History

The concept of land preservation through a land trust first surfaced in 1976 by Dr. Ross Lord, Dean of SPS, University of Toronto and Founder of the Conservation Authority of Toronto. This was during the time when we in the Georgian Bay Association (GBA) were planning the creation of the Township of the Archipelago (TOA) along the entire shoreline of Georgian Bay.

Some years later, the creation of a Land Trust as a Foundation was suggested by Dr. Norman Pearson as a useful planning tool for the Township of the Archipelago. This was in 1981 when Dr. Pearson was retained by the Sans Souci & Copperhad Association (SSCA) on behalf of the GBA Standing Committee of the Archipelago as a Consultant Planner to provide input and review the draft Official Plan of the TOA.

Although the idea of a Land Trust was not taken up by either municipal or provincial government, certain individuals saw this as a viable tool for preserving the environment. Under the leadership of Wally King, the Incorporation and registration of the Georgian Bay Foundation Trust, Inc. (also known as the Georgian Bay Land Trust) as a tax exempt corporation was completed in 1991 under the auspices of the GBA.

At the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Founding of the GBA that year, the initial funding donation of $10,000 was given to the Foundation by the SSCA in memory of its long time serving President, Elmer I. Phillips of South Royalton, Vermont. Our President, Nancy Christie, then President of SSCA, made the presentation of this donation to Christopher Baines, then President of the Georgian Bay Land Trust on behalf of the SSCA.

Since 1991, the volunteer Board has expanded to include 19 Directors and an Advisory Board of 8, dedicated people from numerous professions and interests that represent most of the areas within the eastern and northern islands and shorelines of Georgian Bay. To date, the Land Trust has acquired 11 properties totaling some 350 acres and a growing membership of close to 400 individuals and businesses. The Foundation circulates a quarterly newsletter entitled "Landscript" (initiated in 1997) to a mailing list of over 500 recipients. This covers many of the Foundation's activities and articles of interest including recognition of a growing list of donors who have given gifts in memory of loved ones and colleagues.

The Foundation has produced a number of information pamphlets and its first very attractive Annual Report in 2003. In 2004, the Planned Giving Brochure titled "Help Create a Legacy for Tomorrow, Today" was created to encourage people to think about Georgian Bay when planning for their Estates.

In 2002, the Foundation embarked on an ambitious cooperative fundraising venture with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). The purpose of this project is to work cooperatively with NCC to protect Georgian Bay, and focuses on creating endowment funds, and purchases of significant properties. The Foundation is a founding member of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance and is also a member of the Land Trust Alliance in the United States.

Christopher Baines was our part-time Executive Director from 2000 to 2002. In September 2003, the first full-time Executive Director of GBLT, Wendy Cooper was retained. Currently (March 2005) the Land Trust has no official office space, preferring instead to have a virtual office. Dan Wyad, located in Parry Sound, is responsible for the legal management of our properties.