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Volume 167 No. 6
The calendar says it is almost summer – but Mother Nature is taking her time finding PaB until now! The Ojibway Club has opened the snack bar for all to enjoy, the markers are in, and our cottages await our arrivals (or have already welcomed us) ‘home’! See you on the water!
Table of Contents In this eBlast:
PaBIA
- Congratulations to Tom Scoon – GBA Recipient of GBA’s Champion of the Bay Award
- PaBIA Online Maps
- PaBIA Channel Markers and Flashing Light Markers (S-Turn & Raspberry/Chingwauk Islands)
- PaBIA Sailing is Tuning Up for the ’25 Season on June 26th
- Literally on the Bay – How to Survive A Bear Attack
OF INTEREST
- ToA Resolution regarding Protocol for Flying the Canadian Flag
- SAVE THE DATE – The Ojibway Art Show
- Pointe au Baril Station Canada Day Celebrations – Tuesday, July 1
- Answer to the Question – Would you use EV stations in PaB?
- OHPS – Docked in ‘Wharf Time’ – an opportunity to extend history
- GBA, GBB, & GBF Urge Action to Stop Bill 5
- ToA – Large Item Pick Up Days – 1st on July 5
- The Township Archipelago Express
- GBA Updates: June 2025 & Boating, Safety & Emergencies
- GBF – Looking at Georgian Bay Through a Scientific Lens
- GBB Taking Care of the Bay in So Many Ways
- GBB – Kids in the Biosphere
- Lake Michigan-Huron Water Levels – June 17, 2025
PaBIA
Congratulations to TOM SCOON – GBA ’24 Champion of the Bay Award Recipient
GBA’s Champions of the Bay Committee is thrilled to announce each Association’s 2024 Champion of the Bay. We are honoured to recognize the outstanding contributions of these stewards representing our Associations from Honey Harbour in the south to the Bay of Islands in the north.
“My primary reason for nominating Tom as a Champion of the Bay is to recognize his energetic leadership of the GBLT. Tom is a past president and member of the GBLT board of directors. By ensuring numerous parcels of land remain undeveloped, including valuable, vulnerable wetlands, Tom has guaranteed future generations can enjoy a Bay filled with wildlife, forests, wind-swept islands and swamps.” – Andrew Willis
Tom has been involved with GBLT for over 20 years and has served as the chair of the Stewardship and Land Protection committees, vice president, president and currently serves as an advisor. In addition to his commitments with the Land Trust, Tom was the president of the Pointe au Baril Islanders’ Association for three years.
PaBIA Online Maps
PaBIA still has the printed version of the 2019 PaBIA Maps in stock, but Tom Cavers is keeping the Online Maps updated for your convenience
Channel Markers and Flashing Light Markers
A reminder once again that the channel markers, both government and those belonging to PaBIA, are just aids to navigation; therefore not every channel and rock or shoal is marked! If you are in an unfamiliar area, please take caution and slow down to ensure safe travels.
We now have replacement flashing lights for the marker in the S-turn and the flashing light between Chingwauk and Raspberry Is., both of which will be installed in the coming weeks.
PaBIA Sailing is Tuning Up for the Season!
Well into its second century, the Islanders’ summer sailing program is about to begin. The first event is the tune-up races on Saturday, June 28 in Ojibway Bay. Cooperating with the Ojibway Club, we have a new junior program with access to lots of boats, while PaBIA supports the great social activities with lots more planned. See pabia.ca/sailing for details. If you wish to be added to the sailing email list or for further information, please email Jamie Isbester by either clicking on his name or text/phone him by finding the information on page 292 of the 2025 Yearbook
Literally on the Bay
Welcome to the Pointe au Baril Library summer e-blasts.
The Library, located in the Community Centre on South Shore Road, is open from 9:30-11:30 am Mondays and Wednesdays, holidays excepted. Recent best sellers have been added to the collection in time for summer reading. We are very much looking forward to the many conversations that a Library generates.
Our first reading recommendation is Canadian author Claire Cameron’s How to Survive A Bear Attack. This book is a compelling intersection of three themes: personal memoir, nature writing, and crime investigation.
