Board of Directors

A 26-member board of directors  is appointed by our 22 participating municipalities, and oversees our policies, programs and budgets.

Under the Clean Water Act, the members of the GRCA board also serve as members of the Grand River Source Protection Authority (GRSPA). GRSPA meetings are held when required to carry out duties associated with drinking water source protection. When meetings are called, they occur before our scheduled GRCA Board meetings. When  More information is available on the website of the Lake Erie Source Protection Region.

Senior Leadership

Our day-to-day operations are overseen by Chief Administrative Officer and supported by a Deputy CAO and Secretary-Treasurer, and 10 department directors.

We have about 140 full-time employees. Most of them work in the Administration Centre, while others work at conservation areas, nature centres, and a tree nursery throughout the watershed.

Visit the Contact Us page for more information.

The GRCA’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan was approved by the GRCA Board at the May 23, 2025, Board meeting. It reflects the Authority’s priorities, values and ongoing commitment to innovation, stewardship and collaboration with watershed municipalities, First Nations, government agencies and the community. It provides the organizational framework to help address the emerging issues of the Grand River watershed over the next five years. 

The GRCA is governed by the Conservation Authorities Act and provincial regulations. Since 2019, the provincial government has made changes to our regulations to improve transparency and accountability to our municipalities and watershed residents. Detailed information about these changes can be found on our Ontario Regulation 687/21 webpage, which includes our completed Transition Plan and an Inventory of Programs and Services, and a full list of completed regulatory deliverables. 

Along with provincial requirements, we comply with an Administrative By-law (349KB PDF), and are guided by our Strategic Plan.

We provide a variety of programs and services to our 22 participating watershed municipalities through established Memorandums of Understanding. 

Other existing agreements with our municipalities, such as those for programs that fall outside of category two programs and services, can be found in our Inventory of Programs and Services.

Following a period of municipal review, the GRCA budget is approved by the board at the Annual General Meeting, held the fourth Friday in February. Financial statements are reviewed every year by independent auditors.

Our Fee Policy (196KB PDF) includes the following fee schedules for programs and services as approved by the Minister:

• Schedule 1 (627KB PDF) - Outdoor Environmental Education Programs and Services
• Schedule 2 (180KB PDF) - Conservation Area Programs and Services
• Schedule 3 (118KB PDF) - Planning and Regulations Programs and Services
• Schedule 4 (99KB PDF) - Tree Nursery, Central Services

Since 2023, Conservation Authorities have been under Minister's Direction to implement a fee freeze for planning and permitting related fees. Detailed information is available in the Minister's Direction.

GRCA Environmental Policy

We are committed to environmental protection through delivering services in a manner that will ensure the wellbeing of the environment and its inhabitants. Visit our GRCA Environmental Policy webpage for more information.