In December, Meredith Denning, GBA ED, attended the second annual Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative (GLFWI) coastal symposium in Burlington, Ontario, hosted by the Canada Water Agency and the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority. Despite wintry weather, nearly 80 attendees shared a day of presentations and discussions. The event featured presentations and panels on: Coastal resilience & adaptation Restoration approaches Science & modelling Collaboration & engagement Our GBA Associations even got a shout-out from Professor Chow-Fraser’s team, which is developing an assessment system to see how Georgian Bay wetlands cope with changes in water levels. GBA members have hosted her researchers many times over the years, a

The Governments of Canada and the United States have released the State of the Great Lakes (SOGL) 2025 report, a comprehensive overview of the Great Lakes ecosystem. This binational effort assesses the health of the Great Lakes, providing insights into trends, challenges, and progress. The report highlights: Great Lakes are a reliable source of drinking water Beaches are generally safe for swimming Progress on reducing toxic chemicals and invasive species Ongoing challenges with nutrient pollution (esp. Lake Erie) and invasive species like Zebra and Quagga Mussels Georgian Bay specifics can be found on page 38 of the report. GBA Executive Director, Meredith Denning, will attend the Great Lakes Public Forum next week where

Representatives of GBA’s Water Committee met with MP Scott Aitchison at his constituency office in Huntsville to discuss the need for federal regulation of wastewater from the growing cruise ship industry on Georgian Bay. For the past three years, Transport Canada has issued one-year interim orders on this topic, but a lasting set of regulations that’s tailored to the Bay’s unique ecology is needed. MP Aitchison agreed, and GBA looks forward to working with him and other Bay MPs to raise the profile of this topic in 2026.  Read more about the cruise ship issue in Georgian Bay here.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) is celebrating a major victory for the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act (GLFRAA) has been passed by the U.S. House and Senate, ensuring continued federal funding for the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center through 2030. This funding will support research on native and invasive fish species, habitat conditions, and biological assessments, ensuring the long-term health of the Great Lakes. The passage of GLFRAA is a testament to the power of bipartisan support for the Great Lakes. Read the press release here.

Environment and Climate Change Canada's latest global mean temperature forecast indicates that 2026 will likely be among the hottest years on record, comparable to 2023 and 2025, and approaching 2024, which remains the warmest year ever observed. The predicted global mean temperature range is 1.35°C to 1.53°C above pre-industrial levels, marking the 13th consecutive year of temperatures exceeding 1.0°C above pre-industrial levels. Looking ahead, Canada’s long-term forecasts indicate that the period from 2026 to 2030 will likely be the hottest five-year period on record. The forecast is based on a made-in-Canada climate prediction system, providing governments, industry, and communities with reliable data to plan for the impacts of a warming climate. Read mor

Researchers at McGill University have identified specific bacteria that can indicate whether a blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom in a lake is likely to be toxic, providing a potential early warning system for water contamination. The study collected water samples and analyzed DNA of the bacteria present. Some of these bacteria, specifically Burkholderiales – related to those known to break down cyanotoxins – were consistently more abundant in toxic blooms, suggesting they might be responding to the presence of toxins in the water. This innovative approach offers an early warning sign and is a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to current toxin testing methods, which are expensive and need to be repeated throughout a bloom period. By lever

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