Ontario Trail News - March 16, 2011

Cycling Enthusiast Passes Away - "Coulier‚ a champion cyclist and creator of several well-known velodromes, died at 92 early Monday morning. "He was an inventor, an innovative man right into his 80s," remembered George Van Damme, a fellow Tillsonburg cyclist.

Coulier is responsible for crafting the World Championship and Montreal Olympic velodromes. The former competitive cyclist, however, stumbled into velodrome creation by chance." Our condolences to friends and family.
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Group wants to bring big cycling event to Belleville - "Craig Fagan, vice-president of events and sponsorships for Midweek Cycling Club, told city council his group wants to bring the Canadian Road Cycling Championships and Festival to the region next summer. The event, which would include charity rides, a community bike parade and community rides, would bring 700 to 800 cyclists to the region."
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Ontario On-Road Cycling Trails
Ontario Cycling Association


Ramsay Lake Building Near Completion - "Plans to build a Northern Water Sports Centre on the south shore of Ramsey Lake are nearing completion, including the all-important fundraising component, says project manager Dan Kaltiainen. Project partners include the Sudbury Canoe Club, Sudbury Rowing Club, Sudbury Dragon Boat Festival and the City of Greater Sudbury.

In 1999, the canoe and rowing clubs moved into anew, shared space on Elizabeth Street in Bell Park. While the modern building was welcome, not long after both clubs helped found the hugely popular Dragon Boat festival and the three organizations quickly outgrew the space."
Ontario Canoe Routes
Sudbury Area Trails


Get Out There Magazine - "Two new mtn biking festivals are coming to Ontario this summer. First up the low-key, grassroots Toronto MTB Fest on June 11th which will celebrate the famous Don Valley trails followed by the Mountain Bike Ontario Festival “Trail Blazing” at Kelso on July 16th aimed at growing the sport. Looking forward to checking both of these out." http://www.mtbonfestival.com/
Ontario Off-Road Trails
IMBA


Vaughan Mills, Ontario is offering a free Healthy Strides Walking Club from 7-10am daily. Any age is welcome and just for signing up you will receive a free gift. They call it a “Pampering gift” so I am guessing it is very nice. You can also log your laps to earn points to receive other wonderful prizes like water bottles, sweaters and even shoes!! How awesome is that?!?!
Ontario Trails
Hike Ontario


Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo will run June 10 to 12, 2011 at the Iron Horse Equestrian Complex south of Milton, Ontario. The world class lineup of clinicians this year will include Wayne Roycroft, the recently retired coach of the Australian Equestrian Team, which has won eleven Olympic medals including Olympic golds in eventing in 1992, 1996, and 2000.

“Mr. Roycroft was the Australian coach for 22 years and has been the Chairman of the FEI World Eventing Committee,” said Lorie Jocius, President of Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo. “We are extremely fortunate to be able to have someone with Mr. Roycroft’s credentials offering clinics here in Canada.”
Ontario Equestrian Trails
Ontario Equestrian Federation


Ontario Snowmobiling - "BSM Technologies Inc. ("BSM" or the "Company") (TSXV: GPS), a leading provider of remote monitoring, fleet management, fleet diagnostics and automated vehicle security systems, today announced that it has been awarded contracts with a combined value of approximately $1.2 million over three years with two major coordinating bodies for organized snowmobiling in Canada. BSM's Sentinel FM asset tracking solution will be installed on 810 trail grooming machines operated by the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) and the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ).

"The unique nature of snowmobile trail grooming makes it an obvious candidate to benefit from our asset monitoring solution," said Aly Rahemtulla, President and CEO of BSM. "For safety reasons, it is very important to know the location of operators, who typically work alone in rural areas where cellular communications may not be available. Our technology also provides the ability to optimize grooming practices for increased efficiency and enhanced quality as well as the ability to monitor which trails have been recently groomed."
Ontario Snowmobile Trails
Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs

Dog-Sledding in Ontario - video added to youtube


Eastern Ontario Farmers Urged to Conserve - "South Nation Conservation group wants farmers to resist the urge to cut trees for new farmland. Sun breaks through the clouds to illuminate farm fields in the Ottawa Valley. South Nation Conservation group wants farmers to resist the urge to cut trees for new farmland. South Nation Conservation is making the pitch at the 84th annual Ottawa Valley Farm Show at Lansdowne Park, after the group received $100,000 from the provincial government to help farmers assess and manage their forested parcels of land. The watershed that South Nation looks after runs from Plantagenet to Brockville and about 30 per cent of it is forested."
Trees Ontario
Eastern Ontario Trails


Kayaking "Kayaking is the easiest sport to learn. And the shallow depth of the Grand River makes it a great place for new Canadians to try it. Because the current is moving but gentle... beginners can safely learn kayaking without fear. The Grand River is located near Paris Ontario. In spite of being one hour from Toronto, the wilderness setting of the Grand River Valley is amazing. It is a paddle through a forest landscape with overlooking bluffs and an abundance of birds. The wildlife is there, but one must develop the scouting skill to see them.

These 3 hour kayak lessons start out on the land. Everyone is fitted with a life jacket, paddle and assigned to a boat. Before launching there is instruction on the different strokes, how to get in the kayak and simple ways to get out if the kayak tips."
Ontario Canoe and Kayak Trails
ORCKA