Mission
The Fourteen Island and Mink Lakes Watershed Association (FIMLA) represents the residents of Fourteen Island Lake, Mink Lake, Little John, Little John’s Sister and Buffy Lakes. The Association speaks on behalf of all residents, permanent and seasonal, who live on these lakes.
These five lakes form a sub-watershed at the top end of the Napanee River System, straddling the Portland and Loughborough Districts of South Frontenac Township, north of Kingston, Ontario.
The Association is working with the local community to preserve and enhance the special character and scenic beauty of this part of the Land O’Lakes.
Our executive is elected bi-annually, and is governed by our by-laws, which can be found here.
2020 – 2022 Executive
Mary Rae – Director & President
Mary lives with her husband Geoff on Fourteen Island Lake. They moved here in 2016 from Hamilton, Ontario, trading the traffic congestion and 407 ETR bills for the peace and quiet of lake living. Mary has more than 30 years’ experience in municipal government, most recently working as a lawyer for the City of Kingston. She is now retired. In addition to law, she has degrees in zoology and environmental studies. Mary is passionate about the natural environment and spends her spare time birding, hiking and paddling.
Richard Nageleisen – Director and Vice President
Richard is a retired Military Engineer with 38 years of service. He and his wife Janine, a retired Personnel Selection Officer and PhD Industrial Organizational Psychologist with 39 years of military experience, retired to 14 Island Lake in Oct 2017. The peace and tranquility of the Lake, the multitude of recreational activities available and the new friendships we are developing were just the tonic needed after very active military careers. We have landed in paradise!
Karen Deluca – Director & Treasurer
Karen had always considered herself a city girl. However, two years ago she was dragged from the city and realized that the country is where she needs to be. Being a dental hygienist, Karen has to travel to Kingston for work every day and it saddens her every time she heads out the lane. The serenity, the wildlife that appears regularly, the sunrises over the lake, the opportunity to raise her daughter in such a marvellous environment, and like-minded neighbours all contribute to their feeling of paradise here.
Susan Grigg – Director & Secretary
Susan moved to Fourteen Island Lake in the fall of 1999 with her husband Brian. She feels fortunate to live on the lake year-round and experience all of the seasons. Susan enjoys canoeing and snowshoeing on the lake, nature watching (including lots of birds, snakes, turtles and deer on her property!), and hiking local nature trails. She has been a volunteer on the FIMLA Board of Directors since 2015.
Sue Pine – Director
Susan’s grandparents bought the cottage in 1955 and she was born in 1956, so she has been coming to Fourteen Island Lake all of her life! It is a special place for Sue and her husband, Jim, most importantly because of the many lasting friendships they have made over the years. Their three children and families all share the special attachment to Fourteen Island Lake. Susan lives in Belleville and works in Bancroft as a hemodialysis nurse.
John McDougall – Director
John and his wife Ann have lived on Little John’s Sister Lake since 2002.
He is a retired school principal and has recently served two terms as a councillor on the Township of South Frontenac and the County of Frontenac. His work in the community includes The Verona Lions Club, The Verona Community Association, Trinity United Church and The South Frontenac Museum Society.
Anne Tucker – Director & Past President
In 1989, Anne lined up in Harrowsmith at 11:00 pm, in order to purchase her beautiful property on Fourteen Island Lake. Anne is from Belleville and has three children and four grandchildren. She is so happy to have found her little piece of heaven on earth, and to have met wonderful people during her 30 years on Fourteen Island Lake.
Craig Pettis – Director
Craig and Ruth built their cottage on Fourteen Island Lake in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Their home is in Kingston and they enjoy the lake with their three children and their families. Craig is a retired Family Doctor and practiced for 39 years in the Kingston area. He was raised in the National Parks and has a great affinity for the out of doors.
Claire Zanetti – Director
Claire is a relative newcomer to Mink Lake after buying a cottage in 2019, although she and her husband Dan have been visiting friends on 14 Island Lake for more than 20 years. She lives in Almonte but enjoys spending as much time as possible at the lake. Claire recently retired from working as a diabetes nurse educator and looks forward to more time paddle boarding, kayaking and sharing good times with her children and grandchildren at the cottage.