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The Bluewater Shoreline Residents’ Association is an umbrella group of residents/beach/cottage/subdivision associations for the residents of the Hay West and Stanley West Wards of the Municipality of Bluewater, County of Huron, Province of Ontario, Canada. We are a corporation under the laws of the Province of Ontario.

We are members of Waterfront Residents After Fair Taxation (WRAFT) and take an interest in the activities of the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations (FOCA). We have in the past or are currently represented on the ABCA Shoreline Issues Committee, the Huron County Water Protection Steering Committee, the Bluewater Environment Committee, Lake Huron Lake Water Coalition and the St Joseph Watershed Pilot Steering Committee.

The aim of the organization is to address the common concerns of the Lakeshore Community, speak with a unified voice, provide information and provide opportunities to obtain services through a 'group plan' base. Click here for a list of our priorities.

History

It began on a sunny afternoon some 12 years ago on the porch of Doug Banks' cottage with an informal discussion about the possibility that an umbrella association could be an effective vehicle for dealing with common problems and issues along the lakeshore. A few months later that discussion became reality with the formation of STCA (Stanley Township Cottagers' Assoc.) which was expanded to become BSRA at the time of local municipal restructuring.

Milestones and Accomplishments

Bluewater Shoreline Residents’ Association (formerly Stanley Township Cottagers’ Association).

1991 September

Stanley Township Cottagers’ Association formed.

Requested annual spring special collection of large garbage items.

?

   Requested annual spring special collection of large garbage items.
1994 May Newsletter started - original name was the Reporter
1998   Arranged through Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations for FOCA liability insurance program to be available to member associations.
    Union Gas announces extension of gas pipeline to service shoreline subdivisions, the direct result of STCA efforts over several years.
1999 September

Association name changed to Bluewater Shoreline Residents’ Association;Designated area expanded to include Hay shoreline associations.
2000  

BSRA arranged for low cost insurance for member associations, as follows:

► General Liability
2001   ► Directors and Officers’ Liability
  May BSRA presentation requested Bluewater Council to address the inequity in the provisions of municipal road services to shoreline subdivisions in light of taxes paid.
  June ► BSRA surveyed each subdivision to identify usage of shoreline properties (i.e.,primary vs. secondary residence [year-round, 3-seasons, “summer” only])
    ► BSRA categorized all roads accessing shoreline residences, as follows: dedicated, assumed, unassumed, and private.
    ► BSRA surveyed subdivisions as to their desire to have BSRA pursue assumption of roads by Bluewater.
    ► BSRA requested Council to assume roads accessing shoreline residences where that was the desire of residents in that subdivision.
2002 Spring Council included in budget $30,000 reserve for use in 2003 towardshoreline roads.
  June Frustration with the lack of response by Council and the lack of adequate representation by Hay and Stanley Ward Councillors, shoreline residents:
    ► Direct BSRA to establish a reserve fund “for the purposes of financing whatever legal action may be required to protect the interest of shoreline residents and political expenses related to the 2003 municipal election.”
    ► “...authorized the Executive Committee, in consultation with legal counsel,” to take appropriate action to protect the interests of shoreline residents including, where deemed necessary, initiating legal action through either the courts or the Ontario Municipal Board.
  July BSRA presented Bluewater Council with a petition from 1,134 electors requesting the creation of a shoreline ward.
  August Council failed to act with the time period specified in the Municipal Act. BSRA solicitors referred the matter for determination by the Ontario Municipal Board.
    BSRA Environment Committee established:

► “to monitor and make recommendations with respect to matters affecting the environment within Bluewater, including land, water and air...”

