Ontario Trails News - historic sites near trails, cycling trail development and more at Ontario Trails

Orillia's untapped potential as cycling destination

Orillia Today

By Frank Matys 

Orillia holds untapped potential as a destination for cyclists and a share of the substantial dollars they bring to communities, council heard this week.

“Orillia has amazing trails,” said Brendan Matheson, of Cycle Simcoe. “They have an amazing network, but they have a great opportunity to develop the tourism aspect, for sure.”

Cycle Simcoe is a tourism initiative that aims to steer two-wheeled enthusiasts onto area trails and into local communities.

It is a countywide strategy involving the Barrie/Simcoe Cycling Club, Tourism Simcoe County and Oro-Medonte Township, where the project was initially tested.

“The goal is to make cycling more safe, more memorable and more fun, county-wide,” Matheson told Orillia council during a presentation.

Full article....

Ontario inns—enjoy a historic, culinary getaway in historic Georgetown

Ontario inns—enjoy a historic, culinary getaway in historic Georgetown

Main Street Inn 126 Main Street S. Georgetown, ON L7G 3E6 905-702-5411

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Independent Free Press

Main Street Inn in historic Georgetown is the focus of our spotlight this winter on Ontario inns and B&Bs. With our province’s quaint corners and picturesque landscapes only a short drive away from Toronto, kicking back in the comfort of this cozy inn may be just the kind of retreat you need to rejuvenate through the season.

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Georgetown B&B offers cozy luxury...

 A walk through time—With a history dating back to the 1850s, the Main Street Inn welcomes guests to Victorian charm of yesteryear. There aretwo rooms to choose from, both beautifully appointed with a lush décor reminiscent of simpler times of grace and dignity. Bright and spacious with private unsuited bathrooms, the rooms make a relaxing and comfortable haven, combining tranquil style with modern amenities.

Fine dining in town— Included with each stay at the Inn is a choice of full cooked or continental breakfast. With its two dining rooms and two outdoor patios—one with full linen service—Main Street Inn is also home to one of Georgetown’s finest dining establishments. Both Inn guests and non-overnight patrons can enjoy lunch, dinner or the Inn’s hearty weekend brunch service. Passionate about creating new taste sensation, the Inn’s chef changes the menu regularly according to the season’s freshest available ingredients.

Local attractions—Picturesque shops and village nooks are just a stroll away down Olde Georgetown’s quaint streets where historic buildings and period houses abound. Guests can enjoy browsing local culture at such artistic venues as The Gallery, Beaumont Mills and historic Williams Mills’ multi-building studios and workshops. Theatre buffs can enjoy local theatre staged by one of the two local companies. Winter’s also a beautiful time to discover the great Ontario outdoors with over 50 kilometers of the nearby Bruce Trail and side trails of the Niagara escarpment.

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Ontario Trails News - find your favorite dog-sledding trail and new map to draw cyclists to Simcoe

Find your favorite dog-sledding trail here!

New maps expected to draw cycling tourists to north Simcoe

Local municipalities support Cycle Simcoe initiative

Midland Mirror

By Jenni Dunning 

MIDLAND – A new map of north Simcoe’s cycling routes will launch next week with hopes of attracting droves of tourists from the Greater Toronto Area.

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Give kids unstructured play time,...Cyclists push Penetang council on...

Midland is the last local municipality to jump on board after Brendan Matheson, cycling strategy co-ordinator for Cycle Simcoe, a Barrie/Simcoe Cycling Club initiative, requested $3,000 each from Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay for maps and online development.

Midland council will officially vote on the funding request as part of the town’s upcoming budget meetings.

“This is going to be the start of a great partnership,” Mayor Gord McKay said during Monday’s council meeting.

As part of the request, Matheson also asked the town to help Cycle Simcoe by installing safety signage, improving cycling infrastructure and distributing safety education information.

The “Heart of Georgian Bay” cycling map, which is scheduled to launch at the Toronto International Bicycle ShowMarch 6, will feature seven routes, said Matheson.

