Ontario Funding Projects in Thunder Bay to Restore the Great Lakes
Province investing $6.1 million in projects to improve water quality and support local community action
October 21st, 2024
The Ontario government is providing $6.1 million in multi-year funding to support 23 new projects that will engage communities, youth and local organizations across the province in restoring and protecting the Great Lakes, including 2 projects in Thunder Bay that will receive a combined total of $237,000.
“As the world’s largest surface freshwater lake system, it’s important that government and partner organizations work together to protect the Great Lakes – that’s what our Great Lakes Program is all about,” said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “By investing in community-led initiatives like beach clean-ups and conservation projects, not only are we improving water quality, we’re creating ripple effects that contribute to the health of the entire Great Lakes Basin.”
Twenty-three organizations, including community groups, conservation authorities, universities and Indigenous organizations and communities across the province have received funding for their projects to support commitments in the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health and Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy.
Great Lakes projects in Thunder Bay include:
- $62,000 to the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority to Revitalize Fisherman’s Park West and restore the waterfront with the help of Thunder Bay area communities. These initiatives will actively restore habitats, rejuvenate shorelines and advance progress towards restoring Thunder Bay’s Area of Concern (areas that are environmentally degraded) in Lake Superior.
- $175,000 to Lakehead University to Remediate and restore the northern Lake Superior Areas of Concern (Thunder Bay, Nipigon Bay, Jackfish Bay and Peninsula Harbour). This includes proactive outreach, engagement with Indigenous communities, stakeholders and the public, and fostering consensus that clean up actions are complete.
“I’m pleased to see Ontario supporting these important projects in Thunder Bay. The revitalization of Fisherman’s Park West and the restoration of northern Lake Superior will help improve water quality, protect our environment, and benefit our communities for years to come.” said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan
Great Lakes Program funding is part of the Ontario government’s $14 million in annual investments to further protect, conserve and restore the health of the Great Lakes.
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario’s Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River shoreline is the longest freshwater coastline in the world measuring 10,000 kilometres, which is almost equivalent to travelling one quarter of the way around the world.
- Ninety-nine per cent of Ontarians live in the Great Lakes Basin.
- Working with the Great Lakes community partners, our government is making progress on actions included in Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy, such as:
- restoring 14 Areas of Concern around the Great Lakes
- restoring and enhancing over 9,100 acres of wetlands across Ontario through about 560 projects with $31 million in funding under the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program
- expanding the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail so it now stretches over 3,600 kilometres and connects 170 communities, villages and First Nation communities.
- Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested $73.1 million in approximately 600 projects to safeguard the Great Lakes. During that time, 42 environmental clean-up actions have taken place across 17 Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES