GBA Update Spring 2025

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Stronger Together

By Liz Phillips, GBA President

There was a moment during this year’s Presidents’ Forum in November as we were milling about waiting for the meeting to begin, when I felt a sense of hope and anticipation for what the day would bring. We had an exceptional turnout, with representatives from all but one of our member associations in attendance. We had an interactive and innovative agenda planned, led by professional moderator Tim Magwood. But most importantly, we had a special kind of energy in the room, with everyone eager to see where we would take GBA moving forward. We hadn’t gathered in person as a community like this since before COVID, and it was clear that this was something we all had missed. It served as a crucial reminder of the significance of meeting in person to better understand and address the challenges we face together. Since I joined the GBA board in 2018, it has never felt more important for us to be united. This Georgian Bay ecosystem is unique and remarkably pristine, but the threats against it are

gathering as our political leaders increasingly put profits ahead of environmental protection. As the outcome of the forum showed us, we unanimously agreed on making sustainable development our top priority, addressing water quality issues, and strengthening our relationships with local Indigenous communities. ( You can read more about the Presidents’ Forum in Shannon Farquharson’s article in this issue of UPDATE. ) We must continually remind our politicians that growth does not have to come at the expense of our environment and communities. It can be thoughtful, deliberate, and sustainable. Our Vision 2050 team is dedicated to defining what this sustainable growth looks like, collaborating with GBA’s partners and stakeholders to shape a prosperous future for Georgian Bay. Together, we can create a legacy that prioritizes both progress and preservation for generations to come. As for our water concerns, GBA’s Water Committee has felt reinvigorated by this clear mandate to take action and has developed a set of concrete actions to respond to our members’ feedback. Finally, GBA’s Indigenous Liaison Committee is developing content for the GBA website to help better explain some of the tangible outcomes we are seeing as a result of reconciliation, in particular in the area around Georgian Bay. It’s a complex issue without a lot of easy answers, but the committee is doing its best to cut through some of the confusion. While these times feel somewhat uncertain, I am confident in the strength of GBA and its members in navigating these stormy waters because we have our lodestar clearly in our sights: the future of our beautiful Bay. Not to mention that our Board and other volunteers continue to work hard to make that a reality. It has been an honour to be a small part of keeping GBA relevant and vibrant as the organization moves forward. Being on the Board for five years, then serving as the president for the last two, has been one of the most demanding, rewarding, and educational experiences I have had. And although my time as president is coming to a close, I also know that our incoming president, Al Stratton, will be a phenomenal leader. He will also be joined by a new permanent executive director who will inject GBA with fresh energy and direction. It will be exciting to see what lies in store for GBA as we use our collective voices to ensure our messages are heard loud and clear.

Caring for People & Place

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GBA UPDATE • Spring 2025