Personal Comments from Morris Richardson
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members, as well as the non-members, who voted for me in the recent municipal election. I would also like to congratulate all those people who took the time and made the necessary effort to exercise their democratic right to vote. Finally, I would also like to thank those of you who greatly assisted me during the
election campaign, either in preparing posters, translating material, acting as my scrutineers at the polls, etc... I could not have fought the battle without you. Again my heartfelt thanks.
The results were disappointing in some ways. The final tally was 163 votes for Roger Lacaille and 143 votes for Morris Richardson. A mere 20 votes away from winning was quite good, for a first attempt. A number of factors worked against me in the election. As an english cottager from Ontario, the election certainly presented important challenges. Also, the name Lacaille is a strong local family name with strong family traits and historic founding ties. Notwithstanding these factors, I came within 20 votes of breaking even in the villlage poll, which amazed me.
The enumeration list had 16 names of cottagers from our association missing on the list, who did not register to vote. Another 23 members, while registered to vote, did not or could not find the time to do so. There was more than enough votes to have won the battle if there had been a more determined will to win by our membership.
Statistically, the results reveal that a majority of households on our two lakes were to various degrees, indifferent to my campaign. The first meeting of your new Executive unfortunately only served to confirm that.
This has therefor forced to me re-examine my continuing roll as President of this association. I have therefor decided that, while I will continue in that capacity for the duration of my term for which I was elected by acclamation, I will not be a candidate for a further term when its expires.
I believe this will give more than sufficient time for members to find a suitable replacement who will hopefully enjoy the support of the full membership in this difficult task.
Cottage Voter Registration
For the November civic election, only 754 citizens were empowered to vote, as compared to 1040 in the referendum held earlier this year. Why? Because the balance of the voters (cottagers) did not register to vote, as called for in recent amendments to the Elections Act of Quebec.
It is important to note, as concerns cottage properties, there can only be one designated voter per residence. If you failed to register your power of attorney with the municipality prior to the day of vote, no one in your household was allowed to vote. A number of frustrated cottagers were turned away from the polls for that reason.
If you are a sole proprietor of a cottage property, you must have been registered to vote, again prior to the voting day.
Either form was available from the municipality and/or from your association for this purpose. They still are. On a positive note, once the forms are completed and filed with the municipality, they remain in effect for years and years, until revoked. So please, if you were one of those prevented from voting for either of these two factors, do yourself a favour. Obtain a form, complete it, and register it with the municipal office. Do not wait until the next election to do so - do it now.
Membership Renewals
We finished the year with approx. the same quantity of members as last year. This was somewhat of a disappointment for your President, since he had hoped to top the 90 mark this year. However, some past members did not send in their annual renewal fees, and waited for your President to come calling. Unfortunately, your President only has so much time, and if you are not home when he calls, he might not be able to call again within a short period of time. It would be very helpful if you were to send in your renewals automatically, every spring, to avoid this problem.
Association Clothing
Fran Barresi still has a good assortment of clothing for sale, with the association logo. For your gift needs, give her a call. They now have a cottage telephone number (weekends) at (819) 463-0262. Weekdays, she may be reached at home, in Ottawa, at (613) 727-0409.
Scheduled Events
All of the following events are subject to confirmation of date by the new Executive at the next meeting to be held of that body. We will of course be confirming those dates with you long before their occurrence, in the next newsletter.
As per decisions made at the September meeting, we will be holding only 2 General meetings this year, instead of the usual three. Hopefully, members will take the time to attend the reduced number of meetings. They will be held on June 17th and September 9th, 2000. As usual, the meetings are held at the Salle des Loisirs, on Lac Long Rd., and start at 10:30 a.m.
The number of Executive meetings has also been reduced from 6 to four and will be held on the following dates and at the following locations:
The combined children's and adults' picnic will be held on July 29, 2000, at a location to be announced later.
Cleanup Day on the Lake
After inclement weather and a non-start earlier this summer, the clean up was finally off and running on Saturday, Aug. 21, 1999. It was a beautiful day but we were disappointed in the low turnout. However, at the helm, Chris Juteau with his trusty Tracker, and Morris Richardson, with his feisty Jeep, pulled out an enormous pile of fresh and rotting logs that were brought to the public access by a mere handful of dedicated cottagers. Some of the poplar and cedar logs were as long as 60 feet. They had to be cut into more manageable lengths in order to pull them by Jeep out of the lake. Jim Barresi and Gaston Tremblay spent an extra effort during the afternoon hauling even more wood by boat to the public access. Thank you to all who worked so hard to ensure a cleaner and safer lake for all of us. We must not let down our guard, and do encourage more participation next year, since floating deadheads and any debris are dangerous to all watercraft.
