I had planned to address the topic of setting off fireworks every summer weekend over Maple Lake even before I saw the “Letter(s) of the Week” in the Haliburton County Voice.
These letters, written by local cottage country property owners were not only food for thought but were enlightening in their enumerations of all the ways uncontrolled personal use of fireworks in cottage country is a very bad thing.
To digress for a moment, prior to this year I, Canadian born, and raised in Connecticut from ages 6-18 by Canadians with frequent returns to my entire extended family in Canada, found the Canadians that I encountered in Canada to be…not like Americans. For starters, they confirmed the oft-repeated stereotype by being refreshingly polite–if more the “arm’s length”- formal kind of politeness.
But does this type of “politeness” extend so far for some Canadians who hold a decisive opinion about a matter such as the fireworks but chose to pretend the issue does not exist? And is it at it’s base due to fear!?! Is there a fear among Ontarians that they will be perceived as impolite to speak up when they feel a large wrong needs righting?
I don’t know. I really hope not.
I always had a sort of idealized notion of what a Canadian is/was. But growing up, I was always steered in the direction of not talking about things that might make other people uncomfortable–even if said thing needed to be addressed–so for better or worse, here goes.
About five years ago a neighbour on Maple Lake, a year-rounder I believe, began setting off fireworks every single weekend of the summer. (This is not a precise accounting. I simply know that no matter when I went to the Lake, from the last weekend in May when we opened through Labour Day when we close, it was and has been the case.)
I hoped it was a passing phase as the fireworks startled me and scared the daylights out of my dog–and they destroyed the peacefulness that used to be indigenous to our little lake which is dotted with year-round personal residences and cottages.
The setting off of fireworks phase has not passed, however. I’ve realized belatedly that it is not just a band of folks on Maple Lake that have gone ga-ga over something that I’ve always thought very American. To embrace the crassness of setting off fireworks whenever and wherever you please, for there can be no other way to describe their intrusiveness when they go off unexpectedly near your home, is to ignore the specialness of setting them off one or two nights a YEAR.
So to everyone who still insists that setting fireworks off every weekend of the summer is special–as well as your “right,” as someone who has grown up with the American traditions involving fireworks let me tell you: You are acting like a bunch of Americans.
You are Canada. You will never be the United States nor do you want to be, trust me on this. Let’s just cite one reason: preserving your national identity as Canadians. Both countries have much to laud but they are separate, distinct entities unique unto themselves.
Let me reiterate the very real ramifications of Uncontrolled Use of Fireworks on Maple Lake and other lakes in cottage county:
1. Fireworks increase the potential of fires
2. Noise pollution and the consequences (e.g. loons leaving, tourists leaving)
3. Toxicity to the air, water, and surrounding grounds***
*Let me expound a bit about the toxicity of fireworks. They get shot off mostly over the lakes. Unlike how it may appear, they do not just explode. The reality is that the exploded debris falls into the water, along with the chemical residue. Yes, this is bad for the ecosystem and even if you don’t really care about the ecosystem and shame on you if you don’t–you are poisoning your own water.
Whatever you dump on the ground near a lake seeps into the water table eventually and then it gets into your water–your swimming water and in the case of our cottage, our tap & shower water. This dovetails into #4…
4. Interfering with wildlife habitats.
First-hand story. Last year I spent about a month living on Maple Lake. Despite the rainy and seasonally cold weather of the summer of 2009 on Maple Lake, I could hear and sometimes see a pair of loons that have taken up residence on the Lake each summer for as long as I can recall. Their haunting calls are unmistakable and for me, comforting that some things don’t change (though I wouldn’t know if the specific pairs of loons changed–I would guess they’d have had to)–you can count on them. Or so I thought.
I’m soon heading up to Maple Lake and I’m going to try to find a second loon on our lake because instead of the minimum 2 that I’ve seen every year for as long as I can remember–I’ve only heard the sound of a single, solitary loon in 2010.
Did my neighbour and his regular weekend fireworks frenzy drive away one of Maple Lake’s loons and if so, are we going to lose the single remaining loon, too?
I’m not at all an expert about loons. I just know they bring me stolen moments of serenity. Loons are beautiful creatures to behold as they duck under the water and resurface 100 or more feet away in their elaborate “game” of try-to-find-me.
What I can say with confidence are the facts as I’ve observed them.
I have a neighbour across the way who every weekend of the summer at about 9:30 p.m. sets off about 20 minutes-worth of fireworks. He (I presume it’s a “he”) scares my older dog out of her senses. She quivers & shakes both during the noise assault and long after. The noise kills the atmosphere of peacefulness that Maple Lake always exuded. I’ve now read that this is a problem for other lakes in cottage country and the fallout (no pun) is remarkably similar to our own.
