After a great deal of effort, and with the assistanceof many key players, the Georgian Bay Land Trust(GBLT) in partnership with the NatureConservancy of Canada (NCC), is pleased toannounce that it has successfully secured aconditional purchase & sale agreement for asignificant portion of Sandy Island, making upapproximately 450 acres of the 529 acre island.

Sandy Island is located west of Parry Sound inthe Township of The Archipelago. The SandyIsland area has been identified as one of thehighest priority sites for conservation in ourregion as reported in NCC’s Great LakesConservation Blueprint, the Ontario Ministry ofNatural Resource’s (OMNR) and NCC’s EcologicalSurvey of Eastern Georgian Bay and NCC & GBLT’sEastern Georgian Bay Coast Natural AreaConservation Plan.

The ecological significance of Sandy Island isexceptional, even by eastern Georgian Bay standards.Sandy Island is known and named for the largesand bar that makes up the eastern shore, but thisis only one of many features that make this islandso unique. The interior of Sandy Island isdominated by a Red Oak-American Beech forest, acommunity more typical of the forests of southernOntario. Numerous rare species, including theendangered Spotted Turtle, the threatened EasternMassasauga and the provincially rare AtlanticCoastal Plain plant species call Sandy Islandhome. In addition, the island is recognized as aprovincially significant wetland, a provinciallysignificant Life Science Area of Natural andScientific Interest (ANSI), and the majority of theshoreline is recognized as important habitat forfish spawning and feeding.

In addition to the environmental significance,Sandy Island has a long history, which has evokedthe interest of numerous generations, starting withthe First Nations who are said to have used the

island as a meeting place. It was purchased fromthe Crown in 1904 by Walter L. Haight and stayedwith the family until 1954. Under subsequentowners, efforts to subdivide the island were initiatedand those efforts have continued up to this day. Inaddition, the island was selectively logged for RedOak more than 20 years ago. The conditionalagreement currently secured by NCC and GBLTwill ensure that the largest remaining lot,approximately 450 acres, will remain in its naturalstate in perpetuity.

The agreement of purchase and sale includes anumber of conditions to be met in the upcomingyear, including raising the funds necessary to completethe purchase and secure the funds necessary toensure responsible stewardship going forward. TheGBLT has committed to raising $600,000 towardsthese financial commitments. If you would likemore information about the project andopportunities to assist, please contact WendyCooper (GBLT) at 416-440-1519 or EricaThompson (NCC) at 705-424-1479 ext. 152. Aproject sheet with more details about the projectand the partnership between GBLT & NCC isavailable upon request.

Robert BergsSue Gillespie

Gordon HewittCol. Robert Harvey Hilborn

Mary LutonAudrey McCollum

Peter G,. O'Brian O.B.E., D.F.C., R.A.F.(ret's)

John Sloan SargentCaptain Loyd .H. Warriner A.F.C.,

T.C.A./A.CBarbara Wilkins

Tuesday, November 20th - "Get Bent Tree Event" the launch ofour Trees of Georgian Bay Poster

Volunteers needed for:

LandscriptLayout and design four times a year

Communications Email newsletter and media releases

Georgian Bay Land Trust 2482 Yonge Street,P.O. Box 99,Toronto, ON M4P 3E3e-mail: info@gblt.orgwww.gblt.org

Landscript, vol. 11 #2, Published quarterlyEditor LANDSCRIPT: Sue Russell ............................res 416 923 4919Executive Director: Wendy Cooper ...............................416 440 1519Director of Development: Janet Lougheed...................705 735 2600For a list of our directors, visit our website at www.gblt.org/directors

Glenn BurneyMarina

This year we approached a few businesses in thearea to see if they might like to become a sponsorfor our Landscript. We have had great success andMidland Timbr-Mart, Jim Langley Marine, GlennBurney Marine and Desmasdons have joined usas supporters of the Georgian Bay Land Trust.Our success is built on the support of all thosewho love the Georgian Bay and wish it toremain preserved for future generations.

Sandy Island, aerial view from the South.Photo by Kathy Sutton.

GBLT had a very successful picnic at the Umbrellas Saturday July21st with over 60 people attending. Sandy Phillips spoke about thehistory of the island while Donald Fraser talked about thevegetation and wildlife on the island. Many thanks to JaneFrench for her hardwork as the volunteer organizer of this event.

by Wendy Cooper

GBLT would like to apologize to those people whosenames were missed on printing our Supporters List for2006. We recently updated our database and have somegrowing pains. Without your support GBLT wouldnot be able to continue to do its important work inpreserving Georgian Bay for future generations.

