Lake Ice Update and Safety

Recently one of our sister lake associations reported non-injury incidents involving youth who fell through the lake ice. One incident occurred on or in the immediate vicinity of a homeowner’s rink while the other incident occurred in the immediate vicinity near a skate pathway.

At the beginning of the winter season once we had begun to profile the ice thickness, we choose to conduct far more location tests as well as conduct weekly testing regardless if the results demonstrated ice continuing to grow in thickness and bearing capacity strength. We test 18 locations which gives us a fairly good profile of the lake ice cover however even with profiling we will never be able to test 100% of the cover nor guarantee it is 100% safe. In addition to weekly testing we are on the lake daily and do observe the behavior of the ice and especially the snow cover for signs of water beneath the cover but on the ice surface.  

Currently, we have an average thickness of 31cm (12.1 inches). In a typical year at this time, we would have near double that amount. This is not unique to just Midnapore. We have recorded ice forming nicely in some areas;however in other locations we are seeing the opposite. Two test locations have lost half of their thickness over 2 weeks without explanation. Both areas are snow covered and should be insulated by the snow. These areas have been marked off with pylons so please do not enter.

Home owners with rinks are reminded to be careful where and how snow from the rink is piled. Snow berms or piles in a concentrated location can bow the ice which may crack causing a hole to form beneath the snow. There are no visible signs of this danger. If you observe the sudden appearance of water along a rink side or corner it may be coming from beneath the snow pack.

After dark, we do not patrol the skate pathway since staff and equipment is not visible from the front gate office. The pathway is not recommended for use after dark since member/guest activity cannot be safely monitored as well.

The toboggan hill is open but still icy.

It is in very rough condition, but is open for skating.

The ice was measured again yesterday afternoon and the thickness is better. Please always use caution when going out on any ice surface.

Happy Fishing!

Lake Ice Conditions – Ice Fishing Closed

Lake ice thickness was measured today and there is an average of 25.6CM (10.1 inches) ranging from 21CM to 28CM at our test locations. We have however since discovered a large area near a test hole where the ice is only 2.5CM thick. This was reported to us by a fisherman and was investigated. There was no visible indication that this area is not stable. This is unsafe and we regret that ice fishing is temporarily closed until this area heals and the ice continues to thicken. We are concerned there could be other thin areas on the lake as well. Our hockey rinks will remain open however the skate path remains closed for all forms of use. Lake front home owners assume all risk using the rinks they have built and accessing the park from a lake front home across the ice is not permitted at this time. Lake ice at the foot of the toboggan hill is stable however we recommend not venturing onto the ice. We hope over the next few days that cold weather will continue to develop thicker ice in the vicinity of the rinks so we can use our heavy equipment to maintain the surfaces. We will issue an update next week.

Compared to past years, our lake ice is thinner than expected for the time of the year. We have begun to build the hockey rinks on the lake. Lake ice formed late this year and a combination of freeze, thaw, rain and snow cycles has produced a very rough surface which will take several days to correct in order to provide decent skating surfaces. Due to a number of wet spots around the lake, we will we clear a skate path however it will be smaller this year. Once the snow has been cleared, the ice will continue to thicken. The skate path will be cleared however will remain closed for use until it is thick enough to support heavy equipment to flood and maintain the path. Ice fishing will open only when the path has been installed which defines the areas fishing is permitted. Please do check the Facebook page as well as our website for important information updates.

For the past 38 years, Park Foreman Rodger Frank has faithfully served the association and members of this community. It is certainly with mixed emotion that we announce his planned retirement at the end of December. Rodger was employed by Keith Construction and was on hand when Midnapore as well as other communities were being developed and built by Keith Construction. Keith would be bought by Genstar and Rodger remained working as a grounds maintenance worker for the newly formed association of Midnapore Lake. He would later become a Supervisor and Park Maintenance Foreman. Rodger’s work ethic has been un-paralleled and he has always placed the needs and member expectations first with every task he set out to do. Rodger has always preferred to work quietly the background without great fanfare or recognition. Rodger’s planned last day of work is December 31^st, 2021. Internally we will recognize and acknowledge his contributions to the membership and association. Due to the continuing state of medical emergency unfortunately we are unable to host a formal indoor community event to celebrate this occasion. Members are invited and welcome to drop off cards or letters at the office addressed to Rodger.

