From researchers tracking wildlife to volunteers fighting Phragmites, the eastern coast of Georgian Bay is alive with stewardship efforts!
Whether it is removing invasive species, protecting nesting turtles, or monitoring water quality, countless hands come together to care for this landscape and shape the future of the coast.
Some of the earliest work of the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere (GBB) involved bringing groups on the coast together to understand “who is doing what on the coast?”. These early gatherings from 2005-2008 helped define the need for a “State of the Bay” ecosystem health report. So much important work was happening on the coast, but there was no organized way of sharing it and communicating to the public how the Bay was doing and the changes being observed. Through these gatherings with partners, indicators were identified and sources of information gathered. And while GBB took the lead on gathering the information and presenting it, State of the Bay has always been about contributions from partners and is a reflection of everyone’s efforts on the coast.
In recent years, we have reinitiated annual stewardship gatherings to bring together the people behind all of the important work happening on the coast to share knowledge, make connections, and inspire action.
On February 24, we hosted the 2026 Mnidoo Gamii Stewardship Gathering, a virtual gathering for groups that conduct environmental work in the region. The event was an opportunity for attendees to:
- Share updates on current initiatives and explore areas for collaboration;
- Highlight opportunities for mutual support and resource sharing; and
- Celebrate and incorporate diverse knowledge systems, including Indigenous Knowledge, Western science, and braiding knowledges approaches.
Over 40 individuals registered for the gathering, representing approximately 20 different groups, including not-for-profit organizations, First Nations’ Lands Departments, provincial and national parks, government agencies, and academic institutions. Participants joined from throughout the biosphere region and beyond, placing their “geo-pin” on a map to represent where they were calling in from!
Following an opening by Meaghan Tabobondung and Dawson Bloor from Georgian Bay Anishinaabek Youth, speakers provided information on their work planned for 2026. Presentations covered a wide range of themes including: reptiles and amphibians, fish, birds, biodiversity mapping, coastal cleanups, invasive species, water quality, Indigenous food sovereignty, habitat restoration/enhancement, education programs, and climate change. In addition to providing insights into 2026 plans, each presentation also provided attendees with the opportunity to ask questions and share knowledge on anything from project funding strategies to data collection protocols.
Coming together each year to share about the work happening in the region has proven useful for sparking new ideas, partnerships, synergies, and collaboration on the coast. By working together, we can fill stewardship and research gaps and ensure our collective efforts work towards a common goal of caring for the eastern coast of Georgian Bay.
These annual gatherings demonstrate a sense of shared responsibility and commitment towards caring for this unique part of the world. We are inspired by partners’ work and we look forward to continuing to host annual stewardship gatherings for years to come!
