Ensuring the beauty of the Bay of Islands, Ontario is maintained for today and future generations.
So many of our families in the Bay of Islands have deep history with Moredolphton, now The Island Lodge. Many of us would never have discovered our precious gem — The Bay of Islands — were it not for a fishing expedition or family adventure to Moredolphton. Others can recall spending youthful summers working and playing there. More than a few of us can look back fondly on special occasions, eating in the grand dining hall, or attending one of the legendary fish fries. Won’t you help make these memories COME ALIVE?! As we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Moredolphton / The Island Lodge, we're actively seeking stories, memories, photographs, home movies, or family experiences that harken back to this grand island treasure. If you or your family have something to share, we would love to hear from you! YOUR SUBMISSIONS will be shared with the community throughout the summer as we anticipate the big celebration on Saturday, July 25. CLICK HERE NOW to submit your special Mordolphton memories and photos! We can't wait to hear what you have to say and get the ball rolling!
Welcome back to the Bay everyone! Hope this gorgeous weather continues but that we get some rain as well. I wanted to share news from Ward 1:
Fire Safety
You may have seen that NEMI is currently under a complete Fire Ban. That includes the islands.
Check the Town website https://www.townofnemi.on.ca/ or FB page for updates and to sign up for alerts.
The NEMI Fire Dept. will once again be offering safety and pump training this summer in Whitefish Falls. Learn details here and contact David Gallup to register for this very useful workshop.
Municipal Election
2026 is a municipal election year and Canadian property owners are eligible to vote on Oct 26th in person, or by mail. Please check that you're on the Voter's List by calling or emailing Pam Myers, Clerk of the Town of Northeast Manitoulin and the Islands - pmyers@townofnemi.on.ca - (705) 368 3500 ext 228. The following website has excellent information:https://www.amo.on.ca/about-us/municipal-101/municipal-elections
Cultural Events
NEMI has a lot of interesting events and opportunities planned for 2026 and the Town website www.townofnemi.on.ca and fb page have up-to-date listings.
The Centennial Museum in Sheguiandah opened in mid May with various art shows and children's activities throughout the season, including a Northern Ontario Artists Association (NOAA) juried art show in June and the Manitoulin Fine Arts Assoc. show in August. The beloved Fall Fair will be held on Sept. 19th and tours of the Sheguiandah Archeological Site will be ongoing. Contact the museum for ticketing information (705) 368-2367:https://www.townofnemi.on.ca/p/centennial-museum-of-sheguiandah
Landfill Updates
Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held on July 11th at the Recreation Centre (mark your calendars!) And check the NEMI Facebook page for details.
Landfill hours expanded to include Sundays 10a.m. to 5 pm from the 3rd week of May until the 3rd week of October and operate year-round on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Recycling rules have changed but now include more items - please check the Town website for the full list.
Recycling bins are no longer being hosted by McGregor's Landing in Birch Island but the Town has agreed to allow Ward 1 residents to use the bins at Spider Bay Marina.(45 Water St. Little Current, 705 368 3148) outside of regular landfill site hours. An attendant is there during the summer until 8pm. Have a bill or your tax roll number to prove Ward 1 residency if asked.
NEMI Public Library
As always our wonderful NEMI Public Library (50 Meredith St. 705 368 2044) offers more than just books. There are programs and events galore - with many geared towards children and seniors. The lending library continues to offer tools and equipment for members to borrow and use at home. The list is extensive - please call the library at (705) 368 2044 for more information and conditions.
Again your tax roll # or bill showing Ward 1 residency will get you a library card and all the great benefits that provides: https://nemi.olsn.ca/
Their FB page has updated program and event information. There's even a hybrid book club!
Call to ask about the Senior Compass programs as well.
Additional HappeningsOther notable dates of community events include:
The first Community Safety Day was held on June 6th.
Comic Con is coming June 12/13 at the Rec Centre.
The annual Community Picnic will be held on July 12th at Low Island Park - everyone is welcome and there are always numerous fun children's activities.
