Author: Cottage Life

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Cottage Life

Editor Michelle Kelly talks (first-hand) about renting at the lake

Photo by Erin Leydon

My mom sold our family cottage 11 years ago. Since then, I’ve rented with my own brood, first a little cabin south of Algonquin Provincial Park and then, for five years, a cottage on the shores of Lake Huron. The owners of the Huron place named it “Slice of Heaven,” and was it ever. We loved it there. I’d first visited that beach as a teen, as a guest of a friend’s family who rented there (“Rest Awhile”). The whole sandy strip is imbued with deep, fond memories for me. That history and my memories there helped make Slice of Heaven feel like mine. It was there I kept time by the sun, ate (too many) ice cream cones with my kids on the deck, and did jigsaw puzzles in my pajamas until the middle of the night.

But, of course, it wasn’t really mine, a truth made plain when the owner declined to rent it to us last summer, with no explanation given.

I always thought we were exemplary renters— it’s my job to train people on such things. Your voice carries at night! Remember the septic! Bears love garbage! Giving this advice is something we’ve taken particularly seriously these past few years as the rental market has exploded. It’s not hard to be a good neighbour, and, for the most part, that’s all you need to be when you are renting. Don’t assume, ask. Be kind. Remember you’re not the only ones on the lake. Share. In my experience, most renters adhere to these principles and respect their borrowed vacation homes. Most cottage owners are responsible too—they let their tenants know the dos and don’ts, and they are available if things go awry.

Sadly, it doesn’t always work. Each time I get a letter from a cottager who is frustrated by the noise and disruption caused by the party cottage down the bay, I feel terribly for them. I feel even worse when those party renters cause trouble for the environment—the baby loon chicks they threaten when they drive too fast in their boats, too close to shore, or the water issues caused by using shampoo in the lake. Our advice to these irate cottagers is always the same—speak to the cottage owners. Because while it’s easy to be upset with the renters, ultimately, it’s the owners who are to blame. If you’re the one profiting from renting out your cottage, it shouldn’t be your lake-mates’ work to manage the fallout from that profit.

There are numerous, easily accessible resources available for renters and cottage owners, including the excellent Guide to Responsible Renting on the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations’ website. FOCA is doing great work to ensure that renting happens in a safe and reasonable way. As with many things, education is everything. I certainly prefer it to more restrictions, something we’ve seen an uptick in recently. I think some owners are skeptical about renters because cottagers are so passionate about their environment, and thank goodness—cottagers are some of the most committed environmental stewards we have. However, while cottagers make up an important part of our lakeside communities, they don’t own the lakes. Those belong to everyone. For the majority of Canadians, renting a cottage is one of the only ways to meaningfully access cottage country. As such, we need to ensure that access and that we all take care of our most precious resource.

I was sad that we couldn’t visit the beach this summer. We loved our rental there as we would have loved our own cottage—and treated it that way. Who knows where we’ll end up next summer? I’m trying to think of the end of our tenure as nothing more than an opportunity to find a new place to love and care for. Just as any responsible renter would.

@MKonthedock

This story originally appeared in our Sept/Oct ’22 issue.

Want to learn more about short-term rentals? See Michelle Kelly in conversation with FOCA executive director, Terry Rees, at the 2022 Fall Cottage Life Show (November 11-13 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont.). Michelle and Terry will be on the Main Stage Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 pm. Buy your tickets now.

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Cottage Life

Learn the lost art of using a map and compass

Photo by Conor Mihell

There’s a reason why many people have renditions of old-fashioned compasses tattooed on their shoulder or forearm: A compass is a powerful symbol of staying found; and body art metaphors aside, it’s still the best battery-free tool for getting around in the outdoors, especially compared to the finicky and sometimes less than accurate compass apps that can be downloaded to a smartphone. With a little practice, a map and compass duo is also very easy to use. Here’s a primer.

