Purpose of the Award
The Georgian Bay Association’s new annual Champion of the Bay Award recognizes and honors outstanding community members who actively steward the Georgian Bay in a manner that promotes environmental wellbeing.
Through this award we are excited to:
- collectively appreciate the contributions of committed community members,
- share the local efforts occurring in different associations and
- inspire more people to participate in stewardship activities
Criteria for Qualification
We value highlighting local and small-scale efforts that demonstrate the difference that one person or one community can make on the environment. Nominees may be of any age and may participate in or lead a variety of projects. The overarching purpose of the award is to feature environmental stewardship. This is a volunteer award and all nominations should reflect efforts done in a volunteer capacity.
Special consideration will be given to nominees whose contributions impact the broader environment or involve outreach and community organizing. No effort is too small and we encourage nominations of all scales. From a family picking up litter along a shore to a community shoreline clean-up day, we want to hear about and celebrate what’s going on in your community! We also encourage nominations of young people or newcomers who show inspiring potential.
Potential Example of a nominee’s activities/projects:
- Actively contributing to the preservation of our natural environment
o Examples: phragmites management, clean-up of derelict/abandoned docks, species monitoring, shoreline and Styrofoam cleanups, water quality sampling, constructing bird and bat houses for the community, community stewardship of crown land, volunteering/leadership on a GBA environmentally focused committee, etc.
- Environmental education
o Examples: organizing community educational days or nature hikes (ex. with help from the Georgian Bay Biosphere, Georgian Bay Forever or Georgian Bay Land Trust), environmentally focused contributions to GBA’s UPDATE or other Georgian Bay publications, coordination with local NGOs in educating the community, etc.
- Forging partnerships with adjacent communities/organizations (re: environment)
o Examples: Sans Souci and Wasauksing phragmites removal projects, Woods Bay and Friends of the Massasauga, Sans Souci and South Channel coordination of phragmites management, etc.
This is not an exhaustive list and we excitedly welcome new and creative initiatives! For more ideas, please see the Stewards of the Bay video series or read example nominee profiles below.
Nominations
Nominations for the Champions of the Bay award can be submitted until October. You can nominate a Champion of the Bay here.
A Community Based Two Tiered Award Structure
We believe that anyone who does their best to take care of the Georgian Bay is a Champion of the Bay.
This is a two-tiered award. Each member Association will have the opportunity to select their own community level Champion of the Bay. Nominations and selection for each Association’s Champion will occur at the Association level. GBA’s Guardians of the Bay Committee will then select an overall Champion of the Bay to be honored.
Recognition
Please check back soon for the announcement of the award for overall Champion of the Bay! We are finalizing the selection of an art piece that will be sent to the award winner.
- Grand Champion of the Bay Recognition
The Grand Champion of the Bay (selected among all the Association winners) will receive a special art piece and will receive special recognition in GBA’s UPDATE. The Champion will also be featured on our website as a Champion of the Bay.
- Association Level Champion of the Bay Recognition
The Champions of the Bay at the Association Level will receive an award certificate and will also be featured in GBA’s UPDATE. All of the Association winners will share a special page celebrating and sharing their fantastic initiatives happening all around the Georgian Bay.
Read about our 2025 Champions here.
Inspired? You can nominate a Champion of the Bay here.
Join the Celebration!
Our Champions of the Bay are the unsung heroes of the coast—working behind the scenes to protect the waters, lands, and communities we all love. Now, it’s time to bring them into the spotlight.
We warmly invite you to a special virtual ceremony to honour our 2025 Champions of the Bay. We’ll be gathering from every corner of the Bay to hear their inspiring stories and celebrate the nominators who brought their work to light.
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When: Thursday, May 28th at 7:00 PM
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Where: Virtually, from your favourite spot (even on the Bay!)
Reserve Your Spot on the Guest List here.