Ontario News North | Tag Archive | Ontario Conservation Officers Association

"As the 2010 hunting seasons draw to a close, the Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) would like to take this opportunity to thank the tens of thousands of responsible Ontario hunters who helped to make this a safe and enjoyable hunt."

Royal Botanical Gardens Hosts Back to Nature Event

I hope that you can join us for this special event on Friday, January 28 from 10 a.m. to noon. Not only will this morning mark the launch of the OTF-funded Back to Nature Network project, it will also celebrate the opening of RBG’s new family exhibition, Wild Music: Songs and Sounds of Life, and provide a sneak preview of the exhibit before its public opening on the 29th. It will also recognize new funding to support further work on the Cootes to Escarpment Parks System, a multi-partner greenspace protection initiative led by RBG.

Contact Barb McKean at: bmckean@rbg.ca

EDCO Presentation For EDCO Members Only!

Who: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

What: Pre-Conference Workshop on FedDev Ontario

When: Tuesday February 1, 2011, 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Where: Ontario Investment and Trade Centre,
250 Yonge Street, 35th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2H1 - Galleria

Cost: No charge

Description of Session:

Join us for an introductory workshop to the new Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), which was created as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan to support businesses and communities in southern Ontario.

This workshop will provide an overview of FedDev Ontario and a series of new initiatives designed to help create new opportunities, innovations and a stronger economy for southern Ontario, including the Applied Research and Commercialization Initiative, Technology Development Program, Graduate Enterprise Internship, Scientists and Engineers in Business, Investing in Business Innovation, Prosperity Initiative, and the Youth STEM Initiative.

YorkRegion Article: Georgina project expected for summer use

"Completion of the town’s touted Recreation Outdoor Campus will be “unavoidably” delayed by seven months, but the setback won’t affect use of its many facilities this summer, staff told council Monday night.
Despite the delay, the goal is to have all components of the ROC and multi-purpose trails complete by June 30 and ready for summer use, stated a report by manager of development and business services Brock McDonald.
A slow start by the contractor, necessary design changes, an unseasonably wet summer and early winter and the “sheer magnitude” of the ROC project are to blame for the setback, Mr. McDonald said."

Frontenac Biosphere to Host Learning Workshop

For information on a wide variety of trail events, workshops and seminars see:

Ontario Trails Events

International Biodiversity Day Notification

Hello friends and colleagues

Are you interested in participating in International Biodiversity Day? Some funding is available. Call for details

Barrie Martin
Chair
Biodiversity Education and Awareness Network
705-754-3436 (telephone/fax)
705-457-7557(cell)
http://www.biodiversityeducation.ca/

Off the beaten path - St. Thomas Times-Journal - Ontario, CA

"Brian Wilsdon is passionate about the joy he experiences after an exhilarating walk.

That's why on most weekends, friends and neighbours will likely find him on one of the many walks the Elgin Hiking Trail Club has planned for 2011.

Locations like the Dalewood Conservation Area, trails in and around Springwater Conservation Area, the Dutton Trans Canada Trail, Pinafore Park and Lake Margaret are where the walkers go to get their outdoor fix in St. Thomas-Elgin."

Ontario Hiking and Walking Trails

CottageCountryNow Article: Caution urged as ice fishing, snowmobiling season gets underway in the region

"HUNTSVILLE – Winter weather may not mean lake ice is safe, warn Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Const. Lynda Cranney, Huntsville OPP media relations officer, said snowmobile operators should check trail statuses with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs before heading out because some trails might be closed. Trails that travel across water bodies could be dangerous if the ice is not properly frozen, she said.

“A lot of them are not safe right now because of the warm weather we’ve had,” said Cranney of area lakes after a week of higher temperatures in the region. But she also said some areas such as the inlet at the Dwight beach freeze faster because of their location and depth. At the end of December, ice-fishing huts started popping up on top of watery ice in the area."

Ontario Trail Smart

MADD Canada & Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations: Keep the Booze Away Until Riding is Done for the Day | Benzinga.com

"OAKVILLE, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 12, 2011) - If you're hitting the trails this snowmobile season, the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations and MADD Canada are urging you to drive sober.

The two organizations are teaming up to battle alcohol-related snowmobile fatalities and injuries with a National 'Zero Tolerance' Awareness Day on January 16, 2011. This fifth annual joint ride is the feature event of International Snowmobile Safety Week which is being held from January 16 - 22, 2011."

