TBA 2024 End of Year Newsletter
President's Message
Another great summer in the books. We had the Art Show, Speaker Series, Field Days, Kids Camp, Football, Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball, Thunder Run, Lobsterfest, and Thunder Beach Prom. Thank you so much to all our executives who made it happen. Special thank you to our departing executive members, Melissa Mihachuk, Anne Roebuck, Amber Butler, and Lisa Clark. We will miss you greatly!
We’re very excited to add a number of new yet familiar faces to the executive. Victoria Evans and Molly Khorshid Hallow will be taking on Apparel. Sara Smith (Lobsterfest) and Meredith Palmer (August Event) will be throwing our parties. Karen Bowles will be representing the TBA at FOTTSA. Welcome all, we’re so lucky to have you!
Our memberships were up this year which is great (367 vs last year 357). Please continue to spread the word to your friends and neighbours about the amazing work the TBA does to highlight why they should buy their memberships.
We had another good year financially with $14,000 in net income. As a reminder to members, while we do not publish our financials online, you are welcome to a copy of the financials at the AGM or anytime by emailing tba.treasury@gmail.com.
We’ll do a 2024 TBA Survey shortly, your responses are critical to helping us prioritize the TBA’s activities.
We’ve noticed cyber scams, including phishing, are on the rise. The TBA will never solicit money from you by any means other than our official online store at Thunderbeach.org. Be cautious of emails or messages asking for personal information, payments, or login details. Scammers have tried to impersonate TBA exec members in the past. Always verify the sender and avoid clicking on suspicious links. If in doubt, contact us directly. Stay safe online!
Lastly, the Playground Committee has been busy gathering quotes and plans for the playground renovation. Our objective will be to add new equipment for children of all ages and improve accessibility. The scope of the expansion will be driven by our fundraising. We’ll be sending out a separate fundraising email with details of the plans and the link to donate is already live at https://thunderbeach.org/products/donation-towards-thunder-beach-playground. We can also accept cheques.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Geoff MacGregor
gamacgregor@gmail.com
416-371-8560
Treasurer’s Report
As we wrap up 2024, we’re pleased to report net income from operations of $14,000. Our kids camp, sports programs, and social events were all well attended.
We continue to track income from tennis and this year we were able to use tennis funds to resurface the courts. Tennis court resurfacing cost $70,000 and will be amortized over a 7-year period in our financial statements.
The year-end for the Thunder Beach Association is December 31, 2024. Annual financial statements will be available at the 2025 Annual General Meeting in August.
Corey Macgregor
Treasurer
Camp Update
Calling all TB 2025 Camp Staff!
It’s that time of year again! We are now accepting applications for the following Thunder Beach camp positions:
- Camp Director (must be born in 2007 or earlier)
- Head Counsellors (must have at least one year experience as counsellor)
- Head Counsellor-Junior Camp (for children age 4-6)
- Head Counsellor-Intermediate Camp (for children age 7-9)
- Head Counsellor-Senior Camp (for children age 10+)
- Head Counsellor-Tennis Camp
- Counsellor
- Counsellor-in-Training (CIT)*
*Applicants born in 2011 or earlier are welcome to apply. We will consider young leaders who are enthusiastic and work well with others.
We look forward to welcoming energetic and compassionate staff to the camp programme. Summer 2025 will be sure to have excellent Wednesday night events, skilled tennis instruction, active camp days, and memorable teen nights. Join our team to help bring it all to life!
For application forms and more information, please contact Cate Spidle (catesp9@gmail.com). All application forms must be completed and emailed to Cate Spidle by the respective due dates:
- Camp Director and Head Counsellors – January 24th
- Counsellors and CITs – February 21st
If you have any questions, please reach out to your Executive Children’s Programme Directors: Ashley Jones (ashleyej02@gmail.com) or Cate Spidle (catesp9@gmail.com).
Don’t forget, we also provide information about camp activities on our instagram account. Be sure to follow us @tbachildrenscamp !