Naturally, the question of what have I done to try to solve this problem ? is a relevant one. I’ve worried and complained about it as I’m doing here for the first time but have I addressed this with the people setting off the fireworks? The answer is no, I have not. I was hoping the novelty would wear off but of course, it hasn’t or I wouldn’t be speaking up now. Now I do want to try and have courteous conversation with them but I cannot figure out where exactly they live. It is somewhere in here:
Area of Fireworks Activity on Maple Lake
Please click to enlarge.
As you can see by the named roads this is a densely populated area of Maple Lake and it’s going to take some sleuthing to find out “who” is shooting off fireworks on their property out over out lake every. single. weekend. Not to mention to do the sleuthing I’m going to need to either go to the site of the fireworks by canoe or trespass on “private property.”
Even here in the U.S. of A. in the great state of Illinois (absolutely no sarcasm–I love where I live) there are much stricter limits on the type of fireworks that can be bought legally. For us, it’s sparklers and poppers essentially but then, we do a very American thing. On and around Independence Day a/k/a The Fourth of July, towns and cities alike put on displays for everyone to enjoy. They have a distinct beginning and end, are controlled for safety and someone cleans up afterward. Not perfect but way more in-line with something I used to think was a standard Canadian trait: civility and respect for one another and the environment.
I do believe that both countries share in the desire to put a halt to unnecessary pollution of our precious natural surroundings. Surely banning unregulated use of fireworks in cottage country, Haliburton County specifically, is unquestionably a positive step that we, as stewards of this planet, should not hesitate to take.
Am I going to continue to be the “misdirected” polite Canadian and ignore what is being done to Maple Lake in the name of a (very) few people’s need to entertain themselves with exploding gunpowder? Nope. Can’t do it anymore. I love the Lake too much. And I’m not walking away. I’m digging in. (On a personal note, it was harder to attempt to do so this year as my youngest son was preparing for college and I was needed back here in Chicagoland.)
I’m willing to meet halfway in my suggestion for a remedy as is so often the end result of circumstances like this. If I made the law, I would allow use of fireworks on specific holidays like the July 1st Canada Day, Victoria Day on May 24 and quite possibly both the civic holiday on the 1st Monday in August and on Labour Day. The rest of the time I’d allow small “personal” fireworks like sparklers & poppers that will neither drive away our wildlife or our human residents and vacationers alike who would prefer to enjoy their evening without the punctuations of those that wish to emulate bombs exploding.
I’d love to hear any sincere comments, ideas or suggestions from you about on fireworks in Ontario’s cottage country so use the comment box or please drop me a line at maplelakeontario@gmail.com.
For four years now the Beer Store and its employees have done an annual bottle drive in aid of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
You probably have known a friend, colleague or loved one who has experienced a battle with cancer–perhaps you’ve fought it yourself. Despite great progress in helping people live with cancer certain types of cancer can be more persistent and deadly and so efforts to fight this battle must also persist. The Beer Store wishes to help and you can help, too–it is super-easy!
On May 29 & 30 donate your empty beer, wine and spirit containers at your local Beer Store to help find a cure for leukemia and other blood cancers. For more information or to volunteer, please go to www.bottledrive.ca or call 1-866-600-0567.
Volunteers are needed at Beer Store retail locations across Ontario to assist in greeting customers and collecting their empties on:
Saturday, May 29 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 30 between noon and 5 p.m.
You do NOT need to be employed by The Beer Store
Anyone interested in helping this great cause is welcome to come out and volunteer! If you are interested in helping out, please contact the Beer Store, indicating what days and times you’d be available, your community, and the location of The Beer Store nearest you.
All Beer Stores over Ontario
Tel: (866)-600-0567
Fundraising Book Sale
May 29 2010
The Gooderham Fire & Rescue Auxiliary is holding a large Fundraising Book Sale on Saturday, May 29 from 10am -2 pm. All proceeds from this event go to support the Gooderham Volunteer Fire Department.
There will be a a large selection of books from many genres:, romance, fiction, children’s books, cookbooks and more–like records/CD’s, puzzles and knick knacks! There will also be a hot luncheon available. This fundraiser is in support the Gooderham Volunteer Fire Department. You can give to this worthy cause while enjoying a relaxing book-browsing experience as you are “bound” to find some great reading and great bargains.
