Lake Nipissing Summit Report

8/2/2019 Lake Nipissing Summit Report

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LAKENIPISSING

SUMMIT

REPORT 2012The following document outlines the discoveries after the-two day Lake

Nipissing Summit including notes taken during the World Caf regarding

questions on the future of Lake Nipissing.


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The 2012 Lake Nipissing Summit was a conference-style event designed to create an awareness and

consensus on the need for shared ownership towards the future of Lake Nipissing. Bringing together

members of the communities surrounding the lake, this event provided knowledge and background

information on the lake and its current status, as well as provided a voice for all participants on the

major issues of Lake Nipissing. The summit was focused on three major pillars: social, environmentaland economic. The summit was the first step towards a brighter future of Lake Nipissing through

shared accountability and collaborative efforts.

Included in this report you will find the demographics of those who attended the summit, responses

and outcomes from the World Caf and survey results of the effectiveness of the summit.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the sponsors of the Lake Nipissing Summit for

contributing to its success and helping start the conversation towards a brighter future for Lake

Nipissing.


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DEMOGRAPHICS

All parties were invited to attend the Lake Nipissing Summit. Below outlines the demographics of the

participants.

Examples of people/organizations that fall under the following categories:

Leaders Mayor from the communities surrounding Lake Nipissing

Students Nipissing University/Canadore College students, high school

students

Education/Faculty Professors, Interim President of Nipissing University, Biological

technologist

General Public Retired public members, concerned citizens, other

Tourism Industry Cottage association owners and operators, Resorts, Camp

Directors

Economic Industry Economic Partners

Environmental Industry Conservation s Authority, Greening Nipissing, Ministry of the

Environment FRi Ecological Services

Government Ministry of Tourism, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, OPP,

NOTO

First Nations Chief, Councilors, Nipissing First Nation, Union of Ontario Indians,

Dokis First Nation

5% 8%

10%

18%

10%8%

10%

12%

19%Leaders

Students

Education/Faculty

General Public

Tourism Industry

Economic Industry

Environmental Industry

GovernmentFirst Nations


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WORLD CAF

A World Caf is a conference format that allows all participants a voice on the selected topic. It is

founded on the assumption that people have the capacity to work together, no matter who they are

and what backgrounds and knowledge they have.

We put leaders, stakeholders, tourism operators, general public and students into one room and gave

them three questions surrounding Lake Nipissing to discuss at round tables. One person at each table

was asked to volunteer to be the table host. The role of the host was crucial to the success of the

World Caf as their purpose was to efficiently take notes of the conversations that took place. Each of

the three questions was given two rounds of 15 minutes each. Before the second round of each

question, participants moved to a different table, except the host. The host recapped what the

previous group had discussed. In the end, the recorded conversations included everyones voice.

QUESTION 1

In order to benefit the future of Lake Nipissing from a social, economic and environmental

standpoint, what opportunities can we see that would increase knowledge and awareness about the

lake?

Themes that arose from this question are noted below and the number in brackets beside each topic

indicate the number of participants that felt this was in their top 3 choices for most important of all the

questions and themes.

Education: primary through to university (8)

Central Data Warehouse available to all (10)

Future Summits/Committees (3)

Ministry of Natural Resources participation (6)

Join the Eastern Georgian Bay Fisheries Restoration Project (1)


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After a review of the comments from the World Caf, it was clear that education and having

information available to all was of main concern. Individuals not directly involved with the daily

decisions and information about Lake Nipissing feel they are not educated enough to know what the

real, and most immediate, needs are. On the other side, those that are aware of the issues feel they

have no outlet to communicate this information to the public. Potentially including this information in

the secondary and post-secondary schools curriculum was also discussed.

The media was another topic that was discussed and how they can play a role in the distribution of

information.

While having future summits was among the top 5 themes, it was noted that there are issues that

require immediate attention and dont necessarily require ample discussions and debates with a large

group, but rather actions among many smaller groups.

Overall, there was a general consensus that everyone wants to be more informed. From youth to

retired professionals the feeling was that it is vital that we begin to share information and work

together towards a brighter future for Lake Nipissing.

A complete list of notes from Question 1 can be found in Appendix A.

8

10

3

6

1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Education Central Data Future Summits MNR Join EGBFRP

What would increase knowledge andawareness?


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Question 2

In moving forward towards a brighter future for Lake Nipissing from a social, economic and

environmental standpoint, what needs our immediate attention?