Note from your President: The association thanks all of you who participated and wishes more people would get involved. I guess it is all too typical of a home situation - all the family makes a mess, but only one cleans it up.
Annual General Meeting
On Sept. 11, 1999, we held our Annual General Meeting and we also held elections for the Executive. Generally the same members attended, with the exception that the Mayor was also in attendance.
Steve Slaby decided not to run for another term of office. He had been a member of the Executive, as a Director, then as Secretary-Treasurer, then as Vice-President, for most of the existence of this association. He felt he had given enough and we regretfully agree. We owe him our gratitude for his extensive contribution to the association. He has offered to continue as editor of this newsletter, and as keeper of the association website, for which we continue to be immensely grateful.
Rita Lingen departed as Secretary-Treasurer, as did her spouse Gaston Tremblay, as Director. They felt they needed some quality time together. As the mother hen of the Tremblay clan on Lake Long, I can understand why. We thank them for their contribution and wish them well.
Christian Juteau has decided to back away from representing the Lake Morissette interests, since he feels that there are very few interests on that lake to represent at this time. Hopefully things will change; more Lake Morissette members will come on board, and we may once again welcome Chris on the Executive.
Lise Parent is no longer a property owner on this lake and hence no longer a Director. John Devlin resigned his post over a truly regrettable incident many of you are aware of.
The new Executive, to hold office for the next two years, was elected. Your longstanding President, Morris Richardson, was re-acclaimed to that post. The post of Vice-President was left vacant for the time being, as were the two Alternate Director positions. Laurent Tremblay was named (in his absence, but with his implied consent) to the post of Secretary-Treasurer. Terry Sametz decided to stay another term, and was also re-acclaimed. Marcel Lacasse, formerly an Alternate Director, became a Director in full standing. Pierre Gravel and Victoria Karalekas also joined the ranks as Directors.
If any of you wish to donate of your time and effort, you might wish to consider applying for one of the vacant positions. The Executive has been empowered to fill the vacancies should a worthy individual come forward.
Again, we wish there was more active participation by the members. It is difficult to always expect the same people to give of their time and effort for the benefit of all. When does it become your turn?
Children's Picnic
Another lovely summer at the lake and another wonderful children's picnic was held on Saturday, Aug. 7th, 1999. We are very grateful again to Jim and Fran Barresi for offering to host the picnic at their site, and pleased that Pierre Gravel generously lent us an extra large tarpaulin for much appreciated shade.
We had a few less children participating this year however, 15 children still kept us very busy measuring and recording fish catches. The children were very pleased with the array of prizes, and everyone ate very well (everyone always eats very well at Jim’s place). The children were exceptionally well behaved and patient. Together with newcomers and old pros, here are the results of the fish derby:
Mark Taylor said the canoe he was in was not conducive to fishing. Frank Nicolo caught 3 bass just last week, and Sky Karalekas was on the lake bright and early but the fish weren't nibbling. Nevertheless, everyone had fun and must be congratulated. Last but not least, we are told that Dana McMillan caught a can of lobster, Craig Sweeting was happy with an 8 oz. Can of tuna, and Pierre Tremblay tells us he caught a 3 foot pike but lost it.
All kidding aside, the children did very well.
Once more, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Jim & Fran Barresi, for their hospitality and organizational abilities at the children’s' barbecue. They certainly helped make the event a success. It is always a pleasure for your association to sponsor the picnic when everyone has such a good time. Thank you one and all.
Adult Picnic
On Aug. 14th, 1999, we held our annual adults' picnic. It was once again a good success, notwithstanding the unstable weather conditions. We thank Steve Slaby and Lucie Lejeune for hosting the event. We also thank those of you who showed up the next morning for the site clean up.
Concern was expressed that the adults accompanying the children on their day are also the same adults who benefit from the adult picnic. And although we have always given ample notification and invitation to all members to come and join us for both events, only a limited number of people do so each year. And it is invariably the same people. The original concept of the party was to allow new and old members to meet each other annually on a social level. However, if it is always the same small quantity of people, year after year, it then becomes difficult to justify spending considerable sums of money to party for only a small percentage of the membership.
We must remember that the lake environment is our primary concern, not partying with membership funds.
