News & Events

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

May 25, 2013  "Lessons Learned" workshop, "Working Towards Effective Lake Stewardship," Waterloo Summit Centre, Huntsville

An educational and sharing opportunity for those interested in learning about, protecting and caring for our Central Ontario lakes and watersheds. Keynote by Prof. Peter Sale, United Nations University. Terry Rees of FOCA will be a guest speaker. Get details...

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RECENT EVENTS:

May 7, 2013 - Terry Rees of FOCA attended the LOWDPOA AGM and connected with partners from the NW Ontario region. Click the image below to watch his video blog and high water update:

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Spring/Summer 2013: "Clear the Cottage Clutter for cash," by partnering with Ontario Electronic Stewardship and hosting an electronic waste collection event. Read the notice...

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April 27, 2013 Muskoka Stewardship Conference at Nipissing University, Bracebridge.

Keynote speaker: Dr. Andrew Paterson, Ministry of the Environment. Topics include: Algae ID and monitoring, NatureWatch, Adopt-A-Pond, Landscaping for Wildlife, Loon Survey, Water quality data and more. Get the details...

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April 12-13, 2013 - Over 40 groups from around the Great Lakes basin attended the Great Lakes "Spring Refresh" meeting held on Kempenfelt Bay (Lake Simcoe). FOCA participated, and was part of the Steering Committee that organized the event. Learn more...

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April 5-7, 2013 FOCA participated in the 20th Cottage Life Spring Show, Toronto

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FOCA Annual General Meeting 2013

The FOCA Annual General Meeting and Spring Seminar was held on Saturday, March 2nd, 2013 in Toronto. Member associations may contact the office for a summary and links to the slide presentations.

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Feb/March 2013:

FOCA co-hosted a series of public meetings about the Algonquin Land Claim. (Pictured: the crowd at the first event, Perth, February 22nd)

Get details on the FOCA Hot Topics - Algonquin Land Claim page.

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Jan.2013 - FOCA's Terry Rees participated in the kick-off to Snowmobile Safety Week (Jan.13-19) in Orillia, joining the OPP and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs to warn about Ice Safety.

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Nov.22, 2012 - Cottage Succession Seminar- The venue for the final edition of the 2012 FOCA Series, "Keeping the 'Family' in the Family Cottage," was a fireside chat at the RBC offices of financial planner Steve Lester. Attendees got tips from Lester and lawyer Peter Lillico about the importance of planning NOW. Get more information from the Cottage Succession page of the FOCA website.

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Nov.8, 2012, Toronto - Terry Rees of FOCA joined a capacity crowd of key players from the U.S. and Canada to discuss Asian carp control strategies, the extent of the issue, and what individuals can do to stop the introduction of Asian carp to the Great Lakes, and beyond. Click here to read the press release. 

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Nov. 7, 2012 - ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY: FOCA, along with a dozen other environmental groups, met with Ontario's Environmental Commissioner and his staff to discuss ongoing & emerging challenges to the Ontario environment. Learn more about some of these challenges on the FOCA Hot Topics pages, and more about what the ECO is up to at: www.eco.on.ca

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FOCA's Fall members' meeting took place during the Fall Cottage Life show in Toronto on October 26, 2012. 

An event summary is available to FOCA members. Please contact the office to request your copy: info@foca.on.ca.

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Oct.26-28, 2012:  Cottage Life Fall Show, Toronto

FOCA attended the Cottage Life Fall Show. Thanks to all the members who stopped by with questions, or just to say, hello!

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Sept.22-23, 2012: FOCA's Executive Director, Terry Rees, took part in the Living Waters Rally in Ottawa.

Sept.22, 2012: FOCA's Communications Coordinator, Michelle Lewin, attended a special members' behind-the-scenes tour of the Canadian Canoe Museum. Remember: all FOCA members can take advantage of a free 1-year membership to the Canoe Museum! Click here for details...

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SAFE AT THE COTTAGE - Fire & CO Safety contest

Contest CLOSED, August 31, 2012.

Sept.21, 2012: Congratulations to the winners in the "Safe at the Cottage" contest! Grand Prize Winner: Kristen Ellis, Thunder Bay

This contest was brought to you by FOCA, Kidde Canada, the FireSmart program of the MNR, the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. Find out more on the Safe at the Cottage Facebook page. 

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Aug.2012: see FOCA's late summer video update.

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MAKE YOUR LAKE GREAT - Lake Association physical improvements contest

Contest CLOSED, July 15, 2012

Winner: Kahshe Lake Ratepayers Association

The winning lake association was selected in a random draw; funds will be allocated via the Lake Association to boating safety projects. The "Make Your Lake Great" contest is presented by Cottage Life, FOCA & BOATsmart! Canada, who graciously supplied the $5,000 prize money. 

