The Government of Canada has appointed Mark Fisher as the President of the Canada Water Agency. This new agency, launched last fall under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (ECCC), is dedicated to protecting freshwater resources and enhancing freshwater management across the country. The agency will work collaboratively with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders to address pressing water challenges, including climate change, flooding, and water quality. Mark Fisher brings extensive experience in addressing national and regional freshwater management challenges to his new role. As the former President and CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region, he has a proven track record of fostering partnerships and regional collaborations among the G

Check your marine flares! Those manufactured in 2021 expire this year and anything prior to 2021 have already expired. Transport Canada approves marine flares for four years and should be replaced every third or fourth boating season. It’s not easy to get rid of expired flares in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Safely Dispose of your Flares CanBoat/NautiSavoir volunteers and select CIL Dealers are hosting Safety Equipment Education and Flare Disposal Days. Bring your expired marine flares from any manufacturer for FREE neutralization and safe disposal. Learn about required safety equipment and take advantage of this opportunity to dispose of outdated flares responsibly. Thanks to the generous funding support from the CPS Foundation in partnership with CIL, all

Lake Michigan-Huron remains 11 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Erie & Ontario are down 1, 0 & 2 inches, respectively, while Lakes St. Clair is up 9 inches, and Lake Ontario is up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 5, 11, 10, 14 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, Lake St. Clair, Erie & Lake Ontario are 6, 9, 1, 2 & 9 inches below their long-term March averages. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 1, 2, 4, 6 & 8 inches,

In a significant move to address environmental and health concerns, the Canadian government has designated most perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).  This classification gives the government the authority to regulate and potentially ban the use of these "forever chemicals" in various products. PFAS, or "forever chemicals", are a class of approximately 15,000 synthetic chemicals used to make products that resist water, oil, grease and heat, including makeup, stain-proof furniture, outdoor gear, and firefighting foam. These compounds do not break down in the environment and have been linked to various health issues, including kidney and liver damage, thyroid disease, reproductive

what3words (w3w),  an innovative location-based platform,  is making a significant impact in emergency response situations across the province and has been consistently utilized by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) over the past two years, highlighting its versatility and effectiveness in a variety of critical situations. In 2023, w3w was used by the OPP in 80 occurrences. In 2024 that jumped to 94 occurrences with 37 of those incidents involving individuals who became lost on trails and in forests. w3w enabled emergency responders to pinpoint the exact location of those in need, ensuring timely and effective rescues. The platform has been instrumental in several recent high-profile rescues, including: App helps save hiker injured in On

Lake Michigan-Huron remains 11 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 3, 2, 6, 2 & 0inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 11, 17, 14 & 10 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Erie is 1 inch above the long-term February average, andLakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, Lake St. Clair & Lake Ontario are 8, 8, 4 & 7 inches below their long-term January averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 0, 1, 10, 5 & 5 inches, respectively

Lake Michigan-Huron remains 11 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 3, 2, 21, 2 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 7, 11, 24, 13 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Erie is 2 inches above the long-term February average, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario are 8, 8, 11 & 6 inches below their long-term February averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, Lakes St. Clair,  Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 0, 1, 17, 4 & 5 inches, resp

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

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