NORAH’S ISLAND UPDATE
by Jeff Pinkney
Last Updated: May 2008 

Spring 2008
It’s official! The Geographic Names Board has approved Norah’s Island as the official name for our lake’s biggest island . Thank you to all who helped make this possible. As you can imagine, the Carruthers Family is very pleased with the decision.

Just a note to the wonderful and anonymous craftsperson(s) who put the two signs on the Island. We think it was two persons because one is spelled correctly and one is not. Would you please replace the incorrectly spelled sign. It is Norah with an "h".

Recognition Plaque
In a year or two we will be installing a Recognition Plaque on the island that will list friends and donors. We will have draft mock-ups on display this summer at the marina and the post boxes. Please have a look. We want to spell your name correctly! If you have any questions, concerns or changes, please contact Andi at the number or email listed below. (It’s not too late to get your family’s name on the plaque.)

Land Use
Everyone is, of course, invited and encouraged to visit and enjoy Norah’s Island. Please take only pictures and leave only footprints. No overnight camping. Fires may be lit, but only in designated fire pits for warmth or cooking; No using wood from living trees for firewood; Visitors to bring only local firewood to avoid accidental spreads of insect and plant diseases; Use at own risk. The property may be used by the general public in a reasonable manner consistent with the Management Agreement between The owner, Haliburton Highlands Land Trust and the Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners’ Association (KLCOA). For a full text of the agreement or to make comments, please see www.KLCOA.org.

Mail or E-mail the following information:
• Name:
• Mailing Address:
• Telephone Number:
• E-mail Address:
• Wording of name to be used for recognition and thank-you purposes( e.g. Smith Family, or John Doe and Mary Smith)
• Indicate your permission to use your name for thank you and recognition purposes.
• Amount pledged:
    $500 lump Sum,
    $500 payable in $100 installments per yr. for 5 years
    Other amount

Your KLCOA – Norah’s Island Project Team
Shirlee Weeks, chris.weeks@sympatico.ca (705) 754-1878
Andi Rodgers, drodgers1@cogeco.ca (705)754 9964
Jeff Pinkney, KLCOA Lands Committee Chair jeff.pinkney@cogeco.ca (705) 745-2124

Fall 2007
Neither rain, nor cold nor dark skies could dampen the celebration of Norah’s Island last summer on Saturday July 14. There were close to 100 people on Norah’s island to commemorate the union between The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust and KLCOA. It was a day of immense appreciation; especially to Bruce Carruthers and his family, and all the donors that have made it possible to keep Norah’s Island in its natural state. We were able to raise our glasses and toast to all that made it possible.

Thanks to all who braved the weather to come out for this celebration. Thank you to all who helped make this important day unique and successful The success of the day would not have been achieved without the many friends and family listed:
• Doug Mahood and all the staff at the Kennisis Lake Marina for being home base and for use of their pontoon boat.
• Elaine and Chris Farrell for taking the historic photographs.
• The Lambert family for use of their pontoon boat and especially to Stephen for driving.
• David Axford for donating use of his boat and our other pontoon driver Dave Rodgers.
• Our lovely entertainers "That's Entertainment" consisting of Lesley Lepine, Nancy Hamacher, Sally Norman and Linda Cook.
• Peggy Pinkney for creating the ribbon.
• And thanks to the many young volunteers that helped with the day: Samantha, Stephanie, Ali and Brooklyn
• Thanks also to Gloria Carnochan and Cindy Muenzel for donating from each real-estate sale this summer.

To date we have approximately 120 families that have donated. HHLT will be reminding /collecting next instalments from those who are giving $100 per year for 5 years. In the future, a plaque listing all who have donated will be erected on the island.

On behalf of all KLCOA Members I would first extend the biggest heartfelt thank-you of all to Bruce Carruthers, the owner/donor of Norah’s Island. Bruce: Thank you for this legacy gift, a gift that will be measured in generations, by all cottagers, residents, and visitors to Kennisis Lake. Secondly, thank-you to all who have pledged your dollars to help make this partnership work. Thank you all for making this project happen!

