Ontario’s provincial parks will be open to the public free of charge on Friday, July 21st for all day-use visitors.

This is the third year in a row the Ontario government has offered free admission during July. The government is encouraging everyone to visit a park to improve their health as part of the international “Healthy Parks Healthy People” movement.

On July 21st, if you visit a provincial park that normally charges a fee for day use, the fee will be waived. You can enjoy the park facilities for free until 10 p.m. Charges in addition to regular day use fees still apply for facilities such as swimming pools and equipment rentals.

As well as free day use at all provincial parks, some parks are featuring special events on July 21st, including a few in the Kawarthas region.

At Petroglyphs Provincial Park north of Peterborough, you can experience the unique sounds of traditional Hiawatha Drumming from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. while you learn about the history of the land and the people. Visit the Learning Place Visitor Centre to discover the traditions of the Ojibwa (Nishnaabe) people through the teachings of the medicine wheel.

For a list of all special events, visit the Ontario Parks Healthy Park Healthy People website at www.ontarioparks.com/hphp/events.

The special activities and fee-free day use of provincial parks on July 21st recognize that the Province of Ontario has joined the world-wide Healthy Parks Healthy People movement. Launched in Australia in 2000, the movement reinforces and encourages the connections between a healthy environment and a healthy society.

For example, research shows that access to nature and green space plays a vital role in physical and mental health, well-being, and development. Contact with nature has been found to lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, help fight disease, and reduce stress.

In addition, activities done in a natural environment reduce anger, fatigue, and sadness when compared to the same activities done in a human-made environment.

“Spending time in a provincial park is a wonderful way to connect with nature and stay healthy,” says Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, which administers Ontario’s provincial parks.

Provincial parks in the Kawarthas

Parks in the Kawarthas region include Balsam Lake near Kirkfield, Emily near Omemee, Ferris near Campbellford, Kawartha Highlands north of Buckhorn, Lake St. Peter north of Maynooth, Mark S. Burnham in Peterborough, Petroglyphs near Woodview, Presqu’ile near Brighton, and Silent Lake near Apsley.

If you’re willing to travel a little north of the Kawarthas, there’s also Algonquin Provincial Park — the most popular provincial park in Canada with more than 2,400 lakes and 1,200 kilometres of streams and rivers.

When driving along rural roads between May and October, you may see turtles on the move, crossing roads, and sometimes even laying eggs along the roadside. Since roads are a dangerous setting for these slow moving reptiles, one might wonder, why would a turtle cross a road?

According to Donnell Gasbarrini, Programs Manager at the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre in Peterborough, turtles cross roads for a few different reasons.

“Turtles may move in search of better habitat and to find more food,” he explains. “Males will move across roads in search of mates and females will move across roads while searching for a nesting site to lay their eggs.

“Many roads in Ontario go directly through wetlands, splitting a previously continuous habitat in half. Turtles are great at climbing and are quite persistent; they will do whatever they can to access the needed elements of their habitat.”

For example, female turtles need to lay their eggs in sand or gravel that is exposed to the sun. Roadsides can be appealing to turtles because they often meet these habitat requirements.

In Ontario, there are eight different species of turtles, seven of which are considered Species At Risk under the Endangered Species Act. Our largest resident turtle, the Snapping Turtle, is considered a species of Special Concern. This means that known threats like being hit by a car, along with their unique biology, can lead to declining species numbers.

When you also consider that female Snapping Turtles only start laying eggs when they are 15 to 20 years old, and that most of the eggs and young are eaten by predators, conserving adult turtles is important to the species’ survival.

Some other turtle Species At Risk in Ontario are the tiny Musk Turtle and the Blanding’s Turtle. The only turtle not listed as a Species At Risk is the Painted Turtle, which is recognizable by its iconic red and yellow markings.

In Peterborough and the Kawarthas, there are many places where you can observe turtles in the wild.

