Toronto Sportsmen’s Show Reacts to Misguided City of Toronto Gun Policy

Several weeks ago I posted about the change of venue for the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show. I was a bit confused as to the reasons behind the move, but a conversation this week with CNSS (Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows) VP Ray Sriubiskis certainly cleared the air.

CNSS prides itself on their promotion of sustainable multi-user practices and the inclusion of all outdoors stakeholders in their shows. This includes fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, paddling, dog training, ATV, boating, and many others. They recognize that regardless of our preferred outdoor activities we all share a common resource.

The problem is that the City of Toronto and in particular Mayor David Miller has a problem with guns. Now nobody will discount the fact that Toronto really does have a serious gun problem, but Mayor Miller likes to paint that problem with a very wide brush. He has enacted a policy that roughly states that the display, promotion, or sale of firearms is not allowed on city property. He seems to think that enacting bylaws and policies that only affect law abiding citizens will curb the illegal use of guns within city limits.

Exhibition Place and the Direct Energy building are owned by the City of Toronto and so, even though they had a 63 year relationship with CNSS, the show organizers were told that firearms could not be displayed, sold, or promoted in conjunction with the show. Now when 35% of your visitors hunt you might just want to take a step back and look at your options at this point and that’s just what CNSS did.

After carefully weighing various options, the decision was made to move to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre – which is located right in the heart of downtown Toronto. Are you confused? Well I certainly was. Remember that the promotion, display, and sale of firearms is only a “policy”, not a law, and it only applies to city owned property. Ray explained to me that it all comes down to a matter of ownership. You see the Toronto Convention Centre is owned by the Province of Ontario who fully understand and appreciate the economic contributions of hunters to provincial coffers.

Because the Toronto Convention Centre is located right in the heart of downtown Toronto one of my initial concerns was access for those of us coming from out of town. When I asked Ray about this he was very quick to respond that the improved proximity to public transit will prove to be a windfall for the show. The show is only a few steps from Union Station and within walking distance of many major hotels. Ray says that the overall quality of the venue is superior and the available space is comparable to the Direct Energy Center.

So who had the last laugh? Well it certainly wasn’t the City of Toronto who, according to Sriubiskis, will lose $750,000.00 in direct revenues and likely close to three times that amount in indirect revenues (parking, vendors, utilities, etc.). Well Mr. Miller, in my books that calculates to well over two million dollars down the toilet because of a ridiculous cosmetic, feel-good policy. Ontario doesn’t end at the Toronto City limits; it starts there!

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Len Rich – Author, Writer, Conservationist, Casts His Last Line

It wasn’t a sad affair; in fact the gathering was short on tears and long on stories of Len’s warmth, generosity and passion for the outdoors. Close to a hundred friends and family crammed into the small cabin at the Humber Springs Trout Club on April 18 for a final send off, and this was not even the formal memorial for Len. That will be held on April 25th in Clarenville Newfoundland.

You see Len, who was born and raised in Whitehall, a small town in upstate New York left for the rugged hills of Newfoundland after spending 8 years in the US military. There his love of the great outdoors took root and blossomed into a burning passion that culminated when he was presented the Canada Recreational Fisheries Award by the Governor General of Canada. He brought that love and passion to Ontario when he moved to Orangeville after the loss of his wife Ruby in 2004. Len happily shared the rest of his days with partner and writer Susan Buckle and had just moved to North Bay where they had planned to settle and explore Ontario’s northland.

Len had two driving passions in his life; writing and fly-fishing. How appropriate that the two usually became one. He was the author of several books and countless articles on the art of fly-fishing, and the winner of many writing awards to match. In the early 90’s he built and ran a premiere fly-in fishing lodge at Awesome Lake in Labrador. This too became a book “So you want to be an outfitter”.

