Stay safe around cold water: Understand hypothermia, survival and care
The Canadian Safe Boating Council hosts both in person and virtual workshops facilitated by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht (aka Professor Popsicle) of the University of Manitoba and world-renowned expert in hypothermia.
To find out more about taking part in our next workshop or to host your own for your organization, click here.
Maybe you’re just interested in finding out a little more about how our bodies react to cold water immersion. You may be a first responder wanting to learn more about how to maximize the survival of potentially hypothermic individuals you’re called upon to rescue, these workshops are for you. These give you a great grounding in the following:
Virtual Workshops
Our virtual workshops are held over two evenings, totalling 5 hours. The cost to register is $100.
Please note that the course instruction will be in English only. Workshops are 8-10:30 pm ET.
Those wishing to register can do so for events on the following 2024 dates:
Tuesday, Mar. 12 & Thursday, Mar. 14
For more information, contact Ian Gilson at igilson@rogers.com.
Read the Fall issue of Shorelines here.
Help GBA celebrate and inspire environmental stewardship in our communities. Nominations are open for GBA’s inaugural Champion of the Bay Award. This award will recognize our outstanding community members who actively steward Georgian Bay and promote environmental well-being. We want to recognize champions from each GBA association and ultimately crown an overall Champion of the Bay. Anyone can nominate a deserving individual, and no effort is too small, so don't hesitate to nominate someone who makes a difference! The nomination deadline is October 19, 2024.
Register now - Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 9 am-noon by Zoom webinar - Join FOCA for a digital seminar about shoreline health. Our expert speakers include: septic system re-inspections by Paisley McDowell of EnVision Consultants shoreline naturalization resources and algae information by Robert Pye of Watersheds Canada water quality monitoring reports by Gavin Vance of the Lake Partner Program identifying aquatic plants by Kaleigh Mooney, author of FOCA's Guide to Aquatic Plants in Ontario. Also, the Board of Directors will provide an overview of FOCA's forthcoming 3-year Strategic Plan, and highlights from our recent survey. FOCA Members attend at a reduced rate! Register from links on the event webpage.
Today is the fourth National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Before it was a federal statutory holiday, Sept. 30 was known as Orange Shirt Day. For non-Indigenous people, it’s a day for learning about and reckoning with the ongoing trauma inflicted by the residential school system; for Indigenous people, it’s also a day of mourning. On Truth and Reconciliation Day, we remember and honour the children who attended residential schools — many of whom never returned home. Those who did carried profound trauma after being separated from their families, cultures, languages and communities, often enduring physical and sexual abuse. Many survivors are still with us; many more are just one or two generations removed. The residential school system persisted for over a century but did not operate in isolation. Its effects persist not only in the families whose lives continue to be shaped by its dark legacy, but extend outward like the spiderweb cracks in a pane of glass: disrupting the transmission of hunting skills, displacing Indigenous people from their territories and continuing to impact food security. How will you mark the day? Think about the children and families of our neighbours who were and continue to be impacted by the residential school system Wear orange in honour of the children who did not come home, those who have lived as survivors and their families Read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action and look for ways to bring action to reconciliation Commit to learning about the people who’s traditional territory we live on. Here are some great resources: Shawanaga First Nation has an interesting history of The First Peoples of Georgian Bay Georgian Bay Biosphere has an extensive collection of resources for cultural learning The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has some great educational materials Find a local event you can attend to honour the day Learn how the Government of Canada is working to advance reconciliation here
The Fire Danger Rating has moved to HIGH. Only campfires for food and warmth will be permitted at this time. All burn permits, fireworks permits and incinerator permits have been cancelled.
FOCA webinar: Seize the Time or Take Your Time - Succession Timing Options Wednesday, October 9, 2024 from 7-8:30 pm by Zoom webinar - Register to join FOCA and estate lawyer Peter Lillico for a “deeper dive” into issues of timing for your family's cottage succession plan. This talk provides an overview of updated taxation issues associated with transferring the cottage to the next generation and funding solutions depending on when the transfer will happen: now, later, gradually, or upon the death of the cottage owner(s). The talk concludes with a deeper dive into using trusts as an asset protection plan. MEMBERS register for free here; remember to tell us your FOCA affiliation when you register! Not a member, but still want to attend this cottage succession seminar? Pay the $30 non-member fee per registrant, then register using the link above. Or become a Friend of FOCA (our paid annual supporter category) to receive free access to all FOCA Cottage Succession events over the coming year, plus additional supporter benefits.
More Opportunities to Catch the Film All Too Clear: Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes Georgian Bay Forever and the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere hosted a sold-out premiere of the documentary film All Too Clear: Beneath the Surface of the Great Lakes on Saturday, August 10, in Parry Sound. But if you missed it, you can experience this immersive look at the impact of quagga mussels on the Great Lakes ecosystem on TVO as a three-part series starting Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET. Read more
The recent discovery of the highly invasive aquatic plant, water soldier, in Lake Simcoe highlights how important it is to Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat when moving between water bodies. This aggressive species can impact wetlands, water quality, fish and wildlife habitats, and even navigation if left unchecked.
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The health and beauty of Georgian Bay are facing unprecedented challenges from climate change and developmental pressures. GBA is excited to launch the Georgian Bay Vision 2050 Project, which aims to develop a vision and concept proposal to preserve and protect the unique natural environment of the eastern and northern Georgian Bay coastal area. Find out more