Summer images

James Bay Frontier is a delight for outdoors photographers.

Hitchhiker on my canoe. . .

Sunday afternoon on the Mattagami River in Timmins, ON. This ugly little critter hitched a ride for about five minutes on the rope on the front of my canoe.

Who killed Harry?

Sir Harry Oakes, once considered Canada's richest person, was murdered in July ... July 1943 at the height of World War II. Harry used to live in Kirkland Lake, but he he hung out in the Bahamas with the likes of Prince Edward, the Duke of Windsor. Harry was a multi millionaire mining magnate, but some people obviously didn't like him. So it's still a mystery. Visitors still drop by the old Chateau in Kirkland Lake, which is now the Museum of Northern History, to learn more about it. Someday we may find out who killed Harry.

Passport rules changing...

The change comes in the new year. If you're travelling by air to the United States from Canada anytime after December 31, 2006, you will need a valid passport. This applies to everyone, even Americans, who are returning home from a visit to Canada. The rule will be expanded on Dec. 31st, 2007 to include everyone entering the US at land border crossings. Again this will apply to Americans returning home from a visit to Canada. These changes are part of the US The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. On the other hand, if you are a US citizen entering Canada from the United States, you need two pieces of identification. One should be a photo ID. the other should be a birth certificate. If you are a citizen of another country, you will need a passport. For detailed info, check out the Passport Canada website.

New Highway

There's a new highway entrance to Timmins. Highway 101 East has been rebuilt near Porcupine to accommodate the PJV Goldcorp mining operations. More gold was discovered under the old section of Highway 101 and part of Three Nations Lake. So the highway and part of the lake are being "moved" so a new pit can be blasted. Life in a gold mining town is always interesting eh. The new section of highway is excellent, but there will be construction delays for a few weeks. Drive safely.

Elk Lake Museum

Many smaller communities in James Bay Frontier have interesting little museums that depict their local heritage and history. One of the nicer ones I have visited is the Elk Lake Museum, located in an old church. It's like stepping back in a time machine. The artifacts and antiques are nothing short of amazing. If you get a chance to drop by Elk Lake, do take advantage.

Staying Cool

We've been enjoying some hotter than normal weather these past few days. All across James Bay Frontier, the temperatures have been in the low 30s! That's hot. One must do whatever it takes to keep cool. I enjoy canoeing on the local lakes and rivers. The summer breezes are the best. Others take to the air. One lucky person was enjoying cooler temps in his Challenger float plane last night. Now that's cool!

Flea Market

Small towns across James Bay Frontier usually feature at least one Flea Market. They're great places to find little treasurers and old things you're grandmother might have used. I asked a friend once the difference between flea markets and antique stores. He said if you pay a big price, it's an antique. If you get it at a bargain, it's a flea market. This market is beside the Northland Motel on Highway 11 in Latchford, open on Thursdays, Sundays and Monday.

Summer sights and sounds...

It's a great time of year. Summer means different things to different people. For me one of the best things of summer is dropping by a small town dock in Northeastern Ontario. It just hums. People are busy. The sun is shining. The breezes swish through the leaves on the trees. Outfitters are getting a canoe trip organized. The float plane rumbles as it taxis up to the dock. People talk and laugh. Boat motors whine in the distance. Even the ravens are noisy. It's all good.

Swastika... was there first.

Swastika is the name of a rail junction town in Northeastern Ontario, just west of Kirkland Lake. It sure raises eyebrows for travelers sitting on the Northlander Train when it stops outside the Swastika station. But the town has an interesting history in that it was named after the Swastika gold mine in 1908. Some years later when the Nazi’s rose to power, they adopted the ancient Sanskrit swastika symbol as their own and it became forever tainted. During World War II, there was a push to have the name changed, but the local townspeople refused, saying theirs was an honourable little town that had been around long before the Nazis and would indeed survive long after.

Kap is happening.

Kapuskasing is a fun place to be this time of year. The riverboat tours are up and running again on the Kap river. The big excitement right now is the preparation for the annual Lumberjack Festival, which occurs on July 28th -30th. This is where local competitors pit themselves against the guys on the professional lumberjack show circuit. It amazing to see the log rolling, axe throwing and tree climbing events. It’s also a time when the whole town comes out to party and enjoy one of the best events of summer in Northern Ontario. If you're looking for a good time in a friendly northern town, treat yourself to a visit to Kap.

Canada Day

Canada Day was sure interesting. James Bay Frontier was represented at the Canada Day Show in Mackinaw City, Michigan. It was nice to have the RCMP drop by the booth for a photo. For two days we all met with thousands of Americans who dropped by to find out what sort of vacations they could enjoy north of the border. It was a great way to spend the holiday. And yes, I enjoyed some Mackinaw fudge! Half a pound of fudge! Woohoo, it was so good. By the way, I would guess the two most photographed people in Mackinaw on the weekend were the two RCMP officers from the Sault Ste. Marie detachment. Everywhere they went, tourists were stopping to ask them to pose for photos. It's all kinda cool. The RCMP have become the symbol of Canada's stability and goodwill around the world ~ Something nice to think about on Canada Day.

Summerfest

Summerfest in Temiskaming Shores was a hit for another year. Thousands of tourists and motorcycle riders headed north to take in the Biker’s Reunion and tons of fun. The weather was nice. The people were nicer. It was cool to see how many riders are making the return trip each year to spend time with friends and family. This couple traveled more than 600 kilometres and said it’s one trip they now plan on every year.