The Temagami Lakes Association was founded in 1931 by a group of property owners who were concerned in the future of the Lake.

After 95 years, the TLA has 550+ members (most of whom are cottage owners from all corners of the Lake), as well as numerous commercial members and non property owners who support the mission of the organization.

The TLA serves as the voice, eyes, and ears of cottage owners and others who value the “Temagami Experience”. An investment in a TLA membership is akin to purchasing an insurance policy that protects the Lake. We welcomes new members – property owners and others, alike. Please click here to join.

Services:

The TLA provides many important services to members, such as a property patrols, and VHF radio communication – which links members to one another and provides a means to rally the entire community in case of an emergency (e.g., fire, severe weather event).

The TLA provides many other communication opportunities: e-mail, a landline, and mail delivery (through its Headquarters Building in the Hub of the Lake); an annual Membership Directory; and, the Temagami Times newspaper (which is published three times per year).

The TLA provides enjoyable social opportunities on the Lake (e.g., get-togethers, Annual General Meeting).

In addition, the TLA publishes Lake Temagami shoal maps, which are available for purchase at the TLA Building (in July and August) and various local businesses.

Municipal Planning:

The TLA plays an invaluable policy and planning role to ensure the environmental and aesthetic protection of the “Temagami Experience”. The TLA is dedicated to ensuring that the “Tenets For Temagami” are embedded in all planning documents for the Temagami area. The “Tenets” are a set of principles (agreed upon by the Township of Temagami, the TLA, and the Lake Temagami Permanent Residents’ Association on March 8, 1994) that promote the TLA’s core values of no mainland development, protection of the “Skyline Reserve” (and “Ecological Buffer Reserve”), and a ban on new road access to Lake Temagami. As a condition of amalgamation, they were incorporated into the Municipality of Temagami’s “Official Plan”. This remains the case for the 2026 iteration of this plan.

Environmental Issues:

As the largest representative group of property owners and others, the TLA communicates as required with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks about fish, wildlife, and other natural resources of importance to the Lake. It also articulates concerns about lakewater levels that are controlled by the dam at Cross Lake to Ontario Power Generation. The TLA also communicates regularly with, and represents the interests of cottage owners, to the Municipality of Temagami – especially in matters of planning, zoning, the Lake Temagami Access Road, invasive species, and taxation.

Recent Initiatives:

(i) In 2010, the association initiated and invested in a lake-wide, water-quality, monitoring program to evaluate water quality on a regular basis and compare the results over time. This program was taken over by Temagami Environmental Research and Stewardship (TERAS) when it was established a registered charitable organization in 2013. TERAS is closely associated with the TLA and is dedicated to organizing, funding, and participating in environmental-monitoring and research projects to preserve and protect Lake Temagami and surrounding areas – and increasing public understanding about these issues. Since that time, it has also engaged in other environmental initiatives (e.g., a paleolimnology study) on Lake Temagami.

(ii) In 2023, the “Temagami Shoreline Clean-Up Challenge” was established. It encourages year-round and seasonal residents, as well as visitors, to seek out and collect trash that is in the water or lying on mainland or island shorelines in the Temagami area. Prizes are awarded in various categories.

(iii) In 2025 and 2026, the TLA has acted in conjuction with the Teme Augama Anishinabek “Guardians” to mitigate invasive species through removal of invasive Phragmites along the Lake Temagami Access Road, .

(iv) In 2026, the TLA purchased signage to educate boaters about the presence of Eurasian Watermilfoil and how to prevent spreading it. These signs were installed at various, Municipal, boat-launching sites in Temagami.

N.B., Previous projects have included: campsite clean-ups and privy installations; the building and placement of loon-nesting platforms; loon surveys; and, a lead fishing-sinker exchange program.

Community Support:

The Association also supports local service organizations, such as the Temagami Lions Club, Temagami Legion, Temagami Public Library, and the Temagami Area Fish Involvement Program (TAFIP), along with the Temagami Public School.