r/OttawaValleyForests

Keywords: hunting regulations, moose, purchasing animal parts, legality, Renfrew County

This notice was posted last year in a killaloe laundromat in KHR Township, Ontario.

It is one of the most bizarre Public notices I have ever seen on a notice billboard in any public building.

It suggests an elderly hunter looking for a moosehead which he wants to mount at his hunt camp. He is willing to pay $2,000 for the moosehead providing it has a decent rack.

We can read many things into this simple wanted ad. But it raises more questions than answers. Does he intend to show off the moosehead to his comrades claiming he shot the animal? Is this a sad story of a hunter who grew too old and never had an opportunity to shoot his coveted moose? Or is this just a wannabe hunter reminiscing on the moose that got away?

The legality of purchasing animal parts also is unclear. Is a mounted moose head considered an animal part? Could this unsuspecting retired hunter be fined by the MNR in addition to paying $2,000 for this second-hand trophy?

Conversely, is this ad part of a covert MNR sting operation intended to intrap an unsuspecting poaching gang?

How would you interpret this laundromat notice board ad of an individual searching for a moosehead?

*SPECIAL NEWS UPDATE K H R COUNCIL MEETING LIVE*

May 19 2026

This evening KHR Council unanimously agreed on direct action against property owners whose properties are non-conforming to the property standards by- law intended to prevent the accumulation of garbage, refuse, appliances, and derelict vehicles.

This follows an emotional plea by councillor Carl Kuehl that during the past 20 years property standards have plummeted throughout the municipality and have created unsafe conditions which include broken windows, discarded syringes, and abandoned refrigerators. He argued the existing by- law is not being enforced.

Mayor Mayville emphasized that these conditions are preventing the economic advancement of the township. In short, outside investors including prospective new homeowners are deterred when confronted with unkept, filthy, and derelict infrastructure on private property within the municipality. Tourism and visitation is also adversely effected by the town's appearance. This amounts to lost tourism and tax revenue for the township.

Counselor Kuehl also commented that this dereliction is spreading outside the town limits and includes parts of Round Lake Center.

Although Ted Browne supported measures to enforce the existing by- law he argued the building inspector Tyler Mask found it problematic for the township to physically remove property in people's yards which owners claim are of value to them but objectively are trash. There was discussion on tweaking the existing bylaw to enable better enforcement.

Counselors discussed options of sending the offending party a letter of non-conformity giving an ultimatum to clean up the property. Failing this grace period the township would remove the garbage and add the expenses to the property owners tax bill.

The item is scheduled to be revisited during the next KHR council meeting with Tyler Mask on June 9th, 2026. Revising or completely replacing the existing by -law has not been ruled out.

This is one rare unanimous decision involving council and the Mayor to resolve an endemic problem which is to address the lack of personal pride and respect to upkeep private property.

The sentiments of council tonight reflect the arguments emphasized on this subreddit criticizing garbage, appliances and derelict vehicles abandoned on private property within Renfrew County.

Photo by the author: Greens Road, Old Killaloe

​

This WARNING has been recently posted on many of my articles. Who is being harassed? I believe it could be me! Freedom of Expression is a right under the Constitution. If you do not appreciate these posts please do not read them. Readers are not forced to endorse the premise of my posts. On the contrary, providing your divergent views respectfully contributes to the forum.

Keywords: allegations of harassment, interference, detractors, ridicule

The subreddit Ottawa Valley Forests continues to be harassed by readers who are opposed to its contents.

There have been several attempts to remove this subreddit by readers consistently filing allegations of third party harassment. ( See screenshot ).

Presumably the 'third party" refers to subjects in the articles which the author is critical and under investigation. These have included:

Resource industries engaged in questionable practices, 2) resort developers building in ESAs, 3) MNRF Ministers , 4) local MPPs 5) Ontario, Premier Doug Ford, 6) manufacturers and marketers of all terrain vehicles, and PWC, 7) the bear hunting lobby, 8) local politicians 9) the nuclear industry, 10) research and design of Robotics and drones, 10) property owners who accumulate garbage etc.

