Ontario Trails News - Canadian Ambassador Support Peace Hike - Torontonians involved, Go Snowmobiling Week Announced

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Ambassador Bercovici Joins Fellow Canadians in Hike Across Israel to Support Israeli Victims of Terror

The 8th annual On eFamily Cross Israel Hike is a 5-day sea-to-sea trek which raises money and awareness for victims of terror

By: Ayala Young

Published: November 4th, 2014 in News » Israel

Last weekend, 47 Canadians and over 100 Israeli victims of terror gathered for the eighth annual OneFamily Cross Israel Hike, a challenging 5-day Sea-to-Sea trek organized to raise money and awareness for Israeli victims of terror.

One Family, Israel's leading national organization rebuilding, rehabilitating, and reintegrating Israel’s injured and bereaved victims of terror and war, established the event to present Canadian supporters with a truly unique opportunity to empower and connect with victims of terror. This year's theme was "Hiking for Israel IN Israel" and took on an added level of importance and meaning given the events of this past summer.

"Hiking is a perfect way to show our solidarity. By supporting victims of terror, we help them heal one step at a time, one family at a time," explained Julie Schwartz, a native of Toronto and an eight-time event participant.

“Hiking is also a beautiful metaphor. Those who deal with a loss must keep moving forward regardless of the terrain. As survivors, they choose life, and keep putting one foot in front of the other,” continued Schwartz, who had lost her own son many years ago in Canada.

The five-day hike through Northern Israel’s Upper Galilee started at the white chalk hills of Rosh Hanikra by the Mediterranean Sea, followed by Nachal Kziv in the Western Galilee through the Summit Trail of Mount Meron to the Amud River. The "Sea to Sea" journey ended with a victorious splash in the Sea of Galilee.

“For me, the hike is about connections – connecting with the families who need help, connecting with the land and the people of Israel, and reaching a deeper level of understanding within ourselves,” said Pam Albert, Former Executive Director OneFamily Canada.

“For the many victims of terror who walked with us, it meant simply moving beyond the trauma, surviving another day and reclaiming their lives."

The most high-profile member of the OneFamily group was Canada’s Ambassador to Israel, Vivian Bercovici. Ms. Bercovici joined the hikers when they arrived at the retreat where bereaved parents were attending an outdoor therapy session.

Canada’s Ambassador to Israel, Vivian Bercovici (third from right) was inspired by OneFamily's work on behalf of victims of terror and their families.

The Ambassador was quite emotional when she addressed the group, applauding OneFamily in Israel for their "important and life-altering" work. Additionally, she shared that she was truly inspired by the courage and strength of the victims and was honored to recognize them by joining in the hike.

"It's no wonder that the Ambassador was so moved by the experience," explained Gary Tile, Executive Director of OneFamily Canada, "the physical and emotional beauty of this event as well as the bonds forged with the victims compel the participants to return year after year, bringing friends and family with them.
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From the Manitoulin Expositor

BARRIE—Following Ontario’s best snowmobiling winter in years in 2013, the not-for-profit Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) and its member clubs are officially launching the 2014-15 snowmobiling season with Get Ready To Go Snowmobiling Ontario Week, November 24 to 30. The new season celebration starts as club volunteers are hard at work clearing, preparing and signing over 30,000 kilometres of OFSC trails to welcome snowmobilers back.

Although OFSC trails are not available for snowmobiling at this time, early indicators are very positive for a great snowmobile season ahead, with long-range forecasts predicting a cold, snowy winter and many parts of the province already experiencing below zero temperatures and early snowfalls. With the cooperation of Mother Nature, some OFSC trails could be available for limited riding around Christmas so snowmobilers are advised to check the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide for the latest updates at www.ofsc.on.ca.

With 2015 permits already setting new sales records, Get Ready To Go Snowmobiling Ontario Week invites more Ontarians to discover the family fun of organized snowmobiling, plus its many social, health and recreational benefits. Get Ready Week is also the cue for OFSC snowmobilers to start making their Ontario ride plans and preparing their sleds and gear. As well, this special week marks the final days that Seasonal and Classic Snowmobile Trail Permits are available at pre-December 1 savings. Permits can be bought online at www.ofsc.on.ca.

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Sports

Local ATV racer crowned provincial champion

November 4, 2014   ·   0 Comments

By Darren Lum

You wouldn’t know it by hearing him, but Minden’s Cody Withey is a provincial champion, having accumulated the most points to win the seven-round CMRC (Canadian Motorsport Racing Corporation) Ontario Provincial Championships ATV Pro.

It’s not that he doesn’t smile or isn’t ever excited, but that he possesses an even-keeled demeanor, which is an apparent key to his success this season.
True to his character, the word “we” comes up a lot, demonstrating how much he appreciates everyone’s help in his success.
Withey, who races for the Canadian ATV MX Race Team, said he couldn’t have done it without with his parents, Bill and Kristin, who he can’t thank enough.

“They did just about everything for me, driving me everywhere and helping me with my bike, helping me afford everything and what not. Obviously, I couldn’t do it without them,” he said.

