BICA Water Laboratory Testing Results 2025

Methods

In July 2025, BICA board members Ron Kivikink and Chris Redston took water samples in three locations in the Bay of Islands:

The channel in front of the Bjornsons’ island Pin Drop: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9BpGhgMqJSbMymNG6?g_st=am Close to the Birch Island shoreline near the old railbed GPS coordinates: 46°04'35.5"N 81°46'06.9"W on Google Mapshttps://maps.app.goo.gl/eyF2Up6BbTRFAA9J7 At the mouth of Whitefish River GPS coordinates: 46°06'28.8"N 81°43'58.3"W on Google Mapshttps://maps.app.goo.gl/c4Pcn6jo2PxrHNv86 Four water sample bottles were filled at each location on July 16, 2025. Ron and Chris were travelling on personal watercraft. They waited a few minutes after turning off their machines to allow for the water to exchange before taking the samples and took the samples upwind or upstream of the machines.

Samples were sent to TESTMARK Laboratories in Garson, ON. They were evaluated on 58 parameters, including:

48 elements (for details, see results in Table 1) pH Conductivity Turbidity 4 categories of hydrocarbons The 4 categories of hydrocarbons tested included:

F1 (C6-C10) Hydrocarbons with 6 to 10 carbons, e.g., gasoline, as well as volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) F2 (C10-C16) Diesel, kerosene and the heavier parts of crude oil F3 (C16-C34) Heavier fractions of diesel, oil-range organics, and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) F4 (C34-C50) Lubricating oils and heavy fuel oils In order to establish thresholds and evaluate whether contaminants were within accepted safe limits, we referred to provincial or federal water quality guidelines wherever possible. Thresholds weren’t available for every parameter tested, mostly because not every parameter is considered a safety concern. 

There were 4 types of thresholds identified: 

As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA): It is recommended that these contaminants are kept as low as reasonably achievable. Aesthetic objective (AO): The level of substances or characteristics of water that can affect its acceptance by consumers, cause problems with water distribution systems and fixtures, or interfere with practices for supplying good quality water. They are not health-related guidelines but are related to aesthetic aspects of the water, e.g., taste and smell. Maximum acceptable concentration (MAC): The level of a substance that is known, or suspected to, cause adverse effects on health. Operational guidance (OG): Operational guidelines are set for parameters that may affect processes at a treatment plant or in the drinking water distribution system. Results

In general, the results showed that contaminants in the water at the three testing sites were generally well below accepted thresholds, wherever those thresholds were available. Of the 48 elements tested, we were able to identify thresholds for 18. 

The only element that was higher than the threshold was iron, which was the same or higher at all three locations (main channel: 100 ug/L, railway: 120 ug/L, Whitefish River: 130 ug/L) than the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality aesthetic objective of 100 ug/L (Table 1). The rationale for this threshold for iron “is based on minimizing the occurrence of discoloured water and to improve consumer confidence in drinking water quality.”1 According to the province of Alberta, iron “levels as low as 0.2 to 0.3 mg/L [200 to 300 ug/L] will usually cause the staining of laundry and plumbing fixtures. The presence of iron bacteria in water supplies will often cause these symptoms at even lower levels. Iron gives water a metallic taste that may be objectionable to some at 1 to 2 mg/L [100 to 200 ug/L].”2

The table also shows all the results where no thresholds were available. Where there was divergence between sites, even if no threshold was identified, we highlighted those in yellow. For example, we noted that the levels of copper at the main channel were considerably higher than in the other two locations, although they were still well within safe thresholds.

