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DriftWords Serving the Rideau Since circa 1915, Poonamalie to Narrows Lock BITS FROM BETH Executive President, Doug Good Vice President, Vacant Welcome to Driftwords Spring 2015 edition. This summer marks the Secretary, Mary Sue Evans BRLA’s 100th Anniversary. We have some special plans, so read on and Treasurer, Brian Hawkins mark your calendars. I would love to hear from you, with your ideas for driftwords [email protected] Directors Communications, Lyse waiting for summer Prendergast Environment, Buzz Boles Government Affairs, Doug Are you excited yet? I am, spring is in the air and we're going to have a Kirkland great year. We've got a birthday party to go to. The Big Rideau Lake Membership, John Callan Association is going to celebrate its 100th Anniversary of serving and Marine Safety & Past protecting Big Rideau Lake. Some of the Board likely wonder why I President, Toby Spry have been thinking and planning this event with so much excitement. Representing Adam Lake, Well I have had six years to think and plan. I originally suggested a celebration back in 2009, when Hugh Burrows I noted on some of the Association sign boards “since 1911”. That bubble got broken when Jayne Recreation, Beth Evans Moore who had authored “Rideau Passages” the history of the first 50 years of the Association stated that she could only trace the BRLA’s history back to 1922. Then about two years ago when Youth Group, Bill Diane Hamilton walked into a historical display at Hanna Park with a trophy from the 1915, Big Belanger Rideau Lakes Aquatic and Protective Association, your Association knew it as a firm date. The date actually may have been earlier as there was a reference according to Ed Bebee, author of a number Program Coordinators of books dealing with fishing and fish tales along the Rideau, mentioning that one of the editions of Driftwords, Beth Evans the 1914 Ottawa Citizen had reported the “Associations” involvement with stocking salmon fry in Web Site, Lyse Big Rideau Lake. Prendergast Just think, 1914 or 1915 doesn't matter, you are in the middle of the Great War, the railway has just Cow Island, Doug Arrand come into Portland, you still have steamer service from Smiths Falls, and you have a group of Regatta, Dunlop Family individuals who have the foresight to form an organization to serve and protect the lake, yet at the Sailing, Jennifer Kelly same time to organize and promote some fun on/in the lake. RLEF, Michael Peterson Fireworks, Mike Fraser Fast forwarding some years to the 1930s, you have the great depression or at the end of the decade you have the rumblings of the Second World War, and again the Association at that time had the foresight to institute a “shoal marker buoy” program, which for decades has been the envy of many other lake associations. It sure beats plastic jugs. In this issue: President’s Pen…………………… p 1 I am certain some of you reading this message will remember the old house/cottage on Cow Island, Portland Docks……………..…….. p 3 and the movie nights that took place there. The old building was more or less condemned because of Cormorants ………………...…..… p 3 bats in the attic as I understand it. That subsequently led to the construction of the existing building. Safety Tips …………….……….. p 4 However, in getting from A to B a very significant item occurred and that was the incorporation of BRLA’s 100th Anniversary ………. p 5 your Association in 1968. Without being incorporated the BRLA could not own property and assets, Turn Your Cottage into a Camp ….. p 5 therefore to construct the new (existing) facility on Skate the Lake 2015 ……….….….. p 6 Cow Island it made sense to incorporate. Environmental Issues ………..…… p 6 Renew Your Membership ………… p 7 The 1980's were a challenge to your Association Treasurers Report .................…...… p 8 when 75 Three Buoy houseboats were dropped into Rideau Recipes …………….…..… p 9 the lake to operate out of the Muskrat Hole on the Cormorants ………….…..……….. p 10 north shore. Lake residents had concerns about Shoal Markers …………….……… p 11 pollution, noise, and safety issues. I have to say in Membership Form ……………..… p 12 retrospect, many of the concerns, though well Around the Lake ……..….…..…… p 13 founded, never came about as all of the boats were Sep$c&Systems,&Snow&Plowing& The Latest ……..……..….…..