FAMILY DAY

Midland Free Press
If the snow is deep, bring snowshoes and ski poles for a great workout. .... associated with theOntario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

February features flurry of fishing activities
Northumberland Today
How about the Ontario Family Fishing Weekend from Feb. ... Dave said he heard no sounds of a snowmobile or ATV in the area and in the stillness and quiet of ...


Is bicycle-friendly in city's future?
The Beacon Herald
Among participants at the event will be representatives from Cycle Ontario, the Avon Trail Association, Stratford Runners and Walkers, and the Perth District Health Unit. Local bicycle retailers Totally Spok'd and Ross' Bike Works will also have ...
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Conservation Ontario

have the potential to improve and enhance environmental management in Ontario. Conservation Ontario, representing the province's 36 Conservation ...
www.conservationontario.ca/.../Drummond_Report_CO_React...

GRCA lobbying Queen's Park to protect funding
Cambridge Times
Given the coming cuts in provincial spending, Schultz said the GRCA and Conservation Ontario(the association for Ontario's conservation authorities) are concerned about future funding for vital projects and programs. GRCA officials will be reminding ...
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Gutsy Walk - Devynn Brooks - Toronto
Gutsy Walk for Crohn's and Colitis - Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada ... Walk with Us - It Takes Guts to Find a Cure ... Devynn Brooks -- Toronto ...
https://secure.ccfcfindthecure.ca/ParticipantPage.aspx?...

Deadly weekend in Muskoka

CottageCountryNow.ca
11, OPP reports that two snowmobiles carrying four people were travelling the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) D102 trail near Milford Bay when, at approximately 11:30 am, one of the sleds left the trail and crashed.
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Holloway coaching era at Hillcrest drawing to a victorious end
Ottawa Citizen
Joy, who is returning to cross-country skiing after focusing on kayaking last ... it assures me it's possible,” said Joy, an Ontario Ski Team member in 2010 ...


Regional Round-Up
EMC Kemptville
Ontario Early Years Centre workshops. Pre-registration is necessary. .... Rideau Cup Sled Dog and Skijoring Races in Newboro. Feb. 25 (weather permitting) ...

Public Transport | Trailhead Ontario

Multi-use trails, bicycle lanes and sidewalk improvements are among several measures outlined in Peel's Active Transportation strategy endorsed today by ...
trailheadontario.com/tag/public-transport/

Trailhead Ontario | Ontario Trails Council
Our Annual Conference is called Trailhead Ontario Join us for our annual gathering of trail leaders, planners, trail enthusiasts, managers, funders and ...
www.ontariotrails.on.ca/become-a-member/trailheadontario

Ontario Trails - Ski, Sled, Hike, Bike or Paddle Ontario's Trails

Highland Wilderness Tours Horse Camps in Maynooth, Ontario ...

Highland Wilderness Tours Horse Camps in Maynooth, Ontario. Horse Stable for boarding, breeding, riding, equestrian lessons, training and more. Features ...
horse-stables.findthebest.com/.../Highland-Wilderness-Tours-...

Councillors may walk out on Premier
The Barrie Advance
... from Bruce County municipality Arran-Elderslie that calls on rural representatives to walk out on the Premier when he ascends the stage to address the annual Good Roads Conference at the end of February at the Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto.
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Courting the granola - and gun - crowds
CTV.ca
Now Sail has Ontario in its sights. It has declared war on the province's outdoors specialty retail market, launching a full-out assault to grab market share in a growing but increasingly competitive market that features such giants as US-based Bass ...
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Action Alert: E-mail your support for safe cycling on John Street and Front Street today!

Toronto - This Thursday, the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) will review two street redesign projects which currently do not offer any provisions for safe cycling. The report recommendations forJohn Street and Front Street fall short of offering Complete Streets to Torontonians by excluding cyclists.Please e-mail your support for better cycling provisions on John Street and Front Street by Thursday, February 16!

How 1-Minute Intervals Can Improve Your Health
New York Times
... in Hamilton, Ontario, recently gathered several groups of volunteers. ... But they gamely agreed to undertake a newly devised program of cycling ...


Toronto Bike Show - What to expect? - Mountain Bike Review
I'm interested in going to the Toronto Bike Show and I'm trying to talk a couple guys I work with into going, but being my first time what can I.
forums.mtbr.com/.../toronto-bike-show-what-expect-768548.h...

Conserving our wetlands | Ontario Nature Blog
I was heartened to hear about some successful conservation actions happening right now inOntario. Dave Reid gave a great talk on the ALUS project in Norfolk ...
www.ontarionature.org/connect/blog/?p=275

Ontario Trails - Ski, Sled, Hike, Bike or Paddle Ontario's Trails

Sledders urged to 'take it easy' on the trails

The Barrie Examiner
By Robin MacLennan - Special to QMI Agency It has been a frustrating winter for snowmobile enthusiasts with the riding season stalled across most of southern and central Ontario. That frustration might be causing people to take unsafe chances, ...

