There are so many ways you can get involved in and around the Bay.
Take a minute to learn about all the organizations working to protect the Bay by exploring our guide to the GB4.
Or see how you and your entire family can contribute by becoming a Guardians of the Bay.
Who Does What on Georgian Bay? Your Guide to the GB5 Organizations Working to Protect the Bay
Read More...The “Guardians of the Bay” (GOTB) is an initiative to permeate a mentality of protection and preservation across all parties that touch Georgian Bay, in any way, big or small.
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2024 Ontario Wildfire Statistics: We were fortunate. In 2024, the wildfire season started lowly with a wet spring and summer. Ontario saw a total of 480 wildland fires affecting 89,841 hectares across the province, which was well below the previous year and the ten-year average. In comparison, 2023 saw 741 wildland fires that affected 441,474 hectares across the province. The ten-year average is 694 wildland fires and 201,781 hectares affected. Regional breakdown: Statistical differences between the Northeast Region and Northwest Region in 2024: Total number of wildland fires by region Northwest Region - 218 fires, Northeast Region - 261 fires Total hectares burned by region Northwest Region – 69,938 hectares Northeast Region – 19
Residents of Midland, Parry Sound, Britt, and surrounding Georgian Bay communities can expect increased activity involving Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) helicopters and watercraft over the next few weeks. The CCG will be conducting essential search and rescue training exercises across the bay between April 25th and May 12th, 2025. - This training is part of the CCG's Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) program, which prepares post-secondary students to respond to marine emergencies during the busy summer boating season. The exercises will involve up to ten CCG Zodiac Fast Rescue Crafts and helicopters operating during both day and night hours. - The Coast Guard has assured the public that there is no real emergency or danger. This training is crucial for certifying and preparing students to effe
Lake Michigan-Huron remains 7 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 2, 6, 6, 8 & 9 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 4, 7, 9, 9 & 5 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 5, 5 & 4 inches below their long-term April averages. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are 2 & 4 inches above their long-term April average, respectively. All the lakes remain well below their April record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 3, 3, 3, 2 & 6 inches, respectively.
- As black bears emerge from hibernation, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is asking people to exercise caution. There are fewer sources of natural food for bears at this time of year, which could lead them to search for other food sources such as garbage and bird feed. Follow these simple tips to keep your property safe and bears in their natural habitat: They suggest: Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids (indoors if possible) Wait until pickup day to put out garbage Take away bird feeders for the spring and summer Clean food residue and grease from outdoor barbecue grills after each use Keep pet food indoors and leash your dogs If you encounter a bear that poses an immediate threat to your safety, call 9-1-1 immediately. Use
Lake Michigan-Huron remains 7 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 0, 6, 7, 9 & 10 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 7, 3, 7 & 2 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 7, 6 & 5 inches below their long-term April averages. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are both 4 inches above their long-term April averages. All the lakes remain well below their April record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 3, 3, 0, 3 & 6 inches, respectively. Lake Supe
GBA's Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Meredith Denning will be joining as our new Executive Director, effective April 28, 2025. Meredith brings over 12 years of experience in environmental research, consulting, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong focus on Great Lakes water management. She has worked with the International Joint Commission and the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC, as well as non-profits, government agencies and community organizations to protect our shared waters. As an Associate with TCI Management, Meredith’s consulting practice focused on strategic planning for cultural institutions in Canada, including libraries, museums and historical sites. Most of her clients are boards of directors, and she is looking forward to using this experience
Lake Michigan-Huron remains 7 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are up 0, 6, 8, 10 & 10 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 7, 5, 7 & 3 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 7, 6 & 7 inches below their long-term April averages. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are both 2 inches above their long-term April averages. All the lakes remain well below their April record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 3, 3, 2, 4 & 8 inches, respectively.
The Government of Canada has appointed Mark Fisher as the President of the Canada Water Agency. This new agency, launched last fall under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (ECCC), is dedicated to protecting freshwater resources and enhancing freshwater management across the country. The agency will work collaboratively with provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders to address pressing water challenges, including climate change, flooding, and water quality. Mark Fisher brings extensive experience in addressing national and regional freshwater management challenges to his new role. As the former President and CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region, he has a proven track record of fostering partnerships and regional collaborations among the G
Check your marine flares! Those manufactured in 2021 expire this year and anything prior to 2021 have already expired. Transport Canada approves marine flares for four years and should be replaced every third or fourth boating season. It’s not easy to get rid of expired flares in a safe and environmentally responsible way. Safely Dispose of your Flares CanBoat/NautiSavoir volunteers and select CIL Dealers are hosting Safety Equipment Education and Flare Disposal Days. Bring your expired marine flares from any manufacturer for FREE neutralization and safe disposal. Learn about required safety equipment and take advantage of this opportunity to dispose of outdated flares responsibly. Thanks to the generous funding support from the CPS Foundation in partnership with CIL, all
Lake Michigan-Huron remains 11 inches below its level at this time last year. From a month ago the water levels on Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Erie & Ontario are down 1, 0 & 2 inches, respectively, while Lakes St. Clair is up 9 inches, and Lake Ontario is up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 5, 11, 10, 14 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, Lake St. Clair, Erie & Lake Ontario are 6, 9, 1, 2 & 9 inches below their long-term March averages. All the lakes remain well below their March record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 1, 2, 4, 6 & 8 inches,
