LATEST NEWS

2023 Lake Bernard Conservation Guide 2023

Updated Lake Bernard Conservation Guide – April 2023

We have updated the Lake Bernard Conservation Guide to include new information about rising chloride levels and  – please check […]

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Love Your Lake

Love Your Lake helps shoreline property owners understand steps we can all take to improve our shoreline health.

LBPOA Wins!

Hello neighbour, As you know, the LBPOA is a member of FOCA (Federation of Ontario Cottagers Association). There are 500+ […]

In the News: Sundridge council taking steps to protect Lake Bernard

The North Bay Nugget reported on two resolutions raised by the Sundridge Council with the goal of protecting the health […]

LAKE HEALTH

We have updated the Lake Bernard Conservation Guide for spring 2023. Please check it out for more information on protecting and caring for the health of our lake.
Click here for April 2023 edition...
On July 28, 2020, the LBPOA Lake Steward Alan Burt hosted a webinar about blue green algae. To view the slides from this presentation, see the link below. Blue-green algae was positively identified in a number of locations on the lake in recent years, causing great concern and potential health risks to people and pets who come in contact with the water. Whether you can see the algae or not, swimming in or washing with the water when the bacteria is present can cause serious illness. All residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the appearance of blue-green algae. We encourage you to check your shorefront regularly. If you suspect you might see some blue-green algae on the lake, please immediately contact the Ministry Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 and they will arrange to test the water promptly. As your Association we would also appreciate being notified at lakehealth@lakebernard.ca.
Click here for the presentation...
For instructions on how to perform the jar and stick procedures to test for blue-green algae, click the link below.
Click here for the test procedures...
For more information on the blue-green algae assessment protocol, click the link below.
Click here for the assessment protocol...
Phragmites Working Group Lake Bernard: A program of The Near North Enviro-Education Centre (NNEEC) started in 2018 as a volunteer based group. Partners are: The Village of Sundridge, Township of Strong and Joly, NNEEC, and Lake Bernard Property Owners. 11 members on the executive committee. They provide education sessions and webinars and are following a control plan obtained in 2019 from Dr. Janice Gilbert of the Invasive Phragmites Control Centre. Cutting to drown methods using Stihl saws, cane cutters and spading is used. 87 volunteers at cutting events in 2020. Mike Mitchell Eagle Lake Conservation Association, Judith Jones Manitoulin Phragmites and Dr. Janice Gilbert Invasive Phragmites Control Centre are experts they consult with as well as PAMF Phragmites Adaptive Management Framework, to get specific management advice for sites.
Visit Phragmites Working Group Lake Bernard
A member of the provincial Ontario Phragmites Working Group they network provincially. An application for funding has been submitted in 2021 to address habit restoration for species at risk (SAR)- Freshwater turtles are greatly impacted by phragmites infestations. Dr. Janice GIlbert is presenting on this by webinar in 2021.
New 2020 Phragmites Best Management Practices
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) receive the annual season end report. Needs: Funding ongoing. Clean Drain Dry https://canadainvasives.ca/programs/clean-drain-dry/ Prevent spread of all invasives. Monitoring and mapping ongoing of sites year over year. Four year goal -stopping the spread to be reached in 2022, Then they will reassess and continue. For more information contact: Marilee.koenderink@gmail.com An excellent resource on Invasive species: go to the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations’ 2017 guide “A Shoreline Owner’s Guide to Invasive Species.”
A Shoreline Owner’s Guide to Invasive Species

UPCOMING EVENTS

Caring for Lake Bernard

Membership

Please click the button below to pay your LBPOA membership dues

Why Become a Member?

Welcome new and returning Lake Bernard Property Owners!  Our board has been very busy and we hope you appreciate what we have been able to provide you, our members!

– We surveyed all town and township candidates for the 2018 Elections regarding their views on Septic Inspections, Invasive Species, Road Condition around the Lake and Lake Water Levels.  We hope you found their responses helpful when it came time to vote!

– We have had a LBPOA Director attend both the FOCA Fall & Spring Seminar and AGM to ensure our association is up to date on the work FOCA is doing on our association’s behalf (FOCA acts as an information bridge between policy-makers and property owners and thus is a resource for lake health, land use, rural safety and emergency preparedness in the face of extreme weather.  FOCA represents more than 500 Property Associations and as a result is also able to provide discounts to lake property owners on items ranging from insurance to docks!)

