Dear {Contact_First_Name},

With a very cold and snowy January behind us ... the countdown to cottage season is on! Less than 100 days away from Victoria Day weekend!

Photo courtesy of Diane Smith

2026 SLCO Yearbook

Our first edition of the SLCO Yearbook was such a success, we are planning another for 2026. And so far ... we are off to a great start with contributions starting to pour in!

We now have 35 Skeleton Lifers on our list.  You qualify if you have been coming to the lake since your year of birth and haven't missed a year since. If you didn't post on Facebook, send your name and decade of birth ('70s and earlier) to joanne@skeletonlake.ca.

If not, you can still contribute.  This is what we are looking for:

  • Do you have a family memory to share?
  • Did your family story miss The Bones of Skeleton Lake?
  • Do you want to share memories of a lost friend or loved one on the Memorials page?
  • Next year is the 100th Anniversary of Wilson's Lodge! Can you contribute a photo or share a memory about the lodge or the Wilson Family?
  • Do you own a Bill Wilson-built cottage? Send us a photo with a few words to have it included.
  • This year we'd like to have a page devoted to teenagers! Do you have a talented teenager or a teenage reporter?
  • Do you have an idea for a land acknowledgment that is different than the one we have used in the past?
Or, if you have other ideas or suggestions, please let us know!

Yearbook Advertising - A Friendly Request

The 2026 Yearbook planning is well underway! As a free publication of the SLCO, we offer a limited number of advertising spots to help offset production costs.

If you use a cottage-related service that you’re happy with and think they might be interested in advertising, please let Angela know at angela@skeletonlake.ca. She’ll be happy to reach out and share the details.

This is a gentle invitation only — absolutely no hard sell involved. We simply want to support great local services while keeping our yearbook going strong.

Thank you for helping make the yearbook possible!

Help Us Bring the Yearbook to Life

Advertising helps make our Skeleton Lake community yearbook possible — and we need a few volunteers to help make it happen. If you’re comfortable reaching out to local businesses and want to support a project everyone enjoys, we’d love to hear from you. A little time makes a big difference. Please contact Angela - angela@skeletonlake.ca. No previous experience needed!

2026 Merchandise ...

Want to see your photo in this 2026 SLCO Yearbook?
Last year SLCO introduced its new logo to great success! Did you make a purchase? Do you have pictures of family wearing our new apparel? Would you share with our Skeleton Lake family? Please send to Joanne@skeletonlake.ca by end of February. You may be featured in this year's Yearbook!

What new items would you like to see?
Are there items that you might like to purchase for family and friends? We’re always looking for new ideas and feedback - sweat pants, golf shirts, towels? Let us know!

Make it official!
And one last thing ... this year make sure you are purchasing official SLCO Merchandise!  All proceeds go towards keeping our lake pristine and beautiful. Once again, we'll be selling limited items and colours at Skeleton Lake Marina with a wider variety available online at skeletonlake.ca.

Opting out of DOCKSIDE delivery

If you would prefer not to receive DOCKSIDE on your dock in plastic bags, please let Angela know at angela@skeletonlake.ca.

She will add your name to the opt-out list and advise DOCKSIDE to refrain from delivering to your dock. Hopefully, this will help ensure that those who do not wish to receive the advertising are not included in future deliveries.

Please check your SLCO membership information

Have you recently changed your email address or credit card information?

SLCO membership renewals happen automatically in early May, so it’s important to make sure your details are up to date. We’re already seeing some emails bounce back due to outdated email addresses.

To check or update your information, simply visit skeletonlake.ca and log in to your account using the link in the top-right corner of the home page. Please confirm that both your email address and credit card information are accurate.

Thank you for taking a moment to do this — it helps ensure a smooth renewal process for everyone.

Stewardship and Environment
Jim Dyment - Stewardship

Being good stewards of the environment that we are so fortunate to occupy is our responsibility and duty to our First Nations.  As director responsible for Stewardship and Environment, I believe we can do this through building a community culture of stewardship and providing the information that people need to make ecologically sound decisions.  Here is how we do that:

Water Testing - We test 8 locations on the lake for coliform and E.coli bacteria.  These are indicators of human or animal waste in the water.  We are usually very good.  We test for water clarity and phosphorus indicators of algae and fertilizer (which encourages plant growth). Here, we are one of the best in Muskoka/Parry Sound/Haliburton. We also test for chlorides (salt) and calcium (needed for creatures with shells).  In 2026 we will start testing for algae, not that it is a problem, but to start to keep a historic record As water warms up due to hotter summers we should expect more algae.  We really do not want the poisonous blue-green algae that closes beaches and make people sick.

Education - This summer (August 8) we will hold a seminar on Water.  Our agenda will include speakers on the cultural connection to water; physical properties and chemistry; and the threats that we need to consider in our everyday and long-term activities.  We are also gathering more information for you on the threat of forest fires and how to reduce those threats in an increasingly hotter world. And once again we will organize a nature hike along the Devil’s Face ridge, including going to the site of a forest fire (August 22).

Community Culture – We personally visit and provide information packages to new cottagers.  If you know of any let us know!  This year we are looking into how to contact renters and provide them with information on safe and quiet boating, protecting water quality and other good stewardship actions.

Community Updates

Significant Changes to Waste and Recycling Services in Muskoka
The Rosewarne Landfill is nearing capacity, and new landfill sites are not viable. The District is implementing waste reduction and diversion programs to extend the site’s lifespan.

Recycling (Blue Box Program):
Recycling is now operated by Circular Materials.  Accepted materials have been standardized and accepted materials expanded  across Ontario.

Learn more: Blue Box Transition – District of Muskoka

Garbage & Organics Changes were implemented last year:

  • Fewer garbage bags allowed
  • Limits on composting bins
  • Clear garbage bags now required

Learn more: Solid Waste Master Plan | Engage Muskoka

Questions?

Small Vessel Licensing Regulations
Transport Canada (TC) has implemented a new 5-year license period for pleasure craft licenses (PCL) with a $24 service fee to process new, renewed, or transferred PCL applications. There are new requirements to notify TC of changes in boat information or ownership within 30 (not 90) days. 

A copy of the PCL must be carried on board at all times. If you have a boat that was licensed in 1974 or earlier, you must ‘renew’ by March 31st this year, or face fines. If licensed between 1975 and 1985, you have until the end of 2026.  Get all the details – including a renewal deadline chart by boat license date – from our colleagues at CanBoat. 

Note:  This is different than the "Pleasure Craft Operator Card" that is issued in your name. This is for your boat(s).