GBA’s current Strategic Plan for 2017 – 2022 can be viewed here.
Plans, priorities and committee structures are reviewed and updated from time to time as required, and details can be found on the GBA website, as referenced in the Strategic Plan.
GBA AGM 2021
GBA held its 105th Annual General Meeting on April 10, 2021. Summaries and highlights of the wide range of issues and topics that we deal with on behalf of our members were presented and discussed. You can view the presentations here.
For more than 14 hours, some wastewater overflowed at the Collingwood wastewater treatment facility and was discharged into Georgian Bay without going through the treatment process. The town announced a "full treatment bypass" occurred on Sept. 23, lasting 14.5 hours. There was also a "partial bypass" for 21.5 hours during rainstorms the next week. - The incidence of untreated wastewater getting into Georgian Bay is going to get worse year on year with climate change impacts. This recent occurrence reinforces the need for coastal Great Lakes municipalities to have the funding and expertise made available to them by the provincial government to improve their infrastructure in order to cope with increasingly violent storm surges and prevent overflows. - Read about the incident 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 Michigan-Huron, St Clair and Ontario are down 1, 2 & 1 inches respectively and Lakes Superior & Erie are up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie &, are lower by 9, 13, 6 & 1 inches, respectively, and Lake Ontario is 3 inches higher, than the
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, Erie and Ontario are down 1, 2, 0 & 2 inches respectively and St Clair is up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie &, are lower by 10, 15, 5 & 2 inches, respectively, and Lake Ontario is 2 inches higher, than they were
GBA extends a warm welcome to Dan MacLeod, Township of the Archipelago's new Ward 6 Councilor. Mr. McLeod was sworn in on September 17 following the resignation of former Ward 6 Councillor Grant Walker. - Councillor MacLeod has had a connection to the Archipelago for more than 65 years and served as President of the Healey Lake Property Owners Association for 9 years.
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
Georgian Bay has lost a wonderful friend with the passing of Roy Schatz on September 30. Starting in the 1970's Roy was president of the Pointe au Baril Islanders’ Association and over the next 50 years we all benefitted from his wisdom and tireless energy helping to protect and preserve our beloved Georgian Bay. Roy was named GBA’s sixth Honorary Life Member for his 10+ years of outstanding service, including serving as secretary, chair of GBA’s Township of the Archipelago liaison committee and two years as president. Roy also founded and then led the GBA Foundation (now Georgian Bay Forever), a charity dedicated to scientific research and public education on Georgian Bay's aquatic ecosystem. More recently he served as vice chair of Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation. Roy’
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 and Ontario are down 1, 4, 2, 4 & 2 inches respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 11, 16, 4, 4 & 0 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Michigan
GBA has been working with the Canadian Environmental Law Association, Environmental Defense and others to oppose the gutting of environmental protections by the Ford government. Earlier this month the Ontario courts ruled that the Ontario government’s Minister’s Zoning Order practices broke the law, see here. - Now the MZO on the Mobility Orbit project in Innisfil has been overturned, see here. -
Wetlands are a vital part of the Great Lakes ecosystem protecting shorelines and providing habitats for our plants and animals. A binational group of agencies, organizations and universities has been developing a method of tracking the health of Great Lakes wetlands from space. This effort is designed to help aid wetland managers as they work to protect and restore these vital pieces of habitat for aquatic life. Additionally, monitoring from space is far less costly than field monitoring, experts say. Read about the technology and partners here, and an IJC report on progress here. -
There is still time to register for Canadian Safe Boating Council Virtual Symposium October 1, 2021 – Welcome to new boaters: how can we help? This FREE Virtual Symposium is from 12.30 – 3.45 EDT on October 1, 2021. With the theme Welcome to new boaters: how can we help? explore with us some of the boating safety issues that arise as we welcome new boaters to our community – and favourite activity. One key part of the program will be an industry panel featuring: Patrick Hardy, Vice President, Nautisme Quebec Bruce Haynes, Executive Director, Boating B.C. and Rick Layzell, CEO, Boating Ontario. Hear from these key experts about the work the recreational boating industry is doing to welcome and support new boaters. Get more details and Register 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, Erie and Ontario are down 0, 2, 3 & 3 inches respectively, and Lake St Clair is up 3 inches. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St Clair, Erie & Ontario, are lower by 10, 14, 2, 3 & 0 inches, respectively, than they were at this time la
We all want to protect our properties as best we can over the long winter, but if you use or are considering installing a bubbler to prevent ice damage, there are some import issues to consider. Bubblers are a type of de-icing system that prevent ice from forming around waterfront structures by creating zones of agitated and warmer water. Without careful planning, management and consideration of the nature of your waterfront area, your bubbler can de-ice a significantly larger portion of the water than is necessary to protect your property creating large areas of open water. Legal Implications There is no law against using a bubbler, but Section 263 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada (Duty to safeguard opening in ice) is very clear that those who make or cause to be made an openin
