Showing posts with label Rouge Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rouge Park. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Ontario Trails News - head into fall, look around Toronto from the Toronto Star, Ontario Trail News Archive

The changing fall colours surround the Don Valley Parkway and can be seen against the downtown skyline from the Leaside Bridge on Millwood Rd.
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MELISSA RENWICK / TORONTO STAR Order this photo
The changing fall colours surround the Don Valley Parkway and can be seen against the downtown skyline from the Leaside Bridge on Millwood Rd.
Fall is the best time for a hike because the air is fresh, the lower temperature means there is no sweating and jaunty outfits can be worn rather than sportswear. The leaves are changing too. People go wild for fall leaves and embark on “leaf-peeping” expeditions, travelling far to see the changing colours. However, in the GTA you don’t have to go far, and this weekend the colours will be popping all over the city. Here are five suggestions for Thanksgiving weekend walks where the autumnal spirit is alive, just be sure to bring your own decorative gourds.
Toronto Island
Even though Centreville Amusement Park is closed for the season, you can visit Charlotte the Landrace pig at Far Enough Farm on Centre Island.
COLIN MCCONNELL/ TORONTO STAR
Even though Centreville Amusement Park is closed for the season, you can visit Charlotte the Landrace pig at Far Enough Farm on Centre Island.
When the summer picnic and beach crowds have gone, the Toronto Islands are still worth a trip as there’s a sense of having the island to yourself at times. Take the ferry first to Wards Island and walk through the cottages near the dock, then meander west towards the Centre Island ferry dock for a few hours, by the boardwalk and over to Algonquin Island. Though Centreville Amusement Park is closed for the season, Far Enough Farm (centreisland.ca/far-enough-farm ) adjacent to it is free to enter and open every day from 10 to 5 p.m. You can visit Charlotte, their Landrace pig, and the other animals, all of whom are giving thanks they’re not on your table this weekend.
Rouge Park is a truly wild and rural hike and it's accessible by TTC.
ANDREW FRANCIS WALLACE/ TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO
Rouge Park is a truly wild and rural hike and it's accessible by TTC.
Rouge Park
The changing fall colours surround the Don Valley Parkway and can be seen against the downtown skyline from the Leaside Bridge on Millwood Rd.
MELISSA RENWICK/ TORONTO STAR
The changing fall colours surround the Don Valley Parkway and can be seen against the downtown skyline from the Leaside Bridge on Millwood Rd.
Rouge Park may be the wildest and most-rural hike you can take inside the Toronto city limits, and it’s accessible by TTC. This is the corner of the city where farm and city landscapes meet and the Rouge has some of the most dramatic ravine cliffs in the area. Begin at the Rouge Park Conservation Centre across Morningside Road from the Toronto Zoo. Here, the historic Pearse House (rvcc.ca/Pearse_House.html ), home to a family that ran an old sawmill on the river, adds to the rural feel of the park. Follow the trails that loop down to Twyn Rivers Dr. and return up the other side of river.
If you visit the Humber Arboretum, be sure to climb the hill by the Centre for Urban Ecology building for the panoramic view across the Humber Valley.
MELISSA RENWICK/ TORONTO STAR
If you visit the Humber Arboretum, be sure to climb the hill by the Centre for Urban Ecology building for the panoramic view across the Humber Valley.
Leaside Bridge
The viewing platform at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park affords views of the beautiful rolling Ontario forest and farmland spreading out to the east.
SHAWN MICALLEF FOR THE TORONTO STAR
The viewing platform at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park affords views of the beautiful rolling Ontario forest and farmland spreading out to the east.
The Leaside Bridge carrying Millwood Rd. across the Don Valley is the less-famous upriver sibling of the Prince Edward Viaduct, but it’s nearly equally impressive. Opened in 1927, the bridge commands spectacular views of the Don Valley Parkway as it makes gentle curves along the river and the buildings of Thorncliffe Park. Nature and city complement each other here wonderfully as the dozen or so stark, white apartment towers poke up through the tree canopy.
Humber Arboretum
Found behind Humber College’s North Campus, the Arboretum(humberarboretum.on.ca/) is a series of botanical gardens and natural areas near the end of the west branch of the Humber River multi-use trail. Established by horticultural students at Humber in 1977, its 100 hectares has six kilometres of trails and contains 1,700 species of plants and animals. Be sure to climb the hill by the Centre for Urban Ecology building for the panoramic view across the forested Humber Valley.
Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
For an out-of-town holiday weekend excursion, take the hour-or-so drive to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park (ontarioparks.com/park/monocliffs ) north of Orangeville for a Niagara Escarpment hike. A series of eight trails pass through park’s varied landscape, some connecting with the Bruce Trail, and one looping down near the cute Village of Mono Centre where a mid-hike Thanksgiving tipple can be had at the local pub. A viewing platform extending out at the top of the cliffs affords a deep appreciation of the escarpment’s height, with views of the beautiful rolling Ontario forest and farmland spreading out to the east.
Shawn Micallef writes every Friday about where and how we live in the GTA. Wander the streets with him on Twitter @shawnmicallef.

