Man is Injured on the Bruce Trail

"On Saturday night, a group of young party-goers defied the integrity of the rugged Bruce Trail, and after an evening of fun around a bonfire, one young man decided that his night vision was sufficient to enable him to travel the precarious trail alone. This group of party enthusiasts obviously did not read the hiking manual before they set out."

The Across Canada Trails Foundation: Supporting the Free Garmin GPS Route Map: Public Todo list

I'm publically listing my todo list, so incase there is anything others are also working on, or want to get it done before i do, they are welcome to it :-) Here's my public todo list (there is lots more, but this is the main important stuff):
- finish uploading the Ibycus 3.0 Garmin IMG files to mediafire
-- ask around for donated ftp space
('cause a download script is easier than that big torrent file)
-finish and test the contour/osm IMG garmin mapsource map creater batch script
-convert the Ontario Parks/protected areas shp files to osm format
-trace the Bruce Trail & southern Nova Scotia highway/secondary roads"
for more click link

Index

"Toronto Trailbladers is an inline skating fitness club consisting of adults (age 21 ) who want to keep fit, enjoy the outdoors, have fun and meet new friends.

We meet at various trails throughout Toronto and the province for afternoon, evening and weekends of rollerblading. We stress fitness, but we are not a racing club."

Green City Cycle Tour

"The Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) offers tours of sustainable energy sites, which can be customized to meet the needs and interests of groups from a variety of backgrounds.

We will tour some of the most progressive green energy initiatives in Toronto, such as solar PV arrays, solar hot water heating, green roofs and urban wind turbines."

CTV Toronto - Former Lake Erie 'hotspot' successfully restored - CTV News

"WHEATLEY HARBOUR, Ont. — A Lake Erie harbour designated an area of concern for more than 20 years is no longer an environmental hot spot.

The ecosystem at Lake Erie's Wheatley Harbour has been restored, and is now home to a diverse community of fish and wildlife.

The harbour, just east of Point Pelee in southwestern Ontario, was designated an area of concern under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1985.

The provincial government worked with Environment Canada and the Essex Region Conservation Authority to improve the harbour's environment."

Bike friendliness an uphill struggle in Sarnia - The Sarnia Observer - Ontario, CA

"Sarnia can't call itself a bike-friendly city yet but it is getting closer, according to an organizer of Sarnia-Lambton Bike Month 2010

Ron Yorke, chairperson of the Bluewater Trails Committee, said the aim of bike month, a project of Lambton's Active Transportation Committee, is to raise cycling's profile and encourage more residents to start peddling."

Duluth News Tribune | Duluth, Minnesota

"On an early April canoe trip to Knife Lake on the Minnesota-Ontario border, Steve Piragis of Ely was greeted by this bull moose (identified by markings on his head indicating he had shed his antlers). Piragis and friends paddled into the canoe country on April 9 after the ice had gone out far earlier than usual. (Sam Cook / scook@dululuthnews.com)"

Bovaird House Home Page

Historic Bovaird House and Carriage House Craft Shop are open yearly from mid-February to mid-December
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday
noon to 4:00 pm. We will be closed Sundays May 2nd & May 9th for Mother's Day Teas."

Community gathers for Earth Day - Welland Tribune - Ontario, CA

"The cold and dreary weather did nothing to damper the spirits of Welland residents who gathered Saturday to celebrate Earth Day on Merritt Island.

As part of the city's fifth annual celebration, the Metis community was asked to participate and share with the public its connection to the earth, said Ward 3 Coun. Paul Grenier.

The event began with Clayton Latham and brother James, members of the Metis Nation of Ontario, performing a traditional aboriginal smudging ceremony as the crowd gathered around."

The beauty of birding at the Leslie Street Spit - The Globe and Mail

"Right now, the annual spring migration is bringing some of the loveliest birds in the world into Toronto and almost nobody pays attention but the cats. Millions of warblers and other songbirds that have been wintering in Central and South America pour, in a concentrated rush, literally right past our doors on their way to the boreal forests. For the next few weeks, gorgeous little yellow-rumped warblers and brown creepers and northern flickers and nearly 300 other species fill our gardens and parks."

TVO.ORG | Greenbelt Adventure - Dog Sledding

Dog Sledding

A young boy rides a dog sled for the first time in Ontario's Greenbelt.


Sunday, April 18 at 10:55 AM"

Get Inspired – Grassroots Rural Tourism is THE future and the future is here now - DestiCorp 2.0

"Rural tourism is hot – not just because it offers an attractive alternative to mass, urban based tourism but because a). it exemplifies all the characteristics that many urban dwellers are starting to value: scale, pace, authenticity, responsibility, one-of-a kind; craft, meaning; and b). is grassroots – emerging from people willing to take responsibility for their communities. Leadership is being shared. No one is waiting on policies and plans but just doing it!"

