Fishing has been a love of mine for as long as I can remember. My first experience was at a local pond in Sheffield with my grandfather, where we spent the day fishing with some string and bread-dough bait. Without a single nibble, I was hooked nonetheless. Over the years, I’ve fished a wide variety of methods but come to appreciate the nature of fly-fishing best. With the perfect cast, you can almost sense a strike before it happens. 

Historically both Sixteen Mile and Bronte Creek were important fishing and hunting grounds for the Mississaugas and their predecessors. When Europeans settled the area, they continued to fish the creeks for both sustenance and sport. At the Oakville Museum, there are records, photographs, and accounts of fishing parties on the Sixteen. The Museum even holds a photograph of Oakville’s Dr. George Brock Chisholm, (the first Director-General of the World Health Organization), holding what appears to be a fly rod and Sunfish. The odd time I’m able to wander to the creek, fly rod in hand, I feel I’m participating in a long tradition. 

If you’re new to fly fishing, the jargon may seem daunting – but the main difference between fly fishing and other kinds of fishing is the weight of the line used to cast the lure. To start, you’ll need a decent light rod, a small reel, fly line, and leader, as well as a basic selection of flies.

The flies themselves have some pretty unique and catchy names, including Royal Wulff, Adams, Gold-Ribbed Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail Nymph, and Woolly Bugger. The Woolly Bugger is my go-to and personal favourite. 

When it’s time to hit the water, learning to cast a fly line is the biggest hurdle for most beginners. Grindstone Angling in Waterdown has a full-service fly shop, fishing guide services, fly fishing school, and fly-tying classes. For beginners or even those who want to learn more about fishing in the area, Grindstone is a great place to start. 

Surprising to some, Oakville, Burlington and surrounding areas are great fishing destinations. Many nearby lakes have good populations of Sunfish (along with Pumpkin Seed, Rock Bass, Perch) and you can find them through the summer in the deeper pools of the local creeks. Lions Valley Park and other public access points along Sixteen Mile Creek in Oakville are good places to go prospecting. Conservation Halton allows fishing in Kelso, Mountsberg, and Hilton Falls. You can also try the upper reaches of Bronte Creek for pitching dry flies to Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout.

Casting, hooking, retrieving and landing fish all become more natural with practice and the skills built catching smaller fish like the Sunfish can be transferred to fishing bigger quarry later. 

When you are ready for larger game, consider the spring Steelhead run and fall Salmon run. Head to either Sixteen Mile Creek or Bronte Creek during October and November, when a few days of rain have caused the rivers to rise. Luckily, techniques, gear, and flies for Steelhead and Salmon are similar. However, you will need to upgrade to at least an eight-weight rod, reel, and line. You should also invest in a comfortable set of chest waders and a landing net.

Fly fishing has a reputation for being exclusive and mysterious, but it’s often the best way to catch fish and a way that allows a closer connection to the water. Let’s dispel the mystery. 

by Julian Kingston

Our thanks to Julian Kingston, who is the Museum Supervisor at the Oakville Museum, and a passionate fly fisherman.

Local Links

Grindstone Angling
grindstoneangling.com

Izaak Walton Fly Fishing Club
iwffc.ca

Tourism Burlington
tourismburlington.com

Oakville Museum
oakville.ca/museum

Conservation Halton
conservationhalton.ca

The hot, hot summer sun has finally arrived, and there’s no better way to beat the heat than to plunge into one of our community pools. While indoor pools serve us all year long, outdoor pools are a special treat we can only enjoy for a few months out of the year – and there’s one in particular creating some hype this summer.

First open in 1963, Nelson Pool, located on New Street between Appleby Line and Walkers Line has been a family favourite for decades. However in 2015, after endless dives and cannonballs, the pool was deemed unsafe by a structural engineer and closed for public use.

With tremendous support from the community, City Council approved a plan to complete an extensive two-year renovation on the pool and surrounding area. The finished product reopened for the 2017 summer season, impressing crowds and welcoming all skill levels and abilities. 

The new pool – which cost $4.9 million – is a 50-metre heated outdoor pool with eight lanes and a beach-entry leisure pool. But that’s not all.

If you think you have what it takes, you can brave the climbing wall feature in the deep-end, or jump in off one of the two 1-metre diving boards. For those who prefer a leisurely swim, there’s a large shallow end to enjoy playtime with family and friends. The pool itself is perfect for all ages from infant to adult and unlike many pools, is completely accessible with a ramp, beach entry, or ladders to enter the pool.

Then there’s the new splash pad. Take a run through the small animal spray features or get soaked while standing under the giant tipping bucket. The park was designed to engage children of all ages and is the perfect summer day getaway if you’re in need of a little staycation.

This treasured community gathering place provides a great opportunity for residents to get outdoors, play, and stay cool all summer long. With a dry children’s park, community change room, deck chairs, and picnic tables, you can pack a lunch and expect to spend a full day splashing around and having fun.