 


Photo by Conor Mihell

Orienteering compasses

Orienteering compasses were invented in Scandinavia nearly a century ago. This style of compass has several key features: a clear baseplate with straight edges (A); a rotating dial (B), with direction (North, South, East, West) and corresponding degree (0-360) indicators; a magnetized needle floating within the dial (C); a red orienting arrow etched in the base of the dial (D); orienting grid lines (usually red or black) within the dial (E); and a marker on the baseplate at the top of the dial, known as an index mark (F), where directions are read.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Compasses with mirrors

Some orienteering compasses also have sighting mirrors, which improve accuracy. The best compasses are made by manufacturers like Suunto, Silva and Brunton.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Finding your route

Orienteering compasses work like a protractor to calculate directions from topographic maps and marine charts. To navigate in a straight line from one point to another, you must first identify your starting and ending points on a map.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Using a Compass to Measure a Direction from a Map

Use the baseplate of the compass to create a straight line between your starting point and your destination, with the index mark facing your direction of travel. Next, rotate the dial of the compass so that north on the dial is aligned with the top (north) on the map. Match up the orienting grid lines within the dial of the compass with the grid lines on the map to fine-tune your alignment. Once you’re satisfied the compass and map are in alignment, read the direction (aka “Bearing”) from the index mark. For this process you can ignore the magnetized needle when calculating a direction. In the case of measuring a direction across Havilland Bay, our bearing is 296 degrees.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Dealing with Declination

A direction measured from a map is known as a true bearing; that is, the direction is measured in reference to true (or, more accurately, map grid) north. However, a magnetized needle in a compass is attracted to magnetic, not true, north. This difference is called “magnetic declination.” Declination varies across Canada, with values in Ontario spanning about 10 degrees. The value for your location can be determined with an online calculator or from the legend on the right-hand margin of Canadian topographic maps.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Getting your bearings

In my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, for example, declination is approximately 8 degrees west of true north. Therefore, to compensate for this difference a navigator must add 8 degrees to any direction measured from a map before using the compass in the field. A mnemonic is the easiest way to remember how to deal with declination: Declination west is best, or added to the true bearing; declination east equals least, or subtracted from the true bearing. So in the case of our example, our magnetic bearing—or the direction we’ll follow on our compass to boat across Havilland Bay—will be 296 + 8 = 304 degrees. Some orienteering compasses have an adjustable dial to allow you to compensate for declination without doing any math; if you have this type of compass it’s important to check the setting and make sure it is correct for your area to avoid error.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Using the Compass to Travel from Point A to B

Hold the compass level and at waist height, away from anything metallic (such as belt buckles or phones), so you can see the dial.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Eye-level view

You can also hold the compass at eye-level and angle the mirror to view the dial.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Align yourself with your compass

Rotate your body (or boat) so that the floating magnetized needle becomes aligned with the red orienting arrow in the compass dial, at this point you are facing your destination.

Sight a target along your bearing to follow a straight line; in a forest, this may be a prominent tree or rock outcrop. Walk to your target and repeat, pivoting to align the needle in the orienting arrow and sighting another target along your bearing. When travelling on the water, set your compass in a location that’s level and away from anything metal, and steer to keep the needle aligned with the orienting arrow, with the index mark aligned with the bow of your watercraft.

 

The value for your location can be determined with an online calculator or from the legend on the right-hand margin of Canadian topographic maps.

Orienting the Map to North

Besides enabling you to travel in a straight line through a dense forest or across a foggy bay, a compass can also be used to make sense of your surroundings. This is called orienting your map to the north.

Photo by Conor Mihell

Start by rotating the dial of the compass so 0 degrees (or N) is aligned with the index mark at the top of the dial. Set the compass flat on your map, align the orienting grid lines in the compass dial with the grid lines on the map, and rotate the map and compass together so that the magnetized needle is aligned with the orienting arrow. At this point the map is oriented with your surroundings, allowing you to visually identify prominent landmarks in your surroundings.  

We all get lost sometimes. Here’s why

How to get found when you get lost 

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Cottage Life

Wild Profile: Meet the stink bugs

By Davide Bonora/Shutterstock

Stink bugs. Can’t live with ’em, can’t keep ’em from squeezing into your cottage and stinking up the joint. Well, you can. It just might take a little work.

Why are there so many stink bugs?

