Beausoleil First Nation Lands & Leasing
Mission Statement
The Beausoleil First Nation Lands Department is dedicated to the membership of Beausoleil First Nation, present and future. We will respect our lands and environment by assisting our members with all aspects to land. We will do so by providing the highest quality of service using the most effective lands management practices while maintaining and respecting the vision of our community.
Welcome to the Beausoleil First Nation Lands Management Office’s web page! Please browse through our page to get the information you are interested in whether it be leasing or the Lands Program in general.
If you have any questions or you want to acquire more information feel free to contact our office during our regular business hours.
WHAT’S NEW?
New Summer Hours (June 1st – October 31st)
Monday – Thursday 8:30-4:30
Friday 8:30 – 4:00
Updates (NEW)
- New Leases deadline for FREE fees is July 31st, 2010 after that date all fees and applications apply.
- New process for “New Lessees and existing Lessees wishing to add family to their leases. The BFN now requires Credit Checks and Criminal Reference Checks.
- Online Lease Payments! Please be advised that lease payments can be made online through TD Bank and also at any TD Bank Branch. All you need is your account number (which is located on your Notice of Rent Payable). Look for or mention “Beausoleil First Nation - Lease Payments”.
- The Building Permit is being updated. Changes are being made regarding docks, beach front, environmental assessments and prices. Please keep an eye out for the updated version.
- Cottage/Lot Inspections are taking place in September and October for all Lessees.
Important information for Cottagers (documents taken from 'home' page)
July 15, 2010 - Updated Big Sand Bay Subdivision Map
July 14, 2010 - Fee Schedule Form 2010
July 14, 2010 - Credit Check Consent Form
July 14, 2010 - Tradespeople Listing 2010.
May 10, 2010 - Lands Communique - May 10, 2010.
May 4, 2010 - View Cedar Point Parking Information.
April 20, 2010 - New Sample Lease Document.
April 13, 2010 - 30 Year Lease FAQ sheet.
March 25, 2010 - Lands Communique - Re: Leases.
March 1, 2010 - Insurance Requirements for Lessees.
Workshops
Estates The Lands Department is planning another Wills & Estates Workshop. This workshop will be a “hands on” style workshop. It will be facilitated by the Lands Staff. Keep an eye out for a notice to let everyone know what date and time it will be.
Projects
Environment Canada Project (08-09) the Lands Department welcomed Michael Smith in as the Environmental Specialist Trainee for the project. Mike was working with Judith Jones, Biologist, the new Lands and Environment Committee and our Consultants – David Stinson and Collette Isaac of Incite Planning.
This project was geared towards; community awareness, CP holders permission for inventory on their properties – not only for Species at Risk but to identify what is on the property to assist in development of a Community Land Use Plan for BFN.
Recently the Environment Canada Project (09-10) Mike Smith continued as the Environmental Specialist Trainee for the project. Mike was working with Rob West, Senior Environmental Scientist with Oak Ridge Limited. Together they were working on inventories of Band lands and some CP lands as well as mapping and GIS and monitoring the Forked Three Awned Grass.
We are hoping to keep Mike on for a few years as our Environmental and GIS Specialist.
For more information on being involved with CP inventories, Species at Risk, Mapping and/or the Keepers of Our Sacred Lands Committee, please keep an eye for some posters or come into our office.
Some History of Christian Island
Please don’t get confused, the island goes by many names. The main one is Christian Island. However the name of the First Nation is Beausoleil. Some of the community members also refer to it as Chimnissing which in our Native Language means “Big Island”.
We are situated 1.5 hours drive north of Toronto. We are located in the heart of Georgian Bay, just a short 20 minute ferry ride from the mainland.
We have it all! White, sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and a rich marine heritage that includes great shipwrecks! Gordon Lightfoot has personally enjoyed the beautiful scenery and waters of the area (so much so he has even written a song called “Christian Island”).
The recorded history of Christian Island dates back to the Huron Indians and Jesuit ruins at St. Marie II, erected in the 1600s. The island is home to the Beausoleil First Nation people.
Lands Acquisition Policy and Dispute Policy
How does a Beausoleil First Nation Member acquire land?The Lands Acquisition Policy has been approved by Council on October 2, 2009.
This document will establish a fair and equitable process of acquiring land on our First Nation. For more information, please check out the links.
Please ensure you thoroughly read these documents and review the application forms, which are also attached.
