Soyers Lake

News


All Candidates Meeting - Labour Day Weekend
On Saturday September 4, 2010 there will be a lake association spondsored All Candidates Meeting for the upcoming election. It will be held at Archie Stouffer Elementary School, 12 Vintage Cres, Minden from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30am.

For more information CLICK HERE.

(Added August 30, 2010) Top

Municipal Election - October 25, 2010
There is a Municipal Election occurring this fall and the following is from the Township of Minden Hills website:
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Vote by Mail will be the method of voting for the upcoming Municipal Election, October 25th, 2010.

Voter kits will be mailed out to eligible voters on September 28th, 2010.

The Municipal Office, 7 Milne Street, Minden, will be open on the Thanksgiving weekend, for election purposes only, Saturday, October 9th, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for eligible voters to:

a) return their completed ballot

b) be added to the Voters List (with proper identification)

c) receive a Voters Kit if the voters kit has been lost or has not been received

d) accommodate voters unable to attend during regular business hours – local & seasonal residents welcome!

Voters are encouraged to drop off their completed ballot to the Ballot Return Station, 2nd floor, 7 Milne Street or to utilize the locked drop off box at the municipal office.
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To view the Township of Miden Hills website election information CLICK HERE or visit http://www.mindenhills.ca/election.html . (Make sure to scroll the inside page down)
(Added August 12, 2010) Top

New Members Only Features on the Soyers Lake Website
Now you can update your address information, check you membership dues payment history and more. All you need to do is LOGIN to the MEMBERS ONLY area using your email address and your individual password. The old Username and Password still work but will provide fewer features.

If you don't know your individual password you can have it sent to the email address we have on file.

If we don't have an email address for you, please contact info@soyerslake.ca.
(Added August 9, 2010) Top

Creating a Tool Kit for Lake Stewards
An article that appeared in the July 8, 2010 issue of County Voice descrides the work being done to create a handbook for people who care for lakes. To view the article CLICK HERE.

You can also visit the Coalition of Haliburton Property Owner's Associations website by CLICKING HERE or go to http://www.cohpoa.ca.
(Added July 15, 2010) Top

2011 Tree Planting Program Accepting Applications
An article that appeared in the June 29, 2010 issue of The Haliburton County Echo provides information on the Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council Tree Planting Program. To view the article CLICK HERE.

You can also visit the Haliburton Highlands Stewardship Council website by CLICKING HERE or go to http://www.ontariostewardship.org/councils/haliburton.
(Added July 6, 2010) Top

WRAFT Summer 2010 Update
The WRAFT (a group working to achieve equity in waterfront property taxation) has issued their Summer 2010 Update. To view the document CLICK HERE or go to http://www.wraft.com/news/2010-06-28-Update-From-Wraft.html.
(Added June 30, 2010) Top

Soyers Lake Summer 2010 Newsletter
The Summer 2010 Newsletter as well as past newsletters are available in the Members Only / Newsletters area. CLICK HERE to go to the Members Only / Newsletters area (make sure you have your login information handy).
(Added June 24, 2010) Top

Lake Water Level Warning from the Coalition of Equitable Water Flow (CEWF)
Although the water level in Soyers Lake is at the normal high level for this time of year, a large number of the Reservoir and Flow Through (RAFT) lakes are considerably below normal height levels for early June. This is a cause for major concern, even for those lakes that are at their current normal height (and there are a few), as the forecasts are for a warm and dry summer. The prospects of faster, earlier and possibly more extensive draw-downs this year loom very large on the horizon for all.

The Advisory Committee of the CEWF has been concerned from the beginning about this scenario occurring some year, and has been a major reason for our continuing to press the Trent Severn Waterway (TSW) for an "integrated water management at the watershed level" approach. The conditions of the water levels and the TSW plans for this summer/fall will be a significant topic at the Advisory Committee's meetings with the TSW.

A number of lake associations have also written to the TSW to voice their concerns directly.

The CEWF encourages everyone to check their website for more information and write the TSW to voice their concerns.

To view a graph of the water levels: Choose Burnt River Watershed and then Canning Lake after you CLICK HERE for the TSW website
(Added June 14, 2010) Top

2010 Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste Disposal Days
Once again this year, Minden Hills is holding 5 days during which you can dispose of your hazardous waste such as old paints, used motor oil, household batteries etc.

These days are all on Saturdays of the long weekends: May 22, July 3, July 31, September 4 and October 9. They will be held at the Scotch Line dump from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

Also, and new this year, Minden Hills are having an Electronic Waste Disposal day on July 24, at the Scotch Line dump. This is an opportunity to get rid of all your old electronic components such as televisions, radios, cameras, cell phones etc. This will be open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

For more information you can contact the Minden Hills office.
(Added June 7, 2010) Top

Forest Fire Warnings
The FOCA April Elert reports that there has been an early start to the fire season this year with grass and brush fires across Ontario. Dry, windy and unseasonably warm weather has prompted officials to issue high and moderate fire danger notices throughout the majority of cottage country. Overnight frosts have delayed grass and other plants from sprouting, which normally act as a deterrent to the spread of fire across dry leaves lying on the ground.