If you have any books you would like to donate for the sale, please contact Jennifer at 447-2556
Gooderham Community Center Off County Road 507 entrance to Hunter Lumber
Contact: Jennifer Horner
Tel: 705-447-2556
Email: goodhorner@bell.net
The Dorset Recreation Centre has announced a new day for it’s FREE Moms & Tots Playgroup.
The Moms and Tots Playgroup is now meeting on Tuesdays from 10am to 12pm.
All infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children and their caregivers are welcome to to participate in this free weekly program.
Playgroup is a time for some fun and socializing with other kids & adults. Toys, books, crafts and more are provided free of charge by the Dorset Recreation Centre. The Moms and Tots Playgroup is self run so please bring your own beverages and snacks.
For more information, call Cheryl at 705-766-0874.
Dorset Recreation Centre
1051 Main Street, Box 99 Dorset
Email: drc@algonquinhighlands.ca
This is a non-sponsored post done as a community service for the Haliburton Highlands.
Special thanks to the fine folks who author the What’s Happening This Week! newsletter.
Canada's Alexandre Bilodeau competes during men's freestyle skiing moguls qualifying on Cypress Mountain at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, February 14, 2010. Credit: REUTERS/Mike Blake
Family Day unofficially was extended across the country Monday as millions of proud Canadians continue to come together to celebrate the athletic achievement of moguls skier Alexandre Bilodeau.
The country remains abuzz after the 22-year-old captured an Olympic gold medal on Sunday night in Vancouver, the first by a Canuck in a Games hosted by Canada in 34 years.
“Bravo Alex Bravo!” speedskater Charles Hamelin, a medal favourite at these Games, said of his Canadian teammate on Twitter. “He is my hero, I am so happy for him! I’m eager to congratulate him in person!”
That could happen Monday as Bilodeau will receive his gold medal at a ceremony in downtown Vancouver.
Also “pumped” for Bilodeau is Brian McKeever, a visually impaired cross-country skier who soon will make history himself as the first Paralympian to compete at a Winter Olympics.
“What a performance to give us the first gold on home soil,” the 30-year-old native of Canmore, Alta., tweeted. “Now maybe the media will focus on something else.”
Proud Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was among the crowd of 60,000-plus at Friday’s opening ceremony under the roof at BC Place Stadium, phoned Bilodeau after his victory and said: “Canadian families across the country are proud of you, Alex.”
A medal contender, Bilodeau nailed his last run, blazing through the slushy moguls to a 23.17-second finish and a score of 26.75 to best defending Olympic champion Dale Begg-Smith, a Vancouver native who now competes for Australia.
SOURCE: National Post
Congrats to Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau on breaking the 34-year Olympic gold-on-home-soil (snow?) drought.
Despite all the noise from the usual suspects about who should have won (ironically, the Australians are saying that the gold should’ve gone to a former Canadian, now Aussie competitor) this a morale boost for all Canadian competitors. The pressure is off all of them in that Alex Bilodeau has “broken the curse.”
And though some are spouting the old, tired complaint that since Alex is a native of Quebec (which last time I googled, was a province in CANADA! Has there ever been a time when both Quebec and the rest of the provinces existed that they did not feud about what constitutes the “real” Canada?!), Canada has not truly won the gold yet, Alexandre Bilodeau will go down in history as the winner of the of Olympic gold medal on Sunday night in Vancouver. Bravo to Alex and to the Canadians who are not nit-picking his victory–just reveling in his wondrous win and the pride felt seeing the gold bestowed upon this phenomenal Canadian athlete.
Miss Canada International 2010 - Canadian Ambassador to the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign
(February 12, 2010, Haliburton, ON) The County of Haliburton is excited to announce that Bridget Nickerson, Miss Canada International 2010 will be in the Haliburton Highlands this Family Day Weekend!
A native of Nova Scotia, Miss Nickerson is currently touring across Canada. Miss Canada is strong supporter of giving back to her community and as such, she is the Canadian Ambassador to the Teddy Bears of Hope Campaign.
The Teddy Bears of Hope bring smiles and hope to children all over the globe who are lonely, underprivileged and caught in a web of poverty and despair.
Miss Canada International will attend the Haliburton Highlands Dog Sled Derby at the Pinestone Resort & Conference Centre on Sunday, February 14 where she will be available for media interviews and photos between 10 am and noon. She will also attend the Blue Line Charity Auction at McKeck’s on Sunday from 4 to 6pm. On Monday, she will enjoy some of the great winter activities the Haliburton Highlands has to offer before continuing her journey across Canada.
Thanks to the County of Haliburton, Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Marketing!
