Our Work

FOCA is the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, a not-for-profit organization representing volunteer associations and individual property owners all across Ontario. We are your provincial voice.

55+

# of years of FOCA’s legacy
500+

# of FOCA Member Associations located across Ontario
50,000

# of waterfront property-owning families represented by FOCA

Our Vision:

FOCA envisions thriving and sustainable waterfronts across Ontario, now and for future generations.

Read about our recent accomplishments, in our 2019 Year in Review.

Find out more about our history.

Our Mission:

As the pre-eminent Ontario organization, FOCA serves and represents lake associations, waterfront property owners (WPO) and waterfront communities through education, communication and government advocacy.

Our Mandate:

FOCA advocates for healthy lakes and rivers, and is the voice for Ontario’s 250,000+ waterfront property owners.

Our Strategic Framework 2018-2020:

Over the coming years, FOCA will:

raise greater awareness of waterfront issues facing all Ontarians
strengthen our member associations so they can expand their roles as stewards of waterfronts and their surrounding watersheds
support citizen science and evidence-based decision-making, and
strengthen partnerships with non-waterfront and rural residents concerned and affected by waterfront and related environmental factors.

Click to download a copy of FOCA’s 20/20 Vision: A Strategic Framework for the period 2018-2020. (PDF, 4 panels)

Our Organization:

FOCA operates under a governance board structure, and directs strategic priorities through a number of Committees that report to the Board of Directors.

For more about the Staff and Board, see: Our Team.

For an overview of current Board Committees, see: FOCA Committees in brief (PDF, 1 page)

Our Bylaws:

FOCA Bylaw #10 – Approved March 2016 (PDF, 6 pages)

Our Privacy Policy:

FOCA Privacy Policy – Approved June 2016 (PDF, 4 pages)

Connect with FOCA!

Why does FOCA matter?

FOCA sits at the table where individuals cannot:

on the Hydro One Customer Advisory Board (since 2005) and at the Ontario Energy Board hearings (2014) to lobby for fair energy rates, prior to regulated price changes for 2015-19
at water level management meetings with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Trent Severn Waterway and other stakeholders concerned to enhance communications and emergency preparedness following Spring 2013 flooding in rural Ontario
on the Algonquin Land Claim Committee of External Advisors, prior to the release of the Preliminary Draft Agreement-in-Principal in 2013

on the Ministers Mining Act Advisory Committee for many years, to secure Mining Act changes that enhanced rural property owners’ land rights
on the Provincial Policy Statement Review – Northern and Rural Working Group, to ensure waterfront interests were considered in drafting the new PPS 2014.
at Parliament Hill, speaking before the 2012 Budget Subcommittee against the closure of the Experimental Lakes Area and changes to the Fisheries Act