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| Michelle with client who was trying out his brand new Scadden Outlaw. All photos: Copyright Bow River Shuttles 2012 |
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| Planning strategy for the day |
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| Take a number |
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Today along the Bow River - March 2012
Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011
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| Cattail marsh at Policeman's Flats. Photo: Copyright Bow River Shuttles 2012 |
Friday, March 30, 2012
Today along the Bow River - March 2012
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| Friday float. All photos: Copyright Bow River Shuttles |
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| Waterfowl on Fish Creek. Anyone know what these are? |
Earth Hour 2012 - Calgary
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| Click directly on poster for larger image |
Earth Hour events in Calgary aimed at raising awareness of global warming
Calgarians asked to minimize energy consumption for one hour on Saturday night
By Amanda Stephenson,
Calgary Herald
March 30, 2012
Eco-minded Calgarians will join millions of people around the globe on Saturday night as they dim their lights in support of Earth Hour.
Organized by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour aims to raise awareness about global warming by encouraging individuals to reduce their own energy consumption for one hour on the last Saturday in March. This year’s Earth Hour will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time.
The City of Calgary will be shutting off the lights at many of its facilities, including its Water Centre, Manchester and Whitehorn buildings, the Langevin Bridge, Prince’s Island riverwalk and all fire stations.
Many downtown businesses have also indicated plans to turn off all non-essential lights at 8:30 p.m.
Local non-profit organization Ecoliving Events will welcome the public to an Earth Hour celebration starting at 8 p.m. at the Calgary Area Outdoor Council facility at 1111 Memorial Dr. N.W.
Participants will sit in the dark, sipping hot chocolate and coffee made from power generated from an on-site solar trailer. In past years, the event has drawn as many as 500 people.
“It is symbolic, but it’s also a place for people to get together and talk about these (environmental) issues,” said Ecoliving Events executive director Judi Vandenbrink. “People want to come together and talk about solutions, and bring to light that global warming is a concern for them.”
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is partnering with Good Earth Coffeehouse and Bakery to put on a free candlelit concert by Calgary band Escape the Audience. The concert will take place at Good Earth’s 908 13th Ave. S.W. location, and a portion of proceeds from food and beverage sales will be donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Also: Calgary City News Blog
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| Click directly on poster for larger image |
World Water Day Calgary 2012 - A Look Back
One of the World Water Day 2012 events in Calgary was a dinner presentation at the Water Centre.
This event was sponsored by: City of Calgary (host facility sponsor), Stantec Consulting, Amec, Alberta WaterSMART, CH2M Hill, Urban Systems, Stormwater Solutions, Westhoff Engineering Resources, ISL, Matrix Solutions, Klohn Crippen, Associated Engineering
The opening presentation "State of the Bow River" was by Mark Bennett, Executive Director of the Bow River Basin Council. Very good information.
Next up was Bert van Duin from the City of Calgary with "Low Impact Development for Stormwater Source Control".
Perhaps a bit surprisingly, this was a very interesting topic, with some great slides, showing what's being done in Calgary to mitigate the effect of stormwater runoff on the Elbow and Bow Rivers.
The final presenter was Chuck Slack, Principal and Senior Project Manager for Klohn Crippen Berger, the company that built the "Bow River Weir Project", now known as Harvie Passage.
Chuck told the story of the 'Weir Project' from the very beginning to the present.
Lots of great photos and videos, plus significant detail on every aspect of the project. Not surprising, coming from an engineer. :-)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Nymphing Tactics, Rooster Flies & DIY Destinations
Sat Mar 31 (10:30 am - noon): Nymphing Tactics with Jake Gotta
Covering many different techs, from rig set ups, water conditions and how to fish them, deep water techs, smaller streams.
Jake will show you some of his favorite patterns that may be a little different than the norm.
The great thing about fly fishing is there is always something new to learn.
Sat Mar 31 (10 am): Running Down Rooster Flies
Adam Rich ties us some of his well-tested rooster patterns and talks about his rooster fishing adventures in Baja. You won't find these in any fly bin.
Sun April 01 (1:00 pm): DIY Destinations with Matthew Sparrow
In recent years destination fly fishing has blossomed to the point where anglers can be overwhelmed with places to fish and lodges to stay. However, not everyone has the pocketbook or desire for a fully catered trip.
Matt Sparrow has spent years dreaming of traveling to distant fishing spots, and has gained experience DIY fishing in Montana, British Columbia, Costa Rica, Venezuela and New Zealand.
He will discuss how to go about researching, preparing, and packing for DIY adventures close to home and abroad.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Decapitating the Fisheries Act...
Decapitating the Fisheries Act by removing the HADD: A Critique of the Rationale
Written by: Arlene Kwasniak and William Donahue
Decision considered: Federal government proposal to remove habitat protection from the Fisheries Act.
The federal government of Canada proposes to remove the habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act RSC 2000, c F-14, s 35. Countless Canadians have vigorously spoken out against this proposal because removing these provisions would be a critical and fundamental change not only to federal legislative approach, but also to the management, protection, and well-being of fisheries in Canada.
