Vol. 32 No. 1, Spring 2022 ED’s Advocacy Report.........................5 H20 2021 Extreme Water Levels: Impacts and Strategies – Summary Report.....................................................8 In Memory of Roy Schatz..................9 President’s Report ............................12 Upcoming Events...............................14 News and I nformat i on f rom the Georg i an Bay Assoc i at i on Canada’s Castles: Preserving Carling’s Lighthouses PAGE 6 PAGE 10 PM # 40038178 GBA U P D A T E Your Voice on the Bay The Great Lakes Basin and Economy Are Constantly Changing. Are We Ready? Continues on page 2 INS IDE : By John Carson, Chair, Coastal Protection Committee GBA Coastal Protection Projects Gain Traction We created GBA’s Coastal Protection Committee (CPC) in 2020 to help confront threats to the unique natural landscapes and ecology of the eastern and northern coasts of Georgian Bay due to growing development pressure. The Committee includes representatives from coastal communities from Honey Harbour north to Bay of Islands and Manitoulin Island, as well as politicians from four coastal municipalities. 1. Why do we need it? Protecting Georgian Bay’s nature, lands, waters, and environment lie at the core of GBA’s mandate. That is also a key goal of the official plans of municipalities along the coast. And is central to the mandates of other Georgian Bay organizations. The eastern and northern coasts are the most environmentally pristine areas of the Great Lakes south of Lake Superior. Our region is a World Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO, but it is increasingly threatened by development pressures that pervade southern Ontario. The Committee has made responding to development threats its top priority issue. 2. That’s a huge issue. What actions can GBA take? Based on the CPC’s input, GBA is spearheading actions ranging from examining municipal planning and land use rules, to advocating to governments to protect the coastal environment, to educating members and residents on protecting water quality and the environment. Yes, that’s a BIG agenda. See the response to question three on the next page on what we’re doing now. We need to focus on what is practical and doable with the resources we have. Of course, it’s not just the GBA that is acting to protect our coasts. We need all hands on deck to respond effectively to such a huge issue. We aim to collaborate and partner with local governments, First Nations, other Georgian Bay organizations, GBA member associations, and beyond to address issues and take actions. It is critical to harness the collective efforts of all parts of our communities if we are to make a real and measurable difference. The principles of collaboration and partnership are central to the CPC’s mandate and GBA’s objectives. Photo: Georgian Bay Biosphere
2 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 Continued from page 1 3. What has GBA and the CPC done so far? We have done a lot in the past year and there is more to come! ≥ Created a coalition of community members, municipal representatives, and GBA Directors to examine critical issues and propose responsive, measurable actions through our CPC. ≥ Developed an action list of 20 issues and concerns that we want to examine or act upon. ≥ Obtained a grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to fund the work of a recent university graduate to work on our review of municipal planning and land-use standards and other projects. ≥ Hired coastal protection projects coordinator, Cosette Shipman, using the NOHFC grant. Cosette has an outstanding resume, and GBA is thrilled to have her work on these key issues and to benefit from Cosette’s expertise. (Find out more about Cosette on page 4.) ≥ Launched a review of the key elements of the official plans, zoning bylaws, and land-use regulations of area municipalities, for the purpose of sharing information and identifying potential best and sound practices in the field. ≥ Retained an experienced professional planner, Andrea Miller, to write a GBA guide on planning policies and development rules. This will help our members better understand the Bay’s planning systems and how to respond to development applications that do not comply with municipal standards, or that may threaten the environment. Andrea is the former director of planning for the City of Barrie and has extensive experience acting as a consultant on planning and development issues. We aim to issue the guide this spring. ≥ Partnered with the Georgian Bay Biosphere and the Township of the Archipelago to develop clear and accessible materials for a program to educate members and residents on installing and maintaining septic systems. This material will be tailored to the rocky islands and landscapes of the Canadian Shield that dominate our coasts. We expect the materials to be out this spring. The content will be delivered across multiple channels to make the information easy to access and understand. ≥ Retained a communications firm to package the septic systems education program into a range of multi-media presentations, including an e-guide, GBA website pages, GBA UPDATE articles, PowerPoint slides, and posts on Facebook and other social media platforms. ≥ Launched a Coastal Protection Fund to solicit targeted donations to give GBA the resources we need to better promote strong, sustainable planning standards that will protect the natural environment of our coast and respond to developments that threaten those standards and the