GBA Update - Summer 2020

T hese are unprecedented, catastrophic times. When the summer issue of GBA UPDATE was mailed out in past years, we were all looking forward with great anticipation to opening our cottages on the Bay – if we hadn’t done so already. This year we don’t even know if we’ll be able to open at all, or at least when that will be possible. As I write this column weeks before it appears in print, we know that stringent provincial measures to control COVID-19 will continue until at least mid-May if not longer, and social distancing and other restrictions will clearly continue after that. Many Georgian Bay cottagers are anxious about what that means for getting to our cottages. Obviously, there are far bigger issues of the day that dwarf that question, but it is one I feel I must address here. On April 16 I sent a letter to the presidents of GBA member associations on the issue of COVID-19 and access to seasonal residences. This message was also carried in eUpdate and on our website, as well as copied to municipal leaders in the region. At that time, we advised that the GBA Board’s recommendation is to be supportive of our municipalities’ messages urging us not to travel to the region to limit the risk of spreading the virus in small communities and to reduce the pressure on very limited health care resources and local supply chains. We advised that seasonal residents should be patient on the issue of accessing our cottages until the risk posed by the pandemic is reduced sufficiently that the authorities can determine that some activities may resume and guidance on avoiding non-essential travel within the province can be lifted. We know and understand that many have been frustrated about the situation with access to water-based cottages, especially knowing that a lot of people with road access to second residences in the province are using them. GBA shares those concerns, so it was a hard message to write, but it was the right message at that time. At the time of writing this report, it is unknown what the situation will be when this issue of UPDATE is circulated. We can only hope it will be much improved, the case numbers of the virus will be falling significantly, and steps can be taken to re-open low-risk businesses and other activities. For the latest news from GBA on the impact of COVID on access to cottages and the impact on the eastern and Vol. 30 No. 2, Summer 2020 New Board of Directors....................2 Thank You for Making a Huge Difference..................................4 Niibii – Water – Sacred Medicine ....5 Getting to the Heart of the Matter.........................12 Photo Essay ........................................10 ED’s Advocacy Report.......................14 Upcoming Events...............................16 From the Archives ............................18 News and I nformat i on f rom the Georg i an Bay Assoc i at i on Commercial Fishing in Northern Lake Huron and Georgian Bay PAGE 6 PAGE 13 PM # 40038178 GBA U P D A T E Your Voice on the Bay Working Together on Energy Management and Climate Action Will We Be Able to Spend the Summer on Georgian Bay? Continues on page 2 INS IDE : By John Carson, GBA President northern Georgian Bay coastal region, please check our website, eUpdate bulletins, and social media platforms. When the risk level posed by the virus diminishes, as we hope it will soon, and the province starts to consider the re-opening of some activities, GBA will address the issue of access to our cottages with municipal leaders and, if needed, the province. The central issues will likely be opening marinas to access by seasonal residents, opening of boat launches, and relaxing or lifting advisories against travel within Ontario. As I noted in the April letter, Georgian Bay seasonal residents are not simply visitors or tourists. We are Source: Province of Manitoba

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