 The City of Kawartha Lakes, formerly Victoria County, is a predominately rural, agricultural area with the centrally located Kawartha Lakes and northern portions of the City attracting many seasonal and retirement residents. The Town of Lindsay is the largest population centre, with the villages of Bobcaygeon, Bethany, Fenelon Falls, Woodville, Burnt River, Kinmount, Kirkfield, Omemee and Norland being major villages in the City. The Kawartha Lakes and the Trent-Severn Canal system are notable features of the landscape contributing to the flavour of everyday life. Southern portions of the City consist of productive farmland, forested hills and the headwaters of cold water trout streams originating from the Oak Ridges Moraine. Excellent agricultural land, intermixed with many provincially significant wetlands, and the Kawartha Lakes system predominates in the central portion of the City. The central - northern portion of the City blends into cottage country and the southern edge of the shield, with some lakes accessible only by hiking, canoe or floatplane. With agriculture and tourism being major industries, the local economy and quality of life depends greatly on healthy, sustainable land, water and forest resources. The City of Kawartha Lakes truly offers a wide variety of land stewardship challenges. The Victoria Land and Water Stewardship Council is a community based organization comprised of volunteer representatives from agricultural and forestry organizations, land interest groups, and representatives of resource agencies. The Council strives to achieve a spirit of collaboration amongst all who are interested in land stewardship, and initiates community based projects / programs to meet the needs of landowners and residents. | 