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The List: 10 things award-winning theatre director Weyni Mengesha ...
Toronto Life
Riding my bike in Toronto makes me fall in love with the city. ... I grew up in Vancouver, and whenever I step into a Mountain Equipment Co-op, ...


Skiing is good for the heart
Guelph Mercury
But it is a passion that is hard to keep burning given southern Ontario's increasingly mild winters. Janet Brenchley-Krug and Tom Krug met on the trails that cross the rugged terrain in the Outaouais region just north of Ottawa while at university ...
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Spring brings septic inspections
CottageCountryNow.ca
“We're getting ready to ramp things up for the spring,” said North Bay-Mattawa ConservationAuthority (NBMCA) CAO Brian Tayler. Changes to Ontario's Building Code made in 2011 include mandatory maintenance inspection requirements for on-site sewage ...
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I Want Your Outdoor Job: Fiona Westner-Ramsay and Mike Ramsay, Canoe Paddle Makers

Paddling Instructor News (press release) (blog)
First out of the gate are friends of the site, Fiona Westner-Ramsay and Mike Ramsay, owners of Badger Paddles based out of Huntsville, Ontario. When not working on their canoe paddles, Fiona and Mike are the primary caregivers for their autistic son, ...
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Roseneath, Cobourg considered for visits from Musical Ride
Northumberland Today
... seen here on his horse Dare, is a member of the RCMP Musical Ride. ... This year it is in southern Ontario, so Constable James Marsden, a member of the ...


Underground Railroad cycling route expanded
Bicycle Retailer
... years after unveiling its 2000-mile Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, ... for cyclists traveling between Oberlin, Ohio, and Owen Sound, Ontario.


New Ontario Masters eRace Cancer Cycling Team & Club ...
February 08, 2012 (Toronto, ON) – Lori and Peter Kofman are pleased to announce the creation of a new Ontario-based masters' cycling racing team and club.
pedalmag.com/?p=149127

Register Today!

Ontario Trails - Ski, Sled, Hike, Bike or Paddle Ontario's Trails

High Noon for Gloucester's Desperados

Ottawa Citizen
A dozen Ottawa-Gatineau crosscountry skiers won 19 medals at the Haywood NorAm Eastern Canadian championships last weekend at the Nakkertok Nordic Cross-Country Ski Centre in Cantley, Que. Here are the medallists: Emilie Stewart-Jones, Nakkertok, ...
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Snowmobile Trails Still Closed
Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre
by Manny Paiva The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs reports its trails will not open immediately just because snow has returned. Administrator Karen Buratynski tells Bayshore Broadcasting News their volunteers have a lot of work to do before the ...

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Muskoka snowmobile crash claims lives of two Woodbridge men
Toronto Star
Another snowmobile carrying two people was on the same trail at the time of the crash, police said. All four people were on an official Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs Trail named D102. It's not clear what condition the trail was in although ...
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SVSU's Arthur earns trip to IHSA Nationals

Midland Daily News
Lifetime equestrian and Bullock Creek graduate Caitlin Arthur was recently named the top point-earning IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) rider ...

WDHS boasts three distinguished young athletes
Brantford Expositor
Tyrel was riding a horse with his dad even before his first birthday. ... Chuli competed for TeamOntario and got into the team this past year.

Bundle up! Bitter wind chill brings back freezing weather
Toronto Star
There's enough snow to cross country ski in parts of Toronto, as the city is expected to get up to 4 cm of snow Saturday. Flurries will continue well into the evening hours and then possibly again overnight Saturday. Other parts of Southwestern Ontario ...
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Cozy, warm and welcoming

Toronto Sun
A trio of snowshoers set out on a frozen Lake Ontario inside Sandbanks Provincial Park. The winter landscape is also accessible by foot or cross country ...

The Yeti Descends on Ontario's Blue Mountains
Snowshoe Magazine
Saturday's five-kilometre race was won by Trevor Thom of Toronto, a veteran trailrunner who competes in a handful of such races every season. Race organizer Hugh Fallon talked about the underground popularity of the sport in Ontario.
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Family Day tests outer limits
London Free Press
(Ontario Parks) Here are ways to keep everyone happy on the Family Day Weekend in Ontario. This includes outdoor adventures in parks, indoor Kids-Fests and Snowman Mania -- despite the absence of winter. Walk on the wild side Ontario Parks suggests the ...

