September 26, 2026
We hope you found time this summer to enjoy Lake Simcoe — whether swimming, paddling, fishing or simply spending a quiet moment by the water. Those experiences remind us why this lake means so much to the people who call its watershed home.
It has been a busy summer for the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. We have met residents at community events, worked with partners to respond to emerging threats and continued pressing governments to turn commitments into action. We also received extraordinary new support that will help sustain our work.
As we head into fall, we are pleased to share that progress with you. Thank you for being part of this community and for caring about the lake’s future.
A Historic Investment in Our Work
The Green Sanderson Foundation has made a $300,000 over three years commitment to the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition — the most significant philanthropic investment in our organization’s history.
This means greater capacity to research the issues affecting the lake, advocate for practical solutions, engage communities and follow through with decision-makers. Multi-year support allows us to plan ahead and sustain our efforts beyond individual projects.
We are deeply grateful to the Green Sanderson Foundation for their confidence in our work and their commitment to Lake Simcoe’s future.
Water Soldier: Calling for Federal Action
Water soldier is an urgent concern for everyone who cares about Lake Simcoe. This invasive aquatic plant can form dense mats that displace native vegetation, harm fish habitat and interfere with boating and other recreational activities.
We co-signed a joint letter with the Invasive Species Centre, municipalities and conservation partners calling on the federal government to provide dedicated, multi-year funding for a coordinated response.
That funding would support monitoring, early detection, management, research and public outreach, giving the organizations leading the response more resources to contain the infestation and prevent further spread. Delaying action risks a more difficult and costly problem.
Protect Our Plan: Turning Recommendations into Action
Our Protect Our Plan report sets out practical steps governments can take to improve the health of Lake Simcoe. By mid-summer, nine municipalities had shown support for the report and its recommendations.
In September, Georgina Council received an update on the Town’s work in response to the report, including stormwater management, phosphorus reduction, shoreline stabilization, road salt mitigation and invasive species management. Learn more here.
We are continuing to bring these priorities to councils and community groups across the watershed. Our focus is on ensuring support leads to action, backed by the provincial and federal investment communities need.
Seeking Sustained Federal Funding for Lake Simcoe
We have asked the federal government to commit at least $40 million over four years to Lake Simcoe through the 2027 federal budget.
A dedicated fund would support work across the watershed, including stormwater improvements, phosphorus reduction, wetland and shoreline restoration, invasive species management and monitoring.
Lake Simcoe supports drinking water, agriculture, tourism, recreation and local livelihoods. Sustained funding would help protect those benefits and give local partners the ability to plan for the long term.
Read more about our federal funding request.
Bringing Lake Simcoe into the Municipal Election Conversation
This month, we joined the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition for a walk around Kempenfelt Bay with local municipal election candidates and members of their campaign teams. Together, we talked about the lake’s needs and the role municipal councils can play in protecting it.
Our advocacy is non-partisan. We want candidates to explain what they will do for Lake Simcoe and carry those commitments into office.
As you meet local candidates this fall, we encourage you to ask: what practical action will you take for Lake Simcoe if elected? Click here to see candidates that have signed on to be Community Leaders for a Sustainable Simcoe (CLASS).
A Summer of Community Connections
Some of our most valuable conversations happen at a market booth or a community gathering. Our summer outreach program brought Lake Simcoe issues to farmers’ markets, fairs and community events around the watershed. We also presented Protect Our Plan to several groups including the Probus Club of Pinkerton in Bradford, and participants at the Eco Exchange in Coldwater.
These conversations work both ways. Your questions and concerns help us understand where clearer information is needed and what deserves greater attention.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, and to the volunteers, organizers and community partners who made this outreach possible. We are also pleased to welcome the Pefferlaw Area Residents’
Association as a Coalition Partner.
If your residents’ association, service club or community group would like to learn more about Lake Simcoe, please get in touch at info@rescuelakesimcoe.org about arranging a presentation.
Coming Together by the Lake
This month, our new and returning Board members gathered by the shores of Lake Simcoe for their first in-person meeting since the renewed Board came together. It was a meaningful opportunity to connect and look ahead, with the lake itself reminding us of the responsibility we share. We are grateful for the experience, energy and commitment our directors bring to this work.
Help Protect lake Simcoe Every Month
This summer, we doubled our monthly giving. Thank you to the supporters whose generosity made that growth possible.
We would love to keep that momentum going. Monthly donations provide dependable support that helps us plan ahead, stay engaged on long-term issues and respond when new threats emerge. They sustain the research, community outreach and persistent advocacy that protecting Lake Simcoe requires.
Would you consider becoming a monthly donor? Choose an amount that works for you and select the monthly option when you donate. A regular gift, whatever its size, helps build a stronger voice for the lake throughout the year.
If you already give monthly, thank you. You are helping provide the steady support that allows us to keep this work moving.
The conversations we had this summer were a reminder of how deeply people care about Lake Simcoe. That care takes many forms: volunteering at an event, looking after a shoreline, asking a candidate a thoughtful question or helping fund the work.
We are grateful for all of it, and for the trust you place in us. We hope you enjoy the beauty of the lake this fall, and we look forward to continuing this work together.
Best,
Jonathan Scott