We also tested for conductivity, pH, and turbidity, which were generally within accepted thresholds, with the exception of the turbidity in Whitefish River. Given the boat traffic and the movement of the water in the river, this isn’t a surprising result. The measured turbidity of 1.4 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) was higher than the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality threshold of 1.0 NTU. According to the province of Alberta, turbidity:

“…is a measurement of particles of matter suspended in water. These particles can be clay, silt, finely divided organic and inorganic matter, plankton and other microscopic organisms. Turbidity is a measurement of how light scatters when it is aimed at water and bounces off the suspended particles. It is not a measurement of the particles themselves. In general terms, the cloudier the water, the more the light scatters and the higher the turbidity. The treated water turbidity target is 0.1 NTU (nephelometric turbidity units). Turbidity as a secondary indicator of suspended solids and is a common measurement made in surface water. It is used to determine the likely effectiveness of some disinfection processes such as ultraviolet light or chlorination that require direct exposure to the target contaminant.”2 Table 1: Water testing results for elements, conductivity, pH, turbidity

Table 1Download *The Ontario AO for sulphate is 500 and the conversion to sulfur is 500mg/l  x 1/3 = 166.7 mg/l = 166,700 ug/L; †The turbidity of treated water should be <0.1; AO, aesthetic objective; ALARA, as low as reasonably achievable; MAC, maximum acceptable concentration; MDL, method detection limit; OG, operational guidance; WHO, World Health Organization

Finally, we tested for hydrocarbons at all sites (Table 2). Unfortunately, it was difficult to find thresholds for any of the categories, but naturally we are hoping to find as little as possible of any of these contaminants. The good news is that for the F2, F3, and F4 categories, the levels were lower than even the lab’s method detection limit (MDL). 

Table 2: Water testing results for hydrocarbons ParameterMDLMain Channel ResultRailway ResultWhitefish River ResultUnitsF1 (C6-C10) Incl. BTEX2534<2544ug/LF1 (C6-C10) Less BTEX(Calc.)2534<2540ug/LF2 (C10-C16)200<200<200<200ug/LF3 (C16-C34)300<300<300<300ug/LF4 (C34-C50)500<500<500<500ug/L BTEX, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene; MDL, method detection limit

The concerning category was the F1 category, which includes gasoline and volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). The results by the railway were below the MDL, but in the main channel and in Whitefish River, the levels were 34 and 44 ug/L respectively. For this category, we were able to determine that Canadian Drinking Water Quality guideline threshold level for benzene is 5 ug/L. 

Testmark was asked to perform additional analysis to better understand the F1 fraction of hydrocarbons, given the elevated values in our samples. Both the main channel and railway samples showed that the F1 values with BTEX included and F1 values with BTEX excluded remained the same. This is a good result, indicating no BTEX components in our samples at those sites. However, the Whitefish River result does indicate a 4 ug/L difference in values, and this means there were F1 hydrocarbons in our sample. This suggests that the significant boat traffic in the river is contributing to the F1 hydrocarbon fraction. The F1 values that exclude BTEX can be the result of other naturally occurring substances in the water such as isoprenes from decaying plants, other naturally decaying material in the water, fallout and runoff from forest fire smoke etc.

For more information about F1-F4 hydrocarbons, please refer to this "cheat sheet" from Testmark.

Conclusions

Overall, the levels of contaminants that we measured in the water in the Bay of Islands were within thresholds generally accepted to be safe. One exception was the iron level at all tested sites, which might result in a metallic taste, but is probably too low to cause staining. 

Another exception was the turbidity in Whitefish River, which was higher than the aesthetic objective of some guidelines. Since the main concern with higher turbidity is that it can interfere with UV disinfection, it is reassuring that the turbidity in other areas of the Bay is well below the thresholds.

With respect to the hydrocarbons, although we tried to ensure the samples were taken in fresh water, there is a possibility that they were contaminated by our watercraft. We will continue to monitor these contaminants in future testing and will take additional steps to avoid contamination by our collection methods.

One key limitation of this project lies in the limited scope of water testing that we were able to undertake. There are several contaminants that we would like to measure in the future, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals and microplastics. Testing for these is expensive and we hope to collaborate with other local interested stakeholders, apply for grants where possible and highlight research studies. Forever chemicals and microplastics are endemic to Georgian Bay and beyond and will likely continue to be in our drinking water for the foreseeable future. This is why it’s so important to have adequate drinking water filtration.