July 31 to Aug 02nd is Haweater Weekend in Little Current and the very popular Tugboat Rendez-vous will be returning on August 14/15 - as well as Pride Weekend from the 14th to the 16th, complete with a joyful parade and free community bbq.
And for anyone looking to stay physically active over the summer - remember that NEMI has some beautiful trails and the Rec Centre has various programs - including pickleball and tennis courts. Check with the Town office for details (705) 368 3500.
Enjoy your precious time out in the Bay, and to all our returning American and international friends, you are very welcome!
As always, contact me with your comments or concerns: hlaurie.cook@yandex.com or (705) 282 7076. All the very best for a wonderful summer,Laurie Cook Councillor Ward 1NEMI
Hello, I’m sure everyone is looking forward to another glorious summer in the Bay. I hope everyone has a great time, but I want to remind you to be safe and careful with fire, boats, swimming etc. Below are some helpful reminders:
Most importantly, there is now a complete fire ban from NEMI for our area. Controlled burns are no longer allowed until further notice.
We have made some changes to the Fire Safety page on our BICA website, so please take a few minutes to review it by clicking on the link. (Note: There are some useful links for fire prevention and risk mitigation at the bottom of the Fire Safety page).
Take a moment to look at the map and identify the pumps closest to you. We also recommend that you visit your neighbors and learn where their pump and accessories are stored. If your island/pump location is off, you can fix that yourself by changing the GPS location on your member profile page. Click the Update This Property button.
If you do have a fire pump, don't forget to get it out and test it. It's a good reminder on how to use it as well.
We have had a great response to the WhatsApp BICA COMMUNITY groups. Please use the Emergency Only BICA group for reporting fires, accidents and injuries. Anyone can request to join the group, you don’t have to have a fire pump or know how to run one. All other posts should be in the other WhatsApp BICA COMMUNITY groups.
While there is currently a fire ban, once lifted, if you are planning to have any type of outdoor fire on your islands, it’s very helpful to announce it in the Non-Emergency BICA group. Be sure to burn in a safe area away from fuel sources. Have plenty of water available, keep the size down, and don’t burn if it’s too windy. A fire ring is a good idea, and watering the area before burning is recommended. Be sure the fire is completely out before leaving it unattended. Remember, fire can spread by pine needles in the cracks in the rocks and stay burning underground for hours or days.
We will once again have a FireSmart Training session with NEMI VFD Chief Duayne Deschamps and his great crew. Everyone who has attended one has said it was time well spent. Duane covers everything from risk reduction to active fire fighting, with an emphasis on keeping yourself and everyone else safe. We end with everyone getting a chance to start and run a pump and to handle the hose and nozzles. Training will be held on Sunday, August 9th at Bay Villa from 9 -11 AM and is open to 20 participants. Please email David Gallup at dr_gallup@yahoo.com to reserve your spot.
Finally, one of our ten $500 NEMI fire pump subsidies from 2024 was never claimed. We are offering it up, first come, first served. Please email David Gallup at dr_gallup@yahoo.com to stake your claim.
Thank you for your attention to fire safety in the bay.
David GallupBICA Board Member
Please note an important update regarding pleasure craft license changes, which are now law. Here are the key updates you should be aware of:
Expiry date: All new, transferred and renewed pleasure craft licenses are valid for 5 years. Licenses that previously didn’t have an expiry date will now have one.
Fee: A $24 fee will apply to new, renewed, transferred or replaced pleasure craft licenses.
Updating your information: You must now update your license information within 30 days of it changing (e.g., changes to name or phone number). Updating your information is free.
Cancellation of a PCL: The criteria for cancelling a license have expanded. A license must be cancelled if the vessel is no longer seaworthy or for other specific reasons outlined by the Minister of Transport.
Wind-powered craft: Starting December 31, 2027, wind-powered pleasure craft over 6 metres long will also need a pleasure craft license.
Failure to comply may result in a fine.
You can read more details posted on the Georgian Bay Association site.