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Terry unfortunately had to cancel his appearance at the May 28th event in Tiny Township, because he was called to Ottawa to speak before the Budget SubCommittee about proposed changes to Bill C-38 that have serious implications for several environmental acts.

Monday, May 28th, Terry Rees was invited to speak at the Great Lakes Need Great Friends event in Tiny Township, one of 8 Canadian stops on the tour organized by the Council of Canadians, with author and renowned water ambassador, Maude Barlow, and her guests addressing the importance of the freshwater resources found within the Great Lakes Basin. 

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FOCA's Executive Director was in Winnipeg for the May 2012 Living Lakes Canada Gathering.

Pictured here: Udo Gattenlohner - Executive Director of Global Nature Fund/Living Lakes International (Germany), Heather Leschied of Living Lakes Canada, Terry Rees - E.D. of FOCA.

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"Safe at the Cottage" contest  in 2012 "Peace of Mind for Your Piece of Heaven" campaign

May 2012: FOCA's Communications Coordinator Michelle Lewin was at the Huntsville waterfront on the Victoria Day long weekend for the launch of the fire and CO safety program.

Thanks to our partners at the MNR's FireSmart program, the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, Kidde Canada, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and our contest prize sponsors for making this such an exciting contest! Get details about how to enter the contest in the left-hand margin of the FOCA News & Events webpage.

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Cottage Life Spring Show- FOCA was there, were you? 

From March 30 - April 1, 2012, we celebrated 50 years of FOCA at the Cottage Life Spring show. It was a very busy weekend, with lots of great Main Stage speakers as well as light-hearted fun (including our exhibition Postcards from the Edge of Cottage Country - a light-hearted look back at the heritage of cottage living, in photos, postcards and other cottage memorabilia from the Canadian Canoe Museum, the Peterborough Museum and Archives, FOCA materials as well as artwork loaned by artist Charles Pachter and the Appleton Collection. Click here for pictures...

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FOCA Annual General Meeting (March 3rd, 2012), Delta Toronto East Hotel

with Special Guest Speaker: Penny Caldwell, Editor of Cottage Life Magazine

We had a full house at our AGM! Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in this event. Read a brief summary of the events here...

View some pictures from the day by clicking here...

FOCA members can enquire for a full written summary of the day's events, including links to the slide presentations. Email your request to: communications@foca.on.ca

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January 2012: FOCA is very proud to announce that Terry Rees, FOCA's Executive Director, has been honoured by Water Canada in the 2012 "Water's Next," as a person representing Canadian water excellence! Read more...

Terry was featured in a CHEX TV news article about his Water's Next honour and FOCA's involvement with the Lake Partner Program. Watch the video here:

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Trent University lecture "For the Sake of Our Lakes - Algal Blooms and Their Effects on Nutrient-Poor Lakes: Opening Pandora's Box with a Biotic Key" by Dr. Kathryn Cottingham on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 7:30 pm in Gzowski College Room 114 on Symons Campus of Trent University. This is part of the David Schindler Endowed Scholarship speaking series. FOCA's Terry Rees was a feature speaker at the inaugural Schindler event. 

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Cottage Life FALL Show (Nov. 25-27, 2011 in Toronto) 

FOCA talked up a storm at this great show at the International Centre. Visitors picked up FOCA fact sheets, free materials from our partners and sponsors, and signed up for the FOCA Elert.

Thanks to our wonderful volunteers, Board and staff who were in attendance.

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FOCA Fall Seminar 2011 -

We hosted our annual Fall Seminar in Toronto on Saturday, November 5th, 2011. Thank you to our fantastic speakers: Dr. Norman Yan,  and Leora Berman. Click here for the Event Summary, including pictures & links to the presentation slides...

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FOCA participated in the Lake Links Workshop in Perth on Saturday, October 29th, 2011.

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FOCA's 2011 Cottage Succession Seminar Series

Keeping the "Family" in the Family Cottage

The final session of 2011 was held on October 27th in Toronto.

Learn how to "Keep the 'Family' in the Family Cottage"

Contact the office for more details about this series.

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Lakeland Conference - September 10, 2011

FOCA participated in this year's Lakeland Conference which addressed the topic: "The 'At Capacity' Designation and its Implications for Municipal Planning on Lake Trout Lakes."Click here to see more about the presentations given. FOCA is proud to be a founding partner of the Lakeland Alliance and annual conference.

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FOCA attended the Green Expo at the Desbarats Arena (July 22-23, 2011)Click here for more information.

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FOCA attended the first (sure-to-become-annual) Muskoka Stewardship Conference in Gravenhurst on April 30th, 2011. Click here for links to the great presentations.

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Prior to the May 2011 Federal election, FOCA co-hosted an "all candidates meeting on the environment" in Peterborough.

