Gloucester Pool cottagers' ASSOCIATION

1 Nicholson's Road, R.R. 1 Port Severn On L0K1S0

GOOD NEWS - Re TRENT-SEVERN WATERWAY

Starting June 1, 2020 the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site will offer limited visitor access and basic services along the entire system, with the exception of Swift Rapids lockstation.

Visitors will be able to access the following services and facilities:
• lockage, boat launches, access points and mooring areas;
• day-use areas, including green spaces, picnic areas, and parking lots;
• day-use trails, including some cycling access on designated trails and pathways;
• lockstation grounds; and
• public toilets where enhanced cleaning protocols will be implemented.

Until June 1, these facilities remain closed and we ask that visitors respect these closures in order to allow Parks Canada to do the necessary work to prepare for opening.

Swift Rapids lockstation will not open on June 1 due to structural repairs. It is expected that this work will be completed and the entire system will be open for navigation later in June.

Visiting the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site will be different than it has been in the past. Visitors are asked to plan ahead by checking the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site website before they travel to find out:
• what is open;
• what they can expect, including modified lockage and mooring protocols;
• how to prepare for their visit.

The health and safety of visitors and employees is of utmost importance to the Government of Canada. Parks Canada is following the advice of public health experts and continues to make every effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Visitors should follow the advice of public health experts, including necessary hygiene practices and physical distancing of two metres from others.

Parks Canada is asking Canadians to be cautious and conservative in their use of these places, to observe any regional or Ontario travel restrictions and to respect any closures that are in place. Anyone participating in recreational activities should be extra cautious to avoid injury and/or getting lost to help minimize the demands placed on search and rescue teams and on the health care system.

All camping facilities remain closed until at least June 21, 2020, while Parks Canada assesses whether and how these services might resume. Group activities and public events are suspended until further notice.

Detailed information on Parks Canada places and the measures the Agency is taking to limit the spread of COVID-19 can be found on the Parks Canada website: pc.gc.ca. Please check regularly for updates

COVID-19 and your Cottage

FOCA Posts the Following:

March 25, 2020 update from FOCA: If you are a snowbird, or otherwise returning from travel abroad, Health Canada expects you to self-isolate for 14 days. Information is available online here:

Health Canada COVID-19 Information.

What if you own property in two places in Ontario, and want to relocate from one to the other, such as to shelter in place at your cottage? FOCA has heard from many members, partners, and municipal contacts over the past days about this issue. Many are concerned that any transiting increases the chance for spread of illness.

FOCA reminds members that our rural communities have reduced capacity to accommodate sudden changes in supply demands. Many of us wouldn’t ordinarily open the cottage until nearer to the May long weekend. As we already know from our local grocery experiences, parts of the supply chain are under strain. Additionally, rural hospitals have limited capacity and resources, and you should consider where your health needs can best be met, in an emergency situation.

If you do relocate to your waterfront residence (or are there already), FOCA suggests the following:

Connect with your lake association on social media (find many connections via FOCA’s Facebook page, here). As always, these are the people who know your waterfront area best!
Provision yourself for several weeks (with food, drinks, gas, hardware supplies, prescriptions) before leaving your off-season community, so that you will not need to make stops along the way. This is not the time for our usual credo to “buy local” in cottage country. As you would do anywhere at this time, should you urgently need anything from a retailer or pharmacy you should call ahead to see if there are options for safe pickup or delivery.
Continue to follow all the principles of social distancing at the cottage! Although cottage country is usually the place for relaxed rules, that cannot be the case anywhere for the foreseeable future. Cottages are often the gathering places for multiple households in an extended family; for now, and possibly for some time to come, that could put everyone at risk.
Develop an exit plan with immediate family, in case you develop any indications of illness while at your waterfront property.
As the clock slows down on our usually-hectic schedules, use this time to enjoy nature, cook, read, sing, dance, nap and dream about dock-jumping time to come.

Other Resources:

Georgian Bay Township

Press Release - March 27 2020

ABOUt Us

Gloucester Pool Cottagers' Association has been in existence since 1918 and currently has an active membership of 300+ families consisting of both seasonal and permanent residents, on Little Lake, Gloucester Pool, Baxter Lake and Maclean Lake. The GPCA is the voice of its members regarding political, social and environmental concerns. We support FOCA (Federation of Ontario Cottagers) and have an active Lake Steward program. We keep our members advised by issuing a quarterly newsletter, plus regular email updates.

Where is Gloucester Pool?

Gloucester Pool begins at Lock 45 in Port Severn and runs North East through Little Lake carrying on through Little Chute to the Big Chute Marine Railway.

The lake is 13 kilometers long and is home to at least 20 islands. Little Lake is separated from Gloucester Pool by a channel called the Narrows. The Pool is the last major body of water on the Trent Severn Waterway before Georgian Bay.