Federal money is flowing to improve an important dock in Georgian Bay.
Today, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced an investment of over $700,000 for the design and construction of a reengineered, climate-resilient Tobey Dock in Georgian Bay Islands National Park – it’s the gateway and primary access point for visitors to the national park.
Georgian Bay Islands National Park is part of the world’s largest freshwater archipelago and located just two hours north of Toronto.
Accessible only by boat, this island park is a peaceful and seemingly remote place where windswept white pines and granite shores of the Canadian Shield meet a dense deciduous woodland. Visitors to the national park enjoy hiking or biking wooded trails along with overnight camping at secluded sites and waterfront cabins.
“This important federal investment to reconstruct Tobey Dock at Georgian Bay Islands National Park will provide a sustainable and safe entry point to this cherished place, ensuring it remains accessible for visitors to discover, connect, and learn the island’s unique ecosystems and cultural treasures for decades to come,” says Wilkinson.
Over the past decade, water levels of Georgian Bay have fluctuated significantly, resulting in record high and near-record lows.
These forces have impacted the park’s in-water structures and caused repeated damage to park docks and infrastructure, including Tobey Dock which has been closed for periods of repair in recent years. A new dock will be designed and constructed to withstand water level fluctuations and changing patterns of environmental forces such as ice and wind. As a result, it is expected to require less maintenance and will continue to provide reliable access for visitors to the national park.
Environmental protection is a priority for Parks Canada, and mitigations will be put in place to ensure shoreline stability and the protection of fish and wildlife. In addition, this project will incorporate restoration elements for the protection of species at risk habitat.
