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Volume 16 No. 9
By the number of blurbs in this eBlast, I would say summer is just about upon us! The weather has been both sunny and rainy with wide-ranging temperatures thus far. And the Desmasdon’s Construction crew has been doing all it can to have the markers in, albeit the weather has pitched them a few curveballs. It’s a work in progress.
Lots of things to consider….upcoming programs, fire season, ToA Large Item pick-up day in June, Start Your Firepump Contest for 2024, what3words and much more.
To ensure you don’t miss some articles, please remember that should you see “[Message clipped] View entire message” at the bottom of your email, it means there is more to read so click on it so you get the entire eBlast enabling you to use the icons there for quick access to other organizations.
Table of Contents In this eBlast:
PaBIA
- Marker Replacement Program Update
- PaBIA’s Film Series in August: All Too Clear – new documentary on Great Lakes
- Fire Season is Upon Us – Be Prepared
- Start Your Fire Pump Contest – 2024
- Vigilance Needed on Phragmites
- Proposed CN Capital Gains Tax Changes
- Frederic or Frederick Inlet??
- 2024 ToA FoodCycler Program!
- Missing/Broken Markers Contact Info – Tom Cavers
- Check out the June, July, and August Calendars
OHPS
- Odemiin-giizis – The Strawberry Moon
- History Moment – On The Docks
OF INTEREST
- ToA Large Item Pickup Day for Boaters – June 22
- Learn About what3words in GBA Boating Safety Update
- Community Bat Survey
- Township of The Archipelago Seniors Lunch June 26
- GBB – Save These Dates & June Updates
- GBA – June Update 2024
- Yearbook Update – June 8, 2024
- Lake Michigan-Huron Water Levels – June 7, 2024
PaBIA
Missing/Broken Markers Contact Info
–
Should you find any
misplaced, missing or broken
PaBIA markers, please
email Tom Cavers IMMEDIATELY or
go to PaBIAi’s webpage!
Marker Replacement Program Update
In 2023 the PaBIA Board approved the Permanent Marker capital replacement program to install 10 new permanent markers every year for 10 years until all markers are replaced with Canadian Coast Guard approved models. Approximately 100 markers will be replaced with the large new permanent markers pictured here. Another 20 or so will remain as either wooden stick markers or smaller plastic markers due to insufficient water depth for the larger markers.
With 24 of them already installed as of the end of last fall, we have approximately 100 to go. The good news for this year is that the Board has approved the reallocation of funds from the sale of the Marine Patrol boat to the Permanent Marker Program. With this extra funding, we will be able to purchase 30 markers instead of 10. Andy Blenkarn and his team from Desmasdons, will be working hard to get these new markers installed late this summer or fall. Andy works hard to match up the availability of the large barge and construction crews with the weather windows that Mother Nature gives us – not an easy task! We expect that we can get at least 20 installed this fall, and perhaps more. The remainder will be stored for the winter and installed next year.
Some good news for those boating in Sturgeon Bay. A new permanent marker has been installed on the WEST side of Bonnie Isle. In previous summers, many unfortunate boaters have tried to navigate through the narrow channel on the EAST side of the island – with disastrous results to their propellers! With lower water levels this summer, passage to the east side of the island will be even more of a challenge. The new permanent marker is intended to mark the correct channel when headed to Sturgeon Bay Marine – on the west side of Bonnie Isle.
Please exercise caution when navigating in small channels and take extra care not to hit our new (and very expensive) markers! Remember that the markers are only aids to navigation, not lines on a highway. Their positions shift yearly, weekly, and daily with changing water levels, currents, and weather conditions. If you are not sure of the channel, slow down and proceed with caution.
Coming August 13th @ 3 pm
“All Too Clear:
Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes”
with Producer Yvonne Drebert and
Director Zach Melnick
ll Too Clear uses cutting-edge underwater drones to explore how quadrillions of tiny invasive mussels are re-engineering the ecosystem of North America’s Great Lakes at a scale not seen since the glaciers. The mussels are trapping nutrients, the building blocks of life, on the lake bottom.
