This year’s run promises to be bigger than ever, with new surprises, a silent auction, live music and a BBQ lunch. Participants, young and old, along with pets, will either walk, run, or cycle through the scenic rural roads, embodying the same spirit of resilience and hope that defined Terry Fox’s iconic Marathon of Hope.

The Windermere Terry Fox Run was established in 2000 by Bev Longhurst after her daughter was diagnosed with cancer. What began as a humble event raising $2,016 in its first year has grown into one of the country’s most impressive per capita fundraising efforts. By 2023, the event had raised over $575,000 for cancer research. The funds raised each year continually contribute to life-saving research in the name of Terry Fox, whose Marathon of Hope in 1980 captured the hearts of millions across Canada.

Fox, who lost his right leg to osteosarcoma at the age of 18, set out to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. Although his run was cut short after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres when cancer spread to his lungs, his legacy lives on through events like the Windermere run. Fox’s efforts have inspired millions globally, raising over $850 million for cancer research through annual Terry Fox Runs.

Linda Edwards, who has been volunteering with the event since 2001, noted that the success of the Windermere run is largely due to the unwavering support from local businesses and residents. “The sense of community here is overwhelming,” Edwards said. “Everyone pitches in, whether it’s volunteering, donating items for the silent auction, or simply showing up to walk or run. It’s inspiring to see how Terry’s dream continues to unite people.”

As the Windermere run gears up for its 25th anniversary, the message remains the same: keep Terry Fox’s dream alive and strive towards a world without cancer. As Bev Longhurst once said, “This run is about more than just raising money. It’s about remembering those we’ve lost and celebrating the survivors among us.”

Registration for the 2024 Windermere Terry Fox Run will begin at 8 a.m., with the run starting at 9 a.m. Participants can choose from various routes, from a 5 km to a 10 km loop, beginning and ending at the Windermere Community Centre. As they do each year, the residents of Windermere will lace up their sneakers, share stories, and continue Terry Fox’s legacy of hope, courage and community.

Thank you,

Randy Jackson
Windermere Terry Fox Run

The post Letter: Windermere Terry Fox Run Celebrates 25 Years On Sept. 15 appeared first on Muskoka411.

Initiated by Bev Longhurst in 2000, the Windermere run was organized to recognize her daughter’s battle with cancer. The local run acts as an annual reminder of loved ones lost, and those who are still with us because of the strides made in cancer research.

It is with great pride that the committee is organizing its 25th event on Sunday, September 15, 2024. This milestone is a wonderful time to meet new supporters and for past participants to reconnect with this special place.

Despite the unpredictable weather, attendance at the Windermere event is strong and is a day not to be missed. The route for the annual run has changed a little over the years and currently winds through picturesque and tranquil rural scenery.

The day has become an event filled with community connections, music, food and friends. It is a time to reflect and a day filled with gratitude. Everyone is welcome, with children and pets making things extra special.

If participating in the run is not your cup of tea, there are many ways to support the community and the Terry Fox Foundation; form or join a team, make a monetary donation to a participant, or volunteer on the day. Part of the event’s success has been the inclusion of a silent auction, supported by our local community which is always open to more donations.

Since this is such a big year, there are expected to be several new and interesting surprises
leading up to and throughout the run day. If you have questions or would like to join our email list, please connect with us at wterryfoxrun@gmail.com, make a donation to the run at Windermere’s Terry Fox Page, and find us on Facebook or Instagram.

This letter was submitted by the team behind the Windermere Terry Fox Run

The post Celebrating 25 Years Of The Windermere Terry Fox Run appeared first on Muskoka411.

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It was a sunny cold winter day as we headed north on the highway eleven corridor, heading up to compete in the North Bay FIRST Robotics CHARGED UP competition. We were all charged up for this event because we had something that we needed to prove.

FIRST Robotics is a lot like robot hockey. You need to pick up game pieces and place them in their correct spots while trying to dodge the other team’s robots trying to hit you and knock you off your course. Matches are only two-and-a-half minutes long, and for the first 15 seconds, your robot can only move based on the code you give it.

Teams only have two events to show what their robots can do, and our first competition in Barrie took a turn for the worse. Our robot, Phillip, named after our favourite Phillips screwdriver, kept having mechanical issues. We had just repaired the arm our robot uses to pick up pieces, and then our drive train encountered issues.

After all our hard work, we ended up missing the playoffs for that event. Our work did get acknowledged by the judges, who awarded us the judges’ award for our hard work and persistence in fixing our robot.

