As a long term camper and cottager of Sturgeon Bay I personally believe that the time has arrived for everyone to become a little bit closer together and to form a sense of community that cares about our Sturgeon Bay!
To get things started I've spoken to several people who in turn have spoken to many more on the subject and the feedback has been positive thus far. The opinions expressed in this open letter are mostly my own and any and all other viewpoints are welcome. To facilitate communication from anyone there will be two ways to register your personal thoughts on the subject: 1) call 416 695-0051 and leave a voice message with your name, phone number and lot number and speak your piece, or 2) go to the REGISTRATION page and leave your information and thoughts there. Either way, these communications from you will be consolidated and represented at the meeting scheduled for this Labour Day weekend on Sunday, Sept. 3.
Please try to use either of these two options or just show up at the meeting. That way I can spend my weekends at the cottage in August doing what we all come here to do instead of talking about this endlessly before the meeting even happens.
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My name is Bob (Robbie to some of you seniors) Causton. We're in Sturgeon Bay and I caught my first fish here on my sixth birthday, haven't missed a summer since and that makes a total of 46 summers here to date. Like many of us my parents built the cottage one board at a time. My wife, Judy, loves this place as much as I do and Sunday nights are hard to face for both of us. Our two year old daughter is learning to love the water and the frogs and chipmunks as well. I plan on continuing my summers (and some winter weekends) here as long as possible. I love Sturgeon Bay and I love it the way it is now. Compared to many other northern lakes in Muskoka/Haliburton that I know, this place is a virtual paradise.
Again, my thoughts only:
Who is really looking out for the welfare of Sturgeon Bay and its best interests? Who really represents us and our collective longterm benefit? I certainly don't know for sure and while we do have regional representation, can we presently speak as one consolidated voice in the event of a critical need for policy or political opinion? There currently is no forum for this and we should organize (even if it's informally) before some event or political decision drives us to try and take remedial measures at the last minute.
Often decisions can be made locally, regionally, or provincially that are based on the issues in other areas or predicated by some commercial motive that we, as seasonal residents , wouldn't even hear of. I think an association would stand a better chance of being seen and of being heard. Certainly we could establish a more acknowledged and recognizable group if there were to bean association formed now instead of when we suddenly realize the need for one is overdue.
I'm sure that for many of us, Sturgeon Bay memories are a part of our family heritage and we now would like to have it as part of our own legacy to the children and grand-children. There's an old saying that reminds us that we don't inherit the earth from our forefathers but that we leave it to our children. That's a fine sentiment and many of us have histories here dating back to the 50's and 60's. But that was then and this is now. With all the changes taking place we would be dreaming if we thought that things could stay the same. Just read some of the recent articles in Cottage Life magazine over the past year. Basically, what was before is not anymore. But that's a big part of the beauty of Sturgeon Bay, isn't it? It isn't a Rosseau or a St. Joe or a Lake of Bays. I think it needs our guardianship
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| What the association could and could not be: |
It could be:
-concerned and involved cottagers and residents committed to working together to preserve Sturgeon Bay and the nearby neighbouring waterways
-a group of taxpayers that can unite in a common consensus regarding issues that can have either a postive or negative impact on us and or the environment
-about getting to know each other on an informal basis as neighbours to encourage overall accountability and to foster a sense of community
-to delegate our own members at times to represent the common needs/goals of the association to various level of either government or non-government agencies
-a medium for information on either general or specific issues affecting Sturgeon Bay via a newsletter, website, or an annual meeting
-an easy way for the local representatives of government or adjacent associations to reach us collectively
-a vehicle through which we can give something back to Sturgeon Bay and the local community that supports us
It could not be:
-a social group
-about organizing social activities
-an arena for resolving individual issues or neighbourly disputes
-about volunteer law enforcement
developing a hierarchy or gaining individual influence
Some topics for discussion
Here's some food for thought, although I'm sure there are others, please send them along
-Crown land /shoreline development/ division/ useage
-overall land development and/or building regulations
-water quality around the bay and by the park
-ongoing monitoring of water quality
-road allowances and riparian rights
-the government parking lot, organization/maintenance/management/
-houseboat squatters rights vs: our rights
-provincial/regional/local rulings past/present/future
-neighbouring associations policies and their lobbying efforts
-boating/hunting/fishing/firearm regulations and education seminars for members
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You're invited to attend an informal meeting to discuss the possibility of establishing an association (and who would do what) on Sept. 3rd at 10:30 a.m. at the Pointe-au-Baril Community Centre. I'll try to conduct an organized but friendly one hour meeting to determine the level of interest and to give an overview of the feedback received from either the website or the answering machine.
Again, the opinions expressed herein are solely my own. I belong to another association in the Huntsville area and it has added value to our individual awareness as property owners, taxpayers and seasonal citizens.
While I don't want to run an association, someone has to sign on to initiate the momentum and do the groundwork. I volunteered, any help I can get is greatly appreciated.
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