Fall 2026 Newsletter
Photo Credit Donna Crome
Hello from Roy!
I hope everyone enjoyed their summer; and now my favorite season is upon us, fall!
This summer just seemed to fly by. We had our Annual General Meeting with great attendance, and of course another successful social event with approximately 70 family and friends in attendance. Despite the rain storm, which ended the festivities early, I know it was enjoyed by all. Minutes of the AGM are posted in this newsletter below.
Our membership is healthy with 79 members at the time of writing. There are still a few long time supporters who have not renewed, and we will try to get in contact with you over the next couple of weeks.
Again, I will give a reminder of the upcoming municipal elections. Yes, seasonal residents can vote. You can vote in any municipality in which you pay property taxes. A separate email was sent earlier this week asking that you check that you are on the voters list.
I hope everyone enjoys this fall season.
See you soon,
Roy
Newsletter at a glance
Membership
BLA Social
Photo Contest
AGM
MVCA
Municipal Election 2026
ALTO High Speed Train
Your board members
Water Quality
Membership
The BLA does so much for the lake and the 30 dollars for membership is needed for expenses such as Buoy markers, Insurance premiums, membership to FOCA and NFLAA, photo contest prizes, water sampling and of course our social event. If you have neighbours that are not part of the BLA, please pass on a good word and promote our Lake Association. Also if you are getting work done at your residence ask the contractor if they would like to advertise on our website. The fee is the same as a membership of $30.
BLA Social
Our social event was on August 8th this year, and despite the stormy weather, fun was had by all. I want to thank the Wards for once again hosting the BBQ. They warmly welcomed everyone into their large screen porch when the storm hit. The board will discuss options for next year with the possibility of a rain date.
Photo Contest
This year we had another successful photo contest. I want to thank Donna Crome and Russ Brown for volunteering to run the contest. The final entries and winners can be seen on the BLA website. Listed below are the winners for each category:
Landscapes - Trina Pearce
Nature/Wildlife - Anne Donaghy
Cottage Life - Karen McIlroy
Young Photographer - No entry
AGM
Our Annual General meeting was held July 12th. We had an above average turn out, which was nice to see. Minutes of the meeting are below.
Buckshot Lake Association AGM 2026
July 12, 2026
Directors Present
Roy Huetl, Paul Asselin, Russ Brown, Leslie Hoyt, Vikram Joshi
Roy called the meeting to order at 10:00 am. He introduced the executive and thanked the Cox family for putting in the safety markers.
Gerry Litchy, Mayor of North Frontenac (NF)
-ALTO (the high speed train) was likely taking the Kingston route, not through North Frontenac.
-123 acres were affected by a wild fire near Ompah last year.
-short term rental bylaw is still in the works and is a three year process.
-septic inspections are voluntary at this point but will most likely become mandatory when you sell.
Questions:
Bell fibre status? Gerry did not know.
Ice Rink Recreation facility construction status? Gerry explained that the trusses had blown over in the recent wind storm, were damaged, that there is insurance coverage and that construction will begin again shortly. Please note that the grand opening is October 14th mid-day.
Tony Fritsch, Reeve of Addington Highlands (AH)
-asset management is 1.7% of the budget and is embedded in the tax bill. There is no new construction at the moment, just regular maintenance.
-Addington Highlands and North Frontenac work together on Health and the two newly hired doctors now mean everyone in AH and NF who needs a family doctor can now have one.
-cellular service is good if you are a Rogers customer.
-all-new wayfinding signs have been ordered.
-AH does not have a voluntary septic inspection program.
-the dumping at the corner of Buckshot Lake Road and North Shore Road has been duly noted and Roy agreed to file a complaint with the Addington Highlands on behalf of the BLA.
Questions:
Regarding roadside mowing, do they take the wildlife into account, damaging trees, and why is it so messy? The machine mowing method is cost effective but yes it is messier than hand mowing.
Ed Rohr asked if the medical clinic in Northbrook would have “walk-in” hours? Not officially.
Can residents of AH use the hazardous waste facilities at the NF and Renfrew County? Yes as AH pays for that privilege.
Explain the allowed fire burn times. The province sets the fire burn times. In AH and NF there are no fires allowed between 7:00am and 7:00pm except for cooking and warmth but they should be enclosed fire pits or bbqs. Fires are allowed between 7:00pm and 7:00am because there is more moisture in the air at that time of night.