“If you are a keen turtle watcher and have access to a canoe or kayak, you can head to the outlet of the Indian River in Keene or the mouth of the Otonabee River,” says Erin McGauley, Watershed Biologist at Otonabee Conservation.

“Both areas offer excellent viewing opportunities. By bike, the mouth of Sawyer Creek on the Rotary Trail just south of Lakefield provides a great vantage point where at least four at-risk turtle species may be seen.”

McGauley further advises that, if you do see turtles, be a citizen scientist and record them in the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (ORAA) through the new ORAA smartphone app or online at www.ontarionature.org.

Gasbarrini explains that turtle observations can help scientists monitor their populations.

“Turtles play an integral part in maintaining the health of Ontario’s wetlands,” he says. “They provide a food source for animals when they are young, and they eat a varied diet including insect larvae and carrion in the wetland. Wetlands are incredibly important to us as they naturally filter our water, keeping it clean for swimming, fishing, and drinking.”

If you do see a turtle on a road, here are a few steps you can take to help it across:

1. Stop to help the turtle cross the road — only if it is safe for you to do so.
2. With most turtle species, you can simply pick up the turtle gently by holding it under its belly between its front and hind legs. Never pick up a turtle by the tail, as this can damage its spine. For Snapping Turtles, you can hold the turtle between its back legs at the back of the shell only; otherwise, you may want to use a shovel to gently lift and carry the turtle. Be aware that Snapping Turtles can react to your movements very quickly.
3. If you note any injuries to the turtle, call Ontario Turtle Conservation at 705-741-5000 and arrange to take the turtle in for care. The Centre can advise you on how best to transport the injured turtle.

   

4. If the turtle is not injured, make sure the road is clear, and carry the turtle across the road in the direction it is facing. While this may not always make sense to us, the turtle knows where it wants to go. If you move the turtle backwards, it will likely attempt to cross the road again once you have left.
5. Report your turtle sighting to the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (smartphone app or at www.ontarionature.org).
6. Make sure to wash your hands with soap and water after handling a turtle. Turtles commonly carry the Salmonella bacteria on their outer skin and shell surfaces.

You can help us protect our turtle species that are so important to our natural environment by following these few steps and by learning about Ontario’s turtle species.

Wedding planning is no walk in the park. While it can have its hectic moments, the experience as a whole is supposed to be fun, not nerve-wracking.

Here are two local event planners who can help make the planning process easier for you, from your bachelorette party right up to your wedding day.

Throw a hassle-free bachelorette party without the travel at The Monocle Centre for the Arts

It’s officially wedding season, which means that many of you have bachelorette parties lined up all summer long. Sure, a trip to Vegas, tanning on a Caribbean beach, or even a weekend in Toronto all sound fabulous, but you don’t have to go that far for an incredible bachelorette celebration.

If your bridal party isn’t up for travel, an in-town bachelorette party is an easy way to celebrate without a whopping price tag, and The Monocle Centre for the Arts (140 Simcoe Street Upper, Peterborough, 705-875-5442) offers some great bashing-on-a-budget party packages.

“People can come to us with a price point and a date,” says owner Vicky Paradisis.

“We will talk with them about what they want, the features they’re interested in, and explore different ideas that appeal to the entire party. Most of our packages are customized and are good guidelines of what we offer.”

The Bachelorette party packages offered by The Monocle are the only ones of their kind in Peterborough — even though the concept of in-town bachelorette parties is not new, explains Paradisis.

“To get these specific type of party packages, many women in Peterborough previously had to travel to Toronto,” she says.

Whether it’s a sophisticated evening reception or a swinging all-nighter, Paradisis — who has extensive experience in the service industry — works with the group to find the right vendors to make the night memorable, and, of course, take the pressure off the maid-of-honor and bridesmaids.

With any consultation, Paradisis says one of the key things she takes into consideration is “the group dynamic so everyone has a good time.”

If you’re organizing a night on the town for the bride-to-be, here are some fun themed options.

