Welcome Wasaya

The newest airline service in James Bay Frontier is Wasaya Airways LP, which now has a base in Timmins. The company celebrated an open house for the business community on Tuesday. Wasaya has been around for quite awhile in Northwestern Ontario with it's main base in Thunder Bay. The company offers a wide range of charter services along with a full network of scheduled flights. For the outdoor adventurers, this is the newest provider of air charter services for those looking for fly-in adventures for hunting, fishing or photo expeditions to the far north. Wasaya also provides air freight service. This is a photo of one of their 748's on the ramp in Timmins last winter.

Rockhounds take note. Cobalt rocks.

Cobalt Rocks is more than a statement of fact. It’s the name of an exciting summer event that is just a month away in the tiny northern town of Cobalt, Ontario. Most Northerners are familiar with the Cobalt story, which led to an amazing silver rush at the turn of the last century. It was followed the fabulous gold rushes in Kirkland Lake and Timmins.
The real attraction for Cobalt these days is the wealth of minerals and mineral collections. That’s one of the reasons for the Cobalt Rocks celebration which includes a huge gem and mineral show. Rockhounds will go wild once they see the northern wilderness and the wealth of rock samples to be found everywhere. James Bay Frontier is smack in the middle of the Canadian Sheild. The show is on for July 29th and 30th.

Rider's Reunion

You know summer is in full swing when you hear the throaty grumble of the big motorcycles around town. The popularity of motorcycles is becoming more and more obvious throughout James Bay Frontier. A good example is the annual Summerfest & Biker's Reunion coming up this weekend in Temsikaming Shores. It's been going for several years now and is getting more popular all the time. Part of the fun is a charity ride with money being raised for medical research. Last year, more than 12-hundred riders showed up. Northerners love to have a great time. But they love showing off their hospitality even more. It's a great mix when local riders team up with out-of-town riders to have a good time. Whether you're a rider or not, you should find some time to get over to Temiskaming Shores on the long weekend.

Kirkland Lake Reunion.

One of the best little towns in Northern Ontario is gearing up for a massive celebration next week. It's the big reunion for Kirkland Lake Collegiate and Vocational Institute. It seems everywhere I travel I always manage to meet somebody from Kirkland Lake. I have been lucky to have met so many. The homecoming party starts on Saturday July 1st and will last for the whole week. One of the big events will be a concert featuring legendary rock-blues artist Jeff Healey, on Friday July 7th. One of the highlights for many of students coming home will be a chance to visit the new Hockey Heritage North attraction. If you're a hockey fan you will be amazed at the size and scope of this attraction. Once and for all this clinches KL as the Hockey Capital of Northern Ontario.

Aboriginal Day Event

It was a good day at the Hollinger Park in Timmins Wednesday. Aboriginal Day was celebrated. Here is a picture of Charlie Kioke and some friends.

Happy Summer

Summer arrived in Northeastern Ontario to sunny skies and soft breezes this morning. I enjoyed a nice walk by Gillies Lake and then went over to Tim's for a cup of coffee and a tea biscuit. From radio reports, it seems that it was nice weather all over the North. This is not merely the Summer Solstice. It is also National Aboriginal Day in Canada. It will be nice to see the various celebrations throughout the region. Happy day everyone.

Cool Summer Fun

Pine Street North was a cool place to be, despite the hot weather Saturday. It's where dozens of local youngsters took part in the annual soap box derby. I have to admit I was jealous. It sure looked like a fun thing to do. Like other adults I was able to remember back to my own childhood when we would build our own "krash karts" out of bits of old lumber, plywood and baby buggy wheels! That was just as much fun I'm sure.

Forest Trails

Hiking in the forest is one of the perks of living in Northern Ontario. The forest is all around us and the trails are excellent. A summer morning is the perfect time to walk and witness the best of the nature. Stress becomes just another word is some big city dictionary. This butterfly settled just long enough for a quick portrait. I've seen them before, but had no idea they were called the Tiger Swallowtail, a species that is common to the boreal forest.

Ride to the end of steel.

In about two weeks, one of the most popular train rides anywhere, begins service for another season. The Polar Bear Express will begin it's summer run on Friday June 30th. The train runs out of Cochrane Station and travels nearly 200 miles north to the tidewater communities of Moosonee and Moose Factory. It's a trip that offers something for everyone, but if you're like me and just enjoy a good old fashioned train ride, then treat yourself. It's one of two popular train excursions in James Bay Frontier. The other is Algoma Central Railway's Tour of the Line.

Canada Geese on the wing

It's not that easy to see, but if you click on the picture to enlarge it, you will notice what I saw the other morning -- A massive flock of Canada Geese on the wing. I estimate at least 200 birds in this shot. It snapped the picture "on the fly" as I was driving down Highway 11 around 6:15 Saturday morning. It's not the best picture, but it's dramatic enough.

Flying Beavers!

This is a favorite time of year for me. I love getting back into the wilderness where everything is so peaceful and quiet. I was out on a lake Sunday when I heard a fabulous sound… okay, I heard a loon too… but I really enjoy hearing the sound of a bushplane overhead. I looked up and there was it was. A DHC2. The incredible de Havilland Beaver is as much a part of the Canadian landscape as the animal of the same name. This is the ultimate bush plane. It first hit the drawing board in 1946! That’s 60 years ago. These planes are still flying all over the world. If you get the chance to have a fly-in adventure in Northern Ontario, take it! You will never forget it.

Endurance!

It's one of those words that is so appropriate at times. I have nothing but admiration for the incredible endurance shown by the participants in the Canadian Adventure Racing Championships. I met some of them today in Timmins after they were forced to quit the race. These people are not "quitters" by any means. They were forced to stop racing only after they had pushed themselves, and pushed themselves and then pushed till their was nothing left to give. They endured cold rainy nights, sweltering heat and hordes of flesh-biting blackflies that no one could imagine. I saw their injuries and blistered and swollen feet, hands and faces. You can follow the event on the race website. Nearly half of the teams have withdrawn after trying to conquer the Northern Ontario wilderness. Mother Nature is a tough opponent. The race continues.