The FOCA "Terry Rees Achievement Award" is presented annually at the AGM to a FOCA member Association.
This award celebrates successes of the FOCA community, and encourages sharing of best-practices.
In March 2024 at the FOCA AGM, the “FOCA Achievement Award” was renamed by the Board of Directors as the “Terry Rees Achievement Award” at the time of his retirement and in honour of his 20 years as the Executive Director and 10 prior years as a Board volunteer. The Award was originally named for FOCA’s first Executive Director, Jerry Strickland (see more below).
March 1, 2025: the 2024 FOCA Achievement Award was presented to the White Lake Property Owners Association!
Lake Steward Conrad Gregoire accepted the Award on behalf of the association, for environmental monitoring and stewardship of the lake by enthusiastic community science volunteers who have created a bi-monthly Environment Bulletin, annual State of the Lake Reports, and a White Lake Science website.
Pictured: Conrad accepts the 2024 Award plaque from FOCA Board Vice President Donna Commerford at the FOCA AGM, March 1, 2025.
Nominate your FOCA-member association for the 2025 Award which will be presented at the 2026 AGM! Apply by October 31, 2025.
Large or small associations can apply, and accomplishments should be current, but can include long-standing efforts that have recently reached a new milestone or highlight.
- first, read the overview & instructions (PDF; 3 pages)
- then, complete the Award Nomination Form (PDF; 2 pages) which is a fillable form; please follow the maximum word count suggestions in the form
- save the final copy to your computer, and email it to FOCA as an attachment, as indicated in the form, with no more than one additional attachment of up to 10 pages (2 MB) maximum.
- submit your nomination by the deadline of October 31st
- the award recipient will be informed the following February
- the award is presented in person at the FOCA Annual General Meeting – a representative of the association is asked to attend the AGM to present a brief presentation about the work undertaken, and to receive the metal award plaque on behalf of the association.
Criteria for Nomination:
Nominees must be current FOCA member Associations in good standing.
Nominees’ activities must be consistent with FOCA’s Vision “To sustain and enhance the cottage experience for generations” and in-line with these goals:
Activities or achievements should be current, although they can be long-standing programs, and should relate to at least one of the following categories:
Nominations are welcomed from individuals, associations, umbrella organizations, municipal/county/provincial government employees, conservancies and any other interested parties.
Nominations consist of a completed nomination form (see link above) and any additional support documents deemed significant by the nominee. Recipients of the award will be selected primarily based upon the documentation submitted with the Nomination form.
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria outlined here (PDF, 3 page) will be used by the Selection Committee to review all nominations and should be considered by prospective nominees when drafting their submission. Any nominations deemed “ineligible” in section #1 will receive follow-up from the FOCA staff by December 15th at the latest, and the Association will have 14 days to remedy the situation (if, for example, the issue is Membership not currently in good standing), to be re-assessed for eligibility. Any nominations deemed “eligible” in section #1 will be presented in their entirety to the Award Selection Committee, with sections #1 and #2 pre-filled by FOCA staff from information already on file and/or information provided in the Award Nomination Form.
March 2, 2024: the 2023 FOCA Achievement Award was presented to the Lake of Bays Association! (LOBA)
LOBA was celebrated for their work over several years to weigh-in on a land development plan for Langmaid’s Island, one of the largest undisturbed properties on the lake, with a heritage designation.
Pictured: LOBA President Wendy Gibson and FOCA’s Terry Rees with the award sign, at the presentation on March 2, 2024.
March 4, 2023: the 2022 FOCA Achievement Award was presented to the Wolfe Lake Association – Westport!
The Wolfe Lake Association – Westport (Frontenac County) was celebrated for their “Let’s Get the Lead Out” initiative and lead fishing tackle buy-back program. This voluntary program was launched in 2022; by the end of the year, they had already collected over 100 pounds of lead, keeping this source of contamination out of the waterway. They also galvanized neighbouring lake associations to join their initiative including Upper Rideau Lake, Chaffey’s Area Lakes Association, Otter Lake, Charleston Lake, and also the Temagami Lake Association. A grant from South Frontenac Township helped to fund $10 vouchers for each person who turned in lead fishing tackle.
Learn more online at fishleadfree.ca.
Related News Coverage: listen on Blue Fish Radio (April 2023) – the discussion of “Get the Lead Out” starts around minute 31 of the recording.
Past FOCA Achievement Award recipients:
Wondering about past Award recipients? Consult the list below, with links to the Association websites where available.
Also, review a brief synopsis of winners from 1996 through 2015, in the video at the side.
Finally, read more about the origin of the award, following this list of past recipients.
2024 White Lake Property Owners Association
2023 Lake of Bays Association
2022 Wolfe Lake Association – Westport
2021 Lake Bernard Property Owners’ Association
2020 Long Point Ratepayers Association
2019 Farlain Lake Community Association
2018 White Lake Cottagers’ Association
2017 Skootamatta District Ratepayers Association
2016 Golden Lake & Bonnechere River Property Owners’ Association
2015 Jack’s Lake Association
2014 Redstone Lake Cottagers Association
2013 Pike Lake Community Association
2012 Leech Lake Cottagers Association
2011 Crane Lake Association
2010 Hudson Lakes Association
2009 Point Clark Beach Association
2008 Otty Lake Association
2007 Kennisis Lake Cottage Owner’s Association
2006 Limerick Waterways Ratepayer’s Association
2005 Faraday (Trout Lake) Association
2004 Huntsville Lakes Council
2003 Eagle Lake Conservation Association
2002 Kawartha Lake Stewards Association
2001 Norway Lake Association
2000 Cecebe Waterways Association
1999 Belmont Lake Association & Greater Bobs and Crow Lakes Association
1998 Paudash Lake Conservation Association & West Carling Association
1997 Lake Panache Campers Association
1996 North Sound Cottagers’ Association
History of the Award:
What was recently referred to as the “FOCA Achievement Award” and is now called the “Terry Rees Achievement Award” was first presented in 1996 as a memorial after the passing of FOCA’s first Executive Director, Jerry Strickland, who served as a FOCA volunteer for 18 years.
Jerry joined FOCA in 1978 and he was a member of the Miskwabi Lake Area Cottagers’ Association in Haliburton. He is remembered for his dedication to FOCA’s operations. In the words of then-President Jean Anthon upon Jerry’s passing, he came as close as anyone could to being ‘Mr. FOCA’.