It’s time for us to say a fond farewell and heartfelt thank you to Bill Lougheed as he finishes his final day as Executive Director of the Georgian Bay Land Trust.

For the past 11 years, Bill has led the Land Trust with passion, optimism, and an unmatched work ethic. He has left us in a strong and growing position moving into the future, and has created a remarkable legacy for the wilderness of Georgian Bay.

During his time with the Land Trust, Bill worked closely with hundreds of landowners and funding partners to create 42 new conservation reserves totalling 8,581 acres of magnificent Georgian Bay wilderness. He spearheaded the Corridor Project, an ambitious initiative to create a protected habitat corridor along much of eastern Georgian Bay, the first phase of which was completed in 2024 and totals 32,900 acres.

Bill also had a vision for how Land Trust properties could contribute to the larger world of conservation science. He developed partnerships with university professors and students who came to conduct research on Georgian Bay, and began our involvement with the international Motus wildlife tracking system. Bill was responsible for our first field station, which allows passionate individuals from outside Georgian Bay to come and contribute to work here.

Beyond all this, Bill did exceptional behind-the-scenes work to solidify the position and longevity of the Land Trust. He greatly increased the number of grants we receive for our projects, and his careful financial management has resulted in strong and sustainable stewardship funds that will see our conservation work through the long term.

Finally, Bill put significant effort into collaborating with and strengthening the conservation community beyond Georgian Bay. He served on the board of the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, worked closely with other Executive Directors as part of the Canadian Land Trusts Working Group, and helped found the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts. With these groups, Bill met with provincial and national decision makers, and was instrumental in securing an important role for land trusts within Canada’s Nature Fund and Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership.

Bill has been a fantastic boss, managing our team in a way that encourages each individual to develop their abilities and follow their passions to contribute to the Land Trust’s mission. We look forward to continuing to work with him as he remains as a consultant on the Corridor Project, and to seeing him around Georgian Bay for many years to come.

Thank you Bill for your 11 years of outstanding service to conservation on Georgian Bay!