Much good news to be shared including new board members, two student bursaries, and other successes across the board

The Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) membership was in good spirits during their 130^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) last month.

The event, held in July at Windermere House, was a celebration of accomplishments, outgoing and incoming board members, volunteers, and successes across the MLA’s purview.

In her final day as President, Susan Eplett shared highlights of the MLA’s accomplishments during her two-year term.

These included persuading the province to reinstate site plan control and regulate shipping containers retrofitted as floating cottages; preventing the election of represent aiming to reduce environmental protections; moving the JW Mariott on Lake Rosseau’s 20,000-person outdoor venue concert venue to Niagara Falls; reducing a developer’s plans to build a 630-foot dock with a two-storey boathouse in Muskoka Bay; and much more.

During her address to the attendees, Eplett shared thanks and welcomed local dignitaries including Township of Muskoka Lakes Mayor Peter Kelley and Councillors Rob Bosomworth, Guy Burry, Allen Edwards, and Susan Mazan; Town of Bracebridge Mayor Rick Maloney and Councillor Brenda Rhodes; Township of Seguin Mayor Ann MacDiarmid; Friends of Muskoka President Laurie Thomson and Chair Don Lang; and representatives of the member Lake Associations.

Eplett also introduced and thanked the Board of Directors and officers and noted that the MLA would also not be able to accomplish the work without their staff: Erla McCaig, Karianna Costa, Megan Crane (the MLA summer project coordinator), and Sandy Tozer-Spence.

The MLA’s committee chairs also hared their personal highlights from this past year.

Government and Land Use Committee (GLUC) chair Liz Lundell explained that the committee was actively involved in 80 files including by-law input, Ontario Land Tribunal participation, individual precedent-setting Zoning by-law applications, and District Resort and Lake System Health policies, the Muskoka Lakes Official Plan Working Group, and Minett Official Plan Working Group.

Environment and Water Quality Committee chair Deborah Martin-Downs presented the 2023 Water Quality program and reported that the preliminary results were favourable with only five of the MLA’s 5,200 sites results are of concern with one red light and four yellow lights.

Doug Cross Stewardship Award was presented to Eleanor and Jim Lewis were presented with the Doug Cross Stewardship Award.

Community Engagement Committee chair Paul Hendrikse highlighted that the Regatta had the largest attendance in years, Seedling Day is growing in popularity, positive results at the Farmer’s Markets and the Food Drive, and the MLA student bursary.

Communications and Membership Committee chair Scott Ferguson reviewed the results of the member survey conducted this past year. Over 850 responses were received with MLA members sharing that they mostly value time with family and friends, natural shorelines and forests, water quality, night skies and stars, and quiet.

This year, the MLA presented this year’s Bursary Awards of $5,000 each to Gravenhurst High School Grad Jocelyn Aldom and Bracebridge-Muskoka Lakes Secondary School Grad Aiden Fitzmaurice.

Also, during the AGM, the MLA’s 18-member board was established with acknowledgement given to retiring directors Susan Benson, Scott Ferguson, Chris Cragg, and Paul Hendrikse.

Those four vacancies were filled by Matthew Busbridge, Susan Fox, Rick Lancaster, and Tim Wright.

Other members of the MLA Board include Geoffrey Goad, Deb Martin-Downs, Frank Pottow, and Ken Pearce, Cindy Forbes, Liz Lundell, Michael Collins, Cathie Mostowyk, Steve Rohacek, Lisa Khoo, Kathy Ristic, Debbie Korolnek, and Erla McCaig (GM)

This term’s officers will be Past President Susan Eplett, President and Secretary Ken Pearce, First Vice President Cindy Forbes, Treasurer Kate Mostowyk, and Commodore Walter McCormick. Committee chairs will be Steve Rohacek (GLUC), Deb Martin-Downs (Environment), Michael Collins (Community Engagement), and Kathy Ristic (Communication and Membership).

Those interested in becoming a member of the Muskoka Lakes Association, can visit https://mla.on.ca/Membership