Real Talk!

Rockhounds enjoy collecting rocks and/or mineral specimens from their natural environment. Armed with a rock hammer, goggles, chisels, water, a little newspaper and a bag, the avid collector thinks nothing of driving and/or hiking to remote areas. & most have a pretty extensive knowledge of petrology, mineralogy and geology.

Geology is a broadish term, essentially the science and study of the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth. Petrology is more of a speciality that deals with microscopic details relating to how a particular rock has been formed. Mineralogy focuses on the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals.

It is believed that modern geology began in the medieval Islamic world. Abu al-Rayhan al-Biruni (973–1048 AD) was one of the earliest Muslim geologists, writing on the geology of India. Ibn Sina (Avicenna, 981–1037) made significant contributions to geology and the natural sciences (which he called Attabieyat). He wrote an encyclopedia of sorts, called “Kitab al-Shifa”, containing essays on Mineralogy and Meteorology.

In China, noted scholar Shen Kua (1031–1095), having observed fossilized animal shells in a geological layer that was miles away from the ocean, hypothesized the process of land formation was relative to mountain erosion and deposits of silt.

AGRICOLA

German scholar and scientist, Georg Agricola (24 March 1494 – 21 November 1555) is credited with being the "the father of mineralogy", for his famous work a complete and systematic treatise on mining and extractive metallurgy.

Unique and interesting rocks are everywhere. Getting started in rockhounding is easy; a collection can begin with a single "pretty" rock. There are a variety of mineral clubs located across Ontario. Many of these clubs host annual gem and mineral shows that give collectors a chance to gather, exchange ideas and swap samples. Ontario also provides a wealth of geological settings. Certainly, Bancroft has everything a rockhound would desire, crystals, minerals and many; many abandoned mine sites and quarries.

Collectors may start with being attracted to certain colours, textures, shapes and/or crystals. A good reference or guidebook can be helpful in selecting promising collection areas and also, in identifying specimens.

Ontario recognizes two kinds of mineral collectors -- hobby mineral collectors and large scale/commercial mineral collectors. The difference between the two is the amount of rock each takes home at the end of the day. This is known as the threshold limit.
The threshold limit between hobby and large-scale collecting is defined as the amount one person can excavate using only hand tools and can carry unassisted from a specific site or location. The limit is allowed once per year per site.

Hobby mineral collecting means:
o Collection for personal pleasure, recreation or interest.
o The amount collected is below a specified threshold.
o The samples collected are for the collector's personal collection. This includes rocks or minerals collected to swap.
o The collector has no intention of selling the minerals he or she has collected. If you dig out your samples with hand tools and carry them home unassisted, you are probably a hobby collector.
Anyone can be a hobby mineral collector in Ontario. You do not need a special licence or a permit.

Although the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines deals primarily with professional prospectors and mineral explorationists, it recognizes the recreational and educational benefits of hobby mineral collecting and has developed a mineral collecting policy.

Code of Ethics
o I will respect both private and public property, and will do no collecting on privately
owned land without the owner's permission.
o I will keep informed of all laws, rules, and regulations governing collecting on public
lands, and will observe them.
o I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan
to collect.
o I will use no firearms or blasting materials in collecting areas.
o I will cause no wilful damage to property of any kind - fences, buildings, signs, etc.
o I will leave all gates as found.
o I will build fires only in designated or safe places, and will make sure that they are
completely extinguished before leaving the area.
o I will discard no burning material - matches, cigarettes, etc.
o I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock.
o I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies.
o I will cause no willful damage to collecting material, and will take home only what I
can reasonably use.
o I will leave all collecting areas free of litter, regardless of how found.
o I will co-operate with field trip leaders and those designated in authority in all collecting
areas.
o I will report to my Club/Federation officers or other proper authorities, any deposit of
material on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations
for public, educational and scientific purposes.
o I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources.
o I will observe the "Golden Rule" and will use "Good Outdoor Manners" and will, at all
times, conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and public image of
rockhounds everywhere.
An excellent site for the beginner is The Canadian Rockhound, a free online earth science magazine for collectors, beginners and educators:

http://canadianrockhound.ning.com/

Rock collecting is a positive family activity as it provides healthy outdoor recreation and spans all age groups. It’s much easier to exercise and keep fit while you enjoy a new hobby all at the same time. It is relatively inexpensive to outfit yourself and really, rock collecting compares with treasure hunting. It can be greatly rewarding both intellectually and aesthetically- and a lucky rockhound may even strike it rich. Treasures come in all shapes and sizes, especially when they've been buried deep in the earth for thousands of years.

It is not at all uncommon for a collector to find old coins, tools, and weapons in tailings and around the mining site. Sometimes a rockhound will find mine camps with the remains of old buildings or miners cabins. Searching in these areas can turn up all kinds of articles left or lost by miners.

When hunting artifacts you want to check building walls and floors, fireplace walls, and to the right and left of outside of doors as many times these people buried or hid their belongings and caches in such spots. In cases of the owner’s unexpected death, these items sometimes remain where they were hidden.

A great way to start is to visit the 46th Annual Rockhound Gemboree in Bancroft- it starts today and runs until August 2nd. Just find your way to Bancroft and follow the signs or ask just about anyone you see… they’ll direct you to the arena and the wondrous displays of gems, minerals, fossils, petrified wood, rocks, jewelry, maps, equipment and so much more! There are booths set up inside and out. Admission: Adult $7.00; Senior (55+) $5.00; Children 6-12 $5.00; Chldren under 6 are FREE

Maybe I'll see you there!

Pronounced Paw-dash, Paudash Lake is named after the last hereditary Chief of the tribe of Mississaugas, George Paudash (1889-1969). Paudash was a member of the Crane-doodem (clan) and also known as member of the Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indians of the Hiawatha Reserve of Rice Lake (Ontario). He was a tinsmith and an outdoors guide. Paudash served in WWI and WWII. He was married to Anne Rosemary Hacker, of England, they had five children.

CORPORAL GEORGE PAUDASH

Chief Paudash's "mark", in accordance with the custom of signing as a representative of the Crane-doodem, is a tiny stick drawing of a Crane.

The area around the lake was first settled by pioneer families in the early 1870s. One of the original families, the McGillivray's, are still part of the Paudash Lake community. Malcolm McGillivray Sr. had a land grant of 300 acres at Concession VIII (a point of land jutting into Paudash Lake), he later built the first bridge over the narrows- between the upper and lower lakes (by today's Anchorage Resort).

BIG ISLAND

The first summer cottage was built on Big Island in North Bay, by the Johnson family in the early 1920s. There was very little development on the lake until late in the 1930s, when the two highways were constructed, from the south.

With a surface area of 7.55 km² (1870 acres) and a maximum depth of 46 meteres (150 ft), Paudash Lake has many large bays and a number of different sections within in: Lower Paudash Lake also called Outlet Bay (to the east), North Bay (to the north), Joe Bay (to the southwest) and Inlet Bay (in the northeast).

North Bay has spectacular massive pink granite cliffs that rise rising hundreds of feet above the shoreline and most of the lake is lined with heavy foliage and only the odd boathouse as the building of any new boathouses was outlawed back in the 1940s.

There was major cottage development on Paudash Lake from the 1950s through the 1960s. Today, the lake is fully developed with 640 properties. Most new construction involves the removal of 50 or 60 year old cottages, being replaced by modern ones.

Fifteen percent of the land on the Lake is permanent Crown land, as is one large island. The lake is spring fed and limestone based and has a significant wetland area- all of which contribute to keeping it a healthy ecosystem. Pelham Mulvaney's "History of the County of Peterborough" (1884) states, "the land around Paudash Lake offers every inducement to the settler; the soil is rich and fertile."

The bird life of the Paudash Lake area is simply staggering, as the standard field guide runs to some 400 pages. Fish species include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Lake Trout, Perch, Pumpkinseed, Northern cisco and White Sucker.

The lake has an active conservation association. During the last 40 years, a great deal of time and effort has been expended by both the government and the residents to ensure that Paudash Lake remains in as natural a state as possible and free of pollution of any kind.

While Paudash is a natural lake and unaffected by the Trent system fluctuations, there is a small dam at the east end of the lake at the outlet to the Crowe River.

The environmental history of the area includes the rise and decline of the uranium mining industry, from the early 1950s until the the late 60s.

The Paudash Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club is one of the best known snowmobile clubs in Ontario, with well-groomed trails maintained throughout the region during the winter months. The Central Region of Ontario contains over 5500 km (3410 miles) of completely interconnected, groomed snowmobile trails which, in turn, are interconnected to the incredible Ontario system of 43,000 km. (26,000 miles) of maintained snowmobile trails- also used for ATVing!

Paudash Lake, like similar freshwater lakes in Ontario, freezes over during the winter months with 18 to 24 inches (46-61 centimeters) of ice which will support a fully loaded dump truck. During this time the lake is often traversed by snowmobilers and ice fishing is also common.

Just a mile away (1.6 km.), Silent Lake Provincial Park offers over 40 km. (25 miles) of some of the most spectacular, fully groomed, cross-country ski trails in Canada, featuring natural, wood-fired warming huts along the trails and fantastic views from the trails on the hills that surround the lake.

In the summer, the lake is excellent for swimming and water sports such as Skiing and Wakeboarding which are very popular (the residents normally put in place a competition-type slalom run on the lake).

Areas where land and water come together and remain wet for an ecologically significant part of the year function as "ecotones"- in other words, a blending of different habitats.