Bay’s environment. To that end, we are very grateful to two very generous donors who provided significant seed money for this fund, which has enabled GBA to launch this initiative. ≥ Studying site alteration bylaws like the one the Township of the Archipelago is developing (its proposal will be out for comment soon) and the Township of Georgian Bay has in place. These rules aim to protect the natural landscape by regulating changes to the grounds of islands and waterfront lots. ≥ Monitoring the status of major commercial developments on the Bay, such as the Macey Bay development near Honey Harbour. More multi-unit residential developments are likely on the near horizon. The CPC is advising the GBA Board on further actions to respond to them, especially where threats to water quality, shorelines, sensitive fish habitats, species at risk, and wetlands are involved. Continues on page 4 Photo: John Carson
3 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 For Non Association Members: Call your local association and sign up today to enjoy these discounts HOME / CONDO COTTAGE AUTO with Substantial Discounts: Exclusive to GBA Members “NEW” in addition to our Gold-Standard Cottage Program, we now offer a Gold-Standard Insurance Plan for 1-800-579-7423 WWW. R I C E I N C . C A info@riceinc.ca We also specialize in all cottages including: • High Values • Island Properties • Unique Construction • Multiple Owners • Rented Properties • Boats
4 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 Meet Cosette Shipman, GBA’s New Coastal Protection Project Coordinator ≥ Monitoring the commercial development of floating cottages and working with local municipalities on potential responses. This is a difficult and complex issue because some floating homes are classified as vessels that fall under federal boating and navigable waters regulations. ≥ Joined many other non-government organizations to make a submission objecting to the use of Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) to fast-track developments and avoid environmental assessments, especially where wetland destruction is involved. Find out more about our coastal protection ideas and actions at https://bit.ly/3u4HsV7 Stay tuned for more details on the Coastal Protection Fund coming soon. Contribute your ideas and concerns on coastal protection by contacting GBA Executive Director Rupert Kindersley at rkindersley@georgianbay.ca I’m Cosette Shipman, GBA’s coastal protection coordinator. Born and raised in Parry Sound, I grew up exploring the local islands and shores of Georgian Bay and working summers at our family’s marina. My interests include camping, hiking, and travelling, and I have recently taken up sailing. I also enjoy watercolour painting and have a strong interest in using art and creative approaches to make science and research more accessible to the general public. With GBA, I am working on our coastal protection project, a comprehensive review and comparison of the current municipal strategic plans, official plans, and zoning bylaws of five municipalities along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay (Township of the Archipelago, Township of Georgian Bay, Township of Carling, Municipality of Killarney, and Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands). The project is aimed at determining the similarities and differences between the municipalities’ waterfront and environmental protections, in order to establish best practices and put forward recommendations for aligning the municipalities regarding environmentally responsible waterfront development. My educational background includes a Master of Water Security from the University of Saskatchewan and a bachelor degree in environmental science from the University of Guelph. I am also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship and completed my master’s research placement at the National Fisheries Resource Research Institute in Uganda. This involved research on water quality and harmful algal bloom in Lake Victoria. My career interests are to continue working on matters regarding the global Great Lakes systems, water quality protection, and watershed management. Continued from page 2 Photo: John Carson
5 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 In this publication, the president’s report, Coastal Protections Committee (CPC) update, and my report on the H2O 2021 webinars have dealt with most of our advocacy priorities since the fall issue of UPDATE. This gives me a chance to use my Advocacy Report to cover a few other matters. First of all, we are in the final phase of our joint attempt with Dave Seglins of the CBC and Jean Burke from the Key River Area Association to get the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) to release the fire investigation report on the 2018 fire at Henvey Inlet. The adjudicator on our Freedom of Information request ruled that the report’s attachments should be released and made it clear that they did not agree with NDMNRF’s rationale for not releasing the report itself. This initiated a final round of letters from all parties and the matter now lies with the adjudicator for a final decision. For more information and updates please visit: georgianbay.ca/parry-sound-33. Next, in support of Bill 279, which will require filters to be installed on new clothes washing machines, GBA has recently sent a letter to all Ontario MPPs and separately asked you to write your MPP to ask them to support the Bill at its next reading. You can find out why