To
Think About: "Here lies the body of Michael O'Day,
who died maintaining the right of way. He was right, dead right, as he
sailed along, but he's just as dead as if he'd been wrong." .....
anon
On this page: Need to find a good local restaurant?
- click hereSubmit your Vision, Win $100 prize
(no entries received)Put it On!Photos
from 60th AGMIdentify the Mystery SlickAlert
FeatureRound Island Swim and Craft and Bake Sale for
OSPCAHappy Canada Day Display from Walker's Point
- by Ron StevensonBracebridge Falls - Important Information2010
Spring NewsletterBICA Kids - Eco Club2010
Summer Theatre Camps - check this outProperty AssessmentParking
at St Elmo's DockUsing Boat Gasoline with Ethanol
(a no-no)Bala Falls Power PlantBrowning
Island " Cottagers Remember the Good Old Days" - a published historyRentingSeptic
InspectionBrowning Island ExecutiveRestaurant
Reviews Our president has an idea to further enhance the value of
this site, by publishing member's comments about local restaurants which they
have recently tried. We all like to know about new and interesting places to have
a dinner out or to take friends. If we had current information on the local fare,
this might help make a selection in which we'd have some measure of confidence.
Read Larry and Linda's comments on 'one fifty five", under the members
tab - and then submit your own to browningisland@hotmail.com to share your experiences
with fellow BICA members.Photos
from 60th AGM 







Back
to table of contents
Can you Identify this Mystery Slick? Cottagers on the west side
were concerned in the early morning of July 7th by a mystery slick, which when
discovered, stretched from Caraquette to Dawson Islands. It was reported to the
Ministry of the Environment who sent the OPP to investigate later in the day.
While the Seguin is suspected, nothing has been proven. Note the stain left on
Catherine's paddle boat when she paddled in to the mess to get a sample.  
Back to table of contents
Alert Feature BICA members can now be alerted to any significant
updates or changes to the information published on this website (if you do
not wish to receive such alerts, you can "unsubscribe" by signing in
to the web site with your ID and password, accessing your profile and clicking
on the checkmark (to DELETE the checkmark) opposite this line in your profile:
Subscribe to website changes Back to table of contents
Round
Island Swim and Craft and Bake Sale (July 31) for OSPCA Stephanie
Rider completed her swim on Sunday July 11th, to collect pledges for the OSPCA.
She left from the Rider cottage, went around the west side, then through the narrows
between Browning and Eilean Gowan, then down the east side to home. BICA
presented Stephanie with a cheque at the AGM on July 17th. Pledges of your support
are still gratefully received and fund a worthy cause which Stephanie and her
sister have been supporting the past few years with proceeds from their craft
and bake sale. Call Stephanie at 645-6147 to offer your support. At last count
Stephanie had raised over $2600. This picture was taken about 7 am Sunday
July 11th just off Ron and Pat Stevenson's and shows Stephanie in the water progressing
around the island. Mom Heather is in the kayak and Dad Steve and sister Courtney
are running interference in their own boats. The outside temperature was 59 degrees.

Courtney and Stephanie's
annual craft and bake sale will be held this year on Saturday July 31st
from 2-4 at the Rider cottage, number 950. All islanders and guests are welcome.
Watch your dock for the flyer. Back to table of contents
Happy
Canada Day - Display from Walker's Pt Marina Caught
by Ron Stevenson 
Back
to table of contents Put
it On! The case for wearing Life Jackets
Not having a life jacket
will cost you $250 (each) if youre stopped by a police marine patrol. Having
one, but not wearing it, could cost you your life. Even though it's not mandatory
for most boats, PUT IT ON! Every year, about 180 Canadians will drown while boating,
and 400 will die in all water-related accidents. Statistics show that nearly 90
per cent of those who die wont be wearing a life-jacket - the most common
risk factor for recreational boating drownings. Only 11% of drowning victims were
wearing personal flotatation devices (PFDs). Men are the primary drowning
victims. Between 1991 and 2000, toddlers and males aged 15 to 24 had the highest
drowning rates, followed by males over 24, according to the Red Cross. During
that period, there was a 24% drop in the rate of boating drownings and a 29% decline
in near-drownings. Back to table of contents
Muskoka
Moving Forward: Visioning for the Future
Submit
your Vision, Win a prize - no entries received, contest closed The
District is currently in the process of reviewing the existing vision for the
region and BICA wants to support this effort by holding a contest to select the
vision statement which most closely resembles an appropriate submission on behalf
of the cottagers on Browning and adjacent islands. The selection committee will
chose the winning submission and award the submitter a $100 prize. To qualify,
submissions must be considered acceptable by the judges. BICA will submit the
winning entry to the District, as a response from our association and with the
author's name. All entries will be published on the web site. The BICA contest
closes August 23rd as the District requires submissions by September 1st. Check
the guideline on the District site (see below) which suggests an outline, to include
the following: character of Muskoka, Natural Environment, Community Values, Recreation
and Culture, Transportation, Community Services and Economic Opportunities. Submit
your entry to browningisland@hotmail.com and watch the website for submissions.
