By Fatima Syed, The Narwhal
The Great Lakes News Collaborative includes Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit PBS, Michigan Public 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. Find all the work HERE.
The world’s longest freshwater beach has been known as Ontario’s summer getaway for years, with 70 per cent of residents living within a two-hour drive from its shores. But on a Sunday in late August, instead of sunbathers enjoying the sun along this 14-kilometre stretch of sand, protesters are making their voices heard.
They traveled from Toronto and nearby towns to protest a new provincial land-use decision that they believe could harm the habitat of one regular visitor to Wasaga: piping plovers. These small, lively birds have returned to this beach every summer since 2007. If you’re fortunate enough like I was in 2022, you might spot them bouncing across the dunes like popcorn.
For over twenty years now, up to five nests (sometimes more) have been spotted each year in the northeastern areas of this beach amidst sand dunes and shrubs designated as protected habitats – which means they can’t be disturbed or raked. This protection exists because this 142-hectare beach is part of a provincial park managed by Ontario’s Ministry of Environment under Ontario Parks alongside nearly 1,214 hectares of natural land linked to it.
<p According to its management plan: “the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is unique in Ontario, possibly in Canada.” It is a provincial park situated entirely within an urban area and often viewed as “an unwanted monster being forced upon the town,” limiting economic growth and tourism for ecological preservation.
The management plan reflects this tension almost constructively; it promises to help create “a complete serviced resort community with extensive park facilities by stages to the year 1990.” The document 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 has become Ontario’s most visited provincial park with over a million visitors each year. However, it hasn’t turned into that promised resort community.
This summer presents quite an image; construction fences and bulldozers block access at two out of eight consecutive beaches along this strip. Bright yellow barriers hide colorful signs reading “Wasaga,” while closed restaurants sit idle alongside food trucks waiting for customers who are no longer coming as summer winds down. Beyond these obstacles lie Georgian Bay’s choppy waters under clear blue skies.
There’s plenty of sand and water available for fun. Yet some folks feel that isn’t enough.
For years now, locals have voiced frustration over how the Environment Ministry manages the park due to insufficient facilities and cleanliness issues. The town has repeatedly asked for control over their defining beachfront space – most recently in November 2024 – and currently has a provincial government willing to listen.
This May marked Premier Doug Ford’s visit to Wasaga Beach where he announced $38 million aimed at enhancing tourism efforts while revitalizing Nancy Island-a historical site within the park tied to an important naval battle from War of 1812.
“This is spectacular now; it’s going to get even better,” Ford remarked before town council members and reporters on an empty beach. He also declared plans for transferring sections of provincially owned beach land back into town hands aimed at boosting tourism while promising that “the beach will remain public.”
The announcement caught many off guard. Throughout summer months leading up until then residents expressed growing unease regarding transparency surrounding these plans-many feeling rushed or poorly conceived given environmental concerns linked with their execution-and worried about potential implications such measures could pose toward development opening other parts across various parks statewide too.
A point worth noting is how timely Bill 5 was passed right before announcing changes which centralizes decision-making authority under province oversight while simultaneously scaling back environmental regulations along with endangered species protections-factors crucial when considering what’s left safeguarding plover habitats found here particularly vulnerable if not accounted for appropriately moving forward through proposed modifications!
The council penned further addressing challenges stating rapid growth occurring throughout area proving increasingly tough developing/controlling surroundings becoming more challenging especially given fact lands weren’t included among boundaries belonging incorporated Village Of Wasaga Beach itself leading them propose exploring notion establishing region designated specifically forming something called “Ontario Provincial Park”.
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This summer presents quite an image; construction fences and bulldozers block access at two out of eight consecutive beaches along this strip. Bright yellow barriers hide colorful signs reading “Wasaga,” while closed restaurants sit idle alongside food trucks waiting for customers who are no longer coming as summer winds down. Beyond these obstacles lie Georgian Bay’s choppy waters under clear blue skies.
There’s plenty of sand and water available for fun. Yet some folks feel that isn’t enough.
For years now, locals have voiced frustration over how the Environment Ministry manages the park due to insufficient facilities and cleanliness issues. The town has repeatedly asked for control over their defining beachfront space – most recently in November 2024 – and currently has a provincial government willing to listen.
This May marked Premier Doug Ford’s visit to Wasaga Beach where he announced $38 million aimed at enhancing tourism efforts while revitalizing Nancy Island-a historical site within the park tied to an important naval battle from War of 1812.
“This is spectacular now; it’s going to get even better,” Ford remarked before town council members and reporters on an empty beach. He also declared plans for transferring sections of provincially owned beach land back into town hands aimed at boosting tourism while promising that “the beach will remain public.”
The announcement caught many off guard. Throughout summer months leading up until then residents expressed growing unease regarding transparency surrounding these plans-many feeling rushed or poorly conceived given environmental concerns linked with their execution-and worried about potential implications such measures could pose toward development opening other parts across various parks statewide too.
A point worth noting is how timely Bill 5 was passed right before announcing changes which centralizes decision-making authority under province oversight while simultaneously scaling back environmental regulations along with endangered species protections-factors crucial when considering what’s left safeguarding plover habitats found here particularly vulnerable if not accounted for appropriately moving forward through proposed modifications!
Plans Ahead & Precedents Set
A letter sent back in November 1956 by what was then known simply as Village Of Wasaga Beach claimed they were facing “a serious problem” because there wasn’t anything stopping cars speeding down onto sandy stretches beyond high-water marks since local governing bodies didn’t control those beaches but rather private landowners did instead! “Things felt pretty Wild West-like around here back then,” Ted Crysler shared with The Narwhal during our chat regarding his family’s long-standing ties residing locally since way back when plus running locally representing Liberals just last election cycle! As young boy Crysler recalls seeing bikers zipping straight towards surf edges across sandy stretches thrill-seeking yet unsafe behavior prompting action on behalf council members seeking solutions swiftly!
The council penned further addressing challenges stating rapid growth occurring throughout area proving increasingly tough developing/controlling surroundings becoming more challenging especially given fact lands weren’t included among boundaries belonging incorporated Village Of Wasaga Beach itself leading them propose exploring notion establishing region designated specifically forming something called “Ontario Provincial Park”.
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