Themes that arose from this question are noted below and the number in brackets beside each topicindicate the number of participants that felt this was in their top three choices for most important of

all the questions and themes.

Regulations - eg. fishing licenses, reduction of harvest, fisheries control (14)

Educating the public, communicating ACTION (18)

Development of a communications plan (4)

Funding more studies - eg. Spiney flea, creel count, algae (10)

Ministry of Natural Resources participation (9)

Pollution Monitoring (1)

Although a different question was posed, conversations seemed to arise about educating the public

and having a more transparent system when sharing information, which indicated its importance.

Various potential solutions were discussed regarding altering regulations but they were generally

outside the scope of the participants expertise to formulate an actionable item. It was clear that

conversations needed to continue in an alternative environment with experts in order to reassess

current regulations and how they are managed.

A complete list of notes from Question 2 can be found in Appendix B.

14

18

4

109

10

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Regulations Educating the

Public

Communications

Plan

Funding Studies MNR Pollution

Monitoring

What needs our immediate attention?


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Question 3

How can we support each other in taking the next steps? What unique contribution can we each

make?

Themes that arose from this question are noted below and the number in brackets beside each topicindicated the number of participants that felt this was in their top three choices for most important of

all the questions and themes.

Set-up committee and additional summits (7)

Outreach to stakeholders communicating the issues (9)

Co-Management (18)

Accountability collaboration on Lake Nipissing Fisheries Management Plan (7)

One voice (8)

Co-management was a strong theme for a response as to how the public will be able to support each

other. Although, after the discussion on this topic it was clear that individuals have various

interpretations of what the term co-management means. Setting up a committee and having

additional summits was among the top five themes from question three. Suggestions of having a group

of individuals with representatives from each sector and department in order to get a truly informative

and well rounded opinion of the health of the lake was another popular topic.

A complete list of notes from Question 3 can be found in Appendix C.

7

9

18

7

8

0

2

46

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Committee Outreach Co-Management Accountability One Voice

How can we support each other?


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Overall Results

The following demonstrates the complete list of results from the World Caf that were compiled and

assessed:

Legend:

A Media Involvement

B Education and Research (secondary, post-secondary and public)

C Volunteers

D Committee/Annual Meeting/Leadership Group needed

E Environmental Issues

F Enforcement/Management

G Biology/Funding StudiesH Regulations

I Sharing Information/Accountability/Cooperation and Co-Management

J Ministry of Natural Resources More presence

K Partnerships

L Tourism

M Communication Plan/Action Plan

18

40

5

40

73

12 12

23

86

1315

5

20

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

A B C D E F G H I J K L M


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Conclusion

With the overall analysis of the results, sharing information and co-management was the top

reoccurring theme among all questions during the World Caf. Participants each had their top

concerns and immediate needs but without a clear overall awareness of the lake, decisions cannot be

made. During discussions issues and topics were brought forth that many were unaware of, althoughextremely important.

It is clear that there is a common theme among participants genuine concern of the health and

future of Lake Nipissing. Immediate actions to improve the lake did not have a common theme

however; creating committees that represent each sector equally in order to move actions forward

was a common consensus among participants.

A survey was distributed to participants following the summit and results were positive and motivating

as we move forward. A more complete analysis of results and the questions that were asked can be

found in Appendix D.

The success of the Lake Nipissing Summit will be determined by how the information in this document

is shared and acted on in the future. Chief Couchie closed the summit stating that, We havent

finished, weve just begun. Ive witnessed us come together and have spoken about our heartfelt

passions. There will be a report created from the Summit and in the immediate future we will call the

leaders together and develop a suggested action plan and it send back to the group. We will commit to

action.

The plan moving forward is exactly what Chief Couchie said in her closing remarks. Actionable items

will be determined that the leaders will then discuss and communicate to their regions. The strategy

developed will bring together a variety of people and follow this report in order to address the issuesthat were of most concern to the public who attended the 2012 Lake Nipissing Summit. While it is in

the beginning stages of action, it is a positive start in a brighter future for Lake Nipissing.


