​The Hillside Beach Community Association (HBCA) is a non-profit, community-based organization that works to improve the experience of all residents in the Hillside Beach area. The HBCA provides direction and leadership for development of recreational activities and community spaces, including Charlie Wall Park, while promoting stewardship of the environment.  The Hillside Beach Community Association, formerly known as the Hillside Beach Ratepayers Association, had its beginnings in the 1960’s.  In 1998, when the Local Government Districts were redefined by the Province of Manitoba, the focus of the Association transitioned from representing the members’ needs to the elected government, to providing opportunities for community engagement, developing spaces for recreation and social connection, and facilitating the flow of important information to community members. 
 
Over the years, the Hillside Beach Community Association has provided opportunities for recreational and social activities through the development of Charlie Wall Park and organizing events that bring the community together.  The children’s playground, picnic shelter, basketball court, baseball diamond and soccer pitch have been made possible through the fund-raising and organizing efforts of the HBCA and the generosity of community residents and local businesses. 
 
The HBCA provides many benefits to members of the Association.  Please check out our Membership page, and consider joining us!

The HBCA has installed new bike racks throughout the Hillside Beach Community.  Thanks to funding support from the RM of Alexander there are new bike racks at: Westshore Road, Pebble/Rocky Beach, Charlie Wall Park, and Belfast Road.  Please note that these are BYOL (bring your own lock) racks. 

​HBCA Directors worked together for planning and installation.  Thanks to this crew of volunteers. 

For information regarding step repair to the beach, please contact the RM of Alexander.

Thank you to the approximately 100 HBCA members who participated in the survey.

Now is your time to join an ad hoc community committee to investigate, prioritize and plan next steps. Please email [email protected] to let us know your commitment to participate on an ad hoc committee. All further exploration into these items will require community members participation before moving forward.

Community members who attended HBCA’s Nature’s Calling were able to receive updated information about advocacy for the health of Lake Winnipeg from the Lake Winnipeg Foundation and concerns about Aquatic Invasive Species from the Provincial Biologist AIS. 

Lake Winnipeg Foundation
Alexis Kanu, Executive Director for the Lake Winnipeg Foundation (LWF) shared the importance of continued advocacy from individuals for the health of Lake Winnipeg. Winnipeg’s largest sewage treatment plant, the North End Water Pollution Control Centre, continues be non-compliant with the 1 mg/L phosphorus limit set out in its provincial operating licence. Excess phosphorus negatively impacts the health of Lake Winnipeg. This is the time for concerned citizens to engage the candidates in the upcoming provincial election to ask:

• When will phosphorus compliance be achieved?
• How much will it cost?
• Who is going to pay for it?

At the federal level, LWF is advocating for investment in evidence-based phosphorus reduction that achieves measurable results as part of renewed federal funding plan for Lake Winnipeg through the Freshwater Action Plan. Concerned citizens can engage with their Members of Parliament and Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault, thanking them for renewed funding, and reminding them of the importance of using this funding for greatest impact. Please visit https://lakewinnipegfoundation.org for more information, including advocacy language you can use in your message.

Thank you to Marlo Campbell and Kendi Dyck from the Lake Winnipeg Foundation for the 1:1 conversations and advocacy materials that were made available for our community. Note that Lake Winnipeg Foundation will be providing information at East Beaches Thursday, July 27th at 7 p.m.

Aquatic Invasive Species
Candace Parks, Biologist Aquatic Invasive Species, Province of Manitoba, opened our eyes to concerns for Lake Winnipeg’s health that goes beyond zebra mussels. Spiny waterflea is another aquatic invasive species that is in Lake Winnipeg. Candace provided our community with a “view” of the different stages of the zebra mussel and spiny water flea. The impact of these aquatic invasive species is devastating on the ecosystem of the lake.  Candace shared there are other AIS not far from our area that pose risk to Lake Winnipeg.  
What can we do?
Clean, drain and dry

• If you use a motorized or non motorized watercraft (canoe, kayak, SUP, paddles etc.) or water related equipment (anchors, life jackets, fishing rods etc.) in Lake Winnipeg, you must, clean, drain and dry and go through an inspection station before going into another body of water. IT IS THE LAW. https://www.manitoba.ca/stopais/spread/watercraft_inspection.html
• Inspect your craft/toy/lifejacket/fishing rod etc. for plants and rough surfaces (could be a small zebra mussel). Use a towel to remove. Towel must completely dry. Discard at the boat launch or shoreline. 
• Ensure there is no water in/on your water craft or water related equipment.

