Welcome back to the lake
By this time most of us are busy opening up the cottage. This is a process of assessing how much damage was done by the ravages of winter, discovering things that worked fine when we closed up but no longer work, and restocking the fridge and cupboards with all the supplies we moved out just months ago. But forget about all that, because soon the summer cottage season will begin.
Parking lot survey
Recently, Council tabled a plan to institute a pilot project for paid parking at our two public landings (Vollick’s Road and Wauwatosa). Their rationale was to mitigate overcrowding due to visitors not from our lake. According to the plan, every land owner would be issued one free pass and could purchase one additional pass for $300. The SMLCA spoke out against this proposal, because it was not fair to water-access cottage owners. As a result, Council has decided to seek further input from residents. We are meeting with the town operations manager and our councillor to find solutions to this problem. To that end, we have created a survey to allow you to express your opinion and to give us important feedback on how you use those public sites. Please complete the survey by May 24th. To fill out the survey go to https://docs.google.com/forms/
Garbage hours survey at Gibson Lake Road transfer station
The SMLCA and Gibson Lake Cottagers Association have been consulting with Councillor Graziano to find a suitable solution for hours of operation at the Gibson Lake Road transfer station. Muskoka District, who are in charge of the site, have a budgeted amount of operating hours and so we are trying to determine the most popular opening times to fit within that budget. We strongly encourage those who use the site to fill out the following survey by May 20th.
https://forms.office.com/r/
Love Your Lake Final Report
Values Survey and Lake Summary Report
In April the SMLCA received a lake wide summary report of the Love Your Lake Survey shoreline assessments done for 902 properties on our lake during the summer of 2023.
Part 1 of the report provided an overview of the 108 values survey responses that were received that highlighted the elements that shoreline property owners value about our lake. The values survey also ranked the biggest issues facing our lake and outlined opportunities for future actions.
Part 2 of the report provided a summary of all of the 902 shoreline assessments. The summary describes our lake’s current physical conditions and reflects on opportunities for restoration, education and stewardship on a lake wide level. It provides us with a baseline to compare future assessments.
The full report can be found at https://sixmilelake.net/pub/
Water Quality Report
Final report for the 2023 Water Quality Monitoring Program for Inland Lakes
The SMLCA was also presented with the water quality testing results for 8 water bodies in Georgian Bay Twp. This very detailed report is part of the long-term water testing program that Six Mile Lake has been part of for many years. Funded by the township and coordinated by post graduate students at McMaster University, the report summarizes many water samples taken over the summer at several sites on our lake. The water samples were tested for fecal indicators, total coliform, nutrients, water clarity, temperature and dissolved oxygen depth profiles. Although the statistical analysis is quite detailed the report has an array of lake characteristics charts, maps and graphs showing how our water quality changes during the summer season in comparison to other lakes in our region.
The full report can be found at https://sixmilelake.net/pub/
Puzzle sales
Photo contest jigsaw puzzles are on sale now and available until June 20th, because we will need to place the order at one time, so don’t delay.
First place photos will be available as single image puzzles. Second place photos have been made into two multi-image collages. Puzzles need to be preordered and prepaid. To see all the images please visit:
https://sixmilelake.net/news/
May is Membership Renewal Month!
Our membership year runs from June 1 to May 31 and it’s time to renew for 2024/2025!
We sent out individual membership renewal invoices and online renewal instructions by email to all current members on May 13, 2024. If you did not receive these emails, please check your spam/junk folders. If you still can’t find the notices, please contact our Membership Chair Sarah McKinney (details below) and she will assist you.
For more information on the SMLCA, to learn how to become a Member, or make donations to the Regatta Site or Fireworks, please visit our membership portal: https://smlca.wildapricot.org.
If you prefer to have an invoice sent to you by mail contact Sarah by email at: membership@sixmilelake.net or by phone: 647-823-8458.
Mark your calendars for our first annual members BBQ and get together on July 6th from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Regatta Site (see Regatta Bay, map E in the directory). Have a burger or hotdog, meet the directors, and pick up your directory. You can also pay for your membership in person if you prefer to do that. Please R.S.V.P to info@sixmilelake.net so that we know how much food to order. We will also be conducting fire pump training at this event.
In Memory of Janet Mitchell (nee Wilkinson)
Janet passed away peacefully with family at her side on May 3, 2024 at the age of 87. Over Janet’s lifetime, she called many places home – St. Thomas, Six Mile Lake, Port Credit, and London, England. Beloved wife of the late John McIntosh Mitchell. Loving Mother to Josh (Veronica) and Sarah (Desmond). Cherished Grandmother to Zachary and Abby. Honorary “Auntie” to so many.
A bright, vivacious, and warm-hearted woman, she was always ready with a smile, a dirty joke, a sultry wink. Janet loved people and made friends easily.
Janet was born in Shropshire, England and after a chance meeting with a debonair Canadian at Ellie’s bar upended her life, and moved “across the pond”. Never one to sit still, she was entrepreneurial in spirit – running her own tour company for seniors, and diving late in life into a successful real estate career.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Foundation or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
A celebration of life at the lake will be organized at some point during the summer. Personal condolences to the family can be made at www.sjfh.ca
In Memory of Robert John Gordon “Pepi” Murrell 1943 – 2024
Pepi, as he was known on the lake, passed away on Saturday April 27, 2024 at the age of 81. Beloved husband of the late Catherine. Loved father of Teresa Greasley (Geoff), and Babette Dawe (Brad). Loving grandfather of Ryan, Adam, Sarah (Gerald), Mackenzie, Jamie (Mike), Jessica (Nick), Jordan, and Stephanie. Dear great-grandfather of Lucas, Tyler, Willem, Owen, Alexandria, Madison, Morgan, Blake, Blaine, Evelynn, and Declan. Brother of Stephen and the late Jay.
He was a very likeable person and passionate about the sewage disposal industry he represented and loved meeting people and talking to them. He will be missed.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to the Waubaushene Legion or to the Coldwater Lions Club.
Bookkeeper wanted
This is just a reminder that we are still looking for a volunteer to help us with bookkeeping functions. There isn’t much work involved, but it’s an important function. Contact rick.jocsak@
Spring Echoes
The newly redesigned Echoes is on its way to you in the mail. Here is a link to view it online. https://sixmilelake.net/pub/
2019 CWS Authorization.pdf