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Appendix A

Details on the findings from Question 1 in support of the key themes

EDUCATION

Approach Cogeco, advertising comments from these experts on the lake. People would learn

from these individuals

Take advantage from university, they are offering (expertise) for research

Education plays a great factor, TV station also school

Problem we have to re-educate homeowners expansion of homes-trailers

Lack of enforcement for owners contaminating Lake

Integrated local education curriculum that explores resources, culture, history provides

context for creating solutions (open minds)

Elementary school (GNSC) kits, build on this

Ensure all Ontario Curriculum links all school boards and schools

Education about need to clean boards, etc. (invasive species) at boat launches

Fact sheet etc. @lodges, resorts, outfitters etc.

What are some best practices in other places

Should have sustainable fisheries agreement similar to forestry, user funded formula

Everybody needs to cut back if youre not willing to might as well cut summit short

NFN commercial fishing awareness

Educational tools curriculum, target audience rec. anglers

Tourism awareness Opportunities operators, signage at access pointsYouth are concerned about the environment, their ears are open, they need a forum they have

the voice start education young (build on game presented)

Knowledge of various communities, organizations and stakeholders both locally and

provincially. Relationship building (Economical too)

More media coverage to get message out (social)

Tourism, new models for businesses

More communication around lake

Downloadable app

Need to reach entire comm.Fun event, public education, interactive, involve youth, create multimedia, social network

Gord Miller - Environmental Commissioner of Ontario

Stewardship council stuff for kids Adults

Lake Nip. Mascot, Wally the Walleye, Winnie, Pat Pete the pickerel

Festival


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Tie in with Canoe Festival

Awareness of Fishery and ecosystem

Make a short film on issues, documentary/educational

School groups, education/awareness

Film series of different issues

Canadore students to direct/produce ie You tube, social media

Guided tours (talk, history, changes)

Visual experience, 1st

person, ie 1st

nation water walkers, Josephine Mandaamin

Environmental cleanups (shoreline)

Media: fishing/angling # of fishermen vs. ice fishing

Weekly guest column Nugget, Nipissing Reader, Nipissing News and rotate between social,

environmental, economic

Cogeco weekly hour show or monthly

Webpage

Facebook page Qs and AsThis is 2nd

summit need a grass roots educational drive

CENTRAL DATA WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE TO ALL

Make it mandatory for septic system

Raised on the French cottages and other areas probably doing the same

Looking at shoreline /habitat

Building inspector but we have no one that really inspects where septic systemIndependent, mutually support biologists studying the lake (holistic, thorough)

Signage about the issue on the lake

Sharing of research and efforts more broadly

Central Warehouse of information

Timing of information. Data communication. Management

Hands On Ecosystem Management Experiences

Nipissing Univ. Involvement in scientific research

Website info sharing communication tool education

Info needs to be tailored to specific audiences need that communications flow to breakbarriers (social & economic)

Social media!!! Using it to get the word out ..attractive to youth

Establish a database of people who want to know what is happening and help Lake Nipissing

Information: sharing info among agencies, more research and collaboration, paleolimnology

historic changes in organisms.


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Fast track strategy for messaging

United message around the lake

Challenge with messaging because fishing will be good

FUTURE SUMMITS/COMMITTEES

Each group have meetings exchange ideas

Looking at maybe volunteer updating of system

PLAN FOR FUTURE weather

Access to waterways

Development of local regulations on the fishery

Building regulations collaboratively

Focus on mutual prosperity

More collaboration between stakeholders

Governing body involving different interest groups

Sector focus, Agriculture, Tourism, Industry

Yearly conference like this

Utilization of stewardship councils

Independent & funded assessment team made up fisheries experts (scientists)

More interaction between stakeholders

Restructuring/re-engagement of ADFC, Anishnabeck Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre

Hard decisions must be made sooner than later

Multi-faceted leadership group with representation from community

Create own entity, lake wide above current political structure or bring players together

(economic)

Social action plan to move forward from meetings like this!

Ppls need to come together more often to gain a true holistic view of the lake, the knowledge

isnt out there, knowledge based curriculum, local. Build understanding.

Timelines and organizational group

Harness local passion, knowledge and experience fir well being of the lake (enviro & economic)

Continue to bring people together to establish momentum to get political attention to deal with

issues on Lake Nipissing

Engage volunteer groups

Utilize University support, connect to programs and research

Town hall meetings spring late aril on waster, festival, Union of Ontario Indians Water Walk

Strategy to continue this formal summit.

