Muskoka Lakes Association

Founded in 1894, the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA) was established by a prominent group of citizens from Toronto and Hamilton who summered in what is now the Township of Muskoka Lakes. Its goals then were to protect and promote the interests of the residents, to preserve the healthful sanitary condition and scenic beauty of the area and to encourage aquatic sports. Early concerns included transportation (rail and steamships), fishing and hunting, sanitation and sewage, and property taxes; issues that remain just as prevalent today, albeit for different reasons. Throughout the years the MLA has remained active in the protection of the environment. Water quality monitoring began in the 1960s and continues today. The MLA was instrumental in the creation of the Coalition on Acid Rain which successfully lobbied for laws regarding acid rain in both Canada and the United States in the 1980s. Land use development is closely scrutinized and local government and developers have been stro...