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!

Water Testing 2015, Update

Because this year's AGM is taking place on a Saturday, August 8, at 2 p.m., the timing of the water testing has been adapted to that schedule.

Water testing by Notreau will take place on Saturday, August 8, from 10 a.m. until noon.

Sampling vials can be picked up from Jerome Rousseau between those hours. All samples must be returned, with payment of $30 (the charge for the standard testing, unchanged from last year), by noon.

Full instructions are provided with the vials. Basically, any screw-on nozzles need to be removed and the end of the faucet cleaned before the water is run for 5 minutes, after which the sample is taken.

Notreau will be on the water during the morning, taking samples from around the lake.

Minutes of AGM 2014

Lake Anne Club Inc./Club du lac Anne Inc. 

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting was held at the Lake Anne house of Ken Hugessen and Jennifer Connolly on August 3rd, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.

Present: Guy Biron, Reid Drury, Sally McDougall, Kathleen Hugessen,  Ken Hugessen, Peter Heward, Bryan Hollingworth, David Hyde, Angus Mackay, Elspeth Mackay Mitchell, Sally Drury McDougall, Jerome Rousseau, Nancy Savage, Wendy Hunt Robertson, Janet Blachford, John Blachford, Derek Johnson, Susan Johnson

By Proxy: Mary Lou McDougall, Margaret Hyde, Madeleine Palmer, Pansy Drury

Proxy Holders and Guests:  Jocelyne Lamarche Biron , Jackie Hollingworth, Janice Hollingworth Egan,  Pamela Griffiths, Robert Gaudreau,  Reid McDougall, Jim Ronald, William Wanklyn, Shelagh Drury, Kevin Drury, Baye Drury, Alexandra Gaudreau,

The meeting was called to order by Bryan Hollingworth.

1. Approval of the agenda:

Derek Johnson added several items to the agenda: a report from the President, discussion of the By-laws, and discussion of more communication from the Board between annual general meetings.

2. Approval of the 2013 AGM minutes:

Minutes of the 2013 Annual General Meeting had been distributed by email and there were hard copies available for review at the meeting.

It was moved by Reid Drury, seconded by Derek Johnson, that the minutes be approved as distributed. Carried.

3. Financial Statements for year ended April 30, 2014, and budget for 2014

Financial Statements and copies of the budget had been distributed by email and hard copies were available at the meeting. Bob Gaudreau and Bryan Hollingworth answered questions. There followed a discussion about the forestry initiative carried out during the past year.

It was moved by Kathy Hugessen, seconded by Derek Johnson that the Board be authorized to spend up to $5,000 to obtain a reforestation and property management plan. Carried.

Approval of the Financial Statements and Budget for 2014-2015 was moved by Bob Gaudreau, seconded by Sally Drury McDougall. Carried.

Bob Gaudreau was again thanked for his many hours of work on the corporation’s financial material.

4. Appointment of financial reviewer for 2014-2015:

It was moved by Bob Gaudreau, seconded by Derek Johnson, that Patti McGovern be appointed to review the financial transactions for fiscal 2015 and to create a Notice to Reader. Carried.

5. Report of the Nominating Committee and Election of Directors:

Peter Heward, who is retiring from the Board after 28 years of service, was presented with a hand-carved plaque and with the sincere thanks of everyone. Dana Heward was also thanked for her time spent on the Board. The slate of candidates for the Board was presented by Sally McDougall.

It was moved by Sally McDougall, seconded by Kathleen Hugessen, that the following candidates be elected as directors for the year 2014-2015:

Bryan Hollingworth, Bob Gaudreau, Stephanie Foster, Ken Hugessen, James Ronald, Nancy Savage, William Wanklyn and Pamela Ross.

