2015/16 Officers of the Board of Directors

Immediately following the AGM, the new Board of Directors met to elect, for the 2015/16 annual term, the following four officers, in accordance with our Bylaws:

    President                  Bryan Hollingworth

    Vice President          Stephanie Hunt-Foster

    Treasurer                  William Wanklyn

    Secretary                  Derek Johnson

AGM 2015: Minutes

The annual general meeting of Lake Anne Club lnc./Club du lac Anne lnc took place at the Lake Anne house of Reid and Shelagh Drury on August 8th, 2015, at 2:00 p.m.

Present: Guy Biron, Pansy Drury Gaudreau, Peter Heward, Bryan Hollingworth, Kathleen Hugessen, Derek Johnson, Elspeth Mitchell, Sally McDougall, Jerome Rousseau, Nancy Savage, Stephanie Hunt-Foster, Allan McDougall, Reid Drury David Hyde

Bv Proxy: Margaret Hyde, Susan Johnson, JillJohnson, Madeleine Palmer

Proxy Holders and Guests: Jocelyne Lamarche Biron, Reid McDougall, Sylvie Moncion, William Wanklyn, Janice Hollingworth, Shelagh Drury, Jim Ronald, Pamela Ross, Bill Hogg, Daniel Wright, Clare Raspopow, Erica Mitchell, Lisa Philips and Jack Gaudreau

1. Call to order: The meeting was called to order by Bryan Hollingurorth.

2. Approval of the Agenda: It was moved by Peter Heward, seconded by Stephanie Hunt-Foster, that the agenda be approved.

3. Minutes of the 2014 Annual General Meeting: It was moved by Nancy Savage, seconded by Reid Drury that the minutes of the 2014 AGM be approved as distributed.

4. Receive and Review the Financial Statements for 2014: Bob Gaudreau reviewed the Financial Statements for 2014. The past fiscal year was a good one for earnings which meant that assessments could remain low. The income and expenses for forestry and taxes were reviewed and it was noted that the taxes are expected to rise in coming years.

The Budget for 2015-2016 was also reviewed. There will be no forestry income next year but it is estimated that investment income will be about 57,500. It was moved by Pam Ross, seconded by Elspeth Mitchell, that the Financial Staternents and Budget be approved.

5. Appointment of Auditor: It was moved by William Wanklyn, seconded by Pam Ross that the financial statements continue to be reviewed, not audited, by Patti McGovern.

6. Report of the Nominating Committee and Election of Directors: Sally McDougall reported that Bob Gaudreau and Nancy Savage are resigning from the Board and that 3 new Board members are standing for election,

Returning Directors are: Bryan Hollingworth, Stephanie Hunt-Foster, Ken Hugessen, Jim Ronald, William Wanklyn, Pamela Ross and Reid McDougall.

New Directors are: Erica Mitchell, Reid Drury and Derek Johnson.

It was moved by Sally McDougall, seconded by Peter Heward, that this slate of Directors be elected for the coming year. Bob and Nancy were thanked for their work on the Board.

7. Confirmation of the Acts of Directors: Bryan Hollingworth reported on various actions taken be the Board including work on the forestry plan and roads. It was moved by Sally McDougall, seconded by Kathleen Hugessen, that the acts of the Directors be confirmed.

8. Varia: 
a) Dues to shareholders issue: Reid McDougall reported that the Committee forrned to look into this (Derek Johnson, Reid Drury Pamela Ross and Reid McDougall) has arrived at some recommendations which have been explained to most residents over the summer.

b) Availability of a lot: Bob Gaudreau explained that the Municipality of Gore has insisted that the portion of Anne est in Gore be surveyed from the Wentworth line to the north end of Mary's Lake. The reason a lot is available on the edge of Green Mountain is that Gore has agreed to 'grandfather' the road as is with respect to development requirements. A lot could therefore be developed without the cost of bringing the road up to the standard otherwise required.