Ontario Trail Smart

SGB OPP Detachment among safest roads and trails in region - Midland Free Press - Ontario, CA

"North Simcoe residents are living in a community with very safe roads thanks to a strong and dedicated police presence.

According to Provincial Constable David Hobson Southern Georgian Bay Detachment OPP can boast some of the lowest stats across Central Region, for personal injury motor vehicle accidents (PI -MVA), property damage motor vehicle accidents (PD-MVA) and fatalities on roadways."

Baby It’s Cold Outside – Travel Magazines Have Winter Covered - thestar.com

"Tonya Williams leads friends Emma Manchester (centre) and Nicholas Cumming along the trails at Schneider's woods during an afternoon of cross country skiing at the popular property north of Waterloo, Ont. The latest batch of travel magazines have lots more winter ideas."

FYI: So does our website - Ontario Trails

Everyone encouraged to take a hike - Barry's Bay This Week - Ontario, CA

"The project is entitled 'Footprints in Time,' and will develop a template that can be used to create new trails or enhance existing ones, in an effort to draw more currently sedentary residents to get outdoors.
The impetus for the grant is the current state of inactivity among a large proportion of Renfrew County residents, especially young people.

Keetch presented statistics showing that more than 80 per cent of Canadian youth do not get the recommended amount of physical activity in a day, even with school activities. As a consequence, more than a quarter of young people have been found to be overweight or obese."

Ontario Hiking and Walking Trails

ATV recovered - Belleville Intelligencer - Ontario, CA

"An ATV four-wheeler, reported stolen New Year's eve from an Avondale Road address, was recovered by city police and two people arrested in its theft.

Last Friday afternoon, police were called to a report of 'two suspicious males pushing a yellow ATV on Maitland Drive.' Police on arrival saw the ATV travelling west on Maitland Drive with two passengers aboard. When police tried to pull it over, the driver of the ATV failed to stop for police and continued driving west on Roblin Road, said police."

Ontario ATV Trails

Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area | real ontario travel - Tourism Business Listing

"Bowmanville Harbour provides hiking and biking trails and is located on Lake Ontario in the Municipality of Clarington. There is a boat launch, parking and nearby access to the waterfront."

Ontario Hiking Trails

24 Hours Vancouver - Toronto Boat Show

"Show-goers can get out on the water for a ride in an inflatable boat, canoe, kayak or paddleboat.

There are personal watercraft, boat-handling and stand-up paddle boarding demonstrations as well as canoe and kayak seminars."

Ontario Canoe Trails

ORCKA - Level 3 Courses

ORCKA

Ontario Water Trails

Simcoe Blog: Hiking Books!

"If you live (or have lived) in or near the Halton watershed and like nature, you will enjoy the beautiful coffee-table book Halton: Rising, Wild, and Beckoning. Filled with informative text by Ann Guthrie (as well as a Foreword by Robert Bateman and an Introduction by Gary Hutton), stunning photographs by numerous photographers and colour maps the reader will learn about many of the natural areas in the Halton watershed. Some of the areas featured include: Crawford Lake, Rattlesnake Point, Bronte Creek Provincial Park, Sixteen Mile Creek and the Niagara Escarpment."

Ontario Hiking Trails

'Big jump' for Tribe - The Barrie Examiner - Ontario, CA

"Erin Tribe was taking a well-deserved break Monday.

On Sunday, she competed in her third and final cross-country skiing trials races in Thunder Bay, hoping to grab a spot in her age group on the national team.

'We had three races ... they were do or die,' said the 21-year-old Horseshoe Valley woman who was the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame's amateur athlete of the year for 2007."

Ontario Cross Country Trails

i bike burlington: On The Right Track

"It's nice to know that Burlington's 2009 Cycling Master Plan is on the right track -  the cycle track.

European cycle tracks
Common in European cities, 'cycle tracks are bike lanes separated from travel lanes, parking lanes and sidewalks by pavement markings, pavement colouring, bollards, curbs, raised medians, or a combination of these elements. They are used by cyclists only.'"

Ontario On-Road Cycling Trails

Letter: Busy and Challenging Year

"In the North East Region there has been 121 fewer crash victims this year than last – that's 121 fewer families and communities impacted by a collision’s aftermath. There have been 158 fewer personal Injury and 432 fewer property damage collisions this year than last.

Notably, there has been an increase in traffic deaths in 2010, with 58 persons losing their lives in roadway crashes, 7 on MSV trails, 5 on ATVs and 7 on the water."