We are happy to have a baseline available for the Bay so we can monitor changes over time. 

Links

Testmark Labs – Drinking Water Packages Agat Laboratories (an alternative lab to Testmark – BICA didn't use them but did obtain a a quote from them) Wahl Water (a lot of good information about water quality and treatment systems) References

Cheat Sheet https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-summary-table.html https://www.alberta.ca/common-water-quality-terms

What a Party!

Our BICA 90th Anniversary Celebration was an evening to remember! We couldn't have done it without the generosity of the following individuals and families -- THANK YOU!

To our hosts at the Island Lodge: thank you to all the Ireson Island families for opening your doors to us, with a special thank you to Steve, Kees and the two Anitas. To our lead organizers: Celesta, Sheila, Lisa and Lindsay. To our volunteers — A huge thank you to the team who made the evening possible: Jane Drolet, Thomas Drolet, John Bjornson, Sean and the pig roast crew, Emily and Alex on cocktails, and everyone who worked behind the scenes  — your time and energy are what keep this community thriving. To the incredible band, Dean Purdie and A Simple Gesture! And of course, all of our members who came out to be part of it and danced the night away! Check out the fabulous photos capturing the community spirit and camaraderie of the evening!

2025 President’s Report

Delivered at the 90th annual member meeting of BICA on July 26, 2025 by Patrick Thoburn

Here we are in the beautiful great room of the historic River Lodge. It could not be a more fitting location, as the old Stump and Spry store that occupied this building is as old as our association and was the original outfitter for our pioneer ancestor in the surrounding waters. Thank you to Jackie and Steve for opening your doors.

Our community has been meeting for the past 90th summers. I did some research. The first meeting was attended by 14 people, 7 Americans, 7 Canadians, and the only item on the agenda was shoal markers. The tradition of dinging props on hidden rocks is a long one. The founding purpose was “an association for sociability and mutual benefit.” It’s a great achievement that this has stuck.

But we have never faced more pressures on the health of our pristine bay, from development, pollution, invasive species, and more, and that’s why much of our work and the focus of today’s meeting is about Our Water.

I’d like to share a few highlights of initiatives your board and association have been at work on over the past twelve months

We’ve initiated important collaborations with McGregor Bay and Whitefish River First Nation to monitor water quality on a variety of metrics and remove three stands of invasive phragmites we’ve discovered in the Bay. This work is led by Ron Kivikink and Chris Redston, and you’ll hear from them today.

We continue to support and be inspired by the work of GBA and FOCA in on environmental issues advocating for legislative change on everything from dock foam, microplastics, aquaculture and floating homes. Liz Phillips represents us at GBA and she has recently completed a term as GBA president, doing us proud.

Social Events are the backbone of our community that allows us to be effective in pursuing our mission. Fish Fry, Raffle and Auction, Family Day, check calendar. Celesta Bjornson and Sheila Williams, Lisa Allison, Jeff Baker and the rest of the board are instrumental in pulling the together.

We launched a BICA store, from which we have sold nearly 100 copies of the new Voices of the Bay book, a Bay of Islands hat and now selling a limited-edition 90th anniversary sweatshirt. Thank you, Sheila Williams, for all your work.

Fire safety: Training by NEMI volunteer fire department chief and colleagues is ongoing. Thanks to David Gallup we secured a grant that allows us to distribute fire blankets to all members.

Lisa Allison keeps our community connected and informed by managing all our website and email communications.

Unglamorous but necessary: We’ve continued to refine our bylaws to be in compliance with ONCA, led by Trevor Marshall.

The many volunteer hours committed by the association board are so appreciated by all of us. This is a highly dedicated team, and we thank them.

I invite you all to come out to our 90th Anniversary party at the historic Moredolphton Lodge We have a pig roast, a live band led by the Bay of Islands own Dean Purdie, and more!