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Bundle up! Bitter wind chill brings back freezing weather
Toronto Star
There's enough snow to cross country ski in parts of Toronto, as the city is expected to get up to 4 cm of snow Saturday. Flurries will continue well into the evening hours and then possibly again overnight Saturday. Other parts of Southwestern Ontario ...
See all stories on this topic »

McGuinty Government Supports Toronto As A Destination Of Choice

Ontario has helped make Toronto a premier travel destination, growing our economy and creating jobs for families.
Ontario's support for one of a kind festivals, cultural attractions, conventions and world-class sporting events has helped Toronto become a destination of choice for travellers, according to a new report released by Tourism Toronto.
In 2011, Toronto welcomed more hotel visitors than ever before.  In fact, more than 9 million hotel rooms were sold during the year, and Toronto welcomed over 10 million overnight visitors. This record setting year also saw Toronto increase the number of overnight visitors from the United States and around the world -- while, by comparison, overseas arrivals in the rest of Canada declined in 2011.
Other 2011 highlights include:

• Ontario enjoyed a 39.6 per cent market share of all overseas visitors to Canada.
• The biggest growth in overseas visitors to Toronto is from China (34.5 per cent increase), India (13.2 per cent), Italy (9.3 per cent) and Brazil (9.2 per cent).
• With 1,118 new hotel rooms Toronto's 3.4 per cent growth in hotel room inventory followed only New York City (up 5.5 per cent) and Nashville (up 4.2 per cent) in North America.
• Travel & Leisure Magazine has listed Toronto as one of its Hottest Travel Destinations of 2012.             

Supporting Ontario's tourism sector is part of the McGuinty government's plan to build a strong economy and create jobs for families.


QUICK FACTS

• 121,300 net new jobs were created in Ontario in 2011, with job growth in the province accounting for more than 45 per cent of all jobs created in Canada in 2011.
• In 2011, Toronto hosted major international events such as the SWIFT-Sibos banking conferences, the Greenbuild International Conference, the American Bar Association annual meeting, the JUNO Awards and International Indian Film Academy Awards.
• Microsoft has chosen Toronto as the host city for its 2012 Worldwide Partner Conference. More than 15,000 people are expected to attend, representing technology companies in 130 countries.
• Canadians continue to be the leading visitors to Toronto, with 6.4 million coming in 2011.

LEARN MORE

• Find out more about Tourism Toronto
• Discover places to go in the Greater Toronto Area
• Find out more about the Greater Toronto Area Tourism Region number 5

Ontario Trails - Ski, Sled, Hike, Bike or Paddle Ontario's Trails

Pave highway shoulders for cyclists Ontario urged

The uneasy co-existence between rural cyclists and automobiles can be fixed, according to anOntario.
www.leaderpost.com/health/Pave+highway.../story.html?...

The 2012 Reel Paddling Film Festival is now on Tour!
Canoeroots Magazine
Kicking off in Toronto, Ontario at The Royal Cinema, emcee and Founder and ... “With so many new paddling shops, clubs and events hosting the World Tour, ...


What does bike helmet law really do?
Maple Ridge News
By Jackie Chow - Maple Ridge News Having lived for a quarter of a century in the Netherlands – where nobody had ever told me I should wear a helmet when riding my bike – I have an opinion on this, and I'm quite happy to share it with you.
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Release of Trees Ontario Health Paper A Healthy Dose of Green: A prescription ...
Sacramento Bee
... and highlights the restorative effects of trees and forests," said Rob Keen, Trees Ontario CEO. "It offers recommendations to address the degradation of our natural environment through increased awareness, conservation and enhancement efforts.
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Rice Lake adventure lauded for romance
Northumberland News
... a stroll along Rice Lake hiking trails is short-listed as one of the top five great date spots inOntario's Greenbelt, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Trailhead Ontario 2012

Ontario Trails - Ski, Sled, Hike, Bike or Paddle Ontario's Trails

Peel adopts active transportation plan

Mississauga
Multi-use trails, bicycle lanes and sidewalk improvements are among several measures outlined in Peel's Active Transportation strategy endorsed today by ...

Secord trail advocates seek council support
Niagarathisweek.com
A group working to establish a permanent Laura Secord Trail and annual commemorative ... event” as part of that year's War of 1812 anniversary celebrations, ...

Never too early for water safety
Belleville Intelligencer
Thanks to Quinte Conservation's education co-ordinator Nicole Campbell, the conservation agency now offers the Spring Water Awareness Program — a revitalized program for local schools and homeschoolers tailored to promote safety while exploring ...
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Secord trail advocates seek council support
Niagarathisweek.com
A group working to establish a permanent Laura Secord Trail and annual commemorative ... event” as part of that year's War of 1812 anniversary celebrations, ...

