FOCA Events are an opportunity to network with other waterfront property owners, industry experts, scientists, politicians and lake volunteers.
Members of FOCA’s Member Associations, and our “Friends of FOCA” (Annual Supporters) attend our events for free, or at the discounted FOCA price.
FOCA’s Annual General Meeting and Spring Seminar takes place once a year, usually on the first Saturday of March. We often hold a digital Fall Seminar as well, in October or November. In addition, FOCA hosts other special events throughout the year, such as our Cottage Succession Seminars, and webinars on hot topics.
Want to find out about our events in time to register for them? Get on the FOCA Elert list for updates!
Saturday, March 1, 2025 – FOCA Annual General Meeting (AGM) & Spring Seminar. The event will be hybrid: in-person at the Bayview Golf & Country Club (Thornhill) and by Zoom webinar. Member Association representatives will be sent a Notice of Meeting 30 days prior to the AGM.
Past Events of Note:
2024 FOCA Fall Seminar: Healthy Shorelines – November 9, 2024 by Zoom webinar.
Paid registrants were sent a post-event Summary on November 22, 2024 which included links to the event recording and all slides shown.
All FOCA Members can login below to download the Event Summary which includes links to the slides:
You're missing members-only content!
The following Event Summary is only available to members of our Member Associations.
If you are already registered on the FOCA website, please login below with your Username and Password.
Need help with your login? Contact us for assistance during business hours. Not yet a Member Association? Find out why you should be!
MORE ABOUT THIS EVENT: What makes a healthy shoreline, and what puts shoreline health at risk? FOCA hosted a digital seminar about shoreline health with speakers on water quality monitoring, identifying aquatic plants, septic system re-inspections, and wild waterfronts: creating greener shores. Attendees also got an update on FOCA’s new Strategic Plan from the Board Chair, an update on the Lake Partner Program lake reports, and information about identifying and managing Aquatic Plants.
Click here to download a 1-page poster with speaker highlights.
Thank you to our session sponsors:
Septic Reinspection Session Sponsor:
Wild Waterfronts Session Sponsor:
FOCA Cottage Succession Seminars
In 2024, FOCA hosted 4 digital events with estate lawyer Peter Lillico, to help over 1,000 families with their cottage succession planning.
Ensure you are subscribed to the FOCA Elert (monthly e-news) for information about the 2025 sessions in this popular series, as dates become known.
These virtual cottage succession events are free to all FOCA Members & Friends of FOCA (our annual supporters)! The event slides are shared with all registrants, but not the recordings, so please plan to attend during the event time.
Want to watch a recording of one of our past sessions? You can purchase access to a digital recording to share with your family, or learn more on our webpage: https://foca.on.ca/cottage-succession.
Fire Safety Webinar
Tips for the 2024 Ontario Cottage Season – increase your property’s resilience to wildland fire. May 22, 2024 – a one hour “lunch-n-learn webinar” with FOCA and our partners at the Aviation Forest Fire and Emergency Services branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Memories of the 2023 fire season are still close at hand: a record-breaking 741 fires and 441,000 hectares of forests burned (almost three times the 10 year average!). Learn what individuals can do to make waterfront properties more resilient in the face of fire threats. This was a FREE public webinar. Access the event recording from our Fire Safety webpage: https://foca.on.ca/fire-safety/#webinar2024
image: Sioux Lookout, late 2023 fire season from @ONforestfires social media account
2024 FOCA AGM & Spring Seminar for Associations
"Water Matters"
Saturday, March 2, 2024 in-person at the Bayview Golf & Country Club in Thornhill, and by Zoom webinar.
Member Associations were sent an official Notice of Meeting on February 1, 2024, outlining all the business to be conducted in the upcoming meeting.
All paid registrants were sent a link to the event recording. FOCA has also produced a detailed Event Summary, including links to all the slides shown during the event. Members are encouraged to login using the green button at the top of the webpage to access the summary below, and to share it with fellow members:
You're missing members-only content!
The following Event Summary is only available to members of our Member Associations.
If you are already registered on the FOCA website, please login below with your Username and Password.
Need help with your login? Contact us for assistance during business hours. Not yet a Member Association? Find out why you should be!
Thank you to our AGM & Spring Seminar SPONSORS:
Refreshment Sponsor:
Lunch Sponsor:
Event Sponsor:
Connectivity Sponsor:
Download a copy of the Event Agenda (PDF, 1 page). Topics included:
- Property taxation & regional trends in waterfront valuation by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation;
- Boating: new & proposed Transport Canada regulations; 2023 season safety statistics from the OPP Marine Unit;
- Fire safety equipment for rural property safety;
- Land use planning updates affecting rural waterfront communities;
- Association success stories & presentation of the annual FOCA Achievement Award to a member group;
- A celebration of the outgoing Executive Director, and welcoming the incoming CEO!
Images from Past Events:
What attendees had to say, after attending last year’s event:
- “Excellent choice of speakers, always informative regarding FOCA mandate and activities. Very well organized regarding use of Zoom. Good to see what other associations are up to.”
- “Well orchestrated. Excellent content. Very worth the time investment. We are fortunate to have FOCA!”
- “Great opportunity to liaise, update on many topics, and get a feel for the organization and it’s relaxed and humorous nature.”
- “Limiting presentations to 20 minutes was GREAT. No more 90 minute sessions to sit through.”
- “Efficient way to get a lot of information.”
- “Despite attending by Zoom my attention didn’t wander. The sessions were valuable. I would encourage others to attend for the variety of issues covered and the fact that they are all very relevant to our cottage life.”
- “Another great FOCA event. Wonderful presentations by engaging speakers; completely valuable information. Will be sharing this information with our Board and membership! I attended on line and would loved to be there in person. Next time!!! Thank you to FOCA staff and all presenters for a terrific day.”
2023 FOCA Fall Seminar for Associations
Saturday, November 4, 2023 by Zoom webinar. Understanding the Changing State of our Lakes with special guest Dr. John Smol speaking about the nature of our lakes and how they’re changing over time. See a copy of the Event Agenda (download PDF, 1 page) for an overview of the topics discussed.
Members are encouraged to login below to access the full Event Summary including links to all the slide presentations. Be sure to share this with all your fellow members!
You're missing members-only content!
The following Event Summary is only available to members of our Member Associations & current Friends of FOCA (our annual supporters).
If you are already registered on the FOCA website, please login below with your Username and Password.
Need help with your login? Contact us for assistance during business hours. Not yet a Member Association? Find out why you should be!
Want more cottage country knowledge? Check out FOCA’s Elerts and Publications & Videos.