Drop-in recreation swim costs $4.40 for youth to 60+, but if you plan on swimming all summer long, it might be worth purchasing a summer swim pass for $32.40 – granting you access to all of the City’s pools.

Visit www.burlington.ca/en/live-and-play/Swimming.asp for swim times and more information.

Come on in, the water’s great! 

by  Anneliese Lawton

Hot chocolate in a mitted hand, rosy cheeks beneath scarves and puffy coats, maybe a flake or two drifting slowly from the sky – they all pair beautifully with twinkling lights on a cold winters’ night. Seeing homes that dazzle in greens and reds are a holiday tradition for many, and whether you’re touring from the car or sight-seeing on foot, there isn’t a shortage of holiday light displays.

While most people decorate their homes with a few simple strands of twinkling lights, there are a select few who put Clark Griswold to shame. If you’re looking for a house that stands out from the rest, we have your guide to the most remarkable holiday displays in Oakville and Burlington.

Musson Christmas Light Display

3360 Spruce Avenue, Burlington
Christmasdisplay.ca

The Musson Christmas Light Display has been a famous family favourite for the last 30 years. Families travel from as far away as the Niagara Region to catch a glimpse of this beautifully decorated home. Doug Musson was the mastermind behind this display and sadly passed away last December. His family will be keeping his memory alive and will be lighting up their home once again this year. Donations are welcome.

Jackson Family Lights

133 McCraney Street West, Oakville
Jacksonlights.ca

Don Jackson, a Christmas light enthusiast, has been decorating his home with Christmas lights since he was a kid. From helping his Dad to now lighting his own home, Don’s passion has grown. His home features approximately 100,000 lights which are all programed to music. You can “Listen to the Lights” by tuning your car radio to 90.5 FM. Each year, the Jackson’s collect food donations for Kerr Street Mission but this year they will also be accepting donations for The Kelly Shires Foundation (kellyshiresfoundation.org), a foundation that aids patients fighting cancer.  Don’t miss a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve (and rumour has it, his sleigh may be there too this year).

Bonenfant Christmas Spectacular

306 Leacock Avenue, Oakville
Sites.google.com/view/b-christmas-spectacular

This light display is located in Oakville’s River Oaks neighbourhood, just off Towne Boulevard. The Bonenfant’s decorate their home from tip-to-toe, setting their strands to favourite holiday carols. To listen, just tune your car radio to 92.3 FM. The lights turn on December 1st and run through to January 5th. Donations will be accepted for Kerry’s Place Autism (kerrysplace.org).

Santa’s Village

2266 Munns Avenue, Oakville

You don’t have to go to the North Pole to find Santa’s Village, Oakville has their very own located at the corner of Munns and Sixth Line. Jason Edwards is the mastermind behind this marvelous display. With lights, reindeer, snowmen, Santa’s Workshop, a Christmas train, and classic holiday movies playing on an outdoor screen – this Santa’s Village is the real deal.

by  Anneliese Lawton

Ah, summer camp: a place to play, learn, bunk with friends new and old and connect with the environment. S’mores, campfires and singsongs too, please!

Choosing the best one is an important decision. Whether it’s a day-to-day or sleep away camp you’ll want your child to be enriched, learn valuable skills and create wonderful memories. Organizations like the Ontario Camp Association (OCA) and Our Kids are extremely helpful to search for camp options. A certified OCA camp will bear the logo on its website.

Overnight It

Options for sleep away camps are almost limitless – it really depends on the type of activities you want your child to participate in – and whether you want to stick within the province or go beyond Ontario’s border. Does your child like horses, dance, outdoor pursuits, sports, yoga, robotics, music, public speaking or art? Are you looking for something more faith-based? Co-ed? More than likely there’s a place that matches your child’s interests. Here are just a few fun and enriching examples:

Centauri Arts Camp

Where: Wellandport
This summer home-away-from-home welcomes youth from eight to 18. Aptly named, there are over 40 programs revolving around acting, stage combat, dance, fine art, creative writing, music, TV production and more – even a cultural tour trip to Scotland.
centauriartscamp.com

The Wylde Swan

Where: International
Here’s a world-class learning experience for adventurous boys and girls aged 14 to 25 – summer onboard the Wylde Swan. This year the camp will be taking part in the Tall Ship Races 2018 in Scandinavia. There’s a strong focus on hands-on teamwork and decision-making. Students learn basic seamanship and enjoy extracurricular activities. Various organized excursions are also designed to enhance a uniquely cultural experience.
wyldeswan.com

Muskoka Woods

Where: Muskoka
“Once discovered, never forgotten” is Muskoka’s tagline. Kids have been enjoying this camp since 1979 and there are over 50 types of activities for kids ages seven to 17. There are over 1,100 acres and 2,800 feet of shoreline on Lake Rousseau with world-class facilities and sports complexes. Almost like being at the cottage, campers can customize their schedule to fill a six-hour day with everything from adrenaline boosting pursuits to art. Staff to guest ratio is 1:2.
muskokawoods.com