…… p 14 never on the lake at the same time: basically because houseboat rentals never seemed to take off as much as Three Buoys had hoped/anticipated. Con’t on page 2 Driftwords - Spring 2015 2 Con’t !om page 1 The early 90's were another challenge with Income Tax Act. Your Association has The first are those, who over the decades, water quality becoming a major issue. therefore re-established the Environmental have given of their time and effort to form Pollution on the Upper Rideau, wow doesn't Committee to review/monitor and advise on the EXECUTIVE of the various that sound familiar, being the main issue. issues that affect the environmental incarnations of Big Rideau Lake The problems encountered there resulted in condition of our lake. Association. They have given of their time the Rideau Lakes Capacity study, which in and talents to ensure that the BRLA not turn resulted in guidelines being determined The love for Big Rideau Lake motivated only continued, but was a leader for cottage for development on lakes and set backs our forefathers to form an organization to associations throughout the Province. To from the lakes. You may be interested to the Protect and Serve “Our Lake”, I trust all the past and current executive - know that fast forwarding to today, a report that we have carried that stewardship THANK YOU. entitled “Assessment of Municipal Site responsibility forward throughout our term, Evaluation Guidelines for Waterfront and we now we look for those to pick up The second group is you the MEMBERS, Development in Eastern Ontario's Lake the torch as we enter the second century. by maintaining your membership you have Country” (Hutchinson Environmental shown your love for the lake and the Sciences, 2014) was recently released As you read though this edition of preservation of its beauty and mesmerizing confirming the findings of that original “Driftwords” you will note that not is all attraction. There are families that are on study. The Rideau Valley, Mississippi smooth sailing and there are new their third generation of being members of Valley and Cataraqui Conservation challenges. Your Association needs your this association, because the lake is like a Authorities are proposing the updated help, with your membership and your member of the family. To all current and guidelines be adopted. neighbours on both sides, as well as anyone past members – Thank You, you have else you know on the Lake. Without those helped preserve our lake and to ensure its The 90's and the concern about the memberships and extra donations the shoal environmental quality for the future. environment also brought about the marker program and other BRLA activities formation of the ‘Rideau Lakes are under major financial pressure. So The Calendar says Spring is in the air, but Environmental Foundation”, a non profit please renew your membership. today I still saw a vehicle driving on the charitable foundation. When they receive lake, maybe we'll get summer, by July? your donation they can issue you a tax As we are about to start our second century, receipt. The Foundation can support there are two groups whom I feel need Doug environmental projects but can not be a special mention: proponent of the project under the Canadian JOHN CALLAN, LL.B. Sales Representative Proud to be part of the Big Rideau Lake community for over 50 years. Direct: 613.791.8397 Office: 613.236.9551 Toll Free: 888.335.6565 [email protected] www.johncallan.ca 100 Argyle Avenue Ottawa, ON K2P 1B6 Each Office is Independently Owned And Operated ! P.O. BOX 93, PORTLAND, ON K0G 1V0 Driftwords - Spring 2015 3 PORTLAND DOCKS Among the Big Rideau Lake cottagers any docks for Portland have to be stay in Portland. As I stated earlier any there are a number who are concerned specifically planned, designed and built dock built for Portland has to be able to about the docking space in Portland, and I for Portland. stand up to strong north winds, that doesn't am asking for your input and suggestions. just mean the visible part, but the I appreciate their concerns and frustration The condition of the existing dock was anchoring system to hold the dock(s) in because apparently the need to address examined last year and its my place. An overriding factor that cannot be the docking in Portland has been on the understanding the findings of the forgotten is the economics of investing tax table for a number of years with “nothing condition was that it was generally fairly payer dollars into expansion of this facility happening”. sound. So I believe any discussion about and the “dollar return” versus “service additional dockage in Portland is based on factor”. This year there was a figure of $50,000 in extension to the current existing dock. the “if money was available” column of Many lake users have said what a great job To move the issue forward from the the Township proposed budget, which one of our neighbouring municipalities “nothing happening” to at least with trying to keep tax increase after the have done in installing new dockage, we commencing the “planning stage”, I would hit from the OPP costing model and can only work to ensure that we do as like to hear your thoughts and ideas of current Township debt load wasn't likely.

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