Purpose of the Initiative: The vision helps to shape the
future of Muskoka and guides policies in the Muskoka Official Plan. Collecting
public input is a key component of the process and the District wants to hear
from all residents, businesses, and organizations via the completed questionnaire
or via a submission. To get more information about this initiative, click here
(http://www.muskoka.on.ca reference number
5 under the "Hot Topics" tab). Submissions and replies will be
collected until September 1, 2010. Back to table of contents
Bracebridge
Falls - important information Below is a copy of the letter from
our President, sent 05/11/2010 to Browning Island residents. Dear BICA member.
I am forwarding to you a letter concerning the Bracebridge Falls, sent
to the Association by Heather Ryder. Heather as you know is one of our active
members. Sandy Pyper has been the most active person involved in investigating
this issue. You may wish to contact him, or Heather, re any further information
you may require. Please read the attached letter, and make up your own
mind with respect to any action you might wish to take. Although the attached
information is not directly related to BICA business, in that it has never been
discussed by the Directors, nor the members-at-large, I consider that the issues
are important and urgent enough, that I have agreed to send this document to you
for your information, consideration and/or action. Sincerely Larry
Burt President, BICA To BICA Members, Hope
you have had a great winter and are excited to start the season early (despite
the current cold weather)! There is an important issue regarding the Bracebridge
Falls that we want to bring to your attention: Bracebridge Generation
has plans to increase its generating capacity which could significantly reduce
flow levels at both the Bracebridge Falls and Wilson Falls by as much as 62% or
7 1/2 months per year at Bracebridge Falls. During the other 4 1/2 months there
would be increased flows but these flows would be a small fraction of the current
flow. As is all too common in the town of Bracebridge, the public notices
and open houses were held over the winter months and we are now very short on
time to respond with our concerns. The timing is critical as this Thursday is
the cut-off date for e-mails to the Ministry of the Environment to escalate this
to a higher environmental review. If a Level 2 Review is not requested by May
13th, the current plans will go ahead. Please take a moment to e-mail
a letter to: EAABGen@ene.gov.on.ca and copy Jim Bertulli, who is with the environmental
planning company handling this file, at bertullij@mmm.ca. Here is a sample letter:
(NOTE: WHILE THE TEMPLATE LETTER IS A START, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO ADD TO
IT YOUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, RESEARCH, PHOTOS .....IN FACT ANYTHING THAT WOULD
BACK UP YOUR ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE PROPOSED PLAN, ANYTHING THAT WOULD SUPPORT
MAINTAINING THE PRESENT FLOW RATES AND/OR YOUR IDEAS OF WHAT AN ACCEPTABLE PLAN
WOULD BE.)
Sincerely Heather Ryder TEMPLATE LETTER
MINISTRY
OF THE ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND APPROVALS BRANCH 2 ST.CLAIR
AVE WEST, FLOOR 12A, TORONTO, ON, M4V 1L5 ATTN: A. GARCIA-WRIGHT, DIRECTOR
Re: BRACEBRIDGE FALLS GENERATING STATION, GENERATING EQUIPMENT UPGRADES
and WILSON'S FALLS GENERATING STATION RECONSTRUCTION Dear Director, As
you know the Ministry of Culture and Tourism defines waterfalls as cultural assets.
The above mentioned waterfalls are also tourism assets. I am writing to
request that you order the abovementioned proposals undergo a "part 2 Individual
Environmental Assessment." It is my belief that it is inappropriate
to permit the proponent any (increased) diversion of flow as requested in the
respective applications. The existing scenic flow regime is required
to maintain the character of these falls for cultural, tourism, recreation and
other uses. Any diversion of the existing scenic flow will cause an impairment
of public values that cannot be mitigated. Accordingly, a part 2 order is required
so that you may make a decision to refuse the request for increased flow diversion.
