Current Properties

"This island was bought by my grandfather in the 20's as a fishing base. Our extended family has enjoyed picnicking on it for many, many years. Now we feel that the neighboring islanders would be more able to enjoy and look after it better than our family as we are a few kilometers away. Under the Land Trust stewardship we know that this lovely island will be preserved in perpetuity for others to enjoy."

-- Rennie Humphries

Land Protection

The Georgian Bay Land Trust is the proud owner of 14 reserves found throughout the eastern coast of Georgian Bay. The Trust also holds conservation easements over three properties. The Trust also helps in the management of 2 additional easements that are owned by our partner, The Nature Conservancy of Canada. The properties range in size from less than 1 ha to 100 ha, protecting a number of ecological communities and a variety of flora and fauna. In total, we have protected just over 400 acres of significant land along the eastern Georgian Bay coast. We take pride in protecting some of the best examples on private land of Georgian Bay's characteristic natural features including vegetation communities and species that have regional, provincial and global significance and are constantly seeking out new properties to expand our network of protected areas.

All of our reserves are protected for the purpose of conserving the natural & cultural character of the properties with the interest in allowing the public to appreciate Georgian Bay’s beauty. Our first priority is always to the conservation of the property so we ask that all visitors respect these reserves and enjoy the properties through use that is low intensity, non-consumptive and is compatible with the conservation of natural landscapes and ecological features. Examples of some permitted & prohibited uses include the following:

Permitted Uses
• Picnicking
• Swimming
• Hiking/Walking
• Photography
• Nature Appreciation (e.g. bird watching)
• Skiing & Snow Shoeing

Prohibited Uses
• Camping
• Fires
• Littering, garbage   or waste disposal
• Large group   activities
• Cutting or   removal of   natural materials
• Harassment of   wildlife
• Damage or   defacing of   natural materials
• Construction
• Loud noise

To date we have protected the following properties:

• Thomson Reserve - Nares Inlet
• West Lookout Island Reserve - Pointe au Baril
• Friend Island - Pointe au Baril
• Little McCoy - Pointe au Baril
• Oldfield Lake Reserve - Blackstone Lake
• Umbrella Island - Sans Souci
• Three Bears - Sans Souci
• Tower's Point - Sans Souci
• Sans Souci Hotel Reserve - Sans Souci
• Truax Island - Sans Souci
• Alexander Islands - Wah Wah Taysee
• South-East Wooded Pine - Go Home Bay
• The Lizard - Cognashene
• South Bone Island - Cognashene
• Manitou Dock Island - Manitou
• Gull & Gilead Islands - Go Home Bay
• Sandy Island - San Souci
• Port Severn Wetlands - Port Severn
• Wabeno Point - Cognashene
• Campbell-Hotham Island Reserve - North Channel
• Laura Bay Reserve - Pointe au Baril
• Fairies Dancing Reserve - Pointe au Baril
• Sandy Island - San Souci
• McLaughlin Islands - San Souci
• Harris Easement - Wah Wah Taysee
• Martin Reach Reserve - Go Home Bay
• Giants Tomb Reserve - Tiny Township

Properties Being Considered

As part of the Georgian Bay Land Trust's core activities, our Land Protection Committee is constantly looking for new opportunities to protect ecologically significant properties along the eastern Georgian Bay coast. This includes opportunities for conservation easements, donations and where necessary, purchases. The Trust is working, with its partner the Nature Conservancy of Canada, to identify priority environmental areas for protection in eastern Georgian Bay. This will help to focus our efforts on those properties that require immediate attention.