Delivered at the 90th annual member meeting of BICA on July 26, 2025 by Patrick Thoburn
Here we are in the beautiful great room of the historic River Lodge. It could not be a more fitting location, as the old Stump and Spry store that occupied this building is as old as our association and was the original outfitter for our pioneer ancestor in the surrounding waters. Thank you to Jackie and Steve for opening your doors.
Our community has been meeting for the past 90th summers. I did some research. The first meeting was attended by 14 people, 7 Americans, 7 Canadians, and the only item on the agenda was shoal markers. The tradition of dinging props on hidden rocks is a long one. The founding purpose was “an association for sociability and mutual benefit.” It’s a great achievement that this has stuck.
But we have never faced more pressures on the health of our pristine bay, from development, pollution, invasive species, and more, and that’s why much of our work and the focus of today’s meeting is about Our Water.
I’d like to share a few highlights of initiatives your board and association have been at work on over the past twelve months
We’ve initiated important collaborations with McGregor Bay and Whitefish River First Nation to monitor water quality on a variety of metrics and remove three stands of invasive phragmites we’ve discovered in the Bay. This work is led by Ron Kivikink and Chris Redston, and you’ll hear from them today.
We continue to support and be inspired by the work of GBA and FOCA in on environmental issues advocating for legislative change on everything from dock foam, microplastics, aquaculture and floating homes. Liz Phillips represents us at GBA and she has recently completed a term as GBA president, doing us proud.
Social Events are the backbone of our community that allows us to be effective in pursuing our mission. Fish Fry, Raffle and Auction, Family Day, check calendar. Celesta Bjornson and Sheila Williams, Lisa Allison, Jeff Baker and the rest of the board are instrumental in pulling the together.
We launched a BICA store, from which we have sold nearly 100 copies of the new Voices of the Bay book, a Bay of Islands hat and now selling a limited-edition 90th anniversary sweatshirt. Thank you, Sheila Williams, for all your work.
Fire safety: Training by NEMI volunteer fire department chief and colleagues is ongoing. Thanks to David Gallup we secured a grant that allows us to distribute fire blankets to all members.
Lisa Allison keeps our community connected and informed by managing all our website and email communications.
Unglamorous but necessary: We’ve continued to refine our bylaws to be in compliance with ONCA, led by Trevor Marshall.
The many volunteer hours committed by the association board are so appreciated by all of us. This is a highly dedicated team, and we thank them.
I invite you all to come out to our 90th Anniversary party at the historic Moredolphton Lodge We have a pig roast, a live band led by the Bay of Islands own Dean Purdie, and more!
To our members. Please spread the word about BICA, invite your neighbours and family members to join. We rely on the volunteer spirit of the community to do the things we do. And let us know things you’d like to see us doing together, and above all get involved. Thank you for your support, enthusiasm, and membership in our association.
Bay Of Islands Community Association