To our members. Please spread the word about BICA, invite your neighbours and family members to join. We rely on the volunteer spirit of the community to do the things we do. And let us know things you’d like to see us doing together, and above all get involved. Thank you for your support, enthusiasm, and membership in our association.

2025 BICA AMM Meeting Minutes

BICA Annual Members Meeting 2025

10:00 to 11:45 am EST Saturday July 26, 2025

River Lodge – Whitefish Falls

Minutes

Call to Order – Patrick Thoburn Patrick welcomed members to the 90th Annual Member Meeting. Chief Rodney Nahwegahbow from the WRFN regrets that he was unable to attend due to a family emergency. Approval of Minutes 2024 – Patrick Thoburn Motion - That the general membership approves the minutes of the 2024 BICA AMM. Mover – David Gallup Second – Jeff Baker Passed: Unanimously President’s Report – Patrick Thoburn Full report appended to these minutes. Big thank you to Steve and Jacquie from the River Lodge for allowing us to hold the meeting in their historic lodge. The first Association meeting was held 90 years ago, and at the time there were 7 American and 7 Canadian attendees. An important item on the agenda was the installation of shoal markers! Patrick reviewed some of the 2024/2025 BICA Board initiatives, that included the following: Build closer partnerships with WRFN and McGregor Bay Association to address common issues such as water quality, water safety and invasive species. Chief Rodney from the WRFN is very supportive of these initiatives because of the shared responsibility to protect the waters and the environment. Support the initiatives of FOCA and the GBA. A large portion of our annual dues support these organizations, and they are lobbying hard for legislation to address environmental threats to Georgian Bay. Organize Social Events. Big thank you to all the volunteers that helped organize and execute several very successful events that build community and foster closer relationships. Launch an Online Store for the sale of the latest Voices of the Bay III, hats and an anniversary BICA sweatshirt. Thank you to Sheila Williams for organizing this. Promote Fire Safety. BICA conducted two very well-attended fire safety seminars in Whitefish Falls. Thank you to the Whitefish Falls Volunteer Fire Department for the training and Bay Villa Lodge for allowing the space. Thank you to David Gallup for organizing these events and for securing a $500 FireSmart grant that was used to purchase and distribute fire blankets to members. Update BICA Bylaws. New bylaws are now posted on the BICA website that bring us into compliance with ONCA requirements. Big thank you to Trevor Marshall for spearheading this work. Key social event for 2025 - 90Th Anniversary Celebration at Ireson Island (the old Island Lodge), that will feature a Pig Roast and live music led by Dean Purdie’s band. Treasurer’s Report – David Farner David gave a high-level review of the financial situation. Highlights were attached to the back of the Meeting Agenda distributed to meeting attendees. Motion - That the general membership approves the Treasurer’s Report for 2025. Mover – Zachary Shewchuk  Second – Gary Clacket Passed: Unanimously Guest Speaker – Nicole Carpenter from Georgian Bay Forever (GBF) Nicole gave a very interesting presentation about the role of the GBF, GBF initiatives, the overall state of the waters in Georgian Bay, threats to the environment and the effect of climate change on our waters. Nicole was very supportive of the work BICA is doing to fight invasive phragmites and is committed to providing ongoing support for our partnership with WRFN and the McGregor Bay Association. Water Quality – Ron Kivikink Ron described updates to the BICA website to include information on water quality and historical data on water testing done through FOCA’s Lake Partner Program. Ron described recent water testing of three sites in the Bay of Islands paid for by BICA. Unfortunately, test results were not available in time to be presented at the meeting. Guest Speaker – Jeff Wahl from Wahl Water Jeff provided an overview of UV water treatment systems and the importance of maintenance, annual disinfection and water testing to ensure that drinking water is not contaminated with E coli and coliform.  Jeff described the difference between disinfection and decontamination, and how U V systems do not decontaminate the water. Jeff encouraged members to consider more in-depth testing and further treatment using systems such as reverse osmosis to remove metals and other pollutants not addressed by UV systems. NEMI Presentation – Councilor Laurie Cook and Mayor Al MacNevin Patrick thanked both Lauri and Mayor Al for listening to our members and addressing our concerns about the proposed Louisa Island development.  Laurie highlighted the 1.41% decrease in our annual property taxes, reminded members of the recycling facilities available at J&G Marina, that NEMI landfill accepts dock foam for free in the general household waste bins, and that NEMI has a fund available to community groups that could possibly pay for additional water testing that BICA may want to conduct. Mayor Al spoke about progress toward bridge replacement, water treatment, and the impact of increased rainfall on sewage treatment. In Memoriam: Joan Granning Lindsay Richards delivered a thoughtful and heartfelt tribute to Joan, the impact that she had on the Bay, and the many relationships with BICA members. Champions of the Bay Liz Phillips presented GBA’s Champions of the Bay Award to Celesta Bjornson and Sheila Williams in recognition of their Love Your Bay Day shoreline cleanups initiatives. Bylaws and Board Nominations – Chris Redston Chris presented the 2025-2026 BICA Board of Directors nominations: Patrick Thoburn Sheila Williams Celesta Bjornson Liz Phillips David Farner Trevor Marshall Jeff Baker  Lisa Allison David Gallup Ron Kivikink Chris Redston Motion - That the general membership approves the Board of Directors for 2024-2024. Mover – Chris Redston Second – Sarah Monger Passed: Unanimously Chris described two proposed amendments to the BICA bylaws: Article 5 – Protection and Indemnification  The wording, “To the extent that the Association’s insurance covers the claim,” shall be deleted from items 5.2 and 5.3. Article 4 - The Board of Directors Under 4.10, the wording, "a two-thirds majority", which refers to the number of votes cast at a Meeting of the Members necessary for passing a resolution to remove any elected Director before the expiration of their term, shall be deleted and replaced with, "50%+1".    Motion - That the general membership approves the proposed amendments to the BICA bylaws. Mover – Chris Redston Second – Zach Shewchuk  Passed: Unanimously New Business - Patrick Thoburn None. Adjournment – Patrick Thoburn Meeting Adjourned at 11:45 EST Minutes drafted by Chris Redston, Secretary