The federal government’s proposed change is questionable for three reasons. One, as the federal government has exclusive constitutional authority over inland and coastal fisheries it would be unconscionable to remove the habitat protection provisions from the Fisheries Act. Two, the evidence shows that the habitat provisions of the Fisheries Act have not posed significant economic barriers to development. Three, we already have the legal tools to assure an appropriate level of regulatory requirements with respect to project applications that will impact Canada’s fisheries.
Sheepdogs win big at Canadian Indie Awards
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| Courtesy, Toronto Sun |
Saskatoon’s retro-rockers The Sheepdogs not only picked a leading four Independent Music Awards Saturday night in Toronto, but they got a special surprise guest in the form of British classic rock vocalist Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company and The Firm) who joined them on stage half-way through their set at the ceremony.
Free was apparently a big influence on the ‘70s-and-blues-inspired Sheepdogs, who also landed on the cover of Rolling Stone last year, becoming the first unsigned act to do so, and Rodgers happened to be in town to give a public chat at Canadian Music Week earlier in the day.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Fish Habitat Protection Endangered
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| Reforms to the Fisheries Act that would end federal oversight over much of the country's fresh water are proving difficult for some provinces to swallow. (Canadian Press) |
This topic has received very little coverage in the Calgary media.
We think it’s an important issue deserving of more attention. We hope you agree.
Otto Langer, a retired federal fisheries biologist, released two weeks ago a leaked internal information spelling out planned changes to the Fisheries Act.
A section that went into force in 1986, prohibiting any activities that could harm fish habitat, would be replaced by a ban on anything causing an "adverse effect" on "fish of economic, cultural or ecological value."
The Harper government had planned to slip these significant changes to the Fisheries Act into its Budget Omnibus Bill, which is set to be delivered on March 29.
Mr. Langer has since responded to the Fisheries Minister's defence of the plan that many are saying would gut the fisheries act.
There has been growing opposition to this proposed move.
Trout Unlimited Canada’s CEO Jeff Surtees wrote a letter to Keith Ashfield, Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Jeff Surtees was also interviewed on Lets Go Outdoors radio regarding this topic.
Two former Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers (both also former Fisheries Ministers), Thomas Siddon and John Fraser, have spoken out very strongly against the proposed changes.
A group of 625 scientists, including David Schindler (U of A), sent a letter urging the government to abandon any changes.
The Canadian Society For Ecology and Evolution, representing 1,000 ecologists and evolutionary biologists, in a letter to Ashfield from president Jeffrey Hutchings, said "In the interests of transparency and accountability, and in the interests of Canadian society, we respectfully request that the science advice received in this regard be made publicly available without delay.”
In addition to the links provided above, two more very informative articles have appeared: Fish habitat: Why rock the boat? and Federal budget may rile environmentalists.
If you are concerned about these proposed changes, there are several options available to make your views known.
You can sign a petition that has been making the rounds of the fly fishing community.
You can personalize, and send, an electronic message via the Sierra Club,
However, your most effective course of action (in our opinion) would be to write to your MP, Minister Keith Ashfield and Prime Minister Harper at your earliest convenience.
Or perhaps best of all, follow up with all three!
And do it today. The clock is ticking.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011
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| The end of the line. Photo: Copyright Bow River Shuttles 2012 |
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Today along the Bow River - March 2012
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| All photos: Copyright Bow River Shuttles 2012 |
The gate at 22X/Fish Creek Park boat launch was open today.
A Tanker Ban: Good or Bad for Canada?
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| Click directly on map for larger image |
An important part of the debate over the Northern Gateway Pipeline revolves around the tanker traffic that would be required along our West Cost to move the oil to off shore markets.
Speaking to one side of the argument is the MacDonald-Laurier Institute, which produced a three essay report on March 16, 2012, titled “Making oil and water mix: Oil tanker traffic on Canada’s West Coast”.
They wrote an op-ed piece that appeared last week in the Calgary Herald. “Crowley, Clemens: A ban on tanker traffic would be bad for Canada”.
On the other side of the debate is the Dogwood Institute. They responded to that report in a blog post, saying in part: “All in all, John’s essay serves up little more than platitudes that do nothing for our marine environments or the communities and jobs that depend on them.”
Still with the Dogwood Institute: About a year ago, they produced a video “From Tar Sands to Tankers”, which is inserted below.
Yesterday, a related article appeared in the Victoria Times Colonist “May calls for tanker ban on oil-spill anniversary”.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Play again
PLAY AGAIN is a new documentary about the consequences of a childhood removed from nature.
Via: CPAWS
Friday, March 23, 2012
Connect: What do you know. A video with a message
Back in mid-January 2012, Bow River Shuttles sponsored the Canadian Premiere of CONNECT.
Here is a review of the movie from Angler’s Tonic .
Connect: What do you know. A video with a message.
Are you getting what you need with your ad dollars in video? In Connect you do.
Posted on February 8, 2012 by Greg Thomas
There are a lot of dollars being sprinkled around fly fishing today, mostly to support video projects that may or may not give a company some air time at one or more of the film tours that roll across the country each year. Their presence on the tour, of course, depends on whether they are even good enough to make the cut. And many of them aren’t.
