Township of Georgian Bay receives first-of-its-kind Wetlands Protection funding through the support of the Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance

March 23rd, 2022⁠—The Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance (GBPA) and the Township of Georgian Bay are pleased to announce that the Township has received $478,000 in funding from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) through the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program (WCPP). The WCPP is a great initiative to help preserve Ontario’s wetlands by working with environmental preservation groups and deploying support to where it needs to go, like Georgian Bay.

This follows months of GBPA advocacy and effort in working with MECP to help preserve the UNESCO designated Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere. The Township of Georgian Bay then drafted a plan in coordination with the MECP. The funding will go towards critical projects administered by partners such as Georgian Bay Forever, Georgian Bay Land Trust, Sustainable Severn, Sound, Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere, and Invasive Phragmites Control.

This funding is a critical step towards ensuring that the wetlands and waterways that feed Georgian Bay are well looked after, which will ensure a positive environmental impact for years to come. We, the GBPA and the Township of Georgian Bay, thank MECP again for their support and we look forward to what our partner organizations are able to accomplish this year through this funding.

“It is pleasing to see that the work of these organizations will also be seen in our local marina and along the waterways and roadways around our First Nation lands.  We are very proudly working together with the Township of Georgian Bay to continue to build a prosperous and healthy environment for the lands around us. “Chief Rhonda Williams -Lovett, Moose Deer Point First Nation.

"The Township of Georgian Bay greatly appreciates the support of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks in protecting our wetlands, the kidneys of our environment, from the destructive invasive phragmites. Wetlands are absolutely vital to the health of our waters and essential to the survival of many of our threatened wildlife species. This grant was made possible through the limitless advocacy of the Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance and their support to this project and others in the Township of Georgian Bay."- Peter Koetsier, Mayor, Township of Georgian Bay

“Environmental protection must begin at the local level if we are to have any hope of preserving Ontario's beauty for future generations. From the waterways that feed our communities to the wetlands that are home to our vital ecosystems and species at risk, there has never been a more critical time to take care of our local water sources. The Georgian Bay Preservation Alliance is deeply proud that our advocacy has brought funding support for wetlands in the UNESCO designated Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere (the largest freshwater archipelago in the world). This would not have been possible without the leadership of both Minister Piccini and Mayor Koetsier who have been outstanding partners and advocates for the beauty of Georgian Bay.” - Jon Telch, Executive Director of the GBPA