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

FOCA Fall Seminar - Last Call to Register!

Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 9am to noon by Zoom webinar - Last call to join us on the National Day of Climate Action for the 2025 FOCA Fall Seminar for Associations: Passing the Torch: Generational Action for Climate. With the theme of 'generational action', each member registrant will receive a free webinar link for a guest under age 30.

Click 'more' for speaker highlights and to register now.

As the weather cools and we begin to turn to heating systems, it's important to keep safety top of mind.

For those who enjoy the warmth and ambiance of a woodstove, regular cleaning and proper use are key to preventing fires and ensuring your property stays safe and cozy all season long. Click 'more' for essential woodstove safety tips to keep your family and property protected.

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

Learn 'more' about how to identify and report invasive carps.

This summer, FOCA has been visiting our member communities across Ontario to talk about key issues impacting our lakes and rivers — and invasive species are high on the list.

These introduced species threaten local ecosystems and can seriously impact our quality of life. We all have a role to play in preventing their spread.

Remember: Clean, Drain, Dry your boat and gear before moving to a new waterbody. Learn 'more' about invasive species and how you can help protect our waters.

Phase 2 of FOCA's Source Water Protection community planning project is well underway this summer, with great momentum building across our three participating member associations.

These dedicated groups are working to develop and deliver volunteer-led plans focused on protecting vulnerable local water sources and addressing potential risk.

Our pilot associations are applying the Province's Best Practices for Source Water Protection. They are engaging local experts, analyzing existing data, identifying information gaps, and distributing community surveys to assess awareness and local source water needs.

(Pictured above: Last month, FOCA shared project updates directly with property owners at Lake Bernard, sparking important local discussions)



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.

Know a Phragmites Problem Spot?

Our partners at the Invasive Species Centre are looking for locations where invasive Phragmites is clearly visible—especially areas where it’s blocking or growing around docks—to photograph for the Ontario Phragmites Action program.

If a site comes to mind in your area, please reach out to Lauren Rogers by email: lrogers@invasivespeciescentre.ca

Your local knowledge can help tell the story of this invasive species!

While some regions have now lifted fire bans due to recent rain events, other forested parts of the province remain at high alert due to long term dry conditions this season. Always consult your municipality for local fire hazard ratings and obey all fire bans. Learn 'more' and get links to important fire safety resources. (image source: Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch & Raglan webpage)

Despite some rain over the past few days, much of the 2025 summer season has seen very low precipitation which has caused low water conditions in many lakes.

For example, Otonabee Conservation reported that their region went for seven weeks without rain between June 1st and August 2nd. Track low water conditions through your local municipal website, or click 'more' to consult the Ontario Low Water Program conditions map, source of the image at the side.

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!).

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

My sister and I share ownership of a cottage. We both have 3 children and would like to ensure ownership stays with the 6 of them. What is the best method for handling this without having to pay a fortune. We are both in our eighties and of course want to do the best for them.

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. Click 'more' for details, the member discount code for $75 off the regular price, and the order link.

sponsors support our work - please support them

For a brief moment this August, we had a FOCA staff meeting with 8 of us present! Please join us in thanking our departing Summer Student Dana Zashi Ventenilla, and our interim Membership Coordinator, Portia Buchanan who heads to graduate studies this fall. Click for 'more' about the FOCA team.

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.

FOCA member groups - the Muskoka Lakes Association, Skeleton Lake Cottagers Organization, and Leonard Lake Stakeholders Association - were pleased in late July 2025 that the Ontario Land Tribunal dismissed appeals of the Township of Muskoka Lakes Official Plan that would have resulted in removal of a 2,000-meter buffer zone from lakes for aggregate pits. Read 'more' in the Latest News section of FOCA's Aggregates and Mining webpage.

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.

sponsors support our work - please support them

In late July, FOCA spoke at the AGM of our member group, Sugar Lake Association, in Parry Sound. Thank you to our Board Chair, Deborah Martin-Downs for representing us at this event! Learn 'more' about SLA.

In late July, some of the FOCA staff gathered at the river's edge in Peterborough to show off our newest FOCA addition: an educational rubber model of a Grass Carp. (Currently, there are only established Common Carp in the Otonabee River.) Click 'more' to visit our Instagram post on the topic and follow us!

FOCA participated in the 2025 edition of 'Meet the Researcher' Day at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre in late July, hosted by the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station (AWRS). We enjoyed telling 1,300 visitors about water quality monitoring in the Lake Partner Program, and ways to prevent the spread of invasive species. Click for 'more' on the AWRS's research projects including flies, amphibians, turtles and more!