this is so important here: georgianbay.ca/microplastics-in-georgian-bay and send an email to your MPP using our easy and quick online tool here: https://bit.ly/33q2QJ2 Since I updated you on our aquaculture action last May, we have continued to work on: ≥ The new 20-year licences that will commence in April 2023 (at the earliest), due to a more robust environmental assessment (EA) process, including a welcome bump up to a Category B environmental assessment ≥ Pushing for the continuing operation at Lake Wolsey to be closed down before there are more blue green algae outbreaks – we are now working cooperatively with a broad group of stakeholders on this ≥ Other advocacy to address our continued concerns about this industry and why changes are needed to make it more sustainable, full details of which can be found here: https://bit.ly/34ju7gw It is important to note that the expected lower water levels in the short term, as well as continued long-term warming of our waters, will exacerbate environmental impacts from these fish farms in our waters. In December, we held a productive and inspiring gettogether with a small group of our Honourary Life Members to celebrate the launch of our Coastal Protection Fund and get their input on our Coastal Protection Projects (CPP). For more info on our Honourary Life Members, please see: georgianbay. ca/honourary-life-members/ While advocating for our US and international friends to get to their cottages over the last two years, we realized we were lacking an important tool to help us with advocacy work. Therefore, you will shortly receive a request to help us out by completing a simple economic impact survey. Please participate in this when you get it, as it will help us out with ongoing advocacy on your behalf. Last but not least, with the implementation of the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) regulations, we should all thank past GBA president John Carson for not only completely overhauling GBA bylaws and governance procedures, but also setting up a workshop for both your GBA directors and your associations to get the information they need to comply with ONCA. It is a Herculean task, with more to come! Finally, I would like to thank all of you for the many helpful ideas and all the work you do to protect our beloved Bay. ED ADVOCACY REPORT By Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director Smoke from the Henvey Inlet fire in 2018 obscures islands in Georgian Bay. The fire covered over 110 square kilometres and destroyed more than a dozen cabins and cottages. Photo: Doug Clark
6 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 By Mark Fisher, President and CEO, Council of the Great Lakes Region ACTION PLAN 2030 We are fortunate to live and work in the binational Great Lakes mega-region. After all, this area is responsible for over half of the total value of essential and perishable goods trade between Canada and the United States, from food stuffs to auto parts, fuelling a total gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$6.0 trillion. Home to 107 million people across Ontario, Quebec, and eight Great Lakes states from New York to Minnesota, the region also supports over 50 million jobs, or one-third of the combined Canadian and American workforces. From a purely Canadian perspective, to say the larger Great Lakes regional economy and this inland freshwater sea are vital to Canada would be an understatement: 40 per cent of Canada’s economic activity is generated here, and one in three Canadians resides here. But this region, while serving as the engine of the North American economy, has an even more important role. It is the guardian of the largest freshwater system in the world. Holding 21 per cent of the world’s and 84 per cent of North America’s surface fresh water, the Great Lakes and its connecting waterways sustain life and support diverse habitats and species, many of which are globally significant and rare. This ecosystem is constantly changing, due to a variety of environmental stressors caused by human activity including urbanization, globalization, pollution, the rapidly changing climate, and the loss of natural spaces and biodiversity. It is for these reasons that the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), in partnership with other Great Lakes non-governmental organizations, developed Action Plan 2030, a 10-year plan to protect the Great Lakes. Now more than two years since the Plan and its recommendations were presented to the Government of Canada, CGLR is warning of inaction, noting that the federal and Ontario governments, as well as businesses and civil society, are still not ready to fully understand and respond to the complex environmental challenges on the horizon. For example, the government of Canada administers the Freshwater Action Plan. The Plan is the basis of the federal government’s ability to work with the provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders to manage, protect, and restore the country’s major interprovincial and international lakes and rivers, such as the Great Lakes. The federal government spends about $70 million over five years to protect and conserve all of Canada’s major lakes and rivers, with roughly $9 million a year earmarked for the Great Lakes. The United States, on the other hand, is eclipsing this spending, with investments in Great Lakes restoration soon to exceed US$500 million annually. So how does Canada get back on track? How does Canada rebuild its reputation as a global leader on freshwater management, science, and protection after decades of cuts? How does Canada prepare itself to respond to a future where the water challenges of today will seem straightforward in comparison? ≥ First, in keeping with the government’s political and policy commitments, it’s vital that the next federal budget renew and strengthen the Freshwater Action Plan by making an The Great Lakes Basin and Economy Are Constantly Changing. Are We Ready? Wreck Island. Photo: Karl Schiefer