6. Approval of the acts of directors:

Bryan Hollingworth reported on Board activities during the year. These included the forestry project and discussions about a possible exchange of land between Lake Anne Club Inc. and Marc Genest. Ongoing work is being done with respect to the loan vs, shareholder issue. Up to $1,000 was approved for resurfacing of the tennis court. The decision was made to approve the cost of surveying the road allowance for Anne est in both Gore and Mille-Isles.

It was moved by Reid Drury, seconded by William Wanklyn, that the acts of the directors during the past year be approved. Carried.

(a) Shareholder loans: This issue has not been resolved but work on it is continuing.

(b) Forestry: Eric Jolicoeur completed the cut which was introduced at the 2013 Annual Meeting. Several people commented on the large size of areas clear cut for sorting and the size of the cut in general. Reforestation will be investigated as per the resolution noted above under paragraph 3.

(c) Tennis court: Many thanks to Bill Hogg for hours of work on the tennis court, which is in very good shape. Expenditure of up to $1,000 has been approved by the Board for resurfacing of the court during the coming year.

(d) Road Maintenance: Two fire turnabouts were created and improved. Gravel was also added. Reid Drury was thanked for his work doing the grading of Anne est. It is now necessary to be on a surveyed road to get a permit for any work in Gore, so the portion of Anne est in Gore will be surveyed during the coming year as well as the portion in Mille-Isles because the other municipalities will probably also have this requirement before long. Two new gates have been added: one at the access to Rainbow Road  and the other at the Gustav Road. Thanks to the “hunters” for doing this for us. All gravel pits in Mille-Isles have been closed.

(e) Potential Land Swap: Bryan Hollingworth reviewed this proposal using a map. Lake Anne Club owns a slice of land known as “the key” which is on the west side of the lake behind the Hollingworth and Hugessen properties and which is bordered on two sides by land owned by Marc Genest and his partner Denise Hobbs. The proposal would result in Lake Anne Club owning all the land south of the Gustav Road and Genest and Hobbs owning the land north of it.

It was moved by Reid Drury, seconded by Kathleen Hugessen, that the Board recommendation to proceed with this exchange be approved. Carried.

(f) Expropriation of Anne est and Mr. Joe – status: After cadastration “colonial roads” were appropriated by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Quebec. The Anne est road allowance between the main road and the Drury property line, approximately,  was taken by Mille-Isles from the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2008 without any notice to Lake Anne Club Inc. Council has voted to give the road allowance back for $100.00 plus costs, and this transfer is progressing.

The situation with respect to the Mr. Joe Road is ongoing. 

Many thanks to Jim Ronald, William Wanklyn, Bob Gaudreau and Bryan Hollingworth for their work on these issues.

(g) New Business pertaining to the company: The By-laws will be brought up to date.

There will be more communication about important issues between meetings, with emails to be sent to shareholders if necessary.

The meeting ended at 11:35 a.m.

AGM 2015 -- Financial Highlights

Over $ 12,000 of earnings, last year, in Due to Shareholders Account.  Exceptionally good year.  Balance of Savings (ex., DTS account) is $60,000, earning 1% in a GIC. Quebec Civil Code is clear about how risk free the investment can be. Similar to a Condominium.  Half of DTS account in GICs and half in Balanced and Dividend Funds.Will use the $12,000 earnings to put toward 2015/16 expenses.

The rise in Municipal Evaluations will have doubled in 6 years. Expect similar trend to continue. Gore re-evaluated in the Spring of 2014 (Net increase of 64%). Wentworth North re-evaluated in 2014 (30%). Wentworth re-evaluated in Spring of 2015 (30%). Mille-Iles will likely be next and, possibly, Morin-Hts.  (Total of 5 municipalities on property).  All increases due to purchases of land surrounding Lakes in these Municipalities. Driving up the value of undeveloped land around lakes (such as LAC).  Note that re-evaluations occur every three years.

We get credits from our Forestry operations.  This is over and above any income from the logging. We pay municipal and school taxes, and the Quebec Government reimburses us up to 85% of the taxes.

