lake Cottagers' Association, in Trent Lakes. We had a glorious outdoor meeting and narrowly missed the torrential rains that lakes south of us experienced that afternoon! FOCA spoke about emergency preparedness, algae, land use planning, and invasive species prevention and management as part of FOCA's ongoing work with the Green Shovels Collaborative. For these and other hot topics, click 'more' to search FOCA's Issues webpage.

Even if we can't attend your local event in person, you can bring a recorded message from FOCA to your membership, explaining their 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.

FOCA's colleagues at the Nature Conservancy of Canada are in the midst of their Big Backyard BioBlitz and you can participate through August 4, 2025. Click 'more' for details and to sign up, and then document audio or video of animals and plants you encounter in the coming days. Happy hunting!

Attention FOCA members on the 169 lakes in the Cataraqui Region (CR): The CR Phragmites Working Group needs your help to boat along shorelines and log observations of invasive Phragmites. Learn 'more' and find out how to sign up as a local spotter.

As reported in the past month by the CBC, PFAS flowing into the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway are showing up in drinking water. Click to read 'more' in the Latest News section of FOCA's Pollution webpage.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) has released a new Report from their Great Lakes Science Advisory Board (source of the image at the side) that recommends a basin-wide effort to monitor microplastic pollution. Learn 'more' on our plastics webpage.

FOCA's partners at the Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation have posted a set of helpful tip sheets for homeowners about flood, fire, extreme heat, and steps each of us can take to mitigate the impacts. Click 'more' to visit the Intact website and download copies of the tip sheets.

For our members in the Ottawa Valley and the northeastern boundary of Ontario and Quebec, consult a new set of invasive species tips and quizzes from colleagues at Ottawa Riverkeeper to help you identify local invaders. Learn about Eurasian Milfoil, Spiny Waterflea, Water Chestnut, and others. Click ‘more’ to access a link to the resources from the 'Latest News' section of FOCA's Invasive Species webpage.

For our members in eastern Ontario, partners have announced this year's Lake Links in-person event will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2025 in Elgin. This year's theme is: "Me, My Lake, My Watershed: Living lakeside, thinking watershed wide." Save the date and watch for updates in a future FOCA e-newsletter.

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The FOCA office will be closed on Monday, August 4th for the long weekend.

On behalf of the FOCA Board of Directors and Staff, we wish each of you and your families the very best, and hope you get to spend it with friends, food, and fun.

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