I’ve only known Len for about 10 years but like many in the outdoors community quickly came to call him my friend. I was manning a booth for the Outdoor Writers of Canada when this large friendly man with a big belly, short white beard, and a smile like Santa came strolling over and picked up some literature. We exchanged a few pleasantries and he vanished into the crowd. A few weeks later Len sent in his application and within a year became our Eastern Director, a position he held for three years.

He not only loved to write but he loved to share his passion with other writers. He assumed the role of Chairman of OWC’s mentor program and guided many young writers as they took their first tentative steps into the world of outdoors writing. In recognition of his efforts he was presented with the Jack Davis Mentorship Award for his work with new writers.

Len was a quiet insightful man, but above all he was a doer. This never became more evident to me than in the late winter of 2008. OWC had gone through a few turbulent months where the very existence of the organization was in doubt. The worst was now over, but everyone was exhausted. This was not the time to organize a national convention. Len thought otherwise and insisted that we needed a convention to pull the organization together. As acting Executive Director at the time I was skeptical.

I have been around volunteer organizations long enough to realize that there are a lot of people that are long on rhetoric, but short on action and my guard is always up. I had no idea of the depth of his commitment to make this happen. I was elated as it soon became apparent that Len was one of the rare doers and he quickly pulled me and fellow outdoor writer Peter Wood on board. We were joined at the hip for the next three months as obstacles were overcome one by one. Len managed to pull of one of the most financially successful conventions in the history of OWC.

The bond we developed last spring endured and this summer we were to have spent some quieter time tickling the water with flies, but that was not to be as Len finally succumbed to his battle with pancreatic cancer.

As honoured as we were to be able to share in a celebration of Len’s life, Len would have been humbled and surprised by the outpouring of love and affection. You see, that’s just who Len was; a man who gave much and expected little in return. If there is a life lesson to be learned from Len it’s to give more than you get, and in return you’ll get much more than you expect.

Tight lines my friend; somehow I think you’ll be on the stream with me this summer after all.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions
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Toronto Sportsmen's Show Moving to New Digs

It hit me like a hammer; the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show is moving! That’s right folks after 63 years at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) grounds Southern Ontario’s largest outdoors show, the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, is moving to the Toronto Convention Centre.

I’m going to give this a while to sink in before wading in with my personal opinions of the move but I’m sure there will not be many fence sitters when it comes to the new venue. For those in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) the Convention Centre is very accessible and convenient for those that use public transit. For those of us coming from out of town it’s nothing more than a logistical nightmare. Oh well, decisions are made and this was likely not a knee-jerk reaction.

For now let’s take a trip down memory lane.

The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show has been a part of my life for just about as long as I can remember, so that means that I’m only a few years shy of having been there from the beginning. My grandparents lived in the east end of Toronto when I was growing up so events like the Sportsmen’s Show provided a great, low cost way for my parents to keep us kids amused for a few hours when we made the trip from Wingham to the big city.

Up until a few years ago the Toronto Sportsman’s Show occupied the Coliseum building at the CNE. Although the larger venue provided by the Direct Energy Building was greatly needed, it did in my opinion, loose all of its character and became just another show when the move took place.

Some of my fondest memories are of jostling crowds, the smell of hay in the arena, creaking floorboards, and a multitude of stairways and hidden corridors. And then there was the ever present smell of pipe smoke. Those were the days when Brigham pipes used to sell their factory seconds for a very cheap price and were set up right across the aisle from a tobacco vendor. No, I’m not a smoker and certainly don’t advocate smoking, but that was a different era and like everyone else I became a pipe smoker for a day. To this day the smell of pipe smoke conjures up images of camping supplies, fishing tackle, and creaking floors.

I remember buying my first upscale fishing rod there; it was a Berkley Bionix and when you bought one you got a Berkley Lightning Rod for free. I never did care for the Bionix, but the Lightning Rod has accompanied me on every fishing trip since the mid 70’s and has landed – and lost – tons of fish.