Balanced committee, pooled resources, research


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Working with community organizations, management among regimes

Responsibility (economic, environmental)

Declare emergency united communities

Put agendas aside and create interest group who can decide needs

Form a body to take ideas forward

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES PARTICIPATION

We need more volunteers MOE used to do a sample no more funding stopped

MNR needs to participate in events like this

Local involvement from govt as participant not just enforcement

Outreach from govt on ways for environmentally friendly ways of upkeeping/upgrading

waterfront properties (proactive vs. reactive)

MNR must be an active participant

Need for MNR role, need more support. Unity provides argument for this, productivity(Economic)

Utilize MNR to establish procedures, processes for Nipissing stakeholders to use

MNR Statement?

Seek govt funding

Working with federal agencies

Provincial engagement/enforcement


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APPENDIX B

Findings from Question 2

REGULATIONS

Lottery for huts ie tags, on deer/moose

Fishing license allows you to catch a set number of fish

More promotion of conservation licenses

Close ice fishing

Look at fisheries regulations and cut angling limit significantly

The lake cannot support a commercial fisheries redirect to tourism

Rotate slotsize and seasons

Need neighbourhood watch concept

Tourist operations need to police selves, collect data and educate clients and to track data toassist MNR COs

Hatchery made aware of restocking problem can we do it vicious circle no solution

prioritize what needs to be done 1sst

Tighter control of ice fishing no over night

Crisis reduce harvest province First Nation

Need flexibility to act on regulations to deal with Lake status

Quota and slot size must be addressed

Walleye fishery needs to be addressed to protect spawning fish

Action plan to execute ie; forest industry, compliance issues, for all industries ie low waterlevel blue/green algae/septic tanks in cottages

Legislation /enforcement

Update laws and regs in the province to remove top dog logic

normal farming practice

Drainage act

Follow Lake of the Woods project

New management approach

More responsible regulations

Fisheries control

General health of the lake

mandatory reporting of harvest

Regs to protect fish to reach spawning size and angling regs

Inspections of shoreline septic systems, agricultural practices, etc other discharger


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EDUCATING THE PUBLIC

Look for other communities Lake Simcoe and follow suit

Promoting catch and release

Inform public to accept the situation

High years/low years

Education

Tourism/economics focus

Today is the 1st

day of your life make it count work together

Lake Nipissing ecosystem must be better understood

Education of the community

Educating people - broadcasting summit going into schools radio Nugget, Social Media ie

Facebook

Look for comments from public Facebook

DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

Communication PR high profile and public awareness

Information with respect to the state of the Lake Nipissing must be communicated to lake users

and decision makers

Communications committee

Co-operation/communication between Lake Nipissing stakeholders

Communications/education to agricultural communityNext steps who drives the bus?

Commitment to management, joint lake wide, immediate

Need more comments, get ministries involved more between each other

Keep all members around the lake in the loop

Geographic cohesiveness, following of standard policies and regulations

Regular column in paper ex Nugget

Common comprehensive consensus point of view affects oneconomic socially as well

Not all municipalities and reserves are here and should be from here out

Alternate marketing campaign for fish species (diversify harvest)


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FUNDING MORE STUDIES

Restoring fish population, alter harvest immediately cut down harvest or close for certain

timeframe

Study spiny water flea what to do about it and what we know so far

Continue monitoring spiny, BGA

Creel count find a better way

Create value in other species

Protect young walleye find a solution could be reduction of # of young walleye that can be

caught

Blue green algae, spiny water flea and decline in mature walleye need an action plan to address

must be developed and implemented

Creel counts log catch

Agricultural prosperity adjacent to watershed

Review MSY and Quotas

Warm water outflow from harbor front (pollution, concentration)

Small problems need to be fixed - large problems need to be addressed ie; # of fishes coming

out of lake

Need good science freely available to all up to date current independent biologist

including First Nation information collected all year round

More broad based approach to research, produce management plans holistically

Need to be addressed urban issues like storm overflow

Storm water management 2 day/rain no swimming salt? necessary there are solutionsbut problems still remain

$$funding need new ideas foundation community

Watershed thinking

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES PARTICIPATION

Joint enforcement stronger

Provincial regulation to be looked at

Economic partnership with organization Chamber of Commerce MOE business Big

MNR enforcement many young fish coming up now slot size fish still being harvested

stricter penalties repeat offender

Greater MNR participation and collaboration

POLLUTION MONITORING


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Pollution issues sewage checks also an enforcement issue