Fall is stink bug season. At least, that’s when you’re likely to notice them. As the temperatures drop, stink bugs—North America has more than 250 different species—start to move indoors…sometimes right into your cottage. “Lots of insects overwinter in the adult stage, which means that when the weather starts to get colder, they have to find places to spend the cold weather,” says Bob Anderson, an entomologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Great for the stink bug. Not so great for you.

Do stink bugs bite? Are stink bugs harmful?

In general, true stink bugs don’t bite or sting. The most they’ll do is land on your pant leg and freak you out. The invasive brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys, pictured), native to Asia, is harmful in the sense that it can destroy entire fruit and vegetable crops, along with a wide variety of plants. (If you think you spot one—look for the two distinctive white bands on the bug’s last two antenna segments—most provinces would like you to report the bug, and have online reporting forms like this one from the B.C. government. To learn more about this invasive, and how to ID it, visit the Invasive Species Centre.

What do stink bugs smell like?

Stink bugs stink either when crushed, or when threatened. They release a strong-smelling substance from their abdomens. Most people liken it to cilantro, but others describe it as freshly cut grass, dirty socks, cat pee, Jolly Rangers, rubber, cinnamon…In short, stink bugs smell like anything.

What attracts stink bugs? How do I repel stink bugs?

In spring, stink bugs are drawn to your property because of native plants or fruit trees. But they’re really only a nuisance when they come inside. Like plenty of other insects, they’re attracted to light, and they’ll find tiny openings to use as doorways into your cottage. There’s unfortunately no sure-fire way to repel them. Your best defense is the same defense that you’d use against any pest insect: inspecting the exterior of the cottage for any cracks and crevices, and sealing them up with caulk. Look around windows and doors, around siding and utility pipes, behind chimneys, and underneath the wood fascia. Look pretty much everywhere. (This will help keep your cottage free from other critters, too.)

As for chemical methods, an all-purpose, exterior spray—the sort that pest control companies use for cluster flies, “would likely do the job,” says Glen Robertson of Robertson’s Wildlife and Pest Control in Coldwater, Ont. The problem? You’d need to get this done early in the fall, before you start to notice them indoors, and a spray could also harm non-target insects. Which means you could end up killing beneficial bugs that you actually want around.

How do I get rid of stink bugs?

“We usually just tell people to vacuum them up,” says Robertson. (Get rid of the vacuum bag right away to avoid any stench.) Happily, the bugs won’t damage your cottage, breed and reproduce, eat your food, or do much of anything while they’re there. If they survive the winter, they’ll leave in the spring.

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Cottage Life

Ontario Parks to restrict campsite bookings next summer

Photo by Bastian Sander/Shutterstock

Campsites in Ontario have become hot commodities, especially since the pandemic sent city dwellers scrambling for the outdoors. To accommodate the influx of campers, Ontario Parks has announced that it will be limiting the number of nights an individual can book a campsite at its provincial parks during summer months.

Previously, campers were able to book sites for a maximum of 23 days, but starting in 2023, Ontario Parks will limit the maximum stay in its more popular destinations to seven or 14 nights, depending on the park.

The limited stay will be in effect from July 1 to the Saturday of the Labour Day long weekend, and does not pertain to backcountry camping or roofed accommodations, only campground campsites.

The government agency says its goal is to provide more people with access to summer campsites, especially as interest grows. In 2014, Ontario Parks recorded 4.3 million camper nights. In 2021, that number grew to 6.6 million camper nights. This initiative will provide more booking dates, accommodating a greater diversity of campers.

“I’m really glad they made that decision because it’s going to make it easier for a lot of people to get campsites,” says Michele Craig, a camper who books sites four to five times each summer.

Some of Craig’s favourite parks include Algonquin, Arrowhead, and Grundy Lake, but she’s struggled in the past to book sites. In 2019, Craig booked a campsite in Bon Echo, but hasn’t managed to get one since. “That one’s very hard to get into,” she says.

By limiting the number of nights people can stay, Craig says she also hopes it puts an end to people overbooking. “You can start your booking five months before your arrival date,” she says. “So, people would book the whole 23 days when they only wanted the week at the end. And then they would start reducing their reservation.”

This way, people have a guaranteed three-week block, giving them more choice over which days they want to camp. But it also prevents others from booking those days. Craig says she found that it’s easier to book a campsite three to four months before her arrival date when the individuals who book the three-week blocks cancel the days they don’t want.