Warmest regards, My Name is: My Address is: Today's Date
is: Please see the following websites for more detailed information:
http://www.protecttheroar.ca A
group called "Protect the Roar" has been formed to prevent the drastic
reduction of flow at Bracebridge and Wilsons Falls as proposed. Sandy Pyper, an
owner on Browning Island is heavily involved in this fight. http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/community/southmuskoka
- for the article in The Bracebridge Examiner http://www.bracebridgegeneration.com
- for Bracebridge Generation's proposal Back to table
of contents
2010
Spring Newsletter Download our 2010 Spring newsletter, including
up-to-date island map and listing of island residents, from the members' tab.
Back to table of contents
BICA
Kids Eco-Club The BICA Kids Eco-Club returns this summer, bigger
and better! Our goal is to get the "next generation" of BICA cottagers
involved in helping protect our islands, our lake and our wildlife. Children ages
13 and under who are interested in joining the BICA Kids Eco-Club should send
their name and mailing address to Mary McPherson at mary.mcpherson@sympatico.ca
by June 20, 2010. They will receive a mailing with a BICA Kids Eco-Club pin, an
official membership card, a LoonWatch poster and some ideas and projects to keep
them busy and environmentally aware at the cottage this summer. Club members will
be encouraged to submit stories, photos and ideas which we will post on the BICA
Web site to inspire all cottagers! Back to table of contents
2010
SUMMER THEATRE CAMPS! - Check this out The Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre
Super Sonic Summer Camp Line-up (Ages 3-15 this year!)
http://www.renemcaissetheatre.ca/Educational-Programs
Back to table of contents
Property
Assessment Members can obtain an update and guidance regarding
the 2009 assessment from the Assessment and Action Tab on the right hand side
of the screen.
Your BICA executive attended a meeting on January 28th, sponsored by the
Muskoka Lakes Association and WRAFT (see Links page for access) at which the Municipal
Property Assessment Corporation presented their methods for calculating your assessments.
The presentation will be posted and we'll provide the links once it is. It makes
interesting reading and will explain how MPAC arrives at your assessment using
statistical methods, a set of objective and subjective parameters as well as site
visits in many cases. Last November, your executive was also represented
at the annual WRAFT meeting dealing with our new cottage assessments. A
summary is provided under the Assessment tab. Back to table
of contents
Parking
at St Elmo Dock Members, view president Selby's December 2008
letter to Bracebridge mayor Don Coates re the state of parking at St Elmo.
Back to table of contents
Using
Boat Gasoline with Ethanol? Download valuable information under the MEMBERS
tab before you store your boat this winter. Back
to table of contents
Bala
Falls Power Plant The MLA is fighting the proposal to have a
power plant located at Bala falls which would alter our lake level in the
off season. Both WRAFT and MLA would appreciate your support as
mentioned in these articles. We have attempted to make is easy for you to make
your input to these issues. Call to Action - Prevent the demise
of the Bala Falls from the private sector interests of the Swift River Energy
Hydro Project. The MLA needs our help to take action on the proposed Bala Falls.
Please read this message and the Things You Should Know About the Bala Falls article
and pass it on to your concerned Muskoka friends whether MLA members or not, cc
the MLA office at info@mla.on.ca. Please also send the attached letters to your
MPPs. Click on the links below for more information and to access the
article and letter. Call
to Action - Prevent the Demise of the Bala Falls
Back
to table of contents
Browning
Island, A History  "Cottaging
in the 'good old days' was quite a different experience, as cottagers on Browning
Island aptly demonstrate in their recollections of Muskoka summers (and the odd
winter) dating back to the early 1900s: food chilled by blocks of ice cut from
the lake; a wandering cow munching oranges in the kitchen; excursions up the lake
on elegant steamboats; a floating store that called at the dock every week; and
of course who could forget that fashionable swimming attire! "More
than just a charming, sometimes poignant, often humorous peek at cottage life
in another era, this book provides a unique history of the island that has been
the special place for several generations of summer residents." Copies
of this delightful book are available from the Membership
Director - $5.00 each or 3 for $12.00 plus postage. Back
to table of contents
Renting?
Want to find a cottage for rent? or Renting your Cottage? See the Marketplace
Tab Back to table of contents
Septic
Inspection Due for a septic inspection? Steel tank? See Members tab
Back to table of contents
BROWNING
ISLAND EXECUTIVE 2009-10 Note: The listing of BICA Directors
and Executive is not accessible to non-members. You must be logged in to access
the listing. Back
to table of contents
BICA extends a warm welcome to new members.
For membership and annual dues information please contact The
Membership Director Members,
post your "cottage for rent" ads here too.
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