I encourage individuals genuinely opposed to this subreddit to file an official complaint with the social media Corporation Reddit to have it permanently removed through a judicious process, rather than petty and ineffective attempts to harass the author.

Keywords: Bark Lake, Madawaska, North Lakewoods Estates,

IS THIS VISION, ROOTED IN NATURE?

Prestige, glamor, youth and beauty. What could be more incongruous than the massive hundred acre clear-cut I am currently overlooking at the end of Skead Road. But the developers' marketers think otherwise. ( See: photo #4 of placard)

I write this gazing over Bark Lake in Madawaska Township, at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday. Hypocrisy is an understatement. But the slick marketers have managed to seduce society's wealthy and privileged who will buy these +/- million dollar lots. Each with private laneways which were carved through the Canadian shield using explosives.

Gone with the wind forever the wilderness qualities of Bark Lake.

The spectacle is visceral and nauseous; excavated boulders, stumps, and bulldozed outcrops overlook the magnificent Lake. All that remains of the original forest are stacks of logs.

Both sides of Skead Road have been subdivided and access laneways bulldozed through impossible slopes and bedrock. Hydro and Wells are in the process of being installed.

Referring this to a second Muskoka is a gross understatement. This elite estate project is undeniably the largest and most pretentious I have encountered in decades.

Clearly, gone with the wind is the public land that many of us formally enjoyed. It has unceremoniously fallen into the lap of the privileged.

It is all the more disturbing during a period in history where an increasing percentage of society huddle, in makeshift shelters surrounded by inner urban squalor. North Lakewood Estates is the epitome of capitalism.

How this project gained approval remains to be seen . Nothing short of a judicial inquiry would be required to unravel the political and bureaucratic irregularities. Public apathy is our greatest enemy. I drove the same road last year before the private laneways and Civic numbers had been installed along Skead Road. The transformation into building lots occurred almost overnight.

I will provide more details as they become available on this environmental travesty against the regions last large and, until recently, undeveloped Lake.

I suspect big money is involved by the number of attempts to remove the previous post condemning the development. Let me assure supporters of this estate development that any publicity is good publicity. Although that is certainly not the objective of my condemnation.

Photos: live on site from Skead Road Madawaska.

Disclaimer: this post has been drafted in the field and may contain minor errors.

Keywords: Bark Lake, Madawaska Valley, True North Lakewoods Estates, MKC, estate development, opposition

RELOCATING URBAN RECREATIONAL WARFARE ONTO A WILDERNESS LAKE.

My brother spent a career writing jingles for marketing companies. He stated a simple industry truth: " In advertising claim the opposite of what is true . If a Caribbean resort suffers from polluted beaches; boast instead it is surrounded by crystal clean waters".

The advertising for the exclusive estate lots on Bark Lake personify this principle. The developers are taking a pristine remote Lake and promoting inappropriate and incompatible uses such as personal watercraft, all terrain vehicles, speed boats and other intrusive recreation. Bark Lake is quickly becoming the domain of Party Central for the wealthy sons and families of corporate executive officers.

We are translocating "recreational urban warfare" into Bark Lake .

How can one claim driving a Sea-Doo "restores, reconnects and rediscovers nature", as advertisers insist, is a mystery to me.

These activities are incompatible with a wilderness setting . How the owners of this subdivision who spent their career promoting kayaking, canoeing and wilderness appreciation can, in clear conscience, allow this atrocity to transpire remains an unfathomable mystery.

If there wasn't a three-year waiting list to enter a psychiatric institution, I would admit myself without hesitation.

For paddlers and fisherman this is your last summer to paddle your canoe and kayak, or troll in tranquility. Once these estate homes are completed any authentic remembrance of Bark Lake will rest within the exclusive domain of my generation and my predecessor's memories

Keywords: Bark Lake, Madawaska Valley, North Lakewoods Estates, Madawaska Kanoe Center, Owl Rafting

It's not often that you find entrepreneurs who make their fortune introducing visitors to the wilderness, turn around and destroy the same paradise.

