16 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Fall 2023 PRESIDENT’S REPORT Opting for Optimism in Difficult Times By Liz Phillips, GBA President As the kids start back to school and the days get a nip in the air, it seems like everyone I speak to cannot quite believe how quickly summer has flown by, yet again. As Canadians, we love to pack a whirlwind of social engagements into the few months when we can spend extended time outdoors without having to wear multiple layers of clothing. My summer experience was no exception. On top of the many local Bay of Islands community events that I attended, I also got the chance to meet many of you at your annual meetings. It was a revelation to get out in the southern part of the Bay and really explore some of the areas. As a member of GBA’s northernmost association, it is tempting to think our issues are inherently different from the associations in the south part of the Bay, but what really struck me was how much we have in common. Regardless of where I was, the most important thing for members was the work of protecting the Georgian Bay environment to ensure future generations would be able to enjoy its beauty, swim in its waters, and relax on its shores. Over the 100-plus years of GBA’s existence, that has always been the main objective – but the approach to achieving this goal has evolved in response to changing threats. And the biggest threat facing us in Georgian Bay today, as in the rest of the world, is climate change. In my cover article, I outline some of the ways that this directly intersects with our work at GBA. I’m not the only one who feels pessimistic about the future of the planet – in fact, there is even a term for it: solastalgia. But as this summer began, I picked up a copy of How to Be a Climate Optimist: Blueprints for a Better World by Chris Turner. The book, which won Chris the $25,000 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing this year, has renewed my faith that a sustainable future is not just possible, but even likely. That’s not to say we aren’t going to experience some of the negative effects of a warming planet, or that all the fights have been won. What it does mean is that the evidence shows that the technology already exists to support a net-zero world; that greenhouse gas emissions are starting to level off; that corporate investment in renewable energy is exploding; and that government policy is supporting this crucial energy transition. From my point of view, knowing that it’s not all doom and gloom helps keep me motivated. I feel buoyed by the thought that the work we are doing at GBA can be part of this movement forward, and we can do our part to be part of the solution.
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