Job & Volunteer Opportunities

GBF is hiring two (2) Community Coordinators based out of Honey Harbour, with work primarily in the Township of Georgian Bay and some work possible in the Township of Tay, Township of the Archipelago and Matchedash Bay, Township of Severn.

Under the supervision of the GBF Project Coordinator, Education Outreach Program Coordinators will safely navigate the waters of Georgian Bay in the prescribed areas and educate the public in environmental protection. Activities will include education, mapping, recruiting and organizing volunteers; as well as cutting invasive Phragmites.

The purpose of the education will be to teach the public about how to identify and eradicate invasive Phragmites on their coastal property, or where permitted, public property..

Skills, Qualifications, and Competencies Required:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and Pleasure Craft Operator Card
• Competency with marine navigation, charts and how to operate GPS systems.
• Good knowledge of the coastal waters of Georgian Bay, especially the above noted areas is an asset.
• Competency operating a motorized boat and be comfortable on the water.
• Must have good interpersonal skills and competently represent GBF in the online and physical community.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time and co-ordinate the community to take action and communicate safety protocols.
• Comfortable public speaking and able to create and make public presentations online and offline.
• Must be available to work weekends.
• Ability to work long days in varying weather conditions.
• Have access to a smartphone, laptop/computer and WIFI to use Google Maps, FieldMaps, camera, photo archive, emails, Microsoft Office and Google Drive.
• Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mapping is considered an asset.
• Be in good physical condition and able to operate manual and powered cutting tools.
• Be confident in the water and a competent swimmer with an excellent knowledge of water safety practices.
• Keep excellent records and documentation on all activities and participants; and provide reporting on activities, map and record co-ordinates of invasive Phragmites stands.
• Access to a personal boat is considered an asset. GBF will pay parking fees, mileage for cars and gas money for boats.
• JMust have accommodations in the area and be able to get to Honey Harbour at the start of a workday.

Salary: $18 per hour Contract dates: This entry-level full-time contract position will begin as soon as possible and end September 2nd, 2022. Hours: A normal work-week will be 35 hours. This position will require some weekend work.

To apply: If you are interested in joining our team for the summer, please email your resume and cover letter in a single PDF indicating “Education Outreach Program Coordinator” in the subject line to Georgian Bay Forever via email: info@gbf.org. We thank everyone who applies for their interest but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Help reduce tiny plastic microfibers from getting into Georgian Bay .

GBF is looking for 300 permanent resident volunteers in the Collingwood area to volunteer for a FREE washing machine filter and participate in the sample collection to Divert and Capture microplastics that come from washing your clothes from getting into Georgian Bay.

If you qualify, you will be helping to divert microfibre plastics that come off your clothes during the laundering process from polluting the water, and impacting the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

More information on qualifying, please contact brooke.harrison@gbf.org with your contact information and she will get back to you as soon as possible.

To learn more about cleanups and Divert and Capture, visit this link:
https://georgianbayforever.org/microplastics-impacts/

Fight Invasive Phragmites this summer that are harming wetlands and habitat, in your local area of Georgian Bay .

To find a community leader near you, contact nicole.carpenter@gbf.org

Learn more about Phragmites.

Help reduce waste and litter getting into Georgian Bay, particularly plastic litter in Georgian Bay.

GBF is pleased to announce 'Diversion 2.0' to add to our projects mitigating plastic and waste getting into the aquatic environment, thanks to contributions from Environment and Climate Change Canada*, the Weston Family Foundation and GBF donors.

The program involves these elements (click on the links if you want to learn more, or get involved):

• Expanding distribution of trapping trash devices. Catching pollution before it gets to water. For municipalities and marinas
• High school citizen science opportunity – volunteer your class to sort and classify types of plastic waste
• Learn about diverting microplastic waste from washing your clothes
• Schedule presenters to learn ways to move towards zero plastic waste
• Join Plastic-Free Georgian Bay

To find out more about these opportunities, click on gbf.org/divertplastics or email Nicole Dimond at nicole.dimond@gbf.org.

Shoreline Cleanups - Join one today

Follow this link to do a shoreline cleanup process suggestion that incorporates physical/social distancing, and helps GBF and partners identify sources of litter so that we can mitigate them from polluting the shorelines and risking the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

Click on this link to get started: Shoreline cleanups.

To learn more about cleanups and Divert and Capture, visit this link

https://georgianbayforever.org/microplastics-impacts/

To learn more about cleanups from 2019, visit this link

https://georgianbayforever.org/GBF-shoreline-clean-up-summary/

Volunteer to take water quality samples!

A partner of GBF on water quality, the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve (GBBR) has identified a need for more volunteers in monitoring nutrients along eastern Georgian Bay. Nutrient monitoring refers to total phosphorus (TP) monitoring, as it is the nutrient that controls the growth of algae and most living biota in the aquatic environment. In order to collect TP in a single database, cottagers and associations are encouraged to get involved in the provincial Lake Partner Program (LPP) to help monitor the health of their waterbody. To date, there are 600 volunteers sampling at over 800 sites; there are at least 40 additional sites that could help scientific understanding of nutrients in eastern Georgian Bay. If your association has questions or would like further information, please contact David Bywater, program coordinator at conservation@gbbr.ca or 705.774.0978.