This is a non-paid post in support of the County of Haliburton and the Haliburton Highlands.
The Scary Sacred Dark – Vigil of light for Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change
On Sunday, December 13, at 10:30 am please consider being part of a global “moment of hope.”
This event is part of the weekly Gaia Gatherings at the Blue Sky Studio with the theme this weekend The Scary Sacred Dark. Despite it’s light-hearted-sounding name, The Scary Sacred Dark is being offered in support of the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change.
What happens at this “vigil of light’?
First off, you will hear a story about the “scary and sacred dark,” then candles will be lit to symbolize sending light to where it is needed both in the world and in our lives. This also is a gesture in joining with those around the globe who have made a commitment to help restore our climate.
Closing out this Sunday’s Gaia gathering will entail going outdoors and ringing bells 350 times. Bells have historically been used especially in spiritual communities to signal imminent danger and to call out to the people of the community.
“350″ is indicative of 350 carbon parts per million which is the upper limit our atmosphere can tolerate.
When measured 200 years ago the earth’s atmosphere’s carbon parts per million was 275. It is now 390!
It is imperative that we push back that number to at least 350.
Be heard. Bring Dinner bells, Christmas bells, Cow bells, Jingle Bells and join in supporting a return to a more healthful planet.
Where: Blue Sky Studio at Haliburton Chiropractic Clinic, 18 Dysart Street
Visit Website for more info:
Contact: Gaia Centre Tel: 754-2427
Email: info@gaiacentre.org
This is a non-paid post in support of informing the Community of events of interest in and around the Haliburton Highlands.
In reading the Haliburton “What’s Happening This Week” newsletter I came across mention of the Gaia Centre. I had not heard of it previously so I clicked through and read about this not-for-profit organization. They have philosophy that I believe we each could and should strive for. I would love to participate in one of their workshops or events. I’m certainly going to check their website before I return to Maple Lake. The link above will take you to their site where they explain about their mission and philosophy as well as providing a calendar of current and future events that you may be interested in participating in.
The Gaia Centre is a not-for-profit organization committed to nurturing the human spirit through advancing understanding, appreciation and love for Mother Earth. The Gaia Centre’s aim is to provide the Highlands community a space to help find and celebrate our place within Nature. By creating a common awareness of the environmental, social and spiritual benefits of sustainable living within Earth’s means, a path is created to making a minimal impact upon the environment.
Gaia Center wishes to facilitate our living and working within Nature’s means through programs in earth-based spirituality, ecology, sustainability, reinvention of work, and the arts as meditation.
The leaders of Gaia Centre are selected because of their expertise and commitment to educate for change. Every Gaia Centre program is offered for its ability to awaken us to earth-consciousness, with the goal being learning for transformation.
Gaia Centre teaches that it is necessary at this time in human history to experience, protect and revere the natural world and all beings.
The Gaia Centre is committed to bringing important local, national, and international teachers to Ontario and welcomes invitations from communities of any kind.
Peggy Lamb, Jim McCrackan, summer 1955
This is my dad and mum at Maple Lake during the summer of their courtship.
Photographs preserve moments in time, many of them precious.
My father is now the patriarch of the family. He carries his father’s name, James McCrackan, and his son–my only sibling carries the same name. It is my last name too after giving it up for 6 years and then getting the name legally returned to me decades ago. I’m taking it to my urn (no grave for me).
I don’t think my grandfather had any time for pettiness, jealousies, vindictiveness–certainly none for gossip. My father is very much like his father and I learned from him at his knee that these traits are highly undesirable.
After a truly awful experience at Maple Lake of which I”m not sure what the end result will be ( though unless addressed in an honest way the repercussions will go on for years) I was astonished to hear of a genuine kindness that was extended towards my spouse on Labour Day. I shan’t name the person–it was “persons” actually, but one in particular who sat aside what might have got in the way of being a good neighbour, a decent person and just helped. It meant a lot even if it wasn’t intended that way. For all the snark that flew past this summer, one person managed to adjust the sails and set a course correction.
It starts with one person.
The weekend weather forecast for the Haliburton Highlands is the best so far this summer!
It’s truly gorgeous–sunny, clear, humidity is tolerable. And it’s going to be nice on Sunday, too! Can you believe it? I need to pinch myself ‘cos it’s been so long since Maple Lake has had an entire weekend that was this nice.
My weekender neighbours are quite fortunate since they just need to pack an overnight bag and in a snap they can be in paradise. Not quite as fortunate are folks like my immediate family who left today to return to the States. 
