Press Release: In just five short weeks, boaters, families and outdoor enthusiasts alike will descend upon the 63rd Toronto Sportsmen’s Show (TSS) – the largest combined outdoors, fishing and boating show in Canada. For five action-packed days, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre will host thousands of visitors as they explore exhibits and enjoy entertainment highlighting the best in outdoor adventure.

The TSS is introducing a “5 after 5” promotion where attendees pay only $5 for show entry after 5 p.m. For our frequent Red Rocket travelers, TTC Metropass holders will receive $5 off family admission to the show any time of day. Driving instead? Free shuttle service is being offered from Harbourfront parking areas.

March 17 to 21, 2010

“Since 1948 more than 5 million people have visited the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show and we look forward to hosting millions more at our new home at the MTCC,” said Show Manager Heather MacRae. “This year is poised to be the biggest and best on record.”

The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show continues to be a rite of passage into the spring season for anyone interested in the great outdoors. More than 400 exhibitors are slotted for the 2010 show offering an exciting lineup of the latest gear for camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, canoeing, travel and boating.

The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show runs from March 17 – 21, 2010 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For complete show information visit: http://www.torontosportshow.ca
What: The 2010 Toronto Sportsmen’s Show

When: Wednesday, March 17, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 18, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, March 19, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 20, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 21, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre
255 Front Street West, Toronto

Details: Adults: $17
Juniors: $11
Seniors: $11
Children: Free when accompanied by an adult (under six years)
Family Pass: $40 (two adults & two juniors)

For more information:
Heather MacRae, Show Manager
Tel: 905.361.5242
E-mail: macrae@sportshows.ca

For media registration and to receive show updates please contact:
Olga Petrycki
PUNCH Canada Inc.
T: 416.360.6522 x.226
E: olga@punchcanada.com

About CNSS
As a non-profit corporation, Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows is committed to conserving Canada’s outdoors and instilling Canadian youth with an appreciation for nature and outdoor activity. CNSS uses the proceeds from these shows to support and promote outdoor campaigns and programs in Canada. Since the first show in 1948, more than $31 million has been donated.

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) is encouraging everyone to take advantage of the upcoming provincial Family Day holiday and license-free fishing opportunity to get outdoors during Ontario Family Fishing Weekend, February 13-15, 2010.

“Ice fishing is a great Canadian winter pastime and a very family-friendly activity,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “We invite families across Ontario to take the opportunity to head out to a nearby lake or pond during Ontario Family Fishing Weekend and drop a line. It’s a terrific way to connect with our natural resources.” “If you’ve never tried fishing, this is the perfect time,” said the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources, of the upcoming license-free fishing opportunity.

Fast Facts:

• Safety first. Check conditions before you head out and frequently while out. Clear ice should be at least 10 cm (4 inches) for walking. Anything less is not safe. Carry rescue equipment and a whistle or cell phone.
• Across Ontario, Canadian residents do not require a fishing licence from February 13-15, but must follow all other fishing regulations, which can be found in the Fishing Ontario, 2010 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. Copies are available online at www.ontario.ca/fishing and in print from ServiceOntario centres.
• OFFW events are currently registered for the following communities: Bancroft, Cambridge, Cardiff, Espanola, Ennismore, Hearst, Honey Harbour, Marmora, New Liskeard, Ottawa, Pefferlaw, Trout Creek and Verona. Other family-friendly events may also be planned so check your local listings. Visit www.familyfishingweekend.com for details.
• Ontario Family Fishing Weekend is an initiative of the Ministry of Natural Resources. The program includes a winter weekend and a summer event in July which runs concurrent with National Fishing Week. The OFFW Steering Committee is comprised of the O.F.A.H., MNR, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association.

With 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 660 member clubs, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is the leading nonprofit fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario. To learn more, visit www.ofah.org.

*Press Release Used With Permission

Hon. Linda Jeffrey

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters reports that the Ontario MNR has a new Minister at the helm. The new Minister also ushers in a major change to the Ontario MNR’s Fish and Wildlife Division. An OFAH press release states,

As part of the provincial cabinet shuffle announced Monday, Linda Jeffrey, M.P.P. for Brampton-Springdale, will take the helm as the new Minister of Natural Resources. “We welcome Minister Jeffrey to the post, and look forward to working with her on matters of mutual importance to her ministry and Ontario’s anglers and hunters,” said Mike Reader, Executive Director, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.). “When it comes to the sound conservation management of our fish and wildlife, and respect for our heritage traditions, the Minister will have no greater ally than one of the province’s largest stakeholders, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.” Entire Article Here

The announcement of the new Minister to the MNR was post-amble to a previous important news release about the Fish and Wildlife Branch. OFAH shares that,