Lot's of events around Ontario and on Ontario Trails

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Ontario Trail News - Ontario and Ottawa at odds over Rouge Park, and tell us how you value trails

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Ottawa, Ontario at odds over Rouge Park

Dave Pearce stands atop a steeply eroding slope in farthest-east Toronto. Dozens of metres below, the Rouge River sweeps west through the sedimentary hills before continuing south to Lake Ontario.
The forest conservationist with the Wildlands League takes in the scene of water, rocks, trees and unobstructed sky. It’s a view not normally enjoyed in a city. He sees the deep slice of green as an invaluable part of a growing region.

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“Our urban and new Canadians are increasingly separated from the natural world,” he says. “This valley is easy and affordable to get to. It can be further restored and protected to be an entry point to show people what nature can be in Canada.”
He’s talking about Rouge Park, a 40-square-kilometre swath of forested valleys and farmland at the eastern ends of Scarborough and Markham. The proposal is for the province to transfer ownership of it to the federal government so it can add another 10 square kilometres, linking it to the Oak Ridges Moraine and creating Canada’s first national, urban park.
The plan dates to 2011, but its fate is now in question as the federal and provincial governments entrench competing views of conservation. The province says the federal government would not adequately protect the land, water, flora and fauna. Ottawa argues the level of protection the province wants is impossible near a city.
Now, people such as Mr. Pearce, who cheered when the federal government proposed a national park for the GTA, are actively fighting it.
The crux of the issue is that the Rouge would not be just another national park, but instead a “national, urban park,” a whole new classification. Existing national parks are protected by the mandate to “maintain or improve ecological integrity.” Bill C-40, the classification’s new legislation, says only that management must “take into consideration the protection of [the park’s] natural ecosystems.”
Last month, Ontario Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid sent a third letter to federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq, demanding Parks Canada better protect the “ecological integrity” of the future park.
Ms. Aglukkaq has said prioritizing ecological integrity is “simply unachievable in an urban setting,” arguing it would lead to the eviction of farmers (more than half the proposed park is agricultural). Conservative MP Peter Kent told Parliament that prioritizing ecological integrity would mean letting wildfires, pest outbreaks and erosion proceed unchecked.
This impasse – between those who see the Rouge as an intact natural refuge between slabs of urban sprawl and those who point out that you can’t have a standard national park encompassing two 400-series highways – threatens to derail the country’s first attempt to bring national parks and large cities together.
The province is still the major player in the valley. It created Rouge Park in 1990 and has steadily enlarged it, while establishing a suite of management plans – guidelines for permitted activities and development.
Last January, when the province agreed to transfer ownership of Rouge Park, it stipulated Parks Canada would have to “meet or exceed” the ecological protection the province had already put in place. Mr. Duguid says that hasn’t happened yet.
Mr. Pearce supports the province, a view apparently shared by all the two-dozen people – including conservationists, farmers and two federal NDP MPs – accompanying him on a late-November tour of the proposed park. It started at the 68-hectare Rouge Marsh beside Lake Ontario, where two lonely fishermen sheltered from wet snow under the Waterfront Trail’s pedestrian bridge. The school bus then trundled through wooded river valleys south of Steeles Avenue before traversing farmland on the way north to where the proposed park would dead-end at a bank of suburban houses at Stouffville.
The federal lands on the table are almost entirely farmland, meaning without the provincial lands, it’s inconceivable the initiative will proceed.
Nonetheless, on Nov. 5, the Conservative MPs on the environment and sustainable development committee voted down all 18 amendments the opposition had proposed.
Parks Canada spokesperson Natalie Fay argues that Bill C-40 and a commitment of $147.3-million over 10 years will improve overall protection by banning mining, raising fines for poaching and improving enforcement. “Parks Canada remains hopeful that, through ongoing discussions, Ontario will agree to transfer its lands,” she told The Globe and Mail.
So far, Mr. Duguid is holding firm. “Ecological integrity is crucial. Our concern is how these lands are passed on to future generations. I can’t, in good faith, recommend a transfer until they address the concerns ignored at the parliamentary committee.”
With Canada’s first national, urban park hanging in the balance, Mr. Duguid suggests Ontario holds the cards.
“Time is on our side. We are looking to the federal government to change its mind. If not, maybe a future government will be able to work in partnership with us.”
It’s the sort of long view that makes conservationists such as Jim Robb optimistic. The manager of Friends of the Rouge Watershed is leading the school-bus tour and wraps it up in a two-room schoolhouse near the Toronto Zoo. He shows off a collection of hides and stuffed animals – including an otter, fox, hawk, heron, owl and a marten – who sample the still-living wildlife outside. The schoolhouse hosts most of the 16,000 students that visit the Rouge Valley on day trips annually.
About 25 of those children are outside now, their backpacks still inside on the chairs. Mr. Robb says today is the only exposure to nature many of the students will get in a year.
Some observers use the term “nature deficit disorder” to describe a growing affliction among urban kids. Mr. Robb says in the 25-plus years he’s been introducing people to the Rouge Valley he’s witnessed a growing disassociation between kids and the outdoor world.
The Rouge, he says, is perfectly placed to help bridge that gap. “Kids can get here on public transit,” he says. “And when they do, we can show them a good-news story about healing and setting the balance back right.”
Mr. Robb sees the current impasse being a case of the federal government prioritizing “three or four dozen people who are leasing farmland” in the proposed park’s northern reaches.
Though he’d like to see some farmland eventually restored to nature, he knows farming isn’t going away and says a balance can be achieved that protects both ecology and agriculture.
“The work has already been done. The federal bill undermines 25 years of consultation, laws and science,” says Mr. Robb.
“To say the minister has to ‘take nature into consideration’ gives it no legal value. That’s the standard for everywhere,” says Mr. Robb. “In a park, we need to do better.”