Basketball and Volleyball
This past summer felt like a true return to form of TBers coming out for the many events we all participate in. It’s a special community and I want to thank those TCBers (taking care of business) as volunteers in the many events. This is a community and without those in the community stepping up like they do and did then, nothing would happen. In 2025 we will return with more basketball, volleyball and who knows what else!
TCBing at TB
Tyler Richard
tylertrichard@gmail.com
2024 Luke Santi Memorial Flag Football Tournament
Thank you to ALL for another fun and enjoyable tournament. The 21st season of Flag Football was another huge success! Close to 40 players, their families, and the TB community experienced the excitement. More great memories from the summer were created. Congratulations to the champs - The J-E-T-S!
The Smeaton and Santi families want to recognize those who contributed so generously.
- Camp Director: Michael Dion
- All coaches, referees and the chain gang; Don Butler, Dave Butler, Greg Telfer, Bryan Grenier, Tom Hebbes, Amy Saundercook and Harlan Grenier.
- Tyler Richard for his valued help and unique colour commentary.
- Bill Houston, Teresa Morneau, Doug Jones and George Traini.
- Heather Philpott Bugden & Madeline Clark for web registration and communications support.
- Everyone who contributed to and participated in the Practice Day, Adult Game, and the ever-popular Tailgate BBQ.
- Thunder Beach Association
Watch for 2025 Flag Football details in the Spring Newsletter!
Tennis
Why are fish never good tennis players?
They don’t like getting close to the net.
This was a good year for the TBA tennis membership. We had the tennis courts resurfaced, we have a new bulletin board, we saw more people playing on the tennis courts and using the Skedda on line reservation system. Participation at Drop In, Adult tennis tournaments and Cardio Tennis also increased over last year. The fall weather cooperated and we left the nets up and for some enthusiastic players, they played well into late October or early November. Great to see.
The “bring out the tennis PRO (Uros Budimac) event for the day” was a great success and we will build upon this event for next season. TBA tennis committee will be working hard to come up with ideas to make Summer 2025 even better. Feel free to reach out to us if you have suggestions.
Game, Set, Match!
Matt DuCharme, TBA Tennis Director
TBA Tennis Committee Members: Cheri Duffy, Cate Spidle, Rick Green, Charles Irvine, Doug Jones
FoTTSA
FoTTSA continues to be highly engaged in municipal issues, and this year, significant efforts have been focused on the proposed new administrative centre. The issue has gained widespread interest throughout the township, with opposition to the high cost and resulting future taxation impacts of a new building, versus a modest renovation of the existing centre.
Thank you to all who supported the petition calling for a Referendum in Tiny Township so taxpayers can decide if a new Municipal Administration Centre is needed. There were over 7,600 signatures collected - approx. 1,200 more than the number of voters in the last election!
The petition was presented to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on October 22, 2024 and a decision will be forthcoming by December 11th. A meeting has also been requested with Minister of Municipal Affairs Paul Calandra to address concerns in Tiny, explore alternatives and avoid a situation similar to what happened in Renfrew. It is hoped that the provincial government will intervene as this impacts everyone in Tiny.
More recently, Tiny's Asset Management Plan has become another area of concern. Read more about the AMP Here.
In the early fall, FoTTSA conducted an online survey to gauge residents’ awareness these two main issues, the proposed new administrative centre and the new plan for maintaining and repairing municipal assets. The results can be found Here.
If you haven't done so already, you can sign up for the FoTTSA Flash eblast and stay current with Reports on Council, and the many issues that FoTTSA works on. Visit tinycottager.org.
Birth Announcements
Stephanie and Ian Baskerville are delighted to announce the blessed arrival of their daughter, Sasha, who was born in September! Kathy and Chris Butcher (Centre Beach) are thrilled to have spoiling privileges for their beautiful new baby granddaughter. Sasha’s cheer squad includes her Uncle Brian and her cousin Christopher, as well as several wonderful aunts, uncles and cousins from the Doran and Cole families on East Beach. All are thrilled to welcome this new bundle of joy to the family and have shared their love and support with the new parents!
Congratulations to all!
