Showing posts with label Stephen Harper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stephen Harper. Show all posts

Friday, February 6, 2015

Ontario Trails News - find your favorite mountain bike trail, and Greenbelt Tour in NIagara

Find your favorite Fatbike Trail


The wheels continue to turn

Grimsby Lincoln News
More than 100 cycling enthusiasts came together at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre in St. Catharines on Jan. 22, to hear details about Venture Niagara’s recently completed Niagara Cycling Tourism project. 
Niagara’s Olympic medallist Steve Bauer welcomed everyone by relating his personal cycling experiences to the evolution of cycling in Niagara. Bauer put some perspective on the many years of ongoing work by volunteers, local municipalities and regional staff that has brought the cycling infrastructure to where it is today.
Susan Morin, community economic development manager for Venture Niagara, was the presenter for the information session following Bauer’s greetings. She notes, “Venture Niagara received funding from the Ministry of Training, College and Universities to help hire a cycling tourism coordinator and provide resources for the project.” Key activities of the project included a cycling related environmental scan of the 12 Niagara municipalities, a survey of visiting cyclists, research on cycling friendly destinations through out the world, and attendance at several cycling related events. These events included participation in a Greenbelt workshop, the Ontario Bike Summit and staffing an information centre at this past summer’s Vélo Québec tour through Niagara.
The highlight of the morning meeting was the public launch of niagaracyclingtourism.com, a bilingual, cycling focused website with a video showcasing Niagara as a premier cycling tourism destination. To see the website information and video, visit www.niagaracyclingtourism.com. Businesses and organizations interested in benefitting from the growing popularity of cycling are invited to advertise on the site as it is relatively inexpensive to do so. In fact, several business owners in attendance at the information session took the opportunity to become among the first to purchase advertising on the site.
Numerous individuals, groups, organizations and municipalities across the region have worked towards establishing Niagara as a popular cycling destination for tourists, recreationists and locals. A variety of programs have been implemented in recent years to cater to this market. Two examples of such programs including Cycle and Stay Niagara and Share the Road- Bicycle Friendly Communities.  Cycle and Stay Niagara is a network of bicycle friendly B&Bs along major cycling routes that are willing to transfer cyclists’ luggage and purchases between accommodations while they are in Niagara. The Share the Road Bicycle Friendly Communities program is a cycling friendly designation program for municipalities. Out of 444 municipalities in Ontario, 26 are designated bicycle friendly. The Niagara region has five municipalities holding this designation. The Town of Pelham has a Silver designation and Grimsby, Thorold, Welland and St. Catharines have Bronze designations.
Much has been accomplished to develop Niagara into a popular cycling destination in recent years. However, there is still much more to be done by cycling supporters, municipalities and others to make this area the premier destination for cyclists from across the province and around the world. One of the most important partners in the future growth of this emerging market is small business in urban and rural Niagara. There are many opportunities for entrepreneurs to get on board by building cycling friendly and cycling related businesses. It’s a community project that embraces the whole Niagara Peninsula. For more information contact: Susan Morin, community economic development manager at Venture Niagara 905-680-8085 or visit the Niagara Cycling Tourism website,www.niagaracyclingtourism.com

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Ontario Trails News - Federal Government invests in the Blue of Blue-Green Trails

Be sure to join us in Hamilton for Trailhead Ontario 2015

National Conservation Plan 
National Conservation Plan 
October 29, 2014 13:04 ET

Harper Government Invests in Round II Recreational Fisheries Conservation Projects in Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale

The Government of Canada investing up to $5.5 million to restore recreational fisheries habitat through the National Conservation Plan
CARLISLE, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 29, 2014) - David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that under the second round of the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, the Government of Canada will provide up to $92,000 to Trout Unlimited Canada for a project to restore fish habitat in Courtcliffe Park, Carlisle, Ontario.
The Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program was announced in Economic Action Plan 2013 to support fisheries habitat restoration projects led by recreational fishing and angling groups, as well as conservation organizations. Given its early success and high demand, an additional investment in Economic Action Plan 2014 increased the funding available through the program to a total investment of $25 million.
On May 15, 2014, the National Conservation Plan was launched to provide a more coordinated approach to conservation efforts across the country. Since 2006, the Government of Canada has taken important steps to conserve and restore our country's natural environment and connect Canadians to our rich natural heritage. To date, the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program has invested nearly $6 million under Round I in 94 fisheries habitat restoration projects across Canada, an additional 128 projects under Round II is receiving up to $5.5 million, and most recently over 80 projects are eligible for funding under Round III. Details about the program can be found on the Program's Web site (www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/rfcpp-ppcpr/index-eng.html) where you can also sign up for updates.
Quick Facts
  • This project is part Trout Unlimited Canada's Bronte Creek Watershed Renewal Program.
  • The program is designed to improve coldwater habitat within the Bronte Creek watershed and specifically improve habitat for native Brook and naturalized Brown trout.
  • Under the first round of the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program, up to $1.2 million had been made available for 16 projects in Ontario.
  • Under the second round, up to $5.5 million for 128 projects to restore recreational fisheries habitat has been approved nationally.
  • Under the third round, up to $6.8M was committed to over 80 projects undertaken between 2014 and 2016.
Quotes
"The restoration of trout habitat in the creeks and ponds at Courtcliffe Park in Carlisle benefit everyone in Flamborough who fishes, hikes, bikes or walks their dog at this local gem. I'm pleased that this project is funded by our Government under the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program."
David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale
"Trout Unlimited Canada is pleased to be working with many partners including the Federal Government to improve water quality, fisheries and recreational opportunities by repairing Bronte Creek through Courtcliffe Park."
Silvia D'Amelio, Chief Executive Officer, Trout Unlimited Canada

