Author: Heather Sargeant

Saturday April 25, 2020. Energy Rights and Wrongs. Can we do more right? Yes we can.

The effects of global warming are here locally and abroad – from rapidly swinging lake levels in Georgian Bay to more intense bush fires in Australia - to name a few.

Many scientists are afraid of being called alarmist, and that there is a conservative bias in much reporting on future scenarios that could result in a lack of preparation. This was noted by Georgian Bay’s Executive Director who attended a presentation from Dr. Huaiping Zhu, professor in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Faculty of Science, York University, who received a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) to improve climate risk assessments in the province. David noted with alarm that Dr. Zhu’s modelling showed a trajectory of 6-9 degrees of warming in northern communities. Northern limit of corn crops today is Parry Sound…by 2100 it will be almost up to James Bay.
Electric Vehicle Event Picture
While we can’t reverse where we are now, we can collectively work together to limit its extent by century end. At Georgian Bay Forever (GBF), we are committed to bringing helpful information and solutions to you.

On April 25th in Toronto, GBF invites you to an event that includes 2 parts in each session:
  1. Learn more about Ontario’s renewable energy grid, and future possibilities from David Sweetnam.
  2. Test drive an electric vehicle. Ask Plug ‘N Drive experts any questions you want to know.
Tickets are $20 each and include light fare and refreshments.

Register for your choice of session (either morning or afternoon):
http://bit.ly/April25Morning
OR
http://bit.ly/April25Afternoon

 

GBF’s Position on Global Warming

“We cannot avoid the consequences of our warming climate but we can take actions to limit the damage,reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and,over the longterm,limit the warming of our planet.” From GBF’s position papaer. Learn more about impacts on Georgian Bay and GBF’s position here:
GBF’s position paper on Global Warming


Jennifer’s book pick: Find out how trees are social beings

Title: The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World

Reviewed and recommended by Jennifer Ferguson, GBF director and chair of the Communication Committee

Published by: Greystone Books Ltd. and the David Suzuki Foundation A walk in the woods or down a tree-lined street will take on new wonders after you read Peter Wohlleben’s fascinating book, The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World.

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Anne’s book pick about the climate crisis

Title: Just Cool It! The Climate Crisis and What We Can Do. A Post-Paris Agreement Game Plan, by David Suzuki and Ian Hanington

A recommendation by Anne Randell, director and previous chair of GBF

Published by: Greystone Books Ltd., David Suzuki Institute Climate change is one of the most pressing crises in our world today. Although some misinformed skeptics do not believe in the seriousness of it, there are many facts and figures, based on scientific evidence, that prove that it is a significant and serious concern for all of us.

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2019 Georgian Bay Cuts for Invasive Phragmites

2019 Georgian Bay Phragbusting Cuts. Join one of these communities (scroll for yours).

 

Don’t see your community? Email Brooke to create a community cut with your neighbours!

Tay:

Please register to volunteer and get more details from Brooke.

  • FRIDAY JULY 6th- Dock Lane and Swan Lane, Port McNicoll, 9am
  • WEDNESDAY JULY 24TH AND THURSDAY JULY 25TH- Twin Bridge Marina, Waubaushene, 9am
  • TUESDAY JULY 30th- Old Cottage Lane where it crosses the Tay Trail, Waubaushene, 9am
  • SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AUGUST 3RD AND 4TH- Private Park on Delta Drive, Waubaushene, 9am
  • THURSDAY AUGUST 9TH- Georgian Landing, Victoria Harbour, 9am
  • SATURDAY AUGUST 17th- Sturgeon Bay along Robin’s Point Road, Waubaushene (Rain date- August 24th), 9am
  • SUNDAY AND MONDAY, AUGUST 18TH AND 19TH- Potato Island, 9am
Honey Harbour:

If you are in the Honey Harbour area, please register to volunteer and get more details from Brooke.

  • SATURDAY AUGUST 10th- Wild Goose Island, 9am
  • SUNDAY AUGUST 11th- Quarry Island, 9am
  • SATURDAY AUGUST 24th- South Bay, 9am
Cognashene:
  • SATURDAY JULY 13th- Palisade Bay, 9am
  • SATURDAY AUGUST 17TH- Longuissa Bay, 9am
12 Mile Bay:
  • SATURDAY JULY 27th- Little Wahnie Harbour, 9am
Wasaga Beach:
  • SATURDAY AUGUST 17TH- Blue Water Community, 9am

 

 

Pointe au Baril:
For details and to register, Marine Patrol

 Your Georgian Bay Community Group.

* Note: not all communities have registered their cuts. To search by first letter of your community and find your local leader, please go to this link.

If your community cut isn’t listed above, email Brooke to register your group. Phragmites don’t follow boundaries – and the wider a Georgian Bay effort we make this, the better.

THANK YOU 2019 Phragmites Funders

Funding and assistance for the 2019 Georgian Bay Forever project, Phragmites Eradication for the Health of our Water and Wetlands, was provided by the Government of Canada summer jobs program, Township of Georgian Bay, Tay Township, Township of the Archipelago, BinCity.ca, the Honey Harbour Association, the Cognashene Cottagers Association, Wah Wah Taysee Association,  Twelve Mile Bay Members Association, and our many individual donors.

GBF sends our sincerest thanks to all for their investment in this initiative.

Georgian Bay Forever would like to thank the 2019 partners for helping  Phragmites Eradication for the Health of our Water and Wetlands. The Ontario Phragmites Working Group, Severn Sound Environmental Association, Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, the Sans Souci and Copperhead Association, the Massasauga Provincial Park (*), Friends of Massasauga Park, Georgian Bay Islands National Park (*), the Georgian Bay Association, South Channel Association, West Carling Association, Bayfield-Nares Islanders Association, the Manitou Association, the Woods Bay Association and the Point au Baril Islanders Association.

Info on invasive Phragmites

With more than 8,000 km of shoreline, Georgian Bay is home to some of the Canada’s most pristine coastal wetlands. Many creatures and organisms depend on these wetlands for life-sustaining activities like food and foraging, nurseries, spawning, shade, water treatment and shelter. This tenacious invasive plant, Phragmites australis subsp australis, grows quickly and densely into monocultures that threaten to reduce plant biodiversity, decrease habitat for endangered species, and damage the proper functioning of Georgian Bay’s coastal wetlands. You can help fight this invasive! Volunteer for one of the cuts listed.

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