Terry has been a leader and innovator within the private and not-for-profit sectors for over 25 years, and is an active representative on numerous province-wide and bi-national committees related to water, the environment, and other community and sustainability issues.  He brings a unique perspective and background from progressive roles within the mining, minerals and petrochemical industry garnered across North America with several sector-leading organizations, and is a Certified Environmental Professional (EP).

After many years as a FOCA volunteer, Terry took on the role of Executive Director of FOCA in 2004. As leader of one of the largest membership associations in the Province, Terry is committed to building a strong community, and to working collaboratively with a broad range of partners to address the many complex challenges facing Ontario’s rural communities and our freshwater environments.

In 2016, Terry was featured as one of 100 “Voices for Science Communication” in the Science Borealis campaign. He was also recognized in 2016 by the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association as a Corporate Steward. In 2012, Terry received an honour from Water Canada as a “Water’s Next” person representing Canadian water excellence.

Terry cottages on Lake Kasshabog.

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Deanna is the FOCA Membership & Programs Coordinator. She is a graduate of Trent University with a degree in Environmental Science and Geography, and in 2015 she completed the Environmental Technician program with Fleming College.

Deanna worked with FOCA as a summer student in 2014 before taking on the role of Membership and Programs Coordinator on a permanent basis.

She is your key contact for membership questions!

Deanna cottages on Catchacoma Lake.

“Here’s my story: At a very young age while vacationing at a family rental cottage I discovered my first real passion – fishing. So in 1994, while renting a cottage on Lake Weslemkoon and bass fishing each day, it was an easy decision to purchase our water-access cottage on Otter Lake in 1995. Otter is attached to Weslemkoon and is pristine and peaceful, where the most you will hear in the evening are the frogs and the loons.

Although our kids were grown by then, our two grandchildren soon began visiting from Montreal, and have begun their cottage experience as I once did. And, my grandson is learning to fish!

Between all of this I had a busy 31-year career in a variety of sales and marketing positions with IBM Canada until retirement in 2000. After which, as president of my own firm, I offered marketing consulting services to smaller companies in the Toronto area until 2007. Then, my also-retired wife, Diane, and I decided to spend 6 months a year at the lake.

Between 2001-2013 I served on the Board of Directors of the Lake Weslemkoon Conservation Association (LWCA), eventually retiring as Past President. During this tenure we focussed on a variety of initiatives around water quality monitoring and improvement.

Since 2014 I have also volunteered with St John Ambulance in the Therapy Dog program along with my Labrador, Leo. In this role we visit weekly with seniors, school children and university students to help enrich their lives.”

(Joined FOCA Board 2017)

Pat’s story: Pat has been a lake person all her life and says “lake life” is in her blood. She has great memories of growing up in the 1950s and 60s at the family cottage in Thurstonia Park on Sturgeon Lake in the Kawarthas.

In 1977, following a move to Winnipeg, Pat and her husband bought island property on Lake of the Woods south of Kenora and built a summer cottage. She was lucky enough to spend time each summer at both cottages until the family cottage was sold in 1998.

Since then she has devoted her summers to island living at Lake of the Woods and, since retiring in 2012, now spends 6 or 7 months there depending on when the ice comes and goes.

In 2009 Pat joined the Board of LOWDPOA (Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association) which is the largest cottagers’ association in Canada. Pat was active on the LOWDPOA Board for 6 years where she assisted in coordinating many aspects of their 50th anniversary celebrations and Board governance work required in response to new federal legislation covering not-for-profit organizations. Since leaving the LOWDPOA Board, Pat has continued to stay in touch and help out at the annual cottage show and general meeting.

Pat is originally from Toronto. Her work experience includes almost 40 years as an administrative assistant for school boards in Toronto and Winnipeg followed by five years working part-time for the Manitoba School Superintendents Association practicing for full retirement.

(Joined FOCA Board 2018)

Marlin is a partner in the law firm of Shibley Righton LLP in Toronto and is also a Sessional Instructor at the Queen’s University Faculty of Law. He has practiced corporate commercial law in both Toronto and Bermuda. Marlin has a BA and an LL.B from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters of Law from Cambridge University. In the Fall of 2006, Marlin and his wife purchased their cottage on Baptiste Lake. Prior to that they had rented cottages most every year, even while living in Bermuda, all over Southern Ontario from Muskoka, to the Kawarthas, to eastern Ontario and the area around Bancroft. Shortly after purchasing their cottage, Marlin became involved with the Baptiste Lake Association and has been a director of the BLA since 2009 and President since 2011. He is also involved in a number of interlake groups around Hastings Highlands and beyond. Marlin and his family relish the unspoiled view of the lake from their screened in porch and decks at their cottage and he wants to ensure that the view, and similar views all across Ontario, remain in place for future generations.