CONTACT INFORMATION

  • Frank Stanek
    Media Relations
    Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    613-990-7537

    Sophie Doucet
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister
    Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    613-992-3474

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Ontario Trails - The Best in Ontario Outdoors recognized by Peers



Ontario Trails Council President recieves Queen Elizabeth II 2012 Diamond Jubilee Medal

“I was very surprised. It’s quite an honour and to get it from your peers to say that you have done a good job means a lot,” says de Wit. “I feel honoured, but I think there are a lot of people out there that are just as deserving.”

De Wit, who is president of the Ontario Trails Council, was chair of a committee formed in 2009-2010 that was responsible for distributing $8.3 million in federal stimulus funding earmarked for trail development in Ontario. With contributions from the private sector, close to 100 projects totaling about $25 million were approved across the province.

“It helped create jobs, it left a trail legacy, built trail capacity and it involved hundreds and hundreds of hours of volunteer time,” says Patrick Connor, a Medal Recipient as well, Executive Director of the Ontario Trails Council and one of de Wit’s nominators. 
Website Here
“The guy makes a difference. He’s a leader and he makes a difference. These medals are really a small recognition – a really nice recognition – of his volunteer leadership. It has made a difference in my life and in so many other lives.”

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. During the year of celebrations, 60,000 deserving Canadians will be recognized.

 
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Ontario Trail Membership
Membership renewals for 2013 are going out December 1st, 2012 We are sending them to you as our contact person - but is there someone else that has to absolutely get the invoice in your organization? We wish to make sure they land on the right desk! Board members or staff will be calling to confirm over the next weeks.

OTC Membership is Value for Money : How do we stack up? This year we will have1,000,000 unique visitors to the OTC website. For trails there is no other leader - not even nationally - and I quote from Context Creative:

"ComScore is a leading analytics organization that provides industry standard rankings used by many companies to assess their performance and investments in the digital world; many agency planners only go off ComScore numbers in their media buying initiatives. There are a couple of other trail sites as well, but Suite66 wasn't able to locate another one big enough to be reported in ComScore. So this is also impressive that OTC is present there.
 
For the month of September 2012, Canadian stats:
OntarioTrails.on.ca65,764 UVs (Unique Views) / 329,511 PVs (Page Views)
ComScore reports the following for comparison:
national outdoor org  50,440 UV’s / 249,000 PV’s
national geographic org:  41,000 UV’s / 114,000 PV’s"

So please tell you administrators that even in terms of a couple of hundred dollars in marketing expense, more people will see and use your trails because of your presence on the OTC website. The site is no longer supported by the province - so we need your financial support to manage, update and improve the site every day! Join Today - Use Paypal!
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Trailhead Ontario:June 9-11, 2013Our Favourite Place, Peterborough

Our Plan for 2013 – We are working with the full support of  Our Favorite Place (RTO8), Peterborough and the Kawartha’s Tourism and a number of local trails groups to bring you the best Trailhead Ontario yet!. There are a lot of new trails and trail tourism partnerships in RTO8. The Ontario Trails “Trailhead Ontario 2013″ Committee is  is pleased to announce the Holiday Inn Waterfront Peterborough as the location of our conferencing. Site locations for our trail education program are being determined now.
New for 2013 -Regional Tourism development includes trails. Trail packages, trail experiences, trail destinations. This takes a blending of major destinations, natural topographies, parks, conservation, county forest and up to 18 different trail activities. What’s in your “Trail Mix”? What’s our plan for marketing this unique matrix of dynamic outdoor experiences so that the world can find the world’s best range of trail fun right here at home. 

Ontario Trail Experiences on our Youtube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBF3D4D9FD90E7818
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http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL324C2083CF1F0023
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9BF1C95273F5CF65
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDE8BB0F3D183ADC9
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL76B50CDD9119BEA3
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA452E7BE6EC49481
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL86A21B727BA348E4
Map Here


http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL99BE05BBA0909166


http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL18C5BB037E96BB89
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http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA710BF31861064E0
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCAD16B0015D7DA80
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2A7ED69816483B7F
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL10D8338ED999DDF1
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE7059341811F1347
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www.youtube.com/user/ontrails
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Horses -  

 
Rural communities in Wellington County are constantly seeking to increase economic activity. The horse industry has been one of the major forms supporting economic growth in rural Ontario. This research will investigate the potential for horse trail system development in Wellington County. The resu...

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Sign Up Today
Be sure to sign up for the weekly OTC Newsletter " Trailwise" you can sign up at the link through the picture to the right. Or if you prefer download a recent copy from the OTC Website - Here
 

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Supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation
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