2025 Six Mile Lake Association Annual Meeting

On Wednesday evening we held our annual meeting on Zoom, commencing at 6:30 p.m. The pressure was on to finish or at least get through the important motions before 8:00 p.m. because the Blue Jays were playing their fifth World Series match and we were worried about losing our quorum for voting. Nevertheless, it all worked out fine and we finished at 7:55 p.m.

Some of the highlights of the meeting were:

• We bid farewell from the board to Pat Mitchell,
• Rick Jocsak presented a financial report, showing us in good stead,
• We re-elected eight members to our board for 2026 (which means that we are still looking for one director),
• We held a draw for a cruise for four on Muskoka Steamships Lines as a reward for those who elected to have auto renewal on their memberships and are pleased to announce that the winner is Paul Kerrigan,
• We listened to an important talk on fire safety and prevention presented by Deputy Fire Chief Chad Dowell of Georgian Bay Township, and
• We heard presentations from our councillors Brian Bocheck and Kristian Graziano.

We appreciated a significant turnout of Township staff and it is good to see that we are on their radar.

To see a recording of the meeting, go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/9bFvJbjWNh5DjZ9CgWzNWHEsMSgZUq–gZmY9M1FVJ8nMKp5DPVoIBxVjSUypNy9B.t4DUqNQRq7KkhkWX

Enter pass code: 3DAB7$+m

Thank you to everyone who attended our annual meeting and a reminder to everyone to be safe when closing up the cottage.

Trisha Walton of the township sent us the following message:

Food Bank

We have two Food Banks that are located within the Township of Georgian Bay. Located out of the Baxter Ward Community Centre, the Port Severn/Honey Harbour food bank is operated on a monthly basis and serves a minimum of 35 households each month. We have had up to 45! The Township of Georgian Bay operates this and I am the staff member that manages it. We are kicking off our Sleighing Hunger: Matching Campaign that a generous family donor has initiated. They will match up to $25,000. Donations can be made online, and a charitable donation receipt can be requested.

The Mactier food bank it operated solely by volunteers in the Mactier area. It is open weekly and/or by appointment. This year we are helping them with a matching campaign for when the CPKC Holiday Train comes on November 30. In previous years the train has donated up to $7000! We would love to see that matched as well by community support. All cheques made payable to the Mactier Food Bank and the contact is Donna Jordan.

Toy Drive

There is also a toy drive to support families throughout the Township. I organize it and market it from the Township office and we collect and gather unopened toys for kids from 0-18 so they can enjoy a little something under the tree. Last year we gave over 46 children a Christmas morning. This year I will be working more closely with the businesses in the area and other organizations to see what we can do to improve the program. All these programs are a great way to support your local food bank now and over the holidays. If previous years are any indication our numbers will rise. 

The following report was provided by councillor Graziano regarding some of the things that have been happening at the township:

Discharging Firearms Within our Township

At October’s council meeting, our By-law team presented their proposed updates to the Firearm Discharge By-law. Representatives from the Ontario Provincial Police were in attendance and delivered a thorough, data-driven report outlining firearm-related activity in our Township. Their findings were clear: while there have been a few isolated incidents — often involving visitors from more urban areas — the overwhelming majority of those discharging firearms locally have done so lawfully, with valid licenses, and with respect for our communities and existing firearm discharge rules.

Councillor Graziano brought forward the results of the community survey to ensure your voices were at the table. The vote on the by-law was close: four members of Council — Councillors Jarvis, Cooper, Hazleton, and the Mayor — voted in favour of sending the by-law back to staff for further review and revision, while three members — Councillors Graziano, Predko, and Bochek — voted against. The motion passed 4–3, and staff will now revise the by-law before it returns to council at a future date.

This issue brought out a significant turnout from the community, with many residents speaking passionately during the Open Forum portion of the meeting. The perspectives shared reflected strong local engagement and a clear desire to ensure that any firearm regulations are balanced, respectful of lawful gun owners, and reflective of the community’s will.

GBT’s Water Quality Program for 2026 – The Future of Testing Within Our Muncipality

The Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association (GPCA) and its Environmental Committee Council presented a thoughtful and comprehensive delegation on water quality testing in our municipality. Dr. Cindy Gilmore shared a clear and data-driven summary of the current state of our inland lakes and waterways. Her presentation, backed by data from the Township, the Province of Ontario, and the District Municipality of Muskoka, highlighted a concerning trend: elevated phosphorus levels, alongside E. coli, which require consistent monitoring to protect the health of our water systems. The GPCA’s recommendation was clear — ongoing, rigorous testing is critical.

Following Dr. Gilmore’s presentation, council discussed how to strengthen our environmental monitoring efforts. Council unanimously voted to increase our investment in water quality testing to up to $200,000 for the 2026 year — doubling our previous funding commitment. This increase will allow us to bring on a dedicated program manager to oversee the water quality program, while also engaging volunteers from our local community. This partnership approach will help build shared knowledge and empower residents to take an active role in safeguarding our lakes. Community-led stewardship is at the heart of this initiative, and your participation will be a key pillar of its success.

To put this into perspective: when Councillor Graziano first joined council, there was only $5,000 allocated to water quality testing for the inland lakes. Today, through collective commitment and growing environmental leadership, we have secured an unprecedented $200,000 for inland and coastal lake testing. This level of investment will help us establish a best-in-class water quality monitoring program — one that not only tracks trends but also strengthens local understanding and response. Clean water is not just an environmental issue — it’s about protecting the heart of Georgian Bay for generations to come.

Solid Waste Changes and Frustrations – Is the District + Province Listening?

At our most recent Committee of the Whole meeting, Council held a deep discussion regarding the ongoing changes to waste collection across the Township. We must understand: as a local council, neither Councillor Graziano nor his fellow councillors shape waste collection policy. This responsibility lies solely with the District Municipality of Muskoka, which operates as our upper-tier government, along with overarching direction and legislation from the Province of Ontario. Decisions such as bin removals at marinas, facilities, and other waste sites are driven at the district level, not by your local council. While we have a voice at District Council vis a vis your district councillor(s), it is a small one relative to all other district council municipalities, while these policies were not initiated or approved by our lower-tier municipality.

This issue is personal to many of us. Over the weekend, Councillor Graziano experienced the impact of these changes firsthand, spending 45 minutes in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Highway 400 southbound on his way to the Baxter Ward facility to dispose of waste. Kristian raised this concern at Council, emphasizing that this policy shift is increasing—not decreasing—the carbon footprint, as residents are now required to travel greater distances to transfer stations. Other councillors echoed similar concerns, particularly about the burden on water-access residents. These residents must transport their waste by boat to marinas, then by car to transfer stations, and make the return trip, adding unnecessary environmental impact, cost, and inconvenience.

The discussion at Committee of the Whole was extensive, with clear recognition that these changes have caused real challenges for our community. Many residents understandably still believe these waste policies were decided by local councillors. We must emphasize again: these policies were set at the District of Muskoka level, with provincial influence, not by local council.