HEADLINE:
Provincial Park enhances winter experience
Windy Lake Provincial Park, located North of Greater Sudbury has a new cabin along with four trail side yurts to make the most of a memorable winter getaway. The park opens for the winter season on Jan. 6, 2018. The park works with the Onaping Falls Nordics Club, which maintains and grooms 15-km of ski trails and five-km of snowshoe trails.
Ice Fishing tournament boast big money
The hardwater season brings about ice fishing tournaments across northern Ontario. Here are some key events to remember and try your luck at winning some cash or neat prizes such as ATVs and fishing gear and a truck. The 27th annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby takes March 2-4, 2018, and features more than $140,000 in cash and prizes (wawaicefishingderby.com for more info). The Elliot Lake Ice Fishing Tournament goes Feb. 17, 2018, and the top prize is half the purse. (Contact Elliot Lake Welcome Centre at 1-800-661-6192 for more info). The 21st annual Rotary Club of Chapleau Pike Ice Fishing Derby is set for Feb. 10, 2018. This event features $10,000 for the biggest fish and a draw for a Dodge Ram truck. (Check out Chapleau pike derby on Facebook for more info). The 10th annual Wikwemikong Ice Fishing Derby takes place Feb. 10, 2019 on Manitoulin Island. There is big money to be won at this tournament every year. (Go to wikwemikong.ca for info). The Mattagami First Nation Winter Pike Derby occurs Feb. 24, 2018. First prize for largest pike is $10,000. (Go to mfnfishing.com for more details).
Fish for free
Mark Feb. 17-19, 2018 on the calendar as it is the Ontario Family Fishing Event weekend when people don’t require the mandatory fishing licence/ outdoors card. People going out must observe conservation fishing limits if they do not possess a valid outdoors card.
Emergency response centre gets big boost
An upgraded Fire Management Headquarters and Provincial Logistics Centre was opened in Thunder Bay in the late summer after a $25 million investment from the government of Ontario. The modern facility boasts a more efficient work environment, and the ability to house all local forest fire management staff in one central location. The goal is to deploy fire management resources more efficiently. Ontario has about 750 Fire Ranger stations across the province.
North Bay conservation officer honoured
Tim Rochette, a provincial investigator with the Special Investigations Services Unit, was named the Ontario Conservation Officer of the Year for 2017.
Rochette demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting natural resources, ensuring public safety, and mentoring fellow officers through his years of outstanding service and extensive community involvement. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
- Leading and executing many special investigations in high-profile cases, which resulted in significant convictions, licence suspensions and fines.
- Using his expertise on safety, catching chronic violators, conducting complex investigations and implementing creative investigative techniques to train seasoned and junior officers.
- Representing the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on the Near North Crimestoppers Board for five years, where he introduced creative public awareness initiatives focused on hunter safety, commercialization of fish and wildlife, and unlawful hunting activities.
Rochette began his distinguished law enforcement career with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in 1988 as a park warden at Devil's Glen and Wasaga Beach provincial parks before receiving a conservation officer appointment in 1994 with the Lake Huron Management Unit. Since then, Tim has worked in the Chapleau and Bancroft districts, and now works out of North Bay as a detective with the Special Investigations Services Unit.
“Conservation officers are a key part of our government’s positive presence in the field and they play a critical role in keeping our communities safe and protecting our natural resources. Officer Rochette’s extensive contributions to his community, as well as his strong leadership skills and dedication to mentoring other officers, make him an excellent choice for this award,” Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry Kathryn McGarry said in a news release.
Provincial Park enhances winter experience
Windy Lake Provincial Park, located North of Greater Sudbury has a new cabin along with four trail side yurts to make the most of a memorable winter getaway. The park opens for the winter season on Jan. 6, 2018. The park works with the Onaping Falls Nordics Club, which maintains and grooms 15-km of ski trails and five-km of snowshoe trails.
Ice Fishing tournament boast big money
The hardwater season brings about ice fishing tournaments across northern Ontario. Here are some key events to remember and try your luck at winning some cash or neat prizes such as ATVs and fishing gear and a truck. The 27th annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby takes March 2-4, 2018, and features more than $140,000 in cash and prizes (wawaicefishingderby.com for more info). The Elliot Lake Ice Fishing Tournament goes Feb. 17, 2018, and the top prize is half the purse. (Contact Elliot Lake Welcome Centre at 1-800-661-6192 for more info). The 21st annual Rotary Club of Chapleau Pike Ice Fishing Derby is set for Feb. 10, 2018. This event features $10,000 for the biggest fish and a draw for a Dodge Ram truck. (Check out Chapleau pike derby on Facebook for more info). The 10th annual Wikwemikong Ice Fishing Derby takes place Feb. 10, 2019 on Manitoulin Island. There is big money to be won at this tournament every year. (Go to wikwemikong.ca for info). The Mattagami First Nation Winter Pike Derby occurs Feb. 24, 2018. First prize for largest pike is $10,000. (Go to mfnfishing.com for more details).
Fish for free
Mark Feb. 17-19, 2018 on the calendar as it is the Ontario Family Fishing Event weekend when people don’t require the mandatory fishing licence/ outdoors card. People going out must observe conservation fishing limits if they do not possess a valid outdoors card.
Emergency response centre gets big boost
An upgraded Fire Management Headquarters and Provincial Logistics Centre was opened in Thunder Bay in the late summer after a $25 million investment from the government of Ontario. The modern facility boasts a more efficient work environment, and the ability to house all local forest fire management staff in one central location. The goal is to deploy fire management resources more efficiently. Ontario has about 750 Fire Ranger stations across the province.