Not for Sale – Otter Lake – Hwy. 63 – North Bay

Otter Lake – Righting a Wrong or Sunbathing

By Back Roads Bill

At the moment you may or may not be thinking about sun bathing, taking your clothes off this winter means moving to more southerly latitude. You are more likely considering a new destination for snowshoeing.

In the past sun bathing was the thing to do and at another time you could take it a little further and become part of the social nudism movement. There were enough dedicated nudists around to band together in 1947 to form the Canadian Sunbathing Association. In fact what many thought this was urban folklore but there was a nudist camp on Otter Lake, now within the City of North Bay’s municipal boundaries. It was called Norhaven, started in 1948, and was active for many years, post-World War II.

This story is not so much about any of the above but more about enjoying the aftermath of “righting a wrong” or” how a negative becomes a positive.”

Jean-Marc Filion says both statements work. He is a well know local scientist and activist and he is the recipient of awards acknowledging such work.   For him and the organizations that helped determine the “positive” fate of Otter Lake, “it is a priceless piece of property.”   It has a complete shoreline with no development and is “pristine” because of its location and land tenure.”

Otter Lake is the largest piece of parkland within the City. It has been the “playground” for many generations of residents in the Phelps-Redbridge area.

What Happened

“Over time Otter Lake was becoming a dumping ground for refuse but now with many people.” Land acquisition had been ongoing and the entire lake was almost a complete piece of municipal property.

In 2006 the property was advertised by the City within the Financial Post (New York) extolling the virtues of the location as a for sale property. The asking price was more than $1-million.

A coalition of concerned citizens called the Friends of Otter Lake was formed between the Nipissing Naturalists, the North Bay Anglers and Hunters and the Trout Lake Conservation Association.

On the north shore, prior to World War I, there was a dynamite factory located there.

The trails meander through a climax forest of yellow and white birch. There are many beech trees with bear claw marks on the trunks.

Under the leadership of Mayor Vic Fedeli, Council decided to sell the Otter Lake property. Discussions with the City started and it was eventually decided it would be better to keep Otter Lake.

We know there are important tenants within constitutions and charters.  A land registry search began. The same with land deeds.   On the Widdifield land parcel document, (the original township prior to amalgamation in 1968), within parcel 1144 it states, “It Is A Condition of the Letters Patent that the Land shall be used only a municipal park(sic).”

“An anonymous tip from a “indirect whistle blower” alerted us to the potential land transition process the City was considering undertaking.” The Ministry of Natural Resources knew the City was considering removing the condition.

Mr. Filion said, “it take a big man and is the sign leader to change his mind.” Because the Mayor and Council changed its decision to sell, Otter Lake is now protected.” And “because of so many people are frequenting the trails it is no longer a site for indiscriminate dumping.”

What is it worth to the people, when asked by Community Voices?   Otter Lake to North Bay residents is as High Park is to Toronto or Central Park is to New York.”

Visit Otter Lake

To access the Otter Lake recreational area, take Hwy 63. Set your odometer at Lakeside Drive (MNR offices) and Trout Lake Rd.; drive onwards past Peninsula Rd.   It is 12.3 km to Widdifield Station Rd. from Lakeside Dr. Turn north or left; you cross the Ontario Northland Railway tracks at 2.2 km; it is 3.9 km to the trailhead on the west or left side of the road, the signage is visible. You will walk down the existing road; the first trail sign, off of the main route, will be to the south or left; it loops back around to near the beach. You can stay on the main road and access the other loops (4.1 km in total) as you snowshoe (hike or portage your canoe/kayak), about 1.0 km to the beach location (WGS 84 E17 T 629386 N 5139816 or N46° 23’58.3” W79° 19” 00.8”).

You can drive back into North Bay by staying on Widdifield Station Rd. (you will cross the railway tracks twice) to Chadbourne Dr. to Four Mile Lake Rd. and Carmichael Drive (Carmichael Corners; 14.5 km to this point). It is another 4.6 km to where Carmichael Dr. meets Airport Rd.

Most times history is written by the victors and the interpretation comes from that viewpoint. In this case the winners are the people who want to go snowshoeing or sunbathing at any time. Oh yes, like any trends nude sun bathing evolved into a much broader movement called naturism, which inc1udes all aspects of human well-being and also humanity’s relationship with its natural environment. Visit Otter Lake and appreciate the past and the future.