On April 19, 2021 MPPs Ian Arthur and Jessica Bell introduced a Private Member’s Bill to further protect our waterways from microplastic pollution. Bill 279 will amend the Environmental Protection Act to prohibit the future sale of washing machines that are not equipped with microplastic filters. The most prevalent type of microplastic pollution comes in the form of microfibres which can be shed from synthetic clothing through washing. These contaminants infiltrate our water system and are harmful to drinking water, wildlife, and the environment. Georgian Bay Forever has been studying the impacts of microplastics in Georgian Bay and how these washing machine filters are critical to reducing microplastic pollution. Through their Divert and Capture research initiative volunteers who ins

Autumn Peltier, of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island, has been recognized as an emerging green leader for her outstanding efforts to raise awareness around the importance of clean water. The Clean50 initiative recognizes people who are making a difference to Canada’s overall sustainability performance. Autumn, who is 16 years old, is the Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Protector, a position she took over in 2019 from her great-aunt and water activist Josephine Mandamin. Autumn is an influential advocate who uses her platform to educate and spread awareness about this valuable resource. Read more here.

Month to date accumulated precipitation is 55-71% of average for Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario, whereas Lake Superior is at 154% of average. Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels.  Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie and Ontario are  up  4,  0,  2,  1 and 7 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 5, 14, 15, 17 & 28 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are 9, 22, 19, &

Last November GBA joined the Green Budget Coalition and advocated for increased funding to meet Canada’s commitments on protecting lands and inland and coastal waters. We are pleased to report that the collective efforts of Canada’s NGO community on this matter was successful. The 2021 federal budget contains the largest-ever Canadian investment in nature, earmarking $2.3 billion to conserve 1 million square kilometres of land over five years. Read more here. -

Water levels continue to be well above average and near record high levels. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie and Ontario are up 4, 1, 0, 2 and 5 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 5, 13, 13, 17 & 29 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are 9, 22, 19, & 16 inches, respectively, above their long term April average, whereas Lake Ontario is 11 inches below. All the lakes are now well below their April

Saturday April 10, 2021 GBA’s committee chairs presented details of action over the last year, strategy, and plans for the coming year to the presidents of the GBA associations for all of our ten primary committees. These were well received and can be found here: - GBA AGM April 10 2021 - Presentations slide deck - As always we welcome ideas from any GBA member on both current activities, and any issues that are not on our radar, but you feel that we should be addressing. -

Bill 257 passed despite vigorous opposition from farmers, municipalities, most relevant NGOs (including GBA, see here) and 1,000’s of Ontarians. It seems that the Ontario government is determined to jam through developments at the expense of the environment and is not listening. Read more here. -

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

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