Our Fall 2022 Wrap Up Zoom event took place on October 19. It was an informative evening where we heard the final Director's reports for the year, and a great presentation by Julie Antler, our local Forestry Manager who described in depth how forestry works in Ontario.
Here is the link to the recording:
The 2022 AGM was held at Weslemkoon Lake Marina on August 6.
The agenda for the 2022 AGM and Community Connections Event was:
AGM Portion
Community Connections Portion
Meet and Learn from Representatives of:
Followed by a delicious catered lunch by "Two Dishes Catering"
Here are the 2022 AGM Minutes
Here are the minutes from the 2021 AGM, 2021 Financial Statements, Board of Directors Election Notice, and the Summer 2022 Water Quality Report.
Please see the downloadable Financial Reports.
Your board continues to be very active in spite of the challenges of the past year. Actual expenditures, which reflect the varied nature of your board’s activities, are in line with approved budgeted amounts for the year.
Surplus funds are invested in two bank GIC’s of $18,291.67 and $20,873.21 which will mature December 2021 and November 2025 respectively. The GIC that matures in December 2021 earns 1.9% compounded annually. The second GIC is a 5 year variable rate GIC and interest is calculated on a simple annual basis starting at .5% in year 1 and gradually increasing each year to 1.25% in year 5. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis in these statements. The GIC interest is shared on a weighted average basis between the general fund and the Catherine Rathbun Environmental Fund.
The Catherine Rathbun Environmental fund grew by individual contributions of $445 ($1,470 in 2019) and allocated interest of $247 ($247 in 2019). Expenditures from this fund were for water quality testing in the amount of $1,305 ($1,305 in 2019) and was approved at the 2018 annual general meeting as required.
The remaining unrestricted surplus of $37,536 is available for the general purposes of the association.
Communication to and from members continues to be an exciting challenge, with members accessing some forms of communication but not others (e.g. email but not Facebook). We endeavor to communicate across several platforms in order to satisfy all members.
General questions and submissions (e.g., of ideas, photos) can always be directed to either our general email info@weslemkoon.com or to our LWCA Facebook page.
We continue to look for member contributions to our Instagram feed. This platform often works best when there is a group effort. (@LWCA_ontario)
Please ensure that you are receiving our communications through the following sources:
a) Communiques (via email)
b) Website and Blog (weslemkoon.com)
c) Facebook LWCA group
This is a private group. Posts include helpful information about boating & camping, photo contest particulars, general reminders about upcoming events, answers to members’ questions. Members post on this group for various reasons (e.g., to share cottage related stories, sell items, ask cottagers to claim something that has floated ashore)
d) LWCA Facebook Page
We have been posting information on environmental issues, safe boating, events and educational opportunities
e) Instagram (lwca_ontario)
Showcases photos of the lake and surrounds, with a focus on LWCA issues such as wildlife, conservation, weather
Membership numbers as of July 25, 2022
Members 214 (6 new)
Friends 18 (1 new)
Total = 232 (compared to 242 on Sept 30, 2021)
Please see the Water Quality Report in the Downloadable file section above.
Courtesy Markers
Custodial Visits
Forest Management Plan (FMP)
Lake Associations additional protection request from Forestry harvest turned down by MNRF. They were granted a 30 meter protection around trails recognized by the province
Good news, LWCA’s previously agreed to additional setbacks for the harvest blocks close to Weslemkoon, Heath/Mink, and Arnott/McKenzie lakes will be part of the 10 year FMP.
Inspection of the MNRF approved FMP. August 2021. Final approval is delayed.
However, we have verbal and written confirmation from the Lead Forester at MLFI (Margaret Hatton) and the Regional Director of the MNRF (Sharon Rew) that our agreement for additional setbacks for the harvest blocks that impact Weslemkoon, Mink, and McKenzie Lakes will be in the final FMP.
The first annual work schedule of the next FMP will not have any of the harvest blocks of concern in it.
MLFI and MNRF will complete the viewscape analysis when the annual work schedule is slated for our harvest blocks of concern.
Thunder Box Project
This project is in progress. We hope to achieve the installation of a Thunder Box at the following sites by the summer of 2023:
1. Mink Lake, big rock landing camp site… Jon Keeble, built, 2022 installation
2. Mink Lake, island camp site
3. Little Long Lake
4. Canoe Lake
5. Green Lake site on North shore… Perry Cornell, built and installed
6. Sundy Cove, by the cliffs
7. “Algonquin” Point (AKA Squaw Point)
8. Channel Island into Caverly’s landing… Will Vegter, done, built and installed
9. Picnic island west of Rockwell island… previously installed
10. Buck Lake
11. Little Wes
12. Shiner Lake
Work in progress:
Alan Thomas location TBD
Glenn Thompson location TBD
We need your stories, photos, memories, poems and ideas. Please make sure to share notes of passings, births and big birthdays or anniversaries too!
Please send along to looncall.editor@gmail.com or get in touch through the website or social posts and it will make its way to me. Items need to be submitted by the end of December to give us time to put it all together.
Please encourage your children to send in their stories and photos from the summer.
The Loon Call is only as good as the content within it - let’s continue to make it fun, relevant and all about our Weslemkoon.
After an easy ice out this past spring, water levels have generally been within MNR targets so far this year. Levels were a bit low at the start of boating season and then a bit high in the late spring with all of the rain but have settled nicely for the summer so far.
June 1 - Weslemkoon Goosechase Begins!
Skul Island Teen Meet Up July 1 2-4 pm
Docktails July 8 2-4 pm
Makers Market August 6
AGM August 12 at Four Loons