Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

An Ezine Produced by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust

June 2004

In this issue:

• Join Us On a Tour of the Greater Niagara Circle Route
• Take a Journey This Summer on the Apple Route
• New Kijimba Kind Sculptures
• Cyclists Tour Eastern Ontario With the BraunStorm 2004 Tour
• Pickering’s Waterfront Recognized
• An Update on Whitby’s Waterfront Trail
• Alice King Sculthorpe Honoured in Port Hope
• Lovekin Family Honoured at the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area, Clarington
• Trans Canada Pavilion Opening a Success

Upcoming Events:

• Official Opening of St. Lawrence Park in Mississauga, July 1st
• Second Marsh Bike Rally, Sunday August 22nd

Join Us On a Tour of the Greater Niagara Circle Route

The Trust invites you to join us July 22nd to 24th on our third annual cycling tour. This year’s trip will explore one of the amazing connections to the Waterfront Trail of the Greater Niagara Circle Route. We will be riding approximately 150 kms over 3 days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday). Everyone is welcome although we request that people make their own arrangements (ie. travel, accommodation and food). If you are interested in attending please let us know so that we can expect to meet you at the starting point!

For a copy of the itinerary please email Nikki Rendle at nr@wrtrust.com or call us at the Trust office: 416-943-8080.

Take a Journey This Summer on the Apple Route

Passing through communities from Port Hope to Quinte West, this driving/cycling route is a terrific way to enjoy the eastern section of the Waterfront Trail. The Apple Route produces a fabulous map/guide, which is available from their website and at most area visitor centres. Call 1-866-277-5378 or visit www.appleroute.com.

New Kijimba Kind Sculptures

Kijimba Kind sculptor Dorsey James and students at Pickering’s Dunbarton High School recently completed a number of sculptures. The 15 to 18 foot carvings include “Spirit Catcher” which is based on a West Coast native shaman’s instrument used to cure the ill, and “Resurfacing” which is based on the Inuit story of Sedna. The sculptures can be viewed in the courtyard at the Dunbarton High School.

For more information on the Kijimba Kind sculptures go to www.homeplace.ca

Cyclists Tour Eastern Ontario With the BraunStorm 2004 Tour

Last week the Kingston Whig-Standard featured a story about a group of cyclists riding into Kingston’s Lake Ontario Park. The cyclists are part of a tour put on by Kitchener-Waterloo’s Braun’s Bicycle and Fitness. Each year the company organizes a cycling trip across various parts of Ontario during the last week in June. Many of the participants make the tour an annual event, using it to reconnect with family or friends. This year from June 19 to 26th a group of 200 cycled along Lake Ontario round-trip from Brighton to Kingston. According to the article the riders seem to have enjoyed their ride through Eastern Ontario, many commenting on the beautiful scenery, interesting history and museums that can be experienced along Lake Ontario.

For more information on the tours offered by Braun Bicycle and Fitness visit www.touring.brauns.com

Pickering’s Waterfront Recognized

This past April the City of Pickering and Victor Ford Landscape Architects received the Canadian Society of Landscape Architecture (CSLA) Merit Award for the City of Pickering Waterfront Trail. The award recognized Pickering’s efforts to improve public access to the waterfront as well as building and managing the high quality of public spaces located on their waterfront.

In addition, Pickering’s Beachfront Park recently received an “A” in a Toronto Star survey that judged green spaces located across the entire GTA. The survey ranked cleanliness, lawncare, playground equipment and facilities. Congratulations Pickering!

For more information visit the Town’s website at www.cityofpickering.com.

An Update on the Whitby’s Waterfront Trail

Bob Short from the Town of Whitby has provided the following information on new waterfront developments in Whitby:

New Marina and Club House
The Town of Whitby officially opened its new Port Whitby Marina Club House. This new facility is designed to provide new and updated resources for the management of the Town's marina and the needs of the marina’s patrons. The new clubhouse has an area of 6,100 square feet. The facility includes administrative and sales areas, a lounge and food services, change and laundry areas for the boating patrons of the marina and public washrooms. The facility is barrier free. The Waterfront Trail crosses through the marina site and has been designed to welcome users of the Trail as well.

