Winter road conditions are here and the OPP want to remind drivers venturing out to adjust their driving habits and following these simple tips: Make sure your vehicle is roadworthy Clear all windows, mirrors and headlights of snow and frost Have extra supplies and blankets in case you break down Get snow tires (you may get an insurance break) Always tell someone where you are going Take extra care to watch out for pedestrians (pedestrians – make sure the driver sees you and remember it can take longer for vehicles to stop) **Most importantly, please take your time and adjust your speed according to the road conditions.  Speed limits are set for ideal road conditions and higher speeds in less than ideal conditions boost your chances of losing control. Also be a

Make your voices heard on Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reductions Plan by completing the survey here by January 14 2021. - Canada has committed to reducing our emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and want to know what you think about how emissions can be reduced to achieve this ambitious target. The government is engaging with the provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, the Net-Zero Advisory Body and would like to hear suggestions from interested Canadians on ways to address these climate change goals. Here are the survey questions being asked on Canada's 2030 Emission Reduction Plan: What opportunities do you think the Government of Canada should pursue to reduce emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and position Canada to achieve net-zero emissions by 20

This month outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be below average, not above average as they have been for almost 3 years prior to the spring of 2021. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & St Clair are all down 2 inches, and Lakes Erie & Ontario are unchanged. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are lower by 12, 17,  12 & 6 inches, respectively, and Lake Ontario is 7 inches higher than they were at this ti

Fantastic news for Georgian Bay boaters! Transport Canada has issued a Tier 1 Policy to accept electronic visual distress signal devices (eVDSD) in lieu of traditional pyrotechnic distress signals (flares and smoke) in an effort to improve pleasure craft safety. The policy, which applies only to pleasure craft, came into force on November 9th, 2021 and will be reviewed in five years. Small Vessel Regulations currently require all pleasure craft longer than six metres to carry pyrotechnic distress signals unless: they are operating on a river, canal or lake in which they can at no time be more than one nautical mile from shore; or they have no sleeping arrangements and are engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition The Burning Issu

This month outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be below average, not above average as they have been for almost 3 years prior to the spring of 2021. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are both down 2 inches, and Lakes St Clair, Erie & Ontario are all up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are lower by 12, 17, 7 & 3 inches, respectively, and Lake Ontario is 9 inches higher than they were at thi

Food Cycle Science has signed up about 20 municipalities across Canada to pilot its FoodCycler, a small food waste recycling machine in an effort to reduce the volume of food waste going to landfill. This project aims to put FoodCycler units into communities at a reduced cost and have residents track their usage to determine how much waste is being diverted. Through a cycle of drying, grinding and cooling, FoodCycler aerates food waste, turning it into compost within 4-8 hours, greatly reducing the weight and volume of food waste at the source and creating an odourless soil additive. - Parry Sound will be looking closer at this pilot project in January. Read more about the pilot project here. - FoodCycler offers a fantastic discount for GBA members. Details can be found here. -

This month outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be below average, not above average as they have been for almost 3 years prior to the spring of 2021. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 2, 2,  2, 2 & 0 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are lower by 12, 18, 7 & 3 inches, respectively, and Lake Ontario is 11 inches higher than they were at this ti

Temperatures in the Great Lakes region have been above average so far in December. This month outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary’s River are predicted to be below average, not above average as they have been for almost 3 years prior to the spring of 2021. This shows that, under Plan 2012 balancing, the flow into Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be reduced. Lake Michigan-Huron continues to be below the level it was at this time last year – see first graph below. All the lakes are now lower than they were at this time last year. - From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario are down 3, 3, 0, 2 & 0 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair & Erie are lower by 13, 17, 9 & 3 inche

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

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

Sticking it to Garbage Along the Shoreline What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? My name’s Chloe Drayton and I’ve been going to Georgian Bay with my family since I was born - I’m only 7! It’s a nice, peaceful place and it’s nice to go swimming, look for turtles, go exploring on the rocks along the shore and spend time with my family. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? Because I want to help all the animals and plants in nature and because it’s nicer to enjoy the cottage when there isn’t garbage lying around. I also want to enjoy Georgian Bay for a long, long time so we have to keep it nice and clean. - What’s your story that helps to show your Guardian of the Bay  values? Every year we walk around the shoreline of ou