sport

Winter Bike Parade: the extreme commuter goes mainstream

Winter bike parade

Photo courtesy of Mike.Geiger.ca on the apt613 flickr group

Ottawa may have fallen into winter weather, but that doesn’t mean you have to let your beloved bike fall to disuse. Ottawa winter cyclists are out there, proving that navigating Ottawa in the cold can still be done with the right gear and attitude. If you’re a winter biking enthusiast or just looking for a chance to get out and try biking on winter roads, then the CfSC is hosting an event for you.

To promote winter cycling, Citizens for Safe Cycling is hosting the first ever Ottawa Winter Bike Parade this Sunday. Cyclists looking to celebrate winter cycling and get out with a group of fellow cyclists can meet at Laurier and Percy at noon. The parade will head down the Laurier bike lane and is set to run show or shine. CfSC encourages cyclists to bring friends, family, noisemakers and funky accessories for the parade. The event will end with free hot apple cider at City Hall. Or, if you’d rather stay in than head out for a ride in the cold, you can track the cyclists on the City’s counter or watch them on the live video feed at the Laurier intersections.

The City has committed to clearing the segregated bike lane on Laurier, though there may be temporary closures when conditions are unsafe. The segregated lane may help cyclists feel safer, but now that the cold is here to stay the number of cyclists on the Laurier bike lane has dropped significantly. The city keeps a counter tracking the amount of trips down the lane, which has gone from a high of 2331 trips in September, to 213 last Wednesday. But, despite the huge drop in riders since the weather got cold, there are still cyclists out on Laurier and this Sunday, it may see more.

The CfSC Winter Bike Parade starts this Sunday at noon. Meet fellow winter cycling enthusiasts at noon and Laurier and Percy to take the parade up the Laurier Bike lane to City Hall. 

Ottawa Valley Nature Hike

P-15 Meech Creek Valley, Gatineau Park. More information on how to sign up click here.
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*This an evening snowshoe hike. Please bring a headlamp and or flashlight. CPAWS will bring a few old-fashioned oil lanterns. Please avoid bringing extra strong lights in order to maintain soft lighting during the hike, so as to not upset wildlife. We will stop for a campfire mid-way through the hike. Hot chocolate will be provided.
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**Advanced registration is required for this hike and extra fees will apply for transportation from Ottawa to the Dumoine river. Please check our website or sign up for our newsletter for further information on this hike as it becomes available.
General information and notes:
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All hikes will take place rain or shine, unless weather conditions are so severe as to put the safety of the group in danger. In such a case, the departure will either be delayed or the hike shortened.
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Unfortunately, CPAWS does not have additional pairs of snowshoes to loan. You may rent snowshoes from local outdoor stores such as Mountain Equipment Coop, and, in most cases the trails we use are generally well packed so that snowshoes are not absolutely necessary. Good winter boots should suffice.
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Please arrive a few minutes before the departure time. CPAWS staff and volunteers will be present at least 30 minutes before the start time to greet everyone. If you are interested in learning more about the organization, making a donation or getting involved, this is a great opportunity to learn more! CPAWS staff and volunteers should be visible. Please look for a small sign or the CPAWS banner and introduce yourself to the hosts! You will be asked to sign-in.
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In order to help support CPAWS’ conservation work, we request a donation of $5.00 per person to take part in the hike. If you are coming as a family, please feel free to donate what you feel is appropriate.
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What to bring? Consider bringing a lunch for longer hikes, snacks, extra water, good hiking shoes, bug spray and, most importantly, your camera!
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How long are the hikes? Generally speaking, we aim for not more than 2 to 3 hours, including some breaks.
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Are the trails easy? Most of the trails we use are intended for beginner to intermediate hikers or snowshoers. The trails in the Greenbelt are generally flat and well maintained, but those in Shield areas like Gatineau Park, Foret La Blanche and the Dumoine river present some hills. If you are unsure of your abilities, please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with all the details.
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Are pets welcome? We prefer that pets not be taken on these hikes, given that some members of the group may be uncomfortable with the presence of a dog. Moreover, some trails are off-limits to pets. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
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Your favourite trail or location not included? Let us know! We are always looking for new locations for our hikes and back-up locations should planned sites not be available.
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Like to lead hikes? We are also seeking volunteers to help lead our hikes. If you have a passion for Gatineau Park or the Greenbelt and enjoy sharing your knowledge of local flora and fauna, please let us know.
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We are also available, with advance notice, to organize a personalized hike for school, scout and corporate groups. Certain fees may apply. Please contact us for further information.

Ottawa Winter Bike Parade

Public Service Announcement: Ride to Camp Fortune and Mont Ste. Marie made easier by Ripple Adventure and Kundstadt Sports

Photo courtesy of alexindigo on Flickr.