"A wetland is land that is saturated with water long enough to promote wetland or aquatic processes as indicated by poorly drained soils, hydrophytic vegetation and various kinds of biological activity which are adapted to a wet environment."(Wetlands of Canada, Tarnocai et al., 1988)

Wetlands filter out sediment and pollution from the surrounding environment so that the water they discharge is cleaner that which entered the wetland. Acting like giant strainers, wetlands trap sediment and pollutants that are washed off the land. They can even improve water quality in areas where pesticides and fertilizers are used.

Grasses, sedges, and cattails stabilize the shorelines in wetlands by reducing the energy of waves, currents, and other erosive forces. Their roots trap sediments preventing the loss of valuable agricultural and residential land.Wetlands act like giant sponges holding large quantities of water and reducing floods. These lands hold water and gradually transfer it to groundwater reserves rather than having it flow overland.

Groundwater flows through underground rivers and rock deposits known as aquifers. It is the water from aquifers that is drawn by wells for human consumption. This water supply, however, can become diminished if too much water is drawn from them- however, wetlands replenish the supply. When water reaches the aquifer, it is cleaner than when it entered the wetland because it has been filtered through tiny spaces in the overlying rock. Where the water table rises above the level of the earth, the groundwater comes to the surface, nourishing a river, lake or wetland.

Historically, wetland ecosystems supplied food and resources to native people and early settlers. Today, river basins and their associated floodplains support over 90% of the world's population. People continue to use wetlands to grow wild rice and cranberries.

WILD RICE

Wetlands also provide habitat (food, water, shelter and space) for fish, birds, wildlife and insects, including more than one-third of the threatened and endangered species in North America.

Some examples of wetland plants include cattails, water horsetail, arrowheads, water lilies, pitcher plants, sundew, mosses and ferns. Sundews are small bog plants that eat insects. Sundew leaves have long hairs with sticky tips. Once an insect is stuck to the hair the leaves fold over to trap the prey and it is eventually digested.

Wetlands are used for fishing, hunting, boating, bird watching and other forms of outdoor recreation.

Four unique types of wetlands are found in Ontario.

1. MARSHES: Found along the shores of rivers and streams and in the shallows of ponds, lakes and sea coasts, marshes support a variety of floating and "emergent" plants- those rooted in the soil and growing out of the water such as Cattails and Arrowheads.

Commonly created by beaver activity, a marsh may be periodically or permanently covered in water.

GREAT BLUE HERON IN A MARSH

2. SWAMPS: Treed wetlands that may be isolated or found along rivers, streams and lakes, swamps are often formed due to flooding after spring snow melt. Swamps are most likely seasonal and may become quite dry in the summer. Typically there are trees in swamps- species may include Silver Maple, Black Ash, Black Spruce, White Cedar and Tamarack, or tall shrubs such as Willow, Alder and Dogwood.

SWAMP

3. BOGS: (Rare in Southern Ontario) Located in deep, bowl-like depressions, bogs are acidic and low in mineral nutrients. Filled with layers of peat (slowly decaying plant material)bogs have no drainage and are usually filled with stagnant water. Sphagnum moss, trees such as Black Spruce, and shrubs grow on this spongy base.

SPAGNUM MOSS

4: FENS: (Rare in Southern Ontario) Usually located in low-lying areas of northern Ontario, frens are a sedge dominated source from which water slowly flows in and out. A diverse community of sedges, rushes, grasses, low shrubs such Sweet gale and insect-eating plants such as Sundew live in fens. Fens may dry up completely in warm summer months.

FEN

33% of Ontario and 14% of Canada's land mass is covered by wetlands. Unfortunately, up to 90% of southern Ontario's wetlands have been lost to urbanization and agriculture.

Peat harvesting destroys many bogs and fens. Peat is harvested and used as a fuel source, for improving soils in gardens (also known as peat moss) and as an absorbent material in products such as diapers. Because it often takes 1000 years for a depth of 15 cm of peat to form in a wetland, it is considered to be a non-renewable resource just like coal, oil or natural gas.

Draining or filling in wetlands permanently destroys entire communities of plants and wildlife. Burning off or cutting down surrounding weeds, brush or other vegetation eliminates, at least temporarily, vital nesting places and escape cover.

Most major wetlands in Canada are protected because of their importance to North American waterfowl migratory routes. Many of these wetlands are reserves for hemispheric, international and regional migration routes. The hemispheric routes house over 500,000 birds during spring and fall migrations, 30% of the North American population. International routes shelter at least 100,000 birds while the regional routes provide resting stations for 20,000 birds, 5% of North American waterfowl.

The MNR maintains a system for evaluating wetlands to determine their significance for land use planning purposes.

http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wetlands/intro-e.cfm

Did you know an oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day?

Mark your calendar: it's happening this week… July 30, 31, August 1, 2, 2009.... the annual Rockhound Gemboree at the Bancroft Arena.

Everyone should experience Canada's largest gem & mineral show that brings together over 110 dealers from across the globe, with a wealth of fine mineral specimens, gemstone jewelry, fossils, crafts and lapidary supplies. This annual event draws thousands of collectors, rock hounds and geologists.

Highlights of the show include gold panning booth, rock and mineral talks with geologists from Natural Resources Canada, a swapping area, a mineral display and expert mineral identification services offered by the Royal Ontario Museum, and geologist-led mineral collecting field trips. Visitors should also check out the 7th Annual Stone Carver's Show and the Bancroft Curling Club.

The Gemboree is sparked by a rich and unique geological history that is found in few places in the world. Bancroft is known as the "Mineral Capital of Canada" because of the variety and quality of mineral species that occur here.

The region lies on top of a portion of the Canadian Shield stretching 400 kilometers wide by 2,000 kilometers long from Lake Huron to Labrador on rock that has been estimated at between 1.1 and 1.8 billion years old.

Mineral deposits characteristic of the Bancroft region are of excellent quality, but the veins were small and often difficult to follow. Mining operations in the area were very small, unable to compete with the larger mines across Canada and into the United States.

After World War II, the search for uranium initiated another mining boom in the Bancroft area. This led to the opening of four major uranium mines - Bicroft, Faraday, Dyno, and Greyhawk - which operated from the mid 1950s to the early 1960s.

The increasing costs of mining such as small deposits resulted in their eventual closure. Faraday, the largest producer of uranium, reopened in 1976 under the title of Madawaska Mines and remained open until 1982. Old, abandoned mine sites still provide a wealth of mineral samples for collectors.

In addition to uranium, 1,600 species of minerals have been identified in this region.

One of Bancroft's most interesting mining operations was the quarrying of the deep blue mineral called sodalite.

Thomas Thomson

Sodalite is the main mineral of the Sodalite group that is composed of minerals with a similar isometric structure and related chemistry. Its members are also part of a larger group called the Feldspathoids (similar to Feldspars but with less silica content). Sodalite is named in reference to its sodium content and was named by Glasgow chemist, Professor Thomas Thomson, who had been hired by the British to identify the stone after they had captured a shipment of it being sent from Greenland to Demark during the Napoleonic Wars.

Sodalite did not become important as a gemstone until 1891 when it was unearthed at a deposit near Bancroft, Ontario by Frank D. Adams while he was investigating the geology of the Haliburton-Hastings area for the Geological Survey of Canada.

(starting at top: Cleophas Cisney O'Hara, Sir Archibald Geikie, Frederick Haynes Newell, Henry Barnard Kümmell, George Burbank Shattuck, Rollin Daniel Salisbury, Arthur Clifford Veatch, Louis Marcus Prindle, Harry Fielding Reid, Charles Richard Van Hise, Cleveland Abbe, Jr., George Willis Stose, Thomas Leonard Watson, Edward Vincent D'Invilliers, Clarence Wilbur Dorsey, Frederick James Hamilton Merrill, Louis Agricola Bauer, Arthur Coe Spencer, William John McGee, William Bullock Clark, Rufus Mather Bagg, Frank Hall Knowlton, Robert T. Hill, Heinrich Ries, FRANK D ADAMS, Arthur Philemon Coleman, Timothy William Stanton, Oliver Lanard Fassig, Samuel Franklin Emmons, George Ferdinand Becker, Albert Berthold Hoen, George Otis Smith, James Furman Kemp, Bailey Willis, Charles David White, Edward Bennett Mathews, Charles Doolittle Walcott, John Wesley Powell, Joseph Stanley-Brown, Joseph Austin Holmes, Charles Willard Hayes, Leonidas Chalmers Glenn, Hiram Smith Williams.)

During their 1901 visit World's Fair in Buffalo, New York, The Prince and Princess of Wales were so captivated by a gift of Bancroft sodalite that the Princess made arrangements to quarry enough of the mineral to decorate her London residence, Marlborough House. In 1906, 130 tonnes of the rock were shipped to England to be used as a decorative stone in the Princess' royal home. And that is from where the name "Princess Sodalite Mine" comes. Visitors can still visit the Princess Sodalite Mine & shop 4 km East of Bancroft on Highway 28.

Those who believe in the healing energy of rocks, minerals and crystals believe that sodalite can provide one with access to the sacred laws of the universe. It is connected with the astrological sign of Sagittarius and the element, water. Considered energy receptive, sodalite vibrates to the number 4 and relates to the throat chakra and the planet Venus.

Sodalite is also believed to resonate to Archangel Michael, the Archangel of protection, courage, truth and strength. It is considered an excellent stone for use in groups, providing for fellowship and solidarity, as well as achieving of common goals. It is said that one should carry this stone as a reminder that nothing changes until YOU change.

