I am commenting as a…

I am commenting as a longtime birdwatcher, a graduate of the Doug Tarry Young Ornithologists Workshop, a former volunteer in the Royal Ontario Museum's ornithology collections, a two-time Ontario Parks employee, and as a working ecologist with a Master of Environmental Science degree from the University of Toronto. I am opposed to the transfer of land from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park to the Town of Wasaga Beach on the basis that it will put Endangered Piping Plovers at greater risk of extinction.

This summer I volunteered at Darlington Provincial Park, monitoring nesting Piping Plovers and educating the public about this species-at-risk. I was thrilled to be able to see this bird up close and aid in its protection, spending my summer weekends and holidays to do so. My interactions with park visitors were all positive - everyone I encountered, adults and children alike, showed interest in the birds and wished to cooperate with our conservation efforts by giving them space on the shore. One Piping Plover chick was successfully reared this year, demonstrating that habitat protection and species-at-risk conservation aren't at odds with human use of the beach. I documented many native plants (such as common silverweed) and even other rare birds (like Franklin's Gull) as a result of this beach being protected under provincial park regulations, rather than being manicured to attract more tourists.

Even with the efforts of enthusiastic, skilled volunteers, I do not think this program would have been as successful without Ontario Parks' stewardship. Ontario Parks staff onboarded and coordinated the volunteers, provided training and assistance, and helped make the program run smoothly, in addition to installing barriers, decoys, and signage and conducting extensive monitoring at and around the nesting site. A municipality whose main focus is tourism enhancement is simply not as well-equipped as a provincial park in protecting species-at-risk. Recall that the Town of Sauble Beach was fined $100,000 three years ago for raking sensitive dune habitat that was used by Piping Plovers (The Narwhal, 2022).

Wasaga Beach protects rare natural beaches, and under the management and protection of Ontario Parks, has hosted 57 Piping Plover nests and successfully raised 87 fledglings (Birds Canada, 2025). I urge the Ontario government to continue to enable the recovery of the Endangered Piping Plover by keeping Wasaga Beach in provincial hands.