Annual spring flower show, today

McKellar News

Firearm safety. Jovan Priljeva teaching a crash course in firearms safety to some of the 25 women interested in shooting. Submitted photos

Hurdville Community Club

The Hurdville group extends its thanks to those who donated their time to help make the pancake breakfasts such a success throughout the year. They also thank those who attended to enjoy the food and company, and members who helped with cleaning, cooking and serving as their support helps to maintain the hall. They look forward to seeing you at events planned for this year.

McKellar Sunshine Seniors Club

McKellar Sunshine Seniors euchre winners on Thursday, May 17, were: first - Isabel McVicar; and tied for second - Jean Cribbie and Marg Huibers. Most lone hands was a tie between Dennis Buckingham and Fred Kemp. Carpet bowling winners were Dennis and Margaret Hutchinson.
The Parry Sound and District Horticultural Society held its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 19. There was a great display of plants contributed by the members, and they sold out quickly.
The annual spring flower show, Here We Grow Again, will be held on Wednesday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Seguin Seniors hall, 80 James St. Speaker Tracy Ellement of Silverwood North will be speaking on new trends in landscaping. There is no charge for the meeting and everyone is welcome. Come out and see the great flowers and designs and learn about new ideas in landscaping. A light lunch is held after the meeting.

At the clubhouse

If one were to compare an urban then rural attitude about the public image of the firearms community one may think positive attitudes about firearms would have greater presence in a rural setting. Not so, according to Jim Newman of Sundridge and chief executive officer of Canadian Firearms Institute (CFI). Newman shared that an across-Canada survey yielded surprising results. The question was phrased as follows: “In Canada, private ownership of firearms is legal for hunting, target practice and other recreational purposes. To own a firearm someone must be licensed by the government and cannot have a criminal record or mental instability. Should private ownership of firearms remain legal in Canada or should private firearms ownership be banned entirely?”
Private firearms ownership should remain legal in Canada was agreed to by 76 per cent. Private firearms ownership should be banned entirely in Canada agreed to by 24 per cent. Analyzing the poll by demographics, gender, age, and income saw individuals with a higher level of income and education were more likely to agree with the concept of legal firearms ownership. About 78 per cent of those with a household of income under $65,000 were in favour, which increased to 87 per cent with incomes over $65,000 and to 79 per cent of high school graduates agreed, increasing to 82 per cent of college grads. This particular poll was conducted from January 18, 2010 to January 23, 2010, from 1,011 random eligible Canadian voters who were interviewed by telephone by the Campaign Research an MRIA Gold Seal research agency on behalf of CFI.
Thanks to the organizational skills of Georgina Arnott and the support of Parry Sound Hunters and Anglers members, Annique Maheu of Lafontaine (in Tiny Township) became one of the 25 women to participate in the ladies open house ladies’ shoot at the Parry Sound Hunters and Anglers club house. Maheu became aware of the opportunity to shoot through a colleague, the colleague’s husband being a member of the PSHA.
The morning started with a crash course in firearms safety instructed by Jovan Priljeva, pistol president and hunter safety instructor, followed with both .22 calibre rifle and pistol shooting, each participant having their own instructor. Later options for the day included larger caliber and black powder shooting, both holding high interest to the ladies.
As stated by Pyper Unitt, in her dual role as vice chairperson and assistant executive officer for CFI, ”open houses are a great way to invite the public to come out and see what we are about. It lets those attending know that the sport is safe, challenging, personally rewarding and above all good, plain, family fun. Ladies and youth events are great ways to start to share our sport and encourage new members.”
A future date is planned for an additional open house on Saturday, July 7, by the PSAH according to Mike Corson, president.
“Unfortunately we had not realized the extent of high interests held by some women in the community,” he said. “Our open house in July hopefully will satisfy this interest.”
Ministry of Natural Resources trap net disappears from the Manitouwabing River
One finds it difficult to understand the motivation for an act like this.
McKellar Conservation Association (MCA) is not the only conservation group that is dependent on the trap nets provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources for the walleye enhancement projects. Yet members can only share the efforts they made and the monies spent to ensure future healthy walleye fisheries in the Lake Manitouwabing waters, an effort that costs now, for future dividends.
Included in these efforts is the walleye count. The count provides us knowledge for when and where the best available places are for placing trap netting, in addition to a report generated and submitted to the MNR. Once the walleye are stripped of some eggs and milt they are returned to the place they were taken, unharmed.
The mixture of fertilized eggs is quickly taken to the hatchery. The building and maintaining of the jar hatchery bring the fertilized eggs to fry stage artificially. Doing this yields a 85-plus per cent success rate over nature’s two to three per cent success rate, and allows us, some 20 to 30 days later, to strategically place these fry.
Also, MCA has placed over 100 tons of round river rock in various places, mostly within Manitouwabing Lake’s waters, and definitely within the water shed included around Manitouwabing Lake. It is believed that we will eventually enhance the declining walleye fishery considering all the other pressures, natural and not so, affecting its sustainability.
Beyond the future impacts, this act may have affected the dollar costs involved in this action. Thus far, MCA has used $12,000 in its efforts involving the walleye fisheries. With this, volunteers have purchased and moved 100 tons of rock (in some cases up to 17 times), built and maintained a hatchery, completed yearly walleye counts at 11 different locations and improved known and created new walleye spawning beds. Volunteer man/hours exceed 1,500, this number not including the Big Fish Classic Fishing Tournament and other money raising venues that support project costs. It’s the right and only thing to do. It has been successful in other places.
Why would anyone take one of the two nets members placed in the Manitouwabing River, nets used to get walleye eggs that will be returned to the former, historically known, rehabilitated spawning beds in Lee/Hardies Creek? Though conjecture, is it self-formed, misguided ignorance, motivated by selfishness, possibly fueled by alcohol? What impact will this have on future results to ensure walleye fisheries for all who enjoy local angling? What statements are these individuals making to the many people and business, local and not, who have demonstrated their support in MCA’s efforts? What impact will it have on our future local economic development? Had these individuals even considered, beyond their self-driven needs prior to this act, any of these rhetorical questions? It’s doubtful.
With the intention of ending on a positive note, MCA recently completed walleye counts and we are extremely happy to report a long-awaited success. In our first year of existence (2006), a winter project saw approximately 38,000 pounds of round river rock ferried, via snowmobiles trailing sleds, to a potentially known spawning shoal in Lake Manitouwabing. Every year since, during MCA’s walleye count, this location has been included. Results were not inspiring ... until this year. Where previous counts were no greater than two to four, this year recorded numbers greater than 18. The typical rolling on the surface of the female walleye supports evidence that this as an established walleye spawning bed and is happening within the confines of the new rock introduced in 2007. We are effective. It takes time.
If you have news to report in McKellar, please contact us at 705-389-1786 or by email at last@vianet.ca. We would appreciate hearing from you by noon on Sundays.

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