APPENDIX C

Question 3

SET-UP COMMITTEE AND ADDITIONAL SUMMITS

Each talk to your community about what is happening to the lake

Each group identify someone who can sit on a committee

Each group identify a need to be addressed

Each group should realize other group needs and decide what they are willing to give up for the

lake

Need coordinating body anglers, scientific and government

Political advisory group

Set up advisory committee for education on issuesSupport consensus ie; cod population

Stick to it

Realize long term goals

Find a way to engage

Set goals and milestones

All mayors/councils be brought on board in order to communicate and agree on changes we

have to have meetings

Summit is unique it is starting a good example

Sub committees maintain respect when different points of view are shareAn unbiased fisheries specialist group (apolitical)

Inform ourselves, our neighbours, our groups that we are involved in

Keep momentum going

Develop matrix of contactswhos who resources from this group to draw on for area

meetings , media, communications, scientific, etc

Continue talking

Social events (make issues personal)

Education for tourism operators

Ongoing summit to (1 day/year) to allow info to be updated to community

Mayors and FN should formalize a Lake Nipissing Interest group

Establish a lobby group to promote the interests of the lake

A lake summit to be established on a routine basis (1/yr) to exchange info

Outreach to stakeholders that are interested in the well being of the lake


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OUTREACH TO STAKEHOLDERS COMMUNICATING THE ISSUES

Everyone understand the need for give and take collaboration

Take it as your personal task to help the lake each day

Political group send letter to MNR requesting their participation

Political group discuss with Vic Fedeli and Jay AspinMeet with Ministry of Environment

Take ownership of the problem before its irreversible

Educate, enforce long term, have pamphlets

Promote sustainable chemicals, detergents

Less lighting around the lake for shadflies

Drama might be having a stronger messages

People/organizations be able to give not always take

Need a gathering place ie Facebook page

Next steps matching funds with initiative user fees - $$$Creating additional recreation activities on the lake

Need to educate re garbage fishing regulations, septic systems, FN treaty rights,

Municipalities send out info through tax bills

Alternate revenue generation does not exhaust resources crown land use on atv bicycle

trails

Implementation of fishery hatchery

Reach out to rod and gun clubs to educate on rights, science

Ensuring sustainable opportunities (harvesting)

Look outside the province for other models

Leadership from NFN

CO-MANAGEMENT

Include all organization not just NFN/municipalities, stakeholders,

Chamber of Commerce, Tourism, Camp holders, universities, research organizations,

conservation authorization provincial bodies

From west to east biggest area of water North Bay should be a moderator and provide

leadership to get it goingNFN has the chance to be the leader in starting this change

Encompass all people/groups in decision making (meetings) from Callander to West Arm

French River Save our Lakes

Support each other unique contributions

Everyone has to be willing to make a contribution (MNR)


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Co-manage fishery with FNs

Support each other with a unique contribution

Co-management model Easter Georgian Bay model include Nipissing Trust Education

Partnerships NFN and tourism

Crisis fisheries and managementRecognition of Management systems

Education advisory committee educate public about the lake educate municipal leaders

Information shared between parties MNR/Greater Nipissing/NFN/etc

ACCOUNTABILITY COLLABORATION ON LAKE NIPISSING FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN

Municipals looking into Melbourne principles for sustaining cities and we should follow suit

Volunteer reduction in catch ongoing until formal regulations come into effect

We have to get past the blame stage

Science has to be providing some solutions with scientific details- personal involvement and

experience of lake (new also)

Barriers politics - $$$ - equal partners good faith democracy needed for larger forum

Ice fishing all take/no give user fees on commercial shacks has to stay on lake

Catch reporting forms mandatory reporting form ice fishing harvest accuracy

Highlight what everybody is already doing any gaps? Ie opportunities to support overall

sharing

Stage 2invite everybody who wasnt there ie MNR

This is a good 1st

step willing to participate

Share information and responsibility for the problemCompromise and creativity

No organic bait (artificial bait only)

Show NFNs leadership and initiative (public awareness strategies)

We need to work together stakeholders tourism MNR FN OPG etc

Share perspectives between tourism First Nations value of other species

Publicize names enforcementrestorative justice concept works well need to find ways

to work with offenders

Environmental/cultural protection

Cultural/social identity of lake respect of surroundingsCommunicate to fellow fishermen of factors contributing to decline of Nipissing Fishery do

not blame natives for harvesting or wasting less marketable species

Return to own home and act as individual with choice of change

Responsibility on user


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Possible re-branding managing in harmony with F.N. bring special attention co

management info flow try and change mentalities re fisheries, rights

Review regulations for next year needs to be done now this summer

Collaboration on info encourage participation by providing an economic, social benefit

