PaBIA’s eBlast January 14, 2026

The new year is off and running. Your PaBIA Board has been busy behind the scenes as we look forward to Summer ’26! We will be sharing some of the events as we move toward spring!

PaB is getting lots of snow – which in turn we hope will create a good spring run off to replenish Georgian Bay and indeed the entire Great Lakes! The picture above taken yesterday from Ed Garner’s Webcam, shows the snow conditions. Thanks Ed for letting us ‘peek’ out from Richard’s Island!

We are grateful for all the work that the G4 organizations: GBA, GBF, GBLT and GBB do to keep our Georgian Bay land and waters healthy and pristine! Please take time to read up on their latest projects which help to preserve and protect our natural surroundings. We all benefit!

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Table of Contents In this eBlast:

PaBIA

• PaBIA Membership Online Renewal & Invitation to Join
• Last Call for Yearbook Photograghs and Short Stories
• GBLT Philanthropy Award: Tom & Pamela Scoon
• Repeal of Underused Housing Tax (“UHT”)
• In Memoriam – Duncan Muir

OF INTEREST

• ToA Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw Update
• ToA Structural Concerns re PaB Lighthouse
• GBF Impact Report & 2025 Year in Review
• GBA Update December 2025
• GBB Turtles in the Biosphere
• GBLT 2025
• Lake Michigan-Huron Water Levels – January 12, 2026

PaBIA

This eBlast also reaches many non-members, and we invite you to join PaBIA in supporting the work that benefits the entire Pointe au Baril community—from channel markers and fire pumps to regattas, educational programming, and gatherings. PaBIA offers membership levels for different ages and different needs, including Primary ($250), Secondary ($206), Supporting ($163), and Junior ($50). All memberships include a PaBIA Yearbook with member listings, helping neighbours and friends stay connected.

We also encourage current members to share this reminder with their adult family members—siblings, partners, and young adults who enjoy the family cottage and benefit from PaBIA services such as the channel markers—to consider joining in their own right.

Renew or Join PaBIA Online:

Online Payment Portal

Video Tutorial 

If you need assistance or are unable to renew online, please contact Elise and accommodations can be made.

Elise Findlay, PaBIA Secretary-Treasurer

contact.pabia@gmail.com

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It would be hard to overstate the impact that Tom and Pamela have had on our work over the past two decades. We are so grateful for their tremendous passion for Georgian Bay and community service. Read more about Tom and Pamela’s contributions to conservation here.

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Here are two links: The first is from the Canadian Government site that provides the express language of the November 25, 2025 Budget Bill C-15 eliminating the requirement to file a UHT Tax Return for the year 2025 and all subsequent years. 

https://budget.canada.ca/2025/report-rapport/nwmm-amvm-3-en.html

The second is from a law firm that follows Canadian Tax law and describes the same conclusion.

https://www.jacoblaw.com/en/newsarticle/underused-housing-tax-eliminated

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NEW FOR 2026 – What brings you back to our island paradise year after year? Perhaps one of your photos is a place or view from your island or item in your cottage that represents what resonates with your spirit and uplifts your soul. If so, please send us that PaB picture along with a short description (100 words) describing how that particular photo ‘speaks’ to you. Is it a special location or hobby, an old wooden haul, your grandchild’s creation or something else? We’d love to share your heartfelt submissions in the 2026 yearbook.

All submissions need to be into Hilde by the end of January 2026.

Of Interest

While the Township covered the cost of the initial improvements and coordinated the repairs this past autumn, in our sustained commitment to the facility, and its value to the community, the additional repairs required are substantial and are the responsibility of the federal government. As the lighthouse is a federal asset and a federal designated heritage building, the Township continues to urge the Department of National Defence (now responsible for Canadian Coast Guard operations and infrastructure) to take action to address the deteriorating condition of the navigation tower.

Due to the current building condition and associated environmental mould hazards, the public will not be allowed to enter the structure and it remains closed. Visitors are welcome to continue access the property and view the lighthouse from the exterior until a major rehabilitation can be completed by the federal government and The Archipelago.

Council will advocate at the political level throughout 2026.

Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw Update

he Archipelago Council received the latest Report on the Status of the CZBL Review from Township Staff and JL Richards Consultants. Feedback from the previous Open House for residents and other sources were summarized and recommendations for consideration were presented under five categories:

• Shoreline Structures, Accessory Buildings and Shoreline Clutter;
• Decks and Docks;
• Minimum Setbacks;
• Floating Accommodations;
• Backyard Hens;
• Deer Wintering Habitat;
• Flexibility and Ease of Implementation.