In a significant move to address environmental and health concerns, the Canadian government has designated most perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). This classification gives the government the authority to regulate and potentially ban the use of these "forever chemicals" in various products. PFAS, or "forever chemicals", are a class of approximately 15,000 synthetic chemicals used to make products that resist water, oil, grease and heat, including makeup, stain-proof furniture, outdoor gear, and firefighting foam. These compounds do not break down in the environment and have been linked to various health issues, including kidney and liver damage, thyroid disease, reproductive
what3words (w3w), an innovative location-based platform, is making a significant impact in emergency response situations across the province and has been consistently utilized by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) over the past two years, highlighting its versatility and effectiveness in a variety of critical situations. In 2023, w3w was used by the OPP in 80 occurrences. In 2024 that jumped to 94 occurrences with 37 of those incidents involving individuals who became lost on trails and in forests. w3w enabled emergency responders to pinpoint the exact location of those in need, ensuring timely and effective rescues. The platform has been instrumental in several recent high-profile rescues, including: App helps save hiker injured in On
What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Sheila Williams and I (Celesta Bjornson) are the co-presidents of the Bay of Islands Association (BICA) and have been enjoying our summers in the Bay of Islands since we were toddlers. My family is from Pittsburgh and we originally found the Bay of Islands in the 1950s by vacationing at a fishing lodge called Moredolpton Lodge. Sheila's family is one of the founding families of the Bay of Islands. Her grandfather discovered the Bay of Islands in early 1900s while working on the lakers, travelling from southern Georgian Bay to the North Channel, transporting lumber back south. He fell in love with the area and purchased an island around 1924 and began building a cottage. Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to yo
Luc Voorn is a cottager in the South Channel and a passionate advocate for Georgian Bay. He currently serves as the Membership Chairperson for the South Channel Association (SCA), Editor of the SCA “On the Waterfront” newsletter, and as Director, Friends of the Massasauga Park. This past summer (2019), he was nominated as a Guardian of Georgian Bay for his ongoing enthusiasm and efforts to protect and preserve the Bay. Note from Jamie Drayton, GBA Chair of Guardians of Georgian Bay Committee My Dad used to take us camping. His lure to get us to bathe was to promise us ice cream if we ran into the water first thing in the morning for a swim. I recall the water being absolutely freezing at 7 o’clock in the morning… I don’t recall ever getting any ice cream. A few years l
As nominated by Heather Sargeant My Phragbuster Hero About 5 or 6 years ago, at an event jointly put on by the Georgian Bay Association, Georgian Bay Forever, and featuring Dr. Gilbert, an ecologist with Phragmites expertise , I first learned about invasive Phragmites and the harm it can have on wetlands. I decided to investigate if Phragmites was a threat in Woods Bay (my favourite area of Georgian Bay), and that’s when my journey tackling this plant began. I wasn’t sure if a plant across from the family cottage was indeed the invasive type, and so I was nervous and queasy about leading people to help me cut it. What if it was the native plant, and I’d taken all these people out to cut down something benign? One of my neighbors told me there was a hero on Georgian
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario has just released a useful guide on how to how we can all reduce our environmental footprints. Being a Guardian of the Bay also means doing what we can to reduce our individual consumption of carbon based fuels. - Here is a very good fact sheet and here is a full presentation on this topic. -
What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? Cory Kozmik, Anthony Laforge, Samantha Noganosh, Chevaun Toulouse. We are the Lands and Resource Department for Magnetawan First Nation, in Britt, Ontario. - Source: Magnetawan First Nation Our connection to the Bay is the dense biodiversity that it hosts and the role its ecology plays in our lives, including the environment. It is also where ancestors of the Anishinabek Nation walked and practiced each day what it means to live with the land in reciprocity. The connection to the land and water is sacred to the Anishinaabe culture, and held very close to the communities that inhabit the area. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? We take great pride in being “Guardians” because it is our
My name is Eileen Maynard; I am 10 years old and the eldest of the 5th generation in my family at our cottage in Cognashene, part of the Georgian Bay Archipelago. Georgian Bay is so special to me. It is where I spend my summers and any weekend we can get free of our crazy life in the city. In the summer you can go swimming and tubing or out to islands for picnics. In the fall, it is so pretty with all of the colorful leaves and trees and a great time to go for a walk on Beausoleil Island. Being a Guardian of the Bay is important to me because Georgian Bay is vital to us and the animals around us. Being a Guardian of the Bay is a responsibility that we all have for keeping it healthy for the next 5 generations. Last year, with my grandfather, I applied for and was accepted as a vo
Sticking it to Garbage Along the Shoreline What’s your name and what’s your connection to Georgian Bay? My name’s Chloe Drayton and I’ve been going to Georgian Bay with my family since I was born - I’m only 7! It’s a nice, peaceful place and it’s nice to go swimming, look for turtles, go exploring on the rocks along the shore and spend time with my family. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? Because I want to help all the animals and plants in nature and because it’s nicer to enjoy the cottage when there isn’t garbage lying around. I also want to enjoy Georgian Bay for a long, long time so we have to keep it nice and clean. - What’s your story that helps to show your Guardian of the Bay values? Every year we walk around the shoreline of ou
Go Wild and Protect the Bay What is your connection to Georgian Bay? I came from a family of campers. We didn’t have a cottage. This was back in the 1960s and early 70s and Killbear Provincial Park was one of my favourite campgrounds. It’s where I saw my first rattlesnake and caught my first smallmouth bass. I was introduced to the South Channel in the early 1980s when my wife, Beth, invited me to her family cottage. We bought our own property in the late 90s and have made the annual trek from Alberta to Georgian Bay every year since. - Why is being a Guardian of the Bay important to you? I believe that an individual’s actions are as important as government regulations for protecting Georgian Bay. We are the guardians of our property’s ecological health. Collectively, Guardi