– We have provided support to those petitioning the Ministry of the Environment who asked that our lake level be lowered prior to winter.  As a result there has been no reported ice damage to lake property this year.

– We support the campaign to fight phragmites.

– We will be resuming regular testing of our lake water this year, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health.

– We have implemented a new payment service offered by FOCA to its member associations.  The new payment service will allow us to collect dues more efficiently and connect with you more easily.  We hope you enjoy this new service.

– We introduced a new event called “Cheers to Summer!” This exciting event was held at the beginning of July to welcome members and kick off the summer season. It allowed new and old, cottagers and permanent lake residents to connect and have some fun. This was the first time a member event like this was hosted in years and we’re so glad that so many of you could come. Over 200 members and their guests attended. We are hoping to make this an annual event.

– We introduced LBPOA Golf in summer 2019! It was held at The Ridge on Sundays throughout July and August. We offered a drop in league for adults in the morning and drop in group lessons for kids in the afternoon. We hope to make this an annual tradition.

– We strive to provide the latest information, through our website, email and Facebook, regarding local happenings that may impact our members

– We have been working hard through a variety of means to not just retain members but to increase membership by improving actions and communication that show the great value in being a member of the Lake Bernard Property Owners Association…we hope you’ll agree!

 

Discounts for Members

Current members of the LBPOA are eligible for many discounts on purchases. For example:

  • Discounted home defibrillators for our members from Action First Aid. www.foca.on.ca/action-first-aid-aed-offer/
  • Discounts on insurance for properties and road associations through www.cottagefirst.com/
  • Cottage Life magazine subscription for $24.95 for 1 year + 1 free issue, including free digital access;
  • National Observer digital subscription for 50% off;
  • Canadian Canoe Museum membership for 30% off.

Go to https://foca.on.ca/member-services/benefits/ any time to check out current offers available to members like us! You need to have a current LBPOA membership to qualify.

Clothing Shop

Lake Bernard clothing is closed for the season.  We will be back for another order in 2022.

 

Mabel’s Labels

The LBPOA is utilizing Mabel’s Labels! If you’re not familiar with Mabel’s Labels, they are personalized, durable, waterproof labels. They are great for everything from paddles, life jackets, kayaks, towels, to water skis…even your new Lake Bernard clothing! You can customize them with your name and a design, and they are dishwasher, laundry and microwave safe. Mabel’s Labels also offers clothing stamps, silicone bands for water bottles and face masks for both adult and children. This is a great way to ensure your items don’t end up lost or mixed up and to support the LBPOA. Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select Lake Bernard Property Owners’ Association (LBPOA) (Sundridge). You can pick out whatever labels or product you want, and it will ship for free directly to your home or cottage!

About Us

Who we are:
We are your Lake Bernard Property Owners’ Association, a community of property owners around the lake with a shared interest in protecting and improving the beautiful environment and community of Lake Bernard, Ontario. On this website we hope to keep you up to date with local news, events and issues you are interested in..

Our mission statement:
The LBPOA takes seriously our collective responsibility to preserve the legacy of our lake. We hope you will enjoy and help protect our most precious resource. We act:
a. To safeguard and promote the interests of the owners of real property in the district surrounding Lake Bernard,
b. To consider and promote all matters relating to the welfare of the community in the district surrounding Lake Bernard, and
c. To plan, recommend and promote the adoption of such measures as will tend to beautify and improve the community.

The largest freshwater lake in the world without an island:
Residents on the shores of beautiful Lake Bernard are passionate about our lake! Its claim to fame is as the largest fresh-water lake in the world without an island, but we know it as a large, quiet lake great for swimming, sailing, canoeing, waterskiing, fishing and so much more. The friendly community of Sundridge at the north end of Lake Bernard and the surrounding area around the lake offer holiday accommodations, great restaurants and all the services vacationers might need. Lake Bernard is truly a four-season lake with beautiful fall hiking and bicycling as well as winter snowmobiling, dog sledding, skating and ice fishing.

Our community:
For more information on Lake Bernard, the Village of Sundridge, the Township of Strong, our region known as the Almaguin Highlands and one of our largest festivals of the year, have a look at the following online resources:

45

Metres deep

2

Kilometres across

7

Kilometres long

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you. 🙂

 

General Contact Information
Board Members
  • Jeffrey Browne
  • Alan Burt
  • Bob Renaud
  • Matt Scott
  • Dulcie Pascoe
  • Heather Andrew
  • Jamie Lewis

Drop Us a Message.