- About US
- Boating & Safety
- Fisheries
- Lands & Forests
- Water
- Governments
- Energy
- News
- Get Involved
In October 2019, leaders and knowledge holders from Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and organizations gathered in Kingston, to strategize on how to collectively address climate change and biodiversity loss. The purpose of this gathering was to provide a forum for cross-cultural dialogue to increase community and ecological resiliency. The gathering aimed to enhance collective understanding and build and strengthen collaboration among organizations and individuals working to establish protected areas and address climate change. A key takeaway was the importance, even in this time of urgency, of taking the time to build relationships, show appreciation for nature and find mutually beneficial solutions to pressing environmental problems. The summary video and report of the gather
Georgian Bay is the perfect habitat for the Common Loon with clear water for spotting fish and plenty of irregular shorelines ideal for nesting. This fantastic video of the loons on Blackstone Lake is the perfect soundtrack for a summer weekend. Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/55SQQDlBdxc Summer is a critical period for loons to incubate eggs and raise their vulnerable young. Birds Canada has created a simple list of things you can do to directly benefit loons in Georgian Bay: Give loons space. Rearing up, vocalizing, flattening the body, or coming off the nest are signs that a loon has been disturbed. If you notice any of these signs, move back. Reduce your wake. Slow down near wetlands and shorelines to prevent wakes from washing out nests or separating young loo
There was significant rainfall in Michigan and Illinois over the last week. Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 1, 5, 7, 2, 0 inches respectively. Lakes Superior and Ontario are down 6 & 18 inches, respectively, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, & Erie are 8, 8 & 2 inches higher respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 11, 36, 37, 31 & 13 inches, respectively, above their long term May average. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair and Erie are 5, 7 & 2 inches higher, respectively than their previous record h
Safe Boating Awareness Week is from May 16 – 22 and this year Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) wants you to take extra precautions. Joe Gatfield, Chair of the CSBC stated ‘With recreational boating having such a slow start due to Covid-19 this year, if you need help, it might not be as readily available from rescue services or other boaters as it was in previous years. So, this year, it is even more critical to be prepared and not put additional pressure on emergency resources". CSBC has 5 Key Messages to help you stay safe on the water: Wear Your Lifejacket - Over 80% of Canadians who drown while boating were not wearing their lifejacket or not wearing it properly. Boat Sober - Whether it’s prescription drugs, alcohol or cannabis, the use of intoxicants is both irresp
Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but the difference from last year’s level for Lake Michigan-Huron has now declined by 7 inches over the last three weeks (from 14 to 7 inches higher) reflecting the drier conditions. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 0, 2, 2, 0, 1 inches respectively. Lakes Superior and Ontario are down 5 & 14 inches respectively, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, & Erie are 7, 2 & 0 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 10, 34, 31, 28 & 13 inches, respectively, above their long term May average. Lakes Mich
Commencing on March 24, the Ontario government introduced electricity price relief for customers who pay time-of-use electricity rates. Customers will continue to be billed at the lowest price, known as the off-peak price, 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the end of May. This should reduce hydro bills for Georgian Bay residents until May 31. Read more about the rate reduction here. -
Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but the difference from last year’s level for Lake Michigan-Huron has now declined by 5 inches over the last three weeks (from 14 to 9 inches higher) reflecting the drier conditions. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 2, 2, 2, 0, 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior and Ontario are down 3 & 6 inches respectively, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, & Erie are 9, 3 & 1 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 11, 34, 32, 29 & 14 inches, respectively, above their long term May average. Lakes Mic
On Friday, May 8 the Ontario government made changes to the essential services provisions to allow marinas to open for seasonal resident customers only. The marinas section is near the end. GBA and others have advocated for this change. - Premier Ford had a constructive discussion with “cottage country” mayors on May 6. Peter Koetsier, the mayor of the Township of Georgian Bay, specifically asked when marinas could be opened for seasonal residents. Premier Ford later undertook to make the change. See the Township’s press release here. - Earlier, the mayors of the District of Muskoka issued a helpful updated message on May 7, which is relevant to all cottagers: Mayors and Chair Covid Message, May 7 2020 - GBA has been closely following these developments and communicating with
- Your committee that addresses water quality and fish habitat issues arising from the open net pen aquaculture operations in Georgian Bay and the North Channel is looking for new members. Please consider joining this successful group of volunteers and help keep the momentum going. Read about the opportunity here. -