No longer able to venture into the wilderness as she once had, Cameron is obsessed with the 1991 bear attack in Algonquin Park during which two campers lost their lives. For those of you who are fascinated with the life and habits of bears, have an abiding love of Algonquin Park, and find inspiration in Cameron’s journey of courage and resilience, this new publication is deeply engaging. The Toronto Public Library has posted an hour-long interview with Waub Rice and Cameron at https://www.youtube.com/torontopubliclibrary.
The Pointe au Baril Library has a copy of Michael Crummy’s book, The Adversary, for which he won the Dublin Literary Award in May of this year. Crummy, from Newfoundland, is the second Canadian to receive this internationally prestigious award. Our congratulations! Jane Manning-Marshall
Of Interest
Township of the Archipelago
Resolution re Flying Canada’s National Flag
(click to see the resolution in its entirety)
For all cottagers: The ToA wishes to share its resolution re the CN National Flag:
In part, it reads:
- WHEREAS the National Flag of Canada (National Flag) should be given the place of honour among all other flags inside Canada; and
- WHEREAS the National Flag will always be flown on its own flagpole per Canadian Heritage guidelines for residents, private sector, and public sector; and
- WHEREAS it is improper to fly the National Flag with another flag, of any type, on the same flagpole.
Large Item Pick-up Days
The two Saturday dates set aside for large item pick-ups this summer. The ToA is trying to accommodate us islanders for planning purposes, so should you have items you wish taken, the dates (different than in past years) will be July 5 and August 9. From 9 – 5pm, they will be at the Pointe au Baril Station docks to receive the items that islanders bring in by boat. Please keep in mind that there are items excluded from these two special collections, so please click on this link and look for those exceptions. Attached to this link is the North Archipelago newsletter in pdf format where all the information can be found.
Spring 2025: The Township’s Archipelago Express
The ToA is excited to share that the Spring 2025 Issue of The Archipelago Express is now available.
Responses to the Questions Regarding EV Stations in PaB
Of the 65 responses to the question, would you use EV stations in PaB should the Township decide to invest in them, 64% said yes, 25% said no, and 9% said maybe.
HISTORY MOMENT: ON THE DOCK
Brought to you by the Ojibway Historical Preservation Society.
“To restore, preserve and protect those structures in the Pointe au Baril area
designated as historically and architecturally significant.”
Docked in “WHARF” time
What we call “the Dock” at the Ojibway was, in the early years, simply the “Wharf.” It was so named because it served as a substantial structure essential for supporting delivery of heavy cargo and for accommodation of large lake traffic like this steamer from Meaford (above). One of the most famous arrivals to the Wharf was Imogen, the Cow, who provided milk and cream for the Ojibway guests over the course of a summer. Eventually, the construction of the railway to Pointe au Baril in 1908 in combination with the development of personal, motorized water craft in the 1920s brought an end to steamer traffic on Georgian Bay. The “Wharf” in function transitioned to the Ojibway “Dock.”
To understand the difference between a wharf and dock, visualise the scale of steamer to men as shown in the photograph above. With its size, weight and usage, the steamer looms large over the men and Imogen; hence, the correct term, “wharf.” Today, our personal watercraft fit more to our human scale; thus, we have the “dock.” Over many years, the Dock at the Ojibway has provided slips for our boats, a meeting place for our causal and formal gatherings, and a grandstand for our camp and PaBIA’s regatta celebrations. Over 119 years from Wharf to Dock, this landing place has been essential to the life and activity of the Ojibway. In this summer of 2025, please give your financial support to the Ojibway Historical Preservation Society’s campaign to restore the historic Ojibway Dock!
This summer 2025, please consider supporting the Ojibway Historical Preservation Society’s campaign to restore the historic Ojibway Dock, our gathering place since 1906. For more information and to donate, click here.
Let the Ontario Government Know that Bill 5 is a Threat to Species Protection
GBA is extremely concerned about Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025. This sweeping omnibus bill prioritizes mining opportunities in Ontario’s Ring of Fire, posing significant risks to the environment by weakening species protections, fast-tracking development without thorough environmental review or archaeological assessments, and exempting designated “special economic zones” from provincial laws and municipal bylaws.
Write to your MPP today and urge them to oppose this bill. Every voice counts!
GBA eUpdates
May 2025 Update
Boating, Safety & Emergencies 2025
- Prepare for cold water
- Five key messages to kick off the boating season
- Get Ready to Share: Your Voice: Your Lakes, Your Views Survey is Coming!