Candace provided us with an opportunity to “find” areas on watercraft/water related equipment where there were hidden facsimiles of “AIS.”  We inspected a motor boat, jet ski, kayak, paddles, water shoes, kids floating toys, paddles, SUP, and fishing rod. Thanks to HBCA members, Greg and Verna Dawn, Ross, Deborah, and Lynnette for bringing items for Candace to hide AIS. 
Please visit https://www.manitoba.ca/stopais/index.html for more information. Take the time to learn and prevent being fined.

Thank you to all community members who came to the Nature’s Calling event on June 24th and shared their ideas with us. With your help we are one step closer to enhancing the
existing trails and paths through the community. Thank you to the RM of Alexander for
supporting this effort with grant funds.

The trail update project is a multi-year project. We plan to enhance 8-10 existing trails in the
community this season with direction signs, access information and an Adopt a Trail community member. View the Adopt a Trail brochure.

15 nesting boxes will be ready to put up on the trails soon. Thanks to Rod Birch for preparing
the packages of nesting boxes during the winter for the HBCA. Thanks to Laurie Wasiuta for
volunteering time at the Nature’s Calling event.

The Trail Project committee invites members from our community to join us as we move forward on our project. Please contact us at [email protected].

The Hillside Beach Annual Yard Sale is Sunday August 6, from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM. The Rainbow auction (License #: LGCA 8404 RF 40894) is back this year! Checkout the prize packages.
​
Reserve a site online and have the option to set-up in our reserved area at the front of the selling area. 

• $20 per site for HBCA members in good standing.
• $25 per site for non-members. 
• A limited number of tables are available to rent for an additional $10.​

The following information was contributed by HBCA member Dianne Logan.

Hillside Beach is home to Fireflies which are one of the most intriguing species in the insect world.  In early summer, (June and July), they start a courting ritual that delights anyone who stays up late enough to watch them twinkling and flashing in your yards.
 
To show that they are available, the male Fireflies show off by flying around signaling to the females.  The females usually sit at the top of tall blades of grass or on a tree branch watching for a possible mate.  If she’s impressed, she will flash her light to attract him.  He will flash back at her indicating his interest.  After mating, she can lay as many as 500 eggs in the ground.  When the numbers of mature Fireflies are plentiful, they can light up your yard and bushes in a magical display.
 
The Firefly population is in decline at Hillside Beach and around the world due to loss of habitat.  However, it is very easy to nurture fireflies in your yard and neighbourhood.  They thrive in damp conditions and they prefer total darkness at night.  It’s best for us to observe them when it’s dark.
 

• Consider a water feature in your yard or provide a damp environment.
• Turn off the lights in June and July.  The main reason for declining populations is artificial lighting.  Consider turning off lights in your yard, garden, patio, and even in the room if the window faces the patch you’re cultivating for Fireflies.  Solar lights can be the culprit.  
•  Leave a patch of your yard with tall grass and weeds.
•  Chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides kill the Firefly larvae, pupae and adults. – Consider keeping a section of your yard chemical free.
•  Keep some rotting wood at the edge of your yard.  They are attracted to this.
•  Plant a native pine in your yard.  Some species will lay eggs on pine needles.  It’s a good roosting tree for them.

I have noticed a decline in the number of fireflies we see each summer at Hillside Beach.   It would be a shame to lose this treasure in our community.  Some places in Asia had totally lost all their Fireflies and have now set aside parks just for them and reintroduced them.  People flock to see them.  Let’s not wait till we’re in that situation.  Let’s protect and nurture our Fireflies now.  Biodiversity is an asset to every community.  
 
​Dianne Logan

Step one: Let's go fishing
The Provincial Fisheries Act and Fisheries Act of Canada are the regulatory bodies governing fishing in Manitoba. Lake Winnipeg is in the Southern Fishing region of Manitoba.

Purchase your licence online here  If you are exempt remember to have your identification as proof of age with you when you fish. 

Pickerel/Walleye (and sauger or combination of both) is limited to 4 and may not exceed 55 cm.

Step two: Stop aquatic invasive species
Before you enter the Lake Winnipeg, please ensure that all your equipment, boat (motorized and non-motorized), fishing equipment and bait containers are free of aquatic plants and mud.

When you exit the water, clear all water related equipment of aquatic plants (algae and weeds) including boats (motorized and non-motorized), fishing equipment and bait containers.  Drain all water from watercraft and water related equipment.  Keep drains/valves open or removed while in transport. 

​Read some important information to protect the waterways and your watercraft.

Step three: Filet that fish
Let us leave this to the experts.  Here is a great video on how to fillet a fish.