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Ontario Trails - Trailhead Ontario June 9, 10, 11 2013 - Peterborough

Toronto Zombie Walk 2012 | Nightmares Fear Factory
Nightmares Fear Factory is Niagara Falls' scariest and best haunted house. View hilarious FEAR pics and videos of scared people. Located in the Clifton Hill ...
www.nightmaresfearfactory.com/.../toronto-zombie-walk-201...


Ontario Running Trails Map
Best Collegiate Runners in Ontario Come to the Sault This Weekend
LOCAL2 Sault Ste. Marie
Marie at the 2012 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Provincial Cross Country Running Championships. Algoma University hosts this year's Championships at the beautiful Hiawatha Highlands Conservation Area. Twenty OCAA schools with close ...
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The threat of cougars in Ontario exists in rural Ontario
CottageCountryNow.ca
Susan Milburn, one of the owners of Woodridge Riding Centre in Utterson, ... During a horse show this summer she said two people heard what they believed ...


Ontario Dog Sledding Trails Page
Greater Sudbury Sports Calendar for Oct. 17NorthernLife.ca
Fundraiser for Special Olympics Ontario. Tickets available at 1-877-431-0685. X-COUNTRY SKI SWAP- Laurentian Nordic Ski Club hosts at Adanac Ski Chalet, ...


Durham conservation authoriy holds fall events for residents in Oshawadurhamregion.com
OSHAWA -- Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority is holding free events where residents can learn and co-operate in various activities. CLOCA staff is hosting a workshop to introduce geocaching to residents. The workshop offers to teach basic ...
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Ontario Hiking Trails
ONTARIO HIKING WEEK: Frequently Asked Questions - Hike Ontario
Ontario Hiking Week is a Hike Ontario initiative to encourage Ontarians to get out ... This year, Ontario Hiking Week is being held from October 1 to October 7.
www.hikeontario.com/Ontario%20Hiking%20Week%20FAQ....