Following considerable discussion and debate, Council approved a series of directions to be included in the final Public Meeting (date to be determined) prior to Council’s approval of the Final Draft of the CZBL Review in February 2026.

Revisions included amending the maximum number of structures and accessory buildings on a graduated scale by lot size and adding sleeping cabins to the list of accessory buildings. The maximum number of sleeping cabins by Ward did not change. The front yard setback of 7.5 metres remains unchanged for Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. The Ward 5 setback of 15 metres remains in place.

Revisions to dock provisions remain as previously presented. With respect to decks, the provision that decks above a certain height count toward lot coverage was removed while establishing a maximum permitted height for decks that encroach on a required yard.

Provisions were established to prohibit floating accommodations such as barges, in-water boathouses, floating buildings/structures used as a dwelling including those at a marina in all Wards. The reference to “marine vessel” was removed.

Proposed revisions to allow back-yard hens to be kept on non-waterfront lots will continue to be included. Ducks and geese will not be included at this time.

Proposed revisions to deer wintering habitat bylaws will continue to be included.

Legal advice indicates that short-term rental bylaws should not be addressed through the CZBL process and it should be addressed separately. The same recommendation was made regarding dark sky provisions. However, all input on these matters of public interest from the CZBL Review have been duly noted for future bylaw development and review.

Any questions please contact Cale Henderson, Director, Development Services & Environmental Initiatives at  or 1-705-746-4243, ext. 305 or your Councillors.

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Want to know more about how Georgian Bay Forever’s shoreline conservation and invasive species management has been going?

Curious as to how they’ve addressed the Aspiring Georgian Bay Geopark and some major issues with local water quality? Check out Georgian Bay Forever’s 2025 Impact Report, full of information about:

• their ongoing programs,
• the progress of their conservation work in Georgian Bay over the last year, and
• updates on some of the issues we’ve all seen around the Bay and how they have been addressed.

2025 was a Year of Impact for GBF

It’s been an excellent 2025 for Georgian Bay Forever, all thanks to our donors, without whom none of our work could be done.

Here are some highlights from our Impact Report

• Way to go, volunteers! You collected 457 kg of trash and participated in 80 cleanups throughout the coastal communities of Georgian Bay.

• 31 new fishing line recycling receptacles were installed in Georgian Bay communities. With the help of volunteers and community anglers, the receptacles collected an astounding 62,495.74m of used fishing line. That’s roughly the length of a marathon and a half.

• With the help of our partners and teacher interest, we reached 4,825 children with our free classroom workshops.

• An additional 20 Invasive Phragmites stands were placed in the eradicated/controlled stage, which brings this total up to 675. This year, we mapped roughly 3.8 square kilometres of Georgian Bay coast containing the invasive stands.

• The Baykeeper II joined our fleet of workboats in September, thanks to the Bradstreet Family Foundation and the Hodgson Family Foundation. The Baykeeper II will allow us to continue our work on invasive Phragmites management uninterrupted, while also conducting a full-time program of AUV and ROV deployment in Georgian Bay waters, leading to more research, greater vigilance, and a better understanding of the state of Georgian Bay’s water.

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Turtles in the Biosphere

Since 2020, we have rescued over 11,000 turtle eggs!

All six turtle species in the biosphere are at risk, making this work critical. It takes a turtle decades to go from egg to adulthood. Fewer than 1% of turtles survive the journey, making every single turtle egg rescued important. . 

An Intensive & Rewarding Initiative

Read about the four-month process our team of biologists devote to egg rescue. They have the expertise and permits required for this work.

• Egg Rescue 
• In May and June, biologists are active along roads and construction sites collecting at-risk turtle eggs from nests. Between 12 and 80 eggs have been found in a single nest!
• Incubation
• Eggs are categorized and placed in our lab incubators for approximately two months. Temperature determines sex of the turtles hatched. We aim for a 50:50 ratio.
• Monitoring & Care 
• Our biologists spend hours daily on care to ensure successful outcomes. They monitor moisture and temperature, and eggs are checked for development.
• Hatchling Release 
• Once hatched, turtles are acclimatized to their first water environment in our lab. Once ready, they are released in water close to where their eggs were rescued. 

Learn more about the GBB program and how to help.

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• Strengthen our community partnerships, with increased collaboration and knowledge-sharing set to continue in 2026

• Steward 80 protected places from Port Severn to the North Channel, providing essential wildlife habitat and places to hike, swim, and picnic

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In Memoriam

J. Duncan Muir, A96 – 28 ‘Rowallen’, brother of Rob Muir and Christy Rambeau, December 2, 2025

Yearbook Update

Water Levels

Lakes Michigan/Huron Water Levels January 12, 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 2025

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