Our slow start saw our team place 88th out of 127 teams, and we had our work cut out for us. But thanks to the hard work of our lead programmers, Axel and Trent, we got the robot doing exactly what we needed it to do before we got to North Bay. Now it was our time to show all the other teams there what our robot could do.

The first few games we played, however, didn’t quite go to plan. Phillip was performing the way we wanted him to, we just weren’t getting the results we needed. We ended up dead last out of the 28 teams there, and our overall ranking fell to 91st out of 127 teams.

We would need a ranking around 75th to move on into provincials, and we had some work to do to get there. We held together strong, in large part thanks to our mentors, Rachel, Christie, and VK, and our head of safety, Kaitlyn, who helped to calm everyone’s nerves and get us back on track.

Our team kept on improving from there, thanks to the great coordination of our co-driver Parsa and our human player Owen, whose job was to drop pieces for the robot to pick up. After a quick intermission, where our team played Go Fish with our teammates and opponents, we jumped into the playoffs.

We ended the qualification matches with our team ranked 20th out of 28 in the competition, but we still needed more to get to provincials. To start the playoffs, the top eight teams in the competition got to choose who they want as their two alliance partners, and our hard work paid off. We were selected to join the number three ranked alliance, captained by Hoya Robotics from Huntsville, as well as the hosting team Ice Cubed Robotics from North Bay, one of the teams we had played Go Fish with while waiting for our match to start.

Our first playoff match with our new teammates also didn’t quite go to plan. Our alliance captain, Hoya Robotics, was having issues connecting to the cameras they use to pick up pieces, and we ended up losing that match by just two points. Thanks to the double-elimination style tournament for playoffs, our team had one more chance to prove what we could do. In large part thanks to wonderful scouting by our co-captain Matalyn, and the two-headed monster of strategy, co-captains Aiden and Oliver, we were able to win our next few matches, allowing us to stay alive in the losers’ bracket of the tournament.

Our work was not yet done, however. In our third match in the losers’ bracket, we defeated alliance four to move on in the tournament, or so we thought. A field issue that hampered our opponents during the game meant that we would have to replay the match. Replaying a match due to field issues is an extremely rare event in FIRST Robotics, and it meant we would have to fight for our lives again. We ended the game victorious, 100-99, in a heart-stopping match for everyone in attendance.

We would continue our fight toward the championship, and after eliminating the team who had defeated us in our first playoff match, we would move on to the finals. Our alliance would end up playing the number one ranked alliance for the right to hold the trophy, in a best-of-three series.

This alliance had not yet lost a game in the playoffs, so we needed to pull something out of our sleeves. Thanks to a fantastic idea to tape a Bristol board to Phillip, displaying our Highway 11 pride and blocking the view of the field for our opponents, we were ready. We then got the signatures of everyone in the pits and on the drive team on that Bristol board, letting us walk onto the field with style.

The first championship match was a close game, but we held on to a small lead to emerge victorious, with only one more match we would need to win. Our second championship match was an even closer affair, and we found ourselves in a very tight situation.

Any match ends with both teams trying to get their robots onto their charge station, which tilts up and down with the weight of the robots on it. If a team can get their charge station leveled, they receive points for every robot on it at the end of the match. We needed to get all three of our robots on and leveled before the end of the match to win, something which was difficult to do in any match, let alone the stress of a championship-deciding game.

Our team’s driver, Trent, as well as the drivers of our alliance partners, managed to get our charge station level with less than a second left in the match. The roar from the crowd was enormous, and we had just won the championship. Thanks to those last-second heroics, our team finished the competition ranked 33rd, putting us on track to make provincials, which will be held in Hamilton from April 5 to 8.

We would like to thank our alliance partners Hoya Robotics and Ice Cubed for the amazing playoff matches we shared, and we wish them the best of luck, as we all independently travel down to provincials to compete with and against each other again. As a team, we plan to bring upgrades to Phillip, in part thanks to our newest student mentor, Eric. These upgrades include a whole new arm, which should allow us to score game pieces better than before.

Our team is currently looking for more sponsors to pay for transportation and accommodation for the provincial competition, as well as funding to build next year’s robot. Anyone looking to donate to the team, or become a yearly sponsor should email 6864robotics@gmail.com.

This submission has been lightly edited for clarity.

The post First Person-Perspective: Attending A Robotics Competition appeared first on Muskoka411.

A dramatic turn of events highlighted the end of the first phase of the Ontario Land Tribunal’s appeal of the proposed massive Muskoka Royale private school that, if built, would be the largest in Ontario. The South Bracebridge Environmental Protection Group Inc. (“Bracebridge Wetlands”) has appealed the Town of Bracebridge’s approval of the school location in a 179 hectare (approx. 442 acres) ecosystem covered in forest and significant wetlands.