In April the basin received about 80% of its normal precipitation for the month. Water levels continue to be well above average and near or above record high levels, but the difference from last year’s level for Lake Michigan-Huron has now declined by 4 inches over the last two weeks (from 14 to 10 inches higher) reflecting the drier conditions. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 2, 2, 0, 0, 4 inches respectively. Lakes Superior and Ontario are down 2 & 3 inches respectively, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, & Erie are 10, 2 & 3 inches higher respectively than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 11, 33, 31, 30
GBA has written to Premier Ford and MPP Norm Miller to ask the province to consider GBA recommendations on the process for opening marinas for seasonal residents to access their seasonal homes, opening boat launches and lifting travel advisories when it is safe to do so. Read the letter sent to Premier Ford and MPP Miller here: GBA letter to Ontario govt on COVID-19 May 1 2020. Please note that in the GBA letter we are advocating for the following: Allowing marinas to open to service seasonal resident customers, but only when stage 1 of opening the province is implemented; Coordinating opening of boat launches with opening of marinas; and Lifting the current guidance that advises people to stay at home and not travel, but only when stage 1 of opening the province is
COVID-19 access for seasonal residents >>
High water levels >>
Official Plan & Bylaw review >>
Septic management and inspections >>
Waste collection >>
Aquaculture on the Bay >>
TC Energy pumped storage project >>
Cormorant hunt >>
All indications are that water levels are going to be up sharply again this year. GBA is providing timely and accurate information on current and projected water levels and will work with members and municipalities to share information on mitigation measures. Some septic systems, docks and low-lying structures are expected to be severely impacted.
Learn more about this priority >>
What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Sheila Williams and I (Celesta Bjornson) are the co-presidents of the Bay of Islands Association (BICA) and have been enjoying our summers in the Bay of Islands since we were toddlers. My family is from Pittsburgh and we originally found the Bay of Islands in the 1950s by vacationing at a fishing lodge called Moredolpton Lodge. Sheila's family is one of the founding families of the Bay of Islands. Her grandfather discovered the Bay of Islands in early 1900s while working on the lakers, travelling from southern Georgian Bay to the North Channel, transporting lumber back south. He fell in love with the area and purchased an island around 1924 and began building a cottage. Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to yo
Luc Voorn is a cottager in the South Channel and a passionate advocate for Georgian Bay. He currently serves as the Membership Chairperson for the South Channel Association (SCA), Editor of the SCA “On the Waterfront” newsletter, and as Director, Friends of the Massasauga Park. This past summer (2019), he was nominated as a Guardian of Georgian Bay for his ongoing enthusiasm and efforts to protect and preserve the Bay. Note from Jamie Drayton, GBA Chair of Guardians of Georgian Bay Committee My Dad used to take us camping. His lure to get us to bathe was to promise us ice cream if we ran into the water first thing in the morning for a swim. I recall the water being absolutely freezing at 7 o’clock in the morning… I don’t recall ever getting any ice cream. A few years l
Boating in the fall offers colourful views, solitude and excellent fishing. It is a truly great time to be on the water. But fall boating also requires extra attention to detail and the ability to be self-sufficient given that there are fewer boaters around should you require assistance. Here are some helpful tips from the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) and the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters to make fall boating safer for you. Check the weather forecast. The weather can change quickly and storms can be more violent. Fog is also more common. Ensure that your boat and engine are in good working order. Ethanol-based fuel can allow water contamination in the tank. The use of a fuel additive prevents water in the fuel line from freezing. Having a backup gas tank onboa
As nominated by Heather Sargeant My Phragbuster Hero About 5 or 6 years ago, at an event jointly put on by the Georgian Bay Association, Georgian Bay Forever, and featuring Dr. Gilbert, an ecologist with Phragmites expertise , I first learned about invasive Phragmites and the harm it can have on wetlands. I decided to investigate if Phragmites was a threat in Woods Bay (my favourite area of Georgian Bay), and that’s when my journey tackling this plant began. I wasn’t sure if a plant across from the family cottage was indeed the invasive type, and so I was nervous and queasy about leading people to help me cut it. What if it was the native plant, and I’d taken all these people out to cut down something benign? One of my neighbors told me there was a hero on Georgian
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is asking motorists to look out for vulnerable turtles on our roadways. Road surfaces provide an attractive source of warmth for these cold-blooded reptiles, particularly in the spring and early summer. During this time, turtles are mating and nesting; in late summer and early fall, newly hatched turtles are travelling from their nests to nearby wetlands. The Nature Conservatory of Canada has an informative video and tips for safely moving turtles. Watch the video and read the tips here.
