For islands. By islands.
Our Mission is to encourage relationship building and information exchange, leverage resources to address shared needs, and celebrate island communities.
Photo from Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau
Getting to know young Great Lakes islanders
Are you a young person who lives in a Great Lakes island community? We want to hear from you! GLIA is seeking input from islanders under the age of 45 to find out how we can better serve and engage with you.
The questionnaire takes 5-10 minutes to complete. Please consider taking the survey below, and/or sending to others in your island community.
Upcoming Webinar
Islands Summit
Mackinac Island, October 4-7, 2026
Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA) will host its 2026 Great Lakes Islands Summit on Mackinac Island, Michigan, October 4–7. This periodic gathering brings together leaders and community members from island communities across the Great Lakes to share ideas, build relationships, and explore solutions to common challenges. The Summit will feature local perspectives from Mackinac Island residents including several days of structured discussions, networking, and collaborative learning.
Programming will include breakout sessions on topics such as tourism and marketing, island economics and advocacy, historic preservation, and local planning. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in field-trip experiences focused on housing development, environmental stewardship, and essential infrastructure systems, offering practical, place-based insights.
Registration will open in summer 2026.
Resources for Islanders
Where We're Headed
Islands Summit
Member Islands
Lake Erie
Kelleys Island, Ohio, USA
Middle Bass Island, Ohio, USA
Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada
South Bass Island (Put-in-Bay), Ohio, USA
Lake Michigan
Beaver Island, Michigan, USA
Washington Island, Wisconsin, USA
Lake Ontario
Amherst Island, Ontario, Canada
Howe Island, Ontario, Canada
Simcoe Island, Ontario, Canada
Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada
Lake Huron
Bois Blanc Island, Michigan, USA
Drummond Island, Michigan, USA
Les Cheneaux Islands, Michigan, USA
Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA
Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada
Neebish Island, Michigan, USA
St. Joseph Island, Ontario, Canada
Sugar Island, Michigan, USA
Lake Superior
Madeline Island, Wisconsin, USA
Lake St. Clair
Harsens Island, Michigan, USA
Our Vision is to support our individual islands for current and future generations, honoring their distinct cultures and character, while growing the collective impact of the inter-island network.