c) Forestry: Stephanie Hunt-Foster met with two forest engineers and asked them about how best to deal with reforestation of the log yards left by the most recent cut. Both experts recommended that the area be allowed to regenerate naturally. The existing forestry plan will be completed in 2021 and no further cuts are planned. Credits are available for three more years.

d) Tennis court: Bill Hogg reported that the tennis court is in good shape and that what it needs most is players. He was thanked for all his work on the court.

e) Road maintenance: Road maintenance will be done on the west side of the lake this year. Property owners were reminded of their responsibility to do brushing on both sides of the road.

f)  Potential land swaps: The land being considered as a potential swap from the Browns may be part of the Gore conservation initiative. Nothing more will be done on this until more is known about the conservation area. The land swap which would give Lake Anne Club lnc. the land south of the Gustave Road in exchange for what it owns north of the road is still a possibility.

g) Expropriation of Anne est and Mister Joe - status in Wentworth: The Council has agreed to approach the Quebec government to get the expropriated land back so it can be returned to Lake Anne Club lnc. The Municipality of Mille lsles needs to do the same thing for the portion of Anne est which was expropriated. The situation remains unchanged.

h) New Business:
(i) Sally McDougall reminded those present of the loss of two long-standing lake residents, Maxine Ronald and Marylou Jasper. Both will be much missed by everyone who knew them.

(ii) Jerome Rousseau will be booking the water testing for the second Saturdav in August. lt was suggested that the date of the AGM should be established and circulated by the end of June each year.

(iii) The Municipality of Gore is willing to reduce taxes on 600 acres of land if it is set aside from development for 25 years. This would be called a 'nature reserue' and would result in no loss of either control or the ability to log. This possibility needs to be investigated.

(iv) The proposal to allow gravel pits to change to quarries has probably been stopped, but the issue is not settled completely yet.

There being no further business the closing of the meeting was moved by Elspeth Mitchell, seconded by David Hyde.

An Invitation

Members of the Lake community (and any guests) are cordially invited to a 5-a-7 on Saturday, September 5, at the new little house with the red roof. In case of rain, make that Sunday, September 6, rain or shine.

As parking at the bottom of our hill is dicey at best, it is recommended that you park up the hill, or come by boat.

While this is a housewarming, gifts are unnecessary and, in fact, discouraged...we have enough stuff!!

We look forward to seeing you and to showing off our bijou residence.

-- Willie Wanklyn & Kathleen Hugessen

Lyme Disease in Mille Isles

 Allan McDougall emailed this morning to report 

"...my daughter Kathryn contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite at the Lake last month. She was treated as soon as she returned home and the case was reported to Quebec. They responded that there have been four confirmed cases of the disease in Mille Isles this summer."

For more information on the disease in Canada, its prevention and treatment please visit:

http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/diseases-conditions-maladies-affections/disease-maladie/lyme/index-eng.php

Bob's For the Birds...and More!

During the late morning of Sunday, August 11, we were visited by three egrets (known as "eommon" egrets and completely white). Smaller than the great blue heron, but not by much!  They perched in the tops of the pines on the north end of the Island for a good half-hour.  They then swooped down towards Presqu'Ile and returned to the Island and landed on the great rock on the shoreline facing Anne Est.  Haven't seen an egret here for many years.

This evening (Thursday, the 13th) I am watching two adult beavers on the rocks at our end of Green Mountain's point.

Willie W. says that he saw a bald eagle recently at the Lake. This is the second sighting of the same, this year!

Seems to be more fish feeding than in past years, but that could be wishful thinking...

Residents on both sides of the Lake are reporting more evidence of spring peepers.  If so, then the bass are hurting.

The moose are in poor condition because of ticks.  I have seen moose droppings along Kirkpatrick, but no evidence of the same in my wanderings at the Lake.

