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.
Read More...
Lake Michigan-Huron is 8 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 6, 4, 4, 4 & 7 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Erie are lower by 2, 8, 7, & 6 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lake Ontario is up 1 inch. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 4, 6 & 2 inches below their long-term May averages. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are 3 & 5 inches above their long-term May averages, respectively. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair & Ontario are expected to rise by 4, 2, 1 & 3 inches, respectively. Lake Erie levels
A recent Cottage Life Mar/Apr '25 article, "If cormorants aren’t actually bad for the ecosystem, can we bear to let them exist?", highlights the complexities of human-wildlife conflict and asks readers to rethink our wildlife acceptance capacity. GBA President, Liz Phillips, was interviewed for the piece and emphasized the "need to learn to live with the natural behavior of wildlife that can survive in our human-dominated environment." Double-crested cormorants, once vilified as an invasive species, are actually native to Ontario. Their population decline in the 1960s and '70s was due to toxic chemicals like DDT, but they've made a remarkable recovery. Despite scientific evidence showing they don't significantly impact native fish populations, a government-sanction
The Lake Partner Program (LPP), a vital water quality monitoring initiative, is at risk due to the impending end of its 5-year agreement with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Despite its immense value to the public and Ontario, a new agreement has not been confirmed, putting the program's future in jeopardy. The LPP is a volunteer-based water quality monitoring program that helps track the health of Ontario's lakes. The program relies on the dedication of 629 volunteer Lake Stewards who monitored 546 lakes at 917 sites across the province in 2024. However, the program needs Ministry-backed lab testing and coordination support to function. With nearly three decades of effort invested, the program's collapse would leave lake associations
GBA is seriously concerned about the effect of Bill 5, Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025, a sweeping omnibus bill aimed at opening mining opportunities in Ontario's Ring of Fire. This bill will make massive changes to the requirements for protecting endangered species and archaeological sites in the province. Bill 5 empowers the Ontario government to designate “special economic zones” which are exempted from provincial laws and municipal by-laws to expedite development. - What's at stake? If passed, this legislation will: - Repeal the provincial Endangered Species Act and replace it with the much weaker Species Conservation Act, 2025 Allow development to begin immediately after online registration rather than
Lake Michigan-Huron is 8 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 7, 4, 2, 4 & 7 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 2, 8, 6, 6 & 1 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 4, 6 & 4 inches below their long-term May averages. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are 4 & 5 inches above their long-term May averages, respectively. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior & Michigan-Huron are expected to rise by 4 & 3 inches, respectively. Lakes St. Clair and Ontario are expected to fall by 1 i
Premier Ford recently dismissed environmental permitting as “red tape,” which would be troubling on its own. But it’s not just rhetoric. Internal draft documents obtained by CBC News reveal plans to eliminate or radically overhaul all provincial and municipal permitting processes by the end of 2025. This isn’t an isolated move. It’s part of a larger pattern, and it threatens to unravel decades of environmental safeguards. If it proceeds, critical natural areas could be left open to unsustainable development. Permitting isn’t a barrier to growth; it’s the foundation of ecological, economic, and community resilience. It’s essential infrastructure for smart, sustainable development. The government should balance it
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 dise
GBA has joined CELA and over two dozen organizations in signing a letter urging the Ontario Government to take action to protect drinking water in the province. The letter responds to the recent Auditor General's report highlighting significant weaknesses in the provincial government's ability to protect the health of Ontarians who rely on non-municipal drinking water systems. The report revealed alarming gaps in drinking water protection, including inadequate inspection frequency, non-compliance with testing requirements, and lack of supports for private well owners. The letter calls on the Ontario government to publicly develop and commit to an action plan by the end of 2025, outlining specific timelines and processes for implementing the Auditor General's 17
Emergency Preparedness Week runs from May 4 to 10, 2025, and it's a crucial reminder that emergencies can strike anywhere, anytime. This year's theme "Plan for every season", highlights the importance of preparing for emergencies throughout the year, not just during extreme weather events. From infectious diseases to extreme weather events like flooding and forest fires, being prepared is key to keeping you and your loved ones safe. Three simple steps to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies Know the risks - understand potential emergencies that could affect your area Make a plan - develop a household emergency plan that includes contact information, escape routes, and a meeting point Have an emergency kit - stock up on essentials like food, wa
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 6, 4, 4, 5 & 6 inches, respectively. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are lower by 3, 7, 9, 9 & 4 inches, respectively, than they were at this time last year. Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron & Ontario are 6, 7 & 7 inches below their long-term May averages. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are 0 & 2 inches above their long-term May averages, respectively. All the lakes remain well below their May record highs. In a month, Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie & Ontario are expected to rise by 4, 3, 2, 1 & 5 inches, respectively. &nbs
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
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