Wedding Announcements
Janelle Santi and Scott King
Wedding bells rang in Elora on June 1, 2024 for Janelle Santi and Scott King! Family and friends happily attended this joyous celebration, including parents Shelagh and Luigi Santi (West Shore), grandparents Marj and John McElroy (formerly East Beach), and sister Andrea Santi (Ryan Kovarik). Best wishes to the newlyweds!
Colin Macdonald and Kailyn Perchalski
Congratulations to Colin Macdonald and Kailyn Perchalski on their June 15th wedding at Thunder Beach. They had a beautiful day shared with several Beach friends and of course the Groom’s father Tom, brother Brendan and his wife Allison, and their daughters Grace and Rose. There were many Macdonalds in attendance and a strong Manitoba contingent from Kailyn's side.
Obituaries
Bill Northcott
Sharing the very sad news that William Northcott passed away peacefully in palliative care at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland on October 19, 2024 at age 88.
Bill had a life well lived in Toronto, Huronia and the Thunder Beach community. He taught geography for 32 years at Midland Secondary High School. His six years working for the Assessment Review Board after that gave him the opportunity to travel throughout Ontario. After his meetings were done, he and Joan would visit libraries and museums to do research for his books.
Cottaging at Thunder Beach was part of Bill’s whole life. He was raised by his Aunt’s (Margaret & Clara Cosgrove) who built the original Centre Beach cottage in 1937. “When Aunties Marg & Clara inherited the "tall skinny kid", they went on a quest to buy him a boat. But boats were rare at the Beach in those days, and getting them up from Toronto, proved difficult and expensive. One day while walking along the Beach they noticed a for sale sign at a cottage, which also had a boat in front. And as they say, the rest is history!”
Bill and Joan were married for almost 61 years and moved their family to the beach for one cold winter in 1973 while their house on the 14th Concession was built. Bill shared his love of the shoreline and sailing with their three sons. He loved dogs and gave extra pats to his three granddogs!
Bill will be remembered for his many contributions to the Thunder Beach community, but particularly as a passionate local historian and author. His books on Thunder Bay Beach (1989 & 2008) and Midland on Georgian Bay: An Illustrated History of Midland, Ontario(2009) provided connections that will last forever! The latter was a project that spanned 20 years and Bill donated his photographic collection and extensive collection of post cards to the Huronia Museum. Bill was a Past President of the Thunder Beach Association and he received the Wishart Spence Award in 2017 for his outstanding community service to Thunder Beach.
With sympathy from the Thunder Beach community to Bill’s wife Joan, his sons, Paul (Yolanda), Mark (Alina) and David (Danielle) and his grandchildren, Emily, Alexis, Malvina, Greyson and Gabriel. They will always treasure Bill’s message to “Keep on paddling, I love you."
Dr. Gordon William Johnston
Dr. Gordon William Johnston, Professor Emeritus of Aeronautical Engineering, University of Toronto. December 10, 1926 - June 25, 2024.
It is with profoundly broken hearts we announce the peaceful passing of our Dad, Gord, at the age of 97. Gord was a life-long Thunder Beach cottager. In the 1930’s, his grandparents and parents rented at Thunder Beach, primarily to escape the polio outbreak in Toronto. Shortly after that Gord’s father, Reg, purchased 82 Centre Beach Rd, one of the three Ballard cottages. That started his lifelong affection for this particular area of cottage country. In 1978, he and his wife Pat bought a cottage of their own at 80 Centre Beach Rd, next door to his parent’s cottage. A year later, they renovated it into a four-season beach house and spent many memorable years there with their family - entertaining friends from California, Connecticut, Michigan and Ontario. Dad also became an avid boater owning a Hobie Cat and two Sea Rays. The first one was a 27 footer named “Power Play”, a tribute to his love of hockey and boating. However, Dad decided that boat wasn’t large enough for the rough waters of Georgian Bay, and so acquired a 34 footer named “Pier Pressure." In 1986, Dad took over the boathouse at 200 West Shore from his father, and spent countless hours adapting it to accommodate his next boat purchase and the ever changing Georgian Bay water levels. Dad was always eager to take Pat and their growing family, which included their beloved Golden Retriever, Skipper, friends and neighbours on boat trips to O’Donnell Point, San Souci, Killarney and Swift Current to name a few destinations. Dad will be greatly missed, but has left his family an extraordinary legacy at Thunder Beach so our memories of him can continue.