Between 3 and 4 years of credit left. Credits are applied to 85% of municipal and school taxes. Which nets a tax expense of 15%. However, there is no more logging for at least 15 years.  So no more additions to our pool of credit in near future. After credits used up, cost increase to be around $500 to $600 per property. (The reason for maintaining the Investment account in healthy condition…so as to provide earnings for future expense.

The Cost of Registering our Roads

In April 2014, Gore advised us that Anne Est had to be registered as it is a public road. 

- Anne Est and Mr. Joe are public roads, but not Municipal roads.  (A private road is a road on a single property, and serving only one owner.)

- Anne Est registration will end up costing close to $4,200 for Gore section. Mille Iles expected to be next municipality to request registration. To save money last year, the Survey included the Mille Iles and Gore sections of Anne Est. If (when) Mille Iles requests registration, cost will be in the order of $1,500. 

- One benefit is that Lake Anne Club gets a written guarantee of one more potential lot in Gore (one only) and without onerous road costs. 

- The Survey pointed out many non-conformities of current road and properties (Anne Est) when compared to current road standards.  If ever forced to bring Anne Est up to current standards, many properties will see changes to their boundaries. 

- If ever Wentworth lake front to be developed, then roads in Wentworth portion of LAC will have to meet current standards (roughly $75 to $100 per foot) and Anne Est will have to be brought up to standard all the way to Mille Iles Ouest (needs to be confirmed through a legal challenge).

Robert Gaudreau

AGM 2015 -- Notice of Meeting and Agenda

NOTICE is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Club du Lac Anne 

Inc./ Lake Anne Club Inc. will be held at the Lake Anne residence of Reid Drury, on Saturday  8th 

of August, 2015, at 2 p.m. (14h00) for the following purposes:

1. Call to Order.

2. Approve the agenda.

3. Approve the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 3rd August, 2014.

4. Receive and review the Financial Statements for 2014.

5. Appointment of Auditor and authorization to fix his/her remuneration.

6. Report of the Nominating Committee and Election of Directors. 

7. Confirmation of the acts of Directors.

8. Varia:

a) Due to shareholders account in financial statements: update from the special committee

b) Availability of a lot for sale;

c) Forestry;

d) Tennis court;

e) Road maintenance;

f) Potential land swap;

g) Expropriation of Anne est and Mr. Joe – status;

h) New business pertaining to the company;

      
DATE:   8th  July, 2015.

      Nancy A. Savage, Secretary.

Forestry Management: Suggestions Welcome

LAKE ANNE, JUNE 16, 2015--from Stephanie (Hunt) Foster

Hi everyone,

As you may know, Lake Anne Club is certified as a “forest producer” and, as such, benefits from the Quebec tax reimbursement program and private woodlot program. In order to maintain this status and certification, every five years the Club is required to have its Forest Management Plan (FMP) updated. The last plan was completed in 2011, so it is time to develop a new FMP. 

The Board is planning to send out a "Request for Proposals" (RFP) this summer for companies to carry out the required services for the FMP.  In advance of sending out the RFP, we would welcome your comments on the attached summary of the RFP. 

Thanks for your input!

Please send any comments or questions by June 26^th, directly to Stephanie (Hunt) Foster at johnsteph@symaptico.ca

Lake Anne Club Forest Stewardship Objectives

• Ensure a healthy forest and ecological functions
• Protect other forest values such as biodiversity, high-quality wildlife habitat, and other characteristics such as streams, wetlands and woodland pools
• Optimize long term financial return in terms of producing high-quality lumber (i.e., maximize growth of trees)
• Minimize impact of selective logging activities

Deliverables:

1. Update 2011 tree inventory, and where possible provide an analysis of wildlife habitat;

2. Review past logging activities to assess the success of past logging;

3. Make recommendations re: reforestation and/or ways to accelerate natural regeneration of certain logged areas (e.g., most recent cut);

4. Prepare a new schedule of recommended “selective” logging activities for the next 5-10 years.

--Stephanie