Always on the lookout,

Bob

Special Lake Anne Conservation Information Session

Learn about nature conservation initiatives in our region

Date: Saturday, August 29^th

Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm

Location: Gaudreaus' cottage

 

Please RSVP to Stephanie Hunt-Foster at: johnsteph@sympatico.ca or 416-722-4497

 

The Township of Gore is renewing its strategic plan which includes goals related to nature conservation and watershed protection. Mathieu Madison, the Township’s Manager for Environment and Sustainable Development, has offered to come and speak to the Lake Anne Club to share information about regional nature reserves and conservation initiatives.

As you know, beyond Lake Anne itself, we are stewards of more than 1,400 acres in a height-of-land area within three different watersheds and five different townships. In addition to the forest, this land is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, including black bear, wolves, bobcats, eagles, various weasels (pine martin through to ermine) and lynxes. 

As stewards of this hinterland, it is incumbent upon us to learn about what the local governments are thinking in terms of nature conservation and what tools they can provide to us as land owners in terms of learning about our land, biodiversity, watershed protection etc.

Mathieu will be making a presentation about the Township of Gore’s goals to promote nature conservation and give examples of conservation initiatives in the region. He will also talk about resources that are available to organizations like the Lake Anne Club to help us achieve conservation goals.

-- Stephanie Hunt-Foster

A Glimpse of the Past -- I

The Wood Family and Other Early Settlers at Lake Anne

A personal remembrance written by my mother Audrey Johnson 
[additions by Derek]

Jack Wood's farmhouse was situated near the Rainbow River on the road which leads to the landing. In 1941, when I first came to Lake Anne, the remains of the house were still standing and the fields were open right through to the Gustave Road. 

Willy Wood's house lot was on the corner and a trail ran between the two places. Willy was the father of Gilbert and Chesley. He was struck by lightning while resting on an iron cot near his fireplace and was killed. 

George Wood, a brother, took the two boys to live with him. George's farm is presently owned by our neighbour Pitsiladis [and runs from the crest of the hill north of Mary’s lake down to the chemin Mille Isles ouest]. Willy Wood's house was removed by Joe Seale and became the Singer house. [The house is presently owned by Bryan Hollingworth who has made extensive renovations but kept the rustic nature of this historic site.]

Further down the Gustave Road, toward the highway, was the Thompson Farm. There was a log cabin standing there until about 1980. 

The next farm belonged to Bob Carruthers, who was married to Sarah, a sister of George Wood's. George and Sarah were brought up on a farm on the other side of Rainbow River, at the bottom of "Jack's Mountain". Their father was also called Jack. He was the original settler. Austin used to row across the Lake and help "Old Bob" by bringing in the cows, making hay, and mucking out the stables. The farmhouse was situated on the south side of the road just before the Palmer entrance.

Their barn was directly across the road from the house. When I first went there, the land was cleared in front of the house down to the first turn and across the road up to the top of the hill from where you could see "the Morin Hills". Bob also had a field overlooking the Lake, behind the Hugessen and Palmer properties, where his cows used to graze. We used to climb up there from the Lake and have a picnic. 

* * * * * 

About the Author
by Derek Johnson

My mother Audrey Kerrigan first came to Lake Anne upon marrying my dad Austin Johnson, right after the end of WW2. Born and raised in Montreal, she was a graduate of McGill University. Although the lake was much more woodsy, dare I say primitive, than her family country place in Knowlton, she spent as much time thereafter at the lake exploring her surroundings in all four seasons. She was prolific in pursuit of her artistic interests whether photography, needlepointing, knitting, or writing…and was active in many sports including tennis, swimming, sailing, and cross-country skiing. 

She often remarked how fond she was of her own father, who always had some game at hand even if he had to make it up. So Mother was the first to get the Xmas decorations out, to paint the Easter eggs and draw multiple maps to help children find treasure hidden all around the property. This tradition only stopped for a few years, until she could start again with her grandchildren; in that sense she never really grew old, but kept her youthful spirit alive for most of her life. I admired her.

Much of what I know about the history of the lake comes from my Mother or Father. Mum kept a daily handwritten journal of personal events and sightings at the lake for more than 25 years, all cross -referenced by subject and all before word processors. A wonderful read!