- Essential tips to prevent boat theft
- What’s on deck for Transport Canada
- what3words is invaluable in emergencies across Ontario
- Simple steps to help you prepare for emergencies
- The 2025 summer fire forecast
- The benefits of using a Clean Marine-rated marina
- Responsibly dispose of your flares this summer
- Remember, Georgian Bay is for Everyone
Georgian Bay Forever’s newsletter for Summer 2025:
Looking at Georgian Bay Through a Scientific Lens
Since its inception 30 years ago, Georgian Bay Forever has maintained the primary goal of using scientific studies to conserve the aquatic ecosystem of Georgian Bay. Many things have changed over the course of three decades—the scope of our projects has expanded, our staff has increased, and the range of programs has diversified—but our purpose and outlook remain the same. We believe in a fact-based understanding of the environment. Our mission is to preserve Georgian Bay through objective research, analysis, and the practical, real-world application of available information. Whether it’s promoting environmental stewardship, using state-of-the-art technology to gather the most complex data regarding Georgian Bay wetlands, or anything in between, we approach all our work with scientific methodology in mind.
Featured in this Issue:
- The Big Picture: Surveying the Georgian Bay Wetlands with Our Drone
- Dissecting the Science Behind Our Phragmites Management Program: Lessons in Plant Biology
- Behavioural Science: Incentivizing Environmental Stewardship
- Measuring Georgian Bay’s Coastline
June News: Taking Care of Georgian Bay in So Many Ways
Calling all Kids in the Biosphere!
Are you ready for exploration and adventure?
The Township of The Archipelago (TOA) continues to offer the Kids in the Biosphere program in partnership with Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere. This free program provides participating families with activities to keep them outside and learning about nature all summer long. Kids in the Biosphere began in 2013 and has reached over 600 families!
Families within the TOA register with the program at the beginning of summer and pick up an activity kit with materials and activity instructions. The self-guided activities are designed to last all summer. Beyond nature observation, the activity kits invite families to conduct science experiments, help local species, and take climate action. Families can also complete their activity scorecard and submit photos of their discoveries throughout the summer. Activities are mainly self-guided, but there are opportunities for families to interact with Biosphere staff and guest experts.
We are back for summer 2025! If you are interested in an activity kit, visit jotform.com/GBayBiosphere/kitb-kits to register and find out where to pick them up!
Have questions? Email kids@georgianbaybiosphere.com.
For more information about what the Biosphere has to offer youth, please visit georgianbaybiosphere.com/kids.
Save the Date!
Yearbook Update
With each eBlast, we will provide you a list of names of those members who have provided updated contact information. The details of all the changes since the 2023 yearbook came out in early May are provided in THIS printable format for you to print out and insert into your own Yearbook! Changes as of June 23 are below.
For reporting Markers’ problems
contact Tom Cavers by cell (pg. 267 in yearbook) or email
For contacting Secretary-Treasurer and Asst. Sec. Treas.
Nancy Rogers and Elise Findlay: contact.pabia@gmail-com)
Barclay, John & Debbie (change)
Carins, Melanie (See Hall, Jason) (addition)
Crighton, Carole (change)
Delafranconi, Pierre & Renee (addition)
Edgar, Terry & Katie (addition)
Elliott & Griggs Families (addition)
Good, Derek & Annette (addition)
Kibbey, Lowinn & Mindy (addition)
Low, Tim & Brooks, Judy (addition)
McClintock, Tom & Lindsay, Janet (change)
Moody, Jeffrey & Schofield, Carly (addition)
Moore, Craig (addition)
Parkin, Tom & Weir, Sheena (addition)
Poley, Andy & Garson, Sarah (addition)
Ridgely, Zac & Adamo, Laura (addition)
Sharp, Andrew & Elizabeth (family addition & phone change)
Water Levels
Lakes Michigan/Huron Water Levels June 17, 2025.
To better read the charts, please click on the chart for the Daily or Six Month Forecast Water level chart and the corresponding websites
Please support PaBIA’s Yearbook Advertisers 2025
1-800-263-5055
705-746-0171
This site’s advertising feature was created to provide assistance for special local information & events for existing Yearbook advertisers only.
Emergency
• PaB Nursing Station
• Canadian Coast Guard
Search and Rescue
800-267-7270
• PaBIA Emergency info