Already September and for many, summer is not over … I hope, like me, you enjoyed every minute in our little paradise at Poisson Blanc lake. Like every year, September is a month of weather contrasts but not for us! We are still, and for a long time, in the heat! We are putting into action your recommendations that you have voted and we are reviewing our past actions to better prepare your next summer.
THANK YOU for those of you who participated or helped in our community celebration on August 20. We were more than fifty people including the mayor of Lac-Sainte-Marie at Carla and Brent backyard! A special thank you to our cooks Gilbert (“Butch”) and Jon. Take a look at our photos on our Facebook page.
WARNING! Many of our members have asked to be notified when the level of our lake fluctuates greatly such is the case between September and November. Carla and I will try to update you on Facebook but you can always check this page from Hydro-Québec indicating fluctuations at the dam of Rapides-des-Cedres in the municipality of Notre-Dame-de-Laus. Click on this link: http://www.cehq.gouv.qc.ca/suivihydro/graphique.asp?NoStation=040602
WARNING! During our corn roast, many asked me for water patrols on the lake next summer. To do so we must make a formal request to the SQ. As you probably know, if we have water patrols on the lake this will have consequences for everybody: fishing licenses, security check etc. Because I want this to be a majority decision from our members, we will survey all our members before taking our decision. Our 1st stage will be via Facebook after which we will try to reach our other members through email and finally by phone. That’s democracy! The survey results next month here! For your information, here is a link to the Ontario Provincial Police website where you can find some similar regulations as in Québec: https://www.opp.ca/index.php?id=115&lng=en&entryid=57a229fe8f94ac3d70a5c25b
1- MEMBERSHIP NEWS:
To all owners and lovers of the lake that became members or have renewed we say THANK YOU! Currently, we are 58 members from a potential of 110 landowners. 16 people did not renew their membership probably because we didn’t go door to door. We will contact them in October and hope they will. Please note that your membership is valid for one year from the date of payment. Soon, we will use a new management program. It was provided to us for free by the «Regroupement» to better manage our administration and adequately meet the needs of our members. Have you received our new sticker? Ask us, if not! You can install it wherever you want … on the car, the cabin door, on your boat, canoe etc…
2- THE BUOY COMMITTEE NEWS:
Soon Margaret, Darell, Gilles and Jean will pick up the different buoys on our lake. THANK YOU! A good thing we have such dedicated people! Unfortunately, our committee will replace a buoy that was stolen in the Bowman area. Difficult to understand why people do this! Our funds are limited, the cost of this buoy represents the equivalent of three memberships! Your help is invaluable in reporting any vandalism on our buoys or signs.
A proposal for the installation of a large sign at the entrance of Newton Bay is under consideration for next summer. The cost of this sign could be shared between the municipality of LSM and us. Details will follow next month.
3- NEWS FROM THE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR ORPHANS CAMPING SITES:
Another group that was very busy this summer, is the maintenance program on some orphans campsites. THANK YOU Sébastien, Tanya, Peter, Jean, Denise, Ray and Maxime for volunteering. We know that it is not always pleasant. We received messages of congratulations from users of these sites that are not managed by the Regional park or by the «Base de plein-air Air Eau Bois». Next summer, we will try to organize a special chore to clean a cluttered camping site (mattresses, tables, chairs and waste) on Mysterious Island. For those unfamiliar with this project, Sébastien has sent us some photos:
4- BOWMAN AREA:
Unfortunately, there is no change in the quality of life for the owners of this portion of Poisson Blanc lake. It must be said, the situation has deteriorated more this year because of restrictions on various lakes in the municipality of Val-des-Monts. We hope to convince the municipality of Bowman and the «Base de plein-air Air Eau Bois» of the importance of better managing this area that is one of the major entry point to our lake. Our petition has received over a hundred signatures of lake users and we hope to collect more during September. We will propose that the cost, to apply some of our suggestions that are included in our petition, be shared between the municipality of Bowman, the Base de plein-air Air Eau Bois and us. If you have not yet signed, there is still time by clicking this link: http://www.petitions24.com/appui_aux_proprietaires_de_bowman_secteur_lac_poisson_blanc
Ron has suggested the installation of two speed bumps on the road going to the boat launch. This will be discuss during the winter months.
If you have questions or any suggestions you can reach Ron or Eric who your representatives.
5- SOUTHERN NEWTON BAY AREA:
Several of our members have noticed an improvement on the maintenance of the Trans-Outaouais over the past year. Both municipalities have improved road signs but without consulting each other. That has brought some ambiguities which doesn’t help our visitors. Has the name «Trans-Outaouais» changed? One might think so if we take the road from the Denholm side. «Chemin du Lac Ste-Marie» is at the intersection of chemin du lac Sam and, the name «Trans-Outaouais» at the intersection of chemin du lac Brochet. Yet we speak of the same road. Good luck for your GPS!
We learned during our community corn roast, from the mayor Gary Lachapelle, that the financial participation of LSM was confirmed to update MRC Redevelopment Plan for the roads «montée Jean-Marc» and «de la Solitude». Ronald Thomas ( “Thom”) is religiously dealing with this subject for the good of us all. More details will follow next month.
We appreciate LSM for the installation of two new municipality direction signs but despite that effort we still have people who are getting lost. We will suggest to the municipality, to move one of these panels and reinstall it on the tourist information panel (lac Sam and lac Épinette) which is on the Poisson Blanc road in Denholm.
Last year we suggested to the municipality of LSM to install a signpost at the intersection of the «TransOutaouais» (ch Lac Ste-Marie) to indicate «chemin de la Solitude» and also to indicate the boat ramps for Bowman and Newton bay. We also suggested to install a signpost to indicate «Montée Jean-Marc Est». Ronald has suggested to propose it again this year but also include the installation of two or three signs “cul de sac” for certain forestry roads that are currently confusing for our visitors especially in the evening. If possible, we will suggest to move our poster «Community surveillance» to use this post for the road sign.
For questions or suggestions, please contact Ronald Thomas ( “Thom”) who is your representative.
6- CH. GRAND POISSON BLANC AND NEWTON LAKE AREA:
We thank the municipality for the addition of gravel on the hill and the intersection of ch. du lac Brochet. A special thank you to the guy, “in the big machine,” who is doing the maintenance of this road. Two «slow down» signs have been installed in the Newton lake sector. The Association wish to thank the committee «Safer Roads Ottawa. Program Toward Zero» for permission to modify their sign. Martin from LSM has confirmed the installation of five speed panels (50km / h) shortly.
New for our members who have a property past the wooden bridge. The mayor has confirmed the creation of a hunting and fishing resort with a pavilion in your sector. A consequence of this resort might be the resumption of the maintenance of the forestry road. Details will follow next month.
7- ISLANDS AND NOTRE-DAME-DE-LAUS AREA:
We sent advertising to all owners or tenants of the islands and we recruited a few members. However, our recruitment project for the northern portion of Poisson Blanc lake will be reported to next year because we want to consolidate our presence in the southern portion of the lake before taking other steps.
WELCOME BACK AT HOME AND AT WORK. DONT WORRY WE TAKE CARE OF YOUR BUSINESS HERE!