A stone of insight and intuition, the sodalite is used to clear mental confusion and establish inner peace. Strengthening the power of mind over body, the energy of sodalite bridges the gaps between thoughts and feelings. It fosters knowledge, learning, consciousness, communication and wisdom. This stone is useful for both the student and philosopher.

Particularly useful for people taking the 4th step: Inventory. Sodalite helps to alleviate fear and guilt- allowing one to honestly access both self and others. Sodalite draws one from their comfort zone and reminds them that what is in the past can no longer hurt.

Sodalite stimulates courage and endurance, soothes and heals the central nervous system, enhances communication and combats the negative effects of radioactivity.

Sodalite is considered to calm those who have a tendency to be reactive and overly sensitive. It is used for healing rifts in relationships, partnerships and helps to bring an end to disagreements. Uniting the logical with the spiritual, sodalite assists in freeing us from old behaviour patterns that no longer serve us.

Promoting a deep level of peace and a profound emotional balance, sodalite is super for people who experience anxiety or panic attacks. It also aids in weight loss, regulating the metabolism and helping with digestion. Useful in memory work, sodalite is thought to be a record-keeping mineral.

Said to prolong physical endurance, awaken the third eye and dispel insomnia, sodalite is favoured by atheletes, new-age healers and seekers. It is also credited with absorbing and neutralizing inner clouds of disharmony, balancing both sides of the mind and allowing the mind to express the emotional aspects of ideas in the physical form. As such, they say, sodalite unites the logical with the spiritual.

Sodalite is used to treat those searching for truth, wanting to enhance self-esteem, enhancing self-trust, fostering mutual dependence, improving the trust of others and soothing emotional turmoil.

Sodalite, apparently helps, also, in understanding the nature of self in relation to the universe. It is the most dense and grounded of the deep blue stones and it clears the mind and prepares it for greater perception: to receive the inner light and intuitive knowledge.

For those who have trouble getting in touch with their true feelings and often use their heads to make life decision- sodalite is recommended as it will bring harmony to all inner conflict.

I started to write today, about the July 2010 G8 summit being hosted in Huntstville, Ontario… and I stumbled upon James Travers’ July 11, Toronto Star article in which he said, “Big, wordy and grotesquely expensive as ever, the July 2010 bun-toss Canada will host in Huntsville is well on the way to becoming an international sideshow.“

Bun-toss. Interesting.

The 3-day event is expected to generate millions of dollars for Ontario’s cottage country, with attendees including U.S. President Obama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as well as leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United Kingdom, with non-voting visiting countries from Asia, Africa and the European Union.

In his article, Travers said, “Trend or an inevitable result of globalization, the rise of the G20 at G8 expense accelerated this week with acceptance that industrialized countries can't counter climate change without emerging economies as allies. In effect, the G8 is sealing its own fate by edging toward a model that recognizes the significant difference between winning and success.”

And went on to say, “By accepting that the wealthy must help the less fortunate cope with the costs of climate change, the G8 is doing more than bridging that gap between the North's sense of fairness and the South's (and East's) determination to reach aspirational goals. It's also bowing to the truth that exclusive clubs can't solve inclusive problems”

After reading the article, I realized that I’ve said enough about the upcoming G-8 conference… gee whiz.

Then, I was looking at another article from that same Star online… written by Richard J Brennan. The article features a photo of Huntsville Mayor Claude Doughty and quotes Industry Minister Tony Clement, MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka on a plan to spray “ liquid garlic a couple of weeks before the event -so the whole place doesn't smell-when participants start arriving”.

Apparently, “"What we are doing in Muskoka these days is spreading garlic and it keeps all the bugs away, “ said Clement.

Doughty likes to say the town is getting 30 years' worth of infrastructure done in one year. "The positives (of the summit) far outweigh the potential negatives," he says. Centered around Huntsville's Deerhurst Resort, the G8 event is expected to affect all of cottage country. Some people believe it will introduce Ontario Cottage Country to the world.

$50 million has been earmarked for G8 preparations, $45 million is already been committed, (including $6 million for the airport in North Bay because of the expected number of international flights that will be arriving). Apparently, some $32 million has poured into Huntsville. A new $9 million G8 building will be handed over to the University of Waterloo, after the summit, for environmental and ecological research and teaching purposes.

I wonder if the participants will get to taste Deerhurst’s Maple Sugar Pie?

MAPLE SUGAR PIE
This gooey traditional Quebec cousin to pecan pie can be dished up warm or at room temperature. Adding a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream makes it even better. Serves 8

INGREDIENTS
Your favourite pie dough recipe for a 9" single crust pie (store bought will also work in a pinch)
1 cup walnuts, toasted briefly in a dry skillet and coarsely chopped
3 large eggs
1 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

METHOD
Arrange oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425F. On lightly floured surface using lightly floured rolling pin, roll out dough to about a 13" round. Fit into 9-inch pie plate. Trim edge, leaving 1/2" overhang, then fold over and crimp decoratively. Cover with plastic wrap and chill shell in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Scatter walnuts in shell. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, maple syrup, butter, vanilla, brown sugar, and salt. Pour mixture into pie shell over nuts. Transfer pie dish to a sturdy cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350F and continue baking until crust is golden and center is just set, 25 to 30 minutes more. Transfer pie to rack and cool at least 10 minutes before cutting.

Or the Pickerel with Maple, Butternut Squash and Apple Cider Glaze

The apple cider, apples and maple syrup combine to add a subtle sweetness to the already sweet flavour of fresh pickerel.
INGREDIENTS:
PICKEREL WITH MAPLE, BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND APPLE CIDER GLAZE
· 2 x 7 oz pickerel fillets (two 196 g)
· 1/4 cup flour, for dredging (60 ml)
· Salt and white pepper, to taste
· 1 tbsp butter, for cooking pickerel (15 ml)
· 2 tbsp vegetable oil (30 ml)
· 1/2 cup diced butternut squash (1/4-inch dice) (125 ml)
· ½ McIntosh apple, diced (1/4-inch dice) (125 ml)
· 1/2 cup apple cider (125 ml)
· 2 tbsp maple syrup (30 ml)
· 2 tbsp butter (30 ml)
· Fresh lemon juice, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
PICKEREL WITH MAPLE, BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND APPLE CIDER GLAZE
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Preheat a non-stick frying pan to medium high heat and add oil and butter. Season the pickerel fillet with salt and white pepper. Dredge in flour and add to pan, keeping in mind to lay fish into pan presentation side down (side with no skin). Let fish brown for 2 to 3 minutes then turn over. Transfer to oven and cook for 6 to 8 minute or until fish is just cooked through. Remove pickerel from pan. Keep fish warm.
3. Put the hot pan back to stove over medium high heat. Add 1 tbsp. butter and diced butternut squash, sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Add apple and sauté for 1 minute. Add apple cider. Let liquid reduce by half, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add maple syrup, remaining 1 tbsp. butter and quickly bring to a boil. Taste glaze and add lemon juice to your liking. Pour over pickerel, garnish and serve immediately.

Or the Maple Vinaigrette:

INGREDIENTS
Salad
4 large handfuls of baby mesclun greens
1 English cucumber
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Deerhurst maple vinaigrette (recipe follows)
Vinaigrette Dressing
3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup maple or white vinegar
1 tbsp. Pommery or Dijon mustard
1 small red onion, very finely diced
Juice of half a lemon
Worcestershire sauce, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Maple syrup, to taste
METHOD
To make the dressing:
• Whisk together mustard, onions and vinegar.
• Add the oil in a slow stream, whisking steadily to thicken and emulsify the
dressing.
• Season with lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.
• Whisk in a small amount of maple syrup and taste for sweetness.
TO PREPARE THE SALAD:
• Cut both ends of the cucumber and slice it thinly lengthwise, about 1/4 inch
thick. You’ll need one slice for each serving. Some vegetable peelers also
work well to do this.
• Pick though the greens and create small bunches with all the stem ends
together.
• Fill each ring with enough of the neatly bunched lettuce so that your
“bouquet” stays in place.
• Sprinkle the raisins and cranberries on each plate.
• Using a tablespoon, drizzle the dressing over each salad.

PERHAPS:

CRANBERRY-MAPLE CHUTNEY
· 1 lb. cranberries, fresh or frozen (454 g)
· 3 oz white vinegar (90 ml)
· 1 x small onion, diced
· juice of 1 orange
· zest of 1 orange
· 2 tbsp canola oil (30 ml)
· 1 tsp cinnamon (5 ml)
· 1/2 tsp nutmeg (2 ml)
· 1/2 tsp dry mustard (2 ml)
· 3 oz Deerhurst maple syrup, or to taste (90 ml)

DIRECTIONS:
CRANBERRY-MAPLE CHUTNEY
1. Heat the canola oil, add the diced onions and let sweat until soft and transparent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the white vinegar. Add the cranberries, orange juice and zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and dry mustard. Let simmer until the first cranberries start to pop, about 5 minutes. Add the maple syrup. Let cool to room temperature then refrigerate until serving. Note that the chutney will thicken as it cools. If the chutney, when cool, becomes too thick adjust with orange juice or maple syrup depending on the sweetness required.

Does it get more Canadian than that?

Traveling east on Highway 515 in the Ottawa Valley leads to an intersection with Highway 512. Heading north takes you to a village of past-greatness, Brudenell, which once boasted three hotels, a race track, blacksmith shops, and the Costello store which provided winter supplies to the loggers heading into the lumber camps, and ran a tab for their families.

