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.
Hi there. Welcome to your summers-nearly-over weekend!
There will be a bit a of rain this weekend but not enough to ruin plans I would hope. Looking in-depth at Saturday:
Haliburton Highlands Short term forecast Saturday August 21
Total rain accumulation in the next 24 hours–from Saturday thru Sunday morning should only be 2-4 mm. Saturday morning will have light rain and a temp of 15°C. Afternoon will reach 21°C and be mainly cloudy and Saturday evening will be be cloudy and 19°C. Saturday overnight will have clouds and showers and a temperature of 16°C.
Long Term Forecast
Look for light rain on Sunday and a high of 68°F and up to 0.4 inches precipitation accumulation. The overnight low will be 61°F.
There will be very little rain overall this week.The temperatures during the day will run from 68 °F - 75°F and the overnight temps will vary from 54°F to 61°F so a very level-type of week-weather-wise, if not a bit on the cool side.
Aug 6, 2010
Haliburton, Ontario, Canada
Photos: 26
Buttermilk Falls, Stanhope Township, Haliburton Highlands
Buttermilk Falls, Stanhope Township, Haliburton Highlands
This is our last day at Maple Lake. We drove the 700 miles home–3 people, 2 cars, 2 dogs, the next day after nearly 2 weeks for the guys, 9 days for me. Buttermilk Falls was the absolute-best thing we did. We squeezed in a few other fun things, too. For my part I worked way too much. Not next time! Weather was much better this year though there was NO beach because Maple Lake was VERY high this summer (so far). Will see for myself when next I haunt the place. Boo!I hope to go over Labour Day week to another nearby spot, the “Five Points.” It’s on the map in the Picasa album that you click on. You enter at area “d” which is not much farther from our cottage than Buttermilk Falls. The actual 5 Points, are at what appears to be the south end of Little Hawk Lake, which is not very far north of Maple Lake. Yay! Double click for all the Buttermilk Falls info in the photo album.
Weather Friday & Saturday Aug. 13 - 14 Haliburton Highlands
It will be cloudy overnight on Friday with a low of 18°C.
Tomorrow Saturday, will be mostly cloudy with sunny breaks and a high of 26°C.
Expect thundershowers and a low of 23°C by evening.
Saturday overnight continues with thundershowers and a low of 20°C
There could be 5-10 mm of rain from Saturday morning to Saturday overnight; higher amounts in thunderstorms.
Long Term Forecast through August 20
Sunday brings yet more thundershowers, a high of 24°C and a low overnight of 20 C°.
There may be from 5-10 mm precipitation accumulation.
Monday will be mainly sunny with a high of 24°C and an overnight low of 18°C. There is no rain in the forecast.
Tuesday will bring sunny periods and a high of 23°C. The overnight low will be 16°C. There is no rain in the forecast.
Wednesday, expect cloudy periods and a high of 21°C. The overnight low will be 14°C and there may be up to 1 mm precipitation.
Thursday look to be a day with isolated showers leaving the results rather up in the air.The temperature is forecast to be 21°C. and the overnight low 14°C. There may be 1-3 mm of rain.
Finally on Friday look for a clear, sunny day with a high of just 20°C. The overnight low should dip down to 13°C. There is no rain in the forecast.
Before I get to the weather thought I’d mention a fun excursion we took to a place that as far as I recollect I’d not ever visited. Buttermilk Falls is just a hop, skip and jump from us on Maple Lake–only Beech Lake separates yet connects us.
Buttermilk Falls: You Are Here
Beautiful Buttermilk Falls is a place to easily navigate both traditional and granite trails where the scenery seems to grow more breath-taking with each step along side it. There are several park benches along the way too so one can comfortably linger, admiring the beauty of another of the many gems of the Haliburton Highlands. Very glad we went. Will remember it as a peaceful place to visit especially when peace eludes me here at the cottage. It’s completely free as well. Now, the weather.
Short term weather - 8.6 & 8.7
It’s just past 8:30 p.m. and it is chilly. By overnight temperatures will plunge to 46 degrees F.