They range from eight kilometres in length along the Midland Rotary Waterfront Trail, to 95 kilometres on quiet roads and trails through all four municipalities, he said, adding they will include three trails and four road-based routes.

At the bike show, Cycle Simcoe also plans to launch cycling maps for the Oro-Medonte, Severn and Ramara areas and for the Wasaga Beach, Collingwood and Blue Mountain areas.

“We’re finding most of the cyclists that come up here are from the GTA,” he said.

A Ministry of Tourism survey found two million people took part in cycle tourism in Ontario in 2010, spending $391 million. Compared to 2009, this was a 25 per cent increase in cycle tourists and an 18 per cent boost in spending.

Cycle tourism refers to someone who travels at least 40 kilometres to go cycling, according to Matheson.

He said he hopes cyclists will take advantage of Cycle Simcoe’s interactive online maps by, for example, taking photos of and marking the location of potholes.

The organization, which began in 2012, can then contact municipalities about any problems for quick fixes.

Coun. George MacDonald, an avid cyclist, spoke in support of the maps and confirmed with Matheson air pumping stations will be available along the routes.

“I’m not volunteering because my air is all hot air,” MacDonald quipped.

Coun. Cody Oschefski offered to help Cycle Simcoe with spreading its message on social media.

“There’s a misconception in Midland for young families that there’s nothing to do here,” he said.

Coun. Glen Canning added one of the biggest complaints he hears from cyclists visiting the town is a lack of route maps – “besides the lack of bicycle racks downtown.”

Ontario Trails News - Mountain Bike Championships and Run for the Toad announcements - taking place on Ontario Trails

Hardwood Hills prepares for games Hardwood Hills prepares for games Submitted photo Hardwood Ski and Bike, located in Oro-Medonte, will welcome the world in July, 2015 when it hosts the Pan Am Games mountain bike events. Orillia Today ByMike Dodd The countdown is on and staff at Hardwood Ski and Bike is well aware nothing short of perfection will be acceptable. On July 10-26, 2015, elite mountain-bike riders from around the world will descend on the Oro-Medonte facility, looking to win gold at the Pan Am Games. “I think it's really exciting for our area and it will give us a chance to showcase some of the great facilities," said Hardwood facility general manager Jack Sasseville. A total of 14 municipalities will host events, with many building new facilities as part of Toronto’s $2.4 billion bid. The fact Hardwood was chosen to host mountain biking events was not a big surprise to Sasseville. "We feel we have some of the best facilities in Ontario, if not Canada, and being chosen to host this event in mountain biking reinforces what we have believed all along. “There are few other facilities who have the kinds of challenging trails that we do," he said. Since receiving the news, Hardwood has been holding regular on-site meetings with Pan Am Games staff. Earlier this month, staff at Hardwood faced a major pre-Pan Am Games test, when it hosted the Canadian championships. Various members of Canada’s Olympic team, including Emily Batty, Catharine Pendrel, Geoff Kabush and Max Plaxton, were on hand to compete at Hardwood and get a feel for the new trails. Hardwood will also host the 2014 nationals next July. John Sustersic, Hardwood spokesperson, said the national finals offered a preview of what to expect in 2015. About 2,000 spectators and racers flooded the course at nationals. Hardwood also hosted a recent spartan race, an obstacle course event that attracted close to 10,000 individuals. “By comparison, if we look at the number of participants at the Pan Am Games, it will probably be under 100,” he said. But the Canadian finals created the foundation for the on-going work, in preparation for the Pan Am Games. “This year, Hardwood has invested heavily in trail building and, through an Ontario Trillium grant the Ontario Cycling Association received, they were able to hire a crew to work on the course at Hardwood for the national finals,” said Sustersic. “We’ve added a couple of rock jumps. We’ve added an MBX course. On that course, we have redone one of the turns. We’ve added a walled berm,” he said. Sustersic noted a lot of the features built into the course were added as a result of feedback from riders. ___________________________________ Run For The Toad To Host ACU Canadian 50km Trail Championships At Pinehurst Lake Preview of Event , Athletes This Weekend Published 07/23/2013 | By Kw Now! Local Sports News

