Welcome

The West Panache Campers’ (ESPANOLA) Association was formed to assist campers who are in the West Lake Panache Area in their endeavours toward safer, more enjoyable camping.  It provides members of the camping community a unified voice for communications with various government institutions.  Of prime importance is the promotion of boating and water safety, the environment, fire safety and preservation of Association property.  

The West Panache Campers’ (ESPANOLA) Association shall be representative of those parts of Lake Augusta and Lake Panache that are within the Townships of Foster and Truman. 

​What's New

Annual Picnic (with our friends from LPCA) will be held at Mountain Cove Lodge on July 29, 2023. 

We have been informed that there will be a harvest on both the North Shore of West Bay along with Stoney Bay.
 
Please note that Northshore Forest Inc has proposed a revision to the 2022-23 Annual Work Schedule to add Harvest Block #8392, near the west end of Panache Lake and Augusta Lake. This proposed revision will make available red and white pine logs for Midway Lumber in Thessalon, as well as fibre for other area mills.
 
Harvest Block #8392 is approximately 274 hectares. See summary and map attached.
 
The WPCA commented during the development of the 2020-2030 Northshore Forest  Management Plan, and this block is now being proposed for harvest this winter. If you have any specific comments or concerns with this proposed revision to the AWS please contact me as per below. 

Map of North  Shore
1mu680_2022_aws_map_ops74512_02__1___1_.pdf


Map of Stoney bay area
2_mu680_2020_fmp__stoney_bay_map_ops74612_00.pdf
 
The Northshore Forest Management Plan and Annual Work Schedule can also be viewed on the Natural Resources Information Portal at https://nrip.mnr.gov.on.ca/s/fmp-online.
 
 
Bob Robinson R.P.F., Management Forester
Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry
NRF Sudbury District Office
3767 Hwy 69 S, Suite 5, Sudbury, ON P3G 1E7
Phone 705/618-4832
Bob.l.robinson@ontario.ca


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Link to AED Zoll 3 Training Video

Now that we have our AED in place. Please take the time to view the training video and if possible take a CPR course.

https://youtu.be/p0lWbEBOYFk

2023 Season is Here!

We look forward to seeing you at the AGM.  Come meet your neighbours on the Lake.  Find out what's going on.  Get involved!

The 2022 Membership Form is now available.  Join today!

Also, talk to your lake neighbours about the Association, and encourage them to join.  By our count, about half the camps in the jurisdiction are members of the Association.  We'd like to increase that to 75%!

Please take a minute to review the Minutes of the 2021 by following the link to the right.  Key issues discussed were:  Fire safety, dock repair and parking lot
organization. 

Please contact us if you'd like to get involved in the WPCA.  There are lots of volunteer opportunities.  

Also, if you have suggestions on how to improve the Association, let us know.

We appreciate your ongoing support.

Jim Cree,
WPCA Secretary 

Dock Maintenance

Gate:  In order to keep our newly refinished dock in good shape, we install a gate to prevent winter traffic.  Snow machine tracks do significant damage to the dock. The gate is not locked, so can be removed in an emergency.

2021 Director List/Contacts 

See Contacts

We are on Facebook

To find the site, log on to facebook and type in 'West Bay Panache Campers' in the search bar at the top of the page.  This is a public site, so feel free to add your comments about the weather, lake conditions, photos, etc (updated March 27,2020)

Fees/Membership

We have clarified that the non member parking without an annual pass is $5.00 per day.

See Link on the right side of page.

Fire Prevention

See link under menu header 'Fire Prevention'.  Fire Response information moved to this tab as well as the inclusion of map locations to both Fire Caches.   

Winter Boat Storage

Winter boat storage will be available in the WPCA main parking lot for a fee:
members $50, non members $100.  See details under menu header 'Guidelines'. (updated 03/27/2020)

 Thank you!

Thank You to Our 2021 Volunteers for:

• Return of our US members to the lake was great to see and although it occurred later in the year, they hopefully will have a more “normal” camping experience going forward.
• Directors for their volunteer efforts this year, including Dock and property maintenance.
• Water Steward Mike Michalski, Water Quality testing/reporting, and Blue Algae Lab analysis and report. How fortunate we are to have Michael on board.
• A special thank you to all the members who contributed donations
• Guy Shank Chairman of the Local Roads Board, worked hard to resolve the MTO roads issues from last year. 
• AED Committee lead by Jim Cree, Geoff Jeffrey, Angie Frisina, Mike Bradley
• Wayne Caccio providing power for AED station, along with main dock light
• Brushing and dragging roads, Charlie Cole, Mike Arthurs, Doug Jacklin

 

Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations

Part of your membership fee is used to purchase a membership in the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Associations.  FOCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting thriving and sustainable waterfronts, year round.  They provide competitive insurance for Association activities and a wealth of information about environmental and stewardship issues.  See the website here.
(updated 09/07/19)

Maximum Dock Load Limit

A 'Maximum Load Limit 5 Tons' sign has been placed on the dock.  Your directors felt this was necessary in order to extend the life of our aging dock.  If you are having anything exceeding that load limit delivered, then alternate plans will have to be made.  Espanola Home Hardware have agreed to comply with the new weight restriction.
(updated 10/02/2013)

 New Water Quality Data for 2020

Special thanks to Michael Michalski for his continued monitoring of the quality of our lake water and providing this data.  If you are interested in reading more about the Ontario Lake Partner Program go to 2020_lake_partner_program_western_portion_of_lake_panache_nov_2020.pdf
(updated 3/30/2021)

Membership

Quick Link Membership Form.  
2023  2023_wpca_membership_form.pdf

Newsletters / Meeting Minutes

Link to Link towpca_2022_newsletter.pdf ​
Link to news_letter_2023_.pdf
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​Link to ​
​minutes_annual_meeting_november_2022.pdf

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​ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The AGM will be held via zoom on Sunday November 27 2023 at 7:00 pm

Address

West Panache Campers Association
PO Box 5193
​Espanola, ON  P5E 1S2

Fire Response Numbers

9In case of fire, please call one of these numbers:

• MNR 705-869-1330 (business hours)
• 911
• 1-888-863-3473
• 310-FIRE  (310-3473)

The registered address for the main dock is:

West Bay Camper's Association
Fire Shack #1
The closest town is "Espanola"