7 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 historic investment of $100 million each year for the next 10 years, with a major focus on the Great Lakes, so that Canada can fully meet its obligations under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA). ≥ Second, consistent with Action Plan 2030, clear priorities and actions must be developed with respect to: • Responding to climate change in the Great Lakes and protecting shoreline communities • Reducing human and environmental exposure to toxins • Accelerating the reduction of nutrient pollution from agricultural nutrient run-off • Stopping bacteriological contamination at beaches by investing in wastewater treatment plants and cleaning up beaches ≥ Third, the government must move forward with the creation of an independent Canadian water agency reporting directly to the minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. The aim of the agency would be to consolidate and coordinate federal water efforts and support provinces and territories, including in developing and updating river basin and large watershed agreements. ≥ Fourth, once a Canadian water agency is established and its mandate and funding in place, initiate a comprehensive review of the 50-year-old Canada Water Act. Modernizing the Act will ensure that Canada has a legislative framework in place that reflects modern realities, such as including climate change and Indigenous water rights. ≥ Finally, in tandem with a strengthened Freshwater Action Plan and Canadian water agency at the federal level, it’s imperative that the province of Ontario match the federal government’s ambition for protecting the Great Lakes through the Canada-Ontario Agreement or COA, the implementing agreement for the GLWQA in Canada, and through Ontario’s own Great Lakes Strategy. As cottagers, you understand the importance of clean water and nature. And I suspect you understand better than most how important water will become in the future. Therefore, if you care about Georgian Bay and the Great Lakes as much as I do, now is the time to add your voice and call on the governments of Canada and Ontario to do more to protect the largest freshwater system on the planet by writing to your federal and Ontario members of parliament to ask them to call for these actions to be taken in their budgets in 2022. If you would like to learn more about the Council of the Great Lakes Region and our work to protect the Great Lakes while ensuring the sustainable growth of the regional economy, please visit councilgreatlakesregion.org/ or write me at mark@councilgreatlakesregion.ca. American Camp Island. Photo: Georgian Bay Land Trust
8 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 WATER LEVELS H20 2021 Extreme Water Levels: Impacts and Strategies Summary Report * GBA is working with the Georgian Bay Biosphere and the Township of the Archipelago to: develop in-depth information on septic systems; examine the design challenges/hazards faced for low soil level areas of the Canadian shield, such as Georgian Bay; and address the limited/inadequate alternatives permitted under the Ontario building code, which makes no provision for low soil conditions at coastal residences. In 2020, our joint GBA and Georgian Bay Forever (GBF) water levels symposium described how water levels are determined in Georgian Bay and the rest of the Great Lakes, dispelled several misconceptions so that we can focus on the real issues going forward, and answered a wide range of excellent questions from the audience. However, questions relating to the impacts of extreme water levels and strategies were put over to the GBF/GBA H2O 2021 Extreme Water Levels: Impacts and Strategies webinar series, each with a different focus. Webinar 1: What’s Happening? What’s New? ≥ Review of what has been happening with water levels over the last year – they are heading down now, but the updated projections show that going forward there will be more variability (i.e. higher highs and lower lows with more rapid transitions between highs and lows) ≥ Overview of updated information released on the longawaited Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) water levels projections study (expected March/April 2022) ≥ Introduction to the impressive Action Plan 2030 team and the work they have done advocating for the Canadian government to increase funding for key Great Lakes issues. This was expanded upon in Webinar 3 with a more detailed discussion on four of their recommendations that are most relevant to Georgian Bay, namely increased investment in: shoreline resiliency priority zones; LiDAR floodplain mapping, monitoring and modelling data; access to userfriendly climate change data and information; and support for natural, green infrastructure solutions ≥ Overview of the impacts on wetlands, flora, and fauna, and sustainability concerns around increasing water level variability and warming water Webinar 2: Shorelines and Shoreline Structures ≥ Detailed look at winds and waves: how the height of