In the exploration using GBF’s underwater camera, they found the Africa, a late 1800s ship that went down and had never been found until 2019!
Put August 13 on your calendar…you are in for a treat!
Fire Season is Upon Us – Be Prepared
Fire Season started in May this year with a rating of HIGH. Fortunately, recent rain has allowed the Township to reduce the fire rating to MEDIUM. The Township posts the current fire rating on the front page of its website, with definitions for what is permitted here.
If you have a fire emergency at your cottage, do NOT call 911. The are no municipal or government firefighters available to respond. You must prepare yourself to fight the fire:
- Organize a neighbourhood group and determine who has a personal fire pump.
- Set up your fire pump for the season, start it to make sure it is in good working order, and have all accessories ready (hoses, flashlights, gloves, boots, shovels).
- Be aware of where the 5 PaBIA Wajax fire pumps are located, and which is closest to you.
To report a forest fire to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, call 911 or 310-FIRE (3473).
Start Your Fire Pump Contest – 2024
To encourage you to be ready, PaBIA, in conjunction with FireSmart Canada, will be holding a “Start Your Fire Pump Contest” the week of June 30 – July 6. By starting your fire pump and sending in a photo, you can enter to win one of five $100 draw prizes.
This summer, PaBIA will be hosting 2 Wajax fire pump training sessions at the Ojibway Club back dock. The first will be July 6 from 10:00 – 12:00 – Just in time to enter the contest with your photo!
The PaBIA Fire Pump Capital Replacement Program is in the process of replacing the 45-year-old Wajax fire pumps at the rate of one per year. As of this summer, 3 of our pumps will be new Wajax Mark 3-QS pumps, able to push much larger volumes of water than personal Honda fire pumps. The remaining 2 pumps will be replaced in 2025 and 2026. These 5 fire pumps are located at: Ojibway, Lighthouse, Hemlock Channel, Frederic Inlet, and Barclay Island. You can locate them on the on-line PaBIA Islander’s Map here.
Vigilance on Phragmites
Hello all – as we prepare to head back up North, it’s important to remain conscientious of invasive phragmites that threaten the native biodiversity of the Pointe au Baril area. Thanks to the joint effort of PaBIA, GBF, and community volunteers, we’ve made significant strides in eradicating phragmites from the area. However, there are still active stands both North and South of us that have the potential to spread to our region once again.
To help aid our mission of keeping these invasive species at bay, it’s vital to be able to distinguish between native and invasive species.
If you suspect invasive phragmites on your property, please reach out to Emma Manners, our Environmental Director. Let’s continue to work together to protect our natural environment.
Proposed CN Capital Gains Tax Changes
On April 16, 2024, Canada’s Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, tabled a 2024 federal budget including an announcement that the capital gains tax on amounts over CN $250,000 will rise on or after June 25, 2024. This could negatively impact PaBIA members who sell or transfer ownership of their cottages.
The GBA has taken the initiative to mount a letter-writing campaign through member outreach. See GBA President, Liz Phillip’s letter here, and follow the automated process for initiating your letter.
For non-Canadian PaBIA members, you can participate using our Pointe au Baril postal code, P0C1K0. We might also suggest to Non-Canadian members to consult with your own Tax Advisers on the best way to reduce tax exposure. The notion of transferring the cottage to the next generation and paying the Cap Gains tax in advance of the change is an option worth considering.
Please consider reading the National Post May 28th article on this. It seems our gov’t could be in a bind on this matter and the chances of an implementation delay and/or changes to the proposal seem to be increasing. This is all the more reason to try and get as many email letters sent into politicians as possible to assure the government realizes the unintended consequences.
Neither the GBA nor PaBIA has ever looked into cottage succession issues on behalf of members, but FOCA has substantial resources for you to read here.
