May 16–22, 2026, marks the return of Safe Boating Awareness Week, a global initiative dedicated to ensuring that a day on the water ends as happily as it begins. - With over 16 million Canadians heading to our lakes, rivers, and coasts each year, our waterways are busier than ever. Whether you’re a seasoned captain or a first-time paddler, understanding your responsibilities is the foundation of a great season. - How big is boating in Canada? 44% of Canadians enjoy recreational boating at least occassionally (that's over 16 million Canadians!) - 3 million of us are at the helm of powerboats. - 19% or 6 million join the fun as passengers. - The 5 Pillars of Responsible Boating The Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) highlights five key messages

On the open water of Georgian Bay, there are no painted lanes or stop signs. Instead, we rely on a shared language of predictability to keep everyone safe. In the Canadian shipping regulations, every encounter is defined by two roles: the Give-Way vessel, which must take early and bold action to stay clear, and the Stand-On vessel, which is required to maintain its course and speed so its path remains predictable. Understanding your role depends on how you meet: Crossing: If a boat approaches from your starboard (right) side, you are the Give-Way vessel. You must alter course early and obviously. Make your move bold enough for the other skipper to see it clearly.  Head-On: When two power-driven vessels meet head-on, both must alter course to starboard (right), passing e

Georgian Bay is a unique beast. As a UNESCO Biosphere home to the 30,000 Islands, its crystal-clear, oligotrophic waters are as ecologically fragile as they are beautiful. While boating is a primary way to connect us with this wilderness, it also carries inherent risks—like pollution and habitat destruction. Here are some practical steps you can take this season to practice "green boating" and minimize your impact: 1. Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species Boats are the primary shuttle for aquatic invasive species like zebra mussels or Eurasian Watermilfoil, which can devastate local ecosystems. Clean, Drain, Dry: Always inspect the hull, trailer, and motor for plants or animals before leaving a boat launch. Drain all livewells, bilges, and ballast tanks. The Dry Time: Ideal

The 2025 fire season was significantly more intense than the previous year, with 597,654 hectares burned compared to approximately 90,000 hectares in 2024. In response, the provincial and federal governments are aggressively expanding both human and mechanical resources for the 2026 fire season and beyond. New Legislation: The Wildland Fire Management Act (WFMA) Effective January 1, 2026, the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025 was renamed and modernized as the Wildfire Fire Management Act (WFMA) to governs how fires are managed on public land. Key changes include: Mandatory Municipal Planning: Municipalities within fire regions will now be mandated to develop and maintain annual Wildland Fire Management Plans. Trip Tracking: Because humans are responsible for appr

Returning to your Georgian Bay cottage after a long winter often means discovering that some of the local wildlife have made themselves comfortable. While it’s tempting to grab a broom and start sweeping, stop. Cleaning up after rodents, raccoons, bats, or birds requires specific safety protocols. Improper cleaning can loft dangerous pathogens—like Hantavirus, Roundworm, and Histoplasmosis—into the air you breathe. - 1. The Universal Rules of Safe Cleanup Before you touch a single dropping, remember these three golden rules: - Never Sweep or Vacuum Dry Feces: This is the most common mistake. Sweeping lofts pathogens into the air. Only use a vacuum if it is equipped with a HEPA filter and the area has been pre-treated. - The "Wet Method": Always

Vision 2050 is excited to welcome Megan Tan as the new Project Coordinator to support regional conservation and sustainability initiatives across Georgian Bay. In this role, Megan will help with research, stakeholder engagement, project coordination, and communications efforts to support Vision 2050’s long-term goals. She will learn from and work alongside the Project Steering Committee, project partners, conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, and regional stakeholders to improve and advance collaborative approaches to environmental protection, regional planning, and sustainable development in Georgian Bay for the benefit of everyone who appreciates this unique and beautiful natural environment. Megan is currently completing a Master of Environment and Sustainability a

Lake Michigan-Huron is now 6 inches hgher than it was at this time last year. From a month ago, the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 8, 11, 5, 9 & 13 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Ontario levels are up 4, 6, & 16 inches, respectively, from last year. Lakes St. Clair & Erie levels are lower by 2 & 3 inches than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are o, 0, 2, 2 & 12 inches above their long-term May averages. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario levels are expected to rise by 4, 3, 3, 2 & 0 inches, respectively.

May 3 to May 9, 2026 marks National Emergency Preparedness Week. In a country as vast as Canada, emergency management is a shared responsibility—starting with you. This year’s theme, "Be Prepared. Know Your Risks," challenges every resident to move from awareness to action. While first responders work tirelessly at the local level, experience shows that individual preparedness is the most effective way to protect your household and help communities recover faster after a disaster. The rugged beauty of the east and north coasts of Georgian Bay comes with specific challenges. Understanding these regional risks is the first step in effective planning. 1. Know Your Risks:  Wildland Fires: The dense forests and rocky terrain of the Canadian Shield are highly susceptible to wild

What are sea lampreys and why are they problematic? Sea lampreys are an ancient form of a jawless fish with a toothed, funnel like mouth, that suck blood out of fish. They entered the Great Lakes through the St. Lawrence Seaway. During the 50’s, Lake Huron’s commercial fishing industry was verging on collapse. In particular, one of the most valued species, Lake Trout, a favorite sea lamprey meal, was nearing extinction. The good news is Lake Huron’s sea lamprey population (once the largest in the Great Lakes with over 700,000 in the 1940’s and 1950’s) has been declining. For example, in 2015 the population fell to 70,000, well below the target of 90,000 set by the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission (GLFC), established in 1954 to oversee a Great Lakes sea lamprey control

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. -

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 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

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