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Membership fees are $105.00 for Primary members and $50.00 for Associate members. We would be very happy to welcome you to the Bay of Islands Community Association. As a member, you are both supporting the future of the Bay you love, as well as joining a thriving social community.
As a BICA member you will receive access to:
Your membership dues are crucial to preserving and protecting the Bay of Islands. Out of your annual membership, 65% goes to the Georgian Bay Association and the Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations (see more about both of these important groups below), and none goes to support our social activities.
NOTE: Primary Members are Full members. A Full member must be, or must be related to, a property owner in the Bay of Islands. They are entitled to vote at meetings and to receive GBA mailings.
Associate Members may attend association meetings but do not have voting rights and will not receive GBA meetings. Each property must have at least one Full Member before an Associate Member can be permitted with respect to that property.
Your support for BICA helps fund a wide range of activities, including the following:
We regularly monitor the water quality throughout the Bay of Islands and Whitefish River, and have recorded an extensive data base over many years, so trends can be highlighted. We have alerted others to high e-coli levels in various locations.
We have assisted members with the purchase of fire-fighting equipment, such that we now have over 40 camps with equipment to readily fight fires, before the MNR arrive. We have developed a fire-alert WhatsApp group to readily notify our pump owners of fires.
We have monitored and managed invasive species in our Bay, such as phragmites, zebra mussels, goby fish, and Eurasian water milfoil.
Several years ago when low water levels were a serious concern, we attended meetings and made a submission on behalf of BICA to the Joint Commission on Great Lakes Water Levels.
We have held a number of water and boating safety seminars with the assistance of the OPP. We have determined the GPS co-ordinates for each member’s dock for quick access in an emergency.
We meet annually with the Fisher Harbour management to ensure continued environmental protection of the area. Recently, we opposed the development of the Island Lodge into 16 cottage properties until a proper environmental assessment was completed. We regularly host a group from McMaster University who monitor the quality of our wet-lands.
We meet regularly with our Whitefish River First Nation and McGregor Bay Association neighbours to maintain a positive relationship and open communications. The Chief and President are often invited to speak at our Annual General Meeting. We have provided scholarships and sponsorships over the years to the Whitefish River First Nation.
We hold an AGM each year. We often have interesting guest speakers at the AGM, such as the Executive Directors of the Georgian Bay Association, Georgian Bay Forever, and the Georgian Bay Land Trust, the Mayor of NEMI, and the chief of the Whitefish River First Nation. Everyone is invited to attend.
BICA membership includes membership in the GBA and FOCA. These organizations lobby the Ontario and Canadian governments on issues that affect us all. It is important that we have a strong collective voice when presenting our concerns. FOCA membership also provides a 5% discount on your cottage insurance.
To start receiving the BICA newsletter:
Bay Of Islands Community Association