Similarly, Cottage Life has also written on the subject. Please feel to read it here for some clarity.
Frederic or Frederick Inlet
The Royal Canadian Navy has named its newest Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship HMCS Frederick Rolette – the same man who is honoured in the name Frederic Inlet in the Pointe au Baril area.
“Today marked the official Naming Ceremony of the future HMCS Frédérick Rolette, the fifth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) for the Royal Canadian Navy. Dating back centuries, the naming of a ship is steeped in tradition and believed to bring good luck and safe travel to the vessel and crew.” From Irving Shipbuilding.
It is interesting to note that the Geographic Names Board of Canada (GNBC) does not use the “k” at the end of “Frederic” (Federal) whereas the Navy does.
Thanks to David Gray for sharing this with us! David, a former cottager and PaBIA member, once served as our PaBIA Map Chairman and is responsible for the collaboration of the correct spelling of all the islands in PaB…at least as many as he could research! His Gazetteer in the back of the Cottage History Book II (pages 319-325) is a testament to his level of detail. Is your island’s name listed??
It is time once again to consider supporting the West Parry Sound Health Center (WPSHC) during their annual Your Health Your Way fundraising event from now until May 31, 2024.
2024 FoodCycler Program!
Join the growing residents of The ToA who want to help save our Site 9! There are now more FoodCyclers available for those who are residents of The Archipelago. Check out the ToA’s website. It’s easy to do – simply go to purchase HERE. This will enable Canadians to receive their purchase(s) at their home address. if you don’t have an address for delivery (i.e. you live on an island) you can sign up for FlexDelivery through Canada Post!
And for those who already own one and wish to purchase extra parts, please click here to see what is available for purchase.
If you are non-Canadian, you will need to wait until you are in Canada and use the Canada Post’s Flex Delivery
Bats of Georgian Bay: Community Survey
Shawanaga First Nation is surveying bats and is asking for our members’ assistance to let them learn about their locations. Click on the poster to reach out to the SFN Coordinator.
OHPS
HISTORY MOMENT
Brought to you by the Ojibway Historical Preservation Society
“To restore, preserve and protect those structures in the Pointe au Baril area designated as historically and architecturally significant“
Odemiin-giizis The Strawberry Moon
June, July, and August: for Canadians, these are the brief, treasured months of sunshine, warmth and water. Families and friends gather together to celebrate the milestones of life and take respite in the beauty of Mother Earth. In this glorious time, we are guided by three full moons represented by The Three Sisters. The first of The Sisters is the Strawberry Moon or, in the Obijway language, Odemiin-giizis. This year the Strawberry Moon occurs on the 21st of June, a date familiar to many of us as the Summer Solstice.
The teachings of the Grandmothers and Aunties speak of the Cycle of Earthwoman. After the long Winter nights and the promise of Spring, the Strawberry is the bearer of the first fruit of Summer. The green-leafed Mother produces long, umbilical-like stems that bring into being, support, and sustain delicate white flowers. The flowers develop tiny green buds that grow into the little heart-shaped red berries that become the newborn fruit. (Like all newborn babies – humans, bunnies, tadpoles, fauns, fox pups) The berries from Earthwoman are her Gift of Life and Love and they are beautiful in spirit. Thus, it is that the first of the Three Sister Moons, appearing at the same time as the strawberry, has come to bear the name Strawberry Moon, the Moon of Life, Love, and New Beginnings.
June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. On that day “we recognize and celebrate the history, heritage, resilience, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada.”[1] When we take time to listen to the stories of the Grandmothers and Aunties, which they have been telling since ‘time immemorial’, we recognize that the days around the 21st of June have always guided us to celebrate love and forgiveness. The Strawberry Fruit and the Strawberry Moon have been ever-present to remind us of the Gift of Life.
With thanks to Marilyn Capreol.
