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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Lake Michigan-Huron is 11 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 down 3, 2, 11, 1 & 1inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 7, 11, 23, 13 & 10 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Erie is 3 inches above the long-term February average, andLakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario are 7, 7, 7 & 7 inches below their long-term February averages. All the lakes remain well below their February record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are expected to fall by 1 & 0 inches, respectively. Lakes St. Clair, Erie & Onta
Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker, has put the brakes on a $1.2 billion project at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam aimed at keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes, citing concerns that President Donald Trump's administration may not cover the federal government's share of the costs. - The project, which involves installing technologies such as bubble curtains, electric fields, and sound frequencies to deter and stun carp before they can enter Lake Michigan, has been in development since 2020. Governor Pritzker is seeking written assurances from the federal government that it will provide the necessary funding before proceeding, to prevent the state from being on the hook for the project's costs. - The Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois, is the
Over the years, the Canadian Safe Boating Council (CSBC) has led the charge in educating boaters on the dangers of cold-water immersion. Despite these efforts, drowning incidents still occur, even in warmer waters, with boaters, regardless of swimming ability, losing their lives after falling overboard. To address this ongoing issue, The Shock Factor was launched as a three-year national campaign aimed at reducing drowning incidents and improving Search and Rescue outcomes by revealing how vulnerable boaters are to drowning during accidental immersion. The Premise Behind the Shock Factor The primary goal of The Shock Factor experiments was to challenge misconceptions about lifejacket use. Many boaters excuse not wearing a lifejacket, citing reasons like confidence, swimming ability
It's Snowmobile Safety Week and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) are urging all snowmobilers to prioritize safety. Over the past decade, 145 snowmobilers have died in OPP jurisdictions, with excessive speed, alcohol impairment, inattention, and lack of helmet use being the main causes. Frozen waterways are particularly dangerous, accounting for nearly 40% of fatalities. Riders are encouraged to avoid frozen lakes and rivers and use OFSC's trail network, supported by real-time status updates through the Interactive Trail Guide (ITG). Accessing closed trails is illegal. The OPP conducts snowmobile patrols and enforces safety through its Snowmobile, ATV, and Vessel Enforcement (S.A.V.E.) teams to reduce accidents and fatalities. O
Lake Michigan-Huron is now 11 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 down 4, 2, 9, 4 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 6, 11, 16, 14 & 10 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes St. Clair & Erie are 0 & 3 inches above their long-term January averages, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 7, 7 & 6 inches below their long-term January averages. All the lakes remain well below their January record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are expected to fall by 1 & 0 inches, respectively. Lakes St. Clair, Erie &
A recent study published in Nature Medicine has found microplastics in human brains, accumulating over time to the equivalent of a plastic spoon! Researchers at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences have detected microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in human kidney, liver, and brain tissues. The research, which analyzed post-mortem samples, found that brain tissues harbored higher concentrations of MNPs, primarily consisting of polyethylene. The study also revealed that dementia patients had up to 10 times the amount of plastic in their brains compared to others. Alarmingly, researchers found a 50% increase in microplastic levels in brain tissue samples over the past eight years, and a significant increase in MNP concentrations in liver and brain samples from 2
The public comment period for the proposed changes to the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORR) in Canada has officially closed with the publication of the regulations in Gazette 1. According to the regulatory timeline, the proposed changes will be published in Gazette 2 in approximately 6 to 9 months, at which point they will become law. Here's a breakdown of the background, key issues, objectives, and descriptions of the proposed changes: Background: The VORR regulates boating activities and navigation. Local authorities can apply for restrictions, but the process is lengthy and complex. Previous modernization efforts (Phases 1 & 2) addressed some issues but further streamlining was needed. Recent legislative changes to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (C
Ontario voters will soon be heading to the polls. We encourage all GBA members to question prospective MPP candidates' commitment to protecting the Great Lakes, particularly concerning issues affecting Georgian Bay. This is best done at “all candidates” meetings in your riding, but other meetings or approaches to individual candidates also provide an opportunity. Cottage owners and waterfront communities along eastern Georgian Bay substantially contribute to Ontario's economy. According to a 2022 GBA survey, our members collectively spend between $134 million and $144 million annually. Given that GBA members represent approximately 55 per cent of all Georgian Bay residents, the total expenditure by all waterfront property owners in the area is estimated to be around $244 million ann
Lake Michigan-Huron is now 11 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 down 3, 3, 9, 4 & 0 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 5, 11, 21, 14 & 9 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes St. Clair & Erie are 0 & 2 inches above their long-term January averages, and Lakes Superior, Lake Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 7, 7 & 4 inches below their long-term January averages. All the lakes remain well below their January record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are expected to fall by 2 & 1 inches, respectively. Lakes St. Clair, Erie
The federal government announced on Friday January 31, that it would defer the implementation of the capital gains inclusion rate change from June 25, 2024, to January 1, 2026. According to the Finance Minister the deferral "will provide certainty to Canadians" as tax season approaches. This comes after the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced earlier this month that they would continue to manage the tax under the proposed rules included in the Notice of Ways and Means Motion tabled on September 23, 2024, even though they have not been passed into law. Ottawa also said it would pair a new $250,000 annual threshold for Canadians effective Jan. 1 2026, with the increase to the lifetime capital gains to “ensure individuals earning modest capital gains” can benefit from the one-hal
The Ford government is using $285 million in taxpayer money to advance the TC Energy pumped storage project in Meaford. This project aims to provide up to 1,000 megawatts of energy storage by pumping water from Georgian Bay into a reservoir during off-peak hours and releasing it back into the Bay to generate electricity during peak demand. The $285 million investment will cover the project's pre-development costs, including the completion of a detailed cost estimate and environmental assessments. Save Georgian Bay, a vocal critic of the project, argues that this is a normal business expense that TC Energy, a company with a market value of $71 billion, should cover itself. GBA has expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact of this project on Georgian Bay's freshwa
A recent incident in Smiths Falls, where a 14-year-old boy fell through the ice into the Rideau River, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of venturing onto frozen water. Fortunately, the teenager was rescued quickly and treated for hypothermia (you can watch the dramatic rescue here). While OPP and fire services are trained to respond to ice and water rescues, precious time can be lost as they travel to the scene. This delay can be critical, as the effects of hypothermia can set in quickly. Knowing how to self-rescue can significantly increase your chances of survival. Whether you're ice fishing, snowmobiling, or simply taking a winter stroll, it's crucial to be prepared for the unexpected. CBC and Boreal River Rescue have some great advice to help yourself and others if y
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