waves is determined and the impact of waves on shorelines in the context of higher water levels and more extreme storm events ≥ What to do and what not to do on your shorelines – why shoreline hardening is usually a bad idea (keep them natural) and how gentle slopes dissipate waves – the expected higher highs and lower lows need to be considered, but there are some strategies and techniques that can be applied to address shoreline issues ≥Why the high-water mark for coastal municipalities needs to be reviewed ≥ Challenges facing shoreline businesses (particularly marinas) that continue to make large investments to deal with increasing water levels variability to preserve infrastructure, access, parking and docks ≥ Recommendations on strategies to deal with your docks and discussion of the permitting process. As crib docks become less viable due to water level variability, the recommendation is to transition to floating docks Webinar 3: Septic Systems – Insurance and Planning – Coastal Infrastructure ≥ Rationale for why septic system design will need to be adapted to rising water levels for low-lying septic beds, including siting/relocating tile fields on higher ground and, in some cases, moving away from these gravity-fed septic systems to alternative technologies ≥ Ins and outs of these systems, how they work, how and why saturation of these systems occurs, and the impact saturation/flooding will have on your water quality* By Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director
9 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 Georgian Bay has lost a wonderful friend with the passing of Roy Schatz on September 30. Nothing brought Roy more joy than being together with family, particularly at the cottage in Pointe au Baril. He fought as an advocate and protector of Georgian Bay, and the work he started continues today. Roy served as president of the Pointe au Baril Islanders’ Association in the 1970s, 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 Honourary 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’s strong leadership and excellent communication skills, always laced with humour and a sharp wit, helped all these organizations flourish. A legacy we should honour and never forget. ≥ Information on the impact of climate change, such as increased storm severity, higher water levels, warmer winters, and warmer summers, which can adversely affect potable water quality, and some techniques to address this ≥ Full rundown of what insurance is available and what is not available (or is very expensive), including an overview of the challenges faced by the insurance industry, with climate change causing more extreme weather and everincreasing losses from fires, floods, and other unexpected events ≥Why it is important to discuss coverage options and market conditions with your insurance broker given the rapidly changing state of insurance for home floods, overland floods, and storm surges ≥ Details of what factors to consider to reduce risk, including a range of short-term, low-cost actions and longer-term, more complex upgrades to your property ≥Why it is important for individuals, shoreline businesses, and municipalities to adopt a long-term planning strategy when considering investments to address increased water levels variability, rather than short-term reactions to, for instance, extreme high water and flooding The majority of questions asked were about what we can expect for water levels going forward. The answer is that there is, and will continue to be, a high degree of uncertainty. There are no discernible cycles relevant to predicting future levels and, even when the long-awaited ECCC study referred to above is released this year, all their forecasts will be probability based and will therefore not provide any high degree of certainty on year-to-year future levels. Notable ideas included government funding to replace/ upgrade docks, for instance those with unencapsulated dock foam, or for marinas who need to transition from cribs to floating docks. It was clear from many of the questions asked that property owners are really struggling to determine what they can do about shoreline erosion/stability, flooding, access, docks, and the pros and cons of shoreline hardening. A lot of information was provided to address this range of important questions and there will be more to come when we post the full Q&A from the three webinars. Further information on the series, including synopses, recordings, and slides can be found here: georgianbay.ca/h20-2021/. Water levels in Georgian Bay are expected to continue to be a major priority for GBA moving forward, and it is clear that working together with GBF will continue to be valuable and productive in addressing your concerns and questions. In Memory of Roy Schatz 1931-2021 OBITUARY By Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director Front: Roy Schatz and his wife Dianna Michener Schatz; Back, from left to right: Roy’s children, Laura, Joan, and Cameron