Chair Fundraising Committee (Hike Ontario)
(Hike Ontario). [ Suggest an Update | Print Version (New ...
peel.cioc.ca/volunteer/details.asp?OPID=975



Ontario Trails Mobile App






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Norfolk Conservation Area - Ontario Conservation Areas
Enjoy scenic views of Lake Erie atop the bluffs at Norfolk Conservation Area.This park is situated on 46 acres along the Lake Erie shoreline with beach access ...
www.ontarioconservationareas.ca/.../norfolk-conservation-area...


 Canadian research claims cyclists with helmets three times less likely to die ...
road.cc
The team studied Ontario Chief Coroner's records relating to 129 people who died in bicycle-related incidents in the province from 2006 to 2010, three in four of whom had been involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. The other fatalities resulted ...
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Monday, October 8, 2012

Ontario Trails - World's Best Variety of Trail Experiences on Ontario Trails


City Pilots Ontario Trails Activity Project
October 2 2012 In a collaborative effort with theOntario TrailsCouncil the City of Thunder Bay Parks Division has initiated an innovative trail use survey ...
www.thunderbay.ca/Page14588.aspx

Zombie Walk Toronto 2011 Wedding 0967 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
The 2012 Toronto Zombie Walk is coming Oct 20th at City Hall. I'll be posting some shots I neglected to post last year as a Zombie warm up between now and ...
www.flickr.com/photos/sniderscion/8061125363/




Niagara Gorge

Economic Impact of Cycle Tourism in Ontario - Transportation Options
In 2010, 2 million Canadian/Ontario visitors participated in cycling actvities in Ontario... In 2010,Ontario attracted 38% of Canadian visitors who went cycling ...
www.transportationoptions.org/.../economic_impact_of_cycle...



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The Fixer: Low curbs on Sherbourne St. bike lanes invite drivers to park on them
Toronto Star
“We'd like parking enforcement do a real blitz the first couple of months after they're open to make sure drivers get the idea,” said Jared Kolb, Cycle Toronto's director of campaigns and membership. The lane on the west side is almost finished between ...
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Why aren't bicycle helmets mandatory?
Sault Star
Earlier this year, Ontario's chief coroner released a report that recommended, among other things, the implementation of mandatory helmet legislation for cyclists of all ages. But there's no action yet. Helmets for all cyclists is something Dr. Charles ...
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Hi everyone,

Another very important meeting to highlight the need for mountain bikers to voice their wish for mountain biking (think Bike Park) to be included in the master plan.

Please spread the word!

The City of Toronto is hosting a public meeting where you can learn more about the Beare Road Park Master Plan project, and provide your input on its new Master Plan.

We invite you to join u
 

s at the first public meeting.

Date: Thursday, October 11, 2012

Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Location: Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School, 40 Sewells Road, Toronto, ON M1B 3G5

RSVP is appreciated but not required. If you are able to attend please RSVP by email to tbosco@toronto.ca

At the meeting on October 11, the Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation project team will give a presentation that includes background information about the site and the existing conditions. Parks Canada will also be at the meeting to provide an update on the neighbouring proposed Rouge National Urban Park and their consultation process.

The City of Toronto will specifically be seeking feedback regarding the vision that users and residents have for the park, guiding principles that should influence park design, and the consultation process. Other public meetings will follow as the plan progresses.

The venue is wheelchair accessible. Please request any additional accommodations necessary when you RSVP. We look forward to meeting with you.

_________________________________________________________________
http://beseenbesafe.simcoecountytrails.net

__________________________________________________________________________________

MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE EVENT CALENDAR

Trail Education
Our event calendar shows weekly adjustments to our course offerings. It also provides links to course information, in PDF flyer format, registration, and location of course through a google map or other means.

Be sure to use our array of press or other flyers to circulate to your local papers or possible attendees. All available for use - call - 877-668-7245 or 519-941-8911, or 1-866-560-7783

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To California with roses
Sarnia Observer
The Canadian Cowgirls feature female riders from across southwestern Ontario... The equestrian ambassadors from Chatham-Kent are taking their horses and ...



Ontario Equestrian Trail

Act now. Time is short: Save Ontario's Algoma Region
SooToday.com
A draft Renewable Energy on Crown Land policy has been developed to provide updated direction on how the government will manage Crown land to supportOntario's renewable energy needs while balancing the social, economic, and ecological interests ...
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