That is the history of North Lakewoods luxury estate development along Skead Road of HWY 60 on the east shores of Bark Lake in Madawaska Township.

The project was spearheaded by the owners of Owl Rafting, one of the largest white water rafting companies operating in Canada. The same owners established the Madawaska Kanoe Center where thousands of young people have been introduced to competitive whitewater kayaking and canoeing along the Madawaska River off Siberia Road

These were major achievements for the white water and paddling industry since the late 1970s and these entrepreneurs should be highly commended.

This is why the revelation is all the more shocking that their financial fortune was invested in a 1,500 acre luxury estate development which is gobbling up 5 km of waterfront along pristine Bark Lake, in the Madawaska Valley.

The project has a long history and initially the first developer for Lakewood Resort cleared land for a luxury hotel, Villa, and private airstrip.( See: last two photos)

Bark Lake until recently was surrounded by Crown Land. The legal transfer of this land to the private sector still remains a mystery. Bark Lake is comparable in size to Algonquin Park's Lake Opeongo. It would have made a significant contribution to the region's recreational economy by being designated a Provincial Park. It also would have relieved some of the pressure and crowding typical of Algonquin Park. That Park designation didn't happen.

Madawaska Valley inspectors have followed up past complaints of heavy shoreline clearing and other ecological destruction. The paved road pushed through the wilderness servicing the lots was also controversial.

I am profoundly disappointed that the people who have promoted wilderness recreation could in clear conscience turn around and exploit it for profit. This is a profound betrayal of the wilderness ethic.

How can we reverse the loss of 5 km of waterfront? How can we be assured the shoreline is not sacrificed by heavy equipment for the wealthy?

Is it right that disillusioned individuals like myself who sacrifice a lifetime attempting to protect wilderness, witness it fall into the hands of the financially elite and privileged instead of being enjoyed by the common people?

Photos; by the author Bark Lake 2025

Keywords: real estate, trees, value, rural prerogative to cut them down,

This photograph was taken at the corner of Division and Round Lake Roads in Round Lake Center. An elderly man wielding a chainsaw arrived in a dilapidated pickup truck and commenced cutting down the mature white pine surrounding this home.

It is a fact that trees increase a property's real- estate value. In suburban Canada homeowners expend considerable effort, time and money attempting to grow ornamental, shade and privacy trees around their properties. Not only does it substantially improve the appearance of their home, but it can regulate ambient temperature, assist in masking noise and the sight of surrounding buildings and roads.

Conversely, in parts of rural Canada, especially the more impoverished regions, property owners spend a comparable amount of effort removing the trees surrounding their homes.

The mature white pine surrounding this bungalow enhanced not only its appearance but resale value several fold. Realtors are equally frustrated by property owners who fail to realize that trees are a ticket to a prompt sale and frequently increase the possibility of achieving the property's full asking price. The majority of discerning purchasers place a premium on the presence of trees surrounding a home.

This scenario plays itself frequently with homeowners cutting trees adjacent to or in proximity to their homes. The reasons can be multifactorial. Most reasons are unjustified and unfounded.

In my previous jurisdiction I was hired as a arborist by homeowners to provide justification for trees they wanted removed. This was a requirement to apply and receive a tree cutting permit.

Here are a few unjustifiable reasons I encountered:

I am tired of raking pine needles or acorns. The walnuts are killing my petunias. The leaves are falling into my swimming pool. I am concerned a branch will fall on my shed. The tree may come down in a storm. The poplar branches may drop on my children.The tree is blocking sunlight from my garden. The tree's roots are damaging my foundation. I cannot get the grass to grow because of the shade. I want an increased breeze to reduce the mosquitoes. The pine gum is dropping on my car.

Needless to say, these people did not receive my blessing to obtain a tree cutting permit.

Many rural residents, especially the elderly take their surroundings for granted. But in a rapidly changing world those who have lived in, or on the outskirts of encroaching cities realize the value of trees and appreciate far more the aesthetics and functions they provide to their properties and by extension the undeniable enrichment to their lives.