Back To Nature Workshop

The Back to Nature Network Provincial Workshop is scheduled for March 7 and 8, 2012 at Royal Botanical Gardens (as many of you who belong to the listserv already know). Our keynote speaker is Dr. Frances (Ming) Kuo (see below for further details).  In addition, Dr. Kuo will be leading a panel discussion with workshop attendees on the afternoon of March 7. Registration is now open online at http://tickets.rbg.ca/PEO/show.asp.  The fee for the workshop is $50, but we are determined that cost will not be a barrier to participation; if it is, please contact me directly.

Centurion Cycling Takes it up a Notch in 2012
PR Web (press release)
Subaru Centurion Ontario (Horseshoe Valley, Ontario). A hidden gem of cycling just one hour north of Toronto in the Town of Oro-Medonte, Horseshoe Valley is where a series of horseshoe-shaped hills are relentless yet the quiet of the roads is amazingly ...
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Superintendent moving on after over a decade at Quetico Park
Atikokan Progress
Promotion of the park's winter tourism opportunities has aimed to increase off-season usage of Dawson Trail Campground's 30 km of ski trails, ...

Fish license-free this coming family day in Ontario
EMC Arnprior
The freebie weekend applies only to Canadian residents, and anglers must stick to the conservationlimits outlined for their area. Alesha Caldwell with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters administers the program, which encourages communities ...
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McGuinty Government And Right To Play Creating Opportunities For Aboriginal Youth

Ontario is helping more than 1,000 Aboriginal children and youth develop leadership skills to strengthen our future workforce, with support from partners.

The Promoting Life-skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) program has expanded to 39 First Nation communities across the province. PLAY is designed to develop young leaders within the community and empower them to create positive change.

The program has created more than 30 full-time jobs for community mentors who work with Aboriginal youth to take part in training workshops, plan community events and participate in sports. Fifty jobs have also been created for Aboriginal youth to work with community mentors to deliver programs.

Creating more opportunities for youth to succeed is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to support families, create new jobs and build a brighter future for all Ontarians.

• PLAY Program: List of Participating First Nation Communities
• Watch a video about the impact of the PLAY program in Pikangikum First Nation.
• Read more about PLAY.
• Support For Promoting Life-skills In Aboriginal Youth

Walking With A Camera: Toronto Photo Walks: Liberty Village
Toronto Photo Walks: Liberty Village. Okay, posting has been sparse for a variety of reasons. More on that later. This weekend I managed to make it out to the ...
walkingwithcamera.blogspot.com/.../toronto-photo-walks-liber...

Bubbling over white water in Minden
Minden Times
A delegation from Whitewater Ontario visited Minden Hills councillors at their ... a three-time Olympian and high-performance manager of Canoe/Kayak Canada.

More than Snow, Sleds, and Shenanigans.

LOCAL2 Sault Ste. Marie
Excited to ride in the event, Triplet isn't worried about there not being enough snow. Darrell Maahs, Past President and the Sault Trailblazers liaison for Snowarama, isn't worried either: “With the exception of a few locations where the trail will be ...
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Action taken to close snowmobile trails
Lake of the Woods Enterprise
3, where the Sunset Trail Riders provincial Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs trail crosses the Shoal Lake Road. JON THOMPSON/For The Enterprise By JON THOMPSON High-level talks with provincial Aboriginal Affairs staff on Feb.See all stories on this topic »

Riders, horses to test their limits
Standard Freeholder
COM CORNWALL – Several passionate horseback riders from the area are getting ... “Usually inOntario we try to have one international ride a year and nobody ...

Paris in the springtime, or a Valentine getaway
Montreal Gazette
Ontario Parks vacations The Ontario Parks network includes 330 parks. ... granting access to snowshoeing, bobsledding, ice climbing and snow tubing.

Nordic Ski Racer - Soo Finnish Club hosts Ontario Midget ...

This year's Ontario Midget Championships is being hosted by Soo Finnish Nordic in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, March 10 and 11. The organizing committee ...
www.nordicskiracer.com/news.asp?NewsID=5962

Fraser and Birosh excel at Nordic Eastern Canadian Championships
Bay Today
North Bay Nordic athletes and coaches returned from another successful race weekend in Gatineau, Quebec. Nakkertok Ski Club was the site of the Eastern Canadian Championships, a North American (Noram) competition and Ontario Cup Series race.
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Ontario's best compete in Sault Ste. Marie
SooToday.com
What: The competition will consist of 82 competitors' from across the province who, through a series of preliminary competitions, earned the opportunity to apply theircross-country skiing and rifle marksmanship skills in both a three-person team relay...
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Nordic Cross Country Championships: Latest News & Videos ...
...of approval to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations' request to close Huntsville's main drag for cross-country ski races. The organization is ...
economictimes.indiatimes.com/.../Nordic-Cross-Country-Cham...