2025 President's Report

President Margaret Casey welcomed everyone to the annual general meeting of the Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation for Fiscal 2025 (May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2025). 



This year the Foundation is celebrating our 40th anniversary and there are many good things to report including improvements to the Education Centre, our trail system and our governance structure. The directors have been busy with improvements at Marsh’s Falls Nature Reserve, running well attended community events as well as potential new land acquisitions. In September, the Board of Directors will create a new strategic plan that will focus on what we want to achieve by 2040-15 years from now.

40th Anniversary with Hikes and StoryWalk at Marsh’s Falls Nature Reserve (MFNR)

Two 40th Anniversary hikes were held at Marsh’s Falls this summer that attracted several young families. A new StoryWalk had been installed as well as a number of interpretive panels about various topics including turtles, oxbow wetlands, pollinators, and history of the land at Marsh’s Falls. Both days were extremely hot and the hikers were served cookies, cold drinks and freezies in the cooler Education Centre. A big thank you to volunteers Cathy Francis, Louisa McClanahan and Joan Decarie who helped make this happen. 

There was a 17% growth in visitors at the MFNR this year. We have retained an expert to inventory the various species on specific areas of the property. The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre released 28 incubated turtle hatchlings into the Lower Oxtongue River at MFNR.

Annually Community Events

Harriet T. Weaver Memorial Bursaries of $1,000 are awarded to one student at each of Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and Huntsville High School who has been accepted by a post secondary institute for studies in subjects aligned with the Foundation’s interests. Since inception in 2014, 23 students have received assistance. 

The Dr. Cathy Charles Bird Count takes place on the first weekend in May. This year was one of our best turnouts despite an early morning temperature of 4 degrees. Rick and Kelly Stronks are very knowledgeable and wonderful guides; as a result, we all stayed until noon! And we heard 30 species of birds!

The Butterfly Count held on July 6th also had an excellent turnout. The weather was warm, and, once again, Rick and Kelly kept everyone’s interest. Our efforts to maintain the pollinator meadow around the Education Centre are very successful. The Annual Silent Boat Rally is our most popular event and is organized by Mark McLean with help from 6 other directors. All participants were enchanted by the peacefulness of the river and the opportunity to learn more about the ecology of the lower Oxtounge River.

Mushroom Forays are led by Mark Maclean and fill up quickly! There are 2 forays: August 26th and 30th.