THE COSTELLO HOTEL

About 200 people populated Brudenell in its heyday in the latter-years of the 1800s, there were also daily stage services to Eganville, Rockingham and Combermere.

Originally known as "Brudenell Corners" or "Payette Corners" (after Madame Desiree Payette's busy hotel, Brudenell village and township were named about 1857. The name commemorates James Thomas Brudenell (the 7th Earl of Cardigan), the leader of a cavalry charge which took place during the Seige of Sebastopol, a port on the Black Sea, during the Crimean War. Tennyson's poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade", published in 1854 immortalized the event.

(above, The Earl of Cardigan, variously described as "vain","contentious", "foppish", a "notorious rake" "unusually stupid," and "an ass".)

The "corners" was dropped in 1859, when Charles Hirsh opened the first post office.

James Costello and later Hugh (Cooey) Costello ran a hotel and store from the Brudenell house. James Costello acquired the nickname Black Jim. He was known as a tough, shrewd businessman who allowed the loggers credit so that their families could draw supplies from his store while the wage earners were in the lumber camps.

Men settled their accounts at the Costello store in spring when they returned from the winter camps with their pay. It seems that there was seldom much cash left over once the bills were paid. One of Black Jim's accomplishments was bringing by ox-team and wagon a Heintzman grand piano to Brudenell for his wife. Since he did not know there was a method of disassembling the piano, he removed one wall of the house in order to place it in its intended location.

Costello's hotel burned in 1886 but was quickly rebuilt and expanded. It soon became known for its gambling and "sins of a far worse nature".

ANOTHER BRUDENELL SHOP

This was the busiest, most active community on the Opeongo Line. Originally called Brudenell Corners, but the decline of Brudenell occurred in 1893 with the defeat of John A. MacDonald and Laurier rerouted rail services through Killaloe, instead of the Opeongo Line. Business and lumbering activities were negatively affected, sending Brudenell into decline and toward it's notoriety as the "sin-bin" of the Opeongo.

In the 1930s mobster Al Capone built a log cabin situated on the Letterkenny Road.

The name of "Gorman Lake" on the Letterkenny Rd can be traced to members of the O’Gorman family who migrated from County Clare to Canada in the years 1829 to 1840, settling in this part of the Ottawa Valley.

LAKE GORMAN- BRUDENELL TWP, RENFREW COUNTY

Of particular note is botanist Martin W. Gorman, the son of Peter and Mary Gorman, was born on a nearby farm in Renfrew County, on November 23, 1853. Gorman became a leading authority on the flora of the Northwest, especially trees and is credited with discovering at least ten species new to science.

A very special property consisting of 1003 acres, formerly the much envied Coyne Family Farm (likely that of William Coyne born 1837 and died August 5, 1898 at Brudenell), is for sale. It has 3300' of shoreline on beautiful Lake Gorman. Part of the acreage may be seen at the far right in the photo of Lake Gorman (above).

The property has a number of smaller lakes, ponds and streams, throughout. Part of the property is wildly forested, some has plantation pines and some, more open, the former fields- now overgrown. There are old, forest roads and trails throughout the property.

Hydro is available at the edge of the property, a pole remains near the clearing where there was once the old homestead. The only cabin on the property sits at the quiet edge of "Stone Dam Lake". It is a tidy one-bedroom.

ENTRY TO CABIN ON STONE DAM LAKE

Township regulations allow for many uses at this location. It would be a fantastic, potentially self-sustaining retreat... it could be developed into a spectacular waterfront community... it is not far from schools and amenities, yet it is absolutely teeming with wildlife.

Details of this property may be seen at www.realtor.ca using MLS #719054 or #471901901508650 it is currently offered at $1,250,000 (Canadian)

6000 acre, eight-kilometre long Lake Clear is one of the largest deep water lakes in Renfrew County. Lake Clear exits through Little Lake Clear to Hurds Creek and flows about 13 kilometres to the Bonnechere River at Eganville.

Four kilometres down the creek is a Renfrew Power Generation Incorporated control dam, built in 1932.Renfrew Power planned to establish a vertical storage capacity of seven feet, but the resistance of cottage owners resultedin a compromise height of 5.4 feet.

In 1968 the stretch between Lake Clear and Little Lake Clear was dredged and cleared to a width of 30 feet and a depth of five feet to improve flow from the lake. The original intent was to repeat the dredging on a regular basis, but this proved to be economically unsound.

The forces of nature have prevailed, restoring the passage
to essentially its original condition. When the wooden trestle bridge at Manning Road was replaced by two steel culverts,industrious beavers seized the opportunity to frustrate clearance of their dams by building inside the culverts. A similar situation exists at Wittke Road.

The net result in summer is often barely enough flow to trickle over the ageing hydro dam. In effect, the creek - not the dam - controls the out-flow.

Located in the Sebastopol Ward in The Township of Bonnechere Valley- the area is located in the heart of Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada.

Outdoor enthusiasts are attracted by the wealth of natural beauty and accessible wilderness. Wild game sportsmen come for quality white-tail deer hunting and excellent fishing... which is why the Native Hurons, Algonquins, Iroquois and Outaouais (the first to navigate the Ottawa River and settle in the area) were attracted to the locale.

By 1867, when Canada became a nation,the Canadian government had built the Ottawa and Opeongo Settlement Road, known locally as the Opeongo Line, to attract German, Irish and Polish immigrants to the
hinterland. These hardy pioneers harvested much of the Ottawa Valley’s white pine, struggling to establish a new life here while
shipping square timber overseas to help rebuild Europe after the
Napoleonic Wars.

This was the dawn of the industrial era. John Cockburn designed the first pointer boat, water-powered gristmills were built at each chute
along the Bonnechere River, and Pembroke was the first Canadian community to be lit by commercial streetlights. The Ottawa Valley had come of age.

Coursing northwest from Renfrew to Barry’s Bay, the Opeongo Line is your route to time-travel into the past and experience Renfrew County much like the original Europeans.

This, truly, is a beautiful, mountainous region with many wilderness and Crown land areas, hardwood forests, and hundreds of lakes. Following the northern edge of the Madawaska Highlands is the Opeongo Line. This early settlement line is as well known for the abundance of log homesteads and outbuilding that are still in use today. Today the Opeongo Line is a favorite scenic area, particularly in the fall when the trees are changing colours.

At 1830 feet high, nearby Foymount is at the highest populated point in Ontario. At the height of the cold war and before the days of spy-in-the-sky satellites, Canada, assisted by the U.S.A., operated three lines of radar stations to detect bomber attacks approaching over the Arctic from the U.S.S.R. The DEW (Distant Early Warning) Line was the farthest north, the Pine Tree Line was the most southerly, and the Mid-Canada Line was in between.

One of the Pinetree Line stations was Foymount, an RCAF base with about 400 personnel, which operated from 1952 until 1974.

Its peaceful and scenic rolling hills overlook Lake Clear. Foymount is an excellent and rewarding get-away into the wilderness and fresh air. The combination of high altitude and extremely dark skies make this an ultimate weekend outing.

Located on the edge of the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben. The Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben is a rift valley, originally perhaps a kilometer deep, that formed during the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Rodina. It has subsequently been subjected to more than 500 million years of erosion. Now the elevation difference between the floor of the graben (the surface of Lake Clear, let's say) and the highest point at Foymount is a little less than 1000', but it remains an impressive geological feature. The graben, tens of kilometers wide, is bordered by an escarpment east of the Ottawa River and on the west by the "Opeongo Mountains".

A large part of the Ottawa Valley is underlaid by gneisses, with large bodies of granite, syenite and other igneous rocks. The age of some of the Precambrian rocks is about one billion years; some rocks of the Shield north of the Ottawa River basin have been dated at about two and a half billion years.

Fossils may be seen in the limestones in several places in the Valley, including the Eganville area and the amazing Bonnechere Caves at the Fourth Chute on the Bonnechere River.

Over the centuries, the nearby Bonnechere River (often pronounced locally as the bone-chur) has been a conduit for transportation, as an access route to the pineries, for its square timber drives and later log drives.

It spawned sawmills and grist mills, carding mills, and was a powerhouse of energy for mill wheels as well as hydro generators.It became a route along which settlements grew, and farmlands extended from its banks and tributary streams, a source of both food and recreation for residents and travellers. The productive soils and enticing landscape of the Bonnechere Valley watershed (the area of land which feeds the river) were among the first logged, settled and farmed in Renfrew County.

The Bonnechere is now a popular place for white-water rafting.

Three of Lake Clear's 12 islands were the subject of a flora and fauna survey by naturalist Chris Michener in 2000. A shallow lagoon
offering an unspoiled habitat for many plant and animal species is among the "intriguing natural features" he identified on Green Island
where the wetlands contain swamp loosestrife and a very poisonous plant, bulb-bearing water hemlock.

Eighty-six plant varieties were identified including the rare marsh bedstraw, upland white aster, false nettle, and northern willow-herb.
In one short visit he identified 28 different bird species. Biologist Dan Brunton was surprised to find the rare rocky mountain woodsia thriving on the island. It has been found elsewhere in Ontario, but only in scattered locations in Algonquin Park, on cliffs along the shores of Lake Superior, and in the extreme northwest of the province.

Herring gulls were identified on the westerly Twin Island and return each year. Visitors are warned to be careful during the nesting season, or better still, to keep clear, as the gulls are liable to attack intruders. The other Twin has witnessed the most human disturbance, but Michener was delighted to see a satyr common butterfly, a rare sight in Renfrew County.