For more information contact the Community Services and Marketing Department or visit the Town’s website at www.town.whitby.on.ca.

New Art Gallery
Whitby Council recently approved plans to develop a new expanded art gallery and studios on the north-west corner of Victoria and Henry Streets. The Gallery's location is at the top of Whitby's recreational harbour on the Waterfront Trail. The new facility has an area of approximately 14,100 square feet. The building will include the former Whitby Train Station built in 1903. The project is now in the tendering process. The Station Gallery and the Town are targeting a summer 2005 completion.

For more information contact either the Whitby Planning Department or the Whitby Station Gallery or visit the Town’s website at www.town.whitby.on.ca.

Waterfront Acquisition - Lynde Marsh
The Minister of Natural Resources and the Mayor of the Town of Whitby in early May announced the purchase of 150 acres from the Runneymede Development Corporation. The site is situated on the north side of Victoria Street adjacent waterfront, upland and marsh lands that make up the Lynde Shores Conservation Area. The lands will be held by the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority. Since 1998 over 360 acres of lands have been brought into public ownership on Whitby's waterfront through land purchases by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Town of Whitby and land contributions negotiated by the Whitby Planning Department.

For more information visit the Town’s website at www.town.whitby.on.ca.

Alice King Sculthorpe Honoured in Port Hope

The Town of Port Hope recently dedicated a beautiful woodland marsh along the Port Hope Waterfront Trail in memory of Alice King Sculthorpe. The description engraved on a stone plaque at the entrance to the marsh tells of her lifetime vision, dedication and commitment to her community and the natural world.

For more information on Port Hope’s recreation trails visit www.town.porthope.on.ca

Lovekin Family Honoured at the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area, Clarington

A special Earth Day event was held at the Samuel Wilmot Natural Area this past April. Descendents of the Lovekin family were on hand for the unveiling of a stone cairn in commemoration of the historic Lovekin homestead. Also in time for the Earth Day celebrations was the installation of seven new beaches at the Nature Area. A new viewing platform has also been installed at the north end of Cattail Marsh.

For more information on the Samuel Wilmot Nature Area visit www.clarington-tourism.ca/parks.html

Upcoming Events:

Official Opening of St. Lawrence Park in Mississauga, July 1st

On Thursday July 1st the City of Mississauga will be hosting a ceremony to mark the opening of St. Lawrence Park, a new section of Waterfront Trail. The event will include lots of family fun activities and a live concert with Rik Emmett. For more information please call 905-896-5832

Second Marsh Bike Rally

Sunday August 22, 8:30am to 1:30pm
Come out and support the Friends of Second Marsh in this fun event to raise money for the Great Lakes Wetlands Interpretive Centre to be constructed adjacent to Second Marsh. The starting point will be GM Headquarters Building (East Parking Lot) and the route will follow the Waterfront Trail though Darlington Provincial Park and the OPG Green Corridor. There will be lots of entertainment on site including a crafts table, face painting, DJ, break dancing and candy floss.

For more information on the event or on how to receive a pledge form contact Marilyn Cole at 905-723-5459.

Cheers!
Vicki Barron, Executive Director;
Marlaine Koehler, Program Director;
and Nikki Rendle, Editor Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail News

The Waterfront Regeneration Trust
372 Richmond Street West, Suite 308
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 1X6
Tel: 416-943-8080
Fax: 416-943-8068
Email: nr@wrtrust.com
www.waterfronttrail.org

Purchase your copy of the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail Mapbook at Mountain Equipment Co-op (400 King Street West) and Sporting Life Stores in Toronto (1-877-772-2262 to find a store location near you).

Thank You to our Supporters!:

• CIBC
• The Lake Ontario waterfront municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups
• The Eastern Lake Ontario ­ St. Lawrence River Waterfront Working Group
• MapArt
• Niagara Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club
• Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee
• St. Lawrence Cement Tilley Endurables
• The Trust would also like to thank the Canadian Ontario Infrastructure Program (COIP) for its generous support of the 51 projects that comprise the Lake Ontario Waterfront Investment Program.