Waking up tomorrow will also be chilly at 54F degrees. By Saturday afternoon you can look forward to mainly sunny conditions and a high of 70F. Saturday evening will be mainly clear and about 60 degrees F.
The overnight low on Saturday will be 55F with variable clouds.
Long Term Weather Forecast 8.8 - 8.13
Expect isolated showers on Sunday with a high temp of 75F and an overnight low of 55F. There may be up to 0.7 inches of rain.
Monday, August 9 brings scattered showers and a high of 77F. The overnight low is expected to be a comfy 64F. There will be at most 0.1 inches of rain.
Tuesday will be mainly sunny with the week’s highest temperature –77F. The overnight low will be 63F. There’s no rain in the forecast.
Wednesday will be a near-repeat of Tuesday with a high of 75F and an overnight low of 63F. Again, no rain in the forecast.
Thursday will be sunny and 73F. The low overnight will be 64F and there may be up to 0.1 inch of precipitation.
Friday will be cloudy with showers. The high temp should be 75 F and the low overnight 61F. There may be up to 0.4 inch of precipitation.
You can find the Bug Report if you scroll down a bit.
Raven, Obi & Roger (L to R) in Maple Lake - August 2, 2010
Obi at Kawartha Dairy, Minden Ontario
We adopted Obi about 2 months ago. His caretaker did not know what breed he is. We are pretty sure that Obi is mixed and there have been many guesses with Boston terrier coming up frequently along with Schipperke, a much more rare breed that interestingly, his purebred “step-sister” Raven is. We adopted Raven 10 years ago after she’d been abandoned, we guess because her hip dysplasia rendered her worthless for breeding. Their loss, our gain.
Raven & Obi at Kawartha Dairy, Minden Ontario
Raven, Obi & Roger at Kawartha Dairy
Kawartha Dairy ice cream is the best in cottage country. Fresh (versus grocery store bought) is best. There’s a Karwartha Dairy ice cream stand and store just outside of Minden Ontario on Hwy 35.
Welcome to the beginning of what promises to be a fantastic weekend!
August 1st is a civic holiday in Canada and based on the crowds at the Haliburton Midnight Madness celebration in downtown Haliburton (photos to come) folks in cottage country are enjoying the extra day off.
So let’s get on with it, shall we?
Saturday morning will be sunny and 57 degrees F. Saturday will continue mainly sunny and 73 degrees F. Saturday evening brings cloudy periods and a temperature of 68 degrees F. Overnight on Saturday there will be variable cloudiness and a low of54 degrees F.
Long Term Forecast
On Sunday look for variable cloudiness and a high of 73 degrees F. The overnight low will be 54 degrees F. No rain is expected.
Civic Holiday Monday will again bring variable clouds but higher temperatures in the daytime of 79 degrees F. Monday’s overnight low will be 63 degrees F. There may be up to 0.1 inches of rain.
Thundershowers are coming in on Tuesday with a daytime high of 81 degrees F. Tuesday’s overnight low will be 66 degrees F. There may be up to 0.4 inches of precipitation accumulation.
Wednesday the sun returns though with some variable clouds as well. High temperatures should be about 79 degrees F. The low overnight will be 64 degrees F.
Thursday, August 5 will be a sunny day with a high temperature of 77 degrees F –which will feel like 88 degrees. The overnight low on Thursday will be 64 degrees F.
Friday brings yet more sun with a high of 75 degrees F and an overnight low of 63 degrees F. No rain is in the forecast from Wednesday through Friday.
Be sure to scroll down for the bug report and ave a great week!
Going to the Midnight Madness event in downtown Haliburton tonight Friday the 30th. There will be FREE entertainment, helium balloons, the famous Beef on a Bun (sponsored by the Dysart Firefighters), Dusk Dances in the Park, Live Entertainment, at the Bargain Shop and at Halco Plaza. I have not been to Midnight Madness for many years and I’m totally looking forward to some good times on Highland Street in Haliburton!
BTW, the weather is great, the lake is warm and there’s no better place to be!
Kincardine Channel Sunset, Penetangore River to Lake Huron
Hi again,
This will be the last time for some weeks that I put together the forecast from a 700 mile distance from Maple Lake. Next week I’ll be quite happy to forecast from the Haliburton Highlands.