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the ecologist for the Town of Bracebridge, Dr. Andrea Smith, reversed herself under heavy cross-examination, admitting that it was preferable to have a uniform 30-metre buffer protecting the numerous wetlands on the 179 hectare (approx. 442 acres) site. She admitted in her evidence she could not find scientific literature justifying either a 15-metre buffer, or the proposed 30-metre “average” buffer, which is not regularly recommended by ecologists in Ontario, and recommended changing the proposed by-law under appeal.

As a result, the Town’s planner Mr. Holmes admitted under cross-examination that the Town would no longer be supporting the requested 15-metre buffer to protect significant environmental features like wetlands and wildlife habitat – a major victory for environmentalists.

Under cross-examination by legal counsel David Donnelly, the ecologist for Muskoka Royale Mr. Gord Nielsen admitted that the schools, dormitories, driveways, parking lots and sports facilities will necessitate the destruction of 36,000 to 50,000 trees and destroy the vegetation on an area of 28 hectares (approx. 69 acres), equivalent to thirty-three CFL football fields.

“We’re thrilled with the results of the hearing so far and gratified that the truth has finally come out – 15-metre buffers are not acceptable for sensitive wetlands in Muskoka, as we’ve been saying to the Town all along,” said Michael Appleby of Bracebridge Wetlands.

“We’re also extremely frustrated that it took an appeal and heavy cross-examination of these witnesses to speak the truth to the Town – there’s never been any scientific literature of practice of using small buffers in Ontario. That should have been the Town’s position from the beginning, not dragged out of their witnesses on the last day of their evidence, we’re paying for these witnesses,” he added.

The unevaluated wetlands on the site are now the subject of a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (“MNRF”) review, as Bracebridge Wetlands has long suspected they are Provincially Significant Wetlands. Despite numerous requests from Bracebridge Wetlands for this Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (“OWES”), the Town refused, even though the Ontario Government’s Natural Heritage Reference Manual, which states, “the planning authority [Town] should ensure a wetland evaluation is undertaken.”

Under cross-examination, the wetland expert for Muskoka Royale admitted he thought the wetlands on site are Provincially Significant Wetlands.

Inexplicably, despite being one of Bracebridge’s largest ever developments, Town Council did not have any evidence of how the loss of so many trees and vegetative cover would be consistent with the climate crisis, which every expert has called to date “an existential threat” to our planet.

Under cross-examination, the planner for the Town admitted there was “no documentation” concerning climate adaptation, resiliency or mitigation provided to Council before it made its decision to approve the massive complex. On June 29, 2021, Bracebridge Council declared a “Climate Emergency”, and further formally committed to “adding a climate action perspective on all decision-making, large and small.”

“Provincial policy and the Official Plans of both Bracebridge and the District of Muskoka all have strong policies on combating climate change, but none of these policies or climate change mitigation strategies were presented to either Council, and that is shocking in this day and age,” said David Donnelly, counsel to Bracebridge Wetlands.

“The Town’s own planner stated the development could potentially occur on one Precinct of approximately 10 hectares (approx. 24.7 acres), instead of on five Precincts spread across 28 hectares (approx. 69 acres), saving a lot of ecosystem damage that would also mean children could walk to school instead of taking a shuttle bus. To approve such a massive development, with an extraordinary loss of trees and vegetation without directly addressing climate change and how to do things better, in a more compact development, is a failure by Council and is very disturbing,” Donnelly added.

In a pleasant surprise for residents who care about climate change, Mr. Nielsen testified the proposed “Bracebridge By-pass”, an approved highway that would skirt downtown Bracebridge, would be “destructive” to the Town. Mr. Nielsen is a long-time Bracebridge resident. Residents are hoping the entire property will be saved from the proposed “Five Precinct” school proposal and highway.

The highway, approved by a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment in 2005, is scheduled to pass right through the Elementary School Precinct to be used by school children. Bizarrely, all the experts for Muskoka Royale and the Town were using the wrong map for years, which showed the By-pass avoiding the elementary school Precinct. Under cross-examination, the traffic engineer for Muskoka Royale admitted that the wrong map was being used to calculate road safety measures. Additional experts, including ecologists, servicing engineers, and planners had similarly used the wrong map.

The hearing will resume in January 2023, when Bracebridge Wetlands will call their experts, including a retired MNRF biologist, traffic engineer and planner.