December 24th       9:00 am to 8:00 pm

December 25th       closed

December 26th       9:00 am to 10:00 pm

December 31st       9:00 am to 8:00 pm

January 1st       Noon to 8:00 pm

Office Hours

December 24th      9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Dec 25th to Dec 28th  closed

Dec 29th to Dec 31st   9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Jan 1st to Jan 3rd    closed

January 4th Park and Office return to normal hours.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Pleased tosay that Monday, December 13, 2021 marks the start of our winter operatingseason.  Starting Monday, the Lake will beopen until 10:00PM daily excluding the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Please check this page or our website forholiday hours. The upper rink opens forpleasure skating and the toboggan hill for sledding. Near the toboggan hill there is just over 5”of ice.

Ice Fishingremains closed and only once we have 7” of ice will we begin to build rinks andthe skate path on the lake.

We arestill operating under COVID restrictions and are hopeful that Tuesday’s governmentannouncement will repeal some of the measures in place.  As it stands now however, these are theguidelines we are operating under. Weare not operating under the Restrictions Exemption Program so,

-Membersmay admit up to 10 persons, per household per day.

-Membersshould socially distance themselves from those persons not of the same cohort orhousehold.

-When indoors,the wearing of a proper mask is required. When outdoors the use of a mask is not required.

-The officeis accessible by appointment only or access granted by the most senior officestaff member on site.

-The Skate ChangeRoom is open for access to the washrooms, water fountain and vending machines. 

-Benchesand picnic tables are set up outside the Lake House for changing footwear.

-Equipmentis not being loaned out.

-The SkateChange Room will close 30 minutes before the Park closes.

Midnapore Lake

Skate with Santa

Please join us on Saturday December 18th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

for our 2nd annual Skate with Santa

There will be hot chocolate, and a takeaway craft for member children (first 100)

Come and enjoy time with your family and neighbours skating with Santa under the beautiful Christmas lights.

This event is for members and their guests

Guests are limited to 10 per household per day

Please remember to bring your lake card

Good Afternoon Everyone

Please be advised that 2022 fee invoices will be in the mail by the end of this week. These invoices are due on January 1st 2022.

Did you know that Midnapore Lake now accepts e-transfers?

E-transers should be sent to 

[ office@midnaporelake.ca ]

The system will ask you to set a security question. Please use "what is my system number" Your system number can be found in the top right corner of your invoice. Your answer should include all 0's and dashes (if the system allows). Your system number will look like this, 0000339-07.

Please make sure to include your address in the comment section so we can properly apply the payment.

Please call the office if your fees are past due for up to date amounts owing.

If you are wanting to pay your fees in the office, please know that we are requesting only one person in the office at a time. Currently the office is open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Office hours will be extended in December to accommodate payments.

Let us know if you have any questions at 403-256-0550

We are looking forward to our winter operations.

As special thank you to Superstore in Shawnessy for donating some of our pumpkins, and to our volunteers. Without volunteers, events like this are not possible.  

Please see our Facebook and instagram pages for pictures from the event. 

Attention all Ghouls and Goblins

The 2nd annual pumpkin hunt is sold out.

If you have registered, please know that this event will proceed rain or shine. If you are unable to attend for any reason, please give the office a call at 403-256-0550 and we can make room for one of the families on our wait-list.

Thank you everyone and we look forward to seeing all the costumes on Saturday October 30th from 10 am to 1 pm.

Thank you to our volunteers and Superstore Shawnessy for their support of our 2nd annual pumpkin hunt.

This event is now completely sold out. We are excited to see everyone who registered on Saturday October 30th between 10 and 1.