Martini Crawl

Guests gather at The Monocle’s bright 800-square-foot studio space, located on the third floor. Ladies begin the night with The Monocle’s specialty — pole dancing — in the second-floor studio, which features poles, mirrored walls, stretching bars, and storage.

The pole dancing class is taught by Paradisis, a former gymnast and dancer, who has trained in Montreal and Toronto, and includes sultry walking pointers, seductive floor and wall moves, and pole spins based on your experience levels.

These are actually really fun and not as awkward as they sound.

After learning how to wrap your body around a pole, you partake in a group photo shoot with a professional photographer (professional hair and makeup included for the bride), and head out for pre-ordered food, drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) and VIP service at a variety of local downtown bars and lounges within a two-block radius of The Monocle, making transport a breeze. You have the option to finish with karaoke, live music, or bowling.

Because the package is pre-paid, you don’t have to worry about bringing large amounts of cash, the risk of losing your wallet and credit cards, or splitting the bill at the end of the night.

Packages start at $100 per person.

Girls Night In

Want to keep it simple? Why not hang out at The Monocle’s studio space for the evening enjoying activities from their a la carte menu?

They can customize your party package with add-ons, or you can pick and choose from the menu to create your own unique experience including a private paint night, movie night, burlesque workshop, pole dancing or belly dancing seminar, all catered by local professionals. Let The Monocle take care of the food with their delicious and affordable catering options.

The a la carte menu includes pole dancing, belly dancing, burlesque workshops, group photo shoots, axe throwing, stand up paddle boarding, and regular or SUP yoga.

Packages start at $70 per person.

Cottage Weekend

If you’re feeling the bar scene is overrated, then consider a relaxing weekend at a cozy, private cottage on the water.

Located on Indian River only 20 minutes from Peterborough, this is a great option for the outdoors-ey, low-key bride. If you’re looking for a unique twist, why not add a private yoga class on the deck with a certified instructor, or go kayaking, canoeing, lazy river floating, or paddle boarding? Rentals and shuttle service are available.

If you’re interested in just one night, that is also an option.

Packages start at $80 per person, per night.

Need overnight storage?

Book a package and The Monocle offers a safe place to store belongings overnight for the bachelorette party-goers — a “huge selling feature for an event finishing late at night,” says Paradisis.

For more information on the bachelorette party packages or to book a free consultation, visit www.themonoclecentreforthearts.com/bachelorette-parties. You can also find them on Facebook.

Down to the Last Details wedding planner can save soon-to-wed couples the time, money, and stress

After you’ve basked in your engagement for some time, it’s time to get serious about planning your big day. Setting the date was the easy part, now it’s on to the serious business: choosing the invites, décor, cake, caterer, venue, entertainment, transportation, photographer — and the list goes on.

While it can be fun, there are a lot of issues and stressful situations that can arise with planning a wedding. It can also feel like having a second full-time job. The good news? There’s help, and it can be very affordable.

One in five bridal couples choose to hire a wedding planner, according to The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada website quoting a survey conducted by Wedding Bells Magazine. Bringing on board a professional to take some of the workload off your hands and ensure your day runs smoothly definitely makes sense, and there’s a wedding planner in Peterborough who can do it-right down to the last detail.

Down to the Last Details (Peterborough, 705-761-5117) offers everything from day-of to full service planning and coordination. From preparing schedules, keeping you on budget, selecting local vendors, to designing events, invites and custom decor projects, owner Brittany Stewart and her well-seasoned team put their personal touch on corporate parties and all kinds of social events, but specialize mainly in weddings.

Though she has been planning events for more than two years, Stewart only founded Down to the Last Details in 2015, after becoming certified as a wedding coordinator through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada. Add a Hotel and Restaurant Management Degree from Fleming College and an Event Management Certificate from Algonquin College to her credentials and she has quickly become a popular and trusted name in the industry producing many beautiful weddings in Peterborough.

Say yes to less stress

If you don’t want to be completely drowning in to-do lists during your engagement, Stewart says “a wedding planner handling some of those tasks for you could be a real lifesaver” as it requires phone calls and meetings, contracts and negotiations, and purchases and coordination on the couple’s behalf, as well as great communication and clear cut deadlines.

