Brian Bochek Township of Georgian Bay and District of Muskoka

06/20/2026

In Georgian Bay Township, corduroy roads refer to the historic log roads built by pioneers and logging companies to cross the swampy, rugged Canadian Shield terrain. While you won't find primitive exposed logs on modern main routes, many of the area’s hidden cottage and backroads are built directly over these submerged historical foundations.Historically, local officials and townships built these structures out of timber to prevent carts and foot traffic from sinking into the muskeg and low-lying wetlands. Today, traces of this pioneer engineering are still occasionally found during municipal construction and modern roadwork.Here are a few specific ways these historic and modern "corduroy" connections remain in the area:
Underlying Road Foundations: Many back-country and seasonal cottage roads in the broader Muskoka-Parry Sound region, including networks within Georgian Bay Township, still have original corduroy log bases resting deep beneath layers of gravel, tar, and chip.Civil Upgrades: During capital improvement projects, the township has historically had to strip away these old, rotting wood bases to prevent washouts and rebuild stable, modern roadbeds.

The term lives on in the regional landscape. Georgian Bay coast—you will find Corduroy Bay Road which provides access to Woods Bay & The Moon River. Large numbers of settlers from the United Kingdom, and to a lesser extent, Germany, began to arrive. As the land south of the Severn was settled, the government.. “laying logs horizontally alongside of each other...— Georgian Bay Township Bonneville Road Resurfacing. Our last road assessment found Bonneville Rd to be in poor condition with a PCI of 29 out of 100, extens..Port Severn Honey Harbour Homesteader Group - FacebookJan 2, 2024 — Muskoka would've had corduroy roads, aka log roads. ... Thank you to our Georgian Bay Township Historical Society for sharing.www.facebook.comGeorgian Bay is a large northeastern extension of Lake Huron, located in Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by the rocky terrain of the Canadian Shield, where ancient granite bedrock forms a rugged and irregular shoreline. During the last Ice Age, glaciers scoured this region, carving deep basins and leaving behind thousands of islands scattered across the bay. Because it is part of the Great Lakes system, Georgian Bay contains freshwater and experiences seasonal water .

06/17/2026

lf 100 “Better Regional Governance Act, 2026”
15.6-2
2. Proposed Changes to the Municipal Act, 2001
a) Provincially Appointed Regional Chairs
Bill 100, if enacted will allow the Minister to appoint regional chairs in Durham, Halton,
Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, as well as the warden of Simcoe County.
The stated objective of this approach is to improve strategic alignment with provincial
priorities and ensure more efficient, streamlined regional decision making.
If the Minister does not appoint a chair (referred to as the head of council for the purpose
of the legislation) prior to the first meeting of the new council following a regular election,
the Bill 100 amendments provide that the members of council shall appoint the head of
council. The proposed amendments provide that: at any time the Minister may remove
the head of council, regardless of whether they are appointed by the Minister or by
council; the Minister may appoint a new head of council if the Minister removes a head
of council, and; in the case of a vacancy, the Minister may appoint the head of council to
fill the vacancy or council must appoint a head of council within 60 days after a
declaration of vacancy is made.
Although the Municipal Act, 2001 currently provides that the head of council is to be
elected by general vote or to be appointed by the members of council, in 2022 the
Province enacted legislation giving the Minister the authority to appoint chairs in
Niagara, Peel and York Regions for the 2022-2026 council term only.
The Bill 100 amendments confirm that the proposed legislative process to appoint
regional chairs will continue as the process for future council terms and is not limited to
the 2026 term of council. In this regard, the Minister is entitled to appoint the chair
following the 2026 regular election and following every subsequent election, with council
making the appointment should an appointment by the Minister not be made.
b) Strong Chair Powers
Bill 100 as proposed gives the Minister authority to make regulations such as prescribing
powers and duties of the heads of councils for 8 upper-tier municipalities, including Peel
Region. If Bill 100 is enacted, the Province has indicated it’s intention to amend the
strong mayor powers regulation of the Municipal Act, 2001, Part VI.1.O.Reg.530/22, to
grant strong chair powers and duties to select upper-tier heads of council with technical
modifications to support implementation in a two-tier structure, as necessary. The
Province has indicated that the “strong chair” powers would mirror the strong mayor
powers and would include the following:
 Appoint/dismiss the Chief Administrative Officer.
 Hire/dismiss division heads and determine the organizational structure of the
region.
 Create committees of council, assign their functions and appoint chairs and vicechairs of committees.
 Bring forward matters tied to provincial priorities for council consideration.
 Appoint the chairs and vice-chairs of prescribed local boards.
 Direct staff in relation to the head of council’s exercise of powers and duties

06/16/2026

Take the Landline Shuttle to Toronto Pearson

06/16/2026

At yesterday's District Council meeting the Solid Waste Master Plan was presented to council for the next 30 years. The resolution put before Council was to accept and adopt the Master Plan as it was read. There will be adjustments as time moves forward based on needs of the environment, and deal with the only landfill in Muskoka with a very limited lifetime. Transition is hard, and the rules have changed. When the vote came to adopt this plan the majority of council approved. Myself and Mayor Koetsier both voted against while District Councillor Peter Cooper was unable to attend. We will continue to fight for water based communities and the changes that effect residents in a negative way. We were able to implement a bag tag system to be in effect 2027. A total of 80 bag tags will be allocated per household and if approved multi unit building each will receive tags. Clear bags, green bin and recycle continue as laid out in 2024. When you are 2 councillors of 22 sitting around the table your vote is only a show of disapproval.

06/16/2026

💧 MNR Bulletin: Watershed Condition Statement - Water Safety

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is advising area residents that a Watershed Condition Statement - Water Safety bulletin is in effect for the Muskoka District until Friday, June 19, 2026.

Elevated water levels and flows are noted on Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau, Moon River including the Bala Reach, and Ahmic Lake.

Residents, visitors, and boaters are advised to use extreme caution on waterways, as high-water levels may have affected safety booms, signage, barriers, and other safety features. Stay back from fast-moving water and unstable banks.

Residents that have been affected by high water and flow conditions in the past should continue to take necessary action to protect or secure any vulnerable property in proximity to rivers and lakes, and closely monitor developing conditions

➡️ Read the full statement at: https://bit.ly/47tBM9M

06/16/2026

06/16/2026

🤝💛 Today, representatives from the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT), members of the public, and the District’s IDEA Advisory Group joined District Council and Chair Jeff Lehman to honour National Indigenous Peoples Day, recognized annually on June 21.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, languages and traditions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples across Canada, while reflecting on the importance of learning, listening, and reconciliation. This year, the District raised the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Iroquois) Flag in honour of Wahta Mohawks First Nation.

Today’s ceremony included a smudge led by IDEA Advisory Group member Lynda Nicholson and teachings shared by Wahta Elder Christopher Stock, offering a meaningful moment of reflection and connection.

💻📲 Learn more about the District’s commitment to Indigenous relations and reconciliation through the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT): www.engagemuskoka.ca/MAILT

Wahta Mohawks