Step four: Follow one of these recipes
The following recipes are from our HBCA former and current Directors! 

Pickerel cheeks appetizer from Lynnette
Wrap pickerel cheeks in thin piece of prosciutto or very lean bacon (check Gimli Fish for pickerel cheeks for a special celebration).

• Mix:  
  • 250 ml of mayonnaise
  • Lemon zest
  • Thinly sliced shallot/green onion
  • 2 tsp minced fresh Tarragon or 1 tsp dried Tarragon
• Spread a small crostini or small baguette with mayonnaise mixture and place wrapped pickerel cheek on each piece. 
• Broil for a few minutes to heat and brown.

The basic pan fry Pickerel with three variations from Lawrence, Grace, and Val

• Rinse and dry pickerel filets
• Lawrence says: Dip in milk, dip in mixture of flour, bread crumbs, fry in butter until lightly golden brown.
• Grace says: Cut filets in pieces, Dip in pancake batter and fry in mixture of margarine and butter. 
• Val says: Salt and pepper rinsed filet, fry in butter.                   

Verna Dawns’ Beer Batter Recipe

1. 2 quarts of vegetable oil (1.89 litre) Heat oil to 185 C or 365 F
2. 8 pickerel/walleye filets, wash and salt and pepper 

Mix:

• 1 cup flour
• 2 tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 tbsp. paprika
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp black pepper

Add:

• 1 egg
• 1 (12 oz/350 ml) bottle of beer

Dip in filets. You should be able to see the filet through the batter after dipped. Fry one filet at a time, turn once until golden brown. Drain fish on paper towels while cooking the remainder.  Serve warm.  
 
Pickerel/Walleye Rockefeller
Verna Dawn found this recipe… sounds delicious

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Fry together: ¼ cup butter, 2 cloves garlic, 3-4 cups fresh spinach. Heat until spinach is wilted.  
3. Add ¼ cup whipping cream and salt and pepper. Stir, then remove from heat and place in small heat proof dish. 
4. Place an 8 oz filet on top of mixture with 4 slices of thin bacon. Bake for 15 minutes.  
5. Sprinkle with ¼ cup parmesan cheese and bake for 5 more minutes.  

Enjoy with a glass of Pinot Noir!

We are hosting “Nature’s Calling” at Charlie Wall Park, 38069 Hillside Beach Road on Saturday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m.
The event is open to everyone!

• 11:00 a.m. Guest Speakers will be Lake Winnipeg Foundation: Alexis Kanu and Marlo Campbell.  Here is your opportunity to learn how to play a part in the preservation of Lake Winnipeg. How dangerous are the algal blooms? A presentation will be followed by a Q and A.
• 12:00 p.m.  Candace Parks, Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist, Province of Manitoba. A demonstration will be given for cleaning watercraft and water related equipment. 
• The Coalition to Save Lake Winnipeg will be available with additional information from other Allied Organizations. 

Trail project
Find out more about the Hillside Beach Trail Proposal and build a nesting box for birds to be placed on the trail. HBCA membership required for a free opportunity to build a box. 

Bring your own lawn chair. Coffee and water free for those with reusable cups/containers.

Hillside Beach community is woven together by pathways that allow walkers and bicycles to explore the area through the bays and streets, to the lagoon, west beach, or main beach area. These pathways are the original paths the development has preserved over the years. Many of the paths are maintained by residents whose efforts go without acknowledgement but are enjoyed by many.

Seasonal and permanent residents may walk by an opening in the woods and unsure of where it may lead. The pathways through the woods and along the wetland are treasures for exploring the natural life, vegetation, insects, and birds, that support a healthy boreal forest and Lake Winnipeg.

Hillside Beach Community Association has been planning to provide our community with the opportunity to access these original pathways with respectful identification and information as well as orientation through our community.

Nesting boxes for birds, natural wildlife, plant, shoreline and wetland information is planned to share with walking or cycling path travelers. The beauty and preservation of our woods and wetlands is part of keeping our Lake Winnipeg water and beaches healthy.

Learn more at the June event
On June 24, HBCA is planning to host “Nature’s Calling” at Charlie Wall Park. HBCA Trail Committee will have more information about the pathways, volunteer sponsors, nesting boxes for families to build and more. This day will also provide an opportunity for East Beach communities to attend an information session presented by the Lake Winnipeg Foundation.

The Coalition to Save Lake Winnipeg is supporting HBCA’s “Nature’s Calling” event by organizing information access regarding zebra mussels, wetlands, Lake Friendly etc. Stay tuned for more details as the date approaches.

