GuelphMercury.com - Local - Canoe club helps clean river

"It’s not so much that members of the Waterloo Wellington Canoe Clue like getting their hands dirty.

But after a summer of paddling the Speed and other rivers along the Grand River watershed, sharing camaraderie and enjoying the peace and calm that the river gives, they felt it was time to give back."

Events - Harvest Ontario

"Spook Nights OCTOBER 22, 2010
Dare to walk the Spooky Trail or corn maze. Helping Support our 3 local hospitals."

For a full list of Ontario Trail Events see: http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trail-news-events-2/

Snowmobiling gets annual Boost

Ontario is supporting winter tourism by promoting the sustainability of snowmobile trails across the province. The Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture, has announced a $3 million winter tourism investment through the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), the not-for-profit, volunteer-driven organization that manages and maintains snowmobile trails in Ontario.

Minister of Tourism to Address Snowmobilers

he Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture, will be addressing snowmobilers on Friday, September 17, at a lunch of the 43rd Convention and Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC). Minister Chan is expected to make an important announcement about snowmobiling and winter tourism.

E-mail OFSC for more information: ofscmedia@dmaproductions.ca

Check out Go Snowmobiling any time for the latest in snowmobiling information, tips and safety. http://www.gosnowmobiling.org/contact.asp

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION - CANADA: Cyclists aim to change Ontario attitudes and laws

"For the past five years, hundreds of riders across Ontario have taken part in Greg's Ride, organized by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in memory of a police officer struck and killed while riding his bicycle."

Simcoe Article: Boaters paddle for heart health

"The first annual Paddle Rally for Heart, supporting the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario, gets underway at 8:30 a.m. on Sept 18 at Centennial Beach Park. It continues until noon.

The non-competitive fundraiser encourages participants to use any non-motorized vessel (canoe, kayak, rowing shell or dragon boat) to navigate a two-kilometre course. The registered charity is hosting the inaugural event in conjunction with the Barrie Rowing Club, the Barrie Canoe & Kayak Club and the Dragon Boat Club."

The OTC encourages all Ontarians to get out and get active! Do it on a trail - http://ontariotrails.on.ca

Juicy Mountain Biking Tidbits from Parks Canada IMBA Canada Ontario Rep Blog: All things IMBA Canada, ON

"This is a national approval only and mountain biking is not necessarily going to be approved at all Parks. In areas where it is approved locally, additional guidelines may be created. So if you happen to live near, ride in, frequent, or otherwise visit a National Park strike up a conversation with the staff, ideally the park superintendent, and let them know you’d certainly welcome mountain biking in their park.
National Parks in Ontario:
Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Pukaskwa National Park
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Fathon Five National Marine Park (probably not going to be mountain biking here )
Point Pelee National Park
St. Lawrence Islans National Park"

For a list of trails in National Parks - see http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trails-a-z/, then search by region and town for the park in that area.

Bear makes his escape from Champlain Trail Museum - The Daily Observer - Ontario, CA

"After touring the city of Pembroke most of Thursday, a two-year-old black bear has moved onto greener pastures.

When Don Lewis, senior fish and wildlife technician with the Ministry of Natural Resources, arrived at the Champlain Trail Museum early Friday morning to check the trap that had been set Thursday night, it was empty and the bear was nowhere to be found.


After a number of sightings around the city, the bear was finally cornered by officers from the Pembroke Police Service and MNR and he decided to perch himself up a tree on the museum property around 5 p.m."

Be bear wise! see: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Bearwise/index.html

Ontario Trails Continues Long History of Supporting Safe Cycling

Letter to Norm Miller, MPP -

September 8, 2010

Dear Mr. Miller;

On behalf of the membership of the Ontario Trails Council (OTC) we welcome and endorse your effort to introduce a private members bill to improve cycling safety and the building of dedicated cycling lanes.

Since 2002 the Ontario Trails Council has worked with various partners, such as Velo-Ontario, Cycle Ontario Alliance, Bruce County, Manitoulin Island Economic Development, CAN-Bike, Chatham-Kent Trails Committee, Rainbow Routes, Walk and Bike for Life, Go for Green, Ontario Cycles, Toronto Cyclists Union and a host of others to advocate for cost effective cycling insurance, cyclist training for youth, dedicated cycling lanes and public awareness of the economic and health benefits of cycling.

Ontario Trails has made direct comment on the building of cycling friendly roads in North Bay, Thunder Bay, Sudbury and other places. Specifically, in 2003-07 we offered direct input recommending the building of cycling infrastructure as part of the Hwy 11 bridge construction at Hunter's Bay bridge development in Huntsville. We believe that the directive contained in your proposed bill to provide road access to cyclists, or other alternative, would have assured that project managers would have implemented our suggestions.

As a member of the Ontario Trails Coordinating Committee, in partnership with the Ministry of Health Promotion we have often discussed in committee the benefits of on-road cycling and the use of an integrated recreational trails and cycling lanes as an alternative transportation strategy. We made these suggestions in support of the Metrolinx and GTA Greenbelt Development plans, and we ensured these recommendations were carried forward into the Provincial Policy Statement and the Ontario Trails Strategy.

In 2008 in a series of meetings with the Ministers of Finance, Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Transportation, OTC repeatedly made request to make road improvements that see improved road longevity while providing a space for cyclists. It is our hope that your bill will be passed and thereby ensure an easier pathway for groups at the local and regional levels to implement safer cycling alternatives.

Best regards,


Mr. Patrick Connor, SSA, CAE, BA(H)
Executive Director
Ontario Trails Council
V.P. Canadian trails Federation
Director, National Trails Coalition

Pave highway shoulders for cyclists, Ontario urged

"The uneasy co-existence between rural cyclists and automobiles can be fixed, according to an Ontario politician, who is asking the province to pave the shoulders of its country highways.

