Monday, June 24th at 1:30pm, Whitecap Pavilion
The LakeSmart boat is back on the water for its 9th season. On Monday, June 24th at 1:30pm the LakeSmart team will be launching the boat and heading out on the lake from the Kenora Harbourfront. LakeSmart sponsors, Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association (LOWDSA) Directors and members will be on hand to see them off when they head out from the docks in front of the Whitecap Pavilion on Monday. We are pleased that the Right Honourable Bob Nault MP will join us for the LakeSmart launch, also riding along with the LakeSmart team for their first ride. LakeSmart is an award-winning environmental outreach program unique to our area. It is delivered by the LakeSmart team - three students, each with an environmental education focus. These LOWDSA ambassadors share information on ways that we can live and play green at the lake, including practical knowledge about what we can each do to contribute to a healthier lake ecosystem.
In the eight years that LakeSmart has been on the water, we have reached thousands of people with our environmentallyfriendly messaging, spreading the word about being more sustainable in our stewardship of land and water. The LakeSmart team is equipped with knowledge and resources on a broad range of topics including creating and maintaining shoreline buffer zones, reducing run-off, preventing the spread of invasive species, safe boating, and our new Septic Systems 101 info sheet and checklist.
Krista Robertson, Reed Cupeiro and Myles King, our 2019 LakeSmart team, are looking forward to travelling the lakes and roads of the area, and always welcome invitations to visit lake, family or association events. You can expect to see the LakeSmart boat on Lake of the Woods, stopping at docks and islands, throughout July and August. While the LakeSmart boat may not go into smaller lakes, the team will drive to many of them and are always open to hitching a ride around smaller lakes to stop at docks or to participate in lake events.
If you miss the LakeSmart team on the water, there are dozens of other opportunities to meet and talk with them. Look for them at local area events such as the Matiowski Farmers’ Market, the Canada Day Market, and the Sioux Narrows Arts Festival. Meet them at the LOWDSA Summer Meeting in Kenora or Morson (July 8 and 15), or perhaps join them on one of the three IISD Experimental Lakes Area tours that can be booked with LOWDSA.
The LakeSmart boat, generously supplied by our lead sponsor, Woodlake Marine, is the key to the program and likely its most recognized feature. However, LakeSmart is only possible with the additional support of LOWDSA member contributions to the Environmental Initiatives & Special Projects (EISP) fund and other sponsors: World of Water, Q104 KenoraOnline, Nature Conservancy Canada, Ontario Power Generation, Garriock Insurance, Lake of the Woods Mobile Marine, Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation, the City of Kenora, Cabin Country Realty, LOTW Septic Barge, and Talbot Marketing Kenora.