► BSRA arranged for the provision of a reliable snow clearing service for shoreline subdivisions at reasonable cost.
  Fall BSRA efforts – and the existence of the Reserve Fund – result in the following:
    ► Council established the road grant program which provides for the reimbursement of eligible expenses related to maintenance of unassumed shoreline residence-access roads, up to a maximum of $ 1,900 per kilometer.
    ► At a special meeting immediately before the scheduled OMB hearing, Council passed a by-law creating the two shoreline wards – Hay West and Stanley West – with one Councillor each.
    ► Council voted to conduct the 2003 municipal election utilizing voting by mail.
2003 January BSRA launches its own web site - www.bsra.ca
  Spring BSRA commences its water testing program.The water testing program being done at St. Joseph was expanded to include the rest of the Bluewater shoreline.
    BSRA created a computerized member/residents' data base.
  Summer/Fall BSRA’s endorsement and shoreline residents support of Jim Fergusson resulted in his election as Bluewater Councillor-at-large.George Irvin and Bill MacDougall were acclaimed as the first Councillors representing the two new shoreline wards.
2004 February BSRA submission to Council re the road grant program resulted in the per kilometer cap being increased to $2,000, and the expansion of items eligible for reimbursement.
  Spring BSRA documents the shift of tax burden to lakefront properties as a result of current value assessment. BSRA joins the coalition Waterfront Residents After Fair Taxation to support WRAFT’s provincial lobbying efforts.
  August BSRA co-sponsors “It All Ends Up In The Lake” environment conference.
  Fall/Winter BSRA provides input to the development of the Bluewater Official Plan.
2005 Spring Bluewater budgets funds to support BSRA water quality initiatives.
    BSRA/Bluewater supported research provided DNA fingerprinting analysis of E. coli to investigate potential fecal pollution sources impacting St. Joseph beach water.
  August In response to BSRA request, Bluewater announces a pre-authorized payment plan spreading taxes over more payments.
2006 November BSRA’s endorsement and shoreline residents’ support of David Johnston resulted in his election as Bluewater Deputy-Mayor.
2007 April In response to a BSRA’s documenting the increases in road maintenance costs for shoreline residents, Council increased the road grant cap to $ 2,640 per kilometer

Membership Fees

Annual membership dues for BSRA association is $10 per association plus $1.50 for each property owner within that association. The annual membership is for the calendar year and is requested by June 30 of each year. This nominal fee provides BSRA funds to meet the costs of printing the newsletters, the web site, mailing of correspondence to association representatives, meeting hall expense, out of pocket expenses, etc. A membership Fees Notice is prepared by the Treasurer and is mailed to each membership association after ratification of the next year's dues structure at the August annual meeting. A member association delegate is entitled to vote at all meetings.

Affiliate memberships are available to individuals who reside within the Hay West or Stanley West Ward and to organizations in Huron County who are interested in BSRA, The affiliated individual annual fee is $5 for the calendar year. An affiliated organization (may be outside BSRA territory) contributes the regular fee and as applicable enjoys the same member benefits. The affiliate member does not vote.

Membership Reserve Fund

All shoreline residents benefit from any actions designed to protect their interests, whether or not their subdivision is a member association of BSRA. In June, 2002, BSRA members voted to establish a special fund for the purposes of financing whatever action may be required to protect the interests of shoreline residents, and to fund political expenses related to the 2003 municipal election. The Executive Committee, in consultation with legal counsel, was authorized to take appropriate action to protect the interests of shoreline residents, including initiating legal action through either the courts or the Ontario Municipal Board. Legal expenses incurred to ensure the creation of the shoreline wards were paid from this fund. At the June 2003 General Meeting a recommendation of the Environment committee resulted in a resolution to allocate up to $2000 to the 2003 Water Testing Programme. It is anticipated that the Reserve Fund will be available for any contingencies that may arise in the future where the interests of shoreline residents need to be protected.

Member associations were requested to contribute to this Reserve Fund an amount equal to $50 for each member of that association. Since protecting our shoreline interests is a continuing, not a one-time, responsibility, those shoreline residents who have not to date contributed to this common-interest fund are encouraged to make their $50 contribution as soon as possible.