10 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 By Allison Needham, UPDATE Deputy Editor HERITAGE Canada’s Castles: Preserving Carling’s Lighthouses In 2016, the Snug Harbour Lighthouse on the rocky shores of Georgian Bay was designated as a Heritage Site by the Government of Canada. In bestowing this honour, the Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office noted the building’s architectural value: “Though there were some issues in getting it built, Snug Harbour Lighthouse has stood up to the elements over the years and has rightly been recognized as a unique maritime building.” The Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has a long-term plan to divest themselves of most of the lighthouses on the Great Lakes – including the one in Snug Harbour. When the DFO approached municipalities and preservation groups to assume ownership and restore them, Carling Township agreed and was granted ownership of the Snug Lighthouse. In the fall of 2019, the Township requested suggestions from the community on how best to restore the lighthouse. After numerous suggestions were submitted, it was decided that restoring the exterior would be the primary goal. The shutters covering the first-floor windows were painted to look like windows, and the 1950s generator building was repainted in white and red to match the light house. The interior of the lighthouse is structurally sound, and at some future point turning the lighthouse into a maritime museum might be a possibility. Snug Harbour resident Peter Pook has been involved with the preservation efforts since 2017. “Lighthouses are Canada’s castles and must be preserved for future generations. More than half are already destroyed, falling into disrepair, or are beyond salvage,” Pook said. The Lighthouse Capital of Georgian Bay Since the founding of Parry Sound, there has only been one principal commercial boat channel into the Sound. All cargo and passenger boats travelling north or south must first travel through the shoal-infested waters off Carling Township. It became obvious in the late 1800s that a number of lighthouses were badly needed to safely guide these ships into Parry Sound. As a result, Carling has the distinction of being the lighthouse capital of Georgian Bay, if not the Great Lakes, with seven lighthouses or light stations within its borders. This distinction can be traced back to 1891, when Royal Navy Commander John G. Boulton conducted a detailed survey of the channels leading to Parry Sound. He suggested that the best route was from the north and recommended the establishment of five lighthouses / light stations to help ships safely navigate into Parry Sound from the southern end of the Mink Islands, where the Tower Island Lighthouse stood (later replaced by the Red Rock Lighthouse, which remains the principal lighthouse in this group). Boulton’s recommendation was accepted, and five new lights were placed into operation on September 29, 1894. A lighthouse was located on the southern tip of Snug Island, and four other sites (Jones Island, Golden Island, Gordon Rock, and Hugh Rock) housed lights that helped lead ships into Parry Sound. The construction of the Snug Harbour lighthouse took place in 1893, and the building was operational by the following year, with Charles White serving as the first keeper. The lighthouse was occupied by live-in keepers until The old Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans sign was replaced with a new stone sign in 2021. A postcard of the Snug Harbour lighthouse circa 1880. Image courtesy of Carling Historical Society Photo: Peter Pook
11 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 1977. Eventually, the lighthouse became a Coast Guard search-and-rescue station with a boathouse and radio beacon. Pook, his neighbour Bruce Davidson, and other members of the West Carling Association, formed a lighthouse restoration committee to make further suggestions on the restoration. Through the township and using the restoration funds provided by the DFO, the committee has installed a new historical sign and flagpole, and built a new dock. You can learn more about the history of Carling’s lighthouses on the township website at carling.ca/ recreation-and-culture/points-ofinterest. In the future, this website will be expanded to include the history of the six other light stations in Carling, Camp Franklin, shipwrecks in the Carling area, and the extensive fishing history of the Mink Islands. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers and commitment from the municipality, Snug Harbour’s iconic lighthouse will now be preserved for many generations to come. Red Rock lighthouse began operation in 1881 at the entrance of Parry Sound. The current structure was built in 1912, and stands 70 feet tall. The Snug Harbour Lighthouse sits sentinel in 2016. Photo: Tucker Family Photo: Graham Tucker
12 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 PRESIDENT’S REPORT By Rolfe Jones, GBA President This time last year, outgoing GBA president John Carson commented on how we never thought a global pandemic would form part of our GBA agenda. Well, a year later it remains an ongoing issue. Hopefully all of us will soon be able to find our way through this recent round of COVID relatively unscathed. COVID played a significant role in how we conducted GBA business last year, and like many businesses we pivoted towards the world of Zoom where we regularly met, addressed our members’ concerns, discussed important GBA matters, and got things done on behalf of our members. Here are just a few matters your Board worked on last year, some of which remain active. COVID and Advocating for Our Members One of last year’s highlights was advocating on behalf of the 26 per cent of our members who live outside of Ontario. The majority of those 26 per cent live in the United States while a smattering live internationally, or in other provinces. All those members, after a year away from their respective cottages, wanted to find a way back to their spiritual