Jackie Leach, Volunteer Fire Department
-spoke about the three home ignition zones and provided pamphlets with in-depth fire prevention advice.
Questions:
How high should you de-limb in the Immediate Zone? Six feet.
Greg Spottiswood asked what could be done about the huge pile of brush on Tower Road? Gerry Litchy answered that it was almost impossible to clear it out, that he had asked and been told that it takes about five years for a brush pile to deteriorate to the point where it is no longer a fire hazard. Roy advised people to take their brush to the township waste sites.
Are there fire breaks being considered in the townships? That is an MNR question.
Lee Spottiswood asked about the number of fire extinguishers required in a house. The fire code regulations around smoke/carbon monoxide detectors was amended in 2014 so it depends on when your house was built and there is no requirement for fire extinguishers in private homes but of course you should have them.
Treasurers Report
Paul Asselin walked us through the Income Statement and Balance Sheet. He noted that there is a current deficit of $200. He said that the Summer Social costs have been reduced from around $400 to around $200. Membership is around 60 at this point which is slightly higher than usual but below the 80 needed to fund the association. July 1st is the new fiscal year, but you can pay fees at any time, and Paul allocates them to the correct year.
Questions:
Ed Rohr asked the most cost effective method of paying fees. Paul said PayPal if you add the PayPal fee onto your payment.
Photo Contest & Water Quality
Russ Brown said that the photo contest is on again this year. Photos should be in by the Sunday after Labour Day (the date was extended later on). There was an audience suggestion that the prizes for the winners in each category be discontinued to save money; a congratulation in the newsletter could suffice. Roy said the Board would discuss this at the next meeting. Roy thanked Donna for her continuing contribution to the photo contest.
Russ also said that the water quality numbers were in line with last year and that the lake was in good shape.
MVCA Update
Roy spoke about the amalgamation of the conservation authorities from 36 down to 9 and what that might mean for NF and AH. There was a suggestion from the audience that we write to the Premier and our provincial representatives to complain.
President’s Report
Roy mentioned the Summer Social at the Ward’s residence on August 8th.
He mentioned the upcoming Fall municipal election and that everyone should check to make sure they are on the voters list.
He mentioned the unusually high water this year and urged people to be aware of their wake as it can damage docks, shorelines, and wildlife nesting areas.
He mentioned that the voluntary septic inspection program has been very popular and that the inspection is good for 10 years.
He suggested we all encourage our neighbours to become BLA members if for no other reason than the lake markers and he again thanked the Cox family.
He mentioned that while other lakes in the area are experiencing invasive species, Buckshot Lake still seems to be free of them.
The meeting was adjourned at noon.
MVCA
The amalgamation of the Conservation authorities is now in the transition phase. I attended my first meeting on September 11th. The first meeting was reviewing the terms of reference and setting the ground rules. Unfortunately at this time the meetings are not considered public information. For this reason I am limited to what I can communicate. I am expecting some type of release after our meetings which we can share to the public. My apologies.
Municipal Elections 2026
Municipal elections are to be held this year electronically prior to October 26th. You should receive an information letter in the mail. Visit the township websites for additional details. Remember you can vote in North Frontenac or Addington Highlands, if you are a seasonal owner as well as in your permanent home municipality. It is important that you exercise your right to vote, but first you must make sure you are on the Voters List.
Alto High Speed Train
I am sure many of you have heard about the High Speed Train proposal by the Federal Government. At this time the exact route from Toronto to Ottawa has not been picked. One route being considered includes passing through North Frontenac which many believe will follow the hydro corridor including parts of Road 506 and 509. This would have a negative effect on our community. There are many concerns that have been brought forward; for example, the expropriation of land and the effect on the environment. The proposed high speed train will be fenced in its entirety, isolating sections of our communities along its way. I have spoken to MP Scott Reid and he believes an announcement for the final location will be made in the fall. For more information you can call MP Reid and go to the link: https://www.altotrain.ca/en
Water Quality Report
The Lake Partners data for 2025 is now available. Please see the chart below. The numbers look good which indicate the lake water is stable.
Your BLA Executive Members:
Roy Huetl President
Russ Brown Past President
Paul Asselin Treasurer
Leslie Hoyt Secretary
Vikram Joshi Web/Technical Support
Mary Ann Ward Membership Director
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