“The Natural Resources Management Division, that housed the Fish and Wildlife Branch has been eliminated under the new organizational chart, which now divides fish and wildlife responsibilities between two new divisions, Policy (Biodiversity Branch) and Provincial Services (Fish and Wildlife Services Branch). Given the successful track record of O.F.A.H./MNR partnerships in such biodiversity-driven initiatives as the Invading Species Awareness Program and Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program, the move may spark new opportunities to work toward a common purpose.” Entire Article Here

My Take: I’ll hold my judgment until we get through the next several months. It will be interesting to see what happens once the dust settles. I really only have two immediate thoughts on these announcements:

1. A more effective change would be an announcement about increasing the number of conservation officers in each WMU or FMZ. This would help ensure our resources are better protected and managed – not department changes.
2. I hope the department change does NOT mean that the dedicated funds from our fishing and hunting licenses will not be spread out to other department resources that have nothing to do with conservation initiatives.

Changes to fisheries regulations in provincial Fisheries Management Zones (FMZ) 6 and 9 are on the horizon for 2010. Anglers in FMZ 6 will soon be able to take advantage of extended fishing opportunities, while in FMZ 9, the zone’s advisory council is working to restore native fisheries in Black Bay, and early in the new year will consider options for Camp 43 dam on the Black Sturgeon River.

Highlights to regulation changes in FMZ 6 include an increase in the winter lake trout season by four weeks, giving anglers from February 1 to March 31 to harvest this popular sport fish. The regulation for pike is changing to eliminate the protected slot, and to allow the harvest of one pike over 70 cm as part of a limit of four fish with a sport license, or two fish with a conservation license. Regulations for smallmouth bass harvest are being simplified. Year round, resident anglers will now be allowed to harvest four smallmouth bass of any size with a sport license, or two with a conservation license. Details on all regulations are contained in the ministry’s recreational fishing summary.

Regulation changes to FMZ 6 were developed with considerable input from the FMZ 6 Advisory Council, which is comprised of local representatives, including two from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) Zone B. FMZ 6 lies immediately north and east of Lake Superior and takes in a large portion of the Thunder Bay area, parts of Nipigon and Dryden, Lake Superior’s St. Ignace and Simpson Islands, and the islands in Nipigon Bay.

“The extension of a winter lake trout season is great news for local anglers and businesses, and is due in good part, to the efforts of the volunteers on the FMZ 6 Advisory Council,” says Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “Anglers are closely connected to our fisheries and are well equipped to make a significant contribution to the wise management of our recreational fisheries. Engaging these and other local stakeholders in the process through an advisory council is a positive step by the ministry.”

O.F.A.H. Zone B is also locally represented on the advisory council for FMZ 9, which encompasses the Canadian waters of Lake Superior, from Pigeon River to Sault Ste. Marie. As this zone includes a huge geographic area, the council is further divided into two sub-committees. The western sub-committee has been examining options for the restoration of native fisheries in Black Bay. Early in the New Year, it expects to provide the MNR with its recommendation for action on the Black Sturgeon River Dam, which acts as an important sea lamprey barrier, but may also be preventing walleye from accessing spawning habitat. Fisheries Management Zone Advisory Councils were introduced in 2006 as part of an MNR overhaul that eliminated Fishing Divisions and in their place, created 20 Fisheries Management Zones (FMZ). Zone Advisory Councils are typically comprised of angler organizations, commercial fisheries, outfitters, independent fisheries biologists, First Nations and M�tis communities and other stakeholders. FMZ 6 was one of three pilot advisory councils initiated in 2006, and FMZ 9 Advisory Council was formed in 2009. Over time, the province’s plan is to establish an advisory council for each zone.

Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) regulation changes take effect on January 1, 2010. The 2010 Recreational Fishing Summary is available online now at www.ontario.ca/fishing, and come January, will be available in print at Service Ontario centers, and at some outdoor outfitters. With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 660 member clubs, the O.F.A.H. is the largest nonprofit, charitable, fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario, and the voice of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

Contact
Lezlie Goodwin
O.F.A.H. Communications Coordinator
705-748-6324 ext 270

Marty McGrath
Fisheries Biologist
705-748-6324 ext 268

*Press Release used with Permission from OFAH

Muskoka Outdoors’ Take: Although these FMZs are not part of Muskoka, anytime fishing opportunities are increased anywhere in the Province – it IS great fishing news.

The Ontario MNR has updated the upcoming 2010 Ontario Fishing Regulations. There are some fishery zone changes and some regulation changes posted. Follow this link to view the updates online.

The 2009 OBFN Hank Gibson Qualifier will be held on Lake Muskoka in the Town of Gravenhurs on August 29.

The launch site will be the town wharf and weigh-in will be at the the town dock located beside Boston Pizza. For more details visit: http://www.ontariobass.com/OBF_Hank_Gibson_2009.html