Cottage Associations
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- Association of Stony Lake Cottagers and Upper Stoney Lake Association
Website: www.stonylake.on.ca
Stony Lake is one of the largest and most popular cottaging lakes in the Kawarthas. This site, run by the
Association of Stony Lake Cottagers and Upper Stoney Lake Association, highlights news and events from the
region, and also outlines some of the environmental and political issues faced by area cottagers. Includes
links to places of interest in and around the lake and the history of the area, as well as information on
invading species.
- Baptiste Lake Association
Website: www.baptistelake.org
The Baptiste Lake Association has represented cottagers and residents on this Bancroft-area waterbody since
1949. Members can download the association’s newsletter, record wildlife sightings, and browse their
buy-and-swap page, which includes listings for items such as boats, appliances, and, on our last visit, a
1960s wringer washer.
- Big Rideau Lake Association
Website: www.brla.on.ca
Founded in 1911, this association is very active in environmental preservation. Here you can keep tabs on
efforts such as their bass spawning study and loon monitoring project by clicking on the “Environmental
Programs” link.
- Borden, Ladner, Gervais
Website: www.blgcanada.com
Something got your legal briefs in a knot? Then maybe the team at Borden Ladner Gervais can help. This law
firm’s site has a number of free documents in categories that range from environmental to real estate law.
Cottage association executives should read the quarterly "Not-for-Profit Law Alert." The Fall 2003 edition,
for example, explains the implications of the new federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic
Documents Act (PIPEDA) privacy legislation for associations.
- Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
Website: www.foca.on.ca
The starting point for a wide range of cottage-related issues, from taxation to water quality. A wealth of
information and numerous links, including information about their programs such Cottage Watch or road
liability insurance.
- Georgian Bay Association
Website: www.georgianbay.ca
An umbrella group encompassing 20 local associations. Link to many of those associations’ sites, view a large
selection of photos taken around the north and eastern shores of the bay, find out about association events,
and download issues of the GBA Update newsletter going back to 1997. The site has a boater and cottager code,
research on water quality and levels, wildlife, fisheries, invasive species, taxation, First Nations issues,
renewable energy, and telephone service, to name a few. You can donate to the group's charitable foundation,
the Georgian Bay Area Foundation, from the website.
- Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association
Website: www.gloucesterpool.ca
The Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association, which maintains this site, boasts members from four Parry
Sound-area lakes: Little Lake, Baxter Lake, MacLean Lake, and Gloucester Pool. Their website contains
information on local history and events, and explores environmental issues of concern to cottagers across the
province, including the invasion of Giant Hogweed, the troubling migration of Canada Geese, and the logistics
of water testing.
- Kahshe Lake Ratepayers Association
Website: www.kahshelake.ca
The goal of the Kahshe Lake Ratepayers Association (the group that maintains this site) is to ensure the
environmentally responsible development of their lake through the implementation of a detailed plan. Visitors
can download the plan and also access useful articles on the challenges all lakeside communities face,
including noise pollution and pesticide use.
- Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association
Website: www.klcoa.org
Along with contacts for the association’s executive and a calendar of events, association meeting minutes,
reports, and an archive of the newsletter are posted online.
- Lake of Bays Association
Website: www.loba.ca
Complete contact information for all board members and area coordinators, committee updates, and a number of
helpful web links, including the town of Gravenhurst and other nearby cottage association sites. You can also
download a complete version of the Current Connection newsletter.
- Lake of the Woods District Property Owners’ Association
Website: www.lowdpoa.com
With some 4,000 members, the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners’ Association is one of the largest
cottagers’ organizations in the province. The organization’s website is a one-stop shop for news, events, and
links around this multi-fingered lake on the Ontario-Manitoba border. It also includes information on
inspirational environmental initiatives undertaken by the group such as a grant program to assist graduate
environmental students interested in studying the lake’s watershed and an International Water Quality Forum
they organized and hosted in early 2004.
- Lake Plan
Website: www.lakeplan.com
In an effort to control the environmental damage caused by increased development in cottage county, many
cottage groups are formulating a lake plan to help preserve the historical, social, and environmental value
of their lakes. Visit this site to find out if a lake plan is a good idea for your area, and how to get one
started.
- Muskoka Lakes Association
Website: www.mla.on.ca
The association is more than a century old. Its website, however, is very current. Keep up to date on
subjects as varied as West Nile virus and property tax reform, and read selected articles from the
association’s newsletter, The Burgee.
- Rondeau Cottagers Association
Website: www.rondeaucottagers.ca
Rondeau Provincial Park, on the western shore of Lake Erie, is home to a thriving community of cottagers and
an active cottagers’ association. Weather and marine conditions for the area are frequently updated on this
site, as are border wait times at crossings across the country. Also includes real estate and trading post
sections and a listing of community information and events.
- Sharbot Lake Property Owners' Association
Website: www.slpoa.ca
In addition to info for members (such as a calendar of events and electronic versions of the association’s
newsletter), this site contains a number of articles related to property taxes, the environment, and cottage
maintenance from various government and media sources.
- Sturgeon Bay Pointe au Baril Ratepayers Association
Website: www.oursturgeonbay.com
The Sturgeon Bay Pointe au Baril Ratepayers Association is one of a growing number of cottage associations
that have formulated a lake plan for their area to help ensure the future health and quality of their cottage
water. Details of the plan, in addition to a number of useful links to government offices along this stretch
of Georgian Bay, are available on this site.
- Temagami Lakes Association
Website: www.tla-temagami.org
Members of this association can keep in touch with cottage neighbours through the regularly updated e-mail
address book and links to personal websites. Before hitting the road, they can check on the local weather and
lake conditions or area news. Current and historical photos add some colour (and black and white) to the
site.
- The Kahshe Lake Ratepayers Association
Website: www.kahshelake.ca
Detailed information about the environment in and around this waterbody southeast of Gravenhurst. Read
updates on the progress of the association’s intensive lake study, along with articles on reducing pesticide
use and noise pollution on the lake.
- Thousand Islands Area Residents Association
Website: www.tiara.on.ca
The Thousand Islands Area Residents Association (TIARA) has both a well-crafted acronym and website. In
addition to its newsletter and other useful info for members, such as an events calendar and details of
association initiatives, the site has a large section of web links to various government bodies and a variety
of environmental and naturalist groups.
- Township of the Archipelago
Website: www.thearchipelago.on.ca
The Township of the Archipelago spans an island-heavy chunk of the Georgian Bay coast. Their website includes
a list of cottage associations in the region, information about safe burning and fire safety, and the fun
page, Survivor: Archipelago, highlighting some of the extreme nature of the area, including bears,
mosquitoes, and the famous massasauga rattler.
- Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation
Website: www.Wraft.com
Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation, or WRAFT, is an umbrella organization of more than 50 cottage
associations with the common goal of "Achiev[ing] equity in waterfront property taxation." Visit the site for
information on joining their campaign.
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