Over the years we have bought tents, backpacks, fishing tackle, and every new gadget on the market. You know, now that I think of it the move to the Convention Centre may not be that much of a stretch. The move from the Coliseum for me was like loosing an old, albeit smoky, friend.

The great outdoors is still very much alive in Southern Ontario and the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show, regardless of the venue, will always be a memorable part of it.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

The Ultimate Kayak for Southern Ontario Urbanites

When I meet other outdoor enthusiasts it’s only a matter of time before the discussion turns to our shared passion for outdoor pursuits. When we talk about canoes and kayaks there seems to be a common concern amongst urbanites, who make up the vast majority of outdoor enthusiasts in Southern Ontario; that is, storage and transportation.

“Man, I’d love to own a kayak to take along camping or to use for a leisurely paddle down one of Southern Ontario’s many rivers, but I just don’t have room to keep it. I live in an apartment and drive a compact car. It’s just not worth the hassle.”

If that thought echoes true with you then get ready for something that will blow you away, and still leave a bit of coin in your wallet. Ever heard of a company called Folbot? Did you know that they have been building folding kayaks for ¾ of a century? Well neither had I until recently.

I must admit that I haven’t actually slipped into the cockpit of a Folbot yet, but the concept certainly has me intrigued. Their lineup ranges from two seater sea kayaks to smaller kayaks weigh in at a mere 24 pounds, and slip into a backpack that will comfortably fit into virtually any back seat or trunk. Some models are even compact enough to strap on your back while you’re biking. Just imagine biking to the stream or lake with your watercraft on your back. Talk about the ultimate eco friendly solution!

You can learn more about these practical folding kayaks at http://www.folbot.com/. And you can watch a video and judge for yourself at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAxzQWhaaZQ. According to David AvRutick, President of Folbot, all North American sales (including Canada) are direct from factory to the customer, and each kayak comes with a 30 day “no questions asked” return policy and a lifetime warranty.

Myself, I’ve never owned a kayak for the simple reason that the garage is already full. But, I do think I can find a place for one of these compact wonders. Hmm, I wonder if I can slide this one past my wife.

Southern Ontario is an oasis of waterways. We have everything from the Great Lakes to shallow marshlands; from the mighty Niagara River to the gentle Grand or Thames. Whatever your preference or mode of transportation, get out and enjoy Southern Ontario’s waterways this spring.

Be sure to visit us a Southern Ontario Outdoors.

©2009 Lloyd Fridenburg – All rights reserved click here for copyright permissions

Seasons Greetings from the Sleeping Dog

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my outdoors friends. Thanks to all who are following this blog; your comments and suggestions will help me provide you with even better items throughout 2009.

All I can say is “man what a year”! It seems that any conservation initiatives have been steamrollered by the economy. Hopefully some of the federal infrastructure initiatives will include habitat restoration and outdoors recreational efforts.

With the election of an new, and hopefully forward thinking, President in the US and a Prime Minister in Canada the is starting to realize that he’s there to support the will of the people and not his own personal agenda, perhaps…just perhaps…environmental issues will make their way back onto the front page.

The technologies exist today to make a tremendous change in the way all North Americans interact with our environment. All that has been missing from the equation is political will. Our collective politicians have shown that they are able to make tough decisions where the economy is concerned; perhaps they will show just as much common sense where the environment is concerned.

Detailed study of wildlife is one of the most important barometers to gage the impact of climate change. This is not the place to cut funding, rather it is a place to increase funding and create jobs that will provide our elected officials with the hard data that’s necessary to make the tough decisions.

Well enough ranting for now…we can only hope.

If your planning a trip to Southern Ontario or if you live here and are looking for the best source for outdoors information be sure to check out www.sooutdoors.ca. Within the next month I will be adding a huge interactive database to the site that will allow visitors to quickly zoom in on a broad range of outdoors information. Read the blogs, check the calendars and join our outdoors forum. “We’ll get you So…Outdoors!”

“Peace on earth; good will toward men.”

SD