Passing of Jim Potter
We have learned the sad news of the passing of Jim Potter, a greatly loved member of the boating community. Click here for his obituary.
RVCA Launches Strategic Plan
A renewed vision for a thriving watershed will guide the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) during the coming years. The RVCA board of directors unveiled its new strategic plan at its board meeting held March 23. The plan builds upon the Conservation Authority’s past 50 years of success and will guide it towards a sustainable future.
RVCA Chair Lyle Pederson and General Manager Sommer Casgrain-Robertson are excited that the plan, entitled Conserving Our Watershed, Ensuring Our Future, charts a course to 2020. “We’ve worked hard to develop a set of strategies and plans that identify clear priorities for RVCA to undertake that are locally relevant,” said Chair Pederson. “These actions will benefit our local municipalities by protecting and restoring the value of our watershed.”
The RVCA’s renewed vision is for a thriving watershed with clean abundant water, natural shorelines, rich forests and wetlands, diverse habitat and sustainable land use that is valued and protected by all.
Four pillars guide program priorities to accomplish this vision:
- Develop and share watershed knowledge that advances decision making and leads to on-the-ground action
- Protect, restore and enhance watershed health and safeguard people and property from natural hazards
- Increase watershed awareness and appreciation and inspire action in others
- Operate a sustainable, well-managed, service-driven organization fueled by engaged employees
“All of our strategic priorities are also underpinned by five core values,” added General Manager Sommer Casgrain-Robertson. “Collaboration, balance, knowledge, integrity and excellence shape all that we do and how we do it as we serve the Rideau watershed and the people who live in it”.
This strategic plan is just one of several products that guide the ongoing work and conservation efforts of the RVCA. The 2016 RVCA Annual Report, 2017 Budget and Work Plan along with information sheets for each of our member municipalities show the past, present and future of Conservation Authority efforts.
To see the full strategic plan or any of these products, visit our website at www.rvca.ca (under “publications”) or call 1-800-267-3504 to have a copy mailed.
Honouring Doug Good's Legacy
Doug Good passed away on Friday March 10, 2017, as the result of a tragic accident on Big Rideau Lake.
Doug's obituary has now been published and his funeral arrangements have been made - http://scotlandfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/2879963/Good-Doug/obituary.php.
"Doug Good of Portland in his 70th year. Beloved husband of Chris Quattrocchi. Dear father of Frank (Debby) of Osgoode and Lisa at home. Dear brother of Frances (Barry) Ross of Toronto. Fondly remembered by grandchildren, Laena and Mason Good, as well as niece and nephew, Alison and Kevin Ross. Predeceased by his parents, Thelma and Chet Good.
The family will receive friends at the SCOTLAND FUNERAL HOME, 27 Main Street, Elgin on Sunday from 1-3 and 6-8. Memorial Service in Portland United Church on Monday morning at 11 o'clock. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations made to the Brockville Association of Community Living or the charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family."
Doug Good was a lifelong and ardent supporter of the Rideau Lakes community. To honour Doug's life and his commitment to the Big Rideau Lake and surrounding community, the BRLA is in the process of creating a Good Family Memorial Reserve Fund. This fund will support our shoal markers program, something very near and dear to Doug's heart; we will provide more details about this fund next week.
We have truly lost a great friend.
Tragic Loss to Rideau Lakes community
To All BRLA Members and Friends
It is with sadness that we advise you that we lost two BRLA members this weekend, Doug Good and Mike Carty, in a tragic accident on Big Rideau Lake.
Doug and Mike’s passion for and commitment to their lake, community, friends and neighbours is surely a cornerstone of their continuing legacy.
We will follow up to give you final funeral arrangements when they become available.
We have lost two great friends.
Brian Hawkins, President
Westport in Bloom - Tree Sale Beginning Early
Message from "Westport in Bloom":
Hello cottagers! Just in case you’re starting to dream wistfully about spring and ways to make your piece of Heaven even more beautiful, we wanted to let you know that Westport in Bloom’s 11th annual tree sale is in full swing right now. Once again our non-profit volunteer organization is offering about 30 varieties of high-quality shade trees, fruit trees, and flowering trees and shrubs, up to or over 8 feet tall, and all at great prices. Most come with bare roots bagged in plastic, and so are exceptionally easy to carry and plant. As usual, the trees will be delivered in late April, the perfect time for planting. Check out our listings at westportinbloom.com under Trees, and contact jauer@kingston.net to place your order. Every tree you plant increases the beauty and value of your property and contributes to the health of our children’s environment, and every penny we earn is spent making Westport even more beautiful.
Decision on Rideau Lakes Ward and Council Review
At the meeting held on January 3rd, TRL council approved changes to the size of council and the number of wards. These changes are based on the second option presented in the consultant's report. Changes include:
Council will be reduced from 10 members to 9. The new council structure will include 8 councillors and a mayor.
The number of wards will be reduced from 5 to 4. Newboro will be merged with North Crosby to form a new Ward called "North Crosby-Newboro". There was no action taken to modify any of the other wards.
The 8 councillors will continue to be elected by ward with 2 councillors representing each of the 4 wards.
The Mayor will continue to be elected at large.
The decision is subject to a 45-day Appeal Period to the Ontario Municipal Board, and will take affect for the 2018 municipal elections.
Full details are available on the Township of Rideau Lakes website.
Parks Canada delaying new management plan decision another year
Parks Canada has been working on a new management plan for the Rideau Canal for several years, and recently announced its target date for completion will be extended to March 2018. As part of setting a new long-term strategic vision for the canal, this delay will allow Parks Canada to conduct more public consultation than originally planned, including additional open houses and the release of a draft plan for public discussion.
For details, click here to read a letter from John Festarini, the Associate Director for Ontario Waterways. And for reaction to this decision, click here to read a recent Ottawa Sun article.
Luxury boat rental company "Le Boat" to launch operations along Rideau Canal
Parks Canada announced today that the Le Boat company is planning to begin operations along the Rideau Canal in 2018. As we advised in a May 27th website update, the BRLA has been engaged with Parks Canada for the past year as this project has moved forward. We welcome today’s announcement believing it will bring significant economic benefits to the lake community and expect minimal impact to the quality of life we all enjoy on the Big Rideau Lake. For those of you who remember the 3 Buoys Houseboat/Party boat fiasco in the 80’s, this is very different.
According to a Le Boat company press release, the details of this plan include:
- An investment of CA$16 million in base infrastructure, along the length of the canal from Ottawa to Kingston.
- Le Boat's base to be located on the Parks Canada grounds in Smiths Fall.
- A fleet of 16 Horizon cruisers, which are low speed keel boats (10 kph maximum speed) with added handling and navigational features (bow thruster & GPS).
- All boat renters required to complete an orientation course provided by the company before setting out.
- The fleet planned to expand to at least 32 cruises over the next five years.
- Booking will begin in spring 2017, with the boating season officially launching in May 2018 and running through October every year.
This venture is part of a collaboration to attract investors among Parks Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport as well as various municipal partners. The benefits Parks Canada see include increasing tourism to the Rideau Canal (both on land and on water), providing more opportunities for visitors without boats, increasing the number of international visitors, and encouraging economic development and support job creation along the Rideau Canal.
We will continue to monitor this development as talks continue, and will keep our members informed as we learn more. For the full text of the Le Boat announcement, click here. And for details about the Le Boat company, please see their website.
