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Summer Update Newsletter

News and Information from the Georgian Bay Association

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Boating, Safety & Emergencies

Everything you need to know to enjoy a safe and happy boating season.

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Our Priorities

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Georgian Bay Fire Danger Rating

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News

June 2022

June 26 Water Levels Report

Recently the Great Lakes basin has been drier than normal and this is expected to continue in the coming weeks. - 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 are up 4, 2, & 2 inches respectively, and Lakes Erie & Ontario are down 1 & 2 inches respectively. Lakes Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are lower by 4, 2 & 2 inches respectively, and Lakes Superior and Ontario are up 1 & 15 inches respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 6, 9, 14, 12 & 2 inches, respectively, above their long term June average. All th

June 2022

Are You Covered? Some Important Cottage Insurance Considerations

Questions, questions, questions…and you should find out the answers! The beginning of the cottage season brings a big to do list: fix everything that’s not working, a ton of spring cleaning, check your boating equipment, and change the batteries in your smoke detectors to name just a few. One other job you should add to your list is to do a comprehensive review of your insurance coverages. Fewer companies are offering cottage and boat insurance. Property values and building and repair costs have surged and prices for insurance are going up, but we strongly suggest this is something not to be skimped on. A lack of insurance can make a bad situation so much worse. Remember that Rice Insurance offers a 15% discount to all GBA members on all your insurance needs. You can also ask yo

June 2022

Is Your First Aid Kit Ready for the Summer?

When was the last time you checked your first aid kit? West Parry Sound Health Centre Foundation wants to remind you that a well-stocked first-aid kit can help you respond effectively to common injuries and emergencies. They have compiled some great tips on what to keep on hand so you are prepared for a summer at the cottage. Scroll down to read the article or view the PDF here.

June 2022

Another New Area Code is Coming to the 705 Region

Here we grow again! Increased demand for phone numbers in the 705 region means a new 683 area code is being phased in. Starting June 18, 2022, the new 683 area code will be added to the 249 and 705 area codes for the region and new phone subscribers could be assigned the 683 area code. Important to note: Existing numbers keep the same area code Local calling areas remain the same All local calls will require 10 digits (area code plus local number) Special numbers such as 211, 311, 411, 611 and 911 will still be dialed using only three digits Read more here.

June 2022

OPP Offer Minor Incident Reporting Online

The OPP has expanded its online reporting tool to allow the reporting of minor occurrences such as theft, mischief, lost property and driving complaints. This system allows you to submit a report from your computer or mobile device without going to an OPP detachment. Submissions will be sent directly to the OPP and reviewed by an officer. You may be contacted to provide more information. A valid e-mail address is necessary to submit a report. You can use this system to report, regardless of value: Lost/missing property Stolen license plates or validation stickers Theft from a vehicle Mischief to a vehicle Mischief (damage to property other than a vehicle, including graffiti) Theft Gas Theft Driving Complaints DO NOT use this system: If the occurrence

June 2022

June 19 Water Levels Report

Lake - Outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River, Lake Michigan-Huron’s outflow into the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair’s outflow through the Detroit River, Lake Erie’s outflow through the Niagara River and Lake Ontario’s outflow through the St. Lawrence River are all projected to be above average for this month. - This report below shows the most recent month of precipitation and outflows published by Level News: - With regard to the forecast graph below, and the more recently updated first graph in this report, the USACE is predicting that the most likely outcome is that the Lake Michigan-Huron level will continue its seasonal rise through June, level off in July, and commence its seasonal decline in August, through September a

June 2022

What You Need to Know About VORRs

What the heck are VORRs? VORRS are Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations. A Bit of Background... The federal government has exclusive legislative authority over navigation in all Canadian waters. The Canada Shipping Act (CSA) 2001 governs shipping and navigation in Canadian waters. Part 10 of the Act is specific to pleasure craft. The Minister of Transport is responsible for the administration of this Act. More details... One of the regulations under the CSA 2001 that affect pleasure craft is the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORR’s). VORR’s allow any level of government (federal, provincial, municipal or territorial etc.) to ask the federal government to restrict the use of commercial or recreational vessels on any Canadian waters to promote safety, pro

June 2022

Georgian Bay Biosphere has Rescued Close to 5,000 At-risk Turtle Eggs

Georgian Bay Biosphere's road monitoring program has rescued 4,939 at-risk turtle eggs over the past two years. Every day during turtle nesting season, Georgian Bay Biosphere (GBB) biologists cycle along roads so they can spot turtle nests and collect eggs that are at risk due to construction and road improvement. GBB staff place the eggs in incubators and track them daily to ensure proper temperatures and development. Once hatched, GBB staff release the turtles within two days into their original wetland. - In two years of road monitoring, more than 20,000 kilometres have been biked and 4,939 turtle eggs have been rescued. GBB will be back on the road this summer to save even more turtle eggs and release the hatchlings. - Read more here. -

June 2022

June 12 Water Levels Report

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 are up 6, 2, 2, & 0 inches respectively, and Lake Ontario is down 2 inches. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are lower by 0, 5, 2 & 1 inches, respectively, and Lakes Ontario is 17 inches higher, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 9, 14, 13 & 4 inches, respectively, above their long term June average. All the lakes remain well below their June record highs. - In a month’s time Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are forecast to be up 1 & 2 inches