The opinions of the writer of the above letter does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Muskoka411.

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On Sunday, Sept. 18, we will be hosting the annual Terry Fox Run in Windermere… and it’s in person again. After two years of virtual events, we could not be more excited to have an in-person event this year. To see the community rally around a cause that impacts so many people will be heartwarming.

For me, The Terry Fox Run has been my way to show up and do something. Like so many others, I have had those that I love fight cancer. I am grateful to say that so many of those survived. My sister is an example of someone who was diagnosed with cancer as a teen and had to go through the fight all while going to university and starting her career. She, like Terry, found the strength to fight with everything she could. Now, I watch her, cancer free enjoying life with her incredible family and career.

I have also experienced loss to cancer, like so many others have. That loss continues to give me the determination and motivation to show up year after year. To not be afraid to fund-raise or ask for that silent auction item or reach out to friends to help volunteer, or simply just show up!

I grew up in the community of Windermere and although I live in Toronto now, I come up to be a part of this special event each year.  It is incredible that the Windermere Terry Fox Run has almost raised $500,000 dollars in just over twenty years. My family has been a part of the committee since day one. My sister, mom and brother-in-law organized the first Windermere run and now, there is a full committee of participants who volunteer year after year to raise as many funds as we can to support The Terry Fox Foundation.

I encourage you on Sept. 18 to come to the Windermere Community Hall and join us! We will have a silent auction, a BBQ, live music and fun for all ages! You can sign up at www.terryfox.org to register or just show up on the day and donate. You can walk, run, or bike and bring your friends and family with you! Can’t wait to see you all there!

The post Letter Writer Says Windermere Terry Fox Run Returns In Person appeared first on Muskoka411.

Animal intakes at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary are on the rise, and we are inviting members of the community to learn more about the Sanctuary and how to help the animals in our care.

We are dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife. Once rehabilitated, these animals are released back into the wild for a second chance. Most of these animals have come to us through no fault of their own. They may have been hit by a vehicle, separated from their mom, or even evicted as a “nuisance.” All are doing their best to co-exist with humankind.

In 2021, over 1,100 animals (crossing 103 different species) were admitted to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. This was our highest intake in our 50-year history, and we are not surprised to see an uptick year after year.

While every season is different, and we never know how many of each species will come our way, this year has brought five orphaned moose calves to our doorstep. Two of these calves are victims of a vehicle collision. All have lost their morn.

Upon arrival at the Sanctuary, the calves were triaged, provided with first aid, and a plan of care was put into play for each of them. Mayve, one of the five moose calves, was expelled from her mom who (pregnant with Mayve at the time) was hit by a vehicle crossing the road. Her mom died instantly leaving Mayve in need of urgent care. Maverick (to the right of Mayve in the attached picture) was hit by a transport truck and injured. The other three were found alone with no mom in sight.

The good news is that they are all doing well and will remain in our care for an entire year before being released. This is the length of time they would have remained with their mom in the wild before stepping out on their own.

Sadly, the moose is in serious decline in Ontario. Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is attuned to this fact and knows that every moose truly matters. Our Sanctuary is licensed to rehabilitate moose and we are the only Sanctuary actively rehabbing moose in Ontario. Our work is around the clock as we care for these calves in addition to hundreds of other animals, including bear cubs, otters, deer fawns, fox and more. Each animal requiring an individualized plan of care specific to its situation and species.

Not surprisingly, first aid, species-specific formula/food, vaccinations, and size-appropriate enclosures (indoor and outdoor) are all requirements for successful rehabilitation and cost a great deal of money. Case in point, the five moose calves in our care are anticipated to consume over 930 litres of milk, 900 cups of moose breeder pellets and 405 bushels of fresh browse (twigs / tree buds) in as little as three months. Factor in hundreds of other hungry babies that require sustenance and accommodation, and the picture paints itself.

We need your help.

Our goal is to raise $50,000 towards our wildlife rehabilitation program this year.

As a not-for-profit registered charity, we are solely dependent on the generosity and support of individuals such as yourself. Please consider a donation of $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more. Every dollar counts and only you can determine what you are able to contribute at this time.

Donations can be made online at www.aspenvalley.ca Alternatively, you can write a cheque payable to “Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary” and mail it to:

Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Attn: Year of the Moose
1116 Crawford Street
Rosseau, ON
P0C 1J0

I am happy to answer any questions you may have, and thank you very much for your support. Together, let’s keep wildlife wild.

Regards,

Alison Withey
Director, Advancement and Communications at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

The post Letter: Aspen Valley Aims To Raise $50,000 During Year Of The Moose appeared first on Muskoka411.

