Thousand Islands Association celebrates 92 years of stewardship
River safety, environmental stewardship and community partnerships took centre stage Saturday morning as the Thousand Islands Association (TIA) welcomed members, volunteers and municipal leaders to its 2026 annual general meeting at the Thousand Islands Playhouse.
Despite the threat of rain, dozens gathered for a hot breakfast overlooking the St. Lawrence River before moving inside the Springer Theatre for the organization’s formal annual meeting, celebrating TIA’s 92nd year of serving the Thousand Islands region.
“This morning we celebrate our 92nd anniversary as an organization built on five generations of river people,” TIA president Peter Fitton told those assembled. “Our strength lies in the support from our volunteers, our business sponsors, our local municipalities and our membership.”
Among those offering greetings were Leeds and the Thousand Islands Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke, Gananoque Mayor John Beddows, Leeds-Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes MP Michael Barrett, and Brockville Coun. Katherine Hobbs standing in for Mayor Matt Wren.
Throughout the morning, speakers highlighted the association’s longstanding partnership with municipalities on projects aimed at improving safety and protecting the internationally-recognized waterway.
One of the event’s major themes was emergency preparedness.
Fitton noted TIA recently contributed funding toward upgrades to Leeds and the Thousand Islands Fire Services’ Marine 3 Fire Rescue boat, improving onboard lighting and allowing firefighters to prime the vessel’s built-in fire pump more quickly during emergencies.
The association also showcased its ongoing Fire Pumps Committee initiative, which encourages island residents to maintain portable fire pumps capable of slowing the spread of fires until emergency crews arrive.
TIA is also piloting its new Neighbourhood Network Program, an initiative that maps privately owned portable fire pumps throughout several island groups so they can be quickly identified and used during emergencies.
Earlier this month, TIA hosted its third annual CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) certification course, while continuing to distribute emergency information fridge magnets designed to help waterfront residents relay critical location information during 911 calls.
Fitton also highlighted the efforts of TIA’s Environmental Committee, whose volunteers organize shoreline cleanups, construct turtle nest protectors, manage fishing line recycling stations, partner with Parks Canada on educational programming and promote initiatives aimed at reducing lead fishing tackle in local waterways.
The association also recognized this year’s scholarship recipients, awarding post-secondary scholarships to graduating students from both the Canadian and American sides of the river.
Fitton thanked the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands for awarding TIA an $8,580 community grant to support its shoal marker replacement program, while acknowledging the Town of Gananoque’s $2,860 contribution toward replacing worn navigation markers in the Gananoque waterfront area.
The meeting concluded with a presentation by Leeds and the Thousand Islands fire prevention officer Doug Richardson titled “When the Road Ends…”, which focused on emergency response challenges unique to the Thousand Islands.
Richardson outlined how geography, limited road access and remote island properties require specialized planning and co-ordination among first responders.
The Thousand Islands Association is an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting river safety, environmental awareness and community support throughout the Thousand Islands region.
Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.