Lakes and rivers

In this context, a lake association is a group of volunteer residents who have a common interest in protecting the quality of the lake’s water, landscapes and uses.

Regroup!

The word explains it very well. One is good, but two is better. Alone, it is very difficult to impose rules and criteria on a group of owners. With a united group, lake association residents will be able to better express their wishes, and also regulations and information required for the survival of their lake.

What to start with

A common interest must be established by the majority of residents. A meeting is required to validate the interest and expectations of each owner. It is best to call upon an already existing Lake Association in order to know the steps to follow, the good and bad things that happened along the way. You can begin with a temporary committee which will look into the interest of setting up an association. Once the main objectives have been established, you can then send them to the other residents in the form of door-to-door delivery (the most effective), mail or e-mail, to indicate the intention of forming an association. A date must be indicated for the meeting.

The types of association

There are different legal forms for an association that citizens can choose from:

Not personified Association (not endowed with the legal person):

• Uncomplicated structure, with few members and few assets to administer;
• The rules of operation are provided in the Civil Code of Québec;
• The Directors are personally liable for the obligations of the Association as a result of decisions made during their administration.

Personified Association (with a legal person, non-profit) (the most common):

• The members of the corporation are not personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the corporation; they are only liable for payment of their membership fees;
• The corporation may make or receive donations;
• The directors of the corporation are not personally liable to third parties;
• The corporation may sue or be sued in the courts.

Remember that if a personified association is incorporated, the solemn affirmation must be signed by a person authorized to take oaths (lawyer, notary, etc.), to pay the costs and to send the application to the Registrar of Enterprises.

Then…

You must proceed to the drafting and adopting of the bylaws and the action plan, set the amount of the annual membership fee, elect the board of directors and set a date for the general meeting.

It is important to take steps to promote the lake association with the local residents as well as with various organizations and the municipality.

Do not hesitate to contact the Planning and Environment Department for additional information or to conduct online searches for various organizations.

Your Lake Associations hold an Annual General Meeting, for more information, please contact them.

Voluntary Lakes Surveillance Network

Introduced in 2004, the RSVL allows participants to get involved in protecting their lakes. Indeed, they can carry out the necessary actions themselves to assess the state of their lakes and to follow their evolution over time, while benefiting from the expertise of the Ministry and the framework that they offer. More than 500 lakes were enrolled in the Network in 2009.

Information on the Voluntary Lakes Monitoring Network and how to register is available on the Ministry’s website: site Web du Ministère (french only).