Navigational Warning
The boating season on the Rideau Canal opened this past Victoria Day, and it was a very busy weekend on the lake.
The BRLA has installed 108 buoys to mark hazards and shoals this year. Boaters noticed, however, that several Parks Canada navigation buoys are out of position, having migrated over the winter to different positions on the lake. In bringing this potential safety hazard to the attention of Parks Canada, BRLA President Brian Hawkins received the following response:
"I want to assure you that we are working hard towards getting all the floating aids to navigation in their advertised positioned over the next week. There is an active Notice to Shipping for the Rideau Canal that some markers are off position due to the winter months and spring freshet.
I will forward the concerns on to maintenance regarding the two bifurcation buoys. In the future, I encourage you and your members to submit these types of requests to our general information inbox (rideaucanal.info@pc.gc.ca) to be actioned. They will aways be forwarded to the appropriate person who is on duty during the navigation season.
As a reminder, safe navigation on the Rideau Canal is a shared responsibility between vessel operators and Parks Canada. Parks Canada cautions all vessel operators not to rely solely on buoys for navigation purposes. Aids to navigation are always to be used in conjunction with other marine publications and information. In particular, nautical charts, Notices to Shipping (NOTSHIP), Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR), sailing directions, the Canadian Aids to Navigation System and other Government of Canada publications or services."
Free Lockage along Rideau Canal in 2017
As part of the celebrations for next year's 150th anniversary of Confederation, lockage will be free to all boaters along the Rideau Canal system next year.
Click here to read the Government of Canada's news release.
FOCA Elert - May 2016
Click here to read the most recent FOCA newsletter. Just in time for the unofficial kick-off to the summer season with the Victoria Day long weekend, articles in this newsletter include:
- Handy cottage opening tips
- Dock permits
- Invasive species
- Lake Partner Program
- Environmental Grants
- Cottage Succession Seminars - including Sunday August 14th at the Perth Legion
- And more
Shoal Markers are in!
A crew coordinated by the BRLA has now deployed all the shoal markers around the lake. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable boating season!
Check our Lake Safety page for details.
FOCA Elert - April 2016
The most recent edition of the FOCA newsletter is now available. Articles this month:
- Water Levels
- Dock Permits
- Property Tax Re-assessments
- Cottage Succession Seminars
- Shoreline Reading
Click here to read this Elert.
Cottage Succession Seminar planned for Eastern Ontario
The Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations has confirmed a number of in-person Cottage Succession Seminars, to be held over the coming months, including one in Eastern Ontario.
· Friday, May 27th (2-4pm) with the Canadian Canoe Museum (Peterborough)
· Saturday, July 9th with the Cavendish Community Ratepayers Association (Kawarthas)
· Sunday, August 14th with the Lake Networking Group (Eastern Ontario)
· Sunday, August 21st with the Salerno Devil’s Lake Cottagers’ Association (Haliburton)
Contact the FOCA office to secure your spot and get location details:
info@foca.on.ca 705-749-3622
These events are free to FOCA members and $10 at the door for non-members. Space is limited, so please pre-register!
Thank you to the Parkes Taggart Foundation!
The BRLA gratefully acknowledges the support of the Parkes Taggart Foundation for once again donating $1,000 towards the cost of maintaining the lake shoal markers this year. Our association installs and monitors these shoal markers each year in order to provide safe passage for all boaters on our lake; we continue to be able provide this service thanks to generous donations like this one.
Government support for fireworks this year
BRLA recently received the good news that our application for a Heritage Canada grant to help support our Canada Day fireworks show has been successful! Check the calendar for details on this year's show to take place on Friday July 1st off Cow Island. (rain date July 2nd)