Sometimes—to avoid the cancellation fee, which can be as much as 50 per cent of the campsite’s total fee—these individuals resell the dates on other sites, such as Facebook. This way, the individual only has to pay the transfer fee, which is $7.52, Craig says. This also prevents the dates from going back into the system and being fairly distributed among everyone.

Craig says she does feel bad for the people who do stay for the full 23 days, especially those who use it as their summer vacation. “But unfortunately, that’s the game that has been played,” she says, “and I’m glad [Ontario Parks] is taking action.”

In a discussion on the Algonquin Parks Facebook page, one user, who’s supportive of the change, points out that prior to July 1 and after Labour Day, 23-day bookings are still allowed. “Learned to love camping in September/October, [because] I could never get a site earlier than that. I do book 3 weeks, but I actually stay 3 weeks,” the post says. Plus, the nightly limit only applies to certain Ontario Parks.

“I’m feeling positive about the change,” Craig says. “And I know that the reason is just that our parks are so beautiful and popular, and it’s not hard to see why.”

Maximum 7-night stay

  • Algonquin
  • Bon Echo
  • Killbear
  • Pinery
  • Sandbanks

Maximum 14-night stay

  • Arrowhead
  • Awenda
  • Balsam Lake
  • Bass Lake
  • Blue Lake
  • Bonnechere
  • Charleston Lake
  • Chutes
  • Craigleith
  • Darlington
  • Driftwood
  • Earl Rowe
  • Emily
  • Esker Lakes
  • Fairbank
  • Finlayson Point
  • Fitzroy
  • Fushimi Lake
  • Grundy Lake
  • Halfway Lake
  • Inverhuron
  • Ivanhoe Lake
  • Kap-Kig-Iwan
  • Kettle Lakes
  • Killarney
  • Lake St. Peter
  • Lake Superior
  • Long Point
  • MacGregor Point
  • Mara
  • Marten River
  • McRae Point
  • Mikisew
  • Mississagi
  • Murphys Point
  • Nagagamisis
  • Neys
  • Oastler Lake
  • Pancake Bay
  • Point Farms
  • Port Burwell
  • Presqu’ile
  • Quetico
  • Rainbow Falls
  • Rene Brunelle
  • Restoule
  • Rideau River
  • Rock Point
  • Rondeau
  • Rushing River
  • Samuel de Champlain
  • Sauble Falls
  • Selkirk
  • Sharbot Lake
  • Sibbald Point
  • Silent Lake
  • Silver Lake
  • Six Mile Lake
  • Sleeping Giant
  • Sturgeon Bay
  • Turkey Point
  • Wheatley
  • Windy Lake

Maximum 23-night stay

  • Aaron
  • Arrow Lake
  • Bronte Creek
  • Caliper Lake
  • Ferris
  • Kakabeka Falls
  • MacLeod
  • Missinaibi
  • Ojibway
  • Pakwash
  • Sandbar Lake
  • Silver Falls
  • Sioux Narrows
  • Voyageur
  • Wakami Lake
  • White Lake

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Cottage Life

Born to Build: The Cottage Coach on What Drives Him

Some cottagers crave a hammock in the shade. Others couldn’t imagine spending an afternoon at the lake without their tool belt hanging off their hip. Cottage Life’s resident DIY expert, Adam Holman, who shares his weekend-project wisdom as the Cottage Coach, has a firm foot in the latter camp. On any given Saturday, you can find him building nature-inspired climbing structures, elaborate grill enclosures, and floating swim rafts at lakeside properties throughout Ontario’s cottage country—and that’s in addition to maintaining and improving his own family cottage.

 

“Building things has always been in my blood,” he says. “I love the grit involved in tackling projects in such a rugged landscape. I feel a huge sense of accomplishment after I’ve figured out how to construct a bunkie on the Canadian Shield while hauling my power tools and lumber over roots and granite.”