In late July, FOCA had an information booth at the partner fair following the Otter Lake Landowners Association AGM in Rideau Lakes. After the event, we helped their members set up unique logins to access benefits and materials on the FOCA website! Learn 'more' about OLLA.

In early August, FOCA was pleased to participate in 'Dockfest', an annual community celebration hosted by the Catchacoma Cottagers' Association in Trent Lakes. Learn 'more' about CCA's Dockfest.

In early August, FOCA participated with an information booth at the 80th annual Jack's Lake Association regatta near Apsley! The day was filled with family fun, races, food, and good times. Learn 'more' about the JLA regatta.

This August, FOCA was invited to speak about our work and FOCA member benefits at the AGM of our member group, the Paudash Lake Conservation Association in Highlands East. Learn 'more' about PLCA.

This August, FOCA participated in the annual 'Watershed Discovery Day' of the Friends of the Tay in Perth. The theme for 2025 was 'Wetlands and Natural Heritage Systems.' Thank you to our Board Member, Donna Commerford, for representing FOCA at the event!

Last weekend, FOCA attended and spoke at the AGM of our members in the Chaffey's Area Lakes Association in Leeds and Grenville.

Learn 'more' about CALA.

Last weekend, FOCA attended the 24th annual 'Canoe for Cancer' organized by our members at the Gloucester Pool Cottagers' Association and neighbouring lakes. Attendees came from far and wide to ride the Big Chute Railway Lock and complete the 13km paddle. Over $400,000 has been raised to date for the Canadian Cancer Society in support of cancer research!

MEMBERS: get inspired by learning 'more' about this amazing fundraising event.

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.

For our partners in municipal planning, a new guide has been published by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and the Climate Risk Institute through the Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation. Click 'more' to learn how effective land use and community planning can integrate essential climate change considerations.

The Environmental Advisory Committee of the Municipality of Trent Lakes has created another great resource - this one is about protecting night skies from light polution - that was sent out to all residents in the recent tax bill mailing. Click 'more' to download a PDF copy (2 pages).

MEMBERS: prompt your municipality to follow this great initiative!

If you rely on a well for drinking water, this webinar from Best Practices Eastern Ontario Working Group is a must-watch! As part of their ongoing Drinking Water Wise webinar series, the session features well maintenance and safety. Click 'more' for the YouTube recording.

During 'Septic Awareness Week' running September 15-19, 2025, two of FOCA's partners are hosting webinars on the topic.

First, on September 15th in the evening, join the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association for 'Septic System Basics for Rural and Waterfront Property Owners.' Click for 'more' and to register for this free event.

Next, on September 17th at noon: If you have a septic system, you'll want to register for this free webinar of the topic 'Septic Systems 102: Inspections and Tertiary Systems', the latest in the Drinking Water Wise series. Click 'more' for details and to register.

The University of Minnesota's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory has released a study that examines how different recreational boats affect lakebeds and the water column, and the related underwater video is dramatic! Learn 'more' from a link in the Latest News section of FOCA's Boating webpage.

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) is calling on the federal and provincial governments to widen and modernize the northern Ontario sections of the Trans-Canada Highway, calling the improvements a "nation building project". Read 'more' in the news reported by the Timmins Press. (image source: Transport Canada)

Rural landowners within the Rideau or Mississippi Valley watersheds are invited to apply for grants from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority of up to $15,000 for projects that reduce the volume of runoff and pollution reaching local waterways. Learn 'more' about eligible projects like well and septic upgrades or decommissioning, buffer planting, and others.

The International Joint Commission (IJC) seeks public comment on the recently released Draft 2025 Review of the IJC report, "Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes". Learn 'more' in a related webinar posted by IJC, and comment by August 31.

September 23-25, 2025 (Kingston) - Register now to join FOCA at the annual symposium of the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC). This year's theme is 'Solutions Through Partnerships: Charting a course for marine safety.' Learn 'more' and plan to attend.

October 3, 2025 (Bracebridge) - The Muskoka Summit on the Environment is back, with the theme 'Living Smarter in a Changing Climate'. Learn 'more' and register now.

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." Save the date and watch for updates in a future FOCA e-newsletter.

sponsors support our work - please support them

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

The FOCA office will be closed on Monday, September 1st 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.

image: Deborah Martin-Downs

Please help FOCA deliver on our mission: to sustain and enhance the cottage experience for generations.

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

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