For decades, scientists believed the lake sturgeon could live for up to 150 years—an impressive lifespan for Canada’s largest freshwater fish. However, groundbreaking new research suggests scientists may have vastly underestimated these ancient giants. Some sturgeon swimming in the Great Lakes today might be more than 400 years old. That means individual fish alive right now could have been swimming in these waters when Samuel de Champlain first navigated Lake Huron in the early 1600s. The Flaw in Counting "Birthday Rings" Historically, biologists aged sturgeon much like dendrologists age trees: by taking a cross-section of a fin ray and counting its annual growth rings under a microscope. While this method works well for younger fish, it breaks down as sturgeon reach matur

September 30 is Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. How will you mark the day? - "Education is what got us into this mess and education is key to getting us out of it." - — The late Honourable Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) - - Why We Mark This Day National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never came home from residential schools, the survivors, and their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. - Learn the History: Read the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s concise overview of Residential School History. - W

- It can be easy to view municipal politics through the lens of your primary residence, but seasonal property owners form the financial backbone of rural municipal tax bases around Georgian Bay. Your vote matters!  The decisions of the Mayors, Reeves, and Councillors elected this October affect seasonal residents, including:  Water quality monitoring, shoreline zoning and environmental bylaws Development and land-use planning, including site alteration and site plan rules, short-term rental regulations and habitat stewardship Property Taxes: setting municipal tax rates and deciding how tax revenue is used Emergency services and emergency planning for remote areas and islands Essential Services: Waste transfer stations, snow removal, municipal boat launches and

Lake Michigan-Huron is 8 inches higher than it was at this time last year. Compared to last month: Lake Superior: Same Lake Michigan-Huron: Down 3″ Lake St. Clair: Down 1″ Lake Erie: Down 2″ Lake Ontario: Down 6″ Compared to last year: Lake Superior: Same Lake Michigan-Huron: Up 8″ Lake St. Clair: Up 8″ Lake Erie: Up 6″ Lake Ontario: Up 16″ Long-Term September Averages: Lake Superior sits 2″ below its long-term September average, while Michigan-Huron is right at average (+0″). Lake St. Clair (+8″), Erie (+6″), and Ontario (+15″) remain above average, though all lakes stay well below record highs. - One-Month Forecast: Levels on Lake Superior (-1″), Lake Michigan-Huron (-3″), St. Clair (-7″), Erie

It’s September, and local bears are entering a critical phase called hyperphagia. During this time, bears forage almost constantly to consume up to 20,000 calories a day to build up fat reserves before hibernation. With wild natural foods dwindling, human food sources like trash, bird seed, and BBQs become top targets. - Whether you're packing up the cottage for the season or just heading out between weekend stays, taking a few extra precautions can help keep both your property and the bear population safe. - Cottage Closing Checklist: - Dispose of All Garbage: Take waste home or drop it at an approved waste facility. - Neutralize Odors: Disinfect garbage and recycling containers using strong cleaners. - Never Dump Cooking Oil Outside: Seal used grease i

Lake Michigan-Huron is 8 inches higher than it was at this time last year. Compared to last month: Lake Superior: Down 1" Lake Michigan-Huron: Down 2″ Lake St. Clair: Down 1″ Lake Erie: Down 3″ Lake Ontario: Down 4″ Compared to last year: Lake Superior: Same Lake Michigan-Huron: Up 8″ Lake St. Clair: Up 6″ Lake Erie: Up 5″ Lake Ontario: Up 18″ Long-Term September Averages: Most of the lakes remain above their long-term September averages (Michigan-Huron +1″, St. Clair +7″, Erie +6″, Ontario +18″), though well below record highs. Lake Superior is currently 1″ below its long-term September average. - One-Month Forecast: Levels on Lake Superior (-1"), Lake Michigan-Huron (-2″), St. Clair (-6″), Erie

When heading out on a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard (SUP), it is easy to assume that the slower pace offers built-in safety, but the statistics tell a different story. So far this year, 18 marine fatalities have been recorded on Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-patrolled waters—and half of them involved human-powered craft. Unlike large powerboats, small craft have a high center of gravity and far less inherent stability. Simple movements—leaning to net a fish, reaching for gear, or standing up—can instantly tip a vessel. Combined with sudden wind gusts or passing boat wakes, paddlers can go from enjoying a calm afternoon to being submerged in a fraction of a second. That sudden plunge triggers an immediate, involuntary gasp reflex. If your head is underwater or hit by a

Lake Michigan-Huron is 7 inches higher than it was at this time last year. Compared to last month: Lake Superior: Same Lake Michigan-Huron: Down 2″ Lake St. Clair: Down 2″ Lake Erie: Down 2″ Lake Ontario: Down 5″ Compared to last year: Lake Superior: Up 1" Lake Michigan-Huron: Up 7″ Lake St. Clair: Up 6″ Lake Erie: Up 5″ Lake Ontario: Up 17″ Long-Term September Averages: Most of the lakes remain above their long-term September averages (Michigan-Huron +2″, St. Clair +7″, Erie +7″, Ontario +19″), though well below record highs. Lake Superior is currently 2″ below its long-term September average. - One-Month Forecast: Lake Superior levels are projected to stay the same. Levels on Lake Michigan-Huron (-

A recent report from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) reveals that sea lamprey populations have spiked in all five Great Lakes due to a significant reduction in control efforts in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission reports that the number of adult sea lampreys captured in 2024 was 8,619 more than the three-year pre-COVID average of 38,167 (2017-2019). The largest increases were observed in Lakes Superior and Ontario. Although still above target, lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie have seen flattening trends in abundance since treatments returned to pre-pandemic levels. The report also notes that elevated and variable adult sea lamprey abundances should be expected over the next year or two before turning back

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.