PaBIA eBlast April 22, 2026

Happy Earth Day/Week! What fun to see Bruce’s 7+ minute YouTube video of the conditions presently in PaB and the progression of the melting ice! It won’t be long! And to celebrate today’s Earth Day, watch the Livestream of an underwater exploration of 12 species of fish down at the ‘fish city” site. It stands as a vivid reminder that the Great Lakes are not untouched wilderness, but living ecosystems intricately intertwined with human activity. Check out the link to the live presentation today at 10 am.

Your PaBIA directors have been busy over the winter and looking forward to the various events planned throughout the summer. We will make every effort to keep the calendar updated and information about each of them as the season progresses. Each event in the calendar is linked to more detailed information, so be sure to click on them! The first event will be on July 15^th for a discussion about living with bears while not inviting them in!

All of our GB partners GBF, GBF, GBLT and GBA, have shared below loads of information for you to enjoy as our minds and hearts turn to summer! And, if you are confused by what organization does what and why we have so many GB organizations, be on the lookout for the 2026 Yearbook, to be sent out next week (!), with a more detailed description and chart of how these organizations work together to protect our precious Georgian Bay!

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Table of Contents In this eBlast:

PaBIA

• Ojibway Club Snack Bar will Open June 15!
• NEW from MNR: Be Bear Wise & Keep Your Cottage Safe from Bears
• NEW Members

OF INTEREST

• Proposed Ontario Project with Potential Grave Implications
• GBF – Hidden Below: Watch an Underwater Exploration Live Streaming on Earth Day TODAY at 10 AM
• GBLT – Landmark Series – Sphagnum Moss: The Story of an Ecosystem Engineer
• GBB – Small Changes can have a Big Impact
• GBLT – Fairwood Nature Preserve Expansion
• GBA – Update March 2026
• Great Lakes Ice Coverage 2025-2026
• Lake Michigan-Huron Water Levels – March 27, 2026

PaBIA

Proposed Ontario Project has Grave Potential Implications for Our Georgian Bay

by David Sharpe, PaBIA Rep to GBA and Director of GBF

While not within our immediate neighbourhood, the Ontario Pumped Storage Hydropower Project being proposed by TC Energy, located at the Department of National Defence’s 4th Canadian Division Training Centre in Meaford, Ontario, has grave potential implications for everyone who cares for Georgian Bay. After all, the waters and aquatic life of the Bay are one system and circulate throughout. 

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is current holding a public comment period on the proposed project. Many feel strongly that there are glaring gaps and omissions in the proposed construction and operation of this huge installation that threaten the vulnerable Georgian Bay ecosphere and the communities surrounding. 

Please click on the two submissions made by our Georgian Bay Association and Georgian Bay Forever that deftly identify the shortcomings and outline recommended steps to address them. 

Both are fine examples of how the GBA and GBF are diligently working, each within their unique roles and capabilities, to defend our interests and protecting our Bay.

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Preparations for Keeping your Cottage Safe from Bears in 2026

Yes, we live in bear country – and every year is different; but being ahead of the game is a huge first step to staying safe. Brandon Hellyer from MNR has put the following flyer together for those of us in cottage country.

Of Interest

“Hidden Below opens a rare window into the underwater life that sustains our Great Lakes, and we’re proud to support a project that deepens public understanding and inspires the next generation to care for these fragile ecosystems. We’re excited to work with Zach and Yvonne, whose storytelling turns this journey of discovery into something truly wondrous.” – David Sweetnam, Executive Director of Georgian Bay Forever

While Hidden Below will premiere in 2028, audiences don’t have to wait to begin experiencing the underwater world of the Great Lakes.

The next Hidden Below: LIVE event will take place at 10:00 am Eastern on Earth Day, April 22nd, broadcasting from one of the Great Lakes’ most visually mesmerizing and rarely seen locations: the waters surrounding the Bruce Power nuclear generating station on Lake Huron. Co-hosted by renowned fish biologist, Dr. Nicholas Mandrak, the livestream will provide extraordinary access to this “fish city,” where more than a dozen species jockey for survival in crystal-clear waters shaped by human influence. The site stands as a vivid reminder that the Great Lakes are not untouched wilderness, but living ecosystems intricately intertwined with human activity.