Accountability and publicity positive supportSurrounding communities need to respect self governing laws, regulations

MNR transparency

How is technology impacting lake

ONE VOICE

Establish website, good science, interactive to add content, to see data (MNR)

Each one/teach one

Loud, united voice consensus and communication plan proper representationRecognize the princiiple values

Trust education

Pride in our lake

Bridge the gap

Best practice who leads

We must all take responsibility for the better good of the lake


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APPENDIX D

Survey given to participants

1. What days did you attend?

2. How did you hear about this event?3. How easy was the registration process for the summit?

4. Overall, are you satisfied with the online registration? Would you like to see other methods of

registration in the future?

5. Did the World Cafe format make you feel like part of the conversation towards the future of the

lake? (knowing that the report is soon to follow)

6. What would you consider was the most effective aspect of the Lake Nipissing Summit?

7. What could be done to improve the overall experience of the Lake Nipissing Summit?

8. Would you attend this event again?

9. Overall, were you satisfied with the conference, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with it, or

dissatisfied with it?

10. Comments?

Survey Results

A survey was distributed to all participants asking for their feedback on the organization and overall

effectiveness of the summit. From those who responded the following was discovered.

62% of participants attended both days of the summit. Reasons for not attending both were

mainly work related and prior commitments.

Over half of the participants found out about the summit through word of mouth

Almost 95% of participants found the World Caf format effective in allowing everyone to have

a voice.

All but 1 person said that they would attend the Lake Nipissing Summit again

Overall, 93.1% of participants were moderately to extremely satisfied with the overall format of

the summit

When asked what the most effective aspect of the Lake Nipissing Summit was, the follow were among

some of the responses:

Making people aware of the issues related to the lake and the viability of the fish populations.

The World Cafe was great because it gave people an opportunity to be engaged in the

discussion. The comments were displayed and open to all.

I enjoyed the ability of the facilitator to keep the discussion on track, as this issue can

sometimes be somewhat confrontational, especially between First Nations who are rights

holders and priority users and local anglers/tourists.


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Important to have both the research and the opinion side of the discussions to engender lively

discussion of views at the world cafe.

Hearing a variety of sources that ranged from academic scientific research presentations to

anecdotal. The "World Cafe" was interesting and valuable. I like the way the groups were pre-

structured by the organizers to include a diverse group. Good dialogue resulted between FNand non-FN.

All Components of value

I believe that the bringing together of different user groups so that each could hear the other's

viewpoints and concerns about the lake was very important. This I believe is a very effective,

and maybe the only, way, for people to understand how others utilize resources in and around

the lake. The world cafe was an effective tool as well to allow everyone to have their say

regarding what they feel are the most time-sensitive issues facing the health of the lake.

When asked what could be done to improve the Lake Nipissing Summit, the following comments were

made:

MNR involvement. Another Summit in one years time.

more small group interaction

Perhaps next year, the days could be blocked into themes, with both the talks and world cafe

discussions following each "set of presentations"

All stakeholders involved

The discussion at the end could have been longer and maybe directed by topic (i.e. breaking

down the issues and discussing issue by issue).

Could the summit address other concerns regarding water quality and biodiversity as well as

how to achieve a balanced approach for Lake Nipissing?

When asked for any additional comments, the following were some of the responses:

It is an event that engages people about the health of our lake and opportunities to discuss

some of the problems that need to be addressed. I hope that we will be able to make progress

if all involved take a united stance.

Chief Marianna and Mayor Al McDonald should be commended for organizing this important

summit

I enjoyed the summit, but there is still much work to be done, and action plans need to be

established.

While I felt the summit was an excellent start, I think the general public needs to be heard

from---even if it might prove to be rather contentious. The public needs to see the whole


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picture, not just their own point of view. That won't happen unless data (and the seriousness of

the situation) is made public.

The speakers were very educational and very competent especially Richard Rowe and Phil Hall .

Mr. Reynolds, the tourism man had some constructive ideas about providing more activities for

tourists besides fishing so as to have activities that would be of interest to all members of afamily

Lake Nipissing Summit Report

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