Enbridge Gas Inc is preparing a major gas pipeline expansion in the Hidden Valley area of Huntsville. As one of the “interested and potentially affected parties” and as a “stakeholder” in the future, Climate Action Muskoka (CAM) is compelled to respond to this expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in Muskoka.

“Since the climate impacts of this gas expansion are not being considered, Enbridge Gas’ statement that it is ‘protecting the health and safety of all individuals affected by our activities’ comes across as hollow greenwashing,” says CAM spokesperson Sue McKenzie.

33 Ontario municipalities, including Bracebridge, have called for the phase-out of gas power in Ontario. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the world that new investments being made in coal, oil and gas were “delusional” given their impact on climate change.

“Nothing could be more clear or present than the danger of fossil fuel expansion,” Guterres told the Major Economies Forum last month.

If you have concerns about this expansion in our riding, CAM urges you to submit your comments to the Hidden Valley Community Expansion Project Virtual Open House questionnaire by July 8, 2022. Your comments will be sent to the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) as part of the Environmental Assessment Report on the project. See information about the project here.

The post Letter To The Editor: Climate Action Muskoka Raises Concerns About Enbridge Gas Expansion appeared first on Muskoka411.

Ontarians are advocating to fix the noise problem on Ontario’s lakes through changes to federal boating regulations.

Current boating regulations allow excessively loud boats with ineffective or no mufflers on regional waterways. This is a major and growing problem, adversely affecting wildlife and human enjoyment of these areas. Waterways are regulated by the Federal Government, and a group of over 65 associations and municipalities called the Decibel Coalition is asking Transport Canada to put decibel limits on motorboats.

A 2021 survey of residents in Muskoka, Georgian Bay, and Haliburton found that 67 per cent of almost 6,000 respondents want muffler laws enforced and decibel limits in the legislation like what has been in place the U.S. and Europe for more than 20 years. Local wildlife is also affected as high noise-emitting motorboats disturb and scare small mammals and waterfowl.

Research funded by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada shows that Canadian freshwater biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, and research suggests the importance of noise pollution mitigation on preserving biodiversity and aquatic life.

Transport Canada has recognized that existing regulations do not work and that the issue of noise pollution in our country’s lakes is a real problem, recently launching public consultations to address the issue. Current regulations require small vessels to have mufflers or have through-the-propeller exhaust. However, the regulations do not include decibel limits on noise emissions.

Enforcement officials lack the technical expertise needed to identify whether a muffler is properly equipped according to current standards. As a result, there is little-to-no enforcement of the regulations anywhere in Canada, allowing the problem to grow unchecked.

The onus to control excessive boat motor noise should not be left up to citizens. The Coalition is asking Transport Canada to introduce objective, measurable decibel limits for manufacturers and operators that set clear standards on the amount of noise boat motors can make, along with clear and effective enforcement procedures. This will give enforcement agencies the tools they need to do their job and help ensure waterways are quieter.

Transport Canada’s public consultations on these regulations are open until May 13. Of the five options presented, the Coalition believes that only Option 5 will effectively address the issue. The Coalition is encouraging Canadians to send a letter to their elected officials via their website indicating their support of introducing decibel limits in regulations.

The post Letter To The Editor: Ontario’s Lakes Have A Noise Problem appeared first on Muskoka411.

In the run up to the playoffs in the 705 Spruce League, the stakes were reflective of the pace of play on Monday evening.

Initial free throws to pick teams was a lengthier than normal endeavour; however, by 7:07 the action was under way. From the opening tip at the Spruce Glen Gymnasium, Team Black came out running and gunning, an aggressive offensive strategy that overwhelmed Team Red early on.

On their heels out of the gate, and down 3 baskets to 1 by 7:15, Team Red switched to a zone defence that temporarily stopped the bleeding.

Actual bleeding briefly stopped play at the 7:26 mark, but otherwise, it was a rare injury-free evening.

Forced to the perimeter, shooting and strong ball rotation lead to success in an injury depleted lineup. Of particular significance was the last minute addition of a player from the west coast, filling in for a regular sidelined with a case of the scoots.

In the end, a last second shot from downtown Magnetawan sealed the deal for Team Red and turned the tides on a four-week losing skid.

The aggregate score across all games was 25 to 19. All players reported having had a good time and trying their best.

On a closing note, Monday was jersey day and all in attendance received 705 Spruce jerseys from upstart local clothing designer Backwoods Boujee.

Action in the 705 is slated to resume next Monday, baring any further snow days.

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