2005 –The Beginning
The Ladies of the Lake began with the creation of a “cheeky but not cheesy”
2006 photographic Calendar. An unprecedented triumph, the calendar raised
awareness and understanding about the Lake’s challenges and a quarter of
a million dollars.
2006 – Building Bridges
The Naked Truth: Behind the Science of Lake Simcoe
This research document commissioned by the Ladies of the Lake and produced
by the Windfall Ecology Centre in Spring 2006 articulated for the first time in
plain language the challenges facing Lake Simcoe and possible solutions.
What’s wrong? The impact of population growth and climate change as the
leading risk factors for the sustainability of Lake Simcoe
Naked Truth Citizens’ Action Plan to Save Lake Simcoe
In Summer 2006, the Ladies of the Lake brought together 300 people for
workshops and action planning in Barrie, Innisfil, Holland River , and
Georgina . Ideas for helping Lake Simcoe, captured in
The Naked Truth Citizens Action Plan was assembled by the Ladies of the
Lake and Windfall Ecology Centre.
Citizens' agreed overwhelmingly “we must manage the environment as part
of daily life. The Lake must be no longer be an isolated “science- fix” but
plans to save it must be intertwined with economic growth strategies,
youth opportunities, innovative grassroots action and more.”
2007 - Action Plan Coming to Life
Whales in Lake Simcoe
One of the Citizens’ Action Plan’s priorities is “focus on the Next Generation.”
As a result, The Ladies of the Lake commissioned a research document titled
Whales in Lake Simcoe to find out what children who live in the watershed are
learning about the environment in general and their Lake in particular. The results
were not encouraging. Opportunities for action are now identified.
Lake Simcoe Events
With the Town of Newmarket we co-hosted a gala in Fall 2006 to honour the
work of the citizens of Lake Simcoe on the Naked Truth Citizens Action Plan
to Save Lake Simcoe and to give the Naked Truth award to Dr Joe MacInnis,
underwater explorer providing optimistic and realistic pathways to a sustainable
and better future; and who inspires partnerships among individuals, business and
government.
In summer 2007 we co-hosted with Campaign Lake Simcoe The Lake Simcoe
Summit bringing together over 200 people (65 groups) to contemplate Lake
Simcoe’s future The MC was broadcaster Valerie Pringle. Premier Dalton McGuinty
was a surprise guest and announced his government’s intention to introduce the
Lake Simcoe Protection Act.
Summer 2008 Lake-wide Website launched
One of the barriers to successful collaboration to help Lake Simcoe have been
difficulties in lake-wide communication. Ladies of the Lake working with
Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, the Windfall Ecology Centre and the Ontario
Land Stewards has created an innovative, interactive “must go to website” for
all watershed residents. Visit www.ourlakesimcoe.com
2009 A New Calendar
AND
An innovative Youth Lake Simcoe Summer Film School,
Festival, and Conference “WASTE”- We Are Saving The Environment
In the summer of 2009 Ladies of the Lake had support from the Trillium
Foundation for the planning, design and marketing phases of an innovative
community-based youth project with three components: a Summer Film School
for youth to create short films and videos about Lake Simcoe; a Festival of
celebration to showcase the youth films;a Conference to bring young people,
educators, government, business, environmental groups and the public from
around the Lake to work together to co-create and collaborate on strategies
for youth leadership in local initiatives to protect, restore and sustain the health
of Lake Simcoe and the Watershed. There were three initiating groups: Ladies of
the Lake, Windfall Ecology Centre, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
/Scanlon Creek Education Centre. Innovative films were produced by the students
and can be viewed at WASTEfilms.ca.
The project arose from the LOL 's Whales In Lake Simcoe? research report of 2007
which revealed that environmental education for children is inadequate and that
children in the watershed have almost nothing to help them learn about the Lake or
get involved. The report recommended drawing people together to determine collectively
how to get momentum about localized Lake Simcoe-based ecological/environmental
education for youth, and to involve youth meaningfully in this process.
Watch for more Ladies of the Lake initiatives throughout 2010
as the LOTL help people learn more and translate awareness and
knowledge into action.
