Call for Volunteers, Around the Township, and more ....

NewsFlash

April 12, 2024

Through education, advocacy and engagement, our mission is to foster a healthy natural environment, responsible waterfront development, a thriving community,

and a Lake of Bays shared respectfully and safely by all.

If you love Lake of Bays and want to keep it sustainable for generations to come, we need your help! We have many volunteer roles for anyone with an interest in contributing to LOBA’s mission. Volunteers (residents and seasonal) of all ages and experience, are welcome. The time commitment is flexible and most communication is done electronically. We especially need to hear from members with experience in municipal planning, law, environment issues, community outreach and communications.

Would you like to help us with any of the following

volunteer activities?

Environment

Water Testing Team
Invasive Species Team

Municipal Planning and Government Relations Monitor planning applications and decisions of municipal and district governments that relate to development and land use planning, taxation, provision of services and other policies that impact the Lake of Bays community.

Community Engagement

Area Stewards program
Safety - boating, fire, etc.
Communications
Community Outreach - public education, social media, digital technology, events, marketing

Board of Directors

Three-year term

Please download and complete our volunteer information form.

All applicants will be acknowledged and interviews for board positions will be scheduled in May. Elections to the board will occur at our AGM in July.

If you are interested but have questions, please contact Mary Ann Peden at

647-406-4659

peden.maryann@gmail.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

It’s all about the lake!

Around the Township

At the March 12, 2024 Council Meeting, Township of Lake of Bays CAO Bryan Brown presented the 2023 Annual Report of Activities.

On behalf of our members, we would like to thank Township staff for all they achieved!

Read the full report here>

The Annual Compost Giveaway is happening again in Lake of Bays! On Earth Day, April 22, 2024, starting at 10 am, you can pick up free, quality compost at four locations in the municipality:

Lake of Bays Community Centre Arena, Baysville (10 University St)
Dorset Seniors Centre (5025 Muskoka Road 117)
Interlaken Old Firehall (2309 Limberlost Rd)
Dwight Branch Public Library Parking Lot (1014 Dwight Beach Rd)

In partnership with the District Municipality of Muskoka and the Township, the compost will be available until supplies last. This compost is a direct result of Muskoka residents participating in the green bin program.

Residents are reminded that it is first come, first serve. Please bring your own containers and shovels. For best results, it’s recommended to mix the compost with 60% topsoil and 40% compost.

Effective April 3, 2024, the Fire Danger Rating is now set at MODERATE and there is "No Daytime Burning" from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Under a moderate fire rating:

Fire must be under constant supervision and control from time of lighting until it is totally extinguished
Forest fuels are drying and there is an increased risk of surface fires starting. Carry out any forest activities with caution

With the warmer weather approaching it is time to think about the significant impact it has on wildfires – in how they start, how aggressively they spread, and how long they burn. As fire danger ratings change during the summer season, it’s important to be aware of the current rating and take precautionary steps to ensure you are lowering your risk of starting a fire.

The Muskoka Fire Danger Rating is determined using the Fire Weather Index (FWI), an internationally used method for determining the risk of fires in open air. It uses factors such as the relative humidity, temperature, previous 24-hour rain amount, wind directions and wind speed in combination with the forest fuel type and loads to determine the risk of the forest to certain fire types. From this calculation, the Forest Fire Danger Rating is made in consultation with the Fire Chiefs of the six area municipalities and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

For more information on outdoor burning in Lake of Bays call the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department at 705 789-5201.

Due to popular demand and requests for an evening session, the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department has scheduled a second date for the FireSmart^TM presentation. This ensures those who couldn't attend the initial session can still benefit from vital wildfire preparedness information.

Additionally, the presentation will be recorded and made publicly available through the department's YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.

Please RSVP by contacting dwight@lakeofbayslibrary.ca or (705) 635-3319.

Stakeholder Updates

To keep the local community updated on the progress of their plans and upcoming engagement opportunities, Muskoka Algonguin Healthcare (MAHC) is releasing weekly updates. MAHC encourages all community members to sign up at mahc.ca/stayinformed to receive these updates.