The sun is shining, the water is sparkling, and the open water is calling – but before you fire up the engine and hit the waves, make sure you're aware of the rules of the waterway! As a boater, it's essential to know what's legal and what's not to avoid getting caught off guard (and fined!). Cottage Life recently consulted with the OPP to get the lowdown on the top things people are fined for when out on the water. Here's what you should watch out for: No Life Jackets Ensure all passengers have access to a properly fitting, Canadian-approved life jacket while on board Potential fine for non-compliance: $200-$500 (plus 3 demerit points) Speeding Obey speed limits (day and night) and adjust speed according to water conditions Potential fine: $

On Sunday, June 8, a canoe carrying three men capsized on Sturgeon Lake near Bobcaygeon just after 3:00 p.m., resulting in the deaths of two men. The third man was able to swim to shore. According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), no lifejackets or personal flotation devices (PFDs) were present in the boat, and none of the men were wearing one. Human-powered vessels might seem like one of the safer ways to enjoy the water, but OPP data shows canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) are becoming increasingly connected with fatal incidents on Ontario waterways.   Key Statistics from OPP Patrolled Waterways:   Vessel Types: In 2024, there were 8 fatalities involving human-powered craft (canoes, kayaks and stan

Lake Michigan-Huron is now 10 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 up 2, 2, 0, 1 & 7 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Erie are lower by 4, 10, 7 & 7 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Ontario is up 6 inches. Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are 6 & 7 inches below their long-term June averages. Lakes St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 2, 4 & 1 inches above their long-term June averages. All the lakes remain well below their June record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Ontario are expected to rise by 3, 1 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes St. Clair and Erie levels

Lake Michigan-Huron is 9 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 up 3, 2, 4, 5 & 9 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Erie are lower by 2, 9, 9 & 6 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Ontario is up 5 inches. Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are 2 & 5 inches below their long-term May averages. Lakes St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 6 & 2 inches above their long-term May averages, respectively. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Ontario are expected to rise by 3, 2 & 1 inches, respectively. Lake Erie levels are predic

Canadians are some of the most active boaters in the world, with an estimated 16 million Canadians enjoying recreational boating, our waterways are busier than ever! As more people discover the joys of boating, it's essential to prioritize safety awareness to ensure everyone has a great experience on the water. To refresh memories and steer boaters towards safety, the Canadian Safe Boating Council has five pivotal messages: 1. Wear Your lifejacket – Lifejackets only work if you wear them and last year over 80% of Canadians who drown while boating were not wearing their lifejacket or not wearing it properly. There are so many choices for lifejackets/personal floatation devices on the market now, it is easy to pick one that suits your ‘boating style’ and is one that you are

The Weather Network has just released their summer forecast and the outlook is HOT! They are predicting a hot, humid summer with average rainfall for the Georgian Bay area. In areas to the north and west of Lake Superior, however, wildfires are a major concern, which could potentially impact air quality around Georgian Bay and other parts of Canada. Last year we were fortunate that the wildfire season started slowly with a wet spring and summer. Ontario saw a total of 480 wildland fires affecting 89,841 hectares across the province, which was well below the previous year and the ten-year average. The Ontario government has geared up for the 2025 wildland fire season, which runs from April 1 to October 31. To protect communities and resources, they’ve made s

 Join the Celebration! Please join us in honouring our amazing community volunteers. We warmly invite you to GBA’s virtual ceremony celebrating our 2024 Champions of the Bay Thursday, May 29th at 7 pm via Zoom - We will be recognizing all of our Champions and their nominators from all across the Bay and learning about some of their exciting contributions. Please click here to join the guest list for our inaugural virtual ceremony. EVENING PROGRAM - WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION  LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HONORING THE CHAMPIONS OF THE BAY Celesta Bjornson & Sheila Williams – Bay of Islands Community Association Nominated by Patrick Thoburn Carolyn Rymell – In Memoriam – Blackstone Lake Cottagers Association Award Accepted by

Boat theft is a growing concern among recreational boaters, particularly in Ontario, where recent statistics show an increase in stolen vessels. Whether docked at a marina, stored in a trailer, or left at a cottage, boats are prime targets for thieves. Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to safeguard your boat and minimize theft risks. Secure Your Keys: It's More Than Just Turning Off the Engine While it might seem obvious, leaving keys in the ignition is a surprisingly common oversight that makes boat theft far too easy. When leaving your boat unattended, even for short periods at a marina, always remove the keys. Store them securely in your vehicle's locked glove compartment. If you're heading back to your cottage, take the keys inside and place them in a lo

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