The list of supporters includes his girlfriend Jenna Vollmer, motorbuilder Mark Baldwin of Baldwin Motorsports in Ohio, who has been there since the beginning with technical and morale support, teammate Sean Mitchell and his Canadian ATV MX Race Team, SSI Decals and K&N Airfilters. He said this championship is for them.

“It’s nice just having everybody there for me, helping me and kind of pushing me to do better,” he said.
Another aspect of this year’s success, he said, was to treat every race like just another race.

“We just tried to focus on doing well each race instead of worrying about the overall year. If you worry about the overall year you start making mistakes. Things go downhill real quick,” he said.

The 18-year-old finished with four overall round wins out of seven rounds, which included one missed round for a one-point win overall second place Tyler Summers, who was last year’s CMRC title holder. This is the first ever overall title for the Minden teen.
Coming into the last round at Gopher Dunes last month, Withey was only nine points ahead of Summers with two races left. That morning, he felt confident, having raced well at the same course at the beginning of the season. Withey said he tried not to think about the narrow lead over Summers, treating the race like any other.

After finishing second in the first race of the last round, Withey and his team discovered an engine problem just before the last race. His team resolved the problem, but in the haste to put the engine together it led to an additional issue where the timing of the engine was off, leaving Withey with a weakened engine.

“It took everything I had just to make for third,” he said. “I knew I had to get top three at least just to clinch the championship.”
Summers led wire to wire in the race, keeping the pressure on. Although Withey stayed composed, he saw how well Summers was racing, increasing his lead over him and the field and started counting the points in his head, hating how his closest competitor was so far away down the track.

“Of course it bothers me not to be chasing him down and passing him just to win the race [and the overall title outright]. I still knew I had enough of a points lead that I would still take it,” he said.
In the first few rounds he said things went rather smoothly. However, the last few rounds proved to be far more challenging for a variety of reasons whether on the track or in the pits. Overcoming this adversity gives him perspective and an awareness he can grow with.

“I’m more knowledgeable after this season because of things happening. I kind of understand how to prevent them more and just have my bike and myself ready for each race,” he said. “It was a training thing for me. AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) will be the time to shine. I get all the bugs worked out in CMRC and then figure things out for when I head [back] to the States. That was the goal of it.”
The provincial title is one step to his ultimate goal of success in the ATV American race series organized by the AMA.

“It’s just kind of a stepping stone in the direction that I want to go leading towards doing better in AMA because that’s the ultimate goal, but it’s pretty cool knowing that just having the people support you throughout the whole season being able to pull it off not for yourself but for everybody else too because they’re kind of expecting it,” he said.

Ontario Trails News - MPP's given mandates, some includes trails, roads and cycling

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Nov 04, 2014 | Vote0   0

McGarry’s mandate: Working on road safety, advising on provincial cycling strategy

Cambridge Times

By Richard Vivian 

QUEEN'S PARK – Among MPP Kathryn McGarry’s chief duties are working to “help maintain” Ontario as a leader in North American road safety, and advising on the implementation of the province’s first cycling strategy.

Those are the first two bullet items in a letter to McGarry, made public this week, from Minister of Transport Steven Del Duca. McGarry, who is in her first term of office representing Cambridge and North Dumfries, serves as his parliamentary assistant.

"I am very excited with the mandate letter the minister of transportation has given to me,” McGarry said in a statement prepared for the Times.

“During the June election, transportation was one of the biggest issues not only across Ontario, but also in our community.”

Additional items in her mandate with the ministry include assisting with the establishment of a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles and stretcher transportation services, as well as the development of recommendations on modernizing and regulating the intercity bus regime.

“Parliamentary assistants play a key role in delivering these priorities and have a responsibility to put our government’s plan into action,” Del Duca wrote in his letter.

Previously, mandate letters have not been made public, but the government has done so in an effort to be more transparent with residents.

Ontario Trails News - use trails, stay off roads and this would happen less often.

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Cycle Toronto‏@CycleToronto

This. Must. Stop. 4 cyclist deaths in Scarborough over the last year & a half. #biketo #topoli

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3:42 PM - 29 Oct 2014

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1. 46Mike ‏@wilksays  Oct 29

   @CycleToronto how does it not surprise me that the part of the city that overwhelming voted for Ford is a spot where cyclists get run down?

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2. 54George Sawision ME ‏@GSawision  Nov 1

   @CycleToronto another four years of council ignoring the problem, next election we can elect councilors who care! #topoli

Ontario Trails News - what would work in Vancouver would work here, linked with and between trails

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Do we ungap Ontario's urban maps?

From CBC Vancouver

If you've ever tried to cycle from Vancouver to Steveston, or from New Westminster to the Tswawwassen ferry, you've probably found that some of the bike routes to get there are not so safe, or straightforward.

Bike advocates at HUB Cycling are trying to address those gaps, with a campaign called #ungapthemap.

HUB, formerly the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition is a charitable organization promoting bike education and safety.

The pink lines in the HUB cycling map shows the gaps in the bike network throughout the Lower Mainland. Grey lines are existing cycling routes currently connecting communities. (HUB cycling)

​ With Bike to Work Week on and the municipal election coming up, cycling advocates are trying to get these issues into the spotlight. 

