newsflash
February 17, 2023
LOBA Winter Town Hall Meeting Report


LOBA’s first in-person Town Hall since 2019 was held on January 28 in Baysville. With close to 50 people attending, it was a great success and a welcome opportunity to bring LOBA directors and community members together with our recently elected local politicians. Thank you to District Chair Jeff Lehman, Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock, Huntsville Deputy Mayor Dan Armour, Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover and councillors George Anderson, Jackie Godard, Bob Lacroix, Mike Peppard and Nancy Tapley, for joining us! And thanks to the Bethune United Church UCW for your hospitality and delicious lunch.

The feature presentation was a Watersheds Canada webinar titled “The Science Behind Shoreland Buffers: Why the Ribbon of Life Matters”. Our shoreline environment is under increasing development pressure and this video does a good job of explaining why this is a concern and what we, as landowners and policy makers, need to do to improve our stewardship of the shorelands. For those unable to attend the meeting, you can access the Watershed Canada webinar here.

LOBA’s Environment Chair, Caroline Konarzewski, provided highlights of our 2022 Water Quality Report. Total phosphorus and bacteria levels were well below the applicable Provincial guidelines, indicating continued excellent water quality. There were no algae blooms reported on Lake of Bays in 2022.

Following updates from LOBA President Wendy Gibson, the District Chair, and both Mayors, there was a lively Q & A with conversations that carried over into the lunch. Hot topics included the Langmaid's Island development and funding plans for the new hospitals in Huntsville and Bracebridge that recently got the go-ahead from the province. For more information on the Langmaid’s Island development and messages from the District and Township, read the latest issue of Current Connection
 
Look for updates on the hospital initiative in this and future NewsFlashes. A committee comprised of municipalities, hospital foundations and Muskoka Algonquin Health Care (MAHC) has been meeting to determine how to raise the local share of the funding for the hospitals and who will be responsible for what amount. MAHC needs to be able to demonstrate to the province by June that it has a plan in place to raise the local share.

Thank you to all members who attended!
Did you know that Muskoka District has more second home residents than permanent residents? The deadline to fill out the most recent edition of the Muskoka Second Home Survey is coming up fast. 

Given the significance of the second home population and its contribution to Muskoka’s culture, economy, and social structure, the District of Muskoka conducts these surveys periodically to ensure individual voices can be heard while meeting the needs of the community at large. This is the sixth survey since they began in 1973 – the last one took place in 2017. 

The Second Home Survey helps municipal governments better understand trends in second home use and get a more complete picture of the impact on community services. Questions cover everything from the size and age of the home to future plans for year-round living, as well as how many people use the residence and how frequently. The information helps the District and the six area municipalities anticipate changes in health care, solid waste management, road use, and more.

If you don’t want to fill in the survey on-line, you can pick up print copies at any local library in Muskoka or the 70 Pine Street District office in Bracebridge. You can also have a copy mailed to you by calling 705-645-2100 x 4288. Only one survey should be filled out per household.

Deadline to complete the survey is February 27, 2023.


OR

Use the camera on your mobile device to launch the survey with this QR code
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s (MAHC) vision to reimagine local hospital care with two new hospitals in Muskoka is moving closer to reality.

Click here to read more about
  • Stage 1.3 Functional Program,
  • Site Selection,
  • Project Cost and Local Share, and
  • January 2023 Open Houses.

There is also a feedback survey, open until February 20 for the community to help inform the criteria that will be used to evaluate the different land options for the South Muskoka site, to provide other comments or questions, and to volunteer to participate in a user group.
2023 Winter Festivals
Support Your Local Community ... and Have Fun!!

Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival
February 17 and 18
Click here for schedule and details
Baysville
Winterfest
February 20 (Family Day)
Click here for details


Dwight Winter
Carnival
February 24 and 25
Click here for details
Summer Job Opportunities in Lake of Bays
Looking for 2023 Lake of Bays Tennis Camp Instructors!
We are beginning the hiring process for 2023 summer camps and would like to invite applicants to send a cover letter and resume to apply if they haven't already been in touch with Caroline or Emily.

In the cover letter please include:
  •  prior tennis experience (including at LBTC as a camper or instructor, if applicable)
  • current first aid and lifesaving certification (or plans to certify), Bronze Cross requested  
  • current tennis (OTA) certification (or details of intended courses), OTA level 1 preferred
  • leadership, organizational or personal attributes and strengths 

Please send to cgibbings@gmail.com and esternberg1@gmail.com 
Lumina Resort (located in Haystack Bay) is looking for summer staff.

Full and part-time positions available. Competitive wages and meals provided.

Join our team at Lumina and make memories that will last a lifetime!  

Please send resume to info@luminaresort.com
photo by Paul Madder
Sunny Day in February
The purpose of the Lake of Bays Association is to promote, sustain and enhance a clean and healthy natural environment, a well-serviced community and a safe and peaceful Lake of Bays.

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