Alexander Islands
Environmentally sensitive property, not publicly accessible.
Size: 46 acres (23.6 hectares)
Location: Wah Wah Taysee
Year Acquired: 2005, 2007 & 2008
Stewards:
Llewellyn Matthews – Lead Steward
Andy Alexander
Susan Boothe
Carolyn Bowman
Sarah Bowman
Jim Cooper
James Davidson
Graeme Grant
Jonathan Groten
Barb Hale
Clare Holton
Gregg Scott
Gillian Uy
Property Info
Please note: Only American Camp Island and the adjacent island to the immediate northwest are available for public use, and there is a limit on the number of people allowed on the property at one time. Please note also there is now a red flag that will be flown if the island has reached capacity; we ask that you not land at American Camp at such times.
Any group larger than 15 people looking to picnic on American Camp Island should contact Aaron Rusak at aaron.rusak@gblt.org or (416) 440-1519 x103.
Please keep an eye out for Environmentally Sensitive Area signs – these areas are off-limits to people and pets.
The Alexander Islands Reserve includes more than 40 islands, ranging in size from small shoals to larger islands over 5 acres with several coastal bays and interior wetlands. The islands are a combination of exposed acidic bedrock with patches of White Pine, Eastern White and Red Cedar. In addition, several small, isolated wetland patches within depressions in the bedrock are present supporting species such as Leatherleaf and Virginia Chain Fern. The irregular shape of the island also creates several sheltered bays which during low water conditions often result in extensive emergent coastal marshes.
Several of these bays on adjacent islands were found to support Stiff Yellow Flax, a Great Lakes endemic. Several of the islands are geologically unique in that the glaciers left an absolutely flat, polished surface of Precambrian rock. This absolutely level, barren surface of the Precambrian is a topography not seen elsewhere in the archipelago and has been a point of curiosity for travelers of the coastal waters of the Georgian Bay for as long as there have been travelers.
The GBLT and the Georgian Bay public are greatly indebted to the Alexander family for their generosity.