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What is Eastern
Georgian Bay Stewardship Council (EGBSC)?
Who &
What We Are (pdf)
In 2006, the EGBSC came into existence when the former
“Georgian Bay – North Channel Fisheries Stewardship Council” was
split into two councils and brought into the Ministry of Natural
Resources’ Ontario Stewardship Network. The Ontario
Stewardship Program was initiated by MNR in 1995. It was formerly
the Ministry’s Private Land Resource Stewardship Program.
Council activities and interests are primarily water related,
but they also comprise the land base of townships bordering Eastern
Georgian Bay. The Council area extends from Severn Sound to
McGregor Bay near Manitoulin Island.
The EGBSC is one of over forty Community Stewardship Councils that
are made up of interested and active community members who share a
strong commitment to sustainable resource management. They provide
a forum to recognize and influence community involvement in private
and crown land stewardship projects. Councilors are apolitical and
non-partisan.
The Ministry of Natural Resources provides funding for Council
operations as well as ’seed money’ to help leverage additional
funding from partners involved in council projects.
The Ontario Stewardship Leadership Team consists of:
A Provincial
Coordinator (Steve Wilkins)
A Fish &
Wildlife Program Liaison (Owen Williams)
A Managed
Forest Tax Incentive Program Coordinator (John Oatway)
The Purpose of the EGBSC is:
- To bring together landowners, community associations and resource
agencies to collectively discuss and define stewardship goals for
their community;
- To foster and develop working relationships between these groups;
- To develop and deliver projects that achieve those defined
stewardship goals.
It is intended that the EGBSC will integrate with existing community
groups – not duplicate or replace their efforts. Together, these
groups compliment one another and will work together to focus on
land and resource management projects of shared interest through
mutual support and effort.
The EGBSC is not a government controlled council. Program
initiatives originate at the community level. Nonetheless, Council
goals and objectives should be compatible with MNR’s long-term
strategic documents (Beyond 2000, SPOF II and Our
Sustainable Future). Ecological sustainability is MNR’s
corporate mission and this is shared by the Council.
Essential Relationships:
The EGBSC will operate by exerting influence primarily at the
community level, but also at various levels of government when
appropriate. Cooperative interests will be achieved through the
strength of relationships and common interests of its members – not
through legislation and other forms of control.
It is vital that mutually cooperative working relationships be
established with the following stakeholders:
- Communities
including First Nations;
-
Municipalities;
- Landowner &
Cottage Associations;
- Industry
(Tourism, Marinas, Sport and Commercial Fishing Interests, Land
Development, Boating Interests, Forestry, Water Management); and
- Resource
Agencies (Governments, Game and Fish Clubs, Georgian Bay Biosphere
Reserve).
A council is established when:
Roles of the Stewardship Coordinator:
-
Stewardship Coordinators are paid by MNR with the understanding
that they work for the community through the Stewardship
Council.
- Their job involves building relationships and partnerships,
working collaboratively with agencies and associations,
providing a window to the science and information within MNR and
the Ontario Stewardship network.
- They may take an active
role as spokesperson for the Council, Ontario Stewardship and
where applicable for partner associations and agencies.
Historic Role of the Council |