Presidents Report 2025 by Patrick Thoburn - appended to these minutes.

In Memoriam: Joan Granning

Lindsay Richards shared this beautiful memorial to Joan Granning at the BICA Annual Members’ Meeting, July 26, 2025.

I would like to first say that it is an honour to speak to the AMM today about Joan (her given name was Joanne) with memories and fondness of the time when she was a resident of the Bay of Islands, when I knew her. Joan died on July 9 this year at the age of 90.

To remember Joan Granning is to remember first her beautiful wide smile upon seeing you and greeting you. Joan was a gracious host and/or guest whether you were seeing her for the first time or the 50th time in a summer. Her warmth and excitement about starting and enjoying a new summer with you was always a source of joy for the recipient!

Joan began her role as a Bay Woman in 1957 with her husband Ron and her in-laws Ole and Lydia Granning. Ole established himself in the Bay as the fixer of everything and best neighbour to all in the Bay. Ron soon followed in his father’s footsteps and with Joan by his side they were strong and loving supporters of all things Bay of Islands. They opened their island and camp to all on numerous occasions which included BICA meetings, Family Fun Day and their own personal gatherings of family and friends.

On her own, Joan possessed a confident strength that was exhibited in her own accomplishments. Joan was a mother of three, a grandmother of ten, a great grandmother of 14, a magnanimous volunteer at home in Michigan and Florida and here in the Bay, an immaculate housekeeper, a gourmet expert in the kitchen, and a very accomplished artist. Her drawings graced the pages of Voices from the Bay 1, her paintings adorned the walls of the LaCloche Art Show for a number of years and she studied with noted artists through many years of learning more about her obvious talent through the eyes of other artists. Her paintings were often vivid with colourful flowers reflecting her obvious other passion, the flowers and greens that engulfed the Granning Island, as well as her love of flower arranging. The natural landscape was her domain in which she could express her love and respect for that landscape. There is no doubt that being a Bay Woman encouraged and nurtured her creative proclivities and we are all richer for being able to enjoy and appreciate her art.