When preparing the original survey and Plan of the Township of Sebastopol, the land surveyors identified certain islands in Lake Clear with a capital letter. There is no apparent reason why some islands were lettered and others were not. It did not depend on size as very small islands, - the Little Rock and the Twin Islands - were marked while some larger islands, - Haines' Island ( arguably the prettiest island) and Salmon Island were not.

At one time there were suspicions that someone had altered the plan filed at the Registry office by removing the letter from Haines' Island and placing it on the Little Rock. However the issued patent for Little Rock correctly shows it to be 1 acre in size. Haines' is much larger.

Island "A" - Green Island (sometimes referred to as The Burnt Island) This island is abstracted as containing 15 acres. It was patented on April 6, 1883 to one Allan Grant. There is a Quit Claim deed registered in October of 1899 from James Bell and his wife to Jeannie Grant.

There is no further registrations until 1996 when a Tax arrears Certificate is registered. A cancellation certificate is registered in 1998 and the Island is now the subject of a PIN number issued under The Land Titles Act and the owner is The Lake Clear Conservancy. This island was destroyed by fire in the 1950s and is now home to many wild flowers and unique plants as is disclosed in a study done for the Lake Clear Conservancy by Chris Michener in 2000.

Island "B". - French's Island - No patent has been issued and so there are no registrations and it remains as Crown Land. It is known as French's Island because it lies in front of lots 50 and 51 Range C North of the Opeongo.

These lots were owned and settled by T.P. French, the first land agent responsible for settlement on the Opeongo,and the island is called after him.

Island "C" - Blueberry Island. This Island is not patented, there are no registrations and it remains as Crown land.

Island "D"- Turner's Island - the largest of the Islands comprises 64 acres. It was patented on November 21, 1878 to Robert Turner. Mr. Turner was an early settler at Eganville and was responsible for clearing large tracts of land on the south side of the Bonnechere River.

He was a very important person in the growth and development of the area. He became engaged in the lumber business and after losing heavily on a bad deal, quit the business and spent much time at Lake Clear fishing, hunting and working the open mine that he had opened on the island.

He conveyed the island to his son John Turner in 1879 and John Turner sold it to Annie Bonfield in 1930. It was sold by her in 1931 to one Emerson Smith. It was later sold for taxes and split into two parts, -one part containing about 50 acres and the other containing about 14 acres.

The island has been of interest to geologists and rock hounds over the years because of the existence of the old open mine. Reportedly the largest zircon crystal ever found in Ontario was dislodged at the mine and is now on display in Toronto.

Island "E" - Muddy Island- is not patented and there are no registrations and remains as Crown land. It is a very nice island and the name historically given to it does not do it justice.

Island "F" and Island "G" - The Twin Islands" - contain 3 acres, They were patented on December 23, 1878 to John Heenan and John Childerhouse. These two gentlemen were Eganville businessmen. There were no registrations following the patent until 1996 when a Tax Arrears certificate was registered.

There was a cancellation certificate registered in 1998 and the Islands are now the subject of PIN numbers issued under the
Land Titles Act and the owner is the Lake Clear Conservancy.

Island "H" - Cherry Island - is patented as 7 acres on March 9, 1893 to Arthur Bruce. It is conveyed in 1921 by his widow and estate to Robert Bruce. Through the Bruce family it devolved to the Stafford family and was sold by them to Thomas Gillis, Arnold Donahue and Wayne Spooner in 1977.

Island "I" - The Little Rock - is a barren rock and is appropriately named. It was patented on October 21, 1880 to Donald G. Macdonell and is noted to be 1 acre in size. In 1892 there was a Tax Deed to Andrew W. Bell. It then was in the name of Michael John Stafford who sold it to Emmet James Graham in 1956. Emmet died on September 27, 1967 and his estate sold it.

There maybe another 10 crown islands, some very small. As noted Salmon Island is about 2 acres in size and Haines' Island is probably about 8 acres, and is probably called after German immigrant Robert Haines who is noted in the 1871 census as an Opeongo settler along with his wife and four young children.

Oral history is that this Island was lived on and probably cultivated to some extent. Certainly Emmet Graham used part of it to grow
potatoes, and had tales of it being used by early settlers to produce potash.

There are a number of historic landmarks, heritage centres, museums, horseback riding, canoe outfitters, berry picking sites, all sorts of natural attractions, golf courses, skiing, rafting, trails and other exciting things to do in the area....

You can see the extraordinary properties available on or near Lake Clear by visiting www.realtor.ca with these mls #s:

13.3 Acres- Lovely, well-treed, building lot with a nice creek & great views. MLS #719422 OR 473801605021710

500+ Acres with 900' frontage on Lake Clear and about 400 acres ascending MacDonald's Mountain. MLS# 719053 OR 471600021700

The waterfront portion of the above noted acreage is available separately, it consists of about 137 well-treed acres with a stream/waterfall and the 900' of shoreline- it excludes the mountain portion. MLS #733683 OR 471600001021700A

These days, many people are dreaming of building an eco-friendly home and it turns out that this sort of construction can be quite economical, too!

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

Organic Architecture was a key element in the 1930s designs of American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Building with natural materials and never painted, Wright's designs often featured low-pitched rooflines with deep overhangs and uninterrupted walls of windows that merged horizontal homes into their environments.

LLOYD'S FALLINGWATER 1935(recognized as the architect's most acclaimed and famous works)

Frank Lloyd Wright said of the house; "Fallingwater is a great blessing - one of the great blessings to be experienced here on earth. I think nothing yet ever equaled the coordination, sympathetic expression of the great principle of repose where forest and stream and rock and all the elements of structure are combined so quietly that really you listen not to any noise whatsoever although the music of the stream is there. But you listen to Fallingwater the way you listen to the quiet country."

The present trend to go green shows that Wright was esthetically ahead of his time. His designs cooperated with the environment, made use of local organic building materials and displayed an understanding of the solar capacity of a building.

"Organic buildings are the strength and lightness of the spiders' spinning, buildings qualified by light, bred by native character to environment, married to the ground." said Frank Lloyd Wright

Today's construction encourages furthering the intimate relationship with the outdoor environment and provide responsible solutions and sustainable resources to power a structure's energy needs. The goal- an earth friendly lifestyle.

WOODLAND HOME- WALES

The main tools used to construct the Woodland Home in Wales: a chainsaw, hammer and 1 inch chisel. The builder was not a carpenter and his only experiences was helping someone build a similar home, 2 years prior. He says, "This kind of building is accessible to anyone. My main relevant skills were being able bodied, having self belief and perseverence and a mate or two to give a lift now and again."
http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm

Straw bale buildings, baled straw from barley, wheat, rice, flax, rye or oats are becoming almost mainstream. They utilize an annually renewable agricultural by-product. The interior plaster of straw bale houses increase the "thermal mass" of the home, which helps to stabilize interior temperature fluctuations. The big thick walls provide for nice quiet spaces. Straw bale homes are low maintenance. The final coat of plaster can be mixed with a die to provide colour. As such, the owner may never have to paint it. When built with a steel roof and high quality windows, a straw bale home may have a virtually maintenance free exterior.

STRAW BALE HOME IN BANCROFT,ONT.

The Potters of Bancroft, built their enviromental home from used tires. Laid concrete-block fashion, the tires are filled with densely-packed earth. Concrete 'parging' covers these walls, smoothing them, and surrounding aluminum pop cans which occupy space and reduce the amount of concrete needed. The walls thus built are immensely thick and strong. The Potters say that they qualify as a load-bearing foundation, on their own.

THE POTTER'S "EARTHSHIP" TIRE HOUSE

Earth turns to gold
in the hands of the wise.
- Rumi Persian poet and philosopher

Cordwall or Stackwall homes are built by stacking piles of wood on top of each other and connecting them with mortar. Openings are left for windows and doors. Glass bottles or jars may be incorporated into the construction- this is both decorative and adds light.

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF STACKWALL CONSTRUCTION- COE HILL, ONT.

Earth bag building utilizes the poly bags that grain comes in. They are piled like bricks with barbed wire between them. A final layer of mortar creates a sturdy wall.

Papercrete uses glossy magazines and other paper, mixed into a mortar-the recipe is easy: one shovel of cement and three shovels of sifted sandy dirt to a drum of newspapers and magazines. The mixture is placed into a form and made into a brick of sorts. One soaker drum of paper will make 20 blocks.

Cob is a very old building method that is now enjoying a resurgance. A cob house is made of clay, sand and straw. The mixture is kneaded like dough before it is put into place by stomping on it with your feet or using a cement mixer for larger scale operations. The clay acts as the glue, while the sand gives strength to the mixture and the straw gives the walls tensile strength once hardened into place. Because cob is very flexible to work with, the builder is free to create just about any shape.

COB HOUSE

Rammed Earth Construction is the ultimate in building with local materials. It is build from earth that is dug up from the building site. The technique consists of building a form, similar to a form used to pour concrete, and then filling the form with a mixture of sand, clay and gravel with portland cement as a binder and then compressing it together with a tamper.

This type of construction has a large amount of thermal mass, which will even out the temperature fluctuation during the day. It is particularly good in passive solar designs. It also has the advantages of being almost soundproof and fireproof. In some sites, other materials, such as glass or shells are added to the mixture to give it additional texture. It can also be coloured by adding pigments to the mixture. Variations can be created by using different mixture in the various layers.

Poured earth is similar to ordinary concrete, in that it is mixed and formed like concrete and uses cement as a binder. The main difference is that instead of the sand/gravel used as an aggregate in concrete, poured earth uses ordinary soil (although this soil needs to meet certain specifications) and generally uses less cement. Poured earth could be considered a "moderate strength concrete." Little to no maintenance is required of poured earth walls, since they have a high resistance to the deteriorating effects of water and sun.

