GBA 2020 - Fall Update

www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Fall 2020 W hat a difference a few months make! As the COVID-19 pandemic spread in Ontario last spring, we wondered how long it would be before we could safely access our Georgian Bay cottages. Cottage country politicians and health experts urged everyone to stay home, keep safe and reduce the risk to smaller northern communities with limited health resources. As you’ll recall, GBA strongly supported that message. Later, as Ontario started reopening, GBA urged the province to open marinas to seasonal residents, which was obviously vital for the many water access residents on the Bay. They did. We continued to support our local municipal partners in promoting the observation of health protocols, as well as urging respect for restrictions in place in local First Nations communities and at local businesses. So far, so good. Thank you to everyone for your cooperation – it worked and there were very few cases in cottage country. Thankfully, that’s still true. As a result, access to our seasonal residences opened just as the prime cottaging season started. For most, it turned out to be an incredible summer on Georgian Bay. Many of us spent more time on the Bay this summer than ever, with most able to work or study from the cottage, and alternative activities either closed or not considered safe. We really got to appreciate how special it really is, and how fortunate we are, to be able to spend time in this unique place. Unfortunately, not everyone had that same opportunity. Our American members could not get to the Bay, with the border closed except to those with Canadian passports. Please see my special message to our American friends and neighbours in the box above. This summer was also different in other unfortunate ways. The summer AGMs of our member associations and many other social gatherings and events in our communities were also victims of the pandemic. Executive Director Rupert and I regret we could not get out to speak and see members at meetings. Almost all associations are holding virtual AGMs, many this fall. We are still available to provide brief updates at your meeting and will find other ways to communicate the latest goings-on in our work to represent your interests and protect Georgian Bay. GBA, in particular Rupert, continued to be busy on other more familiar fronts. Rupert’s report in this issue provides a quick summary. Water levels continue to be a major issue and our Water Committee, led by John Lavis of BNIA, has worked on a new GBA strategy on water levels issues. The reality is that unknowns remain about the drivers of the very high levels we are seeing, as well as different interpretations on what the data is telling us. That is why GBA is holding a water levels web symposium at which the experts will analyze and discuss these issues. Some are predicting levels will decline in 2021 – what do the experts say? Mark down the date – Saturday, October 24. Everyone is invited, it’s free and you can participate on your preferred device from the comfort of home – or cottage. Sign up at GBA/ GBFevent2020.com What the future will bring us in terms of dealing with the pandemic is anyone’s guess at this point. Let’s hope that this past summer will turn out to be the only one that was very different because of the pandemic. Thank you again for your support, and for observing the COVID-19 health protocols that have been critical to reducing the spread and enjoying the summer in Ontario. Fingers crossed that the risk remains low. Have a safe and healthy fall season. PRESIDENT’S REPORT A Very Different Summer By John Carson, GBA President Special Message to our American Members On behalf of the GBA Board of Directors, I want to reach out to our American friends who are our valued summer neighbours in so many of our GBA member association communities on the Bay. You are among our biggest supporters, and generous contributors to other Georgian Bay organizations like the Land Trust and Georgian Bay Forever. It is very unfortunate that the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic required strict controls at the border that prevented most of you from coming to the Bay this summer. We empathize with you on missing your annual visit to your treasured Georgian Bay summer homes, which many American families have been enjoying for generations. Your Canadian neighbours missed you this summer and look forward to renewing old friendships next year. GBA did write to the federal and provincial governments early in the summer to request them to consider adding an exception to the border restrictions for American recreational property owners. The government had allowed a few other exceptions, including for immediate family members. We argued that adding such an exception would present a low risk for several reasons, which we continue to believe to be true. Unfortunately we did not receive a substantive response to our letters, despite contacting Public Safety Minister Blair’s office several times seeking a real response to our points. His office only responded with a form letter that did not address the issue we raised, which is regrettable. Let’s all hope that COVID-19 emergency measures, including border controls, will be resolved well ahead of summer 2021 based on public health advances such as vaccines and improved treatments.