Our Results
Our Accomplishments
List of Services
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2024
- Six salamander boxes were constructed and installed at the Marsh's Falls Nature Reserve. Boxes are monitored frequently and a red-backed salamander has taken up residence in one box.
- A grant of $6,000 was received from the Muskoka Community Foundation which was the proceeds of a fundraising event at Port Cunnington Lodge.
- Trail camereas installed at the Marsh's Falls Nature Reserve in the winter captured images of 23 species including wolves, Eastern Martin, Fisher, River Otter and White-tailed Deer.
- $1000 was donated to the ‘See Muskoka Through Our Eyes’ First Annual Powwow.
- Our bylaws were updated to meet new government standards.
- The Annual General Meeting for year end 2024 featured the Garryowen community, and local photographer Rob Stimpson gave a presentation of his photographs ‘Creating an Emotional Attachment to the Land’.
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2023
- Many volunteers helped to clear the hiking trails of fallen trees from the Christmas 2022 storm.
- Together with LOBA we attended the phase 2 hearing of the Langmaid’s Island development appeal. This phase included lot viability, conservation easements, boating safety and infrastructure. The Tribunal approved development of 32 lots and 2 waterfront landings on South Portage Road.
- Twenty Scots Pines were cut at the Marsh's Falls Nature Reserve as the beginning of a project to eliminate this non-native and invasive species.
- Volunteers built a board walk on a hiking trail to enable the natural flow of ground water.
- Two $1,000 bursaries were presented to students from each of Huntsville Highschool and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School to support their post-secondary education in a subject related to the mission of the Foundation.
- $1,000 was donated to the Indigenous Muskoka Discovery Centre in Gravenhurst.
- The Annual General Meeting for year end 2023 took place at the Dwight Community Centre and featured the history of the Ronville Road community as well as guest speaker Rick Smith, President of Canadian Climate Change Institute presented ‘The Case for Climate Change Optimism’.
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2022
- Developed a member data base to enable relationship management.
- Documented the Wahawin community in video and booklet format.
- Renamed the Marsh’s Falls property to ‘Marsh’s Falls Nature Reserve' (MFNR) to reflect the protected status of the property while allowing for low impact activities such as nature events and trail walking.
- Developed an automated registration system for individuals wanting to visit the MFNR.
- Developed new signage and a colour-coded trail map for the MFNR.
- With the lifting of public health restrictions, resumed nature events: Dr Cathy Charles Bird Count, Butterfly Count, Silent Boat Rally and 2 Mushroom Forays.
- After two years of virtual Annual General Meetings, held an in-person AGM at Glenmount.
- Updated the strategic plan: Vision 2027.
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2021
- Developed a management plan for the Marsh’s Falls property.
- Introduced two new membership levels: Heritage Champions and Leaders Circle to recognize members who have made cumulative donations of $75,000 and $100,000 respectively.
- Fully retired the mortgage on the Marsh’s Falls property in April.
- The Dr Cathy Charles Bird Count in May was a ‘stay-at-home’ event again due to the Covid 19. Great results - 12 families participated and 57 species identified.
- With the easing of Covid 19 measures, 23 attendees identified 18 mushroom varieties at the August Mushroom Foray at Marsh’s Falls.
- Inaugurated our speaker series with J. Patrick Boyer’s kaleidoscopic view of Lake of Bays.
- The Foundation and LOBA were parties to a virtual 5-week Ontario Land Tribunal appeal hearing in February and March on the proposed development of Langmaid’s Island.
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2020List Item 1
- Received a bequest from the estate of Chris Karn which, when matched by her family and friends, provided $12,000 for the Education Centre.
- Established a policy for responding to requests from groups to use or rent the Marsh's Falls facilities.
- Produced a drone video of the Marsh's Falls property to convey the sheer beauty of this landscape that provides a rich habitat for diversity of wildlife and a space for learning about, and reconnecting with, nature.
- Designed and launched this new website in October. Previous site obsolete.
- Volunteers cleared and created signed walking trails at Marsh's Falls.
- Several nature events cancelled due to Covid-19. The Dr. Cathy Charles Spring Birdcount at Marsh's Falls was redesigned to a stay-at-home count. Great results with 12 families participating.
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2019List Item 2
- Hosted a number of groups of school children from Irwin Memorial School as well as Probus, nature clubs and a group of artists.
- Received a significant bequest from the estate of Marianne Girling.
- As part of an initiative to attract butterflies and other pollinators to the Marsh’s Falls property we established a shoreline garden for indigenous plants near the Educational Centre. This work was carried out by student volunteers from Irwin Memorial School and adult volunteers from the community.
- Volunteers helped us to create a meadowland for songbirds near the Education Centre by planting indigenous species to attract songbirds and create opportunities for birdwatching.
- The Marsh’s Falls Education Centre's interior was repainted in time to host the Volunteer Appreciation Gala.
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2018List Item 3
- Volunteers replaced the decks on the Marsh's Falls cottage allowing for safe access and supporting our intention of creating an Education Centre.
- We provided a guided program at Marsh’s Falls for a photography club, a nature club, and several international visitors, and school groups from Irwin Memorial School in Dwight.
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2017List Item 4
- Undertook many projects to return the Marsh's Falls property to a natural state and reopened the historic portage around the falls.
- Received a significant bequest from the estate of Dr. Cathy Charles and have now named the spring bird count in her name.
- Expanded the committee structure to support the collaborative work of our 44 volunteers.