Colin Stein rides across the Canada Line bridge from Vancouver to Richmond regularly. He's a member of HUB Cycling, and he says stretches of the route are unsafe, if you don't know where to go.

Jeff Leigh volunteers with HUB Cycling and he's worked with the city to assess the rideability of many of the bike routes. He uses Kent Avenue about twice a week, to get to Richmond, New Westminster and across town to UBC. 

Roads need more than patchwork solutions

Most of the route south from downtown along Ontario Street is very well laid out, with clearly-marked signs and near Langara College at 49 Avenue, there's a separated bike lane with a concrete barrier.

But once you head further south before Marine Drive, the signs thin out and one arrow points to the Canada Line, while the other arrow points to Kent Avenue at the bottom of Ontario. 

If cyclists choose the second option, they will have no choice but to take Kent Avenue to the Canada Line bridge that goes across the Fraser River to Richmond. Kent runs east to west but requires cyclists to ride on a narrow road with trucks and industrial traffic. 

That's where #ungapthemap comes in. The campaign by HUB calls on municipalities to make better connections for continuous, safer routes. 

"Ungap the Map is actually really about calling attention to the issues connecting from one path or one street to another within a municipality," says Stein. "Those types of gaps are spot issues that need to be fixed, whether it's about separated lanes or paths.

"But when you get between municipalities, you have the need to connect communities through such things as bridges and tunnels and all sorts of things that need to be worked out at a regional level. We're trying to basically point out what the top priorities should be." 

Strategic routes are key to more cyclists

Routes like Kent are "strategic" because people need to connect to the airport and to the ferries, but when bike routes such as Angus or Ontario Streets reach Kent, they simply end with no clear signs to direct cyclists, says Jeff Leigh. 

Stein says, "It's really dicey to actually move forward west because you're competing with garbage and recycling disposal trucks. Our challenge is to coordinate within municipalities and between municipalities, to work with TransLink. We're starting to do that with the "Ungap the Map" campaign." 

Leigh says there have been a lot of improvements to the bike route network, but many of them are in places where heavy cycling traffic already exists. Better and safer connections, says Leigh, will attract riders who are less confident, even if they aren't being heavily used now. 

Still, there's a steady stream of cyclists going by while Stein and Leigh are stopped at Kent and Ontario. 

At Cambie Street and Kent Avenue, there is a new protected bike lane that comes under the Canada Line and leads to the bridge.

"It's a fantastic bridge," says Leigh. 

He says it's important to talk to municipal politicians to ensure that cyclists can take advantage, and that could mean clearer signs or more protected lanes.

"Similar challenges exist on the Richmond side," says Leigh.

With files from CBC's On the Coast

Ontario Trails News - protecting land important for Ontario's 2500+ trails

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From the Orillia Packet-Times

Land-trust movement has momentum

TANTA CLARK, Special to the Packet & Times

Friday, October 31, 2014 5:06:59 EDT PM

The Ontario Land Trust Alliance strengthens land conservation in Ontario by supporting the land-trust movement. SUBMITTED IMAGE

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This past week, YMCA Geneva Park hosted the Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) gathering, an annual three-day conference that brings together land-trust members and others dedicated to protecting land.

Each year, more than 100 people attend. What an amazing feeling it is to be in a room with other people who are dedicated to a similar mission — to protect nature.

There were a number of workshops at the conference, ranging from a discussion on invasive species to engaging youth in nature. Many of the workshops are led by other land trusts such as the Bruce Trail Conservancy and Ontario Nature. Experts in their field and tax specialists also guide land-trust members through changes to take advantage of. One of the aspects I particularly enjoy at the gathering is the opportunity to share information and learn from each other so we can all do better in our important work.

In Ontario, there are more than 40 land trusts that collectively protect and steward more than 80,000 acres of land. Of the other land trusts, the Couchiching Conservancy is one of the largest and oldest, with the exception of the Bruce Trail Conservancy, which is turning 50 years old). Many of the other land trusts either have no staff and are run by volunteers or have a small staff.

You can learn about other land trusts in Ontario at olta.ca. The Couchiching Conservancy started from the same point and 21 years later, we have four full-time and two-part time staff members. And our biggest accomplishment to date? We now protect an area much larger than the entire City of Orillia.

According to the Ontario Biodiversity Strategy, there are 15 targets to work toward, one of which is to conserve more land: “By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and aquatic systems are conserved through well-connected networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.”

You can read the all of the goals at the Ontario Biodiversity Council website.

The Couchiching Conservancy is also planning for the future. Our 2014-19 strategy plan outlines a number of goals for the future, one of which is to protect an additional 2,500 acres by 2019. By partnering with other organizations, we are making a difference.

Thank you to the OLTA for its work and supporting land trusts. It’s wonderful so many people are taking action today to ensure the beautiful natural spaces that make Ontario unique are protected for future generations to enjoy.

Tanya Clark is the development co-ordinator at the Couchiching Conservancy, a non-profit land trust that helps to protect thousands of acres of wild land in the area. For more information, visit couchichingconserv.ca.