Monday I’ll set out for a few weeks of cottage time. I don’t think I need to tell anyone that the hot and humid suburban summertime conditions are no picnic and the Lake will be a welcome change. So what will the weather be like?
Short Term Forecast Maple Lake and Haliburton Highlands
Overnight on Saturday expect some isolated showers and a low temperature of 63°F.
Waking up on Sunday look for isolated showers to continue and a temperature of 64°F. As the day goes on however you’ll see cloudy periods and can expect a high temperature of 75°F. There could be 0.1 inch of rain accumulation in this 24-hour period. Sunday afternoon expect cloudy periods and a high of 75°F. Sunday evening, sunny skies and 72°F.
Overnight Sunday expect the temperatures to drop to 55°F and it will be clear.
Haliburton Highlands long term Weather
Monday, expect sunny skies and a high of 77°F. The low overnight is forecast to again be 55°F.
Tuesday will be mainly sunny and 79°F with the third-in-a-row cool nighttime low of 55°F. Perfect sleeping weather.
There is no precipitation in the forecast for Monday or Tuesday.
Wednesday, expect variable cloudiness a high of 79°F–which will feel like 91°F– and an overnight low of 63°F.
There could be up to a quarter-inch of precipitation accumulation.
Thursday expect isolated showers and a high of 73°F. The low temperature overnight on Thursday is expected to be 61°F and there may be up to one-tenth of one inch rainfall.
Friday, July 30, expect cloudy periods and a high of 73°F. The overnight low will be 61°F. There is no rain in the forecast.
Saturday, July 31st is expected to be mainly sunny day with a high of 73°F, and overnight low of 59°F and again,
no precipitation in the forecast.
Have a great week! Bug report and webcam pics follow!
Bug Report July 24- July 29
Short Term Forecast Maple Lake and Haliburton Highlands
Haliburton Highlands long term Weather
Bug Report
Kawagama Lake, Dorset
Chapleau River sunset
Toronto Island, Lake Ontario sunset
Grand Bend Yacht Club (sunset)
Kincardine Harbour sunset
Kincardine Channel Penetangore River. to Lake. Huron
IMAGE FILE: Clockwise from top left: Pottery Lane Studio & Gallery (clay), Red Thread Design (fashion) , Opal Wing Creations (jewellery), Box Boy (wood), Cori Lee Marvin (watercolour)
WHEN: Friday July 23 noon – 7 pm
Saturday July 24 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday July 25 10 am – 4 pm
Admission. $2, children under 12 free
Wow. So this celebration has been going on my whole life. I remember it going back to young childhood and it seems it started at the perfect age for me–when I was four.
This year we traveled back to Maryland to see my folks then took this week “off” (euphemism for madly tried to catch up) so we can leave later this weekend for Maple Lake. So again I’m missing the Art & Craft show though I know that I’ll still be able to enjoy some of the featured attractions individually during the few weeks I’m at the Lake.
And remember: Admission is good for all three days, just be sure to have your hand stamped at the gates for readmission.
Webcam shot from Southern Ontario Today:
Chapleau River, Ontario - 7.22.10
WHERE: Head Lake Park, Haliburton Village
MORE info/directions www.railsendgallery.com
705-457-2330
July 23,24,25 Haliburton Art & Craft Festival – Make it part of your Haliburton Highlands Summer
More to see and do at the 2010 Festival
There’s more to see, do, and hear this year with Buskers throughout the park, afternoon Kids Art Attack, a Lakeside Lions Club BBQ and the Rails End beer tent (a family friendly spot), Artist demos, Brigitte’s Picks of the Show and the Library in A Box. Make a day of it, or make it a weekend. Admission is good for all three days, just be sure to have your hand stamped at the gates for readmission.
for a list of participating artists and daily events schedules.
The Haliburton Art & Craft Festival is presented by Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre.
Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre is a registered Canadian charity devoted to bringing art to life in Haliburton and a member of the Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG), the Ontario Crafts Council (OCC) and Arts Council ~ Haliburton Highlands.
Info thanks to the County of Haliburton, Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Marketing.