This support of video isn’t bad news because the potential for that market—and more importantly the potential to reach outside our core people and draw newcomers into the sport—is huge. I’m just waiting for some consistently good material to rise to the top, if it hasn’t already. What I’m getting at is this: fish porn is ok—and some people don’t need anything more than that—but just showing a guy or gal catching fish doesn’t make the cut with me, unless your showing it around a group of guys, fueled by some hard stuff, with music pumping out of high-decibal speakers. Don’t get me wrong. I’m down with that crowd and I’ve attended enough of these things to know that watching jumping fish vids can be fun. I’m just asking, what are you going to do the rest of the time? Rest on the couch by yourself or invite a new girlfriend to sit down and watch? Can you say death sentence. Going to whip up some popcorn for the kids and let them listen to a procession of f-bombs and watch a bevy of scenes where anglers are throwing back the whiskey shots after landing an 11 inch trout, celebrating as if it’s the birth of their first child?
I’m a print media guy and I believe in it to the core. I’m not really enjoying this paring down of ad support for magazines that have carried this industry for decades and continues to do so today. Old, tired? I buy that argument, but myself and others are trying to fuel our pages with content that hasn’t been seen before. And we’re still the best vehicle for manufacturers and service-oriented operations to reach fly fishing’s buying crowd—how else are you going to reach 80,000 really hard-core anglers on a regular basis? With articulate words and sweet imagery? You want to sell product? Go to the trade and consumer shows and peddle your wares and buy advertising in print magazines. And don’t base your decision on whether you are or are not included in the actual text. If that’s a prerequisite and a magazine acquiesces (can you say Fly Fish America) you just flushed your credibility, and any merit of that text for the reader, right down the toilet.
Stonefly Focus & Fly Fishing Photography Part 2
Sun Mar 25 (1:00 pm): Stonefly Focus – Nymphs and Dries
Join Jeff for this session focused on the order of Plecoptera in the insect world; the common stonefly.
Jeff writes: ”since they’re a major food source for our fishy friends across most western streams and rivers they deserve some special attention. We will go over there life cycle as a whole, different species and their habitats. And then most importantly after we understand them, how to imitate them. Hope you can join me!”
Sat Mar 24 (10 am): Fly fishing Photography Part 2 with Lynda McLennan **Special Presentation**
Lynda concludes this two part series by presenting on how to make your fishing photos better with the use of digital alteration.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
World Water Day 2012 - The World Is Thirsty Because We Are Hungry
World Water Day 2012 official video, focusing on the theme of the campaign "Water and Food Security".
World Water Day 2012 - March 22
There are 7 billion people to feed on the planet today and another 2 billion are expected to join by 2050.
Statistics say that each of us drinks from 2 to 4 litres of water every day, however most of the water we ‘drink’ is embedded in the food we eat: producing 1 kilo of beef for example consumes 15,000 litres of water while 1 kilo of wheat ’drinks up’ 1,500 litres.
When a billion people in the world already live in chronic hunger and water resources are under pressure we cannot pretend the problem is ‘elsewhere’.
Looking back along the Bow River - Season 2011
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| Photo: Copyright Bow River Shuttles |
Our dogs joined us for a late afternoon shuttle. They are Bichon Shih Tzu, brother and sister from the same litter.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
World Water Day 2012 - Calgary
Tomorrow is UN-Water World Water Day.
Participate by:
- attending Free Lunch or Dinner presentation on local and global water issues;
- check out CAWST - the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology Youth Action Projects at Bankers Hall;
- or simply reflect on water in your life and how we can all protect this most precious natural resource.
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| Click on poster for larger image |
Bob Dylan's debut album turns 50
50 Years Ago Today: Bob Dylan Released His Debut Album
Album was recorded in six hours for $402
By Andy Greene
Rolling Stone
March 19, 2012
When Bob Dylan's self-titled debut LP hit shelves on March 19th, 1962, it didn't sound anything like the popular music of the time.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
TUC Responds Regarding Leaked DFO Document
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| Photo: Copyright Bow River Shuttles 2012 Lesley Petersen (Biologist) & Jeff Surtees (CEO) Trout Unlimited Canada |
TUC Responds Regarding Leaked DFO Document
In response to concerns of Trout Unlimited Canada members and supporters across Canada regarding potential changes to the fish habitat provisions of the federal Fisheries Act, CEO Jeff Surtees wrote to The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
A press release by a former Department of Fisheries and Oceans biologist, Otto Langer has been widely reported in the media. That press release stated that Mr. Langer had been provided with a leaked government document which says that Cabinet is planning to water down the habitat protection provisions of the Canada Fisheries Act by deleting the habitat protection provisions of section 35 of the Act and replacing it with a new section which does not mention or protect habitat.
The story, as reported by CBC News, can be seen here
TUC’s letter of concern to Minister Ashfield can be viewed here
TUC CEO Talks to Lets Go Outdoors
Trout Unlimited Canada CEO Jeff Surtees talks to Lets Go Outdoors radio regarding potential changes to the fish habitat provisions on the federal Fisheries Act.
Please visit the Lets Go Outdoors website to listen to this interesting interview.
VIA: TUC Newsroom
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