Thank you for a great Great Lakes Islands Summit!
Whether you attended the Great Lakes Islands Summit 2026 on Mackinac Island or were unable to join us this year, we want your feedback! Click below to complete a short survey and help us learn more about your experience with GLIA, what you value about the Summit, and what you would like to see in the future.
If you attended, you can also use the photo upload link to share your Summit photos with us. Your input will help us strengthen future Summits and continue building connections among Great Lakes island communities all year long.
For islands. By islands.
Our Mission is to encourage relationship building and information exchange, leverage resources to address shared needs, and celebrate island communities.
Join GLIA
Are you a resident of the Great Lakes islands or someone interested in supporting these unique communities? Join us—it’s completely free to become a member. By joining, you'll get exclusive access to monthly Zoom calls, early registration for the Islands Summit, and a wealth of other valuable resources. Whether you live on an island or on the mainland, your voice matters, and we’d love for you to be part of our growing network of Great Lakes islanders, advocates, and supporters. Come connect, learn, and make a difference with us!
RECENT Islands Summit
Mackinac Island, October 4-7, 2026
Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA) hosted its 2026 Great Lakes Islands Summit on Mackinac Island, Michigan, October 4–7. This gathering brought 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 featured local perspectives from Mackinac Island residents including several days of structured discussions, networking, and collaborative learning.
Programming included breakout sessions on topics such as tourism and marketing, island economics and advocacy, historic preservation, and local planning. Participants had the opportunity to take part in field-trip experiences focused on housing development, environmental stewardship, and essential infrastructure systems, offering practical, place-based insights.
A complete report on the outcomes of the Summit will be available later in 2026.
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.
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.