On behalf of KLCOA I also express thanks to the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust. We are proud that your first land acquisition will be on Kennisis Lake. May our unique partnership last forever and act as a model for many other lake associations. Also, to the incredible Elderberries, thank-you for creating a unique fundraiser, to help with the efforts. And last, but in no way least to Shirlee Weeks and Jeff Pinkney who continue to lead this campaign and the development of this partnership for the KLCOA, thank-you for bringing this project home.

Duncan McCallum - President, KLCOA

The Lands Committee activity regarding Bullfrog Bay, Blueberry Islands, and the Soap Pond have been suspended until the Lake Plan Steering Committee delivers its results, and KLCOA advises continued action. As such, the Norah’s Island Campaign has dominated your Lands Committee Agenda this past summer and fall.

At the KLCOA Spring meeting this past May, Bruce Carruthers, owner of Norah’s Island addressed his fellow KLCOA members and indicated his intentions to donate the island to the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust so that it will be kept as an undisturbed wilderness area in perpetuity. After a rousing standing ovation from the overflowing crowd in attendance, the following motion was unanimously passed by the KLCOA membership:

Since then representatives from KLCOA and HHLT have put together a Draft Management Agreement (see it at: draft-klcoa-hhlt-final-ver-spring-meeting-2007.doc - your comments are welcome) setting the stage for a long, friendly and mutually beneficial partnership. Over the winter KLCOA will submit the Draft Agreement to our lawyer and to our insurance agent for review. HHLT will do same with their advisors. KLCOA Membership will be asked to approve final draft at Spring meeting 2007 at which point formal ratification of this agreement can occur between KLCOA and HHLT.

Letters of thank-you have been sent to all pledges asking that you make your payment directly payable to the: Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT). HHLT will send each donor a charitable tax receipt.
Results have been nothing short of amazing - So far 82 individuals and families have come forward. Our goal is 100 + donors. We have raised $39,000 toward our goal of $50,000. We ask that you please join this growing list – and add your family’s name to the list of pledgees. 

Some notes from Bruce Carruthers:
"…for the KLCOA members here is a quick picture of where we are. Brent [Dr. Brent Wootton of HHLT] completed the application and Norah's Island will be a "Managed Forest" for 2007. His application to Environment Canada has achieved qualification of the island as "Ecologically Sensitive Land". HHLT has engaged an appraiser as required by Environment Canada to determine the fair market value of the island. The Geographic Names Board will do their initial review of the Norah's Island naming application in October.

How to Make a Pledge

Mail or E-mail the following information:
• Name:
• Mailing Address:
• Telephone Number:
• E-mail Address:
• Wording of name to be used for recognition and thank-you purposes (e.g. Smith Family, or John Doe and Mary Smith)
• Indicate your permission to use your name for thank you and recognition purposes.

• Amount pledged:

. $500 lump Sum
. $500 payable in $100 instalments per yr. for 5 years
. Other amount ( min. $20 for a tax receipt to be issued

Your comments and questions are welcome. - Pledges can be sent or called in to Shirlee, Jeff or Andi.
Shirlee Weeks, KLCOA Vice President - chris.weeks@sympatico.ca (705) 754-1878
Jeff Pinkney, KLCOA Lands Committee Chair - ppinkney1@cogeco.ca (705) 745-2124
Andi Rodgers, Norah's Island Committee -  drodgers1@cogeco.ca (705)754 9964

Elderberries Paint to raise funds for Norah's Island

From: Wilf McOstrich

For information, contact: Wilf McOstrich at (416) 493-2400 or (705) 754-9526. Wilf.McOstrich@sympatico.ca. 
                                   Brenda Watson at (705) 754-3475. brendawatson@sympatico.ca

Articles

Norah’s Island donation joins two groups together Page 18 - Haliburton Echo - Tuesday July 17, 2007

Norah’s Island donation joins two groups together cont'd. Page 19

Norah’s Island to be loved by all on Kennisis Lake - Haliburton Echo

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