LEASING ON CHRISTIAN ISLAND
Since 1956, Christian Island has offered cottage leasing. There are 184 lots located on the northern side of the island, known as Big Sand Bay. Of these 184 lots there are only 21 vacant ones available for leasing. We also have a cottage subdivision on the southern part of the island known as the Lighthouse. All of those, 105 lots, are currently leased.
We, in the Lands Management office, also manage undivided First Nation members leasing activities. For more information about “Locatee Leasing” or “Leasing” activities please contact our office.
BFN Leasing
Our Leases no longer utilize the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to determine the rental increase on an annual basis. We have a new process whereby the Fair Market Value (FMV) is determined by a qualified Appraiser every 5 years.
Service Fees
All of the Lessees pay an annual service charge, which covers the following services:
- Fire Protection;
- Policing Services;
- Emergency Services;
- Roads Maintenance;
- Garbage Collection
Any delinquent accounts are automatically referred to a collection agency for prompt retrieval.
Building
All Lessees are required to take out a building permit with the First Nation. This includes first time building, renovations, septic systems, driveways, etc. You can download a permit and listing of trades people on the list of links.
Parking
There is a new process set up for parking. The fee is $250 for the season (May 1 – Oct 31), $60 for a 30 day pass and $15 a day.
To obtain this pass please send in your payment and a self addressed, self stamped envelope or stop by our office to pick it up. **Please note if you do not have your parking pass with you, you will be charged the daily parking rates.
If you have any questions about the new system, please call the Lands Department.
If you have any questions about the new system, please call the Lands Department.
STAFF
Lands Manager
Jennifer Copegog is the Lands Manager and began her employment with the First Nation in 1987. At that time, she was hired on as the Band Secretary. In 1988, she was employed as a Lands Clerk. In 1992, Jennifer completed the necessary training through the Department of Indian Affairs Lands Management Training Program (LMPT). As a result of completing her training, she became a certified Lands Management Officer. Jennifer is also a Commissioner for Taking Oaths.
Jennifer has been instrumental in the development of a provincial Lands Association. In 1995, she and fellow colleagues set up the Ontario Aboriginal Lands Association (OALA), a networking group, to address the unique problems and concerns that affect Lands Management and to support and assist fellow Lands Managers when needed.
As a result of Jennifer’s Train the Trainer course, she now teaches levels of the Lands Management Program to students across Canada.
Jennifer and her staff are resource people for the Keepers of Our Sacred Lands Committee.
Lands Administrative Assistant
Kristin Monague is the Lands Administrative Assistant. Kristin has been with the Lands Department since April 2007. She is a graduate from Trent University. She has a Diploma in Native Studies and is working on attaining her B.A in Native Studies with an Emphasis in Indigenous Environmental Studies. With her academic background she will certainly remain to be an asset in our department.
Kristin very much enjoys her time in the Lands Department. Everyday is different and there are always new things to learn. She is eager to continue to meet with the community members, cottagers and fellow colleagues across Canada.
Kristin recently finished her two year training program with a mark of excellence. She is now a Certified and Accredited Lands Manager. The Program was in partnership with the National Aboriginal Land Managers Association (NALMA), Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) & the Indigenous Peoples Resource Management Program within the U of S.
Lands Clerk Jane Copegog-Marsden has been with the lands department since October 2009. She was relieving Lands staff for holidays and meetings but has since been hired on as the Lands Clerk.
Jane has a diploma from Cambrian College in Native Lands Management and she has years of experience in the Lands Department. We are certain that her skills and experience will be an asset to our department’s success. We look forward to having her in the office for years to come
Environmental Specialist Trainee
Mike Smith has been with our department since August 2008. His focus is Species at Risk and Geographical Information Systems. Mike is working diligently on creating GIS mapping to assist in developing a Community Sustainability Plan.
Mike has proven to be a vital part of the Lands Team. He is enrolled with Loyalist College in a GIS program. He is continuing his work with Species at Risk, monitoring the Forked Three Awned Grass, Mapping, Keepers of Our Sacred Lands, Forestry and assisting with plans for a Community Sustainability Planning.
Feel free to drop in say hello to our team!
IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS
We are always looking for ideas or thoughts about the Lands Department. What would you like to see happen to improve the services or management of our lands? The BFN does have a website forum where you can voice your opinions and suggestions. If you do have concerns it would be best to sign your name so we can get back to you with information or call you in for a friendly discussion on the issues you may be concerned about or like.
Miigwetch!
The Lands Department