Whitecap level ($150)

Martin AbellJohn A. AbbottMs. Pam Aitken

Marcia AstorElisabeth & James Bacque

Clair BalfourGraeme G. Barber

Bruce & Leslie BartonJim Beatty

Barbara BenthamSandy & Gloria Boyd

Lili & Hank BrunnaderJeanny Vorys Candy

Brian T. & Johanne ClarkCognashene Store Group

Phil CrookshankRichard A. CutlerRuth & Neil Davis

Mr. & Mrs. Peter C. DobellMary & Michael Dove

Caroline & Bob DuncansonPatrick Edward

Greg & Diane FinkleMichael & Michelle Gordon

Mrs. Mary B. GrayStephen & Catherine Griggs

Elizabeth & John HackettJohn M. Hamilton

Bill & Shirley HeflerAndrew Heintzman

Chris HolmesMary Hudson

Dr. & Mrs. Scott R. InkleyRobert & Heather JarvisDuncan & Robyn Jones

Terence A. & Dorothy KeenleysideCynthia & Peter Kemerer

Robert C. & Laureen KinnearTony Koechli

Christine LawsonRonald MacFeeters

Ann MacIntosh-DuffRoger Martin

T.K. & Emily McClintockWilliam C. McCoy

Mary S. McCulloughMs. Marion McLeod

Robert Miller & Dana HooperRobert Moos

Peggy & George MoretonMr. & Mrs. Warren Moysey

Craig & Pam MurchisonJoanna NibbsScott Northey

Over the past year, the Board of GBLT has beeninvestigating ways to engage younger generationsof Georgian Bayers in the Land Trust and its work.Under the leadership of Dana Porter, a workinggroup was established to explore just how thisvision could be implemented. At this year’s AGM,the team introduced “regenerate GBLT” to all inattendance and outlined its plans for getting itsfeet wet this summer.

The group selected Georgian Bay local regattas asan effective arena in which to connect with its targetdemographic. As a pilot project this summer, atlocal regattas in Pointe au Baril, Sans Souci, GoHome Bay and Cognashene, group members willbe on hand to donate prizes of “regenerate GBLT”long sleeve t-shirts and custom designed paddles.To help fund these prizes, the group will sell theshirts at targeted locations throughout the summeras well as take orders for custom paddles.

The “regenerate GBLT” team includes GraemeBurt, Geordie Dalglish, Michael Drinkwater, JenKernaghan, and Dana Porter, supported byExecutive Director, Wendy Cooper.

Email us at info@gblt.org to learn more and toget engaged.

Four of the “regenerate GBLT” team introducingtheir pilot to be carried out this summer.

From the left, Jen Kernaghan, Dana Porter,Michael Drinkwater and Geordie Dalglish.

American supporters have and continue to be animportant part of the Georgian Bay Land Trust (GBLT)family. We are fortunate that the Great LakesBasin Conservancy (GLBC) offers U.S. citizens theopportunity to donate to a U.S. charity to support theprotection of the Georgian Bay.

For those who are not familiar with theConservancy, it is a small non-profit organization thatwas established by Bill McCoy (Pointe au Baril) inChagrin Falls, Ohio in 1997. Its purposes includepreservation and protection of the land, naturalenvironment, and open space of the entire Great LakesBasin. The GLBC regularly awards grants toorganizations with similar purposes, both in theUnited States and in Canada. Because many U.S.citizens share a love of the incomparable environmentof the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, the GBLT has longbeen a grantee of the GLBC.

To help clarify how U.S. donors can ensure theirsupport is helping GBLT with its efforts, the followingis a guide on how you can contribute:

1. Send your donation, made out to the Great Lakes BasinConservancy to them at P.O. Box 504, Gates Mills, OH44040 USA. Be sure to attach instructions for donation tobe allocated to the Georgian Bay Land Trust.

2. GLBC will process your donation and provide you witha U.S. tax receipt.

3. GLBC will notify GBLT of those donors who expressedan interest in GBLT.

4. GBLT will thank you for your support by way of anacknowledgement letter and place you on the GBLTmailing list.

An overview of the process is also available on ourwebsite. Our thanks to the Great Lakes Basin Conservancyfor their continued support of the Georgian Bay LandTrust and its efforts.

The Land Trust aims to make it easy for our supporters tohelp us meet our mission of preserving the Georgian Bayfor future generations. Should you have any questionsabout making these and other gifts please contact JanetLougheed at 705-735-2600.

This Poem was found in the cabin of Prof.Kleinschmidt, owner of Friend Island, which

was donated to the Land Trust in 1992

Oh what a curse high water is!Our docks are one foot under.It makes of life an awful biz

“Tis worse than drought, by thunder.

We finally got the pump to work(albeit with many a blunder)

I nearly froze but did not shirkTo duck the cold flood under.

But still to get a pail to fillWith this redundant stuff

You have to put on rubber bootsAnd pump until you puff

Our boathouse at an angle standsOur launch house roof now tips.

