By Fatima Syed, The Narwhal
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan; Circle of Blue; Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS; Michigan Public, Michigan’s NPR News Leader; and The Narwhal who work together to bring audiences news and information about the impact of climate change, pollution, and aging infrastructure on the Great Lakes and drinking water. This independent journalism is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. You can read other stories from the Great Lakes News Collaborative here.
Ontario’s longest freshwater beach has earned a reputation as a summer hotspot, with 70 percent of its residents living within a two-hour drive. However, one late August Sunday along this 14-kilometre stretch of sand saw more protesters than sunbathers.
These individuals traveled from Toronto and nearby towns to oppose a new provincial land-use decision that they believe could irreversibly damage the summer home of one special visitor: piping plovers. These small, lively birds have graced this beach every summer since 2007. If you’re fortunate enough, you might spot them hopping across the dunes like I did in 2022.
In recent years, up to five nests (and sometimes even more) have been found each year in the northeastern sections of the beach amidst sand dunes and shrubs designated as protected habitat-meaning they can’t be disturbed. This protection is possible because this 142-hectare beach falls under a provincial park managed by Ontario’s Ministry of Environment through Ontario Parks, which also oversees nearly 1,214 hectares of associated natural lands.
Opponents of a plan to transfer parts of Wasaga Beach from provincial to municipal ownership gather to make their case. The proposal lacks transparency and poses environmental risks, many local residents told The Narwhal. (Photo Credit: Carlos Osorio/The Narwhal)
According to its management plan, “the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is unique in Ontario, possibly in Canada.” It’s entirely situated within an urban area and often viewed as “an unwanted monster being forced upon the town,” limiting economic growth and tourism for ecological conservation instead.
This tension is captured almost constructively in the park’s management plan which aims to establish “a complete serviced resort community with extensive park facilities by stages to the year 1990.” It states: “As a park within a community, it should also provide some community-oriented recreational opportunities for residents.”
Fast forward thirty-five years later-Wasaga Beach is now Ontario’s most visited provincial park with over a million visitors each year-but it hasn’t become that envisioned resort or recreation hub.
<img data-recalc-dims="1" loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="780" height="520" data-attachment-id="141139" src="https://www. circleofblue. org/2025/world/whats-going-on-in-wasaga-beach-profit-piping-plovers-and-an-ontario-towns-complicated-future/attachment/copy-of-cowasaga51-web/" data-orig-file="https://i0. wp. com/www. circleofblue. org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Copy-of-co Wasaga51-WEB. jpg? fit=2550%2C1700& ssl=1" data-orig-size="2550,1700" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{" aperture":"5.6"," credit":" Carlos Osorio for The Narwhal"," camera":" Canon EOS R5"," caption":" Construction work being done to the road near Beach 1 in Wasaga Beach. rr The Ontario government has proposed transferring parts of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park to the Town of Wasaga Beach as part of its u201c Destination Wasagau201d plan, a move that has sparked debate over development, environmental protection and public access. Carlos Osorio for The Narwhal. r August 24, 2025. r For a story by Fatima Syed."," created_timestamp":"1756056894", " background_color":></span>< p><strong></strong><br />
Wasaga Beach’s sandy shoreline provides essential habitat for endangered piping plovers while offering tourism and economic opportunities for its town. For years now,
town officials have sought greater control over this defining feature.
With a receptive provincial government now at hand,
they’re hoping for change. This summer saw construction fences blocking access at two out of eight beaches making up this strip.
Bright yellow barriers obscure vibrant signs marking “Wasaga,” alongside an arcade restaurant that’s been shut down.
Idle food trucks sit in vast empty parking lots awaiting final customers before season’s end.
Yet behind all this lie Georgian Bay’s choppy waters under blue skies above. The available sand and water are plentiful but some argue that isn’t enough. The town has long expressed dissatisfaction regarding how the Environment Ministry manages its park,
pointing out issues with facilities upkeep,
infrastructure support,
and cleanliness.
Repeatedly asking for authority over their beloved beach-most recently November 2024-the town finds itself heard by an accommodating provincial government. This past May,
Premier Doug Ford was spotted at Wasaga Beach presenting $38 million aimed at enhancing tourism,
restoring beachfront areas,
and revamping Nancy Island-a historical site where one significant naval battle took place during War of1812. “This is spectacular now,
and it’s going to be even more spectacular,” Ford declared before town council members
and reporters while standing on an empty beach.
He announced intentions for transferring portions=question. md code<img src=#-long-distance o=’wasant’ image-id=”output25892′ class=’out-img-flash’>” alt=””> `rtogramgfy@research-app-gross-hyperbolic`(rational)). then(response =>console. log(“Success:”, response)). catch(error =>console. error(“Error:”, error)); } },15000);
town officials have sought greater control over this defining feature.
With a receptive provincial government now at hand,
they’re hoping for change. This summer saw construction fences blocking access at two out of eight beaches making up this strip.
Bright yellow barriers obscure vibrant signs marking “Wasaga,” alongside an arcade restaurant that’s been shut down.
Idle food trucks sit in vast empty parking lots awaiting final customers before season’s end.
Yet behind all this lie Georgian Bay’s choppy waters under blue skies above. The available sand and water are plentiful but some argue that isn’t enough. The town has long expressed dissatisfaction regarding how the Environment Ministry manages its park,
pointing out issues with facilities upkeep,
infrastructure support,
and cleanliness.
Repeatedly asking for authority over their beloved beach-most recently November 2024-the town finds itself heard by an accommodating provincial government. This past May,
Premier Doug Ford was spotted at Wasaga Beach presenting $38 million aimed at enhancing tourism,
restoring beachfront areas,
and revamping Nancy Island-a historical site where one significant naval battle took place during War of1812. “This is spectacular now,
and it’s going to be even more spectacular,” Ford declared before town council members
and reporters while standing on an empty beach.
He announced intentions for transferring portions=question. md code<img src=#-long-distance o=’wasant’ image-id=”output25892′ class=’out-img-flash’>” alt=””> `rtogramgfy@research-app-gross-hyperbolic`(rational)). then(response =>console. log(“Success:”, response)). catch(error =>console. error(“Error:”, error)); } },15000);
