'Pushing their luck': City folf flocking to Georgina's waterfront, breaking rules

Businesses, residents and councillors speak out against how crowded Keswick becoming on weekends

Yorkregion.com
August 4, 2020

Just how desperate are city dwellers to reach Georgina’s sandy beaches and refreshing waterfronts?

Very, according to the townspeople, business owners and councillors who say they’ve witnessed huge crowds taking liberties and defying bans across the lake front.

Real estate agent Daniel Foch took to Twitter this week to describe the complaints he’s been hearing.

“There’s lots of reports of people trespassing,” he said. “Some people have been going and having picnics on people’s docks. Some of it is confusion. I don’t like to be prejudiced (against city people), but I think local people are familiar with the rules.”

It’s not just trespassing on resident’s docks he’s been hearing about and witnessing.

Foch has also seen many of Keswick’s private beaches, the upkeep for which is paid by the member homes in the area, becoming full, likely with non-residents, on many days. And people disregarding orange snow fencing to sunbathe and swim.

“This is a new challenge that’s been presented to municipalities,” said the Keswick resident. “People can’t leave (Canada) so they’re gravitating toward the lake.”

Foch, who says those seeking properties in Keswick are increasingly putting a premium on lakefront properties and those with private beach access, has been witnessing more “no trespassing” signs popping up along Lake Drive North.

Deb Fielding, manager from the Island Grove Marina, says she has been witnessing huge crowds of people entering the area looking for swimming spots, but finding few places to swim or even bathrooms to accommodate.

“I’ve heard about people parking on people’s driveways and property,” she said. “The poor people want a place to go so they come up here, but everything is closed. It’s happening all over; they are getting big crowds in Orillia, Barrie too.”

Coun. Frank Sebo, himself a boater, said he’s witnessed crowds at Mossington’s Wharf, a destination that’s been closed for some eight years.

"If it wasn't for the global pandemic and the fact that the Mossington's Wharf area, like many others, is currently closed to the public, I would find it somewhat refreshing to see that it is getting used," he said.

“It is a public access point and when push comes to shove, that’s what people are using it for. I’ve seen 40 people at a time using it and people jumping off the blue bridge.”

That’s not all though, Sebo is also hearing about visitors to the area urinating in hedges and against trees, countless boats anchoring around Chicken Bay near, Duclos Point, and parking in all sorts of neighbourhoods, looking for access to water near Sibbald Point.

“People are coming to the lake,” he added. “They can’t find parking or the beaches are full and then they are pushing their luck and boundaries.”

That’s not the only trend. Local businesses are also struggling to keep up with the demand for water vessels and other vehicles.

Ron Smith, a salesperson from Quinn’s Marina, said he’s been sold out of Jet Skis for three weeks, ATVs for two months and he’s only got a few boats left.

“Everyone wants to be on the water enjoying themselves … the response has been overwhelming,” he said. “Even the used market has been exhausted. I am turning people away … and now taking orders for 2021.”

Georgina chief administrative officer Dave Reddon said the town is taking steps to address some of the infractions listed.

“The town is aware of some undesirable behaviour from both visitors and residents and it’s disappointing to say the least. We continue to monitor and assess the situation, making adjustments as necessary with the safety of the public at the forefront," he said.

He added that this past weekend De La Salle Park and Beach reopened for the first time since the pandemic began.

The town added that since the pandemic began in mid-March there have been 1,620 parking infraction notices and eight provincial offence notices.