Paddlers on the move

Pisiquid Canoe Club relocates to Vaughan amid Windsor lake’s uncertainty

Paddlers with the Pisiquid Canoe Club finally have a place to call home again, but not everyone is happy with that decision. Given the unknown fate of Lake Pisiquid — a manmade freshwater reservoir in downtown Windsor that was created in 1970 and has been drained since 2021 — the club's directors made the decision to relocate to Zwicker

Lake in Vaughan.

“Obviously, we would have loved to stay in Windsor at our forever home,” said Brad Carrigan, the club's commodore.

Relocating wasn't an easy decision to make, he said, but it was the only option that would carry on the club's long legacy.

“There is no lake (in Windsor); this is our only choice to keep the club alive,” he said.

Lake Pisiquid has been at the centre of attention since a ministerial order altered Windsor's waterfront in March 2021. The federal order mandates how the

Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture operates the sluicegate structure at Windsor's causeway. The gates must stay open on each outgoing tide and, at minimum, stay open for 10 minutes on each incoming tide in order to facilitate adequate fish passage. This has resulted in the body of water known as Lake Pisiquid, which has been used for recreational purposes for about 50 years, to sit completely drained of water.

Vegetation is now growing up where paddlers once docked their boats.

Last summer, as a temporary measure, the club was able to use Mockingee Lake as the Windsor Rotary Club of

Canada wasn't running Camp Mockingee due to COVID19 public health restrictions. With those restrictions lifted this year, sharing the lake wasn't an option.

“Knowing that there's no water in Windsor we had to find another location and there was a private sale for this property and we've worked to acquire this property,” said Carrigan.

The club's new home, located at 1011 Highway 14 in Upper Vaughan, is about six acres in size. It has access to Zwicker Lake, features a large open-concept bungalow, multiple out buildings, including a large, heated garage with electricity.

“We've been actively looking at what's out here. Because we were on Mockingee last year, we drove by Zwicker Lake and the public beach every day last summer and we saw how beautiful a lake it was,” said Carrigan.“It was calm, there wasn't a lot of boats or anything like that. So, we took the opportunity to see what was available, obviously within a reasonable distance from Windsor.”

He said the property wasn't publicly listed but was being promoted to the equestrian community.

Carrigan said he could not comment on the acquisition of the equestrian property, or the cost. According to ReMax Nova Scotia's website, the property was assessed at $682,300 in 2021. House Price Hub's website noted the property, which features 600 feet of lakefront access with a private dock, was listed at $899,999.

Carrigan said the property not only offers access to the lake, but provides enough space to store all the club's boats, paddles and other equipment, and an area for dry land programming and fun activities.

The club has between 20 and 30 youth participating in the year-round program. During the summer, when they offer day camps, they welcome about 100 kids.

Due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of Pisiquid Canoe Club, the organization's head coach left in the fall. Jeff Houser, who was a five-time Canada Games team coach and was involved for more than a decade as regional coach/technical director for the Atlantic Division of Canoe Kayak Canada, offered to help coach the club while vetting applications. By March, he became the club's official head coach. He said it was unfortunate the club had to move but describes the new location as fantastic.

“It's a great place to be. A lot of people would think, ‘well, it's a long drive to get out here.' It's not though. It's 15, 20 minutes from Windsor,” said Houser.

Aside from the paddling clubs located on the main lake in Halifax Regional Municipality, he said every club is at least a 20-minute drive for the majority of its membership.

“It's a fantastic place. It's a beautiful lake. We hope that the community understands that we're not here to take over, we're here to enjoy, just like they are,” said Houser.

“We're not going to interfere with their enjoyment of the lake.”

The head coach said enrolling youth into a canoe kayak program, even for just one summer, is beneficial.

“If you want to make sure your kids are going to be safe around the water, put them in a canoe kayak program for a year or so. You will never have to worry about them out at the lake or in the future,” said Houser.

Aside from that, he said there's nothing better than being in a boat on the water, practising, paddling and enjoying the time in nature.

