General

Sad news that Bill Miller, master canoe builder and founder of Fiddles on the Tobique passed away on Monday Oct. 3, 2022
I know there are members here have met Bill and will be saddened by this news.
There is some talk of an online service for Bill Tommorrw to coincide with the service in NB but there is no word yet.
https://www.brunswickfuneralhome.ca/obituaries?fbclid=IwAR13gDbfgVgC_QP…

I first met Bill in 2016 and went down every year up to covid
Bill was a very generous host and accepted all paddlers into his life and you always felt welcome whenever you would show up at his place.

Here is a David Jackson video of him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnF9CWCLkto

Here is Bill Enjoying music and friends at his home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0O7RdLNwJY

The pic is of Bill when he was still in the boat at his festival

Jeff

“Share your views: Public engagement on permanent public transit funding in Canada”
This really is an important issue for us in the outdoor community.
Passenger Rail service support has been on the decline for many years and for remote communities rail service was their public transit.
For those of us who have used passenger rail for many years to access remote areas this loss of service has not only been a blow to our ability to go to many crown land places, but it has been a major hit to the small remote communities and the outdoor businesses in these areas.

This is a major opportunity for the various outdoor users to support these local rural communities but also help us regain access to the areas we love and in all seasons.

Keep your responses to focus the point of of how this will support our rural communities and business and the ability to bring outdoor users to these areas and how much it is needed to help these communities and businesses survive in todays world.

https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/transit-transport/consultation-eng.htm…

Image is of the former ACR Passenger rail service in Agawa Canyon

PS if you have a trip report of a trip where you used rail service please post a link or message me with it as I would like to reference these trips in a written submission.
Thanks!!!

Hi there,

I’m a new member, beginner whitewater and intermediate/advanced flat water canoeist. I have a 14 foot Esquif Echo which I’ve been really enjoying on flat and moving water. I took a solo canoe course at the last Palmer Rapids Festival and had such a great time. When I took the course I rented one of their dagger canoes. My question is if anyone could give me some advice on weather I should outfit this canoe with float bags and thigh straps. I would like to take it with us when we return for the next festival. Thanks in advance, Evan.

Mike Graham-Smith
1931-December 25, 2021
Some of us long-time WCA members will recall Mike Graham-Smith, who passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 91. Mike was an active member from the late 1970’s to the 1990’s. He served on our Board of Directors in the 1980’s and organized many local trips. His spring Upper Credit River trip was always a popular one, not only because it was a fun easy spring run but also because afterwards everyone was invited back to Mike’s Georgetown home for a party featuring wife June’s great home baking. Mike was also an accomplished solo paddler who had no problem keeping up with plastic playboats while running the Gull River’s challenging rapids in his 16 foot fiberglass Bluewater Saugeen.
I last met Mike about 4 years ago when he showed up at the Streetsville put-in for my spring Lower Credit River trip. He just wanted to say hello and reminisce about our WCA trips together, confessing that he was no longer up for a day of river-running.
Wherever you are now Mike, hope you find paddlers welcome and that there are blue waters and sunny skies.
Attached photo is from Canal Rapids, Magnetawan River, Sept. 1983. Mike in bow & Bill in stern in clearly retro paddling gear.
Bill Ness

Hi, I don't know if this is the right area to discuss gear. I just got a Nova Craft 16 Prospector and want to put on spray skirt. Have not used either, but have heard two people in strong favor of the Cooke Custom Sewing (CCS) and two people in strong favor of Northwaters set up. I'm picking before can try myself, so any and all insight/input would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

This is great news for those having problems booking sites and routes in Ontario.
NB has some amazing places to paddle.
New Brunswick is lifting travel restrictions from outside the Alantic bubble for Canadian residents, but you will need to pre-register and show proof of at least one vacination as they will still have a border check point on the Quebec New Brunswick Border.
Press release June 16, 2021
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2021.06.0469.html
To register
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/travel-registration…
For those of you in Southern Ontario and looking for a great destination destination it is about a 12/12 hour drive to the NB/QC border from the western end of the GTA.

Jeff

Image from the Wolastq river (First Naions name; "a beautiful river") also known as the St John river
In Florenceville-Bristol N.B.

I was wondering if anyone has information, tips, suggestions for making a sail for a 17’ canoe (for single canoe use). We have an old tent we thought we could use to make a sail, Thanks. I can be reached at jim_diane2004@yahoo.ca.

Cool update on the Bear Train proposal
(formerly ACR Sault Ste. Marie to Hearst)
Even with once a Week service (one northbound, one southbound) it will reopen a huge area of crown land, lakes and rivers.
You would be in for a week unless you were doing a river like the Sand, but whats wrong with that :)
Jeff
https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/bear-train-proposal-back-on-track-3…

Some of you may consider this as political and yes, it is, but in this case I feel it is vitally important that we as an outdoor community gets involved.
I have shared a post of an example from Alberta on how bad legislation can really infringe on our ability to get out in the areas we love.

Ontario conservative Government - Bill 229 Schedule 6.

Many of you are probably aware of the growing number of upset groups and people over the provisions of this bill and its effect on the various Conservation Authorities in Ontario.

When you get these provincially mandated groups and the areas they represent being incredibly vocal over these changes you need to sit up and pay attention.

When you get a lifetime Conservative like David Crombie presently the Chair of the Green Belt Council and 6 other members of this group resign over this you better pay attention.
The action by these people is un-precedented!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/david-crombie-ontario-environmen…

If you are wondering what this has to do with canoe tripping or backcountry travel, this circumnavigating around current environmental rules and planning is a shot across our bow.
We have to look no further than what is happening in Alberta with the privatization of public
parks and lands.
I quote “

“Check out the video this Hunter made of an area now proposed as an open pit coal mine for which he was fined $600
https://youtu.be/bNvNq0UHOoQ
“

We have to stop this kind of legislation in Ontario now or face some severe issues in the future like those in the Alberta outdoor community are confronting now.

Contact your local conservation area club or group on how best be involved.
And we do need your help.

Jeff
As the WCA Conservation Chair I could really use some help and need members to get involved in this issue.
If all goes according to plan this week I will be on shelf for a few weeks as I undergo some shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff that has kept me out of the boat (and just about everything else) since mid September.
We really need a very strong presence in this issue from all members of the outdoor community.
Thank you for any effort you can add!

For those wondering why getting involved to get rail service back to Northern Ontario is important.
Taking a train to the remote areas of our province is an amazing way to travel to and from some spectacular areas of our Province
It is a great way to get there in all four seasons and with the popular areas getting over used in some areas it is a great opportunity to show support to our northern communities.
For those of us who have done these trips there is no arguement on their value.
So take the online survey and get involved.
Link to the survey is in the first line of the story.
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58928/ontario-seeking-feedback-on-im…
Image is from my 2014 ACR trip and I also used the train for easy winter access to the canyon.
Jeff