Good Neighbour

Cultivate a harmonious community with kindness and mutual respect.

Kahshe and Bass Lakers maintain a tradition of being a “good neighbour” and we ask our members to continue practicing the following to build relationships with others.

Kahshe Courtesy

Show respect and consideration and have an unselfish concern for other people—do things simply out of a desire to help. Some ways to help your neighbours:

Introduce yourself. A smile, a wave, and a pleasant "hello" are probably the easiest ways to show neighbours that they matter to you.
Check on your neighbour's cottages year-round. Especially after bad weather.
Help people dock their boats and tie up.
Help people load cars or boats, especially the elderly.
If you see trash floating in the lake, retrieve it and dispose of properly.
If you see a large item floating in the lake, such as a log or a dock, tow it to shore and tie it up. This could potentially save a life.
Don’t park boats at the government dock for more than a few hours. There are very few parking spots and it’s important to keep space open for water-access-only cottages, or for those that may need to dock in an emergency.

Being a good neighbour is an art which makes life richer.

— Gladys Taber

Noise

Good sounds surround a cottage. Water lapping onto the shore. A gentle breeze brushing through the pines. The call of a loon. And kids, wet and happy and laughing. Then there is noise; too loud music, chain saws, boat motors cranked and revved, and excessive barking dogs.

A survey in 2009 had noise — from boats and neighbours — as a top concern of most cottagers. So here are some suggestions that go a long way towards creating lakeside peace and harmony.

You are on or near water; sound travels, voices carry, music and machinery are amplified when you are outside. Tell your guests too — remind yourself and your family to keep voices and music down. Otherwise, there are no secrets at the lake — especially at night.
Fireworks can be fun but not during a fire ban. Muskoka Lakes updated the Fireworks By-laws (March 2022).
Use your power boat respectfully. If it has a loud exhaust, fix it or sell it.
If you are fortunate enough to travel to the cottage on a seaplane, please arrive before 9 p.m.

Pets

Pick up pet waste. Nutrient pollution from pet waste lowers water quality and harmful bacteria can make the water unsafe for swimming at local beaches.
Follow leash laws. Leashing your pet lowers your environmental impact, keeps your pet safe, and allows others around you to enjoy the space as well.
Give wildlife space. Our local fauna is busy nesting, foraging, and just plain surviving. Keeping yourself and your pet at a distance leads to less stress and better success for wild animals.
Invest in your pet to train them not to bark excessively.

Good Neighbour

Dark Sky

Lake Actvities

Boating