“We can pretty much be sure that when a parent puts their kid in our program, their kid is going to arrive home at the end of the day, happy and exhausted. And that's my goal,” he said.

Rylan Carrigan, the commodore's eldest son, is a competitive, year-round Pisiquid Canoe Club member who trains twice a day. The 13-year-old said the new lakeside location is ideal and hopes to see an uptick in youth taking part in the paddling program.

“It's great to get outside and be active, but when you're

first starting, I'd say the best part is just getting to come here and be outside and have fun with your friends all day for the summer."

UNHAPPY NEIGHBOURS

Carrigan said the club is aware of some concerns and is trying to mitigate the impact their operation has on fellow property owners around Zwicker Lake.

“We're using the lake no different than the people that live here and the people that use the public access to go fishing,” said Carrigan, as people in sea kayaks paddled by the property.

“We're just wanting to be part of the lake family.”

Carrigan feels there is room for everyone to enjoy the lake.

“I understand completely. You know, nobody likes change,” said Carrigan.

“The lake has been … theirs forever and now it's changed, which they may not care for. Ultimately, it's a public lake. Nobody owns the lake and we just are looking to continue our programming.”

A petition was launched at the end of May expressing concerns over the club's arrival and intended use of the property. It garnered about 40 signatures in three days from people who use Zwicker Lake or own property there.

Seamus Marriott submitted the petition on behalf of Zwicker Lake property owners to West Hants Regional Municipality. He said they learned the club purchased the property with assistance

of federal and provincial funds. He said the property owners “wholly support youth sport, recreation and education” but share multiple concerns over the club using the waterway for recreational sport.

“Zwicker, by lake standards, is considered a small lake, measuring 1,950 metres in length and 300 metres in width, at the widest point. The introduction of the canoe club to the lake raises questions concerning potential environmental issues, protection of migratory bird species, traffic on and access to the lake by residents, increased noise levels, road traffic, and much more,” Marriott wrote.

“At the municipal level, there are concerns regarding zoning of the property for such a significant change in use, the operation of summer day camps, as well as the issue of noise and the resultant impact on the residents' right to the peaceful enjoyment of their properties.”

Marriott said the property owners “have been denied a voice or any input in this matter.”

CLUB USE NOT PERMITTED

Currently, the Zwicker Lake property is zoned general resource, which means the uses permitted at the site are restricted by the municipality.

The current land use allows for single and two-unit dwellings and manufactured homes; as well as community and commercial uses that will serve the local area. These

uses include community centres, churches, fire halls, restaurants, small retail stores, automobile service stations, farm equipment sales and personal service shops. They do not include recreational commercial uses.

Almost five hours into the municipality's June 28 council

Zebian meeting, Mayor Abraham asked Madeline LeMay, the director of planning, for clarity on what is allowed at the site.

“So currently, they are permitted to be on any body of water — there's no question there,” said Zebian.

“And I think we all support the canoe club, the kids, the operations. They've been through a lot over these last couple of years. It's been quite a roller-coaster for them. So, it's nice to see them back out on the water — on any body of water,” he continued.

“In regards to holding any

activities future day camps or as such, would they currently be able to do that on the property with the current zoning?”

LeMay said it wasn't a permitted use but indicated the municipality has received an application to amend the planning strategy or land use bylaw to accommodate the club's intentions.

Zebian asked what would happen if the canoe club held its summer day camps before being granted an amendment.

“We would simply follow the process we always use for a violation there,” said LeMay.

First, the development officer would go to the property once or twice to inspect the property.

“If he finds a violation, the development officer would discuss the violation with the property owner. He would send a follow-up letter or an email directing that the violation be ended by a time that he would feel appropriate,” LeMay added.

If the violation was not cleared up during the time frame indicated, then the municipality would refer it to a lawyer to initiate proceedings against the property owner.

The Planning and Heritage Advisory Committee is scheduled to review the Pisiquid Canoe Club's application in July.