What an unforgettable evening! If you weren't able to join us live on May 28th, you can now stream the full recording of our special virtual ceremony directly on YouTube. - It was a truly inspiring night that brought our community together from all corners of the Bay to shine a well-deserved spotlight on the incredible Champions who work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect our waters, ecosystems, and coastal communities. - From grassroots environmental stewards to dedicated community organizers, these individuals remind us of what makes the Georgian Bay community so deeply unique. - Watch the celebration on YouTube here. - https://youtu.be/YGsJT-qS1Ms Meet Our 2025 Honorees Want to dive deeper into the stories of the incredible people we celebrated this year? We’ve po

Protecting the unique ecosystem of Georgian Bay requires strong regional teamwork. On June 2 and June 4, GBA Executive Director Meredith Denning joined local environmental partners for a pair of strategic meetings focused on shared conservation goals, land stewardship, and biodiversity. Connecting with the Escarpment Corridor Alliance On June 2, GBA attended the inaugural Annual Community Update of the Escarpment Corridor Alliance (ECA) in Thornbury. The session offered an excellent opportunity to learn about the organization’s evolution as a land trust, meet their incoming President of the Board, and discuss collaborative goals for preserving the ecological corridors connected to the Bay. Interested in their progress? Check out the ECA's official description of the event and re

GBA continues to actively represent your interests at major environmental and governmental tables. In June, GBA Executive Director Meredith Denning attended the latest Great Lakes Executive Committee (GLEC) meetings. As an official Observer organization, GBA is entitled to comment at these binational sessions, providing a critical voice for the protection of our coastal waters. Here are the latest updates: Championing Uniform Cruise Ship Regulations on the Bay During the meetings, GBA directly raised the ongoing issue of inadequate regulation surrounding black-water (sewage) and grey-water (galley, laundry, and sink) discharges from commercial cruise ships. As cruise ship tourism expands in the Lake Michigan-Huron and Georgian Bay areas, establishing stricter, modernized wastewa

Lake Michigan-Huron is now 5 inches higher than it was at this time last year. From a month ago, the water levels on Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 0, 1, 2, 2 & 0 inches, respectively. Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario levels are up 3, 5, 2 & 11 inches, respectively, from last year. Lake Erie levels are lower by 1 inch than this time last year. Lake Superior & Michigan-Huron are 3 & 1 inches below their long-term June averages. Lakes St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 4, 3 & 12 inches above their long-term June averages. All the lakes remain well below their June record highs. - In a month, Lake Superior & Michigan-Huron levels are expected to rise by 3 & 1 inches, respectively. Lake St. Clair leve

There is no denying it: hopping on a Personal Watercraft (PWC)—whether you call it a Jet Ski, Sea-Doo, or WaveRunner—is a blast. The rapid acceleration and the sheer agility of these machines offer an unmatched sense of freedom on the water.  However, our waterways are a shared space. The 2025 Safe Quiet Lakes You Lakes Your Views survey revealed growing community concern over how these vessels are operated. Because PWCs have a safety and environmental profile fundamentally different from traditional motorboats, ensuring a safe, peaceful bay for everyone means understanding how these high-speed craft interact with the lake. The Hidden Realities of PWC Use  Understanding the unique footprint of a PWC helps explain why safe operation is so critical—not just for the rider, but f

Lake Michigan-Huron is now 7 inches higher than it was at this time last year. From a month ago, the water levels on Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 3, 2, 4, 3 & 2 inches, respectively. Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario levels are up 5, 7, 1 & 12 inches, respectively, from last year. Lake Erie levels are lower by 1 inch than last year. Lake Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are 0, 3, 3 & 13 inches above their long-term June averages. Lake Superior is 1 inch below its long-term June average. All the lakes remain well below their June record highs. - In a month, Lake Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Erie levels are expected to rise by 3, 2, 1, & 0 

The annual Powwow season around Georgian Bay is a vibrant celebration of Anishinaabe, Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Métis cultures. These gatherings bring together nations for fellowship, ceremony and celebration. For non-Indigenous visitors, attending a Powwow is an incredible opportunity to learn and share space, provided you follow traditional protocols and community rules. 2026 Regional Powwow Schedule Please note: Times and dates can shift based on local committee organization. Always cross-reference the Ontario Pow Wow Calendar or local First Nation administration pages closer to the event. Early Summer Gatherings June 6 – 7: Henvey Inlet First Nation 23rd Annual Intertribal Pow Wow Location: Henvey Inlet First Nation Pow Wow Grounds Details: Grand Entry occurs

You might have seen the recent headlines: the highly destructive Spotted Lanternfly was just intercepted in Ontario. While they haven’t established a breeding population here yet, experts warn that their invasion is an imminent threat.  While our communities continue to manage established invasive species like zebra mussels, round goby, and Phragmites, a dangerous new wave of ecological threats is knocking on our door. Here are some of the high-risk species already creeping northward that are not yet established in our Bay—and what we need to do to keep it that way. Spotted Lanternfly (Land-based – impacts trees, vehicles, and outdoor gear) This sap-feeding insect is a massive hazard to Ontario’s hardwoods (such as maple and birch) as well as the agricultural fruit

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