Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association
Annual General Meeting Minutes
Date: September 27, 2025
Location: 3136 Vaseux Lake Crescent
Call to order, Grant Temple, 2:05 pm.
Roll Call:
Grant Temple, Norm Gaumont, Christie Sacre, Julie Martineau, Diane Worth, Bruce Hirtle, Bernadette Hirtle, Mark Green, Nan Clark, Michelle McReavy, Meredith Davidson, Michelle Gaumont, Sean Hirtle, Taryn Winsor, Monika Jones and Orv Schattenkirk
Online via Teams: Bruce Hay
Adoption of Agenda
Grant Temple motioned the agenda be adopted, Norm Gaumont
seconded. All in favour.
Minutes of last Annual General Meeting
Norm Gaumont motioned they be accepted, Diane seconded. All in
favour.
Items for discussion at this year’s AGM:
1. Proceed with election of 8 Board of Director positions:
a. President: Norm Gaumont nominated Grant Temple, Christie
Sacre seconded, all in favour.
b. Vice-President: Grant Temple nominated Christie Sacre, Orv SchaƩenkirk seconded, all in favour.
c. Financial Officer, Norm Gaumont nominated Sean Hirtle, Taryn Winsor seconded, all in favour.
d. Secretary – Retention of Documents: Orv SchaƩenkirk nominated Monika Jones, Julie Martineau
seconded, all in favour.
e. Project Coordinator and Media Liaison:
Christie Sacre nominated Norm Gaumont, Taryn Winsor seconded, all in favour.
f. 3 Additional Board of Directors:
Gord Smith – (Letter accepting the nomination was presented by Norm Gaumont as Gord Smith was not in attendance) nominated by Norm Gaumont, seconded by Monika Jones, all in favour.
Nan Clark – nominated by Grant Temple, seconded by Sean Hirtle, all in favour.
Bruce Hay – nominated by Norm Gaumont, seconded by Christie Sacre, all in favour.
2) Financial Report presented by Sean Hirtle,
Motion: Norm Gaumont made a motion to adopt the financial report.
Status: seconded by Grant Temple, it was adopted unanimously
3) Grant Temple discussed the report called: ‘Evaluation of Anticipated Impacts of the KVR Multi-use Trail
in the Vaseux-Bighorn National Wildlife Area’ prepared by Jared Hobbs, M.Sc. R. P. Bio.
Grant Temple explained the need for a biologist report to help determine potential impacts on wildlife in
the Vaseux-Bighorn National Wildlife Area (VBNWA).
Jared Hobbs graciously donated some of his Ɵme to complete the report, Rene McKibbin of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) was contacted and the Federal Government contributed $2800 towards this report. The VLSA board authorized an additional $3080 for the report which had a final cost of $$5880.
At present there are no applications for a multi-use trail along the Provincial Crown Lands – KVR South
Spur which intersects the VBNWA on the west side of Vaseux Lake. Our goal is to look into the appeal process with the BC Environment Assessment Office in case an application for a multi-use trail is ever applied for. Using Jared Hobbs’ report as evidence, we would submit an appeal to the present regulations. It is noted that the VLSA is not against a multi-purpose trail and would fully support a multi-use trail on the East side of the lake.
Grant Temple also briefly discussed the meeting of the Board with the ECCC (Rene McKibbin) on September 25th, 2025. This meeting reviewed the role of the ECCC and impacts of a potential trail. The meeting also discussed the potential for the VLSA as Stewards of the VBNWA. Rene McKibbin stated she
would help the board apply for a permit granting access. It was also pointed out that it is illegal to hike in the VBNWA without a permit, although policing this is impossible. Ms. McKibbin noted that a Stewardship permit would only allow for the VLSA to note and report incidents that violate the NWA.
Stewards do not represent the ECCC and would be mainly used for documentation of issues such as open
fires, trail building, camping and littering.
It was suggested we may wish to approach other organizations/associations with interests in the preservation of the wildlife reserve to become signatories to any potential appeal. (ie. Ducks Unlimited, Nature Trust, Okanagan Nation Alliance, Osoyoos Indian Band).]