Ripple Adventure and Kunstadt Sports have partnered to offer the skiers and snowboarders of Ottawa a snow bus to make it an easier trip to the slopes. Each Saturday and select Thursday nights, a bus filled with local snowbunnies will take to the road to enjoy time slope-side at Camp Fortune and Mont Ste. Marie.

As this is year one of the project, they plan to fill one bus every Saturday (8am) and select Thursday nights (6pm) taking skiers and riders to Camp Fortune and Mont Ste. Marie on alternating weekends. Busses will return to Kunstadt Sports in the Glebe by 5 pm on the weekends and 10:30 pm on Thursday, making it an easy, environmentally responsible and safe way to travel to the slopes.

Spaces will be limited, but passengers can sign up online at www.rippleadventure.ca/snowexpress for the date of their choice and may order a discounted lift pass at the same time.  Prices range from $30-$55 for a pass and a lift ticket.  Rentals and lesson can be arranged at Kunstadt Sports  and Ripple Adventure can also arranged, making the whole process very simple.  No supervision is offered at the hill or on the bus so participants must be a minimum of 16 years of age although it is expected that most passengers will be adults.

Roller Derby bout at Carleton: Vixens (Ottawa) vs. Roc Stars (Rochester, NY)

Come cheer the Vixens (Rideau Valley Roller Girls) as they take on the Roc Stars (Rochester, NY) in the Norm Fenn Gym at Carleton University! Tickets are only $5.

Canadian Premiere: WHILE YOU WERE ON FACEBOOK!

Possibly the worlds best skateboard video. This is a once in a lifetime chance to see the greatest skateboarders in one project.
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AND JUST IN WE WILL BE SHOWING THE NEW JEREMY ELKIN VIDEO “POISONOUS PRODUCTS” BITCH!!!!
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Special Thanks to Color Mag and Jeremy for helping organize this event.
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With this project, Elkin returns skateboarding to the streets in a unique way that features OG New Yorkers plus a bunch of out-of-town heads, skating both familiar and undiscovered spots. With so many NBD (never been done)ʼs packed into 11-minutes of pure street pushing accompanied by the raw sounds of hip hop vinyl from the 80s and 90s, Poisonous Products makes for an experience worth catching at a big- screen premiere.
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Also will be screening “Renegade Brigade” the Ottawa Connect the Dots 2011 Entry and classic video to be revealed in November.
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Two showings @ the Mayfair.
1074 Bank St.
Ottawa, ON K1S 3X3
(613) 730-6552
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7pm: All Ages: Tickets $10 to get in or $20 for entry, a copy of the DVD and a raffle ticket for prizes
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9pm: 19+: Tickets $10 to get in or $20 for entry, a copy of the DVD and a ticket for beer.

Advanced Tickets Available from: The homies, Top of the World, Surf Side, Slaysh, Nrml, EQ, The homies (Gui Lebel, Aaron Cayer, Captian Tom, Neil Magadzia… and more), Fall Down Gallery and Five Cents.

Beer will be available from Kichesippi Beer Co for CHEAP!!
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Photos from Josh Hotz and Mike Marquette.
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Full Length Parts from..
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Seb Labbe, Matt Klien, Jon Pie, Aaron Cayer, Richard Sarrazin, Bahd Brains, Austin Fyfe, Sam Lind, Matt Canadian, Polish… and more.
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with special appearances from all the homies .
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Edited by
Guillaume Lebel
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co-editor: Neil Magadzia
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Filmed by
Guillaume Lebel
Jordan Wiens
Ian Docherty
Aaron Cayer
Quinn Goodwin
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Produced by Aaron Cayer
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In part presented by: Antique Skateboards, Top of the World, EQ
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AFTER PARTY AT STANDARD TAVERN> MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW
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Venez au lancement du film de skateboard ” WHILE YOU WERE ON FACEBOOK!”
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Le tout aura lieu au théatre Mayfair à Ottawa.
Two showings @ the Mayfair.
1074 Bank St.
Ottawa, ON K1S 3X3
(613) 730-6552
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Nous présenterons aussi le vidéo ”Renegade Brigade”, un vidéo qui a participé au concours Connect the Dots, et des vidéos de skateboards qui sont
sorties au mois de novembre.
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18h: admission ouverte. 10$ à la porte ou 20$ pour un copie du DVD et un coupon pour un des plusieurs prix de présence offert.
20h. 19+. 10$ à la porte ou 20$ pour une copie du DVD et une boisson alcoolisé.
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Les billets sont disponibles dans les magasins suivants. Top of the World, Surf Side, Slaysh, NRML, EQ et Five Cents.
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Bière fournie par Kichesippi Beer Co.
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Les photographes Mike Marquette et Josh Hotz seront sur place pour immortalisé l’événement.
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Le vidéo comprends: Seb Labbé, Matt Klein, Jon Pie, Aaron Cayer, Richard Sarrazin, Bahd Brains, Austin Fyfe, Sam Lind, Matt Canadien et une sections
amis.
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Monté par Guillaume Lebel
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Co-Monté avec Neil Magadzia,
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Filmé par
Guillaume Lebel
Jordan Wiens
Ian Docherty
Aaron Cayer
Quinn Goodwin
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Produit par Aaron Cayer.
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Présenté en partie par : Top of the World, Antique, et EQ
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After Party au club STANDARD

