Many Canadian boaters are aware of hypothermia but most are not aware that it is the ‘final stage’ your body reaches after being in cold water. Many people die during the first few minutes of immersion in cold water and they are not hypothermic, they simply drown due to the immediate, involuntary and often deadly effects of cold water. The cold water season on Georgian Bay is quickly approaching, beginning in October and lasting through June. If you plan to be out on the water during this time, prepare yourself for the season by taking a virtual Cold Water Awareness workshop featuring Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht (aka Professor Popsicle), a world-renowned expert in hypothermia. Workshops take place over 2 evenings from 8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) have

The Great Lakes Basin has been dry so far this month, with most of the basin reporting rainfall that is below average for this time of year. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 4, 2, 3 & 8 inches respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 9, 6, 7 & 9 inches respectively, and Lakes Superior is up 4 inches, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & are 3, 8, 13, & 12 inches above, respectively, and Lake Ontario is 6 inches below, their long term September average. All the lakes remain

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, has died at the age of 96. In her more than 70 years on the throne she was selflessly dedicated to the service of the commonwealth. - A steward of the natural world and an avid lover of the outdoors, Queen Elizabeth spent most of her free time in natural settings. Committed to preserving woodland and wildlife, earlier this year to mark her 70-year reign, the queen invited people to "plant a tree for the Jubilee". With this Green Canopy initiative she hoped to create a legacy to benefit future generations. Her commitment to the Commonwealth was a constant. The Queen made 22 official visits to Canada throughout her life. Her first official visit to Ontario included stops in Parry Sound, Midland and Penetanguishene. This visit inc

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior is unchanged, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 2, 3 & 7 inches respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 9, 10, 9 & 6 inches respectively, and Lakes Superior is up 5 inches, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & are 4, 9, 13, & 12 inches above, respectively, and Lake Ontario is 6 inches below, their long term September average. All the lakes remain well below their September record highs. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie &

As the summer season nears to a close, the wild food sources bears rely on become more scarce. Improper food disposal, untidy garbage cans, poorly cleaned BBQ's, and bird feeders may provide just the feast hungry bears are looking for. It takes all cottagers working together to eliminate these attractants and to stop bear problems. Whether you are closing the cottage for the season or just between stays, here are some precautions you can take: Before leaving your cottage make sure to: remove your garbage take it home or drop it off at an approved waste disposal site on your way use a strong disinfectant to eliminate all odours from garbage and recycling containers and lids never discard cooking grease outside: place it in a container with a lid, transfer it to a pla

OPP would like to remind drivers to vigilantly watch for wildlife while driving noting approximately 40 bears have been struck and killed by vehicles on Highway 400 between Honey Harbour Road in Georgian Bay Township and the Town of Parry Sound during the month of August alone. Motorists need to be mindful that wildlife collisions do happen, but that there are some simple things that can be done to mitigate the risk. OPP advise driving within the posted speed limits, scanning well ahead for possible wildlife (on the roadway, shoulder or ditch), using proper headlights and giving room to other motorists nearby. Wildlife never wear reflective suits and are unlikely to give way to a vehicle if encountered on a roadway. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has compiled some great informa

Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior is up 1 inch, and Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 2, 3 & 8 inches respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 9, 8, 9 & 6 inches respectively, and Lakes Superior is up 6 inches, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & are 5, 7, 12, & 10 inches above, respectively, and Lake Ontario is 8 inches below, their long term August average. All the lakes remain well below their August record highs. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & On

Congratulations to Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere (GBB)! GBB successfully released over 300 on the shores of the Shebeshekong River on August 24. As part of the Biosphere's Maamwi Anjiakiziwin species at risk conservation project, the turtle eggs were collected during the repaving of Dillon Road. After watching and rearing the eggs almost 20 northern map turtles and close to 300 snapping turtles were in released as close as possible to where their nests were located. At the turtle release, the federal government announced that the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve will receive more than $585,000 in new funding to support the reserve's biodiversity conservation. The funds will be distributed over three years from Canada’s Enhanced Nature Legacy as part of Canada’s goal to conserve

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

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