June 2022

Findings From the ECCC Assessment of Coastal Wetlands

Coastal wetlands can be found throughout the Great Lakes Basin along mainland, island and major channel shorelines. These wetlands are important ecological features that protect and improve water quality, provide habitats for fish and wildlife, protect us from flooding & drought, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Georgian Bay has by far the most extensive and (globally) significant wetlands of all the Great Lakes. Despite their importance, coastal wetlands continue to be lost due to disturbances from agriculture, shoreline development, pollution, invasive species, and the compounding impacts of climate change. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recently wrapped up a 5-year coastal resiliency study and, through a recent webinar series, shared the finding

June 2022

Township of Georgian Bay Weighs in on Macey Bay Species at Risk Deficiencies

GBA submitted objections to the developers Species at Risk (SAR) plans in 2019 (see the GBA submission here), and is pleased to see this well-crafted follow up by the Township of Georgian Bay attaching the updated report from North South Environmental, see: - Letter to MECP on SAR with North South Environmental Report - May 2 2022 - The SAR plan was completed in conjunction with an approval to develop a trailer park on a 165-acre property at Macey Bay just off Honey Harbour that contains environmentally sensitive wetlands. Read more here: https://georgianbay.ca/georgian-bay-planning-issues/

June 2022

Cruise Ships and Naval Ships Making Stops in Parry Sound this Summer

For the first time in three years, the Pearl Mist pulled to port at the Parry Sound Town Dock. This cruise ship that tours the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway holds 210 passengers and 70 crew members will be returning to Parry Sound nine times through June, July and August. See the schedule here. - In July, the HMCS Oriole will also be visiting Parry Sound. Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Oriole is a tall ship commissioned in 1954, and is the oldest ship in the Royal Canadian Navy. -

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GBA's Priority Actions

Our Current Focus

Water levels >>
Planning Issues >>
Dock Foam >>
Septic Management and Inspections >>
Waste Collection >>
Aquaculture on the Bay >>
COVID-19 Access for Seasonal Residents >>

See an overview of our priorities >>

Featured - Water Levels

GBA will continue to work with government and non-government agencies in the US and Canada to determine if and how a better job can be done to improve coordination between the different control structures that affect our water levels. The aim is to do the best we can to mitigate and address the impacts of extreme high and low water levels which are expected to worsen if climate change impacts unfold as expected. We will also be surfacing any issues on the accuracy and completeness of water levels data and exploring how water levels data can be enhanced to improve ease of interpretation and better inform decision making including adaption strategies.

Learn more about this priority >>

Articles

March 2022

Is Catch and Release a Good Idea?

The message from traditional Indigenous teachings is that catch and release is disrespectful to the fish (it can also harm their ability to eat properly after they are released) and one should only fish respectfully, which includes eating the fish we catch. Now it seems there is another reason to question this practice. Some bass are smarter than we might think, learn to avoid lures and can pass that knowledge down through the generations! Who knew! - Read more here. -

November 2019

Guardians of Georgian Bay – Celesta Bjornson and Sheila Williams

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

October 2019

Luc Voorn: Guardian of the Bay

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

October 2019

Cold Water Awareness

Boating from October through June offers a very different experience steeped in solitude and excellent fishing. It is a beautiful time to be on the water. But boating during this season 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 off-season 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 f

July 2019

Kathryn Davis – Guardian of Georgian Bay

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

June 2019

Help a Turtle Cross the Road

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.

May 2019

Fire Safety Suggestions for Individuals

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

April 2019

How to Reduce your Environmental Footprint

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. -

February 2019

Magnetawan First Nation Lands & Resources Dept. - Guardian of the Bay

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

January 2019

Excessive Wakes

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

January 2019

Opp Search and Rescue

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

October 2018

Eileen Maynard - Guardian of the Bay

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

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Keep Microplastic Pollution Out of Georgian Bay!

GEORGIAN BAY ASSOCIATION

YOUR VOICE ON THE BAY

Summer Update Newsletter

News and Information from the Georgian Bay Association

Boating, Safety & Emergencies

Everything you need to know to enjoy a safe and happy boating season.

Our Priorities

LEARN MORE ABOUT GBA’S TOP PRIORITIES

Georgian Bay Fire Danger Rating

News

June 2022

June 26 Water Levels Report

June 2022

Are You Covered? Some Important Cottage Insurance Considerations

June 2022

Is Your First Aid Kit Ready for the Summer?

June 2022

Another New Area Code is Coming to the 705 Region

June 2022

OPP Offer Minor Incident Reporting Online

June 2022

June 19 Water Levels Report

June 2022

What You Need to Know About VORRs

June 2022

Georgian Bay Biosphere has Rescued Close to 5,000 At-risk Turtle Eggs

June 2022

June 12 Water Levels Report

June 2022

Findings From the ECCC Assessment of Coastal Wetlands

June 2022

Township of Georgian Bay Weighs in on Macey Bay Species at Risk Deficiencies

June 2022

Cruise Ships and Naval Ships Making Stops in Parry Sound this Summer

SIGN UP TO OUR Email newsletter eUPDATE

GBA's Priority Actions

Our Current Focus

Featured - Water Levels

Articles

March 2022

Is Catch and Release a Good Idea?

November 2019

Guardians of Georgian Bay – Celesta Bjornson and Sheila Williams

October 2019

Luc Voorn: Guardian of the Bay

October 2019

Cold Water Awareness

July 2019

Kathryn Davis – Guardian of Georgian Bay

June 2019

Help a Turtle Cross the Road

May 2019

Fire Safety Suggestions for Individuals

April 2019

How to Reduce your Environmental Footprint

February 2019

Magnetawan First Nation Lands & Resources Dept. - Guardian of the Bay

January 2019

Excessive Wakes

January 2019

Opp Search and Rescue

October 2018

Eileen Maynard - Guardian of the Bay

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