Each year we focus attention on a different community of Lake of Bays. This year we documented the history of Montgomery Point and provided the results of our research and interviews in video and printed format. There will be a presentation of a number of Heritage Plaques to recognize the owners of heritage buildings and following the meeting there will be a cottage tour of Montgomery Point. Our guest speaker, Dr Justina Ray, President and Senior Scientist, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, will present information on the impact of climate change on Muskoka wildlife and Mark Mclean will present a collection of the historic Cameron Peck pictures.

This year we continued engaging the Lake of Bays Community in the preservation of our heritage. Our membership continues to grow and over 40% of our members are Permanent Members, those who have donated at least $1,000 in any year. We are very grateful to our members for the strong response to our Langmaids Protection Fund and to our many volunteers who have contributed in so many ways. Our community has been kept up to date by effective communications: e-newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter. The Legacy Circle that recognizes planned gifts is growing and this year we received substantial bequests from the Estate of Dr Cathy Charles and the Estate of Marianne Girling for which we are very grateful. We are now advertising the importance of nature on two new signs on Highway 35 and are working on a display for the Lake of Bays Marine Museum and Navigation Society in Dorset.

• stewarding of 3 properties
  
• a total of 63 heritage plaques awarded
  
• 24 memoirs of the lake on our website
  
• 5 guided nature walks this year
  
• very popular annual Silent Boat Rally on the Lower Oxtongue River
  

There has been a lot of activity at Marsh’s Falls where we have been restoring the property to its natural state and converting the existing cottage into an Education Centre. We have hosted groups including classes from Irwin Memorial School, Probus, nature clubs and family groups. In conjunction with the Township we developed a paddle guide of the Lower Oxtongue River and, thanks to the District of Muskoka, we received a ‘Pay it Forward’ grant to develop trails for self-guided nature walks through the property. Volunteers helped us to plant a garden to attract song birds and pollinators. Seven ‘Species at Risk’ have been identified and management plans are underway.

Langmaid’s Island is a Muskoka Heritage Area which is protected from development in the Township’s Official Plan. A development company, Langmaid’s Island Corporation, purchased the island and submitted a plan for the development of 36 lots. This has since been reduced to 32. We are working closely with our sister organization, the Lake of Bays Association, and have hired a lawyer, a municipal planner and an environmental planner. The Township planner, and her counterpart in Huntsville, stated that the application was not good land use planning and recommended it be declined. Prior to the councillors reviewing the recommendation, the developers filled an appeal. This is a complex application and a lengthy appeal is anticipated which will require increased funding for professional services. We are asking for donations to the Langmaid’s Preservation Fund and will keep our members up to date in our newsletters.