Halloween Pumpkin Hunt

October 30th 10 am to 1 pm

Attention all ghouls and goblins !

On October 30th from 10 am to 1 pm Midnapore Lake will be hosting our 2nd annual pumpkin hunt.

Come to the lake in your costume and hunt through our 23 acre park to find your perfect pumpkin. You must pre-register by calling the office at 403-256-0550. There is no cost for the event. There will be one pumpkin available for each Midnapore Address registered. There will be candy bags that will be available to each child 14 and under (pre-registered). Members will be allowed to register up to 5 non-member children for treat bags. There will be additional activities, weather permitting. 

To respect social distancing, we will hold this event open house format. Come any time between 10 and 1.

You must pre-register for this event. Call the office at 403-256-0550. There is no cost.

This event is for members and their guests only

Please be aware that as per Alberta Health guidelines, effective tomorrow Saturday September 4th, masks will be required in all indoor park areas including the change room and washrooms.

Thank you for your understanding.

The annual lake fee for 2022 will increase to $255.00 plus GST. In May 2021, the Board of Directors for the MLRA approved a fee increase of $30.00 (plus GST). This decision to increase the fee is consistent with past Board decisions, which in 2011 introduced the first fee increase and agreed that every 5 years a review would be conducted and adjustment made. The last fee increase of $30.00 was made for 2017.  This fee increase addresses rising operating costs due to inflationary trends of the goods and services we depend upon as well as contributions to the restricted reserve fund. This fund is used to finance the costs of major maintenance as well as the cyclical replacement of park assets. Even at $255.00 plus GST, Midnapore Lake remains to have the lowest maintenance fee among all lake associations in Calgary and the surrounding area.

Please let us know if you have any questions at 403-256-0550.

Stage 3 Re-opening Park Operations

July 1st marks the start of a return to more normal operations. Most of the operating restrictions in place are either being removed or amended. We are anxious to see the end of the medical crisis that for the past 17 months has impacted all of us. We continue to monitor attendance levels and do recommend Park users continue to practice social distancing among non-household gatherings. We also suggest members bring their own hand sanitizer since not all touch surfaces can be cleaned or sanitized on a regular basis.

-If a member or guest is experiencing cold or flu like symptoms we discourage any visit to Midnapore Lake.

-South entry gate opens July 1st.

-Guest limits are increased from 2 per household per day to 10 per household per day. Junior members are permitted to admit 3 guests (included in the maximum of 10).

-For a gathering of greater than 10 walk in guests a Large Group Booking application must be made at least 72 hours in advance.

-Barbecue pits are available for use on a first come, first served basis.

-Picnic shelter bookings are accepted. Member households are limited to reserve a picnic shelter up to 3 times during the summer (June through September) with a maximum of 30 guests per event.

-A proper face mask must be worn when inside the Lake House until at least July 5th.

-The front office will remain closed to walk in traffic and is accessible by appointment only or at the discretion of the most senior office staff member on site.

-Vending machines and water fountains are accessible.

-For the time being, we will continue to admit members using their address. Members are encouraged to bring their cards to check out equipment. Temporarily, equipment may still be issued using the member address during the period while we replace lost or missing member cards.

-Lifejackets (for use with watercraft only) and recreation equipment is available on loan. Check at the front gate to sign out equipment.

-Members may take guests on watercraft.

-Float toys with a capacity of more than one person are permitted for use close to the beach area. Use beyond the beach area requires all persons to supply and wear a life jacket.

Please note that this gate opens at 10 AM daily and closes at 10 minutes before the park closes.

This is a seasonal gate and is open in July and August.

Have a great summer!

Ya-Hoo!! We installed the water slide just in time for summer!!

Boo-Hoo!! I will remove this device in a heartbeat if we do not get a little better behavior and respect from the youth who are using it.

During the past 2 days we have recorded the following incident examples by youth aged 13 to 19 using the water slide;

-jumping from off of the top of the slide.

-slide users preventing other members and guests from accessing the slide

-foul, vulgar language directed at staff as well as adult members on the beach with families present.