 

But four years ago, when his son, Will, was born, Adam’s obsession with building took on a new significance. Suddenly, his projects weren’t just about making weekends more enjoyable, or about watching the eyes of Cottage Life readers widen during the big reveal—they were about building things that could be passed down and appreciated for generations. Which meant that, for the Cottage Coach, the idea of grit had a whole new meaning. “Grit for me has changed over the years,” he says. “When I was younger and I built projects, I did it to get dirty and haul heavy things. But having a family has changed me. Now it’s about building something that my son will enjoy, and teaching him how to use those tools along the way.”

 

Obviously, tackling projects in cottage country’s varied terrain calls for a truck that can haul gear, tow trailers, and navigate unkempt gravel roads in unpredictable weather. But blending those rugged traits with a vehicle that suited his growing family proved to be a new challenge. Enter the all-new Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition, which blends powerhouse performance with sophisticated amenities that make it comfortable and capable in any environment. “I was amazed from the first time I got behind the heated steering wheel,” Adam says. “It’s a workhorse. It pulls. It hauls. And it’s a great family vehicle. It’s the perfect truck for everything I need.”

 

When Adam’s family asked him to build them a horseshoe pit, they knew he’d put his special spin on the project. And Adam knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to put the new Tundra through its paces while bringing his son along for the ride. “Your basic horseshoe pit is pretty generic,” he explains. “You drive a spike into the ground, and you throw some horseshoes. So I took it one step further. I wanted to build something that was unique, that could really wow people.”

 

For this project, he incorporated a backstop to keep errant horseshoes from flying too far—a key feature when you have a four-year-old wandering around the pitch. And of course, there had to be a drink holder for when it was someone’s turn to toss. More features meant having more building material and tools on hand, and that’s where the Tundra’s fibre-reinforced composite bed came in handy. Not only does the ultra-durable material resist rust, dents, and scratches, but it has built-in conveniences like integrated LED lighting and a 400W power inverter to keep projects humming along no matter how far off the grid you go. “I loved having access to the outlet for plugging in my tools and charging batteries right there where I needed them,” Adam says. “It’s so convenient to be able to work out of the back of the truck.”

 

While the feature-loaded truck bed was perfect for getting the job done, the Tundra’s engine was ideal for getting gear to the site. “I haul and tow a lot, whether it’s bags of concrete for a spring project or my ice-fishing shack in the winter,” Adam says. “So power is crucial on those winding back roads.” Luckily, the Tundra is available with an i-FORCE or i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, both of which boost performance without sacrificing efficiency when the going gets tough. And its performance shocks and multi-terrain modes keep everyone in the cabin comfortable on the roughest routes.

 

For Adam, it’s those creature comforts that really set the Tundra apart—especially since they make it easier to bring his son along on his DIY adventures. “The interior is absolutely beautiful,” he says. “The smooth leather, the massive back window that opens at the touch of a button, and especially the panoramic moonroof. We can never see the stars back in the city, so I love being able to look up and see them when we’re cruising down cottage-country roads at night.”

 

It’s that blend of priorities—the ability to get the job done while still putting his family’s comfort first—that underpins every project Adam tackles, especially when it’s at his own family cottage. 

“I love the look on my son’s face when he gets surprised by something,” he says. “Seeing my project come together and knowing that he’ll get to use it—there’s nothing better in the world.”

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Cottage Life

RBC predicts recession could hit early next year. Here’s who will be most affected

Photo by Shutterstock/JHVEPhoto

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has bumped up its recession prediction. Previously, the bank suggested that the Canadian economy might experience a moderate contraction in 2023. But in a report published on October 12, experts are now saying that Canadians should expect the recession to hit in the first quarter of the new year.

The exact date remains vague as experts have difficulty nailing down when a country enters a recession. Most define it as two consecutive quarters of declining gross domestic product. A more obvious sign is a surge in unemployment.

But what does a recession mean for cottage owners? According to Claire Fan, an RBC economist and one of the authors of the report, it could make owning a cottage more expensive.

Canada’s inflation rate remains aggressively high, sitting at seven per cent. This means that demand is still outpacing supply. The Bank of Canada is working to lower inflation to two per cent by raising interest rates. On September 7, the bank raised its policy interest rate to 3.25 per cent.

This makes it more expensive for Canadians to borrow money, including cottage mortgages. Whether a cottager’s mortgage payments will be impacted during the recession depends on the type of mortgage they’ve taken out, Fan says.