How can we convince rural citizens that something they perceive as omnipresent and expendable is really a valuable contribution, not only to their property but the whole community?

Did anyone approach and encourage this elderly gentleman to leave his beautiful white pine trees alone? The identical scenario transpired three months earlier along Turner's Road where some elderly men cut the pine trees in front of their properties.

Is it time to enact a tree cutting by- law? This has become a necessity in many other jurisdictions to protect the value of communities from indiscriminate landowners who get a buzz from fueling up and yanking the rip-cord of a chainsaw.

ND. (There is no evidence that the trees in this example represented a threat to hydro lines).

Photo by the author: May 12th 2026 Round Lake Center.

Keywords: DARTT, DRONE TESTING FACILITY, AREA X.O.,BONNECHERE AIRFIELD, UPDATE, PUBLIC CONCERNS

Transport Canada in collaboration with private enterprise is wasting no time in building the Drone and Robotics testing and training facility at the former Killaloe airport.

This subreddit covered the progress of this facility one month ago. Since then a huge aviation hanger measuring over 100 m long by at least 50 m wide has been constructed .

Over two years ago local residents expressed concerns over surveillance and privacy from the proposed USE OF DRONES at this facility. The facility has installed a Cold War security system at its entrance resembling a high security prison penitentiary.

Apart from an elaborate website marketing the testing facility to potential clients there is little other available information on this rapidly expanding project several hundred meters from Bonnechere Provincial Park.

According to promoters the D A R T T system involves drones or unmanned aerial systems. It apparently is Canada's first center to integrate NIST standards for advanced robotic testing and training.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS FACILITY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR COMMENTS.

PHOTOS: BY THE AUTHOR. TAKEN TODAY MAY 12TH 2026

Keywords: spring bear hunt, modern technology, sportsmanship, hunting ethics

The spring bear hunt has commenced it will be followed by a fall bear hunt several weeks later. Sportsmanship usually entails fairness between predator and prey.

Technology has unbalanced this level playing field with digital infrared and motion detector cameras. This bear baiting station shows a barrel laced with molasses and corn. The surrounding pine trees have been smothered with cooking grease from a commercial kitchen. High in the tree an odiferous sac is hung containing pheromones from beaver glands.

While the hunter is sitting comfortably in his centrally heated home watching TV, for example, the camera will send an instant message to his smartphone every time the bear arrives for a tempting meal at the baiting station.

Since the hunter lives less than 700 meters away on an adjacent road he can arrive and dispatch the bear with little additional effort. Moreover, by determining the time of day the bear arrives to feed the hunter can strategically position himself in advance in his tree stand. Here he will wait until the anointed hour and kill the bear.

Certain cultures would find this abhorrent. I certainly question the sportsmanship involved in feeding, baiting and electronically monitoring a bear's behavior to obtain an unfair advantage before the animal is dispatched.

Technology has created a slippery slope involving questionable ethics in our quest to hunt animals. We have stacked the cards in our favor leaving little chance that the prey can escape and survive until the next hunting season.

Ministry biologists set quotas and seasons for bear hunting in Ontario. This has been strongly influenced by politics during previous provincial elections. It has been a pivotal political issue in the liberal parties attempts to obtain rural votes.

The use of advancing technology to hunt and kill animals has yet to come under the scrutiny by legislators for ethical evaluation. Apart from the type of firearms used in hunting ; who legislates the ethical means of pursuing ( ie cameras) animals in light of a plethora of new technologies intended to increase the probability of taking big game in Canada?

It is only within the last decade that trail cameras have been outfitted to send instant images vast distances.

This reminds me of the 1924 short story by Richard Connell: THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. In this narrative the prey (a former big game Hunter) became a fugitive lost on a remote island only to become the prey for an aristocrat who had become bored of killing animals and instead resorted to hunting humans).

Are we hunting animals giving ourselves an unfair advantage?

