Eavestroughs and WaterFlow
Over the winter, debris such as leaves and other natural matter can build up, blocking the eavestroughs and inhibiting the flow of water away from your cottage– this may cause water to enter your cottage if not dealt with. Clear any obstructions from the gutter, and if you are able to do so safely, from the entire roof as well. Soil erosion may also have occurred over the off-season. Take a walk around your property to ensure that there are no new pathways for water to flow towards your cottage and that no water is pooling near the foundation or supports.

Natural Debris and Pests
The cold season will have likely left branches, leaves and other debris scattered around your property; this should be cleared away when reopening your cottage. After a particularly stormy winter, you may return to your cottage to find trees that have fallen or appear to be susceptible to falling. If this is the case it may be wise to have an arborist visit your property to inspect and advise you on how to safely remove the tree. Small animals and insects may have taken refuge inside your home while you were away–keep an eye out for signs of unwelcome guests such as droppings, evidence of chewing, or burrows that lead underneath your house. If you continue to observe these signs and common solutions such as traps and pesticides have not yielded any results, call call a local exterminator for professional assistance.

Septic Systems
Though a septic system presents a minimal risk of backing up into your cottage when compared to a municipal system, it is still important to have your system inspected and pumped every 2-3 years. This regular maintenance of your septic systems prevents potential damage to your property and is also critical to reducing the chance of polluting the local ecosystems and impacting the quality of your lake water. For more information on septic systems, visit FOCA’s website.

Fireplaces and Woodstoves
May long weekends in Ontario don’t always feel like summer, and we might have to make use of our woodstove or fireplace to get us through the first few weekends at the cottage. Before you ignite any sparks, ensure that your home is equipped with a full fire extinguisher and fire handing tools, such as pokers and fireproof gloves. Check the stovepipe for any damage such as rust or shifting. Remove all coverings from your stove/ fireplace and check the chimney and flue for blockages. Lighting a small test fire will reveal any additional obstructions in the chimney. Remember that even at the cottage, regular chimney cleanings are a critical safety measure. Visit our Woodstove Safety post to learn more.

Boats
Spring boating requires extra caution as certain hazards, such as floating debris in the water or even ice, if the weather is still on the colder side, may be unexpected obstacles in your path. Be wary of these before you take your boat out, especially if it is relatively early in the season. Perform an inspection on your tanks and fuel lines, and ensure that your craft is supplied with all the necessary safety equipment (see the Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide, page 16). Finally, make sure that you have a valid Pleasure Craft Operator Card on your person or in the boat every time you use it.

The Drive
As you prepare for your first weekend away at the cottage, remember that a higher level of patience may be required for the trek. The excitement of ‘getting away’ for the long weekend is often challenged by the considerable traffic jams as thousands of people head to and from their holiday destinations. Plan for longer travel times, pack the car with your belongings beforehand and avoid overloading. Ensure that any roof or trunk racks, as well as the items attached to them, are properly secured. If you are towing a trailer, be aware of your blind spots and test its lights before you leave. Always drive as safely and distraction-free as possible and avoid texting while behind the wheel. On arrival, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy your piece of paradise!

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This year, visitors to our booth will be invited to ‘Spin to Win’! Drop by our booth, spin the wheel, answer a simple quiz question about cottage life, and be entered into a draw to win a $250 gift card to Canadian Tire!

We will be at Booth #1278 in Hall 2 (near the food area!) and hope if you find yourself at the show, you will drop by and say hello!

For details about the show, tickets, and how to get there: CLICK HERE

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In an attempt to promote safe boating and as a benefit to members, Associations across the province have become increasingly involved in the marking of rocks and shoals in their areas. As with many other “Good Samaritan” activities, rock and shoal marking can unfortunately expose an Association and its members to the risk of being named in a legal action, alleging negligence.

According to Transport Canada, “in Canada, persons, organizations, corporations or other groups may place “private buoys” on the water to inform other mariners. When you place a private buoy, you are responsible for following Canada’s Private Buoy Regulations under the Canada Shipping Act.” An Owner’s Guide to Private Buoys is available on their website for your review and sharing. The document further confirms that “in the event of an accident, private buoy owners may also be found liable for any damages resulting from negligent operation and/or maintenance of the private buoy.”

