About Us
Our Community. Our Harbour.
Formed in 1991, the Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC) is a registered charitable corporation that represents the public interest in the revitalization of Hamilton Harbour and its watershed. For 35 years, the Bay Area Restoration Council has played a pivotal role in helping the community see the potential of a Harbour where nature can thrive.
Hamilton Harbour watershed area
# of years BARC has been connecting people to the Harbour
# of schools & organizations in the Classroom Mini Marsh Program 2026
# of native species planted in Cootes Paradise and Grindstone Marshes in 2026
Our Vision
A thriving, healthy, accessible Harbour for all.
Our Mission
To lead and engage in collective action to revitalize Hamilton Harbour and its watershed through education and collaboration.
Our Priorities
Educate and increase public awareness of environmental challenges and successes to improve the Hamilton Harbour community’s relationship with water.
Engage the Hamilton Harbour community to take action, steward water, and foster sustainability for generations to come.
Advance initiatives, collaboration, and resilience in the governance and management of the Hamilton Harbour watershed.
Our Values
Integrity. We act in the public interest with candour and reliability, rigour and consistency.
Optimism. We provide a collaborative and pragmatic hopefulness to shared goal setting and problem solving.
Inclusiveness. We foster communities of practice that welcome and respect a diversity of ideas and perspectives.
Learning. We advance appreciation and discovery in our relations to water, the environment, and to each other.
Progress. We encourage collective action and social change, resilience and reconciliation.
Our Work
BARC programs connect the people of Hamilton and surrounding areas to the water at their doorstep. Hundreds of active volunteers contribute their time planting cattails in marsh areas, testing water samples, and monitoring the shoreline. BARC has taught thousands of school children about the creatures and plants that depend on a healthy harbour and what they can do to protect this ecosystem. Additionally, as the voice of the community in the long-term plan to remediate the Harbour, BARC works with all levels of government, media, and the wider public to raise awareness and shift perceptions of what is possible.
Restoring Hamilton Harbour requires cooperation between all levels of government, significant resources, and support from surrounding communities. The 1992 Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan is unique in that public involvement is embedded into the plan through the active role BARC plays. BARC brings the perspectives of the community to the table with some 16 other stakeholder organizations who make up the implementation team. And in turn, BARC ensures that Hamilton area residents understand the progress being made, the continued threats, and the science behind the remediation efforts.
View the Bay Area Restoration Council’s audited financial statements for the fiscal years ending March 31, 2023, March 31, 2022, March 31, 2021, and access our charity registration status here.
Thank You to Our Supporters!
The Bay Area Restoration Council teams up with individuals and organizations for harbour restoration. BARC is thankful for the contributions of dedicated volunteers, members, partners, and funders.