A Brief Guide to Outdoor Camping and Hiking Rules

"Backcountry camping rules apply to everyone who plans to stay overnight in a hiking or camping area. Familiarize yourself with the backcountry code before you go camping or hiking anywhere.

Plan Ahead When You Go Hiking or Camping
Figure out the nature of your trip. Where will you go, how long will you stay and how many people will come? Call ahead and make reservations. Familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of the specific area. Make a list of all the equipment, gear and clothing that will be needed. Send a list of essentials to everyone in the group. Pack enough food, snacks and water to last your trip, as well as a bit extra."

For more similar information check out OTC Trail Smart pages.

The Urban Country: Toronto Inches Forward At Record Speed

"In February - along with iBikeTO.ca - we revealed that Toronto’s imminent BIXI bike sharing program had been been jeopardized. Disappointed by this news, we partnered up with other cycling advocates in the city – with leadership from the Toronto Cyclists Union - to urge citizens to put pressure on their local Councillors and revive the prospect of bike sharing in Toronto.

Our voices were heard, councillors felt the pressure, and City Hall staff pulled its magic strings to get BIXI back on the table to be implemented by May 2011 – one year later than its original planned launch date."

New National Whitewater Kayak Program for Instruction - Rapid, The Whitewater Kayaking and Canoeing Magazine

"Whitewater kayak instructors in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and B.C. will need to upgrade their certifications this spring in order to be covered under a new national program.

Canoe Kayak Canada (CKC), the Sport Canada umbrella organization for Whitewater Ontario (WO), will officially unveil its new National Whitewater Kayak Certification program this spring, and past or current instructors certified by WO or Paddle Canada will need to take a CKC re-cert course in order to continue offering certified whitewater instruction.

Read on for an overview of the new CKC national certification program and how it will be implemented, what the new cert means for existing instructors and details on free re-cert courses offered this spring."

Sydenham River Canoe Race set - Petrolia Topic - Ontario, CA

"The 37th annual Sydenham River Canoe Race is being held on Sunday, April 18.

The race, sponsored by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, begins on Mosside Road just west of County Road 79, north of Cairo in Dawn-Euphemia Township, and features 10 classes and three different race lengths. All classes will finish at the Shetland Conservation Area on Bentpath Line."

On the trail of a good idea - The Barrie Examiner - Ontario, CA

"Peter Dunbar thinks in circles, big round loops that people can cycle or hike along.

Dunbar, who, as Collingwood's director of leisure services, claims among his successes the 32-kilometre long Collingwood-Meaford rail trail and the 52-kilometre Georgian Trail network.

He figures if enough people put their heads, and their trails together, Simcoe County could well end up with something fine, attracting tourists, providing health benefits, along with fun for local residents."

'Blueprint' compiled for saving waterfront - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA

"A bold 'environment-first' waterfront master plan designed to preserve and enhance natural areas along the Grand River within the confines of the city, and highlight the city's connection to the river was presented Wednesday at a public meeting attended by about 100 people at the Mohawk Park pavilion.


The draft plan, which will be presented to city council on June 14, offers a framework to protect the Grand River and its tributaries as a fundamental public resource for city residents. It was compiled by a team of consultants called The Planning Partnership, along with city officials."

Bike Lanes part of Mayoral Campaign

Transportation issues have been a dominant part of the mayoral campaign so far, which kicked off on Jan. 4.

Earlier this week, many candidates voiced their outrage at a city proposal to establish physically-separated bicycle lanes on a portion of University Avenue in the downtown core on a four-month trial basis.

City traffic engineers have said the lanes will have little or no impact on traffic.

Rocco Rossi, the former national director of the Liberal Party, has long staked out a stance of opposing bicycle lanes on major thoroughfares. He called the plan 'sheer madness.'

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti (Ward 7, York West) has vowed to remove new bike lanes and wants to impose a tax of $20 to $30 on bicycles. He had offered to support the city's 2010 operating budget if Miller waived the vehicle registration free for seniors -- a voting demographic Mammoliti has been targeting.

Coun. Rob Ford (Ward 2, Etobicoke North) has also come out against the lanes.

Former provincial cabinet minister George Smitherman has called for a timeout on new bicycle lanes."

Coureurs de Bois Voyageur Trail Outdoors Club, Elliot Lake Ontario: Trail Clearing with Katimavic

"Coureurs de Bois will be trail clearing on Sunday, 18th. April with the Katimavic group. Plan is to attack the south Banana Lake trail. Please join us at 65 Dieppe at 10am. if you feel like giving a hand."