Forget the Grey Cup; BarCraft is the newest rush for sports fans

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Post by Dominic Maggiolo

For over a decade, a video game has generated an underground culture so passionate that it has grew into something so large that some might not have ever conceived it.

What am I talking about? StarCraft: Brood War, by far one of the most notable game in today’s e-Sport community. Not only is it a pioneer in the e-Sport community it has made a statement to stay sustainable. In Korea, where the game has been adopted by some as a national sport has made top pro players into mega stars, comparable to big box Hollywood, as well as birthed T.V channels dedicated to air professional StarCraft games.

Photo Courtesy of StarCraft

With StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty out for over a year now, many top players from the Brood War day’s have migrated to StarCraft 2, giving the fans something to be excited about – top level gaming. With e-Sports being relatively young; the community surrounding StarCraft have never been as active in making this a sustainable sport – giving it a place to compete with any other major televised sport.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the game, StarCraft is a face-paced real-time strategy (RTS) game with three different races (Zerg, Terran, and Protoss). The goal is to gather mineral, increase your economy, build infrastructure and ultimately destroy your enemy with your army. Simple.

Click to continue reading “Forget the Grey Cup; BarCraft is the newest rush for sports fans”

Downtown Ottawa Footy Freestyle

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Future MLS stars? Maybe a bit premature but these boys sure impress with their mastery of the ball. Thanks to Ottawa Tourism for the discovery.

Ask the interweb: Meeting new people in Ottawa

Photo courtesy of * Cati Kaoe * on flickr

The interweb is a series of magical strings invented by Al Gore in the 1990s. Through our ‘Dear Interweb’ column, Apt613 will use its awesome powers to poll its readers on questions of import. If you have a query to make to the interweb, screw Google – ask Apt613 readers by emailing apartment613 [at] gmail [dot] com or tweeting @apartment613.

A new reader sent this question via email:

I just moved to Ottawa and I was wondering if you could suggest events/places to meet new people?

Then only a few minutes later, we got a second email asking a similar question:

You should make a post about the best places to meet people for single gals like myself, other than bars. 

Fear not local lonely hearts! The interweb is here to help. But before we get to the good stuff, it is worth noting one universal truth: meeting new people is a numbers game. The more you push yourself to go to places and events where you wouldn’t normally go, the higher the chance you will bump into someone with whom you have chemistry – whether romantic or platonic.

Click to continue reading “Ask the interweb: Meeting new people in Ottawa”

Citizens for Safe Cycling AGM: How to tweet our way to a safer city

Photo by Kimusan on flickr

With deadly accidents, court cases and provincial reviews hitting the news, safe cycling is on the top of everyone’s minds. This makes it the perfect moment for Citizens for Safe Cycling’s Annual General Meeting. The organization, which is behind the popular Bike Parking at Bluesfest, is having its 26th AGM on Tuesday, November 1st 2 at the Tom Brown Arena (141 Bayview Road) from 6 to around 8:30pm.
The first part of the meeting will be open free to the public and will feature booths from local organizations, speakers, and refreshments. Aside from the draw of free food, the appeal of the event lays in the topic of this year’s keynote speaker, which will appeal to webophiles across the city. Hayley Richardson, outreach coordinator for the city of Bellevue’s transportation demand management program, will be giving her perspective into how to use the powers of the interweb to promote a social goal, in this case alternative transport.
Aside from Ms. Richardson, there will be two local experts on the podium. Colin Simpson, a senior project manager for the city, will give an update on plans for future the cycling infrastructure, while Charles Akben-Marchand of Rescue Bronson will talk about plans to develop that major thoroughfare.
If you can’t make it out for keynote, don’t worry! Apartment613 will be teaming us with Liisa Tuomine from CitizenCycle to live blog the event. Tune in here on Tuesday or check out the action on Twitter.
We had a quick chat with Hans Moor, current president of CFSC and a well-known bicycling activist, about CFSC, the AGM and what he thinks about the state of cycling in the city.

Click to continue reading “Citizens for Safe Cycling AGM: How to tweet our way to a safer city”