- The Paddle Guide to the lower Oxtongue River was written and published as a co-operative venture between the Township of Lake of Bays Heritage Advisory Committee and LBHF. This educational guidebook contains detailed maps, geographic and historical profiles of the unique ecological and cultural development of this designated Muskoka Natural Heritage Area. 1500 copies were freely distributed throughout the township at restaurants, motels and lodges, and handed out to all visitors paddling the river. The booklet contains pictures of indigenous species that facilitate identification for nature studies.
- The Marsh’s Falls Education Centre exterior was stained and painted with the help of the Arrowhead Junior Rangers.
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2016
- Developed a strategic plan with a vision of engaging the community in the preservation of our natural, built and cultural heritage for the enjoyment of future generations.
- Acquired a third property along the lower Oxtongue River adding another 300 feet of shoreline to our protected area.
- Through the volunteer efforts of the Arrowhead Junior Rangers, dilapidated building structures were demolished and removed from the Marsh’s Falls property.
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2015
- Completed a baseline plant inventory at the Marsh's Falls and Pyke properties.
- Organized our first annual winter bird count at Marsh's Falls.
- Donated $1,000 toward a First Nations history plaque to be erected in Dorset.
- A system of integrated hiking trails was created for educational studies and recreational hiking on the river floodplain and on the tablelands of our Oxtongue River properties.
- Volunteers cleared the land of discarded waste and refuse in preparation for naturalizing the Marsh’s Falls property.
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2014
- Acquired an 89 acre parcel of land and 3,400 feet of shoreline at Marsh’s Falls on the Lower Oxtongue River for permanent protection.
- Established a Land Stewardship Endowment Fund to cover expenses of stewarding the properties we protect.
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2013
- With donations from the Weaver family and the community, created the Harriet T. Weaver Annual Bursaries for two students from Huntsville and Bracebridge to pursue post-secondary studies.
- Joined American Friends of Canadian Land Trusts allowing our members who are US tax payers the ability to receive a US tax receipt for donations.
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2012
- Added a Memoirs Map to the website and appealed to members to write memoirs of their life on the lake.
- Launched a Facebook page announcing our events, wildlife features and conservation ideas.
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2011
- Launched an e-newsletter which is sent to members at least 5 times per year.
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2010
- Together with the Lake of Bays Association, organized a Silent Boat Rally on the lower Oxtongue river with people paddling canoes and kayaks.
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2009
- Documented the history of the Seabreeze community and awarded heritage plaques to four residents. While the awarding of plaques at our AGM had commenced in 1990, the documenting of the heritage communities around the lake was new. This became an annual practice, involving a presentation, at the AGM, in video and printed formats.
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2008
- Acquisition of Oxtongue River property for permanent conservation including 80 acres and approximately 40% of the lower Oxtongue River habitat.
- Donated $1,000 toward restoration of the Baysville Schoolhouse, the oldest building in this community.
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2007
- Partnered with the Ontario Heritage Trust to receive and manage the 100 acre Pyke Property woodlot near Brown’s Brae Road.
- Held a friend-raiser party with over 100 people to celebrate heritage successes and attract more Life Members.
- Baysville shoreline replanting and restoration project along the river at Heeney Lake Road.
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2005
- Held a friend-raiser party with 60 people to celebrate 20 years of heritage protection and attract more Life Members.
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2004
- Began annual sale of native plants and shrubs to encourage shoreline restoration.
- Secured the Egbert Boothby property with over one mile of shoreline and 47 acres of woodlot.
- Launch of the first LBHF web site at www.lakeofbaysheritage.ca
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2003
- Presented LBHF mission to Township Council and recommended creation of a Heritage sub-committee of Council to further policies in this area.
- Completed an electronic inventory of over 600 heritage buildings around the lake.
- Transfered ownership of the old Bigwin Ferry to the newly created Lake of Bays Marine Museum and Navigation Society for restoration.
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2002
- Surveyed permanent and seasonal residents to identify attitudes, interest and priorities pertaining to heritage protection.
-
1996
- Contributed $5,000 to the study of the feasibility of restoring the Bigwin Ferry and installing it at Muskoka Heritage Place, in Huntsville.
-
1995
- Supported work on the Ruth Martin papers. They run to over 1,200 pages and include numerous interviews of the lake’s original settlers. This resulted in a limited number of high quality copies given by the LBHF to libraries in the area.
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1994
- Provided $1,000 donation in support of the restoration of Holy Trinity Pioneer Church in Newholm and its conversion to a community centre.
- Actively pursued the Township to ensure the protection of the provincially significant Boyne River wetlands.
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1993
- The number of buildings on the Foundation’s inventory of heritage buildings tops 250.
-
1992
- Provided a grant to the Muskoka Heritage Areas Program.
- Presented the Foundation’s third built heritage plaque to Hillside Memorial Church.
- Obtained assurances from the Township that the First Nations peoples will be consulted on the protection of the First Nations settlement and burial site on Bigwin Island.
-
1991
- First cottage tour initiated by the Foundation. Ten cottages were included on this very popular tour that proved to be a successful fundraising event.
- Salvaged the old Bigwin Ferry from a sunken mooring and moved it to dry land at South Portage.
- Identified criteria for recognizing buildings of heritage value, developed a system for involving local citizens, and produced an initial listing of 100 buildings.
- First heritage tour in Muskoka on a boat named Wanda: to Bigwin Island and Port Cunnington.
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1990
- Began awarding annual heritage plaques to owners of heritage buildings who maintain the buildings and their heritage features. The first two plaques were awarded to owners of Port Cunnington Lodge and its boathouse. This activity continues at each Annual General Meeting.
-
1988
- Publication of the 60 page report: An Evaluation of Wildlife Habitat in the Vicinity of Lake of Bays.
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