Dad made the most of his life on this Earth, with numerous achievements and accomplishments, of which his daughter, Heather, and son, Tom, are very proud.
Kurt and Anneliese Meyer
Sharing the sad news that both Kurt and Anneliese Meyer of West Shore Drive passed away this year.
Kurt died on April 19, 2024 at age 92 at North York General Hospital in Toronto and Anneliese died suddenly at age 91 on June 27, 2024 in Toronto.
Kurt and Anneliese were married 68 years and enjoyed cottaging on West Shore Drive for over 20 years after being introduced to Thunder Beach by their son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Cathy Meyer.
Kurt worked hard throughout his life and founded the successful KEM Oil fuel transport business which became one of the premier petroleum transportation firms in the province. He believed in “doing what you promise” and treating others with fairness and respect. He was passionate about the hobby of soaring and loved to recount his many glider flights in Ontario, Florida and Nevada.
Anneliese’s family’s difficulties during the war years had a profound effect on her as a young child in Germany. After surviving the war, she met Kurt and they came to Canada where they raised their family. She was a loving and supportive Mother and Grandmother. Anneliese enjoyed playing tennis, collecting antiques and preparing delicious German specialities. She had fond memories of times spent with family and friends at Gull Lake, in Toronto and at Thunder Beach.
The Thunder Beach community extends sympathy to their son Mark Meyer and wife Cathy, and their grandchildren Emily and Will Meyer (Green Point Road) on their loss.
Mike Zentil
Sharing the very sad news that Michael Zentil passed away on November 2, 2024 at age 67 after a courageous battle with sarcoma the past 5 years.
The Zentil’s have cottaged at the “4 ZZZZ’s” on Centre Beach Road since 1990. Mike was warm and welcoming and had many friends at the beach. He enjoyed fishing trips with his buddies in the bay and beyond and shared tall tales for all. He also shared his love of Italy and his family’s roots on travels with fellow cottagers.
Mike worked hard and grew a small business into a successful mechanical contracting company.
With sincere sympathy from the Thunder Beach community to Mike’s wife Ivana, their daughters Natasha (Greg) and Amanda and his much adored granddaughters Amelia and Hazel, and his siblings Tino, Dina, Rita, Marc and Richard and extended family, including Ivana’s brother and sister-in-law Mauro and Sandra Tonietto who also cottage on Centre Beach.
He will be dearly missed by all!
Pat DuCharme
Sharing the sad news of the passing of Pat DuCharme, a long time Thunder Beach cottager, on August 7, 2024 at Hospice Huronia, Penetanguishene at age 87. Pat was predeceased by his wife Ruth (May 28, 2023) after 63 years of marriage.
Pat and Ruth first came to the Thunder Beach Homes in 1969 and loved it so much that they purchased a cottage the following year. In 1990 Pat and Ruth moved here as full time residents after Pat’s retirement from an over 30 year career at Bell Canada. They willingly lent a hand to fellow cottagers and helped maintain the Church and Clubhouse for decades. They were pillars of service and stewardship in the Thunder Beach community. If you needed anything, you called the DuCharmes. Pat was available for cottage watch to raking to other handyman jobs! He wore his overalls well!
With sympathy and caring thoughts from the Thunder Beach community to Matt and Jodi (Centre Beach) and the entire DuCharme family, including Mark (Kate), John (Gail), and Luke (Tanya), on the loss of their Father. Pat is also survived by 11 grandchildren Nicholas (Brooke), David (Puukii), Blake, Alexander, Jack, Michael, Rachel, Claire, Laura, Joshua, Isabella and 2 great grandsons Benjamin and Zachary.
Paul French
Thunder Beach members were sad to learn of the sudden passing of Paul French on September 27, 2024.
Paul was a lifelong "Thunder Beacher". He made this community his home alongside his closest friends. As an avid sailor and boater, he knew the waters of Georgian Bay very well and captured its beauty through his camera lens.
With sincere condolences from the Thunder Beach community to Paul’s family.
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