Grant Temple discussed the nature and potential costs of an appeal stating an appeal could cost between
$3000 – $5000.
Further discussion followed.
Motion:
Christie Sacre made a motion to move forward with this appeal to the British Columbia Environmental
Assessment Office (BC EAO) as to the recommendations in Jared Hobbs’ report.
Status:
Norm Gaumont seconded, all voted in favour.
4) Report on the Harvester Progress – Grant Temple and Norm Gaumont
This year’s milfoil harvest was completed successfully in August. This machine cuts 10 to 12 feet below
the surface. There seems to be more milfoil washed up at the south end of the lake than usual. Due to
the nature of the lake being a Bird Sanctuary with young recently hatched ducklings and turtle hatchlings the harvester is not permitted on the lake until August.
Sean Hirtle asked about the possible use of an existing chemical herbicide that only targets milfoil. Norm Gaumont stated he has seen reports that the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has stated that at this time no chemicals will be allowed in the Okanagan water system. Grant Temple mentioned he is in
contact with several lake stewards that are presently testing the chemical ProcellaCOR (florpyrauxifen-benzyl). It has been widely used in Ontario with fantasƟc results and is approved by Health Canada.
Unfortunately, until the OBWB changes its policy it can not be used.
5) Siltation Project – Grant Temple and Norm Gaumont
Dredging is being done yearly at the confluence of Shuttleworth Creek and the Okanagan River canal.
The ten-year goal is to return the river back to its natural meandering state without harming any of the
sensitive or threatened wildlife in the area. (ie. nesting habitat for the at-risk tiger salamander)
Some discussion followed.
6) Number of goslings on the lake This year there were over 170 goslings on the island. E-coli was up this
year due to the amount of goose poop in the lake. Bruce Hay will request that we be informed when the addling is being done and ask if someone from the Association can accompany the crew doing the addling next year.
7) $6000 Grant from the OBWB – Grant Temple
We receive a two-year grant to cover the cost of water testing. We receive this in two payments of $3000 per year. Norm Gaumont is currently doing the testing which also requires driving the results to Kelowna.
The grant covers any costs incurred for the testing such as chemicals, water testing equipment, actual testing of the water and mileage for the volunteer to get the water samples to the lab. If anyone is
interested in volunteering, please contact one of the Board members.
8) Yellow Flag Iris update – Julie Martineau
There is a four-year contract with Wildlife Canada to attempt to eradicate this invasive plant that is damaging the ecosystem along the shoreline. There is one year remaining in this contract. Julie Martineau described the process of laying mats and dead-heading with help from volunteers which appears to be successful in affected areas.
More information can be found on the VLSA website.
9) Web Page – Julie Martineau has been managing the website and since she is leaving the area and stepping down from this duty, she is happy to meet with any potential volunteers. Christie Sacre, offered
to assist, and anyone else that may be willing to help is welcome to join them. Contact Christie Sacre if you are interested in helping with the web page.
10) Maintenance of Public Access corridors.
Norm Gaumont requested an increase in funds from the RDOS for upkeep of these access points and we have received a 20% increase. Presently RDOS provides the VLSA with $1200 to hire a landscaper to manage the two corridors off of Sundial Road.
11) New Business
Nan Clark asked about directors’ liability insurance. There was some discussion as to the need for this. Nan Clark will look into this further.
Motion:
Bruce Hay moved that the Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association indemnify its Directors against any legal actions, claims, or proceedings arising from or related to the performance of their duties in their capacity as Directors of the Association, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Rationale:
This motion is intended to provide legal protection to the Directors of the Association while acting in good faith and within the scope of their authorized responsibilities.
Status:
The motion was seconded by Norm Gaumont, discussed, and all voted in favour.
This will be added to the Association bylaws.
Grant Temple presented a gift to Julie Martineau and arrangements were made to have gifts given to Colin Worth and Randy Ruf who were not able to attend the meeting for their contributions to the
Association.
Grant Temple moved to close the meeting, Bernadette Hirtle
seconded and the meeting ended at 3:50 pm