One of the most fascinating and eccentric eco homes are cave houses. Many examples are foudn in Spain (casas cueva) to be found throughout the region in towns, villages and countryside. Most cave dwellings are hand-hewn and can date back to the Middle Ages. Spectacular galleries of abandoned Moorish cave houses can be seen high up in cliff faces in such places as Benamaurel (Las Hafas) and Castilléjar (La Morería). Cave houses are still being excavated to this day, using modern machinery.

No two cave houses are the same. Some have front additions and others are on more than one level. A majority of the cave houses lived in today have been modernised, some to a very high standard, but all still retain many of their original features. Inside, their rounded walls and ceilings are almost always white-washed, giving them a light and airy yet cosy ambience.

The atmosphere within these caves is dry and comfortable, with temperatures fairly stable at 18C to 20C. There is a variation of a couple of degrees between the summer and winter months, depending on the orientation of the cave.

Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant to American created a subterranean complex of patios, garden courts and grotts with interconnecting passageways that encircled his living quarters.

The self-taught artist and builder, by 1923 (at the age of 44)
ad carved 10 acres underground using farming tools—picks and shovels, wheelbarrows, and a Fresno scraper pulled by two mules.

Take a look at his creation at this website: http://www.undergroundgardens.info/index.html

& I haven't even begun to touch on domes...

R. Buckminster Fuller; inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician, poet and cosmologist was one of the most enlightened mystics of the last century. His universal vision saw our planet as "Spaceship Earth'. He secretly took the responsibility of being a "ships captain' and with passionate intent made his goal helping to care for everyone onboard. Bucky committed his entire productivity to the whole planet Earth and its resources; undertaking to protect and advance all life. Buckminster Fuller made geodesic a household word.

Some other fun and eco friendly buildings can be seen at these websites:
http://design.spotcoolstuff.com/architecture/rotating-dome-house

http://design.spotcoolstuff.com/unusual-architecture/shipping-container-buildings

Inspired and motivated to lead more active healthy lives, cultured and educated empty nesters are flocking to cottage country. Responding to the demand, many developers are announcing plans for waterfront residential developments.

Fram Building Group and Slokker Real Estate president, Bruce Kerr, recently spoke about a 16-hectare residential development of a Muskoka lakefront property the group purchased in 2004.

“It’s a place for the zoomer crowd”, said Kerr, describing a market sector of near-retirees- folks who wish to live in an environment that matches their lifestyle.

“They can walk to get groceries or meet friends for coffee, but with the added benefit of always being connected to a beautiful waterfront, hiking trails and proximity to beaches and mountains,” he says.

& Deborah Lafave (vice-president of sales and marketing for Sotheby’s International Realty, Canada) agrees. “It’s the result of a combination of factors,” she said recently, “including low interest rates, terrific deals and a realization by consumers that this is a great time to buy.”

Buyers who want to beat the city hustle, traffic jams, dirt and noise are reaching into our rural communities. Drawn by a lower cost of living, wide open space, fresh air, natural resources, recreational opportunities and cultural amenities, Buyers have recognized that they can be comfortable in smaller centres and still close enough to visit the larger urban areas.

Cottage country offers a peaceful pace and community that places great value in family and tradition. The Bancroft area has taken steps toward redevelopment and revitalization that centre around the lazy, beautiful York River. Plans include a new Museum, riverside boardwalks, a new hotel, a new Town Hall, a community centre complex, condominiums, parking areas, green spaces, shops, enhanced trails and so much more!

There are too many attractions to list here… from scenic picnic areas to artist’s studios… concerts in the park to sailing...historic sites to berry picking farms… canoe making to white water rafting… hiking to hammock... sculpturing to horticulture... bird watching to theatrical events... fishing spots to day spas… there’s something for everyone.

Some of the special upcoming events in the Bancroft area, include:

Jul 15: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Jul 16: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Jul 17-19: Bancroft & Area Lifestyle Expo - Bancroft Curling Club
Jul 21-25: Blackfly Summer Theatre - "See How They Run"
Jul 22: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Jul 23: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Jul 23-26: Palmer Rapids Twin Music Festivals
Jul 24: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Jul 25: Team Penning, Gaming, & Sorting - Rocky Hills Horse Club, Maynooth
Jul 26: Annual Bancroft Gem and Mineral Show - Bancroft Legion
Jul 26: Bancroft Bass Tournament Series, Elephant and Baptiste Lakes
Jul 28-Aug 01: Blackfly Summer Theatre - "See How They Run"
Jul 29: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Jul 30: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Jul 30-Aug 02: 46th Annual Stone Carvers Show & Symposium - Bancroft Curling Club
Jul 30-Aug 02: 46th Annual Rock Hound Gemboree - North Hastings Community Centre
Jul 30-Aug 02: Gemboree Breakfast - St. John's Anglican Church, 7:00-10:00am
Jul 28-Aug 01: Laugh Lines Theatre - "See How They Run"
Jul 30-Aug 02: 46th Annual Stone Carvers Show & Symposium - Bancroft Curling Club
Jul 30-Aug 02: 46th Annual Rock Hound Gemboree - North Hastings Community Centre
Jul 30-Aug 02: Gemboree Breakfast - St. John's Anglican Church, 7:00-10:00am
Aug 01: Annual Book Sale - Art Gallery of Bancroft, 9:00am
Aug 01-Aug 02: Annual Bancroft Arts and Crafts Guild & Arts Festival - Millennium Park
Aug 01-03: Coe Hill Wild West Weekend - Coe Hill Fairgrounds
Aug 05: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Aug 06: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Aug 11-15: Laugh Lines Theatre - "The Foursome"
Aug 12: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Aug 13: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Aug 13-16: Havelock Jamboree
Aug 15: Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Public Works Yard, 10:00am-3:00pm
Aug 18-22: Laugh Lines Theatre - "The Foursome"
Aug 19: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Aug 20: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Aug 24-29: 8th Annual KINSHIP Conference and Camp - Sutton Salvation Army Camp
Aug 21-22: Coe Hill Agricultural Fair
Aug 25-27: Blackfly Summer Theatre - "The Un-Scene Story"
Aug 26: Mineral Capital Concerts - Millennium Park
Aug 27: Summer Movie Mania - Millennium Park, 9:00pm
Aug 28: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Aug 28-29: Coe Hill Agricultural Fair

Sep 05-06: Maynooth Madness & Loggers Games - Maynooth
Sep 05-06: Warriors Day at Coe Hill
Sep 08: Council Meeting - Dungannon Recreation Centre, 9:00am
Sep 12: Bancroft Bass Tournament Series, Paudash Lake
Sep 12: Hastings Highlands Hilly Hundred
Sep 13: Annual Terry Fox Run
Sep 13: Annual Roast Beef & Ham Dinnner - Our Lady of Mercy Parish
Sep 19: York River Festival "Where The Words Are" - Village Playhouse
Sep 19: Elephant Lake Lodge Bass Tournament
Sep 25: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Sep 26: Household Hazardous Waste Collection - Public Works Yard, 10:00am-3:00pm
Sep 26-27: Bancroft & Area Fall Studio Tour
Sep 27: Bancroft Bass Tournament Series, Mystery Lake
Oct 03-04: Bancroft & Area Fall Studio Tour
Oct 21-24: "Random Acts" - Bancroft Theatre Guild, Village Playhouse
Oct 23: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Nov 11: Remembrance Day Ceremony - Cenotaph, Bancroft
Nov 11: Remembrance Day Ceremony - A.N.A.F., Maynooth
Nov 19-21: Rally of the Tall Pines
Nov 27: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Dec 05: Bancroft Santa Claus Parade, 1:45pm
Dec 06: National Day of Remembrance - Violence Against Women
Dec 12: Maynooth Christmas Parade, "Brighten The Night"
Dec 18: Support Our Troops Luncheon - Bancroft Legion
Dec 24: Annual Community Christmas Dinner - Bancroft Legion

In Barry’s Bay:

July 14: Paul J Yakabuski Community Centre- Movie Night - MONSTERS VS. ALIENS at 7 p.m.
Aug 2: CO Blitz at Combermere Community Centre & Fire Station 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Aug 21: Taste of the Valley Barry's Bay Railway Station 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Barry's Bay Farmers' Market is located at the old train station, downtown Barry's Bay, at Highway 60 and Stafford St and operates from June to October. Friday’s between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

The Combermere Farmers' Market is located at the corner of Mill Rd and Highway #62 in Combermere, Saturdays from 8am - 11 am Early June - Thanksgiving

What can I say? This is a great place to put down roots.

CTV.ca News reported, yesterday, that new data suggests the Canadian housing market has already bottomed out. Analysts point to lower price and better interest rates for the spike in home sales.

A recent report from Scotiabank says that recent immigrants have been driving housing demand in the country. The reports says census Data shows what 72 per cent of immigrants lived in home owned by someone in their family in 2006, up from 68 per cent in 2001.

Besides immigrants, young people — especially women — are fuelling demand- particularly condos. They live with their parents longer, save money and move directly into home ownership.

Canwest News Service reported a message from Benjamin Tal, senior economist at CIBC World Markets, speaking of recent data. Apparently the worst of the recession is over. Tal said, "The darkest hour was in the first quarter . . . so what we're seeing now is that we are crossing the line."