Norm Miller, Conservative MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, says another metre of pavement would give the growing number of cyclists in Ontario some breathing room on the roads."

Run Off the Grid Trail Run | Canada | Ontario | September 25, 2010

"Ontario's race with the smallest footprint. Be a part of the first annual ‘Run Off-the-Grid’ trail run – Ontario’s greenest run offering some of the most breathtaking scenery the province has to offer. New to trail running or long distance running? Take part in the 'Learn to Trail Run', which encourages participants to walk, jog or run the trails at your own pace."

TransCanada Trail Partners with North Shore Communities on Lake Superior�|�netnewsledger.com

"TransCanada Trail (TCT) Ontario, in partnership with the Townships of Nipigon, Red Rock, Dorion, Shuniah, and Thunder Bay Tourism, is focusing on trail development in the region for the next year by hiring a full time trails coordinator.

Trails coordinator James Williams started work in early September. He will be building a regional trails committee serving the area from Nipigon to Pigeon River. The umbrella group will support the work of local trails associations. His first task, however, will be a feasibility study on converting the CN Kinghorn corridor between Nipigon and Thunder Bay into a multi-use trail."

Tour de Greenbelt: a fresh air festival on wheels | Fun Ontario newsletter

"The Tour de Greenbelt is a festival that combines healthy, active living and education in a family-oriented bike adventure. The Tour is a leisurely “stop and smell the Greenbelt” ride with activities before, during and after the ride. All ages and skill level can attend – just pick the distance and route that best suits you.

The ride takes you along a fully paved and marshaled bike ride through scenic countryside. Planned rest stops allow you to recharge and explore farms, lakes, parks, wineries, towns and other natural attractions. It’s a chance to enjoy fresh, local food, hear live music and the kids will enjoy special activities too. No planning on your part needed – just show up with your bike and helmet. They’ll even take care of providing you with snacks, beverages and a lunch."

Not near or able to get to the Greenbelt, try one of over 400 cycling routes in Ontario, see: http://ontariotrails.on.ca, then select on road or off road.

Green / Environmental Event: Conservation Leaders Meet at Annual Gathering, Ontario Land Trust Alliance "Expanding Horizons" (Oct 28 - 30)

"The Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) is proud to announce its ninth Annual Gathering, “Expanding Horizons”, celebrating the Ontario land trust movement and the power of partnerships. The conference runs October 28-30, 2010, centered at the Holiday Inn in Peterborough, Ontario."

Sarah Thomson releases “Bike City” Plan | Biking Toronto

"Today saw mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson release her bicycle transportation policy, dubbed Bike City.

Sarah and/or her team has done their homework on this to attract people who love biking… proposing a good chunk of new cycling infrastructure features (ie. bike boxes, bicycle boulevardes, etc) and physically separate bikelanes on University Ave, Richmond Street and Adelaide street.

They have also thought of the non-cycling part of the population (some of whom are hostile to new bikelanes, especially in the old boroughs of the city)… proposing that instead of bikelanes on arterial roads outside of downtown, sharrows are put in instead… with bikelanes implemented as cycling levels rise in that area.� This not only solves the complaint of “no one uses the bikelanes” but allows for expansion of a downtown network as that network draws in riders from outside the core."

Parks, Forestry and Recreation : Trails - Rehabilitation & Volunteer Opportunities

"As the City of Toronto grows and population increases, the pressure on our natural areas from recreational use intensifies. Toronto 's trail network is a popular destination for mountain bikers, hikers, runners, dog-walkers, school and camp groups, nature enthusiasts, and other users. Trail rehabilitation projects are required to repair the damage caused by the daily wear and tear of such recreational use.

Landowner concerned about unauthorized ATV use - Amherstburg Echo - Ontario, CA

"Unauthorized ATV and off-road vehicle use has a local landowner concerned about public safety.

Construction on the Amherstburg Solar Park located on the corner of North Side Road and Concession 2 North is underway but the landowner Loris Collavino is concerned about those who are using the land without permission.


Collavino said there have been numerous people trespassing on the land and that is something he wants to avoid particularly when it is an active construction site. He has observed people using dirtbikes and ATVs to jump off of mounds of dirt while others have made sharp turns in front of moving trucks and construction equipment."

So is the OTC! That's why we introduced the Trillium Trail Pass as a means of controlling access and ensuring trail development. For a copy of the OTC business plan, approved by trail users in May 2007, e-mail ontrails@gmail.com

Wrapping up Ranger’s work - Bancroft This Week - Ontario, CA

"During the month of August the Ontario Stewardship Rangers completed a variety of jobs in the surrounding area.

For the first week of August we assisted with clearing, cleaning and beautifying trails as well as cleaning up the remnants of the Rockhound Gemboree. A huge part of the success of the event is the volunteers that set up and take down the resources necessary for the event to run."

Do you have a trail champion running for council? We'd like to know about trail friendly candidates. ontrails@gmail.com

Take the Lane: Is there a cycling champion running for your council?

"At 2 p.m. Friday, nominations will close across Ontario for this year's municipal elections. Will there be anyone in your community who will be a champion for cycling?

I wonder about that as the clock ticks down."

In fact Ontario Trails asks - is there a Trails Champion?

Area's trails celebrated - Brantford Expositor - Ontario, CA

"A free hike and bike event takes place in Brantford on Saturday to celebrate the area's trails.

In conjunction with Ontario Heritage Trust's Trails Open Ontario, Tourism Brantford is promoting a local event featuring a 20-kilometre bike ride and a 2.5-kilometre hike.

The bike ride begins at noon and will start and finish at the picnic shelter located at Gilkison Flats, at Gilkison and Mount Pleasant streets."

For a list of trails, open 24/7, see http://ontariotrails.on.ca