2025 President's Message 

It was late March and many in the city had started to inquire as to when they could get their boats in the water. Summer finally looked like it was on its way...but March held one more surprise in store—winter’s icy grip wasn’t through with us yet.

The Ice Storm that hit southern Ontario affected about one million people.  First branches of trees fell to the ground heavily encased in ice in the worst affected areas. Soon after, trees themselves either broke in half or were uprooted then taking other trees down with them. The result was many houses and outbuildings damaged, hydro lines downed and many roads blocked to transport and emergency crews. Our modern life literally came to a standstill for upwards of two weeks as power and internet ceased to be available for many. Schools closed and buses were cancelled as well as work places and offices closed. People stayed home feeding wood into their wood burning stoves to keep their houses warm and ward off the danger of  their water lines and toilets freezing. The many without generators had no water to drink, cook or  wash with and had to borrow from those who had power or, if at a lake, had to carry buckets up to  their house or cottage.

Leading the recovery efforts were the hardworking hydro and forestry workers who put in long exhausting hours in cold, wet, icy and snowy conditions of hardship often far from their homes in Quebec, New Brunswick and, in our case, Orillia and other parts of Ontario. Yet, in spite of this great adversity there was a spark of great humanity present. Neighbours banded together to help others in need and began clearing fallen trees from the roads and driveways putting together a recovery effort and working with hydro and forestry workers. These people did not wait for government workers to show up, they felt a duty incumbent on them as good citizens to do their part for the betterment of all. This is what makes a society strong and resilient—citizens who do the things that are not demanded of them, legally, but do so out of a sense of responsibility, willingly.

I hope you all have a great summer and enjoy taking part in the many activities the Lake Association has planned for you.

Your President

Bill Holding 

Do you have a question or comment for Bill? Send an email to sdlca.president@gmail.com

First Loon to arrive!

The Loon Whisperer

My Friends on Salerno, Happy spring everyone. We experience a real Canadian winter this year. It was very cold and there was an abundance of snow that seemed to never end. The ice started to leave around the Island and there was enough open water for our first Loon to arrive on April 12 around 10:30 am. A second Loon arrived 2 days later. Since then, most of the ice is out and I’m getting reports of Loons in the narrows and the north end. This is shaping up to be a good Loon season on Salerno. The various Loon Watch Teams on our neighbouring lakes are reporting their Loons are back. A very positive sign. The Loon life cycle starts with the return of the Loons, followed by the territorial battles and the selection of a mate. The mating rituals last for a few weeks and the chicks are born early June. Last year our chick was born June 13, 2024, we were introduced to “Storm”. Storm became a celebrity on the lake—we all enjoyed its development. It was great to see Storm grow into a very health Loonlet and migrate safely. We can only hope for a successful hatch this season to continue and support the Loon population. Having Loons on our lake means we have a healthy lake with good water quality and food supply. The call of the Loon early morning or late evening truly represents what northern Ontario is all about. We must do our part to save and protect the Loons. See you on Salerno

Let's Get the Lead Out

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Highlands East and Minden Hills

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Highlands East and Minden Hills