It has been suggested that we go back to our beginnings and only have a single picnic day for both children and adults. That we have the children come in the morning up until 3:00 p.m., and then slowly convert to an adult affair in the evening.
Donations for the Annual Picnics
Thanks to everyone who donated money, gifts, food, and delicious desserts for the children’s' and adults' picnics: Jim & Fran Barresi, Pat Whelan, Victoria Karalekas, Tina MacKay, Frank & Guay Capello, John Devlin, Pierre Gravel, Lisette Tremblay, Adele Moore, Gisele Adcock, Michel Rheaume, Marcel Lacasse, Gaston Tremblay, Jackie & Laurent Tremblay, Dominic Nicolo, Terry Sametz, David Nairn, as well as Fred Basso. Forgive me if I have missed anyone`s name. We're all very grateful.
Sincere thanks to the Mayor, Yvon Belanger, for graciously donating special Blue Sea logo pins.
A special thanks to the following sponsors who again donated prizes to the two picnics this year. We appreciate it very much. They are as follows:
At a previous council meeting, we requested the municipality repair the deplorable condition of the public access on our lake. They answered our request. The concrete ramp pads badly needed work and the sand base access needed grading. They removed the two top concrete plates and put them at the bottom of the ramp, and supplied and installed a load of 4" stones around the concrete plates and into the water area below the plates. They also widened the road access and removed the poison ivy patch, which formed an island within the access site. The municipality is to be commended for their excellent work.
Lake Latourelle Report
As you all know, earlier this year we prepared an in-depth report on the state of Lake Morissette. The report was well received. Many of you were also aware that, several years ago, a report was prepared for Lake Latourelle. It was not as in-depth, mind you, but nonetheless informative. Many of you requested we make the contents of that report available to our members. We had promised to do so, but until now, had not had the time to translate the material. We have now done so and we therefore present it to you as promised. Some of the information is now dated, but we will be updating some of the information in the near future, and of course reporting to you on the results.
The report was prepared by Mr. Michel Lalancette, technician with the fauna section of the Quebec Ministry of Fishery and Fauna, Outaouais Regional Office. It is dated October 29, 1993. (Excuse the loose translations.)
"According to file documents, a water quality inspection of this lake was done previously on Aug. 4, 1971. Additionally, the lake was stocked with 5000 Grey Trout approx. 4 cm. in length on May 25, 1966 and a further 2000 Rainbow Trout approx. 10 cm. in length were stocked on Nov. 10, 1986.
Further to your request, given the age of the facts on file and the absence of accurate fish stock inventories for that lake, we proceeded with a new study of the water quality as well as an experimental fish catch for that lake."
"The experimental fish catch with the aid of fish nets permitted us to capture 49 Perch, 46 Pike, 8 Small Mouth Bass, 7 Black Sole Trout (?), 7 Sunfish, 3 Brown Catfish, and numerous Minnows. The average length of the pike, present in great abundance in the lake, was 521 mm. and the average weight was 927 grams."
"Latourelle Lake covers an area of 145 hectares, with a maximum depth of 21.9 metres. The pH of the lake, a measure of its acidity, is 8.3, which is marginally above the norm of 7.0 but nonetheless acceptable to the present fish stock. Additionally, the lake contains enough dissolved oxygen in summer, to a depth of 8 metres for the Speckled Trout, the Rainbow Trout, the Grey Trout and the Moulac (?, a hybrid) Trout. In essence, these salmonides require a concentration of dissolved oxygen of at least 5.0 ppm (parts per million) at the depths where they inhabit, and which we readily find in Lake Latourelle to a depth of 8.0 metres."
"However, the lake contains a large population of pike. According to recognized standards, the Speckled Trout and the Rainbow Trout cannot be stocked in a water basin where the population of pike is well established, which is clearly the case in Lake Latourelle, according to our fish catch. As regards the Grey Trout, the lake lacks proper summer habitat for this type of fish, since it requires not only a quantity of dissolved oxygen in excess of 5 ppm, but water temperatures inferior to 12 degrees Centrigrade, two conditions which we could not find simultaneously in Latourelle Lake."
"The Moulac Trout (hybrid), for its part, lives in summer in waters where the temperature is inferior to 16 degrees Centrigrade. During this season, the fish habitat for that species in Lake Latourelle is found at depths of between 6 and 8 metres, which represents a habitat area of approx. 25 hectares".
"Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we announce that we will establish for Lake Latourelle a fish stocking program of Omble Moulac (?) as an introduction measure. Keeping in mind the summer habitat area for the species, we believe that 900 of these stocked at two-year intervals would be a good plan to follow. This plan, which could commence as early as 1996 would of course depend on availability of the stock to the Ministry from local fish farms."