Joan returned to the Bay every summer until the sale of the Granning Island in 2005. She was pragmatic about that sale. Her children and grandchildren did not visit as frequently in the summers and she and Ron felt that they could do other things. They took many trips to other destinations in their beautiful RV and once or twice came back to the Bay. But she admitted at one point that “not being an islander” offered a different experience with the Bay. Joan and Ron have enjoyed the warmth and friendships of their Florida home for many years since.

Joan was a woman who followed the words of deep religious faith. She also demonstrated and lived her faith through goodness, kindness and a fun loving nature. I am sorry if some of you did not know her. But there are many here today who would have a lovely Joan Granning story to tell you. Please pass them along if you have the opportunity …

she would love to know that her spirit is still here in the Bay… a place that she loved and where she was loved.

BICA Sailboat Regatta Highlights

Lindsay Richards shared this perfect recap of a perfect day - thank you Lindsay! Scroll to the bottom for pictures from the day capturing all of the excitement, courtesy of John Reeves.

Thank you John Paul for a gorgeous day of sailing today. Your humour and enthusiasm make all of the difference in generating great excitement for everyone…. sailors and non-sailors. Your commitment every year to the race is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to the shore sailors … the Allisons (and those who joined them) whose hospitality made the day even more enjoyable.

Thank you to the Tremblay family today who helped “uprighting” the Richards’s boat  allowing the craft to go forward and who without my knowledge helped others. Your speedy response and kind thinking made the difference and the Richards truly thank you.

Congratulations to Trevor Marshall for his “first finish.” Hooray Trev!!! You are the definition of perseverance, a love of sailing and true sportspersonship! Enjoy your victory Trevor!

And Patrick… what a thrill to see our first “foil racer” out there today! The types of craft are endless and it was so great to see the sport in full action! Thank you Patrick!

I was not at the race for the full duration so if I am omitting any other greatness out there today, I apologize. I quite frankly think that your participation alone is the greatest tribute to a long standing, fun-loving tradition in our Bay of Islands. Today was no exception… true grit in some exceptional wind and waves. On a superbly gorgeous day in the Bay on what it is all about in the Bay…on the water… thank you to everyone in this wonderfully exquisite community who support and participate in the sail race.

BICA Sweatshirts for sale!

The BICA store is stocked again with our newest swag, a handsome and hearty sweatshirt. The sweatshirts are available in our BICA store on our website. Please note we are only taking order for these sweatshirts until August 4th. This will allow us time to have them produced and ready for pick up on the September long weekend. So don't delay....get your orders in now!

BICA Fish Derby and Fry, Family Fun Day

What a fun filled BICA weekend we just had! Thank you to the Tremblays, Ryan and Paul for a very successful fishing derby and to the Bjornsons and all of the many volunteers who helped put on a delicious fish fry!  Family Fun Day was a big hit thanks to the generous planning and hosting by the extended Andy and Collie Jackson families. 

Enjoy these photos from this past weekend's events!

Proposed By-Law Amendments

Below are the proposed amendments to the BICA Bylaws for review and voting at the 2025 AMM:

1.    In reference to Article 5 - Protection and Indemnification

The wording, “To the extent that the Association’s insurance covers the claim,” shall be deleted from items 5.2 and 5.3. 

2.  In reference to Article 4 - The Board of Directors Under 4.10, the wording, "a two-thirds majority", which is referring to the number of votes cast at a Meeting of the Members necessary for passing a resolution to remove any elected Director before the expiration of their term, shall be deleted and replaced with, "50%+1".   This change is in accordance with the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 (ONCA).