With winter approaching, protecting your waterfront property is a top priority. If you're using or contemplating installing a bubbler system to prevent ice damage, it’s crucial to understand the legal, safety, and operational considerations involved.  What Is a Bubbler?  Bubblers are de-icing systems that create zones of agitated and warmer water to prevent ice from forming around waterfront structures. Properly managed, they can protect docks, seawalls, and other infrastructure from the ravages of winter. However, without careful planning, bubblers can create extensive open-water areas, posing safety hazards to unsuspecting ice users.  Legal Implications in Ontario  In Ontario, there are no specific laws prohibiting the use of bubblers; however, legal responsibilities ar

We're thrilled to announce that Sarah Spencer from Midland, Ontario, has joined our team as a Research and Social Media Assistant! Sarah will be working jointly with GBA and Georgian Bay Forever (GBF) to further our research and educational campaign to tackle dock foam pollution on Georgian Bay. This collaborative project aims to raise awareness and engage stakeholders to address the environmental risks associated with unencapsulated foam used in floating docks. Safer alternatives exist, and with Sarah's help, we can work towards protecting the Bay's fragile ecosystems for future generations. Welcome to the team, Sarah!

This summer the Safe Quiet Lakes: Your Lakes, Your Views survey gathered insights from over 7,100 Ontario lake users, including 817 from Georgian Bay, who shared their perspectives on lake activities, safety, and quality of life.  The "Your Lakes, Your Views" – 2025 Survey Results Webinar will take place on November 7, 2025, from 9:30-10:30 am on Zoom. Presenters Allan Gregg and Greg Wilkinson from Earnscliffe Strategies will share the results of the survey, highlighting trends, concerns, and community-driven data that can influence positive change. Webinar Details: Date: Friday, November 7, 2025 Time: 9:30- 10:30 am Location: Zoom Please register here:                  https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fKco2fk6QeqeCHtMew07zQ Prese

Support the protection of Georgian Bay's breathtaking wilderness! Join GBLT's annual online auction featuring stunning Georgian Bay-themed art, photographs, and unique experiences. Auction Details: Opens: Friday, November 14, 2025, 12:00 p.m. Closes: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Get a sneak peek at the auction items on Instagram @gblandtrust or Facebook @GeorgianBayLandTrust. All proceeds support nature conservation efforts so please bid to support a great cause!

The Ontario government has announced plans to introduce legislation to create the Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA), aimed at improving the province's conservation authority system. The new agency would oversee key improvement projects, including a proposed regional consolidation of conservation authorities, to enhance service delivery and protect communities. Conservation authorities are local public sector organizations established by the province and governed by the Conservation Authorities Act. They develop and deliver local, watershed-based resource management programs on behalf of the province and municipalities. Each authority was established at the request of municipalities in a common watershed, and they work together on local resource mana

GBA has drafted a letter to the Honourable Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), highlighting our concerns about the potential impacts of net-pen aquaculture operations on the health of Georgian Bay's waters and ecosystem. In the letter, GBA outlines its concerns about the industry's growth in and around the Georgian Bay watershed, including: Water quality impacts from nutrient loading and sedimentation Risks to native fish stocks from escaped domesticated fish and disease introduction The need for more sustainable and environmentally responsible aquaculture practices The letter also points to a recent incident where thousands of rainbow trout escaped from the Sheshegwaning F

The Great Lakes cruise ship industry is booming, but with growth comes a growing problem: cruise ship waste. GBA has concerns about the gaps in regulations surrounding sewage, greywater, and scrubber waste (a toxic byproduct of ship emission systems), which can harm our water quality. Transport Canada's Interim Order “Respecting the Discharge of Sewage and the Release of Greywater by Cruise Ships in Canadian Waters” does not provide sufficient safeguards for freshwater lakes. Reinstated for a third time on June 9, 2025, this order was designed with marine environments in mind and is being applied to freshwater lakes without adequately considering their distinct hydrological and ecological realities. Gaps in the current regulations include geographic exemptions

In September, our Boating Safety & Emergencies Committee attended the Canadian Safe Boating Council's 2025 symposium, "Solutions Through Partnerships: Charting a Course for Marine Safety" in Kingston. The event brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss marine safety, search and rescue, and regulatory updates. The symposium delivered valuable insights from an impressive range of experts, covering topics such as Search & Rescue operations by JRCC Trenton, challenges facing law enforcement on Ontario waterways, and updates from the Coast Guard, Navy, and Canadian Rangers. The event also provided a valuable networking opportunity, bringing together our BS&E partners and other stakeholders to share knowledge and discuss ways to enhance waterway safety.

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