Georgian Bay Forever
About
Georgian Bay Forever, a Top-100-Canadian-ranked charity, is dedicated to protecting and preserving Georgian Bay water and wetlands as part of the Great Lakes. Our supporters are committed, determined, passionate friends who care deeply about our freshwater because they have strong connections to the Bay and the Great Lakes. They are connected to it through their history and a lifelong passion for enjoying the unique beauty and natural landscapes of the archipelago.
Our mission is to protect and enhance Georgian Bay through science, research, education, and action.
Our vision is to ensure Georgian Bay is healthy and thriving forever.
Since 1995, Georgian Bay Forever has been the voice of the water. We invest diligently and efficiently in boots-on-the-ground programs and partnerships that work to engage communities in plastic pollution reduction, re-naturalization of coastal shorelines, and the creation of new habitats for species at risk. Our work is science-based and driven by the need to preserve water quality by educating children, youth, cottagers, landowners, and municipalities on how to better protect the water.
The Great Lakes and Georgian Bay are in peril – threatened by development, pollution, invasive species, and global heating.
• The Great Lakes have more estimated microplastics per square kilometer than the Pacific Garbage Patch. This pollution ends up in our food, drinking water, and air.
• Only 9% of plastic is actually recycled, while an estimated 79% ends up in landfills and nature.
• Invasive Phragmites is decimating wetlands and killing off coastal “ribbons of life”, where the vast majority of aquatic, terrestrial and migratory bird species are found.
• Children are suffering from eco-anxiety, a chronic fear of environmental impacts that comes from observing the seemingly irrevocable impact of climate change.
• Over-development of coastlines is crowding, polluting, and wiping out natural ecosystems that are essential to the foundation of life on Earth.
Our Impact
Boots On The Ground:
Our Divert & Capture and Diversion 2.0 programs work collaboratively with citizens, municipalities, and other ENGOs to divert plastics from entering the water. We have increased our impact exponentially year after year and have removed over 4,980.24 lbs of garbage in just four years, while restoring 248,670 m2 of shoreline.
Through The Critical Catch program, we collected 38.5 km of abandoned fishing line and sent it to Berkley Fishing Company for recycling, with 15 large fishing line collection bins installed and 225 individual collection containers distributed to anglers. We also enrolled eight schools in our curriculum-based Fish in a Classroom project, where children raised brook trout fry and learn about the fish’s habitat and life cycles.
Our Phragbusters have been working hard at training volunteers and controlling the invasion of Phragmites, which is decimating our wetlands. Over the last 13 years we have placed 74% of our identified stands in the control or eradication phase of management and have worked diligently to expand the reach of efforts with this program by “training the trainer” and providing support to other communities that are working on this issue.
How your gift will be used
Your legacy contribution, no matter the amount, will be well stewarded and invested effectively to restore wetlands and increase biodiversity, improve water quality and provide critical habitat for aquatic species, including many species at risk. Your bequest will support science, research, education and action for the health of all who rely on the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay for life-giving water, now and in the future.
Protect aquatic habitat: Contributions support Phragmites mapping and removal, our plastic reduction programs such as Divert & Capture, Critical Catch and Diversion 2.0, turtle monitoring and habitat reconstruction as well water quality monitoring through the use of our AUV and ROV. Gifts are invested in staff, volunteers and summer students who are in-the-field, as well as materials, equipment and hands-on programming to ensure objectives and priorities are met.
Teach others to care and take ACTION: Donations support Georgian Bay Forever’s outreach and education programs such as Project Watershed: Inspiring youth for a Sustainable Future. Our trained staff and partners help thousands of children discover the importance of clean water for all and provide implementable, age-appropriate solutions to foster change.
Legal Name
Georgian Bay Forever
Charity Number
895311066RR0001