(Joined FOCA Board 2016)

“Here’s my story: I was first exposed to “cottaging” in the late 50’s. My father owned a camp in northern Ontario on the outskirts of my home town. Unfortunately, a forest fire near the town of Chapleau destroyed the camp in 1958. My father never rebuilt and my cottage experience suffered a gap of nearly 20 years.

After spending time at friends’ cottages from the mid 70’s to the late 90’s and after renting on a few occasions, we purchased a cottage (built in 1958) on Kennisis Lake while renting there in 2002. We loved the rugged character of the Haliburton Highlands. Given that we were newbies, we volunteered at various association events so that we could meet the neighbours, enjoy the lake environment more fully and contribute to the cottage community.

In 2005 I became the treasurer of the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association (KLCOA) and served in that capacity for 7 years, followed by the role of president for 2 years.

My wife and I both retired in 2013, me after spending 40 years in the Telecom industry and my wife as an elementary teacher and school administrator for 35 years. Retirement has offered us the opportunity to enjoy the cottage more fully and not just on weekends.

My concerns with ownership and the cottage experience are broad but focus mainly on the issues that affect the health of the lake and our ability to enjoy it throughout the year (e.g. shoreline health, properly functioning septic systems, etc…).”

(Joined FOCA Board 2017)

“Here’s my story: For most of my life, I have spent summers at a cottage. The first was Whiting Beach, Lake Muskoka, since I was 3 weeks old. Then to Kahshe Lake, Muskoka in my teen years; I even formed, with friends, the Kahshe Lake Junior Cottagers Association. For the past 40+ years we have owned a cottage on Catchacoma Lake in the Kawartha Highlands.

Cottage life is in my blood. I only spent one summer in the city when first married! We bought our cottage before a house—that was the priority. Need I say more?

Being water-access only, we are seasonal cottagers. All know that cottages are ‘maintenance’ for the owners and ‘vacation’ for friends and family. Some say a money pit, for sure. But how about ending up owning a marina with 65 others so we could get to our cottages!

My skills sets relate to the not for profit sector in governance, membership, strategic planning along with other portfolios geared to this sector. I was appointed by the Provincial Government in Council to sit on the Management Advisory Board of the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site Park when it was given royal consent for 11 years. I also have board experience, both on national boards as well as provincial charities.”

(Joined FOCA Board 2017)

Bruce’s friends and professional colleagues describe him as a social activist. As a FOCA speaker, in November 2015, he described lessons he learned from community organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America that can help cottagers across Ontario to build more sustainable communities and inclusive lake associations. Over his international career, spanning 37years, he has always aimed to strengthen community-based organizations as the agents of local development. He hopes that his experience in the not-for-profit sector followed by ten years as a senior United Nations diplomat can be useful to FOCA members by deepening the ways for cottager’s interests to be better acted upon by officials at all levels.

Bruce and his wife Anne have been cottagers since 1986 when they bought vacant property on Canonto Lake (1.5 hours from Ottawa), self-building the lake house that is the family’s common meeting point. In 2007 Bruce and Anne were among the core group of cottagers that founded the Canonto Lake Property Owners Association. First Anne and now Bruce serves on the Executive Committee. In addition, Bruce chaired the lake planning committee, whose Lake Stewardship Plan was widely endorsed by the community in 2012 and noted by North Frontenac Township to be the first plan in the municipality. A more recent project was to convene community volunteers, from the wider area, to restore the walking trails in the Palmerston Canonto Conservation Area, something to be replicated in other parts of the Township.

(Joined FOCA Board 2016)

Ian has a long history of waterfront living, having cottaged at Lake Simcoe for over 50 years, and at Lake of Bays since 2003. Ian is a Past-President of LOBA, the Crescent Harbour Association, and the Crescent Harbour Tennis Club (Innisfil).  Ian currently serves as LOBA’s Chair of Volunteer Relations and has also served as Membership Chair and Area Steward. Ian has his MBA, is a Mechanical Engineer, and has had a successful career in marketing and management primarily in the forestry industry. He spends time at the lake year ‘round, where he has dedicated significant effort providing representation at local, district, provincial and federal levels of government on issues relating to the protection, enjoyment and services pertaining to waterfront living.

(Joined FOCA Board 2014)