Day Dreamers

Day camps provide a fun environment for kids, and are especially helpful if both parents still need to work their usual nine to five routine. The YMCA, Town of Oakville and City of Burlington all offer day camps, and there are so many options, including Lego, art or Stem, so here are just a few to choose from:

Conservation Halton: Ways of the Woods

Where: Milton
A summer of biking, rock climbing, caving, archery, and boating, among many other activities; a sample of “all the hallmarks of a Canadian childhood.” Ages four to 15. WOW offers free supervised busing at select stops in Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Georgetown, Acton, and Mississauga.
conservationhalton.ca/wow

Appleby Collage

Where: Oakville
Campus turns to camp during the summer. Camps are organized into four major programs and are offered in full and half days: Early Discovery (ages 4 – 7), and older campers (7-17) can choose Sports & Adventure, Arts & Media, Science & Success and a new Leadership Camp.
appleby.on.ca

Kerr St. Mission Camp

Where: Oakville
Children can enjoy a safe and nurturing environment participating in lots of fun activities. KSM’s mission of being committed to helping youth learn, develop and prepare themselves for success carries through in their camps.
kerrstreet.com/ksdc

Camp Kahuna

Where: Burlington
Lots to do and so close to the city on 65 acres in the Niagara Escarpment: campfires, swimming, fishing, co-operative games, and fort building. Campers also learn about role model leadership through entertaining presentations.
kids4kids.ca

by Becky Dumais

Local Links

Our Kids
ourkids.net

The Ontario Camp Association
ontariocampsassociation.ca

Michael McDonald has always had a passion for getting outdoors and enjoying the beauty of our many hiking trails. A certified hike leader in Ontario, he often used social media as a means of sharing his love of walking in the woods. He noticed, however, that his most popular posts, the ones most widely shared and discussed, always dealt with the positive effects of hiking on alleviating depression. As someone who has watched friends and family members grapple with its sometimes devastating effects, McDonald decided to tackle the painful subject head on by writing about it.

About a year ago he wrote “Walking Away from Depression: A Guide to Fighting Depression with the Gentle Exercise of Walks.” It’s a 29-page guide that offers simple suggestions to help motivate people to get up, go outside and walk, written especially for those who might find it difficult due to mental illness. “I feel great when I walk,” McDonald says. “When I’m down, I like to walk, and physiologically good things happen when you hike. I wanted to share that with other people, to let them know that walking really helps elevate your mood.”

His guide briefly discusses depression and its symptoms, and although he stresses he is not an expert in this field, he does have personal experience. “Hiking is affordable for everyone,” says McDonald. “You don’t need a lot of money or special equipment. Just get out there and have fun.” It’s also a great outdoor activity for families, who may desire to disconnect from the busy digital world that engulfs all of us these days. “Kids especially can benefit from hiking,” he says. “Social media causes a lot of anxiety and depression in people of all ages, and Nature Deficit Disorder affects kids who aren’t outside as much, who don’t play outside, and are missing out on so much that nature has to give.”

As for McDonald’s guide, numerous readers have connected with the author, stating they wished they’d found it earlier in life. “It’s so rewarding to know it’s helped people,” he says. “One in five people suffer from mental illness, and although talking openly about it is still a stigma, it’s a stigma that’s going away and it’s so important to talk about it without judgment.”

While the entire book is full of helpful tips and positive methods and useful resources, perhaps the most poignant line regarding mental illness and the importance of reaching out to help or be helped can be found in his foreword: “Always remember, you are loved, and things will get better.”

Michael’s Favourite Trails

The Bruce Trail — Stretching along 890 km through southern and central Ontario, from the Niagara River to Tobermory, this renowned and very popular hiking trail boasts numerous waterfalls and side trails and a wide range of plants and wildlife.

Dundas Valley Conservation Area — Located in Hamilton and part of a large glacial valley, this 1,200-hectare conservation area features Carolinian forests, amazing geological formations, cold-water streams, rare plants, birds and wildlife.

Rattlesnake Point — Situated atop the Niagara escarpment, there are lots of activities to keep you occupied here, from geocaching to rock climbing, viewing the glorious autumn colours or watching turkey vultures soar above the cliffs.

Crawford Lake — This unique Iroquoian village includes recreated longhouses and a “bottomless” meromictic lake bordered by a stunning boardwalk perfect for hikers of all ages, and their pets. Festivals take place on a regular basis, including the popular Sweet Water Season in the spring.

Hamilton Harbour Waterfront Trail — This 3.4 km multi-use trail stretches along the shore from Bayfront Park to Princess Point, through the Desjardins Canal, and connects to the Trans Canada Trail, the Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail in Burlington and the Desjardins Canal bordering Cootes Paradise.

by Allison Dempsey

Local Links

Bruce Trail Conservancy
brucetrail.org

Michael McDonald
michaelmcdonald.ca