The number of building permits issued in Canadian municipalities and the value of building permits surpassed the $5 billion mark in May: Toronto area building permits were up a sharp 26.8 per cent, Calgary's building permits doubled, the majority of provinces have reported double-digit increases in the value of permits issued.

I still find it difficult to understand the way building permits figure into the picture... however....

Derek Holt, vice-president of economics for Scotia Capital, believes development in Ontario, for example, will continue to swell around satellite towns and cities.

Ah ha! Now there’s something I can dig my teeth into!

Forward thinking municipalities are undergoing a process of self-assessment- in North Hastings, The Town of Bancroft, the Municipality of Hastings Highlands and Wollaston Township, have embarked on a new project in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, to revitalize the communities of Bancroft, Maynooth and Coe Hill.

The Revitalization Committees are busy, developing an Action Plan initiating strategically planned change that recognizes and promotes heritage, respects and protects natural resources and celebrates cultural assets. The community is most excited about the revitalization project, as it is sure to provide visitors with a better perspective of our fascinating history, bountiful natural resources and eclectic culture.

Simultaneously, there is the “Build Bancroft Project”, a redevelopment plan that aims to undertake a major re-development of the downtown core of Bancroft- a project spearheaded by experienced developers, Evanco Development Corporation and Forrec Limited. For their downtown Bancroft redevelopment project, they are working alongside officials from the Town of Bancroft, the local community, and representatives from the federal and provincial governments.

While “redevelopment plans” are in the early stages, and still very rough, the partners now have a good sense of the components and the costs. They also have support from various levels of government.

No matter how you slice it, the Greater Bancroft area is a piece of heaven on earth. With a multitude of things to do, places to see and people to meet- it’s a place that appeals to every one of the senses AND there are still some good deals to be had… and mortgage rates are pretty low… for now,at least, paradise is still within reach.

If you've read any of my previous blogs, you will know that I have a penchant for history and I love to research... I stumbled upon an advertisement the other day... and I thought I would share it with you.

The following ad appeared in the classified section of the Toronto Daily Star - Sep 12, 1945:

"737 acres in Faraday township, on good gravel road, 12 miles from Coe Hill, 10 miles from Bancroft, 100 acres under cultivation, level, 100 acres pasture, balance timber, poplar, spruce, balsam, hardwood; navigable stream crosses property, 2 separate lakes, good house and barns, never-failing well, will sell part or whole, or timber separately, or will sell land, stock and implements as going concern. Interested parties invited to inspect property. Melville Vader, Bancroft, Ontario."

There’s no price mentioned, but in the same edition, there is an ad for a 50X324 waterfront lot with “Splendid beach, partly wooded. Bowmanville, Near Oshawa” that is listed for $195, $50 down and $3 per month.

And a dairy farm, “Sutton area, 167 acres, all cleared, brick house, bank barn, well watered, full price $3800.”

Another "Archive" search uncovered the following article: The Sarnia Observer- May 23, 1884

"A letter published in the Belleville Intelligencer, and charging the Ontario Government with corrupt conduct in making the sale of a large block of land in North Hastings to Mr. Wm. Coe, of Madoc, is seized upon by the Toronto Mai as the suitable text for an attack upon the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The correspondent says that the Government was dishonest and corrupt, and that Mr. Coe practiced the wiles of a trickster in order to succeed with his purchase, and to place the settlers of the region at the mercy of a monopoly. The Toronto Mail goes further than the correspondent, and asserts that the Governement has sold to Mr. Coe 100,000 acres of land in the townships of Wollaston, Limerick and Faraday, with timber thereon, at 75 cents, or less, per acre; while the price to ordinary settlers, without the timber. Is $1 per acre. And then the Mail proceeds to say:

“Mr. William Coe is a grit: he is in fact a bright and shining grit. Mr Coe opposed the Minister of Customs in North Hastings in the general election of 1882, and was beaten by a majority of 351. Mr. Coe has now received his solatium at the hands of the Ontario Government through this disgraceful job, which is, moreover, a gross injustice to the settlers of that part of the country.”

No other evidence is needed to prove that the Mail views the transaction in a partisan light, nor that the only object in referring to it at all is tom make capital for its party. Not only does that journal assume that the sale was a job, but it declares the settlers of North Hastings have suffered a great wrong “by means of this barefaced and indefensible transaction.”

Before referring to that transaction, or the object of it, we may inform the Mail that had it examined the returns of lands sold to Mr. Coe, and to which reference is made it its article, it would discover that the extent of the sale was some 50,000 acres instead of 100,000. We may also inform the Mail that the sale was not made at “75 per cent, or less per acre;” that the pine timber was not sold with the land’ that, in a word the sale was made in strict accordance with the provisions of the Mining Act.

Now let us inquire into the object for which this land was acquired by Mr. Coe from the Government; and let us see whether it has been “a disgraceful job,” or whether “a gross injustice” has been done to the settlers of that part of the country.

Mr. Coe is a practical miner of large means in Madoc. He was engaged for several years in exploring the townships of North Hastings, and succeeded in discovering several deposits of iron ore of a quality that is eagerly sought for by the iron and steel master of the United States. A number of wealthy American capitalists procured an interest in those mines with Mr. Coe, but development of them was retarded by the want of railway communication. The Belleville & Madoc Railway could not serve the purpose, and it was found necessary to build a new road. Mr. Coe and his friends obtained a charter for the Central Ontario Railway, extending a distance of 90 miles from Weller’s Bay to the township of Wollaston. The have built a first-class road throughout, at a cost of about $2,000,000 and without receiving a dollar of aid from the governments or municipalities.

The primary object of the company was of course, to provide an outlet for the shipment of ores and materials; but the road cannot fail to be a boon to farmers, lumbermen and other settlers in bringing in supplies and forwarding the produce of their industry to market. Neither can it fail to promote settlement, and to enhance the value of lands belonging to the Crown.

But the company was not content with an enterprise which was limited to working the mines and shipping the ore to the United States to be smelted there. They were anxious to build charcoal furnaces of their own in the neighborhood of the mines, and for this purpose application was made to the Government for the purchase of 100,000 acres of Crown lands. It would never do, they said, to depend for supplies of charcoal outside of their own property, for command of this article is a much a necessity as having the iron ore itself. The land they sought to buy was almost worthless for farming purposes as was shown by the fact that although two of the townships had been open for settlement for a period of 21 years the sales to settlers did not reach 7,000 acres, and its only value to the company consisted in the supply of hardwood timber upon it. In the application to the Government it was set forth-

“That the building of this road and erection of a charcoal furnace, and running the same, will bring a hundred-fold more people into these townships than any increase that will take place by actual acceptance of the lots in question by individual settlers.

That this railway will act as a colonization road, and save the Government a large amount annually which would have to be spent for colonization purposes in this section.

That a great number of hands will be kept in constant employment in the cutting of wood and hauling the same to the ovens or heaps to be prepared into charcoal, as enormous quantities of charcoal will be required for smelting purpose. And that

The working of the mines now opened up will also employ quite a number of people, thus bringing about a market for labor in the back country, and distributing a large amount of capital in the shape of wages and otherwise which without this enterprise, would never find its way into these scattered and northern settlements. “

The Commissioner of Crown lands dealt with the application of the company upon it merits and like a sensible man he decided to entertain it. An inspector in the employ of the department was instructed to examine the lands applied for by the company and to report on their suitability for settlement. The schedule of his report shows that out of the total of 100,000 acres in the three townships there were 16, 919 acres in Wollaston, 11,231 in Faraday and 23, 388 in Limerick- a total of 51, 538 acres- that were almost worthless for agricultural purposes, and the Commissioner recommended that these lands be sold to the company on the conditions laid down in the act respecting mining.

Now these are the facts of the transaction, and we leave it to any fair minded Tory to say whether it has been “a disgraceful job,” or whether a “gross injustice has been done to the settlers of that part of the country.” If we were called upon to express an opinion upon it, we should say that the Commissioner of Crown Lands could not do less than he did, and be worthy of the position her fills. Nay, we think that under all the circumstances, he would have been amply justified in making the Company a free grant of the lands which they have obtained by purchase."

Some things never change.

June 25th: Plazacorp Retail Properties Ltd. (PLZ:TSX
Venture) announced today that it will develop five new retail properties. These development projects are located in Shediac and Miramichi, New Brunswick, Alexandria, Almonte and Bancroft, Ontario.

In all, the Corporation will be investing approximately $10 million for its share of these five new developments and will add approximately 130,000 square feet to Plazacorp's portfolio of retail properties. All five(5)projects are 100% leased to national retailers.

The travelling exhibition ‘From Crystals to Gems’ produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature. Over 100 mineral and gem specimens from our national collection are on display revealing their beauty, rarity and durability. This exhibit has been made possible through support from Celebrate Ontario 2009, and is brought to you by the Bancroft & District Chamber of Commerce.

The exhibit can be seen at 12 Flint Avenue Regular hours will be Wednesday to Friday 11 a.m to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Bancroft/Barry's Bay areas cover immense country, of indescribable beauty, and the perfect way to explore little known wild territories is by ATV.

With thousands of kilometerss of trails, close to fuel, food and accommodations, that will challenge and inspire trail riders of every level, ATVOntario, established in 2002 as a public/private initiative between the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) and the five founding communities of Elliot Lake, Mattawa, Eastern Ontario (Tweed), Cochrane and Georgian Bay (Parry Sound), offers over 2,000 kilometres of legal, well-managed trails, thanks to their many partnerships with landowners.