homes – for many good reasons – some to visit for the last time. We worked both on our own and also joined forces with the Federation of Ontario Cottagers Association (FOCA) and its 250,000 members to advocate to the federal and provincial government decision-makers. Whether or not our letters specifically helped turn the tide we will never know, but we believe our voice was heard. Starting August 9, we welcomed our missing friends, family, and loved ones back to the Bay. Safe Quiet Lakes Safe Quiet Lakes (SQL), formed in 2011 by representatives of lake associations in central Ontario, works to promote the safety and tranquility of our lakes. Last year our Boating, Safety and Emergencies Committee chair, Andrew Hurlbut, asked GBA and its members to participate in the SQL Your Lakes, Your Views survey. The survey looked at what people value from their cottage experience, how they use the water, and what their boating activity concerns are. These insights help us to understand the priorities of our members as well as providing information for GBA advocacy and action. There were 1,110 responses from the Georgian Bay region, of which 975 were GBA members. Insights from the survey included concerns about the increasing boat traffic, boat noise, and impact of boat wakes today compared with five years ago. For more information on the results, please visit: https://bit.ly/3FQsbL1 Looking Back and Moving Forward Photo: Georgian Bay Biosphere
13 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 The Decibel Coalition In addition to the 2021 results related to boat noise, the 2017 SQL survey found that loud boats were a major obstacle to the enjoyment of life at the cottage and that more than 67 per cent of respondents wanted muffler laws enforced. SQL’s Decibel Coalition was formed to address these issues, and last summer GBA reached out to our member associations to join the Coalition in helping to reduce excessive boat noise on our waterways. The GBA got behind this SQL initiative because we believe our cottages are treasured sanctuaries where we go to enjoy safe swimming and boating, and to feel nature’s soul-calming embrace. If quiet at the cottage is important to you and your family, we need to make our voices heard. The Decibel Coalition needs your vote of confidence - please sign on to this important initiative. To learn more about the Decibel Coalition please visit: georgianbay.ca/boating/boating/the-decibel-coalition/ Dock Foam Polystyrene, or dock foam, pollution on Georgian Bay is a very real environmental problem and its negative impacts should concern us all. Polystyrene is not only an eyesore when it breaks down and washes up on our shorelines, but it’s extremely harmful to anything that ingests it. That is why GBA got behind MPP Norm Miller’s Keep Polystyrene Out of Ontario’s Lakes and Rivers Act. GBA’s letter-writing campaign encouraged members to use our online platform to send a letter we provided to their local MPPs and ask them to support this important legislation to keep this pollutant out of our Bay. The program worked to great success. Coastal Protection With Canada’s and Ontario’s ongoing population growth, development creep will continue to impact us all. What should be of concern for our members and those who live around the Bay, is how development can affect Georgian Bay and its environs. That is why we have developed the Coastal Protection Committee to lead the creation of sound policies and best practices that will govern development in a sustainable, ecologically sensitive manner. We can’t prevent the inevitable increase in population around the Bay, but we can prevent it from degrading this rich and unique biosphere that we cherish. For more information on our Coastal Protection Committee please see the cover story. Water: Levels and Impacts In the fall of 2020, GBA and Georgian Bay Forever (GBF) held a very successful and well attended water levels symposium, where a field of experts presented the facts about water levels on the Great Lakes and on Georgian Bay. While we addressed the question of why water levels fluctuate, many questions remained about how extreme high and low water levels might affect peoples’ cottaging experiences on the Bay. The GBA/ GBF team developed a highly informative, three-part webinar series this fall to follow up on those questions and discuss the impacts of extreme water levels and strategies for how best to address them. For a brief summary of this series, please see the story on page 8. Looking Forward The coming year will be another busy year for your Board as we ramp up our coastal protection initiatives, put our collective shoulders behind Bill 279 to get filters into clothes washing machines, and keep microfibres out of Georgian Bay. We’ll finally get to delve into Environment Canada’s longawaited study on future water levels, and as always, we will continue to work closely with our Georgian Bay counterparts to ensure that our best efforts meet your best interests. Last, but certainly not least, please continue to support our membership programs (georgianbay.ca/membership/gbamembership-benefits/) and our UPDATE advertisers – these groups work hard to supply you and your families with special discounts on products you need while our advertisers directly support our bottom line with their advertising support. And finally, a big thank you to our directors, executive director, and communications and executive services coordinator for their commitment to GBA and the Bay. Thank you!
