A timely guide to enjoying the depths of winter here in the Valley.
On the trails
Sledders: Recent snowfall means that the hard-working volunteers from the Opeongo Snowbirds, Peterson Pathfinders and other local snowmobile clubs are working to groom trails throughout the Madawaska Valley. To offer your help, learn more about the Clubs, and maybe even book a late-night ride-along with a groomer, contact your nearest club. See details at the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs Snow Country website: https://www.snowcountrysnowmobileregion.ca/clubs/
Opeongo Hills Nordic Ski Club: To maintain their quality groomed trails, the Board authorized the urgent purchase of new equipment. Although the cost was covered by a loan from a board member, this put the Club into a deficit position and an appeal for donations has been made to all supporters and users of the Opeongo Hills cross-country ski trail system. For more details including how to donate funds or to buy the old equipment (on offer for $10,000) please visit the Club’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OpeongoNordic
On the ice
Outdoor Rink Contest is back courtesy of the Barry’s Bay Recreation Committee: Residents of Madawaska Valley, Brudenell Lyndoch & Raglan, Killaloe Hagarty Richards, North Algona Wilberforce, South Algonquin, and Bonnechere Valley are once again eligible to win prizes for their creative construction of outdoor ice rinks. Send pictures or a video of your rink to bbrcmail@gmail.com by the deadline of Feb.13. Celebrity Judges will consider your rink in one of the following theme categories: NHL, Most Unusual, Most Ottawa Valley, Most “Over-the-Top.”
PJYC Ice Resurfacer gets a facelift: The Olympia ice resurfacer at the Paul J. Yakabuski Community Centre rink is sporting a new wrap by Nature of Design that includes logos of Barry’s Bay and Area Skating Club and Barry’s Bay and Area Minor Hockey Association, along with local business sponsors.
Madawaska Valley Township reminder: As per provincial government regulations, you will be required to show your enhanced vaccine certificate (the QR code) to enter MV community centres when they reopen on Monday Jan.31. Visit http://covid-19.ontario.ca/get-proof to get your code. You can save it to your phone, or print a paper copy. If you do not have a smartphone, the Madawaska Valley Public Library – Barry’s Bay will print your code for you at no cost. For $1, they will laminate it to wallet size.
In the stands: Sorry, winter sports fans. Both the Ontario Winter Games which was to be hosted by County of Renfrew as well as this year’s Heritage Cup Tournament have been postponed to safeguard all athletes and fans.
Wisdom Winter Workout: The second Wisdom Winter Workout takes place on Feb.5 where Seat of Wisdom College students, faculty and staff sign up to complete a Winter Workout challenge. Each is committing to walk, run, ski or skate 10 kilometres, alone or with a household partner. This is a fundraiser for SWC and participants are inviting sponsorship here: https://www.givecampus.com/rc8pef. SWC’s media release says all proceeds from this event will support the mental and spiritual health of SWC students, including a new fund to help with professional counselling for students.
Winter gardening for Green Thumbs
Madawaska Valley Gardening Club held a successful AGM by zoom on Jan.20, passed all the motions, and approved the new executive. The Club is still looking for a Secretary to take meeting Minutes, two Directors (1-yr positions), and a Photo Competition Convenor for the annual Flower & Vegetable Show (not required to be a Director). In addition to the annual Show plans for 2022 include more zoom meetings (March through May), an in-person speaker at the Strawberry Social in June (possibly held outdoors), and speakers for the fall meetings. $10 annual memberships are still available if you want to get in on the fun. Email mvgardeningclub30@gmail.com for details.
Art lovers can enjoy online gallery
Ottawa Valley Community Arts explains that you can see Pop Up Art right from the comfort of your own home at www.ov-caos.org/virtual-galleries/ The latest exhibition People and Place has just been added to the virtual galleries. You can see the exhibit in person Fifth Chute Coffee in Eganville until March 20.
If you have broadband from NRN you can also just hide inside and watch old Dick Tracy movies online and check Environment Canada to see how cold it really is and you can watch the Freedom Convoy demo online and read all the news stories about it from around the world and listen to “Golden Oldies” (aka “classical music”) online from CKWW 580 AM from Windsor Ontario, etc:- there’s just so much to do in the winter in Barry’s Bay!
Btw, the Bell Canada office in Pembroke told me last August that BB might be getting Bell Fibe by late 2022 to mid 2023.