Project overview
The proposed project would include:

• Identifying markers at the trailhead with directional information.
• Markers strategically placed to prohibit access of motorized vehicles - access is for pedestrian and bicycle traffic only.
• Nesting boxes for Eastern Screech Owls, Chickadees, Tree Swallow and House Wrens. Community participation in the building of the nesting boxes is in the plan.
• Nature information signs about wetlands, the boreal forest, birds, insects, animals, and plant life will be located on select trails.
• Poison ivy control where needed.
• Opportunity for community residents to adopt a trail.

A grant application for funding support of this project has been made to the RM of Alexander. Approval from the RM of Alexander is required as the trails identified are all on public land.

We look forward to working with the community of Hillside Beach and the RM of Alexander to enhance our outdoor experiences.

The community of Hillside Beach is served by two local companies to provide potable water (safe drinking) for seasonal residents from May long weekend until the October Thanksgiving weekend.

• Onalee Developments Water Supplier (South Hillside Beach)
  (204)754-7294  [email protected]
  
• Trainor Artesian Water Company (North Hillside beach)
  (204) 697-1456  [email protected]
  

There is an annual fee for water service invoiced by the company available for your property. 

Important Reminders about Seasonal Water Services

• The water service companies begin preparing the water lines when the snow has melted and the temperatures are above freezing.  
• Water service company is responsible for lines to the property.
• Property owner is responsible for line to the cottage. 

Check your water lines
Property owners should regularly check their water line - starting where the line connects to the property, then follow the line to the cottage. 

• Run the water through your lines at the beginning of the season before hooking up to your cottage might clear any debris that has accumulated.  Once you have cleared your lines, hook up to the cottage and run the water through your taps before using. Remember, safe drinking water is available on the May long weekend or when indicated by the water server. 
• If you are noticing low water pressure, check your line and check the line to your property. If it got cold enough overnight, it is possible there has been some freezing of the line.  Usually, daytime warm up is enough to have the water running again. 
• Please note that “overuse” of water, for example, filling a pool or watering a yard, may impact all customers on the shared water line. Contact your water service provider if you require water for a pool.   
• No power often means no water. When the power has gone out the pumps will not be working for the water service.  
  • Manitoba Hydro will be your contact, not the water service providers, if you are wondering when service will resume, check out the Manitoba Hydro Outages website.

Water Interruption tips

• Bring or purchase a large reusable container of water to have available for drinking.
• When temperatures are freezing be sure to store containers in an area where leaks would not damage furniture or cabinets. 
• Keep jugs of water in the refrigerator to fill up your reusable containers that you take to the beach, hiking or biking. Reducing purchased individual plastic bottles is an environmentally wise choice.
• Use rain barrels to collect water for your plants and if appropriate, to flush your toilet when the power is out.  

The community of Hillside Beach is home throughout the year to many migratory birds. We are a pelican’s paradise.  They nest on our shores and feed in our bays. We can see and hear them fly over our Hillside homes from May, bringing hope that summer is here soon until October, realizing winter is on its’ way. Learn more at Lake Friendly Manitoba Pelicans in Manitoba

While the pelicans, gulls and sandpipers have flown south we have a symphony of birds that arrive for the winter. Rick McGregor, a Lac du Bonnet Cottage owner, and amateur bird photographer has an article in the Lac du Bonnet Clipper (Nov. 3 issue, page 12) listing some of the local wintering birds in our area.

We invite our members to take photos and identify the many birds in our area during the different seasons.  We will share them on Facebook and our website for others to enjoy. 
Please visit Manitoba Bird Brochure for more information on birds you may see.

​Since April, 2022 there has been concern regarding the spread of Avian Flu and the contributions of bird feeders. From the Canadian Government Avian Flu in Migratory Bird:

The HBCA wants to give a big thank you to everyone who supported the second annual drive-in movie night. We set an attendance record with over 120 people.

Thank you to all the members of the HBCA board who volunteered throughout the night.

​Thank you to our movie night supporters
East Shore Realty, Wayne's Backhoe, Sunset Spray, Blue Water Lawn and DMD Electric.

The Hillside Beach Community Association (HBCA) Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, August 28 at 11:00 a.m. at Charlie Wall Park. Councillor Cheryhl Corrie has been invited to join us. 

Board of directors nominations
Nominations for the HBCA directors are welcomed. A maximum of 11 directors can be elected to work together for our community. Currently, there are eight directors volunteering on the board. A full complement of 11 will help to ensure the continuation of activities, events and communication to our community.

The board meets twice in the off-season in Winnipeg and approximately four times during the summer for planning events at Hillside Beach. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact us at [email protected].