Planning for the project began in 1988 during the preliminary design stage for the construction of a new corporate office facility for General Motors of Canada Limited. The land was considered environmentally sensitive as it related to nearby Second Marsh and Darlington Provincial Park. The company not only created a study team consisting of environmental consultants and engineers among others, but also requested assistance from several non-government environmental organizations. Among these, the Friends of Second Marsh were asked to assist in the planning to further ensure that biophysical functions would not be compromised. Discussions relating to all aspects of the structure and surrounding land-use practices and activities took place. Issues such as storm water management to direct silt and surface run-off away from Second Marsh were addressed.

Special care was taken to ensure that building height would not interfere with migratory bird flight patterns and that computer controlled lighting would be activated during migration periods. General Motors of Canada Limited worked in harmony with these groups to ensure that nature and the environment would be protected and that opportunities would be presented for improvements.

Planning for the Reserve was an integral part of the overall design and concept for the actual building and parking facilities. Protecting and enhancing adjacent lands was at the forefront of the planning process. Good stewardship of lands entrusted to General Motors of Canada Limited was a primary goal. This partnership resulted in an exceptional office building that has become part of the natural landscape and a good example of business, government and the public working together to preserve and create vital habitat.

The reserve itself occupies over half of the original parcel of 81 ha. It was created to provide a place for wildlife in an urban setting and to establish a continuous corridor for wildlife and people along the Lake Ontario shoreline. It serves to protect the integrity of the Second Marsh Wildlife Area. It provides a home and migratory staging area for a wide variety of plants and animals while ensuring public access to the waterfront for non-consumptive activities.

When physical work on the office complex was completed in early 1990, plans to create numerous habitat islands, wildlife corridors and forested zones were acted upon in keeping with the Master Plan for the site. While a large portion of the site will be treed, most of the area will remain as open meadow and allowed to naturalize. Tree and shrub planting began in the Fall of 1990, and over a period of 10 years, over 35,000 specimens have been planted. While the vast majority of the trees and shrubs involve native species, a few domesticated species were introduced. Part of the Master Plan objective called for the establishment of a small botanical garden component and a living classroom including certain Carolinian species. Introductions were governed by their individual ability to provide food and cover for wildlife, and in some cases, for their aesthetics. General Motors of Canada Limited employees, retirees and their families were encouraged to be part of the planting process to help create a sense of pride and ownership in the site, as well as creating community awareness about the natural environment. As well, the general public was invited to participate, along with Scouts Canada and Girl Guides Canada, and they played a vital role in establishing the vegetative component of the Reserve. In addition, during the first four years, massive cleanups were undertaken annually. This activity called 'Operation Cleansweep' rid the area of tons of accumulated debris left over from years of abandonment and neglect prior to General Motors of Canada Limited’s acquisition. Employees and the general public have been instrumental in building and erecting birdhouses and feeders on the site as well. While no estimate of cost for the Reserve has been done, it has been considerable, as have thousands of hours of volunteer commitment. The placement and construction of walking and cycling trails resulted in almost 7 km of pathways including an innovative trail designed specifically for the visually-impaired. The trails will take visitors through a wide variety of habitats; open fields, sedge meadows, forested areas, shrub thickets and lakeshore. Access to the storm water ponds (Dogwood Pond, Jim's Pond and Wilkinson's Pond) has been accommodated.

These ponds not only act as filters for surface run-off, but serve to provide additional brood habitat for waterfowl and feeding and resting areas for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds as well as a home for many amphibians. The setting aside of a large and unique landmass on the waterfront in this manner embraces the concept that people and wildlife can co-exist in an urban setting. Our trails are linked to adjacent properties and provide a vital component of the Greater Toronto Area Waterfront Trail system.

The McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve is professionally managed. School groups find it an interesting place to visit because of the diversity of wildlife/nature to be observed as well as easy access. More recently, the planting of emergent and submergent aquatics in and around the ponds got underway. These plants will serve as food and cover for wildlife in addition to assisting in the purification of the run-off water. The establishment of ferns and wildflowers is also underway, and while the Reserve continues to naturalize, many new native species will be introduced in the future.

In the upkeep of the reserve we do regularly cut grass on walkways and trail areas. We also fertilize. In the past we have in some instances used glyphosate herbicides (which do not bioaccumulate) to control weed growth. Application was done sparingly to increase the survival rates of new seedling plants and sapling trees that are routinely planted. Now as a herbicide substitute, we are using a postemergent, foliar active, vegetation management product formulated to contain organic acids that are components of vinegar and lemon juice.

If users have concerns or suggestions related to our maintenance of the MBWR, we welcome input. It is through user input we continue to ensure our stakeholder community appreciates the MBWR.