FOCA had a booth at The Cottage Show (April 8-10th, 2011) in Ottawa. The show celebrated its 10th anniversary. Congratulations!

FOCA had a booth at the Spring 2011 Cottage Life Show, March 25-27, in Toronto. 

Terry Rees spoke on the Main Stage on Friday and Saturday at the Cottage Life show, introducing Hot Topics affecting cottagers in this year's Provincial election.

Terry Rees, FOCA's Executive Director, was featured TWICE IN ONE WEEK on Penny Caldwell's popular blog for Cottage Life Magazine.

First, Penny posted about Terry's scheduled talks at the Spring 2011 Cottage Life show (March 25-27th). Terry will speak about hot-button topics affecting cottagers in the lead-up to the provincial election this year. Then, Terry was in the blogosphere again, this time for the family pics he submitted to Penny of ice curling on Lake Kasshabog.

FOCA 2011 AGM and Seminar: "Lightning and Taxes and Bears, Oh My!" March 5 2011, at the York Reception Centre, Toronto. Click here for the AGM Event Summary and photos!

Attendees got all the updates on election issues affecting cottagers, and how to minimize personal and financial risk at your waterfront property. Members can contact the FOCA office to access the online archive audio & slide recording of all the presentations!

*UPDATE: due to low demand, we were unable to offer the live Webinar option at this year's AGM. If you are interested in this possibility for future meetings, please let us know.

Terry Rees was on the panel at the Trent University David Schindler Inaugural Lecture, "For the Sake of Our Lakes" on Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011.  Watch the video here.

February 25th, 2011: FOCA was pleased to have been involved with a round-table held  by the regional watershed research consortium formed by the District Municipality of Muskoka, in partnership with the Dorset Environmental Science Centre.

The hope is that this 3-year collaborative and scientific approach which will help to solve the Muskoka Watershed’s critical lake-management issues, and leave a legacy of knowledge and cooperation that will benefit watershed management for decades.  Funding through the Canadian Water Network (CWN) for the consortium’s proposed work will be determined by mid-year 2011.

Trent-Severn Waterway - LEADERS' ROUND TABLE. FOCA participated on January 31, 2011 with over 140 delegates from key groups. Click here to read a News Release about this significant gathering.

FOCA was part of the Lake Networking Group meeting in January 2011.

FOCA participated in the Lakeland Alliance planning meeting in December, 2010.          

FOCA attended the inauguration of the new Peterborough County Council, November, 2010.

Fall Cottage Life Show, November 26 - 28, 2010 at the International Centre in Toronto. Pictured below are Penny Caldwell (Editor of Cottage Life Magazine), with Terry Rees and Michelle Lewin of FOCA.

FOCA Fall Seminar and WRAFT AGM, November 6, 2010 (A summary is available for viewing. Contact the FOCA office for access to the online archive - full audio recording and slides from the event!)  

Lake Links, Perth, October 30, 2010.Click here to see those in attendance at the meeting.

10th Annual Lakeland Conference, Saturday, October 2nd, 2010.

FOCA's Cottage Succession Workshops, July / August 2010. Featured guest speaker Peter Lillico, Estate Planning Lawyer . Haliburton/Kawarthas.

FOCA Lakes & Forests Stewardship Workshop in Espanola, July 22.

The Muskoka In-Water Boat and Cottage Show, Gravenhurst, July 23 - 25.  Thanks to everybody that stopped by the FOCA booth to say hello!

Freshwater Summit in Bracebridge, June 1 & 2 (click for CBC Radio Ideas podcast: Speaking Truth to Power)

Caneast Shows' The Cottage Show, Ottawa, April 9 - 11, 2010.

May 27, 2010: FOCA is proud to support environmental education and sustainability at Camp Kawartha's new Environment Centre

April 14 2010: FOCA, as a partner of the Ontario Water Conservation Alliance is pushing for water conservation.  Click here to view the press release.

Spring Cottage Life Show, March 26 - 28 2010, Toronto International Centre

FOCA AGM and Seminar: March 6 2010, York Reception Centre, Toronto

Cottage Life Fall Show, November 6 - 8 2009, Toronto International Centre 

FOCA's 2009 Fall Seminar, October 24 2009, York Reception Centre, Toronto

WRAFT Annual General Meeting, October 24, 2009. 

Lake Links, Perth, Ontario October 24, 2009.  FOCA is proud to sponsor this important annual event!

Lakeland Conference - September 19, 2009 at the Haliburton Campus of Fleming College. 

MPAC Meeting January 28, 2009 - FOCA is pleased to have partnered with WRAFT and CAPTR to sponsor a meeting with representatives of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) in January 2009.  This event was organized to provide an opportunity for our members to get answers to their questions about the 2008 assessment. 

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Join FOCA today and take advantage of the important information & connections you can make through our association!

Send us your news to info@foca.on.ca.