“A fixed-rate mortgage would see a much smaller impact from rising interest rates than a variable mortgage,” she says. This is because a fixed-rate mortgage is locked in for a certain number of years at a set interest rate, keeping monthly payments consistent. Whereas the monthly payments for a variable mortgage fluctuate with the Bank of Canada’s interest rates. However, a cottager with a fixed-rate mortgage could see a significant jump in their payments if their contract comes up for renewal when interest rates are still high.

Presently, there are no signs of interest rates going down. RBC says it expects the Bank of Canada to raise its policy interest rate to four per cent before the end of the year as it continues to fight inflation.

The rising interest rates are having a cooling effect on Canada’s real estate market, including cottages. After the cottage real estate boom of 2020 and 2021, high mortgage rates are starting to slow sales.

According to RBC, property resale across Canada has dropped by 36 per cent since February. Despite the drop, cottage prices remain similar to their 2021 levels. But RBC says it expects the nationwide benchmark property price to drop 14 per cent by next spring. This could make it a good time to buy a cottage, if you can qualify for a mortgage.

Besides higher mortgage rates and a slower real estate market, a recession could also make day-to-day purchases more expensive for cottagers. Fan says the high inflation rate is putting price pressure on everyday goods, such as food and gas. If it costs $100 in gas to drive to the cottage, owners may reconsider the trip.

Plus, RBC says that between interest and inflation rates, the average household’s purchasing power is expected to decline by $3,000 in 2023. Purchasing power is the amount of goods and services a household can buy based on their income. “If a household buys the same things again next year, how much more would it cost? And if their debt levels stay fixed at where they are today, how much more could they be expected to pay for those liabilities?” Fan says. To calculate this decline in purchasing power, RBC looks at the inflation forecast and the average household’s gross disposable income.

Another recession issue cottage owners need to be aware of is job loss. RBC predicts that the jobless rate will reach seven per cent by the end of 2023. If a cottage owner lost their job, it could make it difficult to afford mortgage payments. However, thanks to an excess of job openings caused by the pandemic, RBC expects job loss to be moderate in 2023 compared to past recessions.

All this to say, the recession won’t be distributed equally, leaving some cottagers unaffected. “This will weigh most heavily on Canadians at the lower end of the wealth spectrum, particularly those whose disposable income has faded alongside pandemic support,” RBC says.

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Cottage Life

Tips to give your vacation home guests the ultimate “together” experience

When you are renting your vacation home on Vrbo, its main features and advertised amenities—location, access to water, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms—are going to be the primary draws for prospective guests. 

But once they’re checked in, it’s the smaller details and thoughtfully curated extras you offer as the host that will help guests have a truly memorable stay. When groups and families have fun, unique experiences together, your listing will benefit from stellar ratings, return visits, and word-of-mouth-recommendations. 

Here are five ideas for creating a five-star-rated, traveler-favourite property.

Share insider tips

For guests who have never been to the area, or are looking for off-property activities to do as a family, it’s essential to have a home “guide” that includes everything from local intel to authentic recommendations. In this guidebook, you’ll want to highlight cottage rules and any essential information, like the closest grocery store and nearby restaurants that offer delivery services. 

But you can certainly go above and beyond and let guests know things like the best hikes in the area, recommendations for kid-friendly activities, and the dates and times of local farmer’s markets. Even if they never end up leaving the property, it’s a great way to market the broad appeal and key attractions of your corner of cottage country. 

Encourage campfire moments

S’mores and cozy fire pits can be a magical part of a rural escape for guests of all ages, so if your cottage doesn’t have a fire pit or fireplace, you could consider installing an outdoor fire bowl or table on the property to encourage more s’more making, campfire singing, and stargazing moments. 

Have the ingredients and tools for making s’mores on hand for guests if possible, and be sure to let them know in advance if they will need to pick up any firewood or kindling. 

Stock up on board games for rainy days

Outdoor games and equipment for water sports are great to have at a cottage, but you’ll also want to stock up on a variety of board games for both children and adults at your vacation rental if you don’t already have them. 