Mark your calendars! Once again, the BICA board has planned a fun filled summer for 2026. With both beloved, traditional events and new creative celebrations, we have many opportunities to bring our community together this coming summer! More details and requests for volunteers will be forthcoming as we get closer to summer, but please mark your calendars for the following:
July 5th - A Celebration of Bill Williams
July 11th - Fish Derby and Fish Fry
July 12th - New Member Reception
July 23rd - Bas Bleu Book Discussion - A Town Called Solace, by Mary LawsonJuly 25th - Annual Member Meeting at Ireson Island
July 25th - Mordolphton Lodge 100 Years Celebration at Ireson IslandJuly 27th - August 9th - Love Your Bay Days August 1st - Annual Sailboat Regatta
August 2nd - Annual Social with Auction and Raffle
August 8th - Bay of Islands Olympics at Sharks JawAugust 9th - FireSmart Training
You can find the full calendar with times, locations and details on our BICA Website.
P.S. It's not too early to pay your BICA dues or join BICA and support the important work we do for our very special Bay of Islands.
Hugh McLelland
Hugh McLelland was one of the Georgian Bay Association’s first board members and long-time supporters. He was also active in the BICA community over his many years in the bay.
Sylvia McLelland wrote a beautiful tribute to her husband, Hugh.The work Hugh was most committed to was saving the waters of Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, and the North Channel via his ongoing support of GBF’s science-based work. Three months of Hugh’s last summer on earth were spent enjoying The LaCloche mountains, Bay of Islands, District of Manitoulin, wishing he never had to leave.
Her full tribute to Hugh can be found here on the GBA website: https://www.georgianbayforever.org/hughmclelland
Please note that Hugh’s family requests that in-memoriam gifts be made to Georgian Bay Forever.
Leona Catherine Nahwegahbow Mno Aankwad Kwe
Chief Rodney Nawegahbow shared a moving tribute to his mother, Leonia, who recently passed away.She was committed to a life of service to her community and the Anishinaabe people, where she was voted in as a band councillor and eventually as Chief. She and her husband Adam met and fell in love at the Mordolphton Lodge. You can read her full obituary here: https://www.sudbury.com/obituaries/nahwegahbow-leona-11848990
William Roger “Bill” Williams
1958 – 2026
William Roger “Bill” Williams, was born July 6, 1958, in Toronto, Ontario. He passed away fighting hard for his life on January 12, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.
We are sure he has now been reunited with his parents, Dorothy (Dodds) Williams and Roger Elton Williams, cruising on the water somewhere. He will be deeply missed by his devoted wife, Sheila (Richards) Williams, and his cherished children, Ben (Jamie), Greg, and Jackie, the pride and joy of his life.
He is also lovingly remembered by his siblings: John (Julie), Jim (Mary Lynn), Dan (Ellen), Carole (Pete), and Ted (Lori), as well as his many nieces and nephews, who knew him as a steady presence, a source of wisdom, and a generous supporter.
Bill’s legacy continues with the anticipation of his granddaughter, not yet born, whom he looked forward to meeting and loving deeply.
The Williams entrepreneurial spirit was strong within Bill, a spirit which he ensured was passed on to his children. He started and successfully operated many businesses throughout his life, including a yacht chartering company founded with his brother Jim. His passion for home design and sales led to a remarkable career spanning more than 35 years. Most recently, he continued this work alongside his daughter Jackie in their new design and sales venture in timber frame homes. Jackie will carry forward his legacy in the craft and calling that Bill deeply loved.
Bill was larger than life, he filled any room he was in with positivity, silly antics, and questionable jokes. He embraced life with unwavering enthusiasm and joy, always finding time for fun and connection. He especially treasured time spent at the family camp (cottage), boat trips, skiing at Craigleith Ski Club, and family travels that created memories that will last forever.
A devoted husband, proud father, loyal brother, caring uncle, and great friend to all, Bill was known for his integrity, creativity, and unwavering commitment to family. His memory will live on through the communities of friends he helped create, the businesses he built, the adventures he led, and the love he gave so freely. He will be forever remembered and dearly missed by all who knew him.
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
Bay Of Islands Community Association