Keywords: construction, homes, labor shortage, modular homes, Royal Homes

A decade ago a neighbor's pan-abode cottage was torn down and a prefabricated modular home installed . The owner assured us the footprint would remain the same and the dwelling would reduce the period of disruption from construction activities.

Obviously, I was skeptical and reviewed the application via the access to information Act at the township office before driving to Peterborough to speak with a sales representative with Royal Homes.

The lot was on a very steep hill accessed by a narrow 300 m long private lane-way. The logistics were daunting. But the owner was not one for either preserving the aesthetics of trees nor abandoning the convenience of a quick maintenance free home. Royal Homes, to retain their reputation of "building anywhere", were reticent in backing out of their marketing commitment , and the project was large enough to represent a comfortable profit.

The owner washed his hands of any possible liability and signed a contract abdicating his responsibility for any damages or accidents.

There was a 45 % turn half way up the lane-way and after the trees were cut and foundation poured the buildings arrived on flat-beds . The first of two sections of the prefab was backed up the small mountain. The workers had never encountered this type of terrain as they were from the flats of Lindsay and Toronto.

I watched in disbelief as it appeared there was not foreman in charge and the whole procedure was a disaster ready to happen. The truck was not anchored from above or behind to prevent a possible roll or break failure.

The flatbed did start to roll horizontally and the tailors rear wheels started to lift off the ground. Where were the health and safety inspectors? What was the safety protocol? Who was in charge?

The small 20'x20' cedar cottage and treed lot was obliterated in the construction process and replaced with an unsightly plastic sided prefab in a neighborhood where homes never sold below a million dollars.

This was not integrating a building with the environment. The transportation process caused extensive damages to the landscape. The lane-way, and trees on adjacent lots were damaged. Royal Homes lost money on the contact. Moreover, the amount of addition retrofits extended the homes completion dead-line and cost another two years. The lane-way washes out several times a year now from the additional impermeable surface of the massive new building.

Haste makes waste. Attempting to fit a square peg in a round hole is not working with the natural environment, but against it. This type of shortsightedness is unfortunately on the increase with Ontario's shortage of skilled tradesman.

Will we ever return to a point in history where people work with ; and not against the environment ?

Keywords: waterfront development, floodplain development, Bark Lake, Madawaska, landscaping and construction companies

Construction companies in the Madawaska Valley including Round Lake Center are advertising their services to waterfront private property owners intent on developing the waterfront. This advertising has the detrimental effect of legitimizing and promoting this damaging activity.

This activity is frowned upon by greater society for its negative environmental effects. These include, the elimination of natural shoreline, a reduction in water quality, the destruction of fish habitat and spawning areas, and a loss of critical wildlife habitat.

Whereas, a new cottage owner who has recently purchased an existing older dwelling requiring erosion control may be a legitimate client for these companies; more recent and new developments should be strictly prohibited.

On the east shore of Bark Lake, one of the Ottawa Valley's largest least developed Lakes, large waterfront homes are being built.

The last three photographs illustrate a new waterfront house under construction in 2025 where several acres of shoreline were cleared of all vegetation down to the water. This has a severe environmental effect on the continuity of the shoreline in this mostly undeveloped Lake. Activities like this often are not approved and are frequently built without permits.

It behooves neighbors and members of the public to report any construction activity near or adjacent to a shoreline to ensure that the legitimate permits have been issued.

Secondly, it is common practice for property owners to go above and beyond the limits of their permit. This requires public vigilance. Go receive a copy of the neighbor's permit and monitor the work to ensure it does not exceed its conditions.

If you see waterfront modification in progress contact your municipal building department and ask if permits have been issued for work on that lot. Insist an inspector be dispatched to confirm conformity.

Photos: Facebook construction company ad, waterfront home under construction on Bark Lake, view of the lake from the new home.

Contact: Mandy Fillator Ontario government inspector for inland Waters at:

Mandy.fillator@Ontario.ca 613 401-1493 Integrated Resource Management Specialist Renfrew, MNR.