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 2021 Year in Review.

Find out more about our history.

Our Mission:

FOCA effectively serves and represents Ontario’s 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 2020-2023:

FOCA’s priority goals for this period are:

promoting healthy lands, lakes and rivers
serving lake and road member associations
advocating for responsive government
championing affordable and safe rural living
building capacity and converting new supporters
fostering community in rural Ontario.

Read about the challenges and opportunities facing the waterfront community, and details for FOCA’s priority goals in this period:

Click to download a copy of FOCA’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan. (PDF, 5 pages)

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 2021 (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