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ACU 50 K Event To Attract Big Names In Sport Run for the Toad To Host ACU Canadian 50km Trail Championships The Run for the Toad has been selected by the Association of Canadian Ultramarathoners (ACU) to host the 2013 Canadian 50km Trail Championships. The Toad is entering its 12th year and is Canada's largest trail running event garnering 1250 athletes in the 25km run, 25km walk and 50km run and 50km relay distances offered at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area 4km north of Paris, Ontario. Many of the top runners in the sport have taken part in the Run for the Toad over the past decade including Canadian Olympian Reid Coolsaet and World 100km Champion Ellie Greenwood. The event draws competitors from all over Southern Ontario, across Canada, from all over the US and even a delegation from Great Britain is committed to taking part in this years event. This year offers a $7000 prize purse in the 50km event which is attracting some of the top names in the sport to attend. Cleve Thorson, the 2012 winner and course record holder, will be back to defend his title. Roburt Tranter from London, Ontario who just represented Canada at the Wold Trail Championships in Wales will be competing to challenge Cleve for the win. On the women's side Stacey Cleveland and Stacie Carrigan, both from the Okanogan Region in BC, will be competing at the 2013 event. Both represented Canada as well earlier this month in Wales leading the Canadian women to a 4th place finish in the team event. Stacey Cleveland finished 7th overall in the field and Stacie Carrigan close behind in 13th. In addition to the athletes listed above, a total of 11 individuals who have represented Canada at a World Championship are on the entry list to compete this October 5th. To highlight some of these athletes the Run for the Toad and the ACU will be hosting a press conference to kick off the Toad Training Run Saturday July 27th at 8:30am. The training run itself garners more participants than most trail races in Canada with numbers ranging between 350-400 turning up to get a preview of the trails they will be racing on in October. In attendance for this training run will be the Race Directors George & Peggy Sarson, Armand LeBlanc as the representative for the ACU, Nadeem Khan, the Media & Communication Representative for the International Association of Ultra Runners, defending champion Cleve Thorson, Pinehurst Lake Park Superintendent Brad Straus, Grand River Conservation Foundation Executive Director Sara Wilbur. Please join us Saturday July 27th at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area at 830am to take part in this exciting panel of athletes and officials to kick off Canada's Largest Trail Race at the 2013 Run for the Toad. Just a reminder registration for the Toad Training Run closes at 6 pm on July 24, 2013. Related Links: Run For The Toad Website Learn more about Run For The Toad competition

Ontario Trails - Ski, Sled, Hike, Bike or Paddle Ontario's Trails

Peel adopts active transportation plan

Mississauga
Multi-use trails, bicycle lanes and sidewalk improvements are among several measures outlined in Peel's Active Transportation strategy endorsed today by ...

Secord trail advocates seek council support
Niagarathisweek.com
A group working to establish a permanent Laura Secord Trail and annual commemorative ... event” as part of that year's War of 1812 anniversary celebrations, ...

Never too early for water safety
Belleville Intelligencer
Thanks to Quinte Conservation's education co-ordinator Nicole Campbell, the conservation agency now offers the Spring Water Awareness Program — a revitalized program for local schools and homeschoolers tailored to promote safety while exploring ...
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Secord trail advocates seek council support
Niagarathisweek.com
A group working to establish a permanent Laura Secord Trail and annual commemorative ... event” as part of that year's War of 1812 anniversary celebrations, ...

Back To Nature Workshop

The Back to Nature Network Provincial Workshop is scheduled for March 7 and 8, 2012 at Royal Botanical Gardens (as many of you who belong to the listserv already know). Our keynote speaker is Dr. Frances (Ming) Kuo (see below for further details).  In addition, Dr. Kuo will be leading a panel discussion with workshop attendees on the afternoon of March 7. Registration is now open online at http://tickets.rbg.ca/PEO/show.asp.  The fee for the workshop is $50, but we are determined that cost will not be a barrier to participation; if it is, please contact me directly.