Perfect for rainy days and raucous evenings alike, nostalgic classics like chess, Monopoly, and Scrabble are a surefire way to renew connections and bring families and friends together. 

Create comfortable outdoor seating areas

Loungers on docks can create spaces where guests love to spend sunny days, while comfortable seating with plenty of table space on cottage decks or patios serve as the perfect place for memorable meals that can last well into the evening.

But there are many other, more memorable ways you can get creative with outdoor seating to encourage conversations and interactions between guests. For example, consider hanging side-by-side hammocks between trees, or creating an inviting spot for picnics and sunbathing with outdoor floor cushions and all-season blankets. 

Curate playlists for fun moments

If your cottage has indoor or outdoor wi-fi speakers that guests can use, consider setting up one or more themed playlists on a streaming service to inspire everything from kids’ singalongs and spontaneous dance parties to morning yoga practice. 

Just like mood lighting and room scents, a well-curated playlist can set the tone for your property and make guests feel welcomed during their stay. 

 

Want to give your guests the ultimate “together” experience this season? Learn more about listing your cottage with the help of Vrbo

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Cottage Life

Applying for a building permit in Lake of Bays is about to get easier

Photo Courtesy of Lake of Bays Township

Securing a building permit in Lake of Bays, Ont. is about to go digital. This week, the township’s building and bylaw services announced that in November it will be soft launching a cloud-based permit application system called Cloudpermit.

“Cloudpermit allows each user an individual portal for application submissions and status updates while giving the building and bylaw service staff the flexibility to perform site inspections, upload photographs, and review projects remotely using the mobile tool,” said Lake of Bays building and bylaw director Stephen Watson in a statement.

Over the phone, Watson explained that currently, when the department receives an application, an administrative assistant must manually input all of the application’s information into the township’s database. With Cloudpermit, the applicant will enter the information directly into the database, saving staff time.

“After I do my inspections in the morning, I probably spend an hour doing my reports and emailing them to the individuals,” Watson said. “This way, it’s more instant.”

Staff will upload information and photos from inspections to the database, which the applicant can see in their online portal. The applicant will then be automatically emailed once their application is approved or denied. Applicants will have access to their portal 24/7.

Contractors will also have access to the system. With Cloudpermit, Watson said contractors will no longer have to drive into the township office to drop off plans. They can upload them to the portal where inspectors will be able to see them.

An additional bonus for contractors is that once they’re registered in the system, they can use it in any other Ontario municipality that supports Cloudpermit. “If you’re a builder in Windsor, and you want to do a project in Lake of Bays, then it’s the exact same system,” Watson said.

Over 250 municipalities around the world currently support Cloudpermit, including Huntsville and Gravenhurst.

A push from the province motivated Lake of Bays’ online transition. “[The provincial government] really wants to do this because it’s more efficient,” Watson said. “They really wanted everybody to go paperless. It’s better for the environment and has less of a carbon footprint.”

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) vetted several cloud-based permit softwares and determined that Cloudpermit was the best choice for Ontario municipalities. The association also gave municipalities that signed up in the first year a break on the software’s fee.

The one downside to the new software is that it will raise Lake of Bays’ permit application fees. The current minimum application fee is $135. Watson said he estimates that the fee will be bumped to $175 or $200. “Cloudpermit is a little more costly than our existing system,” he said. “We haven’t increased permit fees in about six years, so that’s going to increase to help offset the cost.”

Lake of Bays plans to fully launch Cloudpermit in early 2023, encouraging all applicants to use the online system. The township is also looking to introduce the software for its planning applications process.

Watson does expect a learning curve with the new software. The department will have resources for applicants who aren’t computer literate. In the early days, he expects the town will install a computer kiosk in the office where staff can help walk applicants through the process.

“But the long goal is that all the initial information will be submitted into the computer system by the applicant,” Watson said.

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Cottage Life

Cottage Q&A: Should we heat our empty cottage?