The imagined price for a planner is the reason some couples decide against hiring one. Contrary to what people think, hiring a wedding planner doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag and doesn’t mean outsourcing your entire wedding, explains Stewart.

She says a wedding planner can be as involved, or as hands-off as you want her or him to be whether that’s supporting the couple at the start to get them on the right track, on-the-day coordination only, or the whole affair.

“Some brides come to us with their pre-planning done and that’s great, so we can work from that. We can do the day-of coordination if that is what the couple wants. They don’t have to go with the full service package.”

Aside from flexible wedding package rates, Stewart notes Down to the Last Details offers a payment installment plan right up to the wedding date.

Avoid unexpected mishaps

Having your planner on-site the day of your celebration ensures things move along effortlessly and may even help you avoid humiliation. And what do you do when the wedding rings get left behind in the hotel room, or the reception venue staff has put the place cards at the wrong tables or your flowers are wilting? Zilch! A good wedding planner will immediately step in and make sure that everything runs according to plan.

“In these situations, people panic and have so many questions,” Stewart says. “A planner can communicate between parties and made it more comfortable for everyone. I can foresee things that otherwise may not be realized and in some cases avert disaster. Besides, the bride and groom and their families shouldn’t have to worry that day.”

Your wedding, your style

Every wedding starts with a client meeting where Stewart spends a lot of time trying to get in her clients’ head. Once she has a good idea of what they are looking for, she usually feels confident in being able to create something that perfectly showcases the bride and groom’s style and character, that’s a fun experience for their guests, and that won’t look or feel dated.

While the bride and groom should always stick to their own style when designing their wedding, Stewart says it never hurts to know what bridal ideas are trending for the upcoming year.

“We follow what is in trend for the season and then invest in inventory for that theme. Our clients have exclusive access to our rental décor which is included in the event planning fee,” she says.

They keep stock of a large array of decor so you don’t have to worry about purchasing products you will never use again including wine barrels, an arch, draping, centerpieces, a bird cage and wedding signage. Rentals are offered at reasonable price and include delivery and set up of items.

If you’re looking for a planner that can help make your wedding just the way you want it, visit www.downtothelastdetails.com. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

If you’ve ever dreamed of following in the footsteps of famous Canadian outdoor artists like Tom Thompson, Emily Carr, or A. Y. Jackson, here’s your chance.

The Canadian Canoe Museum, in partnership with The Land Canadian Adventures, is offering an exciting new workshop experience: plein air painting and paddling.

“The museum has been dreaming of offering a paddling and painting experience for a long time now,” says Stacey Arppe, the museum’s Volunteers and Public Programs Manager. “We’re so happy that it’s finally come to fruition through our partnership with The Land Canadian Adventures.”

The one-of-a-kind experience, guided by local artist Paul Teleki and experiential canoe tripping guide Bretton Clark, begins with a scenic paddle through the Peterborough Lift Lock and north along the Trent Severn Waterway in the museum’s 36-foot canoe.

After arriving at a shoreline day campsite, you’ll receive a lesson in plein air painting and then proceed to create your own personal masterpiece that — like the masters of yesteryear — reflects the natural beauty around you.

As well as a lunch inspired by wild edibles, the experience includes all the supplies for painting and paddling and optional transportation to and from the museum (you also get free admission to the museum).

“The best part is that no previous paddling or painting experience is required,” Arppe says. “This experience has been professionally crafted to offer the perfect combination of canoeing, exploring our local waterways, and learning the art of plein air painting from an expert instructor.”

The first workshop takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 23rd, with three more opportunities on Saturday, August 12th, Saturday, August 19th, and Sunday, September 24th.

The cost to participate is $189 (or $170 for members of the museum). For more information and to register, email paddle@canoemuseum.ca or call 705-748-9153 ext. 210.

VIDEO: Path of the Masters plein air painting