Here are some things to think about around Fire Safety at the cottage: Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and working. Have a list of local emergency numbers posted for all to see. Include all pertinent cottage location information. Have the right fire extinguishers in the right places. Have an individual fire plan for evacuation. Make sure your plan has two escape routes. Respect local fire ratings. Have a fire pump and use it regularly to ensure it is in good working order. At the very least have a list of neighbours to call for assistance. Follow your association’s emergency plan if it exists. Make sure you have insurance. Make sure you understand what it covers and that it is adequate to rebuild and covers contents AND fire de
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has just released a useful guide on how to how we can all reduce our environmental footprints. Being a Guardian of the Bay also means doing what we can to reduce our individual consumption of carbon based fuels. - Here is a very good fact sheet and here is a full presentation on this topic. -
What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Cory Kozmik, Anthony Laforge, Samantha Noganosh, Chevaun Toulouse. We are the Lands and Resource Department for Magnetawan First Nation, in Britt, Ontario. - Source: Magnetawan First Nation Our connection to the Bay is the dense biodiversity that it hosts and the role its ecology plays in our lives, including the environment. It is also where ancestors of the Anishinabek Nation walked and practiced each day what it means to live with the land in reciprocity. The connection to the land and water is sacred to the Anishinaabe culture, and held very close to the communities that inhabit the area. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? We take great pride in being “Guardians” because it is our
Large wakes continue to be a bone of contention. They cause damage to docks and shorelines and can be very disruptive to cottagers enjoyment of their docks. What can be done? The occasional disruption and damage caused by excessive wakes are an ongoing source of irritation between boaters and cottagers. Boaters are responsible for their wakes and any damage caused by them. But the OPP tells us that damage caused by wakes is a civil issue. And so what you need to do is be able to identify the vessel and the operator and pursue the matter in small claims court if a reasonable result can’t be agreed upon between the parties on their own. However, if a boater is observed to be operating their vessel in a dangerous or careless way then the OPP should be called. They ideally would like t
This past summer there seemed to be a search & rescue operation happening and it left many cottagers confused about what was going on. The questions were about what to do in a situation like that - where to get information, and potentially how to help. When involved in a current investigation the OPP generally will not disseminate info through the media. They most often feel they have the resources to adequately conduct a search. Note that, if the OPP does ask the public for assistance, they are civilly liable if a member of the public gets injured while searching, and so tend not to involve the public. If the OPP is not successful then they will ask the public for assistance through media channels. If people have questions they can call the OPP non emergency ( 1 800-310-1122 ) num
My name is Eileen Maynard; I am 10 years old and the eldest of the 5th generation in my family at our cottage in Cognashene, part of the Georgian Bay Archipelago. Georgian Bay is so special to me. It is where I spend my summers and any weekend we can get free of our crazy life in the city. In the summer you can go swimming and tubing or out to islands for picnics. In the fall, it is so pretty with all of the colorful leaves and trees and a great time to go for a walk on Beausoleil Island. Being a Guardian of the Bay is important to me because Georgian Bay is vital to us and the animals around us. Being a Guardian of the Bay is a responsibility that we all have for keeping it healthy for the next 5 generations. Last year, with my grandfather, I applied for and was accepted as a vo
Sticking it to Garbage Along the Shoreline What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? My name’s Chloe Drayton and I’ve been going to Georgian Bay with my family since I was born - I’m only 7! It’s a nice, peaceful place and it’s nice to go swimming, look for turtles, go exploring on the rocks along the shore and spend time with my family. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? Because I want to help all the animals and plants in nature and because it’s nicer to enjoy the cottage when there isn’t garbage lying around. I also want to enjoy Georgian Bay for a long, long time so we have to keep it nice and clean. - What’s your story that helps to show your Guardian of the Bay values? Every year we walk around the shoreline of ou
The GBA On Facebook