Our special thanks go to Doug and Ruth Grant and Dragonfly Ventures for their incredible generosity and support for GBF and Hidden Below

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Fairwood Nature Preserve Expansion

GBLT is excited to announce the expansion of the Fairwood Nature Preserve in Pointe au Baril! This conservation property has grown from 32 acres to over 56 acres thanks to two new conservation easement agreements with anonymous landowners. Now encompassing the majority of a large island, the expanded Fairwood Nature Preserve is ecologically diverse, containing ten different vegetation community types which provide homes to at least six documented species at risk. Exposed bedrock creates ideal conditions for reptiles that depend on open, sunny habitats. The island’s interior supports upland mixed forest communities, fens, and a unique interior pond known to provide habitat for turtles. We are so grateful to the landowners of the Fairwood Nature Preserve for their conservation vision and for the lasting legacy they have chosen to leave for nature in Pointe au Baril. Thank you also to the Government of Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program – Land Trusts Conservation Fund for providing financial support to assist in this conservation initiative.

Please note that the Fairwood Nature Preserve remains a privately-owned Conservation Easement, and is not accessible to visitors.

Read more about the Fairwood Nature Preserve here. 

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Small Changes Can Have a Big Impact! 

This Earth Month you can make a difference! Here are some ideas to help inspire: 

1. Push for new policies

Follow solutions for climate change and nature, share your personal actions to influence others, voice your concerns to those in power, and spread the word to family and friends. Vote.

2. Use active transportation

Think before you drive. Consider walking, cycling, skiing, rolling, or carpooling to your destination if you can. Transportation accounts for 70% of emissions in our region.

3. Energy use

Consider switching your energy source away from oil and gas to cleaner hydroelectricity or renewable energy, such as solar, geothermal, or wind. Reduce energy use by turning down your heating and air conditioning, line drying clothes, and unplugging appliances not in use. Check out our new Energy Savings Support Program to learn more about energy options, what is best for you, and available savings. 

4. Reduce your waste

Garbage buried in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Recycle paper, plastic, metal, and glass. Buy less, reuse and repair. Rethink gifts.

Compost when you can! Several local governments are working to reduce the estimated 40% to 60% of organic waste going into landfills by promoting composting. Not only does composting reduce the production of methane (a potent greenhouse gas), but it also creates nutrient-rich mulch from kitchen scraps and yard waste.

5. Plant trees

Trees store carbon dioxide, helping to remove it and other greenhouse gases from the air. You can also help reduce deforestation by purchasing recycled or sustainably sourced paper. Browse the native trees we have for sale that you can plant this spring!

6. Consider your food choices

Supporting local food producers and growing your own food can have significant environmental benefits! Check out our Grown by the Bay local food guide and our Seed to Soil guide to help you get started.

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LANDMARK Speaker Series

Sphagnum Moss: The Story of an Ecosystem Engineer

Presented by Karen Koornneef, Corridor Project Ecologist, Georgian Bay Land Trust

Thursday, May 7, 2026. 7:00 p.m.  8:00 p.m. Presented on Zoom – Register here to attend.

Sphagnum moss, a keystone species and an incredible ecosystem engineer, is one of the most overlooked organisms shaping the landscapes of Georgian Bay. Its unique cellular structure allows it to hold water, create and maintain important wetlands, support specialized plants and animals, and build up layers of peat over time. These peat layers not only store large amounts of carbon, which is beneficial for our climate, but also preserve millennia of ecological and cultural history.

This presentation will take a closer look at how sphagnum moss works, its biology and medicinal properties, and the crucial roles it plays in nature. We will also discuss the challenges that peatlands face today due to climate change, drainage, and resource extraction. By the end, participants will have a better understanding of how this tiny but mighty moss contributes to healthy wetlands and helps stabilize our planet’s climate.

Welcome to our New Members!

Yearbook Update

Ice Levels

Below is a chart showing the average ice cover from 1973-2025.
The dark line shows the ice cover for 2025-2026 to date.
Please click on the chart to see a daily digital chart up to the present day.

Water Levels

Lakes Michigan/Huron Water Levels April 20, 2026.

To better read the charts, please click on the chart for the Daily or Six Month Forecast Water level chart and the corresponding websites

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Please support PaBIA’s Yearbook Advertisers 2026

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