Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association

Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association engages and educates for environmental sustainability in the Lake of the Woods region. Our vision is that this region remains one of the most beautiful places on earth for present and future generations to enjoy.

LakeSmart is our environmental outreach program.

It is unique to our area and delivered by a team of university students, each with an environmental education focus.

Our LakeSmart team spends the summer sharing information on ways that we can live and play green at the lake. They are equipped with knowledge and resources on a broad range of topics including creating and maintaining shoreline buffer zones, reducing run-off, septic systems, using eco-friendly cleaning products, preventing the spread of invasive species, safe boating and more.

AREA NEWS MAGAZINE

Our members receive five issues of Area News annually. Each issue addresses a range of topics including news and events in the region, environmental and sustainability issues in our area, and how to live a greener life at home and at the cottage. You’ll also find a variety of helpful resources, like how to include young children in environmental stewardship, local recipes, and where to go for home and cottage services.
Area News 2025 Early Spring cover

RECENT AREA NEWS ARTICLES

The power of stories

History

The power of stories

Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson

Former Director, Lake of the Woods Museum

Living

Why we should keep Styrofoam out of our lakes

Sharon Gurney outside
Sharon Gurney

Treading Wisely columnist for Area News

Gingerbread cookies conjure up sweet cottage memories

Living

Gingerbread cookies conjure up sweet cottage memories

Suni Haberland holding a fish
Suni Haberland

Clearwater Bay

Seedling success

Living

Seedling success

Jacob Boutwell shows off some produce from Muriel Shores Farm
Jacob Boutwell

Proprietor & Gardener, Muriel Shores Farm

A Canadian Phosphorus Management Plan for Lake of the Woods

Environment

A Canadian Phosphorus Management Plan for Lake of the Woods

Head shot of Teika Newton
Teika Newton

Executive Director, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Environment

Personnel updates for the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Head shot of Teika Newton
Teika Newton

Executive Director, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

How the way we clean could impact our fresh water: The case of QACs

Environment

How the way we clean could impact our fresh water: The case of QACs

Jennie Wang

Communications Assistant, IISD Experimental Lakes Area

March marsh memories

Environment

March marsh memories

Phil Burke feeds a whiskey jack resting on his hand
Phil Burke

Area News contributor

Canary in the lake

Environment

Canary in the lake

Barry Corbett suited up to dive under the ice
Barry Corbett

Ministry of Natural Resources Biologist (retired)

Sunny days in Clearwater Bay

Feature

Sunny days in Clearwater Bay

Suni Haberland holding a fish
Suni Haberland

Clearwater Bay

Todd Sellers plans for more time at the lake

Feature

Todd Sellers plans for more time at the lake

Leanne Fournier sitting outside on a tree stump
Leanne Fournier

Editor, Area News magazine

Deck the halls with natural Christmas decorations

Living

Deck the halls with natural Christmas decorations

Sharon Gurney outside
Sharon Gurney

Treading Wisely columnist for Area News

Healing Transformation

Living

Healing Transformation

Connie Larson holding a copy of her book
Connie Larson

Indigenous author of The Pack - Perils and Peace of Nature - Lake of the Woods

Environment

What is a lake?

IISD-ELA

IISD Experimental Lakes

Algae blooms on the rise

Environment

Algae blooms on the rise

Todd Sellers holds up a huge fish
Todd Sellers

Former Executive Director & Current Board member, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Environment

Bathymetry studies for Rainy – Lake of the Woods

Head shot of Teika Newton
Teika Newton

Executive Director, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Lake of the Woods landmarks

History

Lake of the Woods landmarks

Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson

Former Director, Lake of the Woods Museum

Famous Pine Falls tacos

Living

Famous Pine Falls tacos

Leanne Fournier sitting outside on a tree stump
Leanne Fournier

Editor, Area News magazine

Abby Dent wins for Canada & community

Feature

Abby Dent wins for Canada & community

Leanne Fournier sitting outside on a tree stump
Leanne Fournier

Editor, Area News magazine

Lake of the Woods Walleye: Ice Edition

Feature

Lake of the Woods Walleye: Ice Edition

Jeff Gustafson holds up a massive fish
Jeff Gustafson

Professional Angler

Kenora focuses on community safety and well-being for everyone

Feature

Kenora focuses on community safety and well-being for everyone

Leanne Fournier sitting outside on a tree stump
Leanne Fournier

Editor, Area News magazine

The Keewatin Bridge

History

The Keewatin Bridge

Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson

Former Director, Lake of the Woods Museum

Beautiful bountiful borscht

Living

Beautiful bountiful borscht

Brie McCardle poses in front of a red pine
Brie McCardle

LOWDSA Executive Director

Make your travel plansmore sustainable 

Living

Make your travel plansmore sustainable 

Sharon Gurney outside
Sharon Gurney

Treading Wisely columnist for Area News

Living

Fire conscious wilderness landscaping

Robert J. Creedon

Fire Education, Minaki

Living

Cottage shutdown checklist

The "O" in the FOCA logo
FOCA

Federation of Ontario Cottager’s Associations

DIY – An admirable habit

Living

DIY – An admirable habit

Michael Fournier hard at work
Michael Fournier

Handyman

Building homes for friends

Environment

Building homes for friends

Connie Larson holding a copy of her book
Connie Larson

Indigenous author of The Pack - Perils and Peace of Nature - Lake of the Woods

How mucus sampling saves fish 

Environment

How mucus sampling saves fish 

Lauren Hayhurst & Lee Hrenchuk

Lauren is a Fisheries Research Biologist and Lee is a Senior Biologist at IISD Experimental Lakes Area

Environment

Protecting the Rainy – Lake of the Woods watershed from aquatic invasive species

Head shot of Teika Newton
Teika Newton

Executive Director, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation

Crime prevention and well-being a priority for Kenora

Feature

Crime prevention and well-being a priority for Kenora

Leanne Fournier sitting outside on a tree stump
Leanne Fournier

Editor, Area News magazine

All together now for a sustainable future

Feature

All together now for a sustainable future

Jacob Boutwell shows off some produce from Muriel Shores Farm
Jacob Boutwell

Proprietor & Gardener, Muriel Shores Farm

The Minaki Campers’ Special crash

History

The Minaki Campers’ Special crash

Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson

Former Director, Lake of the Woods Museum

Canoeing: A journey through history and wilderness

Feature

Canoeing: A journey through history and wilderness

Dave Schwartz
Dave Schwartz

Author of Lateral Thinking – Hilarious Satire and Wordplay

The greatest gift

Feature

The greatest gift

Jacob Boutwell shows off some produce from Muriel Shores Farm
Jacob Boutwell

Proprietor & Gardener, Muriel Shores Farm

Tales of gold

History

Tales of gold

Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson

Former Director, Lake of the Woods Museum

Feature

LOWDSA attends annual National Environmental Gathering in Treaty #3

Alena Collier
Living in a sustainable story

Feature

Living in a sustainable story

Jacob Boutwell shows off some produce from Muriel Shores Farm
Jacob Boutwell

Proprietor & Gardener, Muriel Shores Farm

A winter road trip

History

A winter road trip

Lori Nelson
Lori Nelson

Former Director, Lake of the Woods Museum

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