14 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022 GBA THANKS JUNCTION59 for their services supporting our eUpdate, website and our social media channels Marc Cooper 416.481.4861 junction59.com This publication designed and layout by 7 0 5 . 6 3 6 . 7 3 1 9 • www. j c l d e s i g n . c a Helping you to achieve your vision Subscribe to GBA eUPDATE email news updates by clicking the link at www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE is printed by Warren’s Waterless Printing, Canada’s leading environmental printer, using high-quality waterless print technology on Enviro 100% recycled paper. The waterless printing process eliminates the use of fresh water and greatly reduces the use of harmful chemical compounds. Distributed under Canada Publication Mail Sales Agreement # 40038178 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: GBA c/o SHANNON FARQUHARSON, Communications & Executive Services Coordinator 138Hopedale Avenue, Toronto ON M4K 3M7 (416) 937-4990 • sfarquharson@georgianbay.ca Patrons of GBA: The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D. John Ralston Saul, C.C. The Georgian Bay Association is an advocacy umbrella group representing 18 community associations and their members – approximately 3,000 families comprising over 18,000 residents. GBA UPDATE is published by the Georgian Bay Association 2022 Publication Schedule Issue Distribution Date Spring February Summer May Fall October GBA Mission Statement: To work with our water-based communities and other stakeholders to ensure the careful stewardship of the greater Georgian Bay environment. GBA UPDATE is mailed to all members of all GBA member associations, friends, other stakeholders and interest groups. Bulk copies can be made available to full member associations to include with their mailings. Material may be reprinted in GBA member association newsletters provided that the source is acknowledged. Letters to the editor are welcome. Please send address corrections and changes to the address below. Your Voice on the Bay President: Rolfe Jones email: rolfescottjones@georgianbay.ca Executive Director: Rupert Kindersley email: rkindersley@georgianbay.ca Editor: Liz Phillips email: lizannephillips@gmail.com Advertising & Deputy Editor: Allison Needham email: allison.needham@rogers.com Webmaster: Eric Armour email: e.s.armour@gmail.com GBA website: www.georgianbay.ca Facebook: www.facebook.com/GBayAssociation Upcoming Events Our sister Georgian Bay organizations wish to inform you of these upcoming events Georgian Bay Biosphere For updates and to register: gbbr.ca/events For recordings and resources check GBB’s YouTube videos at youtube.com/c/ GeorgianBayBiosphere Georgian Bay Land Trust LANDMARK Speaker Series Join us online once a month to learn about topics related to nature, conservation, and Georgian Bay from experts in the field. Visit gblt.org/landmark for upcoming dates. Georgian Bay Forever Thursday, Feb 24: 7:00-8:00 pm Webinar Topic: Washing machine filters drastically reduce microfibre/ plastic emissions into our water. Few are using them. You can change that. This webinar will review recent science on effects and solutions to microfibre/plastics pollution released into water bodies from machines washing clothes – but will FOCUS on ways that YOU CAN HELP mass-scale the washing machine filter solution by supporting Ontario Bill 279 with letters to MPPs (by individuals), petitions (by public-facing businesses or organizations), and resolutions and letters (by municipalities). Register online at gbf.org/register
15 www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2022
desmasdons.com • 705.366.2581 • matt@desmasdons.com QUALITY • PERFORMANCE • HERITAGE THE ROSSITER FLEET • STLYE MEETS FUNCTION
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDA3MzU4