There are no blessed shining sandsAnd everything just drips.

Mosquitoes large, quite raw tartareBut easy ‘tis to whack them

The caterpillars and black flies,Well, truth to tell we lack them.

Since then one bit me on the wristWhich swelled to twice its size,

But with the water on our mindsSuch things just minimize.

Alas, alack I spoke too soon,About the fauna here,

The caterpillars struck us hardA black fly bit my ear.

We think the worms are on the wane,The black flies getting fewer,

Some other pest will strike us soonWhich we must just endure

by Michael Drinkwater

by Janet Lougheed

This harmless but fascinating snake is one of themany reasons the GBLT is conserving the landalong the eastern shore of Georgian Bay and theNorth Channel. The hog-nosed snake, like somany of our reptiles and other fauna, is threatenedwith extinction by the loss of their traditionalhome. The Hog-nosed prefers sandy woodlandsand oak savannas, which are rapidly disappearingas land is being developed, mined or built upon.The Land Trust helps to protect habitat forthis species through the acquisition andongoing stewardship of lands that areenvironmentally significant and include habitatfor this threatened species.

This snake is also known as a Puff-Adder becauseof the way it puffs out its cheeks as a defensivemechanism to frighten predators. It is harmlessbecause it has no venom in it and its few teeth areat the back of its mouth. The Nature Conservancyof Canada as well as the Ministry of Natural

Resources are asking Georgian Bayers to keep aneye out for them.

If you see one just say good day to it and let it goon its way. But more importantly let the MNRknow that you have seen one. Send a message to:Biologist/SAR, Ministry of Natural Resources, 7Bay Street, Parry Sound, ON P2A 1SA

Anything you ever wanted to know about ParrySound West will soon be available on DVD. Thisis a project of the Parry Sound West District calledthe Ontario Visual Heritage Project, funded by theOntario and Federal governments with a certainpercentage of funds raised locally. Besides havingthe history of the area on DVD, there will also bea streaming web page for future generations tolearn about the history of the area. (A streamingweb page provides a time line so that anyone,particularly students, can go into the line and picka certain date. The information will come forwardboth in print and visual)

This project will be completed in 2008 and ofthe 1,000 DVD’s produced, 500 will be given tothe Parry Sound school board in order to have the

DVDs introduced into the curriculum. There willbe local re-enactments as well as local historiansproviding stories on the area with backgroundmusic and pictures. The re-enactments will takeplace throughout the West Parry Sound area andwill be starting this spring and carrying on throughthe fall until winter.

Everything will be captured on DVD and we arealso hoping that our local cable channel will air itas well. This is a fantastic project that was startedin January 2006 and is to be completed earlyspring/summer of 2008.

For more information contact the co-ordinatorPerry Harris at perry_harris@hotmail.com

People up and down Georgian Bay love theincredible trees unique to and indicative of theEastern shore and North Channel. People usethem as landmarks for navigation, as favouritepicnic sites – even islands such as 'One Tree' havebeen named after them. As part of our efforts tospread the good word and good will about theGBLT (and also to raise funds), the Trust will beprinting and selling a full colour poster showcasing25 photos of these fabulous icons with allproceeds going to the GBLT.

We need your help to make it as great as we allimagine. Everyone is asked to send in a photo of afavourite tree and a panel of judges includingphotographic and environmental experts andpersonalities associated with The Bay will have thedifficult task of choosing which snaps best capturethe spirit of Georgian Bay. The guidelines aresimple: any seasonal or permanent resident of

Canada of any age is encouraged to send in aphoto. There is no fee to submit your photo. Youmay submit a maximum of 4 photos,either electronically or mailed to the GBLT.Photographs can be of one or more trees or anyparts of trees, such as branches or leaves;photographs can be black and white, colour orduotone and can be current or decades old.

The only restrictions are that there can be nopeople in the photo, and it must be of the Easternshoreline and North Channel of Georgian Bay.

Deadline for your photo is October 11th (theThursday after Canadian Thanksgiving to giveyou time to capture those fall colours), and thefull poster will be unveiled at a terrific 'Get BentTree Event' in late November. So get snapping, orgo through the family photo albums, and staytuned for more details.

The photos will be revealed at fundraising eventon November 20th at the Capitol Event theatre inToronto. This event has been generously supportedby Main Sponsor Payne Marina of Pointe au Baril,other sponsors include Georgian Bay Wet Woodand Canadian Yachting. Should anyone wish toparticipate as a sponsor please contact JanetLougheed at 705-735-2600.

