Lake Joseph, ON

Lake Joseph will always be in my heart and soul. I grew up spending summers by the lake with my brothers and our extended family, and I spent some quality time with my dear cousins, cementing our lifelong connection. I've spent hours wandering along the shorelines, paddling on the lake, swimming, and admiring the wildlife and vegetation there. The cottage drinking water comes directly from the lake, and is treated with a UV filter prior to consumption.

My experiences at Lake Joseph as a child inspired me to pursue Biology and Sustainability Studies in university, and to work in the field of environmental education, with the goal of motivating others to spend time in nature and to protect it.

It saddens me to see changes at the lake: blasting ancient Canadian Shield rock to make way for monstrous new cottages; more and more motorized boats zooming across the water; exorbitant property prices (and taxes); and no trespassing signs that limit and prevent public access. To me, the spirit of the lake has always been as a shared treasure, for humans and wildlife alike to enjoy.