The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition (RLSC) hosted a concert at Big Bag Point Golf Club on Sunday in support of the lake.
Musical guests, The Boathouse Blues, a local band performed a mix of old blues-rock hits. Skip Wilson & The Hack Jams, a group of ukulele players, also performed.
The Boathouse Blues helped the Coalition raise around $2,000 this summer with a number of private outdoor parties including one at RLSC's Executive Director Claire Malcolmson's cottage in Innisfil.
Malcolmson was pleased with Sunday's turnout, which saw about 40 residents come out to support the cause, including MP John Brassard, MPP Andrea Khanjin, Deputy Mayor Dan Davidson, and Coun. Kenneth Fowler, and well-known researcher Jon Johnson.
The event was free to attend with donations welcomed to the RLSC. Altogether the fundraiser brought in $3,720, which included donations and the sales of art and cards.
Approximately 61 per cent of the colation's revenues this year have come from individual and group donations, with the balance coming from non-government grants.
"I interpret that as a very welcome show of public support for our feisty little group," said Malcolmson. "In keeping with our small but mighty identity, I enjoyed talking with politicians at all levels of government yesterday who attended the event."
"It was a great event," said longtime Innisfil resident and volunteer, Leslie Pollak.
"It was very well organized and fun to be at," added Coun. Fowler.
Malcolmson shared her ideas on the priorities for Lake Simcoe with the attending dignitaries. She believes the government has been lacking in its support for the lake.
"I encouraged them to get the province and the Feds to share the cost of building a phosphorus reclamation plant regardless of the outcome of the Upper York Sewage System (UYSS)," she said. "I also explained again to Andrea Kahnjin that the growth the province is directing at the Lake Simcoe watershed is too much and that the province needs to coordinate the sewage allocations, as regions and municipalities are struggling to meet both the Growth Plan and the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan requirements."
"There has been much work to keep Lake Simcoe clean, but more work ahead," said MPP Khanjin. "It was great to be surrounded by community members who love Lake Simcoe."
The mission of the RLSC is to save Lake Simcoe and protect its future. Recently they have been focusing on growth planning in Simcoe County with the Municipal Comprehensive Review, the Bradford Bypass, and Innisfil's MZO for the Mobility Orbit. They believe these projects would cause the lake harm, unless the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan is followed.
To learn more about the organization, visit their website here.