P.S. Check out the GBLT website to see thegreat photos that have already been submitted:http://www.gblt.org

On Saturday, July 28th, a group ofCognashene and Go Home cottagersenjoyed a picnic on Lizard Island tocelebrate the efforts of the GeorgianBay Land Trust. In order to takeadvantage of the number of peopleon hand, the stewards of the LizardIsland in attendance, Peter Cooper,Jim Cooper, Craig Bowden and T.D.Melhuish, had willing participantshelp them raise one of the Lizard’spine trees which had fallen over in apast wind storm. Our thanks toJanet Murphy for organizing thisgreat event.

Using a very long seatbelt, several people grabbed hold and raised the tree. Whilepeople enjoyed their picnic and chatted with friends, the seatbelt was tied to thelocal sign. Before leaving, everyone helped by grabbing a rock to help hold theroot back in place.

by Jeff Butler

by Perry Harris

by Sue Russell

Carolyn Rymell

Carolyn Rymell has been a cottager on Blackstone Lake since theearly 1970’s. She is a Past-President of the Blackstone Lake CottageAssociation and has been a Director of the Georgian Bay Associationfor the past eight years. A supporter of the Oldfield Lake Reservefrom the beginning, Carolyn assists John Hackett ( a GBLT Advisor)with stewardship of that property.

Carolyn has a B.A. in pure mathematics and an MBA, both fromYork University. While her professional career started in the area ofinformation technology, Carolyn’s career progressed through thesenior management ranks in materials management, andmanufacturing operations. Carolyn is currently a Director andTreasurer of a poverty legal clinic in Toronto, and has a wealth ofexperience gained as a Director of an international foundation.

Geordie Dalglish

Geordie confesses to being an outdoorsman, pilot, propertydeveloper, and a Georgian Bay addict. He is currently living inToronto, and spends as much time as possible at the Bay in thecommunity of Pointe au Baril. He sees his commitment to the GBLTBoard as “a way to give back and help preserve something that hasbecome dear to my heart”.

A graduate of Dalhousie University, Geordie is currently self-employed as a Property Developer. He has been a member of the W.Garfield Weston Foundation Board here in Canada, and the Rita LilaHoward Foundation in the U.K. – both organizations focused onenvironmental causes. Currently he chairs the committee forNorthern Affairs at the W. Garfield Weston Foundation where hisexperience in land transaction, preservation, conservation andstewardship are put to good use.

Graeme Burt

Graeme Burt has ten years experience working with a broad range ofprivate and public sector agencies in Canada and around the world. Hisextensive background in physical, environmental and socio-economicplanning, has led to his involvement in activities that range from thecreation of a Green School Master Plan for one of Canada’s oldestprivate schools, to the preparation of a Development Plan for a newcommunity of 70,000 people. Many of the projects have involvedstrong grassroots involvement, most recently, the award-winningMaster Plan for Evergreen at the Brick Works. His projects have beenrecognized with a number of local and national awards.

Following undergraduate work at McGill University, Graeme receivedan MSc in Geography from Pennsylvania State University. He is amember of the Canadian Institute of Planners and a RegisteredProfessional Planner. Graeme cottages with his family at the mouth ofTwelve Mile Bay.

Michael Drinkwater

Mike is a management consultant with the Canadian strategypractice of Accenture, a global consultancy, and specializes in thetelecommunications and high technology sectors. In 2005, heworked with Accenture’s UK practice, and in 2002, with a Spanishconsulting firm in Madrid. Now back in Toronto, his work alsoinvolves the recruitment of new and talented staff to theoperation. Mike holds an undergraduate degree from the RichardIvey School of Business.

The highlight of last summer for Mike was reviving his family’sold sailboat and exploring the waters around his family cottage inCognashene. His family has enjoyed the water, rock and trees ofGeorgian Bay for almost a hundred years. His ambition is for thatenjoyment to continue for a hundred more.

Peter Cooper

Peter has over 20 years of general business operations, and consultingexperience, and now focuses primarily on executive searches in a widerange of commercial sectors. In addition to his corporate experience, Peterhas also served on boards and management committees in both thebusiness and volunteer sectors including Henry Birks and Sons, TheCanadian Opera Company, The Canadian Council of Better BusinessBureaus, and a national consulting firm in the human capitalmanagement sector.

Peter has been a steward of Lizard Island - a GBLT property in theCognashene area - and is a member of the Stewardship Committee. Inaddition, Peter currently co-Chairs the Annual Giving Campaign.

At the Georgian Bay Land Trust's Annual General Meeting on June 13, 2007, the members of the organizationofficially welcomed 5 new Directors to our Board. Each bring incredible skill and passion to theorganization and have been involved with us as volunteers in a number of capacities. In addition to welcomingthe new members, the Board said goodbye to several Directors who are moving on, Anneliese Grieve,Don Lawson, Georgia Rennick, and Sue Russell. Our thanks to all of them who made such an incrediblecontribution to our organization. The good news is that all of our retiring Directors have joined us asAdvisors and continue to participate as volunteers and members of our various committees.