Education Page
Boating Safety
Ann Doritty
Ann Doritty will tackle the important issue of Boat Safety. Last season she arranged boat safety lessons that had to be cancelled. She also wrote about some critical boat safety issues such as drinking and driving, “watch your wake” and right-of-way. This season Ann will continue with reminders and introduce some new rules from Transport Canada for boaters and property owners alike and if, allowed, boat safety courses.

PaBIA Permanent Navigation Markers – Clearly Seen…a Proven Benefit
Testing of the new, permanent “Coast Guard Approved” larger markers over the past two years has proven to not just significantly improve marker visibility day and night on the water; but when properly installed, they’ve proven to be durable and stable in their...
Q & As From “5 Things You Can Be Fined For’ Article
Answered by Tom Lundy Original Article 1. What do you do if you can't find your Boating Licence [PCOC]? You will have to go to the course provider who issued it for a replacement. Go to the Transport Canada Website 2. What do you do if you can't find your boat...

Speeding Boats and the BIG WAKE Problem
by Ann Doritty, Member of the Education Committee Speeding boats have become a major problem on all lakes. There is a group in Muskoka called “Safe Quiet Lakes” that has banded together to promote the value of S L O W Boating. They are asking people to be...
Boat Safety Check List
Just as it is important to know the Rules of the Road, it is vital to know the Rules and Regulations on the Water. As summer begins and we all rush out to enjoy the beauty of Georgian Bay, please take the time to ensure that you are well prepared. You...
Water Levels & Quality
Janet Irving
A thorough and competent writer, last season Janet produced articles for us on difficult topics such as Water Levels and Microplastics. This season her focus will be on PaB history and mystery! NEW this summer, Janet has organized with Parry Sound Books owner, Charlotte Stein, “Literally on the Bay.” Charlotte will briefly review a selection of fiction, non fiction and children’s books set in or focused on Georgian Bay each week of the season
What Impacts Our Water Levels, What Does The Future Bring, and What Can We Do About It?
by Helen Bryce, Director of Education INTRODUCTION As a child growing up here every summer, I listened to my grandfather talk about the water levels. He described a 5 - 7 year cycle; and, as a child, I noticed the water level gradually rising each summer...
Water Levels as of 05/09/22

is Georgian Bay TOO BLUE?
Bear witness Have you noticed the numerous collected pieces of mainly blue dock foam (although it comes in other colours) floating along your shoreline? You’ll see it washed up into crevices, not only at your cottage but on the outer islands where you picnic. It is...
What’s Up (and Down) with Our Water Levels?
by Janet Irving, PaBIA Education Committee In the summer of 2013, just seven years ago, we were alarmed by extreme low water levels in Pointe au Baril---forcing us to build new dock ramps, avoid shoals we never noticed before, and take long detours to our cottages...
UPDATE ON LAKE SUPERIOR OUTFLOWS AND EXPECTED CONDITIONS
Trudy's Nature Byline
Trudy Irvine
With her own weekly nature byline all season, Trudy will amaze and charm you with her witty personal stories and observations of nature.

Aurora Borealis
by Trudy Irvine, Education Committee Last week’s night skies brought multiple sightings of the Northern Lights over several days in Pointe au Baril. The dancing lights have fascinated and even frightened people for centuries, but as with rainbows in the sun, it...

Dock Spiders
by Trudy Irvine, Education Committee Did you know dock spiders don’t make classic spider webs? That they can walk on water and scuba dive for prey for up to 30 minutes? That while they eat mostly aquatic insects, they can tackle minnows, tadpoles, and frogs up to...

White-Tailed Deer
by Trudy Irvine, Member of Education Committee Videos courtesy of Liz Anderson-Peacock The graceful white-tailed deer is the most widely distributed and most numerous of all the large mammals of North America, and it is always magical to spot them out in the islands...

Afternoon Delight
by Trudy Irvine, Member of Education Committee Photos by Chrystal Barrett (1st one) and Trudy Irvine (2nd) “Gonna find my baby,gonna hold her tight,gonna grab some afternoon delight -my motto’s always been when it’s right, it’s right -why wait until the...

The Grammar of Animacy – A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer
I can attest that, as a student of biology in the early 90’s, anthropomorphism and personification were frowned upon. Plants and animals were to be viewed through a scientific lens and were largely regarded as an increasingly complex series of cellular structures and...