Turning quite serious, folks, we are all on the same page on global warming now, right? We acknowledge it; it is happening right now. We have used and abused our poor planet and it does not have to be reflected as “warming” in certain spots. Here in the Haliburton Highlands, it’s been really cold and wet until this week. Pay attention to the excessive precipitation, especially.
Maple Lake, to be frank, has given me an eye infection simply by using lake water to wash my face. I know this because I wear goggles in the lake as I am unable to see without my contact lenses. The waters of Maple Lake have spewed up all kinds of garbage this summer–literally all kinds of plastic, coke cans. I’ve not ever seen it like this and it makes me really sad.
I’m sure I’m not the first but I feel that the year-rounders, the permanent residents should move forward to protect the lakes of Haliburton County. Obviously, we cannot change how Mother Nature is behaving right now but we can change human behaviour. Impose restrictions to protect our lakes and all nature that depend on the ecosystem, as people haven’t shown willingness to “reign it in” on their own.
First, I would like to see the obvious pollutants removed from the Lake. I would like to see a ban on motorboats that leak gasoline into the lakes and nearly drown swimmers like me with their huge waves (not kidding– HUGE waves).
Truly, I hate the noise too, but it’s the pollution that is sickening me. The boats are getting more powerful, ridiculously fast, and burning petrol at a time when I thought we were supposed to be practicing conservation. Our lakes are what make this area the paradise that it is. And we are doing our damnedest to destroy paradise.
Please, Haliburton Highland year-rounders, restrict the use of motorboats to the weekend and otherwise allow all the the other nonpolluting boats free and unfettered any time. The beautiful sailboats, the rowboats, canoes, paddleboats—all of them wind/man-powered and not harmful to our dying lakes.
If we don’t start reigning in our excesses and our abuse of the lakes of Cottage Country there is no doubt in my mind that we shall lose them. Nothing would be sadder if our unquenchable need for “things” and need to have the biggest, fastest motorboats and personal motorized vehicles hastened the death of our lakes–leaving nothing left for anyone.
I can only hope that the fine people that live year-round on Maple Lake and in the Maple Lake area take action this winter and next summer to deal with the craziness that breaks out every weekend here with ridiculous amount of polluting watercraft on what was what was once a clean lake. It’s not just here but throughout Cottage Country.
Also, as related to a lesser pollution, what the heck is with the unrestricted use of fireworks on Maple Lake every single weekend? Hey, I LOVE fireworks. They can be really special–but every weekend?! WTH? My poor dog is terrified. She shakes and glues herself to her people.
Ban fireworks on Maple Lake except for Canada Day, period. Stop the insanity, please.
/end preachy rant
Here’s the rest of the weather. If you can, stay up an extra day as Monday will still be beautiful:
As for the bugs, it has warmed up, they like warm, there are lots of them. Stay in the lake and otherwise slather on your insect repellent of choice.
Have a great week!
Laguna Beach, CA - April 2009
Sometimes life just does not cooperate the way one would like it to. Basically my heart failure led us as a family from being comfortably middle class income to with one full time and 2 part time jobs clinging to the thin line between lower mid and middle middle class. That the car that was to carry most of our “stuff” for a 3-week stay at Maple Lake cannot be trusted to endure the rigors of the road trip is just one more thing. I’m not terribly upset about it when, on the balance we are darn lucky to have a cottage to go to, that my spouse’s company, despite cutting back in so many other ways (promotions, bonuses, co-pay on medical getting crazy high) he still gets a goodly amount of paid time off. It’s just really annoying and frustrating and inconvenient but none of that carries the gravity of ill health or losing a job or a home or the dog dying, for that matter. And all those things are not happening to us . (To clarify: I am stable though considered disabled from heart disease–I feel good! 
)
We are grappling with none of those, just that we are going to have to make 2 trips up to the Lake and two trips home because our good car is a Mustang GT in which we cannot cram everyone and all our stuff. We pulled it off before but our now almost-17 y.o. son is 6’3″ and cannot fold himself into what is only a token gesture of a back seat.
Renting a car came to mind. The cost of doing so has skyrocketed. And doing so one way, say to Buffalo or Niagara Falls to do a swap, zipping back and forth the few hours from the Lake is a no-go because the rental cars peeps do not want to play ball with us (“no cars available”).
So I’m trying to put on a happy face now that this trip is turning into what hopefully won’t be a logistical nightmare.
The upside is, by the time we get everyone to the Lake it appears as if the crap weather will cease at least for a bit. Wish I had a crystal ball. Been wishing for one of those for as long as I can remember. 
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