To view the Ministry of Natural Resources, Forest Fire Danger Map CLICK HERE or go to http://forest.lrc.gov.on.ca/AFFM/fire/interactivemap/fireHazard_English.htm.
(Added April 29, 2010) Top

The Ice is Out on Soyers Lake
It is the earliest almost anyone can remember that ice has left Soyers Lake. It was completely gone at the begining of April !
(Added April 5, 2010) Top

CEWF Spring 2010 Newsletter
The spring newsletter is now available from the Coaliton for Equitable Water Flow (a group working towards an equitable water management policy for the Trent-Severn Waterway and the entire Trent River Watershed). To view the document CLICK HERE or go to http://cewf.typepad.com/CEWF_NewsLetter_Spring_2010.pdf

WARNING: This document may require the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader available at http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/
(Added March 21, 2010) Top

Lakeland Alliance Presentation
The Lakeland Alliance (a group dedicated to promoting healthy shorelines and lakes) is giving a presentation on Friday April 9th, 2010 at the Bonnie View Inn. The topics include Fisheries Management, Water Quality in the Lakes of the Haliburton Highlands, Clean Marinas and more. For more information CLICK HERE or go to http://www.lakeland.greenup.on.ca/events.html
(Added March 17, 2010) Top

FOCA 2010 Annual General Meeting
The Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations is having their 2010 Annual General Meeting on Saturday March 6th, 2010. Interested people can attend in person or on-line. For more information CLICK HERE or go to http://foca.on.ca/news_and_events/488
(Added February 21, 2010) Top

The Haliburton County Official Plan
The County Official Plan (OP) is a legal document for the County that provides an indication of community values, directions and policies. The role of the County OP is one of guidance and general policy development which will be used by the municipalities when writing their own Official Plans, zoning bylaws and other planning instruments. To read the County OP and its amendments, CLICK HERE or go to http://www.haliburtoncounty.ca and follow the links.

When reviewing the OP, planners made amendments that ensured that the plan is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement. The Planning framework covers three specific areas- environment, resources and settlement patterns, providing amendments for each.

A Public Open House and Public meeting were held on Saturday, January 16th and Wednesday, January 27th respectively and was attended in each case by Elizabeth Turner, a member of the Soyers Lake Ratepayers executive. County Planner Jane Tousaw and Mike Keene, Senior Planner for Fotenn Planning and Urban Design were available to provide information at the Open House. The main area of concern for Soyers Lake is the section on the Environment - specifically 2.1.3.8 which addresses the maintenance of natural shoreline vegetation necessary for a healthy lake. While the maximum amount of vegetation removal allowed may seem to be larger than necessary, the planners explained that the measurements used are a compromise and that municipalities are able to provide stricter guidelines within their plans. The County will be working in the next year on developing a tree-cutting bylaw that will enforce the removal of vegetation along shorelines. The municipalities will also define what development will be permitted in lakefront communities. (2.3.5.5 in the County Plan)

After discussing the results of the Open House, the Soyers Lake Executive decided that the County OP as amended, provides a reasonable framework for the Municipalities. They have also decided that the association must become involved in the Minden Hills and Dysart plans in order to make sure that specific policies in these plans ensure the maintenance of healthy lake communities and protection for watersheds. It was not necessary to provide a presentation for changes to the County OP during the Public Meeting on January 27th.

During the Public Meeting on January 27th, Jane Tousaw, discussed the process by which the plan was amended and the method of public consultation. Mike Keene outlined the general amendments to the plan. There were no public presentations but some groups sent written comments that were read by Jane Tousaw. Comments were mainly supportive of the environmental initiatives in the plan, (Coalition for Equitable Water Flow, Kennisis Lake Plan Implementation Committee, Paudash Lake Conservation Association). Paudash Lake Conservation Association also commented on concerns specific to their lake. The District Municipality of Muskoka commented on the need to coordinate policies where there is mutual interest, specifically the shared waterbodies of Lake of Bays and Raven Lake. None of these comments would threaten the integrity of the plan and would therefore not be of concern to our organization.

At this time, the executive will focus on the municipal OP reviews, providing input and comments where necessary to ensure the OPs and bylaws will support and enhance our lake community. The municipal OPs must be reviewed every 5 years; Minden Hills and Dysart will be initiating the process this year. If you are interested in becoming involved or have specific concerns that you would like to address with regard to municipal OPs please contact Elizabeth Turner either by phone at (705) 457-2790 or by email at e_l_turner@hotmail.com. Please reference Official Plans in the subject line of the emails.
(Added February 1, 2010) Top

Cottage Dreams is asking for volunteers to join their social committee
Cottage Dreams, a charity that offers recent cancer survivors the opportunity to spend time at private donated cottages, is looking for people to help plan and execute 2 upcoming events. If you are interested in helping, contact Seana O'Neill at soneill@cottagedreams.org or 705 457-9100. For more information on Cottage Dreams, visit their web site at www.cottagedreams.org.
(Added January 20, 2010) Top

Thank you letter to Soyers Lake for participation in the Shore Line Visitation Program
Lakeland Alliance sent a letter to Kim Stamp (past president) thanking the residents for their participation and support of the shore line visitation program. The contents of the letter is here.
(Added December 13, 2009) Top

County Voice News Item on Shoreline Damage on Kennisis Lake
The County Voice allowed us to post their news item on Kennisis Lake and the $40K they were awarded as a result of unauthorized work and damage to the shoreline. This is the article.
(Added December 13, 2009) Top