Southern Georgian Bay is north of the most populated area in Ontario, Toronto and surrounding cities. For summer get-a-ways, the people from Toronto have built cottages along the shore and on some of the 30,000 islands. Above, is an older cottage in the area near Objibway Island. Some families have been enjoying the wilderness and waters of Georgian Bay for generations. A big difference between southern and northern Georgian Bay is the cottages - there are few in the north and some southern areas are thick with cottages.
The 2016 cruise found some new construction of cottages, which had not been seen on previous voyages. The economy in Canada must be doing well if people have discretionary income for summer homes. This house and the next were being built on islands near Massasauga Provincial Park and the Moon River area. The red marker on the end of this island, Wild Goose, shows that it lies along the small boat channel in Georgian Bay.
Many of the newer cottages have employed ideas from architects, moving away from the rectangular box with a porch on front of the traditional cottage.
One architect had some wild ideas for this house on a very small island. The lines and design do not fit into the natural surroundings well.
A modern design with impact and openness that blends into the environment was built on an island near Parry Sound. It is an interesting and appealing design that is much more attractive than depicted in this image, which has the light coming from the wrong direction.
Every island is a candidate for a cottage. This island, far from any other land, is right on the big waters of Georgian Bay. When the winds come off the bay it must be quite windy, particularly through the open breezeway running through the center.
Another example of a Georgian Bay island cottage and boathouse.