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We live permanently at our four-season cottage, a well-insulated Viceroy home with forced-air propane heating and back-up electric baseboard heaters in the basement. We want to go south this winter for six to eight weeks. (I will drain the water from the pipes.) What is the ideal temperature to keep the home at during this period? I was thinking about 8°C to 10°C, but I have heard that this could cause dampness and eventually lead to mould.—Michael Oke, via email

Don Fugler, an independent building researcher in Ottawa, thinks that temperature is reasonable for the length of winter absence you’re describing. “If there’s a ventilation system—even a small bathroom fan that’s designed for continuous usage—running it would be helpful in keeping the interior dry,” he says. He also recommends that you leave interior curtains and blinds open. “They can create micro-environments that may lead to condensation. I like to leave the windows without coverings, and leave all the interior doors open, including the door to the basement.”

Tankless hot water heaters in cold temperatures

This should keep the mould away, assuming your place doesn’t have an existing moisture problem (from, for example, water that’s not being properly diverted away from the cottage or cracks in the foundation). You probably know already if you’ve got a damp basement. Indicators include a musty smell and finding water-damaged belongings. “The inability to store cardboard boxes is a strong sign,” says Fugler.

Okay, so heating the cottage while you’re gone is a good idea. But if you’re going to do that, is draining the pipes in fact necessary? Well, no. “Temperature wise, at anything above zero, pipes are not going to freeze,” says Shawn Groulx of Express Plumbing and Heating in Red Deer, Alta. That said, “it’s still a good practice.”

How to make your three-season plumbing work all winter

If you don’t drain the pipes, he recommends that you shut off the main water valve and open the taps. It’s not only cold temperatures that can mess with your plumbing, says Groulx. A tiny problem could turn into a catastrophic, gushing leak while you’re away. Holy basement dampness!

Got a question for Cottage Q&A? Send it to answers@cottagelife.com.

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Cottage Life

Why cottagers should vote in municipal elections on Oct. 24

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Heads up! Elections in municipalities across Ontario are coming up on October 24. Why should cottagers care? Because local governments make decisions about issues that are vital to cottage communities including budget decisions that can impact your property taxes, and access to municipal services such as road maintenance and waste removal. Typically waterfront properties have a higher assessment value and therefore the property taxes are higher. Because it’s your right as property owners in cottage country. And because those elected officials are spending your tax dollars. So get your voting pants on! Here are some things you need to know.

1. Are you a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old? You can vote in a municipality where you own or rent a property. If you live in the city and your house is your residence (you’re only allowed to have one residence), you can vote there. And if you have a cottage, you are considered a “non-resident elector” and can also vote in that municipality. If you are the spouse of a non-resident elector, you also get to vote in that riding. (If it’s your brother’s cottage, say, and you have use of it, that doesn’t count. You’re not a non-resident elector.) But…

2. If your cottage is actually owned by a trust or a business, then you are not considered to own the land and are not eligible to vote. And…

3. If your home and your cottage are in the same municipality (rare, but possible), you only get one vote, and you have to vote in the ward where your residence is.

4. You can find out if you are on the voters’ list at voterlookup.ca. If you are not on the list, you have until the close of voting on Oct. 24 to apply to your municipal clerk to have your name added. You must have proof that you are eligible to vote to do this including both proof of identity and proof of residence.

5. You may not be able to go to your cottage municipality to vote in person on election day (it’s a Monday). Investigate what alternative voting methods your municipality has decided to use: advanced polls, mail-in ballots, and voting by telephone or Internet. The municipal clerk is responsible for establishing the policies and procedures for voting.

6. If you are voting in person, remember to bring the appropriate ID, which must show your name and address. Examples include: an Ontario driver’s licence or health card (with a photo); a mortgage, lease, or rental agreement; an insurance policy; a utility bill. A Canadian passport is not valid for identification because you write your address in it yourself.

7. You may also be able to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. The proxy has to also be eligible to vote (so, for example, one spouse could vote for both partners). One proxy can vote for multiple eligible family members (spouse, sibling, parent, child, grandparent, or grandchild), but a proxy appointed to represent a non-family member can only represent that person and no one else.

8. Nominations for candidates for positions being elected are now closed. Inform yourself about who is running and where they stand on policies that matter to you.

9. Some municipalities are also asking policy questions on the ballot. You could have a say about important local issues: infrastructure (roads and bridges, water supply, sewage treatment); garbage and recycling programs; police, fire, and other essential services; zoning and land use.