Envision 2030: Geospatial Planning + Water Quality Monitoring for Georgian Bay
A Global Planning Model for Regional Stewardship
Why This Matters
The Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark region — including Georgian Bay, the North Channel, Manitoulin Island and all contributing watersheds — is one of Canada’s most ecologically, geologically, and culturally significant landscapes. It is also at risk from expanding development, tourism pressures, fragmented governance, climate change and major gaps in shared land, water, and cultural data.
Envision 2030 will build a unified, open-source geospatial planning and water quality monitoring and management platform — combining science, Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and advanced analytics — to guide long-term decisions for a resilient future.
The Vision
Create a world-leading digital foundation for regional planning and water quality monitoring and management — integrating land, water, climate, cultural knowledge, and stewardship strategies — to support Indigenous communities, municipalities, conservation agencies, researchers and citizens.
This initiative builds on the Geopark’s globally significant geology and provides a shared, science-based framework for evidence-based land and water use planning, climate adaptation, conservation and water protection.
What the Project Will Deliver
Phase 1 – Geospatial Planning & Analytics
- Integrated digital twin of the region
- Data-driven tools for land use planning, watershed health, climate resilience and biodiversity protection
- Integration of Indigenous cultural and historical land use knowledge
- Shared training and capacity building for local governments and Indigenous Nations
Phase 2 – Permanent Water Quality Monitoring System
- Long-term monitoring network across the Bay and watershed
- Water, flow, temperature and seasonal geochemical change tracking
- Region-wide Environmental Sensitivity Index
- Indigenous-led “Coastal Guardians” and “River Keeper” programs
Partners + Leadership
Led by the Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark with University of Toronto, Dobbin International, JVN Architects — in collaboration with Indigenous leadership, federal/provincial agencies, NASA, Canadian Water Agency, Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Esri, universities and NGOs.
Why It Matters
- Protects and manages Canada’s most biodiverse freshwater system
- Strengthens Indigenous data sovereignty and leadership
- Helps communities make informed, climate-ready land and water decisions
- Creates a model for integrated freshwater–watershed planning globally
Join Us
Envision 2030 will be a collaborative, open-access model to help protect and manage Georgian Bay — now, and for generations.
Discover the DEEP TIME geology of the Georgian Bay Geopark
DEEP TIME’ is the themed expression of how exploring and understanding the past helps create a better future. The unique DEEP TIME story and its eight geological chapters encourages both visitors and residents to know the past, celebrate the present and help create a more resilient future for the Bay and its many communities.
DEEP TIME Zone 1
The Huronian
Ocean
2.7 billion years
Sault Ste Marie to Serpent River
The ancient mineral-rich rocks of the North Channel record the breakup of the planet’s oldest supercontinent – and the birth of the Huronian Ocean.
DEEP TIME Zone 2
Continents
Collide
1.8 billion years
Serpent River to Killarney
The Group of Seven’s white rolling quartzite hills are the stumps of mountains formed when landmasses collided to form supercontinent Nuna
DEEP TIME Zone 3
The Ancient
Himalayas
1.3 billion years
Killarney to Honey Harbour
The waterscape of the 30,000 Islands exposes the deep crustal roots of the immense Grenville Mountains formed when North and South America collided.
DEEP TIME Zone 4
Tropical
Seas
500 million years
Manitoulin Island
Much of North America was covered by warm shallow seas, teeming with early marine life that left fossil-rich limestones on Manitoulin Island.
DEEP TIME Zone 5
The Limestone
Coast
350 million years
Tobermory to Wiarton
Within the last 2 million years, the Bruce/Saugeen peninsula was scoured by Ice Age ice sheets that cut deep valleys into the face of the Niagara Escarpment such as at Owen Sound.
DEEP TIME Zone 6
Ice Ages &
Early
Cultures
13,000 years
Collingwood to Wiarton
The raised beaches of glacial Lake Algonquin surround the coast of southern Georgian Bay like staircases and hosted the camps of caribou-hunting Paleo-Indians 11,000 years ago.
DEEP TIME Zone 7
The Meeting
Place
Last 10,000 years
Collingwood to Honey Harbour
The ancient hard rocks of the Canadian Shield meet the softer limestones of the ancient seas creating a stark contrast in landscapes, ecosystems, and a diverse cultural history unique in North America.
DEEP TIME Zone 8
Mindo Gami Great
Spirit Lake
4,000 years to today
Waters of Georgian Bay
In 1615 Samuel de Champlain called Georgian Bay ‘La Mer Douce’ (the sweet water sea). An early map also portrays it as Karegnondi, derived from ‘lake’ in the language of the Petun First Nation.