The surface of the abandoned rail line remains intact and is generally in excellent condition. You might come across minor flooding due to beaver activity. The surface along the trail is generally granular and earth. There are a number of historical sites associated with the railway, as well as other areas of cultural or historical interest.

Under Ontario’s Off-Road Vehicle Act, ATVs must be registered with the Ministry of Transportation and drivers must be 16 years of age or older. Upon registration the owner will be supplied with a vehicle permit and a license plate. Persons under the age of 12 are not permitted to drive an ATV, except on land owned or occupied by the vehicle owner, or under close supervision of an adult. A helmet is mandatory for all ATV drivers. ATVs are not to be driven on or along a highway (some specific exceptions under the Act) and riders must have a valid driver’s license to cross a highway. You will also need a valid ATVOntario Powerpass available at www.powerpass.ca, which now also gives you access to all FQCQ trails in Québec. Of course, FQCQ members can also use their pass in Ontario.

The Art Gallery of Bancroft is highlighting work of Moses Amik Beaver (a self-taught Canadian Aboriginal artist from the fly-in reserve of Summer Beaver, Nibinamik, Ontario) in its July show-"Whispers of the Ancients".

His work is distinct for its multi-layered approach, utilizing the embedded images of spirits, human faces and animals in the and the natural environment. Amik Beavers’ work depicts stories, often representative of the ancient teaching of his people and reminds us that we are one with the earth.

The official opening of the exhibit, on July 3 at 7:30 p.m.- everyone is welcome. This exhibit runs from July 1 to July 26 at the gallery- 10 Flint Avenue and is open Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Also on July 3rd, it's "New Years in July" at the Wilberforce Legion from 8 p.m. to midnight outside and from midnight to close inside. Admission is $10.00 per person. DJ Marcel will supply the music. The legion branch is located on Hwy #121 between Wilberforce and Harcourt.

Jul 4, 2009 is the kids Rock Bass Derby at the Anchorage Resort on Paudash Lake from 9:00AM to 3:30PM registration starts at 8:00- for details call 613-339-2675 (The derby is in support of the local food bank)

The Brady Brother's will appear on July 4th at Papa's Pub & Gramma's Restaurant @ 141 Hastings St. North. Show starts at 8:30

July 4th the Bancroft Royal Canadian Legion will hold a dance with music by Farron Brown, in support of Canadian Troops. 9:00PM to 1:00AM

It's Bancroft Antique Week: Jul 4, 2009 to Jul 11, 2009

July 4 & 5th Halladay's Equine (Paudash) is hosting a Reining Clinic with Darren Bilyea. Limited spaces. 613-339-2395

Concerts at the Millenium Park in Bancroft are Wednesday evenings.

Horse and Wagon Rides July 11th at the Post Office Parking Lot on Station Street.

Bancroft's Flying Club Annual Pancake Breakfast July 12th at the airport.

July 15th Nurture Nature Series-Species at Risk is presented by the Bancroft Area Stewardship Council. Free of charge. At the Bancroft Fish & Game Club 27602 Hwy. 62 South 7 p.m.-8:30 613-332-3940 ext. 260

July 17-19th Bancroft Area Lifestyle Expo Bancroft Curling Club
Phone: (613) 332-3397

46th Annual Rockhound Gemboree Jul 30, 2009 to Aug 2, 2009 North Hastings Community Centre & Bancroft Curling Club Canada's Largest Gem and Mineral Show

The 2009 summer playbill at the Bancroft Village Playhouse features two contemporary Canadian comedies, an old-time classic farce, and a musical revue.

June 30 to July 11, a charming comedy Having Hope at Home by David S. Craig.

July 21 to August 1, the high-speed farce See How They Run by Philip King.

August 11 to 22, another great comedy The Foursome by Norm Foster.

August 25 to 27, a light-hearted musical revue The Un-Scene Story.

All tickets are reserved seating and cost just $18.50 each (including GST).Remember that seating is limited to 192 guests per performance so order your tickets early! Tickets are available by calling 613-332-6141. Payment by VISA, Mastercard or AMEX.

Tickets ordered by phone will be held at the Box Office pick up window in The Village Playhouse. Tickets should be picked up by one-half hour before curtain.

The Village Playhouse is located at 5 Hastings St. South, Bancroft.
The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and until 7:30 p.m. on performance nights.

Aug 1, 2009 to Aug 2, 2009 is set for 28th Annual Art and Craft Show at the Millenium Park Bancroft and the Coe Hill Wild West Weekend at the Coe Hill fairgrounds.

First off... I would like to wish all Canadians a happy Canada Day!

I feel very fortunate to have been born in Canada... and, since working on my family tree, I have learned a lot more about being Canadian.

Many native cultures share a reverence for "ancestors"... and many carry a common belief that each of us is affected by the 7 generations that came before us- which translates into our own responsibility for the seven generations that will follow us.

I certainly have discovered anecdotal stories (during my quest for information related to my family tree) that are astonishingly connected to the family as it exists today.

& from this work,also, I have a new and greater understanding of the history of North America, the people and politics... culture and philosophy... spirituality and character... and so much more...

Today, I thought I'd share the names that I have (and the gaps, too) going back 7 generations in my own family tree... it is very indicative, I think, that I am quite a typical Canadian citizen of today... with roots that run deep into the history of North America, a number of them back to Europe.

In sharing these names, I'm hoping that I might inspire others.. perhaps connect with relatives... truthfully, I sometimes believe that I will connect us all...

to date, I have 10314 individuals in my family tree and almost 800 stories and some 1500 photos- all relating to these folks and their families.

Some people are quite celebrated and some are not... however, I have no doubt that each one had their lessons, struggles and happiness, all of which has contributed to the world in which I live.

From my father’s paternal side:

Jean Didier 1795-1820 Savoie, Rhone-Alps, France
Perrone Guillermin 1794-1954

Pierre Gaillard France
Jeanne Damesin

Pierre M Goudreau 1764-1838 Quebec
Marie Ann Pilon 1770-1828 Quebec

Pierre Botineau 1793-1870
Madeleine Charron de Ducharme 1800- abt 1825

I Theodore Seguin 1775-1858 Quebec
Marie Reine Anne Leduc 1782-1823

Pierre Vallee 1773-1848 Quebec
Elisabeth Robillard 1774-1844

Missing 4 Grandparents of Marie Zephirin Villineuve 1855-unknown Quebec

From my father’s maternal side:

Missing 4 Grandparents of Richard Hynes 1825-1917 Ireland-Ontario
And missing 4 Grandparents of Richard Hynes’ wife Margaret Farrell 1843-1902 Ireland-Ontario

Unknown Parents of Timothy Sheehan 1803-Ireland
And Unknown Parents of Timothy Sheehan’s wife Catherine Hanlon 1808 Ireland

John Baptiste Reaume 1772-1829 Ontario
Suzanne Trudelle 1781-1829 Ontario

The parents of Charles Reaume’s wife- Sophia

From my mother's maternal side

William Hanning 1776-1871 Scotland
Catherine Lorimer 1781-1856 Scotland

James Carlyle 1758-1832 Scotland
Margaret Aitkin 1771-1853 Scotland

James Amit Morden 1762 Pennsylvania-1740 Ontario
Margaret Parliament 1771 New York-1868 Ontario

Lewis Davis <1763 New York-1823 Ontario
Miriam Lawrence 1764 New York-1840 Ontario

Francis Vandervoort 1763 New York-1836 Ontario
Hanna Acker 1765 New York-1850Ontario

Francis Hogle 1773 New York-1840 Ontario
Margaret Hartman 1777 New York-1855 Ontario

Jacob Franklin 1754- England
Jane Bull

William Lewis 1786 Wales
Mary

From my mother's paternal side:

Unkown Parents of Richard G Clingan born 1820 Ireland

And Unknown Parents of Mrs. Richard Clingan (Rebecca Walmsley)born 1822 Ireland

John Hewitt born 1779 England
Deborah Clark born 1777

Unknown Parents of wife of Mrs. John Hewitt Jr. (Elizabeth) born 1813 Wales

John Hughes 1795-1883 Wales/England
Ann Sarah Jones 1799-1832

Joseph Chadwick born England
Ann

James Cunion 1800-1883 England
Jane 1801-1880

William Symmonds 1811-1886 England
Margaret 1811-unknown

Yup, it's all around the mulberry bush... with other surnames like DeMille, Bogart, Pepin, Herrington, Carlyle, Bishop, McCrae, Vanderbilt, White, Molyneux, Quesnel, Palmer,Bergen, Atherton,Morrow, Eaton, Cole, Vernon, Redner, Munro, Durham, Bowerman, Babcock, Hawley, Mainwaring, Lake, Joly, Baldwin, Cleveland, Doig, Miteouamegoukoue, Meyers, Glossop, Lindbergh, Putnam, Ruttan, Cotton, Hickock,Trico, Young, Clapp, Pickford, Snelling, Ashcroft, Earhart, Chrysler, Abel, Rapalje, Blundell, Douglas, Wilde, Pettit, Raizenne, Apps, Quackenbush, Robinson, Burden, Quinn, Bergen, Hinsdale, Nims, Smead, Machequayzaince, Bailey, and Lawrence, among others.

Oh... and St Clair... or St Clair-Hughes, but I've verified that the St Clair part was first just a stage name.

Yup. Who knew?

Tangled into all the stories (of all of these people)is the truth about being a Canadian...

There's a lot to it. We're not just Red Rose tea, Hockey, Maple Syrup, beavers, Mounties, donuts, Pablum, toques, newfie screech, canoes, timbits, toboggans, back bacon and poutine, eh!