As most of you are aware, our association followed up that report by requesting a larger stocking of the species, which was approved under a provincial government grant. Additionally, the provincial ministry provided two smaller stocking quantities at no cost to the association. Since then, the Ministry has stopped stocking that particular species anywhere in Quebec, and so the program has not been continued. We continue to monitor the success of these stockings and we would appreciate if members would inform the President of the association of any catches of the species, to enable proper compilation of statistical data for possible future usage.
Save those Popcans
The Petro Canada station in Blue Sea, Mr. Michel Fortin, has recently offered us an incentive to recycle those pop cans and other plastic pop containers we all too often throw out.
If you collect your pop cans and plastic containers in plastic bags, they can then be deposited in a container at the service station, provided for your convenience. Michel has undertaken to give us a 20 percent return on the container recycling profits, for the general benefit of the association. So recycle and provide a contribution to your association, as well as prolong the lifespan of the municipal dump at the same time by collecting these and bringing them to the village service station on your way back home.
If you find this chore somewhat tedious or embarrassing, drop off your bags at the President's house and he will drop them in at Michel's.
Mont Morissette Development Committee
Last spring, the municipality created a committee to oversee the development of Mont Morissete, after spending large sums of money on the land acquisition. The committee got off to an initial good start. However, since last June, it has been mired in total inactivity, due to the absence of its president, Pierre Turnbull. It seems that this gentleman has been working on a contract out of town, since last summer. We are told his contract is now finished, and he has returned to the area. But we still have no communication from him.
His outrageous lack of responsibility and apparent total disinterest is insufferable. In this age of modern technology, it is unforgivable that an individual take the excuse he could not communicate with the municipal authorities to let them know of his intentions. Has he never heard of a telephone? For the past six months, your President has routinely requested updates from Council at every monthly question period - only to be told by the Mayor the same old excuse - no word from the President.
It would seem that the election has resulted in Council apathy and bodes badly for the next four years. It is high time the Mayor, who has continuously sided with Mr. Turnbull, and Council, who have meekly gone along for the ride, take their responsibilities in hand. Send him a letter requesting clarification of his position, offer him a time delay in days to reply, not months, and then replace him as head of the Committee.
Year end Greeting from your President
This year saw another major change in the composition of your Executive. Change is always good - it brings new vitality to the movement. It also justifiably shifts the burden around so that it is not always the same people carrying the stick for the majority who would otherwise sit back and reaps the benefits.
I would like to say how pleased I have been with the very positive atmosphere in which members of your Executive have worked in the past year. We can only accomplish the many things we have done when the Executive works together. I have sincerely enjoyed working with them. I also look forward to working with the new Executive for the next two years.
At this time of the year, let us put aside our petty bickering, our complaints against our elected officials, the language problems, and provincial cultural and political differences, and especially our conflicts with our neighbours. Cottage life should be a relaxing lifestyle - not the stressful backbiting daily grind the city and the workplace bring.
We, the Executive of the association, extend to one and all our best wishes for the holiday season upon us. May your Christmas be merry, and may you be filled with joy and prosperity throughout the coming year. May your troubles and tribulations be small, and may your rewards be bountiful.
As the dusk of the present millennium approaches, and the dawn of another is born, let us all resolve to redouble our efforts to ensure a healthy future for our children, one which is safe and one where clean water and unspoiled nature will still be available to them for many years to come. Only with your continued vigilance can this dream come true and only with your continued perseverance will it come to pass.
Happy new millennium everybody!
How to Reach Us
Email: contact@apell.org
Website: www.apell.org
Executive Committee
| Name | Title | Home Phone# | Cottage Phone # |
| Morris Richardson | President | ||
| *Vacant* | Vice-President | ||
| Laurent Tremblay | Secretary/ Treasurer | ||
| Marcel Lacasse | Director | ||
| Pierre Gravel | Director | ||
| Terry Sametz | Director | ||
| Victoria Karalekas | Director | ||
| *Vacant* | Alternate Director (Morrissette) | ||
| *Vacant* | Alternate Director(Latourelle) |
The executive welcome calls from members, but we would ask they be before 9 PM.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our new sponsors for supporting our assocation, and we invite our members to avail themselves of their services and products whenever the opportunity arises.
Copyright © 1996 APELL
All Rights Reserved
Droits d'auteur et copie © 1996 APELL