On The Dock
In the early years, the Ojibway dock was known as ‘the wharf’, built to receive the large steamers that plied the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. The Waubic, Mazeppa, Britannic, and Midland City delivered hotel guests, supplies, mail, and, the dairy cow. Imogene, sent for the summer to supply milk for the guests, would also be warmly welcomed as she stepped gingerly down the gang plank.
The dock was central to summer life, for both guests and cottagers. From the outset, hotel owners Hamilton and Millie Davis, welcomed everyone in the Pointe au Baril community. To pick up their newspaper, mail, ice and groceries. Cherry pies, baked by the hotel’s chef were 30 cents each. Ice cream was a favourite draw for children and adults alike. Cottagers also came to stroll, catch up on the latest news, sunbathe and swim. And compete in the annual regatta. Since 1907, guests and cottagers of all ages have battled for supremacy in canoeing, swimming, diving and titling. One year, the dock was polished with Spangles wax beads for the regatta dance.
The dock is the village green, the town square, the common. It always was, and continues to be, the favourite place for our community to meet. “See you at the Ojibway” means see you at the Ojibway dock.
For more On the Dock stories, see the OHPS website.
David Austin Collection
HISTORY MOMENTS written by Celia Milne, Jane Manning-Marshall, Nancy Lang ~ OHPS Board Members
Of Interest
Township of The Archipelago Seniors Lunch June 26
RSVP to Alana Torresan Deputy Clerk, at 705-746-4243 ext 315 by June 14.
This is a free event for all residents residing in the Township of The Archipelago!
Save these GBB Summer Dates
We will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary with events throughout the year that you won’t want to miss. Details on locations, time, and registration will be posted over the coming weeks on our events page.
July 7. Bioblitz: Bugs in the Mud
July 13 Bioblitz: Creatures at Night
July 21 Bioblitz: Fitzgerald Beach Anniversary Celebration
Here is the June GBB News
Not sure whether the Township will
accept your Large Item?
Call 705-746-4243. ext. 311
More info Pg. 26 ’24 Yearbook
ToA Large Item Pick up Day
In Pointe au Baril
June 22. 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Township Docks
Further information on what can and cannot be dropped off on the ToA website.
Learn About what3words Inside the Special GBA Boating Update
Boating Safety Update Index
- Prepare for cold water
- Boating Safety Week Kicks off the Boating Season
- Some Resources to Help You Navigate Our Waters
- What’s on deck for Transport Canada
- what3words is the simplest way to communicate your location in an emergency
- Simple steps to help you prepare for emergencies
- The Summer fire forecast
- Marine spill? Here’s what you need to know
- Georgian Bay for Everyone
The one PaBIA wishes to highlight is: what3words is the simplest way to communicate your location in an emergency
The GBA encourages anyone who wishes to to sign up to receive the GBA Update
right to their inbox by going to GBA’s webpage
(one can unsubscribe at any time)
Yearbook Update
With each eBlast, we will provide you a list of names of those members who have provided updated contact information. The details of all the changes since the 2023 yearbook came out in early May are provided in THIS printable format for you to print out and insert into your own Yearbook! As of May 13, 2023, here are the changes.
For reporting Markers’ problems
contact Tom Cavers by cell (pg. 267 in yearbook) or email
For contacting Secretary-Treasurer and Asst. Sec. Treas.
Nancy Rogers and Elise Findlay: [email protected]
Gaw, John & Susan (email changes)
Gorka, Tim (Email change)
Konieczynski, Lisa & Al (addition)
Water Levels
Lakes Michigan/Huron Water Levels June 7th, 2024
To better read the charts, please click on the chart for the Daily or Six Month Forecast Water level chart and the corresponding websites
Call 800-263-5055
Please support PaBIA’s Yearbook Advertisers 2024
This site’s advertising feature was created to provide assistance for special local information & events for existing Yearbook advertisers only.
Emergency
• PaB Nursing Station
• Canadian Coast Guard
Search and Rescue
800-267-7270
• PaBIA Emergency info