Ontario and Canada Celebrate Successful Restoration of Nipigon Bay

Source: Ontario - Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Date: 2026-08-28 19:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Environment, Climate, Indigenous, Fisheries]

The Governments of Ontario and Canada have officially removed Nipigon Bay from the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern after nearly 40 years of cleanup work under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health. The restoration efforts—which included upgraded wastewater treatment in the Township of Nipigon and Township of Red Rock, stricter pulp and paper industry regulations, and aquatic habitat rehabilitation—spanned a nearly 50,000-acre area including the lower Nipigon River. Since the late 1980s, the Government of Ontario has invested nearly $25.5 million (including over $17 million since 2018), while the federal government has contributed more than $12 million since 2012 alongside total partner investments of $68 million. The milestone project was achieved through collaborative efforts involving local partners and First Nations, including the Red Rock Indian Band, Lakehead University, and local community groups.