It was another unforgettable summer on Big Basswood Lake this year and a joy to reunite with family, friends and neighbors. Highlights for me included visits from several friends who had never been to Big Basswood and were astounded by the natural beauty of our pristine shared natural resource. It was likewise wonderful to reconnect with childhood lake friends (now living in Peru), who had made the long trek north to spend time at their family's cottage.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Big Basswood Lake Association's Annual General Meeting on July 17, 2025, at the 12-Sided Barn in Sowerby. It was wonderful to reconnect and hear your thoughts on our priorities for the year ahead. I would like to extend a special thanks to our AGM presenters Jim Falconer, who provided an overview of the iNaturalist tool our lake community can use to identify local flora and fauna species, and Daniel Featherstone, of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre, who presented on the threats our region faces from invasive Phragmites plants and invasive species.

We also received valuable feedback from our members regarding scheduling preferences for the AGM and therefore, we have already set the date for next year's meeting - Friday July 17th , 2026.

The Fall/Winter BBLA Newsletter highlights several key issues impacting our lake community. It includes updates on the North Shore water rangers program, changes to Melwel Road signage and the new official planning process. You'll also find news on our municipal engagement efforts, a report from the new membership sub-committee, and details on upcoming lake stewardship initiatives.

Although membership is recovering, we haven't yet reached pre-COVID levels. A strong membership base is essential to effectively address the challenges facing our lake. Your continued support makes a real difference.

While our membership numbers have rebounded, we still haven't reached our pre-pandemic totals. Robust membership numbers help us tackle issues that threaten our shared quality of life.

Your annual membership in the Big Basswood Lake Association also provides several tangible benefits:

• Annual events focused on Lake Stewardship, area History, ongoing education.
• Automatic membership in FOCA (The Federation of Ontario Cottages Association) and access to the many informative publications they provide concerning issues faced by cottagers.
• Savings on Cottage Insurance through FOCA Membership

The annual membership fee is only $25 per year.

Non-voting Associate memberships are also available to local businesses and friends and family who visit the lake frequently.

Payment Options

Use PAYPAL

E-TRANSFER from a Canadian Bank account to our treasurer Cynthia Wood cince48@gmail.com

Send a cheque to Big Basswood Lake Association, P.O. Box 337, Thessalon, ON P0R 1L0