Member Association Page - McGregor Bayhttp://mcgregorbayassociation.ca McGregor Bay:
 Local Issues and ProjectsThe McGregor Bay Association shares all of the GBA concerns for Georgian Bay such as Water levels, Water quality, Fisheries and Boating issues etc. Of specific local concern is a planned expansion of Fisher Harbor on Little Lacloche Island:The Fisher-Wavy Division of Alexander Centre Industries Ltd. operates, on behalf of the Wallace Family (who are descendents of the founder, Cliff Fielding), Fisher Harbour, a large shipping transfer facility on Little LaCloche Island at the entrance to McGregor Bay. In 1975, Alexander Centre Industries was granted a license to receive and ship an inclusive list of benign products such as paper, lumber and aggregate. In 2003, ACIL’s license expired and in the process of obtaining a new license from the Ministry of Natural Resources, it was learned that the company was receiving by ship and transporting by truck, sand (used in the blasting furnaces at INCO) and road salt for winter road maintenance. Both products not included in the approved product list. Because the Ministry of Natural Resources is obligated to consult with any adjacent First Nation when issuing land or water use permits, our neighbors the Whitefish River First Nation has since 2003, taken a firm stand against activities at Fisher Harbour. Great concern exists over the stockpiling of sand and salt, which blows into the air and leaches into the water. There is also fear of a spill into the water when unloading which would be a real threat to the water quality. The First Nation is also concerned with the large, noisy operation being in such close proximity to the sacred locations of Dreamer’s Rock, Bell Rocks, the Pow Wow grounds and the Jesuit cemetery. The McGregor Bay and the Bay of Islands Associations are in full support of the Bands efforts to in some way, have a say in the operations at Fisher Harbour. The Ministry of Natural Resources, the Chief and Council and lands officer for the Whitefish River First Nation, representatives from Alexander Industries and the McGregor Bay Association have continued to meet and negotiate for the past 3 years. The Ministry hesitates to make a decision and hopes that the Company and the Band will be able to come to some agreement over how Fisher Harbour will operate in the future. The McGregor Bay Association would like to thank Bob Duncanson and GBA for providing advice on how best to approach the Ministry of Natural Resources and Alexander Centre Industries Ltd. in this controversial matter. Updates on recent developments in this matter are posted in the MBA website: http://mcgregorbayassociation.ca/ |
The McGregor Bay Association2009/2010 Executive Location McGregor Bay is located at the north end of Georgian Bay close to Killarney Provincial Park. From Toronto and the South take Hwy 69 to Sudbury, Hwy 17 West to Espanola and Hwy 6 South towards Manitoulin Island. Birch Island Landing, mid-way between Espanola and Little Current, is the main gateway to McGregor Bay and there are three marinas here to accommodate vacationing cottagers and boaters. McGregor Bay LinksThe McGregor Bay Association is a long-standing member and supporter of GBA. We maintain our own website, which contains frequently updated information about our Association and local events and issues. The website is at http://mcgregorbayassociation.ca Download the McGregorBay Association Missed a recent previous edition? It's here. Spring 2008 newsletter (pdf 2Mb) Spring 2006 newsletter (pdf 30Mb) The nearby small town of Willisville has a website with much information and some wonderful local Photography: The southern end of McGregor Bay is bordered by the quartzite cliffs of the LaCloche Mountains in Killarney wilderness park: The Algoma Eastern Railway Heritage group provide some interesting historical information about the area and this now abandoned local line: Map
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©Georgian Bay Association - 2007 |