Centurion Cycling Takes it up a Notch in 2012
PR Web (press release)
Subaru Centurion Ontario (Horseshoe Valley, Ontario). A hidden gem of cycling just one hour north of Toronto in the Town of Oro-Medonte, Horseshoe Valley is where a series of horseshoe-shaped hills are relentless yet the quiet of the roads is amazingly ...
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Superintendent moving on after over a decade at Quetico Park
Atikokan Progress
Promotion of the park's winter tourism opportunities has aimed to increase off-season usage of Dawson Trail Campground's 30 km of ski trails, ...

Fish license-free this coming family day in Ontario
EMC Arnprior
The freebie weekend applies only to Canadian residents, and anglers must stick to the conservationlimits outlined for their area. Alesha Caldwell with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters administers the program, which encourages communities ...
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McGuinty Government And Right To Play Creating Opportunities For Aboriginal Youth

Ontario is helping more than 1,000 Aboriginal children and youth develop leadership skills to strengthen our future workforce, with support from partners.

The Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) program has expanded to 39 First Nation communities across the province. PLAY is designed to develop young leaders within the community and empower them to create positive change.

The program has created more than 30 full-time jobs for community mentors who work with Aboriginal youth to take part in training workshops, plan community events and participate in sports. Fifty jobs have also been created for Aboriginal youth to work with community mentors to deliver programs.

Creating more opportunities for youth to succeed is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to support families, create new jobs and build a brighter future for all Ontarians.

• PLAY Program: List of Participating First Nation Communities
• Watch a video about the impact of the PLAY program in Pikangikum First Nation.
• Read more about PLAY.
• Support For Promoting Life-skills In Aboriginal Youth

Walking With A Camera: Toronto Photo Walks: Liberty Village
Toronto Photo Walks: Liberty Village. Okay, posting has been sparse for a variety of reasons. More on that later. This weekend I managed to make it out to the ...
walkingwithcamera.blogspot.com/.../toronto-photo-walks-liber...

Bubbling over white water in Minden
Minden Times
A delegation from Whitewater Ontario visited Minden Hills councillors at their ... a three-time Olympian and high-performance manager of Canoe/Kayak Canada.

More than Snow, Sleds, and Shenanigans.

LOCAL2 Sault Ste. Marie
Excited to ride in the event, Triplet isn't worried about there not being enough snow. Darrell Maahs, Past President and the Sault Trailblazers liaison for Snowarama, isn't worried either: “With the exception of a few locations where the trail will be ...
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Action taken to close snowmobile trails
Lake of the Woods Enterprise
3, where the Sunset Trail Riders provincial Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs trail crosses the Shoal Lake Road. JON THOMPSON/For The Enterprise By JON THOMPSON High-level talks with provincial Aboriginal Affairs staff on Feb.See all stories on this topic »

Riders, horses to test their limits
Standard Freeholder
COM CORNWALL – Several passionate horseback riders from the area are getting ... “Usually inOntario we try to have one international ride a year and nobody ...

Paris in the springtime, or a Valentine getaway
Montreal Gazette
Ontario Parks vacations The Ontario Parks network includes 330 parks. ... granting access to snowshoeing, bobsledding, ice climbing and snow tubing.

Nordic Ski Racer - Soo Finnish Club hosts Ontario Midget ...

This year's Ontario Midget Championships is being hosted by Soo Finnish Nordic in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, March 10 and 11. The organizing committee ...
www.nordicskiracer.com/news.asp?NewsID=5962

Fraser and Birosh excel at Nordic Eastern Canadian Championships
Bay Today
North Bay Nordic athletes and coaches returned from another successful race weekend in Gatineau, Quebec. Nakkertok Ski Club was the site of the Eastern Canadian Championships, a North American (Noram) competition and Ontario Cup Series race.
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Ontario's best compete in Sault Ste. Marie
SooToday.com
What: The competition will consist of 82 competitors' from across the province who, through a series of preliminary competitions, earned the opportunity to apply theircross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship skills in both a three-person team relay...
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Nordic Cross Country Championships: Latest News & Videos ...
...of approval to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations' request to close Huntsville's main drag for cross-country ski races. The organization is ...
economictimes.indiatimes.com/.../Nordic-Cross-Country-Cham...