In order to minimize and mitigate the risks associated with your Association’s rock & shoal marking, it is recommended that Associations take the following into consideration:

1. Ensure that the Insurer of the Association is aware of the activity. There is typically a small additional premium for such an exposure. It is, however, critical that the Insurer be aware that this activity is within your scope of operations.
2. Notify all members or property owners of buoy placement and removal dates.
3. Use the Transport Canada documentation to ensure the buoy used is approved, or refer to FOCA for additional information.
4. Disclaimers should be distributed where possible, such as in your newsletter. Such notices should point out that although an effort is being made to mark specific lake or waterway hazards, your Association is not responsible for ensuring all hazards are marked or continue to be marked. Be clear with the membership about the locations being marked and when they are being marked.
5. Ensure your members and property owners understand that, ultimately, every individual operator of a watercraft is responsible for safe boating, including the avoidance of hazards.
6. Ensure that any device used to secure the buoy anchor, chains, or ropes are safely secured during the offseason to prevent causing an additional hazard. These devices should not be made of material that may cause injury to surface users, such as ATV and snow machines or their passengers.
7. If your Association decides to stop marking a rock or shoal, or get out of the activity altogether, make sure you give your membership and property owners sufficient notice of your plans. The longer that the Association marks the rocks and shoals, the more precedent has been set, and the more notice and communication you should provide to community members.

If this marking is carried out by an individual and not on behalf of an Association, their homeowners liability policy could provide liability protection. However, it is important that these individuals confirm their coverage with their own Insurer or Insurance Broker.

The FOCA Association Insurance program offers coverage for Rock & Shoal marking, as well as many other activities usual to the operation of lake, land, and road organizations! For more information and to request a quote, visit www.cadeinsurance.com/foca, or call us at 1-844-CADE-1ST.

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Risk Management and Insurance for Road Groups

For the hundreds of organizations across Ontario concerned with the maintenance and upkeep of roadways, frequent topics of discussion include risk management, loss prevention and insurance.

With respect to road maintenance, the efforts of individual volunteers keep thousands of seasonal and year-round properties accessible. It is critically important that these volunteers, and the property owners they serve, take measures to mitigate loss and minimize risk, and this can include arranging for appropriate and adequate insurance protection.

Many Road Associations have availed themselves of the FOCA Association Insurance Program offered as one of FOCA’s member benefits.
A Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy will respond to claims of bodily injury, property damage and personal injury (libel, slander, wrongful eviction, etc.) to third parties that arise out of the activities and operations of the Association. The CGL policy responds to investigate and defend the claim, and to pay those compensatory damages for which the Association becomes legally liable, up to the limits of the policy. Volunteers acting on behalf of the Association are insured under the policy and are protected by the Association’s CGL policy against any claims brought against them directly as a result of conducting their volunteer duties under the direction of the Association.

In the absence of an Association insurance policy, a third party claiming damage might instead list all property owners on the road, requiring the home/cottage policies of each individual property owner to respond.

It is important to note that property and liability insurance wordings are not standardized. Therefore, property owners on a private road should obtain from their own personal insurance provider written confirmation that their homeowners or cottage insurance policy will provide them with liability coverage, in the event that they are named in a claim arising from an incident occurring on their private or common access road. Some personal property insurance providers in Ontario do not offer this protection. The FOCA insurance policy automatically includes liability protection for the Association’s members ‘in good standing.’

Each road is unique and requires a customized insurance solution. If you have any questions or would like more information regarding insurance for your Road Association, call 1-844-CADE-1ST or www.cadeinsurance.com/foca. FOCA’s Association Insurance Program coverage is also available for lake, cottage, and landowning organizations. Contact Cade Associates to find out more.

With respect to risk management and roads, we do recommend that Associations specifically consider the following:

Contractors
Many Associations hire contractors to provide services throughout the year, including grading and snow removal. The Association should request that their contractor provide a Certificate of Insurance which clearly identifies the Association as an Additional Insured on the contractor’s policy. This ensures that the contractor’s policy will respond to defend the Association if the Association is named in a claim arising out of the contractor’s activities. The Certificate will also provide evidence of the contractor’s insurance limits and coverages. Contractors are able to obtain this certificate normally at no additional charge from their insurance provider. Depending on the nature of the contractor’s work on behalf of the Association, a WSIB ‘Clearance Certificate’ should also be provided by the contractor.

Signage
Signage at roadway entrances that reads ‘Private Road’ can assist in limiting access and use. Appropriate speed signs should be posted along the roadway. Further, signage should be strategically placed in advance of any significant change in the condition of the road, be it a sharp bend, blind corner or hill, or significant drop-off on the roadside.

Fee Collection
Always a difficult Association topic, Insurers strongly recommend against the posting of names of members whose fees are outstanding, to avoid exposure to claims of libel. In the unfortunate event that collection of fees requires further action, the court system (Small Claims Court) offers an alternative to a Collection Agency and minimizes exposure to claims of libel and slander.

Final note: FOCA member Road Associations can access additional resources at www.foca.on.ca (search: road)

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