-adult members with their families on the beach asking slide users to behave being called ‘Karen’s’ by youth on the slide.

-mocking a young child on the beach who happens to have a disability.

-total disrespect towards staff trying to administer park rules and failure to follow rules.

-disrespect towards other members.

-inappropriate behavior

These incidents involve junior members as well as their guests whom they are responsible for.

These incidents are being investigated and members involved will lose their lake access privilege for most, if not all of this summer.

We want our members to be able to enjoy this facility and expect that some rules are going to be innocently broken. We believe in soft enforcement as our first attempt to resolve a problem and most of the time this is all that is needed. When we have repeated offences by the same member or groups of members, this is another matter that calls out for stricter enforcement.

If this type of behavior continues, members together with their guest(s) will be removed from this facility and not welcomed back.

Water Safety

On Monday afternoon in the company of friends enjoying a fun-filled afternoon at Mahogany Lake, a young girl jumped into the water and did not re-surface. She was located by the Calgary Fire Department Water Rescue Unit and rushed by STARS Air Ambulance to hospital where her condition remains unknown. We hope and pray for her full recovery from such a terrible event.

As tragic as this is however, let this be a reminder that no person, young or old should attempt to swim beyond their ability or in unfamiliar waters. Float toys on the lake offer great summer fun however are not good substitutes for a life preserver in an emergency situation such as a float toy failure. This is why we insist that users wear a PFD when beyond the beach area.

Parents, please remind your children to be safe and swim safe!.

Midnapore Lake is excited to be able to offer tennis lessons for children and adults this summer. Lessons will run for 6 weeks. See below for specific classes. Your support of programs like this is appreciated as we cannot offer programs if we do not have adequate registration.  

Community tennis and fitness will be providing the instruction. Please see the link especially for information on the new and exciting cardio tennis program. 

TENNIS LESSONS   

Midnapore Lake is pleased to be able to provide SUMMER tennis lessons. Classes are offered to MIDNAPORE LAKE MEMBERS ONLY. Class sizes are limited to 8 per class. 

1. First Tennis Lessons (ages 5 to 7 years old). This is an introduction to Tennis. 

Classes will be July 7th to August 11th.  The sessions are 1 hour in length and run every Wednesday evening from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

 The cost of enrolment is $85.00. (no tax)

2. Tennis for Kids (ages 8 to 11 years old). 

Classes will be July 7th to August 11st.  The sessions are 1 hour in length and run every Wednesday evening from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

 The cost of enrolment is $85.00. (no tax)

3. Tennis for Youth (ages 12+)

Classes will be July 7th to August 11st.  The sessions are 1 hour in length and run every Wednesday evening from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

 The cost of enrolment is $85.00. (no tax)

4. Cardio Tennis (adult) - beginner.  

( https://www.communitytennisandfitness.com/programs )

Classes will be July 7th to August 11th.  The sessions are 1 hour in length and run every Wednesday evening from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

 The cost of enrolment is $85.00. (plus tax)

5. Cardio Tennis (adult) - intermediate 

( https://www.communitytennisandfitness.com/programs )

Classes will be July 7th to August 11st.  The sessions are 1 hour in length and run every Wednesday evening from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

 The cost of enrolment is $85.00. (plus tax)

6. Adult Tennis (beginner)

Classes will be July 9th to August 13th. The sessions are 1.5 hours in length and run every Friday evening from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

 The cost of enrolment is $125.00. (plus tax)

7. Adult Tennis (intermediate)

Classes will be July 9th to August 13th. The sessions are 1.5 hours in length and run every Friday evening from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

 The cost of enrolment is $125.00. (plus tax)

All participants must be dressed for the weather. Classes will only be cancelled if the courts are unplayable.  In the event a class needs to be cancelled due to the weather, a make-up class will be scheduled.

Please make sure you bring your own water bottle.

Please contact the office at 403-256-0550 with any questions and to register (we can take payment by etransfer).